Page 9 of Snow’s Charming (Hope Runs Deep #7)

The School of Villains

I , Savannah Silverwand, promise I’m only here to interject a little, dear readers!

Jackie walked through the forest as if she were in her right mind.

We know she wanted the werewolves to kill Sesi Snow.

It was her supposed foolproof plan, so why wasn’t she afraid of the shifters killing her, too?

I mean seriously—this witch is truly bat-shit crazy, for sure, and that’s why you’ll hear more about the story through another character’s point of view.

“I’ve got just the person to help me kill that brat for good. She’ll never suspect an army buddy of her father’s wanting to kill her.”

A rustling sound rang through the woods, and a man with dark hair came into her view.

“Perfect! Sleeper from the brigade will do! According to Kenneth, he’s the best marksman in the group and the perfect man for killing Sesi. ”

Jackie’s lips curled into a wicked smirk.

What? Did you really think I wouldn’t follow the evil witch-bitch into the woods? Come on! Of course, I am! I need to know what she’s up to just as much as all y’all!

Jackie crept out of the shadows and sauntered towards Sleeper.

“Jackie? Why am I not surprised to see you? What do you want?” I asked her as I folded my arms across my chest.

“Just to talk,” Jackie said with her palms outstretched and facing me. “I wanted to know how Sesi is. There’s a nasty rumor about this area having a lot of vicious wolves. I do hope she isn’t walking around the grounds late at night. She might get hurt!”

“Jackie—she’s not three years old anymore. As a young adult, she can take care of herself. Not only that, but you don’t think we’d protect her and any guests staying at the lodge from,” I said as I made air quotes before continuing, “vicious wolves.”

“She is my daughter—I’m only looking out for her. Oh, and I wanted to thank you for returning the Uhaul so quickly, too.”

I shook my head.

“Do you have anything else to say? Because frankly, Jackie, I’m a little busy walking my doggo.”

Jackie plucked a wand from behind her sleeve and waved it at Sleeper. A crackling sound shot through the forest as the wand emitted a hazy green light .

“Doctrina.”

The single word she uttered rang through the forest. I stood silent, making sure I looked like I could not move. Jackie cackled.

“You, my dear, are now under my spell. Give this apple to Sesi, and once she’s put to sleep, kill her and dispose of the body, but not before brandishing me with her heart. I will give you three days to complete this task. Then you must deliver the heart to me at the Snow Estate.”

I gave Jackie a nod and grabbed the apple from her hand.

“Yes,” I said as my eyes fixed on the apple.

Jackie smiled at him as a green and silver mist gathered around her and then she vanished from my sight.

I pocketed the apple into the large pocket of my red and black checkered flannel before heading out of the forest and into the main lodge, searching for Chary. Thankfully, he was at the front desk.

“We’ve got a problem.” I said as I pulled the apple out of my pocket and placed it on the ledge of the front desk before continuing. “That’s from Jackie.”

“Jackie? What’s she planning? We haven’t gotten enough intel from Jerry yet about what she’s done to Sesi.”

“I get that, but this is nothing good! It’s riddled with a sleeping spell. She tried pulling a whammy on me to give Sesi this apple and then kill her, but as you can understand?—”

“Right—of course! No witch can put you under a spell because you are a hybrid—a werewitch.”

“Bingo! Plus she still believes we are humans—at least for now. But this apple is the least of our problems. Get the brigade together so we can go over strategies. I want to put an end to Jackie’s interference with Sesi.

This has to stop now. Also? Get Sylus here.

I know it may be hard to keep his wolf in check because we are talking about his woman, but he needs the intel as much as we do. ”

“You aren’t suggesting we kill Jackie? I get she’s not technically a mortal, but the witches won’t see it that way—nor will Lilith. I don’t want to cross that vampire. She’s the first one ever—and a goddess to boot! We can’t kill Jackie—even if we wanted to.”

“Chary—what do you take me for? A fool? No, I’ve got a better idea.

Besides, werewolves can’t kill anyone remotely human.

It’s law. And sadly, Jackie is human—even though she’s a poor excuse for one.

However? We can’t allow her to have her witch powers any longer.

With the help, and hopefully the grace of the gods and goddesses, I want to strip the bitch’s powers so she can’t hurt anyone ever again.

” My lips thinned before continuing. “I just want to do things right. Bound powers are a fate far worse than death to a witch—you get that.”

“You’re right.”

“Let’s both rally the rest of the troops, including Sesi. She needs to know what’s up. I don’t want her running into the bitch during their shopping excursion.”

“Would she try something? I mean, Jackie came here to brainwash you. She doesn’t seem like the type to get her hands dirty.”

I shrugged my shoulders at Chary.

“I won’t rule anything out at this point. After witnessing her almost striking the princess and future Luna of our pack, in public? Well? Let’s just say I wouldn’t put anything past Jackie. Plus? Sylus told Bear something upsetting yesterday.”

“Okay? Well, say no more! I’ll put out the mind meld.”

“Don’t go superhero on me, Chary. Leonard Snart just entered my mind, and I’m expecting our plan to, as he put it, go off the rails.”

“Sorry, but texting them all will take too long. Also, that’s not a superhero quote. It’s a supervillain quote. And? Not that I want to get technical on you, but my mind meld quote isn’t from a superhero show; it’s from?—”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s all Geekville to me. But can we come up with a better code name for our telepathy rather than something from Your Geek Speak?”

Chary laughed. “Fine. But give me some time to come up with something else.”

“Fair enough.”

“Oh! What about telepathic text?” Asked Joker as he walked up to the both of them at the main desk .

“Fine! Anything but mind meld. Now, here’s what I was thinking, Chary.” I said.

Everyone gathered at the main desk, and Chary motioned for them to go to the back office behind the check-in station. Sleeper sucked in a breath.

“Chary is usually the one to give you the intel, but since I know more about this situation, he’s asked me to take the lead. I hope that’s fair with y’all.”

The group nodded. So, Sleeper sucked in another breath to continue. “First, I’d like to address you, Sesi, because this plan is contingent upon your approving it. We will do nothing without your say.”

I gazed at Sleeper with furrowed brows.

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s no easy way to sugarcoat this for you, Sesi, so I’m just going to rip the bandage off. Is that okay with you?”

I nodded, not knowing what more to say.

“Jackie came to see me today, and she tried to cast a spell on me. She wanted to brainwash me into killing you.”

I swallowed hard as I gazed at Sleeper and pressed a hand to my chest. My heart was pounding so fast I assumed it would burst through my ribcage.

I didn’t want to hear any of this. All I wanted was to retreat to the bedroom and spend the afternoon with Sylus.

Ever since I got here, Sylus has been the calming presence I needed and wanted.

All in one night over grilled cheese, tomato soup, fries, and conversation, he proved to be my home, my sense of belonging, something I never thought I’d have.

I had some moments of happiness and a sense of belonging with my father, but Jackie was never any of those things to me. I understand that now and want nothing more than to put all the pain she caused me far behind me.

The thing was, I couldn’t escape this. Jackie wanted to continue hurting me and my real family, and I would not let her do this any longer.

As an adult, Sleeper was giving me the one thing I never had at the Snow Estate: a chance to make things right.

I also needed to decide on my role in this pack.

Did I want to be their Luna and take on that responsibility I knew almost nothing about?

Or not? Either way, I had to hear Sleeper out and stop hiding.

“Sleeper, did you get any intel about what we were talking about last night?”

“Not just yet, Sylus, but Jerry is on it.”

“Good.”

I furrowed my brows again, this time in Sylus’s direction.

“It’s nothing, princess. I’m just gathering some intel on Jackie. We can’t be too careful.”

He’d given me a small smile. Something told me I shouldn’t press the issue, so I directed my gaze back to Sleeper.

“Well, first let me explain that she’s a witch, Sesi.

However, please understand that she can’t enchant me to do her bidding.

I want to make that clear. I’m a werewitch.

A regular witch can’t put me under a spell’s influence because of my hybrid nature.

I’m a witch and a werewolf. Second? We suspected your father was under her spell but didn’t have proof until he’d gotten cancer and sought us out.

The brigade hated the situation, and that’s why we came to the funeral.

We wanted to protect you from her. None of us thought Jackie was both verbally and physically abusive toward you.

Nor did any of us believe she was capable of hiring a hitman.

If we thought for a second that you and Baseline were in trouble…

” His voice broke as he scrubbed a hand over his face.

I crossed my arms and let out a slow-steady breath.

“It’s okay, Sleeper. I think I can speak for us all and say none of us, including myself, believed she was this evil.” Another steady breath passed my lips before continuing. “I’m sorry, something’s coming over me. I rarely get this upset.”