Chapter 2: Back from the Dead

**Jax**

As soon as we arrived, I knocked and announced myself. I fully expected to hear Sophie scream at us to leave, or to be struck by a lightning bolt simply for having the gall to show my face here again - witches were dramatic like that - but I did not expect the door to swing open. And I really didn't expect someone other than Sophie to be standing there.

While this girl looked eerily similar to Sophie, there were some slight differences. This girl was a tad shorter and fuller in the face, though it was more heart-shaped than round, and her hair wasn't quite as red. She also had fewer freckles, but the all-knowing green eyes were the same. Except hers flickered from green to yellow and back, her gaze shrewd and assessing.

"Who're you? And where's Sophie?" I asked. My body tensed, and behind me, Abby sucked in a breath.

The girl narrowed her eyes. Unease slithered through me, and my gaze darted above her head. Her aura danced with colors - reds, oranges, yellows, and blinding greens - much like flames from a too-hot fire. I'd never seen anything like it before, and I had no idea what to make of it. Abby moved closer to me, and my muscles tensed even more. Did she sense something was off about this girl, too?

"Doesn't matter who I am. You're the vampire and the human hunting for Isach," she said.

Abby's heart started to race, the sound echoing in my ears. I was already on edge, and hearing the blood rush through her body wasn't helping. Another second and I'd plunge over the cliff into full blown bloodlust, and that wouldn't be good for any of us. I curled my hands into fists, my gaze hard and unwavering on whoever this girl was.

"He wanted me to give you a message." Her cold gaze landed on Abby. "Stop looking for him."

"Why?" Abby demanded.

"Because he doesn't want to be found."

Abby shoved herself in front of me so she was facing off with this girl. I started to reach for her, to move her out of harm's way, but I hesitated. Abby was so much like Chloe in that she didn't back down from a fight, and she sure as h*ll knew how to stand up for herself. I stood perfectly still, my curiosity getting the best of me, and waited to see what Abby would say.

"Is that so? Well, you give him a message from me." Abby thrummed with rage, and I raised a brow, impressed. "Tell him he's a coward, and that he's going to wish he died during that war, because I am going to find him, and when I do, I'm going to kill him myself."

D*mn. Abby was a force to be reckoned with, that was for sure. The look on the girl's face was a mix between surprise, awe, and a healthy dose of fear. I bit back a smile.

Spinning around, Abby shouldered past me, then turned back. "You're not the only witch in this city, and you're definitely not the only witch I know. You might want to remind Isach of that fact, too."

"Is she seriously talking about Ivy Rose?" the girl asked.

And just like that, Abby had managed to throw this girl off her game. I owed Abby one for that. I laughed. "She's dead serious."

"I can't let her do that." The girl raised her hands.

Oh, h*ll no! In a flash, I was now behind the girl, my arm around her neck in a hold that would make it easy for me to snap her neck with very little effort. She wasn't going to hurt Abby, or me, for that matter. I'd kill her first, then deal with Sophie's wrath. Wouldn't be the first witch I'd pissed off, and she certainly wouldn't be the last.

Abby gasped.

"You really think you can stop us?" I asked.

"No, but I can."

My ears rang at the sound of his voice, and my hold on the witch loosened a fraction.

Abby whirled around. "Isach," she whispered.

"Abby," he said, his gaze steady on her.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Isach was really alive. That voodoo priestess we'd consulted hadn't lied to us. How the h*ll was this possible? Abby hurled herself at him, and he caught her in his arms. Slowly, I released my hold on the girl and held my hands up in surrender as I took a step back. Hopefully, she wasn't one of those spiteful witches that would curse me because I'd been prepared to kill her. I'd just gotten rid of one curse - thanks to Chloe - and I really didn't want to go home with a new one.

Thankfully, the witch didn't seem too angry with me, and I eased around her. Abby and Isach were still locked in a hug, and I smiled. Even though I had no idea what happened or what led us to this moment, I was happy for Abby, and based on the way she was back to bright yellow, I knew she was thrilled, too.

Then, in the blink of an eye, she switched to a fiery red. I braced myself for the inevitable explosion.

Abby shoved him away. "What the h*ll is wrong with you?"

And there it was.

Isach glanced at me. I stared back, refusing to give him any help. He'd brought this on himself, and he was going to pay the price.

"How are you alive? I saw your dead body." Abby wiped her tears with a trembling hand. "I said goodbye to you. I buried you, and I've spent every single day since then mourning you, and you've been alive this entire time?" Her voice rose with each word.

"I'm sorry," he said.

I cringed. Even I knew that was the wrong answer. After what he'd done, what he put Abby through, "I'm sorry" was a cop out. If Abby didn't start demanding an explanation soon, I would. And I'd make Isach answer whether he wanted to or not.

"You're sorry?" She laughed bitterly. "Do you have any idea what I've been through? I got fired from my job." She shoved him again, and he barely budged. "I dropped out of college." Another shove. "I gave up our apartment." This time, she pounded her fists against his chest, and he stood there like an unmoving wall. Had to give him a little credit for taking what she was dishing out. "I haven't been able to function, and you've been. . . what? Moving on? Hanging out with some girl."

This was escalating fast. "Okay, Abby. Easy." I reached for her arm.

She jerked away before I could touch her.

"Stay out of this, Jax," Isach warned.

I tilted my head with momentary shock. All right, fine. He didn't want my help. I took a step back and crossed my arms. Give him h*ll, Abby.

"You faked your death!" She shoved him again and again and again, and each time he'd move back a small step. "You. Left. Me."

I had to admit, I was enjoying the show. Though, in my opinion, Abby was being too easy on him. He deserved a lot more than she was giving him. . . like a few well-placed punches to his face. Her hands shook with rage, and her heart beat rapidly. Her aura was a steady glow of fury, and I shifted on my feet, prepared to intervene.

"We had plans. A future." She gave him one more hard shove, but this time, he didn't move an inch. Abby's shoulders sagged. "You promised to love me forever, and then you left me."

The a**hole had broken her. I clenched my jaw, my fangs aching to tear into him for hurting her. My fingers curled against my biceps, and I locked up every muscle in my body so I wouldn't lunge at him.

"Why? Why did you leave me?" She took a deep breath. "Why didn't you love me enough to stay?" She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.