CHAPTER 11
BOUND
“What do you mean, Mrs. Marcellus?” Marcus asked, as he stood up dazed.
Ian flashed Marcus and Isabella the golden ring on his finger, and smirked at the dumbfounded expressions on their faces. They both turned to Jo, obviously wanting her to clarify Ian’s sudden loss of reality. Jo held up the golden band on her own hand, which accompanied her new diamond ring, in response to their silent question and both of their jaws fell open in disbelief.
Ian laughed, “I never thought I would see the day that Isabella Alba would be at a loss for words,” he said, clearly enjoying the fact that Isabella was caught so off guard.
Isabella found her voice, “When did this happen?” she asked, with her mouth still open in skepticism.
“How did this happen?” Marcus interjected.
Ian was still smirking, “Magic,” he said.
“Magic?” Marcus asked, looking thoroughly bewildered.
“Magic, witchcraft, sorcery, whatever you want to call it,” Ian responded.
Isabella looked at the two of them standing together by the stove, “You were married by witchcraft? Does that count?”
“Why wouldn’t it?” Jo piped up.
“Don’t listen to her,” Ian said, giving Isabella a nasty look, “of course it counts, we have the bands to prove it.”
“I still don’t understand, when did all of this happen?” Marcus asked.
Ian turned off the stove, put his arm around Jo and faced Marcus. “Last night I asked Jo to marry me…”
“That would explain the ridiculous amount of flowers,” Marcus interjected.
“You’re quite sharp aren’t you Marcus,” Ian said rolling his eyes, “anyway, after Jo so graciously agreed to be my wife, she began to…well, she began to glow. And then this light wrapped around our hands and we ended up with these,” he held up his hand indicating the band on his finger.
“You glowed?” Isabella asked Jo.
“Yes I did.”
“Wow, you two get more interesting everyday don’t you?”
Marcus still looked at Ian in disbelief. “Can I see your band?” He asked.
Ian knew that it would take some time for Marcus to adjust to the fact that he had gotten married. He couldn’t blame Marcus for being skeptical; he had after all gone from being the town man-tramp to a married man in just a matter of months. Ian thought that Marcus might also be a little upset with him for asking Jo to marry him so quickly, as it was probably the reason Isabella was at this very moment glaring at Marcus.
Ian took his arm from around Jo with the intent of removing his ring. He gave a little tug, then he gave a yank, and then he pulled with all of his might.
“It won’t come off,” he said.
“What do you mean it won’t come off?” Marcus said approaching Ian.
“What do you think I mean? I won’t come off.”
As Marcus tried to wrestle the ring off of Ian’s finger, Jo slowly put her own hands behind her back. She pulled on her own band, it did not budge, she tried to twist it off, but still it did not move.
“You can stop trying Marcus, they won’t come off,” Jo said.
Ian turned to her, “Yours doesn’t come off either?”
Jo shook her head, “I’m going to go get cleaned up I think we should talk to Lena.”
Ian cleaned up the kitchen while Jo went back upstairs to take care of the mess in the bedroom before they left. After she had showered and dressed, she sat on the bed and looked around the room pondering how much thought Ian must have put into the previous day. She smiled to herself thinking about what a perfect day he had planned for her and her eyes fell to the new rings that now adorned her finger. She had a suspicion as to why the rings could not be removed but she wanted confirmation from Lena. Her attention fell back to the flowers scattered throughout the room.
“Focus your attention where it’s needed,” she said aloud to herself ,and then she took a deep breath and raised her hands. The upturned vases immediately propped themselves back into standing position and gathered themselves neatly under the window. The roses that had shriveled from lack of water, after spending the night on the floor, found their way to the garbage pail along with the loose petals. The spilled water seemed to evaporate and all of the remaining vases that were still intact arranged themselves neatly around the room.
“Bravo,” a silky voice said, as the last vase was about to settle itself on the nightstand.
Jo jumped and lost her concentration and the vase fell to the floor with a crash.
“Mia!” Jo said turning.
“Are you surprised to see me?”
“What do you want?”
“I just came by to say hello,” she said, as her eyes darted around the room and settling on something that she bent to pick up off of the floor. “It looks like you had quite an evening,” she said holding Jo’s nightgown up by one finger and swinging it slightly.
Jo very casually slipped her hand with the golden band out of sight. She did not know why but she didn’t want Mia to know more than she already did, and there was a possibility that it could mean more than any of them knew.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Ian’s voice sounded from the door and he was at Jo’s side at once.
“Ian, you’re so protective. I wasn’t going to hurt you little witch.”
“Why are you here?” Ian spat in anger, as Marcus and Isabella ran into the room.
Mia eyed Isabella, “Isabella you’ve disappointed me,” she said walking slowly around the room her eyes constantly scanning everything. “Why may I ask have you not been feeding on the poor unsuspecting citizens of Bromsgrove?”
“How do you know that?” Isabella asked.
Ian and Marcus eyed Isabella hoping she wouldn’t tell Mia anything, as far as they were concerned the less Mia knew the better.
“She was hoping you’d go on a killing spree,” Ian said, “and I’m sure she thought Jo would be your first victim, otherwise she wouldn’t have bothered turning you, she would have just snapped your neck.”
“You’ve gotten very perceptive Ian,” Mia purred. “It’s too bad you couldn’t have read me so well all those years ago, then you would have known that I would never have had any interest in you,” she said the last words very slowly as she batted her eyes.
Ian made to lung forward but Jo grabbed his arm and held him back.
Mia smiled smoothly, “It looks like your witch is just as protective as you are,” she said, her eyes fixed on Jo. Her smile faltered as her gaze fell to the gold band on Ian’s hand and then to Jo’s. “How interesting, you’ve gotten married. So you finally found a woman who will have you Ian.”
Jo watched Mia carefully, her eyes never ceased darting around the room and it seemed her mind was working overtime. When Mia caught sight of Jo watching her she changed her expression at once, her scowl became a smile. She then glanced one last time at the four of them and then turned without further comment and left.
“What was that all about?” Marcus said exhaling as if he had been holding his breath the entire time.
“I don’t know,” said Ian, “but I was hoping to keep our marriage from her, at least until we spoke to Lena.”
“That makes two of us,” Jo said.
As Ian and Jo made their way to the door to leave, Marcus and Isabella came up behind them.
“Where are you two going?” Ian asked.
“With you,” Marcus replied, “we’d like to hear what Lena has to say about all of this.”
Ian opened his mouth to speak but Jo interrupted, “I think it’s a good idea. This does involve all of us, its better if we’re all there.
Lena looked up as the tinkling bell sounded and her expression became harsh upon seeing Jo, Ian, Marcus and Isabella stepping into the store. She hurried from behind the counter and locked the door and turned on them like a rabid dog.
“What in the world are all of you doing here? Are you out of your mi
nds walking in here together? All I need is for someone to see three vampires and a witch walking into my shop!”
“Nobody knows what any of us are,” said Isabella.
“Miss Alba, you can be assured that there are people in this town who know exactly what we are. You can also be assured that some of those people will be reporting a meeting between two witches and three vampires to those who would find it very suspicious and who may want to investigate a little closer.”
“We’re sorry Lena,” Jo said stepping forward, “but we don’t have anyone else to turn to.”
Lena gave each of them a sharp look, “What, may I ask, is so important that you all needed to see me so urgently?”
Jo and Ian each lifted their hands to reveal the matching golden bands that decorated their fingers. Lena examined each of the bands in turn and let out a low gasp. Then she beckoned them to the back of the shop where they made their way to the hidden room on the other side of the wall. They assembled themselves around the large wooden table and all sat eyeing Lena as she gathered her thoughts.
“I am assuming that they don’t come off,” Lena said glancing between Jo and Ian.
“No they don’t,” Ian said. “Why is that?”
Lena turned to Jo and gave her a very meaningful look, “I’m sure you know the answer to that question don’t you?”
“I think so,” Jo said looking down at the band encircling her finger and then looking up at Ian, “we’re magically bound.”
“That’s correct,” Lena replied.
“What exactly does that mean?” Marcus asked.
“It means that Ian and Jo are bound together by magic that is why they cannot remove the rings.”
“So are they like married?” Isabella asked, chancing a look in Ian’s direction.
“They are more than married,” Lena began, letting out a slight laugh, “a magical bond like this cannot be broken. They have entered into a magical contract that unlike marriage they cannot just walk away from. You must remember that a marriage is a union between two people and as untraditional as this may be, it is a union none the less.”
Marcus pondered this for a moment, “What do you mean they can’t walk away? What if they decide that they don’t want to be bound?”
“At this point they don’t have a choice, they are bound.”
Ian and Jo looked at each other but neither of them seemed disturbed by this news.
“I wouldn’t have asked Jo to marry me if I had planned on walking away,” Ian said to everyone but his eyes lingered on Marcus.
Lena also turned her attention to Marcus, “Your brother is right. If either Ian or Jo had any other intention then to spend the rest of their lives together, the magic would not have bound them.”
“So there is no way to break the bond between them?” Isabella asked.
Lena hesitated for a brief moment, “There is only one way that I am aware of,” she said, looking towards Jo.
“What’s that?” Marcus asked, his eyes wide.
This time Jo was the one to answer, “Death. We can only be released if one of us dies.”
They all sat quietly. Lena was deep in thought as were Marcus and Isabella. Ian sat next to Jo with his hand in hers thumbing at the band on his finger. Jo could not help but wonder if Ian would have agreed to any of this if he knew that he was bound to her for the rest of her life. It would obviously be her life that their bond was based on, seeing as she was the mortal. But didn’t Lena say that the bond would not have worked if either of them had not intended to stay together? Ian must have truly wanted to be with her or they would not be sitting here at this very moment talking to Lena.
Ian leaned in and whispered in Jo’s ear, “I love you.”
Jo turned to face him and looked at him questioningly.
“You’re worrying,” he whispered, “don’t, I love you.”
Jo smiled at him and laid her head on his shoulder; he kissed her on the head and stroked her hair.
Isabella broke the silence, “What about Mia? She knows about the bond. Is there anyway that she can use this against them?”
“How does Mia know?” Lena asked.
“She paid us a little visit this morning,” Ian said.
“Did she say why she was there?”
“Mia never says why she does anything,” Marcus said.
“She was definitely fishing for something,” Jo interjected, “she seems to be very interested in our relationship.”
“I noticed that too,” said Ian, as he turned his attention to Lena, “Can she use this bond against us?”
“She may be able to, but she should be more worried that you will use it against her.”
“What?” Ian looked puzzled.
Lena looked at Ian and then to Jo. “Remember you are bond together now. If you thought your connection was strong before it was nothing compared to what it is now. If I were Mia I would be quiet frightened.”
“She is,” Jo said. “I saw it in her face when she noticed our bands.”
Jo’s cell phone rang as they walked out of Lena’s store. “Clair honey is everything okay?” Jo asked as she stopped walking. “No I’m fine, why would you think that something was wrong?” She looked at Ian and shrugged. “I promise you, everything’s fine…yes Ian is with me, we’re shopping…yes I promise…how’s your father? Okay, I’ll call you later…I love you too.”
Ian, Marcus and Isabella had all of course heard her conversation.
“What was that all about?” Ian asked. “Why would she think that something was wrong?”
“I don’t know it’s a little strange, maybe she’s been at her dad’s too long,” Jo said as she got into the car.
Isabella settled in the back seat with Marcus, “We should do something, you know the four of us. Thanks to Mia we never did get to go out for our birthday,” she said looking at Marcus. “Let’s go see a movie.”
Ian cringed as he started the car. Although he wasn’t happy about Mia attacking Isabella, the whole affair did get him and Jo out of spending a night with her and Marcus. “I don’t know, Jo needs to rest she didn’t sleep well.”
“We don’t need the details of your wedding night, thanks Ian,” Marcus said from the back seat.
Ian shook his head, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous Marcus. Nobody is stopping you two from getting married if you want to.” Ian glared at Marcus through the rear view mirror.
Jo slapped Ian’s knee so Marcus and Isabella could not see. Ian knew very well that his comment would irk Isabella, but it did shut Marcus up as Isabella was now staring daggers at him.
“I think going to the movies is a great idea,” Jo said, shooting a warning look at Ian, “and it will be our treat.”
The four of them went to the local theatre and took their seats in the center of the very back row, with Isabella and Jo sitting in between Marcus and Ian. Isabella chose the movie and seeing as it had been out for a while the theatre was not very full, there was only a hand full of people scattered throughout. As the lights dimmed, Ian took Jo’s hand. Marcus seemed to think he should follow suit and took Isabella’s hand in his, this seemed to please Isabella and she laid her head on Marcus’s shoulder.
As Jo sat with Ian’s hand in her own she suddenly regretted agreeing to come to the movies. What was she thinking? How could she possibly get through the next two hours in this dark theatre with Ian sitting next to her? Just holding his hand made her heart race, the feel of his skin against hers drove her mad and she felt her palms began to sweat.
Ian shifted slightly in his seat and turned to look at Jo, his gaze lingered on her for a few seconds and then he leaned over her to Isabella and Marcus.
“We’re going to get some popcorn,” he whispered.
“You’re going to miss the beginning,” Isabella said.
“We won’t be long,” Ian said, getting to his feet and heading to the isle, pulling Jo behind him.
/> As they walked hurriedly out into the theatre lobby, Ian’s eyes darted around.
“Come here,” he said still holding onto Jo’s hand and pulling her quickly to keep up with him.
Ian opened a door that was marked PRIVATE and hastily dragged Jo inside. He didn’t speak a word, his mouth was on hers before he even finished locking the door, and his hands were everywhere.
When they returned to their seats Marcus peered over at them, “Looks like you forgot the popcorn,” he whispered, eyeing them suspiciously.
When the movie had finished Marcus suggested they go out to dinner, all the while stealing glances at Isabella. Jo wondered if Ian was right in thinking that Isabella was upset with Marcus because his younger brother who had only been dating Jo for such a short time, had proposed so quickly, and she who had been with Marcus for years, was still waiting.
Jo made a point of dropping her purse in front of Marcus while Ian and Isabella got into the car. Marcus bent to pick up Jo’s purse, and as he handed it back to her, she gently grabbed hold of his arm.
“I can marry the two of you if you like, at least I think I can,” Jo said to him hurriedly under her breath. “Just something to think about,” she winked at him and got into the car.
Dinner was uneventful apart form the waitress snickering at the fact that Jo was the only that did not order a rare steak.
Although Isabella and Marcus did not speak much it seemed through their body language that they were having a private discussion. Jo tried hard to make conversation and nudged Ian to do the same, but it seemed pointless. Isabella was clearly hurt and every move that Marcus made was full of apology. If Isabella dropped her napkin he would pick it up and place it on her lap, before she even made a move to retrieve it. He made sure that her wine glass remained full and stood up to pull out her chair when she left the table to go to the ladies room, and push it in again when she got back.
Ian was the only one who found the quiet rift between them amusing. “It serves him right,” Ian told Jo as they waited for the waitress to bring the bill and Marcus and Isabella went outside to get some air, “they always think their relationship is so perfect. Why hasn’t Marcus asked her to marry him anyway? They’ve been dating for three years and they’re always together, what’s he waiting for?”
“Maybe he’s not ready,” Jo suggested, as the waitress set their bill on the table.
“How can he not be ready? He loves her, she loves him, and they’re practically inseparable. When you find someone that you want to be with that much you dive in head first,” Ian said, leaning over and kissing Jo on the cheek.
“Not everyone is as spontaneous as you,” Jo said smiling.
“Well if you ask me, he’s dragging his feet,” Ian said, as he put the money on the tray and stood up.
“He must have a reason,” Jo said, taking Ian’s waiting hand and getting to her feet.
“He’s scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Scared of forever. Especially now that they’re both vampires, forever is a long time.”
It was dark as they again piled into the car. Jo asked Ian if they could swing by the café quickly so she could leave Anna and Stephanie their paychecks. When they were just around the corner from the café Jo’s cell phone rang.
“Hello…yes this is Jo Montgomery…I’m actually on my way there now…what do you mean? What kind of accident?”
As they turned the corner Jo’s heart sank. The front of her café was illuminated with flashing lights. Three police cars, an ambulance and a fire truck were in the street prohibiting any oncoming traffic. Jo stepped out of the car, her heart pounded in her throat as she noticed the yellow police tape cutting off entry to her café.
Ian got out of the car and was at Jo’s side in a matter of seconds. As a man swiftly approached in their direction, Ian must have felt her horror or felt her knees giving way or felt her gasping for breath, because he immediately grabbed hold of her arm to steady her. Marcus and Isabella were behind them in a heartbeat.
As Jo looked toward the café she saw paramedics pushing a gurney into the ambulance, the body was completely covered, but whose body?
“Was that a body bag?” She asked, her knees shaking.
Ian caught her arm firmly and held her up as Anna came running to catch up with the man who had just stopped in front of Jo. Anna was hysterical and she was crying uncontrollably, Jo could not make out a word she was saying.
“Miss Davis, I need you to go back to Officer Dowel please,” the man said beckoning an officer over to get Anna, and then turning his attention back to Jo. He was a tall, heavyset man with blond hair that was parted neatly on the side and he had kind brown eyes. His appearance was neat and the navy suit that he wore slightly minimized his stature.
“Are you Ms. Montgomery?” he asked, as Officer Dowel escorted Anna back to a police car.
“Yes, what’s happened? Who’s in the ambulance?”
The man ushered Jo over to a bench on the sidewalk. Marcus and Isabella waited next to the car and Ian took a seat next to Jo.
“Who are you?” The officer asked Ian.
“I’m her husband,” Ian said, putting an arm around Jo’s shoulder.
“I am Detective Steve Quimbly,” the man said squatting down to look at Jo. “I just need to ask you a few questions,” he said, taking a small note pad from an inside pocket of his suit jacket.
“Questions about what? What happened?” Jo said looking pleadingly at him. She had a very uneasy feeling in her stomach and was starting to feel dizzy.
“Did Miss Stephanie Grayson work for you?”
“Yes,” Jo said slowly, and then a sudden realization came to her. “What do you mean did? She does work for me.”
“I’m afraid Miss Grayson is deceased.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“It appears that Miss Grayson was attacked just outside the door while locking up this evening.”
“Attacked?” Jo’s voice broke and tears started to build in her eyes. “But Anna is the one who locks up the shop.”
“Well according to Miss Davis she had an engagement this evening and asked Miss Grayson to lock up. She blames herself, that’s why she’s so hysterical.”
“But who would attack her? She’s such a sweet girl.” Jo’s tears spilled over and ran down her face.
“Who or what, we don’t know yet. Her throat was mangled pretty badly and she lost a substantial amount of blood, it may have been an animal attack.”
Ian shifted slightly and his eyes began to dart around in the dark. He glanced toward Marcus and Isabella, who he knew could hear the whole conversation, and gave them the most discreet nod.
“An animal? What kind of animal would be roaming around the city that could do that much damage?” Jo asked completely unaware of Ian’s sudden uneasiness, and the fact that Marcus and Isabella had just disappeared.
“We don’t know yet but we are launching a complete investigation. I need to ask you if you knew anyone that Miss Grayson may not have gotten along with, anyone she may have had an argument with recently.”
“No, I told you she was a very sweet girl. I can’t imagine any one who would want to hurt her.”
Marcus and Isabella had reappeared by the car; Marcus looked to Ian and gave his head the slightest nod. Jo followed Ian’s gaze and became aware of his and Marcus’s silent communication.
“May I contact you if we have any further questions?” Detective Quimbly asked Jo, handing her a tissue and standing.
“Yes of course,” Jo said, wiping her tears and standing as well.
“The café will have to remain closed while we conduct our investigation.”
“Oh, yes of course.”
Once the detective was out of earshot Jo glared at Ian, her eyes flaring. “What’s going on Ian?” She demanded.
“Shh not here, come on let’s go,” Ian said, taking Jo by the elbow and leading her back to the car.
/>
Once they were in the car and driving away form the flashing lights, Ian looked in the rear view mirror at Marcus.
“Was it her?”
“Was it who?” Jo asked, glaring at Ian in a state of utter confusion.
Ian put a hand on Jo’s lap.
“Yes I could smell her,” Marcus said with a disgusted look on his face.
Isabella nodded in agreement, “Me too.”
Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on? The tears were once again pouring down Jo’s face and her stomach was churning.
Ian looked at Marcus in the mirror and then gave Jo a quick glance. “We’re pretty sure it was Mia,” he said, now staring at the road ahead of him.
“Pretty sure what was Mia?” Jo asked.
Ian gave Jo a knowing look but none of them answered her question.
“You think Mia killed Stephanie?” She said, suddenly understanding their silence.
“We know she did,” Marcus answered from behind her.
Jo’s cell phone rang as Ian parked the car and Jo fumbled with a trembling hand to answer.
“Hello, Clair? What is it? Actually there was an accident at the café. No, everything is not all right. Can I call you back in a few minutes? Yes I promise.”
Jo hung up the phone and looked at Ian, “I have to get Clair away from here.”
“Okay, whatever you think is best,” he said patting her knee.
Jo called Marie as soon as they stepped in the door; she made the excuse that Clair had been taking care of her father for far too long, and needed to have a little fun. She would have to call Clair’s school the following day and make alternate arrangements for her exams as she was supposed to be staring them next week. She then called Clair back and told her that she would pick her up in the morning to pack before her aunt came, and she would be staying with her for the majority of the summer. Jo was sure that Clair was suspicious of her motives but she did not care, she wanted Clair as far away form Mia as possible. Jo had seen very little of Clair over the last few months and missed her terribly, she was also disappointed that Clair and Ian had not had any time to get to know each other better.
Ian interrupted Jo’s thoughts, “It’s funny don’t you think, that Clair always seems to call when you’re upset.”
Jo looked at Ian intently, “Yes I noticed that too. Why do you think that is?”
“It could just be because you’re so close,” Ian said, walking to Jo and turning her to face him, “or maybe she is starting to get her mother’s intuition.”
Jo stared at Ian without speaking. She had felt a bit apprehensive lately that Clair was staring to pick up on her feelings almost the same as Ian had been able to do. She kept pushing the thought from her mind because frankly it scared her. All she was concerned about at the moment was Clair’s safety, and once Mia had been dealt with, she would tell Clair everything.
“I need to go home,” Jo said.
“You are home,” Ian said, pulling her close and wrapping his arms around her waist. “You’re my wife remember? This is your home.”