Enchanted flames by peersr12 (read dune .TXT) 📕

chapter 1

Silence hadn't changed much, Casey noted as she strolled through her hometown towards the police headquarters. A few shops added here, the old ones were upgraded and renovated to take on the new competition but besides this Silence was the same secluded town that hid behind a small forest just off the major highway. It was mostly her job that had lead her back home. She knew she had to come back to settle scores from her past but, the reason unknown to her, she kept putting it off. When her supervisor handed her the thick file for her next assignment, she knew the opportune moment she had been running from had come to smack her in the face. She knew it was time to confront ghosts lurking in the darkness of her past. Too many things had happened, too many secrets hidden and too many lives hurt. And because of these things, it had made her immune to pain but for some reason she felt like she was missing something. She would eventually have to tell them all her secret but for now she felt it best that her secret be kept within the refines of her job.
She stepped inside the police headquarters. Bypassing the constable at the front desk, she headed for the chief's office.
"Excuse me, miss," the constable said grabbing her arm, “You can't go in there."
Casey groaned, “Do you want to be the one to tell Chief Barrows why I'm late for my nine o'clock or should I?"
The constable glanced at the clock behind Casey's head. Two minutes to nine. He looked towards the Chief's office. He was standing in the door with a deep frown on his face. He released Casey and shied back behind his desk. Casey readjusted her coat and walked towards Chief Barrows' office. It was spacious but it lacked the homely touch seen in the rest of the town.
He motioned for her to sit. She shook her head. Barrows shrugged and closed the door behind them. Barrows was aged, she knew this but you couldn't tell it.
"I am as young as a newborn." he had said over the phone. He had briefed her during the small drive from the town's small airstrip.
She looked at him, this man nearing fifty, and only looked a day over twenty five. She smiled to herself as she noted how well groomed he looked in his suit.
"Your accommodations at the hotel will be paid for." Barrows started heading over to the file cabinet.
"There really is no need." Casey said hand in pockets.
"But your hotel bill could amount to thousands during your stay."
"It could,” she paused, “if I had plans on staying there."
He turned to look at her. She expected this...the entire town had heard about Casey's bout with her mother. It wasn't even a full twenty four hours since it'd happened.
Gossip ruined this town then, it's still ruining it now, Casey thought.
“Trust me, I'm fine...I got this one." Casey answered; she didn't want to give him anything he could tell his drinking buddies. Barrows shrugged and pushed it no further. He dropped a thick file on the table.
"Our latest Vic, Jason Madden, out on a camping trip with his friends. Suddenly is taken by the levagne at dawn."
"A boy on a camping trip? What does the Levagne want with him?"
"We don't know the boy who tried to save him is in a coma and his sister's in shock."
"What is it exactly that you want me to do?"
"Truth be told Casey, no one around her knows the least bit of what to do when it comes to these creatures. We had been hoping that they’d keep out of Silence. It’s a small town, some of us have a hard time earning a living as it stands. Cheznich referred us to the agency you work for after the first killing we had. Said the organization was a hush-hush, and that’s how we wanted to keep it, but after this last scene everyone knows they are here.” he said sliding the file over to her, “I’m comforted it’s you they sent, I’m able to sleep better at night. Whatever you need we’ll make available as soon as possible, you just do whatever it is that you do to rid us of these creatures.”
Casey stared at the old house she'd spent her early years in. She could hear the laughter echo off the walls of times when she and her father played in it.
She was only five and she'd just come in from the orchard that lay to the east of the house. She had only manage to put down the basket of apples her mother had asked her to pick when she heard the front door close and heard her father's whistle. Casey, happy at her father's return, ran through the house, muddied boots still on, leaving all her mud tracks behind. Her mother raced after her angrily. Casey remembered giggling till her stomach hurt at the way her father waved off her mother.
This memory brought a brief smile to her face. Sighing, she turned and watched as a silver pick up truck came down the drive. Turning back to the house, she retrieved the 'for sale' sign and dumped it in to the metal bin nearby. She was standing on the porch by the time he got out of the truck.
"You're here early." he said, voice as deep as the sky is blue. She hadn't remembered it being that deep. But then again, everything about this town had changed. His hair was cut low. That too had changed, she noted. And his little boy face had grown into the handsome one she saw now.
"And you're late, as always." she said smiling. She stared at his crooked nose.
Well, there's one thing the same, she thought as she remembered the fist she'd threw in his face for attempting to kiss her.
"Casey Callahan." he said walking up the path.
"Ethan Gallagher."
The drive up the road was more deadly than he'd imagine.
Thank God we have a buyer, he thought. Ethan Gallagher sat back in his pick up and nearly cried from relief when he turned on to better road. He was simple, living simple and enjoying it. Or at least he was. He dragged a hand through what was left of his wavy hair. He had lost the woman he loved to a car accident. Then his mother took ill and he was forced to take on a job he wanted nothing to do with. Ethan sighed, he could make out the beginnings of the Callahan property. The house was on the market for about five years and was in need of repairs. He had no idea, why at this time, someone would want to buy a house in this condition. Especially at a price well beyond the asking price. Ethan glanced at the clipboard and shook his head.
"Buyer seems so embarrassed they chose to stay anonymous." Ethan half laughed, not that he blamed them.
He was about fifty metres out when he saw what looked to be his buyer throwing their real estate sign away. The person, clearly female, started up the path as he came to a halt on the poorly paved road.
The house in itself was an aged Victorian house. It looked as though, with a tip of the finger, it would collapse.
Shaking his head as he exited the truck, he hoped she knew what she was dong. He looked up at his buyer and stared blankly at her.
It had been years since he had last seen her but Ethan could never forget her face. Long black hair she had pulled back in one, eyes a deep rich brown, skin a little darker than his red.
It was her, there was no doubting it. He had heard the rumours of her return but didn't pay heed. Now here she was, leaning on the porch, in a dark blue jeans and fitted white t-shirt.
"You're here early."
"And you're late, as always." Casey replied smiling
"Casey Callahan." Ethan said walking up the path.
"Ethan Gallagher."
"It is nice to see you again." Ethan sand handing her a bunch of keys.
"Same for you," she said scanning the keys,"The stable key is missing."
Ethan raised a brow. Sighing he ran his finger down the clipboard. Realizing she was right, he handed her the stable key. He stared at her as she walked to the far end of the porch to take a look behind the house.
"Casey?" he called to her.
"Hmm?" she answered without looking back.
"Why did you come back?"
She scoffed. She knew he meant why had she bought this house but that was always like Ethan never getting to the point even if his life depended on it. Bending to retrieve a fallen key, she looked at him,"I needed a place to call mine. And home," she said nodding to the house,"is as close to that as I'll get."
Ethan stared at her lost for words.
The sound of hoofs made her look back. She wasn't ready for visitors at least not yet. Most definitely not him.
"Is this thing finalized?" Casey asked pointing towards the clipboard as she started for the path.34
Ethan shrugged,"Mostly signatures and a schedule for the-"
"If you send them, they're working my schedule." Casey interrupted, kicking a small pebble down the path.
"Well I can't argue there."
"Very well." she turned to look at him, "Who is that?"
Ethan raised a brow, when she pointed down the road, he turned to see a horse and rider approaching. He gave a crooked smile but when he turned to her she was already half way to the orchard. He stared after her, wondering how she'd gotten there so quickly.37
"I heard you had a buyer." the rider said trotting to a stop outside the porch.
"Yeah we do." Ethan answered and looked at his brother,"Why are you here?"
"Passed by mum, she told me you had a buyer." He nodded to the figure disappearing into the orchard,"That her?"38
Ethan nodded looking at Casey still amazed.
"Who is it?"
"Who's who?" Ethan asked, not paying him any mind.
he buyer, who is it?" Eric asked.
"Oh, Casey Callahan."
Eric searched his brother's face for signs of mockery, when he found none, he urged the horse in the direction of the orchard. His eyes danced from left to right as he scanned the orchard in desperation. He slowed from a trot to a walk and stared around the orchard. She was on foot. She couldn't disappear just like that. Finally convinced he had searched all possibilities of her hiding, he came to a halt. He was about to return to the house when he saw her emerged from behind an apple tree just above him. She was playing with an apple and staring at the ground.
"Were you even going to let me know that you were back?" he asked dismounting the horse. She stepped away from him. Looking up at his face, she fought the urge that burned her heart. He hadn't changed at all. His hazel eyes, his long black hair, his deep rich brown skin, his muscular body and his heart of ice.
"Eventually." she answered looking away.
Why was this so hard? She hadn't planned on seeing him on her first day. But then again nothing was going according to plan.
"Casey?" he said taking a step towards her. She retreated into a tree. Was she hurting him or herself? Questions raced through her head. It was obvious, he