by Lana Melyan
“No. You shouldn’t do that. Nicky, this place is too dark, which makes me sure your ancestors used black magic to protect this tree. You don’t want to feed on it. I don’t understand why would they do that.” Connie looked up the oak. “When you say family tree, what do you mean by that?”
I had been so distracted by the thoughts of my powers that I had forgotten to show her what I wanted her to see in the first place.
“Sorry, I got carried away.” I drew closer to the tree and put my hand on its trunk. “Here, I’ll show you.” As the bark shimmered, I stepped away. “Connie, I don’t think this place feels dark because they used black magic. Look.”
Connie’s mouth fell open as, branch by branch, the golden inprint of the oak appear on its trunk.
“That’s why it's called a family tree. Those are the names of my ancestors, and I think their spirits are somewhere around.”
But it seemed Connie wasn’t listening. Staring closely at the names at the bottom, she turned her gaze up and stared at a small blinking word. “Here,” she beamed. “I found it. Your dad. Strange, though. It only shows his first name.” Pointing at one of the top branches, she read, “Vincent.”
“It’s not my Dad. This tree only shows the names of the dea—” I swallowed, then moved closer and looked at the name next to her finger.
“Look,” Connie said with excitement. “It’s growing.”
There, right in front of my eyes, from the side of my grandfathers branch was growing a new one, adding Callahan to my dad’s name.
The warmth of my body rushed to my head, plugging my ears.
“No.” It was all I managed to say, and this small word sucked all the air out of my lungs.
“Nicky?” Connie gaped at me.
“No. It shouldn’t be here.” Barely hearing my own voice, I slowly shook my head. “It can’t be.” I touched the golden branch with the tips of my shaking fingers. “No, no, you’re not dead.”
I turned around and ran to the car.
The moment I reached the road, I saw Logan, rushing toward me.
“Nicky?” he called. “What is it?”
“Nicky!” Connie’s voice called behind me.
But I ran past Logan, threw myself into my car, and took off.
It was getting dark. My head spun, and the road swam in front of my eyes. I drove as fast as I could.
The car flew into the front yard, and I hit the brake. I had no idea how I got to my house. Surprised that I got there in one piece, I pushed open the car door but was terrified to get out. My mom wasn’t a Callahan. If something had happened to her too, her name wouldn’t show up on the tree. If Dad was . . . I pierced my lip hard enough to taste blood. Could it be that Mom . . .
The front door opened. Gran came out and stopped under the porch light. Her eyes red, her lips trembling. Somehow it didn’t surprise me that Nathan showed up at the doorway right after her. His face dark, he stood by her side.
I heard a squeal of brakes behind me, and the next moment Connie and Logan appeared on the front yard.
I slowly drew myself out of the car. My whole body shaking, I took a few steps forward. Then I stopped and looked at Gran.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “And Mom?” I asked, tears choking me. “What about Mom?”
Gran covered her face with both hands, and her shoulders shuddered.
“NOOOOOO!” I cried, squeezing my hands into fists.
There was an explosion. The shattered glass from houses and cars windows flew in the air along with broken branches and twigs. Before they could shower down on us, Nathan threw his hand up and chanted under his breath, and everything rebounded from the transparent shield he cast above us.
The grief crushing my chest I fell to my knees.
Also by Lana Melyan
THE WEIGHT OF MAGIC
The Legacy – book 2
The First Spell – book 3
The First Trip – book 4
Books 5, 6, 7, coming soon.
The Eternity Road Trilogy
The Eternity Road–– book 1
The Return–– book 2
The Keeper Of The Book–– book 3
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