Once Upon a Steamy Night
Chapter Twenty-one

"Good morning, Princess."

Claire smiled in her sleep as she felt the hot breath fan her cheeks and felt warm lips on hers. She moaned and moved her lips in sync to the velvet lips. Lips?

Kissing?!

Someone was kissing her in her sleep?!

With sudden realization, Claire's eyes flew open, and she pushed off whoever it was with her powers except the person didn't budge, he just glanced at her with an ear-splitting grin.

"I was wondering when you will finally wake up."

"Liam?" She stared at him in awe, "Y-you didn't..."

"Yeah I didn't fly off when you did your magic tricks," he chuckled, "I'm not weak again, princess."

Claire frowned as she sat up on the bed while Liam sat beside her, she glanced at her bedside clock and saw it was two hours past midnight. The full moon was over now which means he was initiated. She glanced at his vibrant green eyes that glowed softly in the dim light of her room.

Was he here to kill her?

Panic gripped her as she stood up from the bed.

"What are you doing here?"

A hurt look crossed his face. "I missed you. I didn't see you throughout yesterday. I had to see you today."

"I was at your house, Liam. You told your housekeeper you didn't want to see me," she snapped.

"That was my father," he groaned, "He kept me locked up throughout and away from my phone. He said my mind needed solitude."

Claire sighed but the fear didn't go away. Her magic hadn't hurt him, not that she had wanted to hurt him but still she wasn't convinced. "You don't believe." The look of hurt turned to anger.

"It's not like that, Liam..."

"You're giving up already just because I got initiated?" He interrupted her sharply, "If I wanted you dead you'd be dead by now."

"That's the problem, Liam. I don't know how to be around you anymore. I'm scared," she muttered, letting her hair fall as tears filled her eyes. "You don't have to be scared, princess."

Claire gasped when she saw him standing before her. One minute he was across the room and now, he was in front of her.

"I won't hurt you, Claire. Just get used to me having powers also, it's my gift."

She rested her head on his chest when he caressed her cheeks and allowed him to wipe the tears away.

"I love you so much, Claire. If I am to kill you then we both go down together," he murmured kissing her temples.

"I'm sorry I got scared. I was just worried since I haven't seen you all day."

"I'll tell you how the initiation process went," he smiled.

"You don't have to," she shrugged.

"It's okay, princess. I remembered things also like the time I got hit by a lightning bolt."

Claire sighed. "I'm sorry, Liam. My magic was all over the place in that period and I had a scary nightmare."

"It's fine, Claire. I understand and I will never use it against you."

Claire rested her head in his embrace again and allowed her heavy eyelids to close, the fear disappeared.

***

Scot waited outside the door till he was certain that he was ready for a confrontation before he knocked on the door. "Come," Captain Jones's voice commanded.

Scot had no idea how this man managed to be scary but that was what made him a good police officer.

"Good morning, Captain," he greeted politely.

"How may I help you, Scot?" He asked without sparing him a glance.

"Captain, it's about Claire's case."

That got his attention and he fixed beaded eyes on him.

"What about it?"

"No one in this department is investigating it," he replied.

"It's a closed case, Scot. We have evidence showing she killed her parents."

"You know that's bullshit, the same way that she's an adopted daughter!" He snapped.

Captain Jones was quiet for a moment then he shrugged. "It's also more proof that she killed them to claim their wealth."

"She's seventeen for crying out loud!" Scot exclaimed.

The captain shrugged. "I don't see any difference with other murderers."

"Claire is not a murderer and you know it! Stop trying to pin this on her when you lied to the public about the cause of her death!!" Scot blurted.

The Captain lifted a bushy brow at him. "Really? How do you know that?"

Scot got bolder. "I've been doing my research too."

"I have proof that shows that Claire is innocent, and the council knows what's going on. So, tell me what's going on."

Captain Jones sighed. "I was afraid it would come to this, Scot. But if I tell you then you don't have any choice but to join the council and protect the secret."

"Does this have anything to do with my parents?"

"Your father was the cause of his death, unfortunately, his wife had to join him. He accused the wrong person, and they took an oath. He was burned to death because of the oath he took," Jones replied.

Scot frowned. "I don't understand. Who did he accuse?"

"A demon has been terrorizing Rutherford for years now and that's why Tyler is the mayor, he's a hunter. An investigation was conducted, and we found the method of the killer. They drain the life of their victim. We found out that this demon kept living with an individual till it killed a lot of people and then killed their parents and eventually themselves."

Scot eyed the Captain as he continued.

"Your father began his research and when we found the next demon, he wouldn't let us kill her claiming she was innocent even when she had killed her parents before us. He was convinced someone was controlling her mind. We told him it was the demon, but he wouldn't listen and eventually, he set the child free."

"I don't understand, Captain," he sighed.

"Your father accused Sabrina of being responsible for all the deaths when we knew she never left the Lakehouse. He had no idea how to complete his theory, but he was so certain, he swore an oath with her using the magic of the crystal ball. That's how he died because Sabrina was innocent."

"What has Claire got to do with all this?"

"Claire is possessed by this demon and we need to burn her along with the demon. She's the one responsible for the death of her parents," Jones concluded.

"Why didn't you tell me or why did you threaten to take care of me just like my father?"

"Because Sabrina saw a vision where you hindered our plans and that's why we never told you anything about this. Your father was a good man, but he just got carried away with everything, I'm sorry, Scot." Scot nodded. "Thanks for being honest, Captain. Can I have a chat with Sabrina?"

The Captain eyed him. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"I just need to ask her to try and see a vision on me," he lied smoothly.

"I'm supposed to lock you up the instant you know the truth, but I suppose you could see her," Captain Jones sighed.

"Thank you, Captain."

Scot left and headed to the lake house. If there was one thing he was certain about it was that his father's instincts never mislead him. And if his father was confirmed it was Sabrina then indeed it was her. He arrived at the lake house and saw it was rowdy. There were a lot of people and he could easily spot Sabrina's redhead from the bar.

He headed towards her and ordered a drink.

"Rough day, officer?" She asked, winking at him.

He chuckled. "Not really. I wanted us to chat about Claire."

She shrugged. "What about her?"

"Are you convinced she killed her parents?"

"A lot of shit happens, Scot. But I know everything is not what it seems," she smiled and focused on mixing the next drink.

Scot picked up his glass and stared at the liquid. That's when the dim light from the bar reflected on Sabrina's face and focused on his glass.

He could see her reflection from the glass except it wasn't her face that he saw. He saw the face of a different woman with pitch-black eyes. The glass slipped from his hands and shattered.

"Are you alright?" she asked, placing a palm on his shoulder.

He gasped when he saw darkness, fear, and terrifying screams. He pulled away immediately.

"I'm fine but I'm feeling pretty tired," he lied.

Without a second glance, he sprinted out of the lake house towards Claire's house.

***

"There's a seer on the council?"

Claire stared at Liam surprised as he recounted his initiation process.

"Yeah but she's creepy as hell," Liam replied.

"I'll be damned! I thought seers were extinct," Adam mused surprised.

Liam shrugged. "Sabrina may be the last of her kind."

"I hope so else we'll be dead!"

Claire and the rest glanced at Scot panting as he collapsed on the floor.

"What's the matter, Scot?" Adam asked.

"Sorry I'm late for the meeting I was doing my investigation," he huffed.

"What did you find out?" Claire asked.

"Sabrina is something else other than a seer maybe a shapeshifter and she's the one who killed everyone including my parents and Claire's adopted parents." "What do you mean?" Liam asked.

"If she's guilty then tell the council," Claire added.

"That's the thing. They don't believe she's guilty; besides, they think you're possessed, and they want to burn you and the demon," Scot explained.

"How did you know all these, Scot?" Adam asked eying him curiously, "Or are Scot, Sabrina?"

In a flash, Scot's skin melted away and a beautiful redhead stood before them.

"Sabrina?" Liam asked shocked as they all took a step back.

"Where's Scot?" Claire asked.

She shrugged. "I couldn't let blab his mouth again just like his father. I needed a new villain, so you have to take the fall for this, Claire."

"I'll tell my father, Sabrina," Liam threatened.

"No one will believe you after all you will say anything to save your girlfriend," she smiled.

"What are you?" Adam asked.

"Hmm, smart Adam. How did you figure it out?" She smirked.

"Answer me and I'll surprise you," Adam sneered.

"I am your worst nightmare," she cackled.

"What is going to happen now?" Liam rolled his eyes.

"The council is on their way to take Claire and burn her," she shrugged, "I'm just keeping you all inside this place."

Claire's eyes glowed as she bawled her hands in fists.

We need to go, Claire.

"I also happen to know that you and Adam aren't human," Sabrina said, staring at her.

Claire cocked an eyebrow at her but kept quiet.

"C'mon, I can sense the energy from both of you," she chuckled.

Claire closed her eyes and breathed deeply then exhaled. Sabrina elevated above the ground and was suspended in the air.

Sabrina's eyes widened as she stared at Claire. "Impossible! An Elementalist."

"Where is Scot?" Claire asked again.

"What are you, Claire? A witch or?" Sabrina asked, amused.

"Tell me where Scot is before I kill you!" She screamed.

"Lotem!" Sabrina whispered.

Claire felt herself elevate above the ground as she glared at Sabrina.

"Only I can free you from this, Sabrina. So, don't bother."

The air around them changed crackling with energy as the sky darkened and lightning filled the sky. Claire's hair flew around her as her eyes glowed. "Incredible. You're the faerie spoken of in the prophecy," Sabrina said in awe.

"Where is Scot?!" Claire thundered as the table lamp shattered.

"He's locked in the cellar under the lake house," she replied.

"We have to go, Claire. The council is near, and you need to leave this world," Adam said his golden eyes glowing.

"Magnificent," Sabrina gasped as Claire let her go.

With a shriek, she grabbed Liam's arms and muttered a string of words Claire couldn't understand before she disappeared. "What did she do?" Liam asked, surprised.

"No time to explain, we need to go!" Claire replied.

"He's not going anywhere, Claire," Adam opposed.

"Dad, this storm is slowing the council down. We need to rescue Scot and leave," Claire protested.

"You and I need to leave, Claire. We can't yank them out of their world," Adam snapped.

"I'm coming with Claire. I'm never leaving her side," Liam said holding Claire.

"The same goes for me," Scot said.

Claire eyed him. "Dad, is it Scot or Sabrina?"

"I was in the cellar and next I'm here. I think Sabrina did it," Scot said.

Adam rolled his eyes. "I did. Now please take Liam home while I and Claire go back to ours."

Without listening to their arguments, Adam opened a portal and grabbed Claire hauling her into the portal before stepping into it.

"Wait...Adam!" Scot and Liam yelled.

Claire closed her eyes and chanted the spell in her head. She couldn't see anything except darkness and then she felt dizzy with everything spinning around her, she fainted.