The Witch Born to Smoulder (Inferno Book 4)

had harboured a witch.
‘Arrest her,’ said the police officer.
What? No!
Fire rushed into my hands. I started to move out from behind the shed towards the back door, but then I heard Violet yell, ‘Get out of my house!’
I knew she didn’t mean the police.
‘Take her away!’ barked the police officer. ‘And find Eva!’
Every part of me was screaming to go to Violet – to help her – to protect her, but the moment I did, I’d implicate her. Then I would be arrested or killed. And then what? What use would I be to Violet or my family then?
A spotlight turned on, lighting Violet’s backyard, blinding me.
I stepped back behind the shed as two police officers walked into the garden.
‘She must have left this way. She can’t be far. Come on – let’s find the witch.’
Air left my lungs. For a few moments, I was frozen. Then I heard their footsteps draw closer as they sought me out like sniffer dogs. If I stayed where I was, they would find me. All hope would be lost. I would never find my family or be able to protect Violet.
I took a steadying breath. Tonight, somehow, I would have to suppress my shock, my devastation; tonight, I would have to use my every power to protect myself – so I could help those I loved.
As the police officers came close, I shut my eyes and remembered the air magic Jet had taught me, in what felt like another lifetime. Taking a deep breath, I followed Jet’s instructions, as though he whispered them in my ear. I opened my eyes. The air around me was filling with mist, and the police officers began to curse.
When the mist grew deep and heavy, I slowly, quietly crept past the officers and into the corner of Violet’s garden. I stepped over her low fence and concentrated on producing the mist that would continue to hide me.
I jogged down the side of Violet’s neighbours’ house. When I hit the road, I glanced in both directions. To my right was the road that led to the hidden dinghy that would take me to Jet. To my left was the road leading back to town – to Ezra’s boat.
Tonight, I’d been supposed to meet him there, to give him the answer to his proposal, to make love to the man who loved me, whom I loved. Would Ezra still go there? Would he hope I would still meet him there? Would he come away with me?
My eyes filled with tears. The mist surrounding me evaporated, leaving me visible under the street light. A nearby light flicked on. Someone stood at the window.
Move, Eva!
I stopped thinking, stopped analysing. I turned left and strode down the street, hiding myself with mist. In the distance I heard the sounds of sirens. I quickened my pace. As I reached an intersection, three police cars streamed by, lights flashing, sirens blaring. The moment they passed, I crossed the road and jogged towards the wharf. Occasionally a car passed me, or a light flickered on. But the mist hid me, kept me safe.
I made it down to the wharf, where I hid in the shadows. For minutes, I watched Ezra’s boat for signs of life, for police officers who may have been sent there to trap me. The night was still and watchful, and the only sound was water lapping against the sides of the boats. There were no other souls about.
I scurried down the wharf and climbed onto Ezra’s boat. Memories of our afternoon, only hours before, where we had sailed together flooded back to me. Tears rushed to my eyes. I quickly found the spare key that I’d hidden only moments before we’d jumped from the boat, racing each other to the car.
With shaking hands, I slid the key into its lock and opened up the door to the inside of the boat. Carefully, I stepped inside, then locked the door behind me. I stood still as memories from the happy times I’d shared with Ezra came dancing out from the shadows. I started to shake. I found my way to the bed and sat down, no longer able to hold back the tears.
As the minutes ticked by, the reality of what just happened took hold. My breath became jagged and my mind started turning over what this meant – for this night, but also for the days, weeks and months ahead. My thoughts scattered and re-formed, again and again, and in the end all that I knew was that my old life, the only life I’d ever truly known, was over forever. All that mattered now was saving my family. I had to focus on survival. Without me, my family were as good as dead.
I slid the backpack off, retrieved Violet’s mobile and texted Jet, who I knew kept his solar-charged phone beside his bed at night. I briefly explained what had happened and told him to expect me by daybreak. I raided Ezra’s fridge, sliding food and water bottles into the bag. Then I changed into one of my tracksuits I’d left on the boat before sliding on Violet’s warm coat and runners.
I checked my watch, knowing every second I stayed in the boat was a second closer to when the police might show up. I stared at Violet’s phone, resisting the temptation to call Ezra. Orpheus would be waiting for my call.
Orpheus! Smouldering heat rippled inside of my body. All this time, he’d wanted me to join his family, to be the wife of his only son, to be the woman who gave him grandchildren. But his treacherous true self had turned on me, turned on my family in an instant. Now he hunted me – no doubt wanting me to hang for my crime of being a witch.
My phone beeped. There was a text from Jet, telling me he would motor out halfway to meet me. He told me to be careful, and to hurry the hell up. With