Tossing the thought aside, I got into Julian’s car and closed the passenger door. I looked back at Dawn, who was still intertwined in Dylan’s embrace. I worried leaving her behind was a big mistake.
CHAPTER
6
“Do not set foot on the path the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers...for they cannot rest until they do evil…” Pastor Luke Hayle read from his Bible. He stood behind the podium before the congregation dressed in a charcoal gray suit that accentuated his graying hair. The town of Dixon was present wearing their Sunday best attentively listening to the sermon. Pastor Hayle’s gorgeous wife, Sharon Hayle, sat in the front row impeccably dressed in a floral sundress, her short auburn hair curled to perfection. She reminded me of a Stepford wife; always cheerful and happy. Jane was so lucky to have amazing, loving parents. My family was one big dysfunctional mess.
I was sandwiched between my mother and Isaac, who wouldn’t sit still. I had to pinch the little brat almost every second for flipping my hair. Thankfully, we were seated at the back of the church, unnoticeable to most of the congregation so we didn’t cause much of a disruption. That didn’t stop the people around us from glaring anytime Isaac yelped in pain.
I shook my leg out of boredom. I wasn’t a fan of waking up early Sunday morning to go to church. My mother placed her hand on my leg to stop it from shaking.
I was having a hard time focusing. Dawn had gone M.I.A. all weekend and did not return my phone calls. When I went by her house on Saturday afternoon, no one was home. I’d been worried sick something terrible might have happened to her.
I changed my focus to the cutout butterfly on the front of my tan flats. I felt out of my element dressed in a navy knee-length skirt that resembled a poodle skirt. Dressing presentable for church was non-negotiable to my mother. On any other day, she allowed me to express myself as I pleased as long as it didn’t involve nudity or foul language. Presentable or not, I felt like a hypocrite.
After church, my mother handed me a piece of paper and closed my fist which only meant one thing: I had to go shopping.
“Make sure you get everything,” she said in a low voice.
“Okay,” I replied.
Jane rushed over to us grinning widely. “Alexis, would you like to have lunch with my family?”
“Uh…” I hesitated.
“Of course, she does.” My mother answered for me.
Great.
It was almost twelve when we arrived at Jane’s plantation- style home in the historic district of Dixon. Her house was twice the size as mine and had a beautiful driveway lined with willow trees, the type that belonged inside an HGTV magazine. It was the epitome of Southern charm.
Once we were seated at the dining room table, I found myself breaking bread with the Hayles and the Dixons. If I’d known Savannah would be here, I would have gone home with my mother and save myself the misery of being in her presence.
While Luke said grace, I stared at Savannah and wondered if her parents knew she was out clubbing at Eve’s Paradise Friday night. Did they know she had a much older boyfriend? Or was it her dirty little secret?
“Savannah Grace Dixon, where are your manners?” Mayor Dixon said with an irritated scowl. “Don’t slouch, it’s bad for your posture.”
“Momma I’m not slouching.” Savannah sat up straight then shot me a glare filled with contempt. I returned it with a sneer. Savannah sported the same peroxide blonde hair, blue eyes, and thick Southern Belle accent as her mother’s. And apparently, the same obsession with tanning beds.
Savannah wasted no time showing her distaste for my presence. When I reached for the water pitcher, she grabbed it first, slowly pouring water into her glass, then placed it on the other end of the table. I clenched my teeth holding in my temper as I narrowed my eyes with a half-smile. She was trying to piss me off, but I wasn’t going to give in so easily.
But it was after we finished our lunch—Mrs. Hayle’s amazing blue-ribbon chicken pot pie—that almost got me into trouble. She tossed a napkin that landed right on my face. I balled my fists, but I kept my cool and took it like a champ out of respect for the Hayles.
The mean girl attitude was getting old. I was sick of Savannah’s insults and passive-aggressive behavior. I didn’t know what I did for her to hate me so much. If anything, I should be the one who’s angry with her for screwing my ex-boyfriend.
The conversation between the adults consisted of local politics, Savannah and Jane’s university choices—they were picking them out like kids at a candy store. The Mayor went on and on about Savannah being the top of her class—that’s not the only place she’s on top, I thought holding back a chuckle. I mostly ignored them counting down the minutes before I could go home when suddenly, the focus shifted, and all eyes were on me.
“What about you, Alexis?” I glanced up and found Luke smiling, waiting for an answer along with the rest of the table.
My palms began to sweat.
“Uh...I’m not sure,” I managed to say. I looked down at my empty plate and gently tapped it with the fork. “I can’t figure out what to wear most days, let alone a college.” I tittered, but no one laughed. “I’ll probably skip it all together and work instead.”
I was met with raised eyebrows, nods, and unimpressed smiles. There was an uncomfortably long silence before Mayor
Dixon said, “A blue collar worker. I like it. It takes a strong woman to do manual labor.”
It sounded like a backhanded compliment, but I’ll take it. I’d rather be independent and strong than a prodigal brat.
“How is Priscilla doing?” Luke asked changing the subject. “We haven’t seen her in a very long time.”
The sound of my sister’s name caused my heart to beat erratically. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone asked about her. I honestly believed people forgot she even existed.
“She’s okay,” I replied in a neutral tone. “She’s been busy with...school.”
“GSU, right?” Luke continued. “In Statesboro?”
“Yes. I think she’s enrolled in the nursing program.” I hated lying to them. But no one, not even my friends, could know about Priscilla.
“That’s wonderful. Good for her,” Sharon added, taking a sip of sweet tea. “Tell her we miss her. She needs to stop by and pay us a visit one of these days.”
“I’ll pass along the message.”
“Wan’t she in some kinda trouble or somethin’?” Savannah’s voice ripped through my ears.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at her. She was trying to humiliate me by bringing up my sister’s past. It wasn’t like it was some kind of secret. Everyone in town knew about Priscilla’s erratic behavior, plummeting grades, and run-ins with the police after she attempted to run away several times.
“No,” I said firmly. “Priscilla was just a little misguided. She’s doing better now.”
There was another long silence before Mayor Dixon graced us with her words of fucking wisdom.
“Bless your momma’s heart for building the strength to handle her. I’m so glad your sister found the light of God and was steered in the right direction before she did something she might regret later,” she said with a condescending smile.
“Yep.” I placed my napkin on the table. “Will you excuse me? I need to use the bathroom. I forgot I stepped on a nail this morning, and now my shoe is full of blood.”
Disappearing into the hallway, I rushed out of there with no intention of going back. My plan was to hide out in the bathroom until everyone left. I was tired of all the school talk and probing questions about my sister.
As I strolled deeper, I paused to admire the Hayle’s travel photographs of the Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum, the London Bridge, the pyramids of Egypt and many exotic Caribbean getaways. A pang of jealousy rose over me. The last time my family went on vacation was to celebrate my Quinceañera in Mexico even though I asked my mother to buy me a car instead.
One picture, in particular, stuck out; it was Jane a
s a baby shortly after she was adopted by the Hayle’s while Luke was stationed in South Korea. Luke and Sharon both wore white robes and golden crowns, a golden chalice in Luke’s hand. Baby Jane had on a white lace Christening gown with a long skirt that almost touched the ground. It reminded me of a Catholic baptism which was strange because our church was non-denominational. Maybe it was a Korean thing.
Once I reached the bathroom, I noticed a sliver of light shining through a door on the opposite end. Too curious to resist, I peeked inside the baroque-style office shaped like a dome filled with antique books reaching two stories high. But what caught my attention was the mural painted on the ceiling of angels in battle. I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one was around before pushing the door and stepping inside. There was a sense of comfort in every cell of my body at the musty smell of books lingering in the air with traces of lemon polish. I loved books just as much as I loved movies. I loved being surrounded by the wisdom of the great authors of the past.
In front of a bay window, a large mahogany desk was stacked with more books. The walls were lined with paintings of generals and military award plaques. I walked around brushing my fingers against the cherry wainscoting molding before I stopped in front of a glass display shelf filled with an array of coins and medals. I picked up a silver coin running my finger over the image of an angel slaying a dragon.
“It’s the Archangel, Saint Michael.” Startled by Luke’s voice, I dropped the coin.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to come into your office,” I said embarrassed as Luke bent down to pick up the coin.
“It’s perfectly fine,” he said with a friendly expression. He placed the coin in my hand then closed it into a fist. “You can have it—for protection. Michael is the patron of the paratroopers. It will keep you safe wherever you go.”
I wanted to die. I couldn’t look him in the eyes. But despite my intrusion, Luke remained warm and kind as ever.
“Thank you.” I murmured, keeping a tight grip on the coin—so tight I thought my skin was going rip open.
“Do you believe he’s out there?” I asked. “Michael?”
The angels had been living on Earth for many years now, and yet none of the well-known angels in the Bible had made an appearance like Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. I was beginning to believe maybe they didn’t exist.
“Of course, he is,” he replied.
“Then why hasn’t he revealed himself as the rest of the angels?”
“Perhaps it’s not in God’s will for Michael to show himself at this moment. I am certain when the time is right, he will.”
Unsatisfied by Luke’s answer, I opened my mouth to ask another question when Jane walked in.
“There you are!” Jane said taking my hand. “Let’s go downtown. I’m dying for ice-cream!”
CHAPTER
7
Downtown Dixon resembled a ghost town on Sundays. There wasn’t much on Main Street but one road full of tiny boutiques, pawn shops, and overpriced antique stores. Jane parked in front of the Swirling Vanilla ice-cream parlor where all of the teenagers of Dixon hung out after church. It was the only business open on Sunday, and since there was literally nothing to do in Dixon, it was always crowded.
I stepped out of the car in no mood to be around my peers. I’d had enough of these fuckers during the week, I didn’t need to sacrifice my Sundays also. Glimpsing through the window of the Swirling Vanilla, I saw Savannah had arrived before us. She was surrounded by the Dixon Chicks who were sitting at a table in the corner closest to the window with Eddie and his football jerks.
Glancing around, I searched for an escape and found it in The Burning Witch Apothecary; a dark piece of heaven amid pastel-colored buildings. I completely forgot it was open on Sunday. I ran across the street toward the deserted building and ditched Jane along with the rest of Dixon.
“Alexis! Where are you going?” Jane hollered behind me, but I kept jogging.
When I stepped through the door of The Burning Witch Apothecary, I was greeted by the sharp aroma of lavender. The massive wooden shelves surrounding the building were filled with spell books, hand-poured candles, tinctures, and jars of herbs. The tables and chairs at the center of the store were empty. To my relief, I found Dawn, who was chanting incantations behind the register counter with a small bowl and a red candle in front of her.
“Why haven’t you returned my calls?” I rushed to her breathing furiously.
“I’ve been in no mood to talk to anyone,” Dawn replied, her body drooping over the counter.
“What happened Friday night?”
“Nothing happened. We were so busy making out, we didn’t exchange phone numbers.” She leaned across the counter placing her hands over her face. “I haven’t heard from Dylan since.”
“Is that what this is for?” I asked waving a hand over the ritual space.
“It’s a love spell.” She sighed. “I’m trying to attract Dylan back into my life.”
Oh boy. Here we go again.
“Maybe it’s for the best. We shouldn’t mix with them anyway.”
“Are you okay? Because you’re starting to sound like a true Dixonian.”
I rolled my eyes. Dawn was right, Dixon was beginning to influence my thinking. I handed Dawn the list my mother gave me. She scanned over the items reading them out loud.
“Smudge stick, white candles—your mom doesn’t like me hanging around you but yet, here you are shopping for her.” She gave me a smug smirk before retrieving the items. “Oh, the irony.”
It was true. My mother didn’t like Dawn, mostly because she had the freedom to do whatever she wanted, whenever she pleased. When Dawn was twelve, her father died of cancer. Her mother went around Dixon on the prowl for any available bachelor quickly moving on to the married ones. Rumors quickly spread among the housewives that Mrs. Wilde was using witchcraft to lure the married men, which was laughable. But when you live in a God-fearing town, people will believe anything they hear. Mrs. Wilde opened The Burning Witch Apothecary in what used to be a tavern back in 1890 as a little ‘fuck you’ to the town of Dixon. While Mrs. Wilde kept busy juggling the business and—men, she hardly made any time for Dawn.
“Before I forget,” Dawn began as she took out the Super-8 camera from underneath the counter followed by a huge box of film. “A deal is a deal.”
I jumped up-and-down clapping my hands like a giddy girl on Christmas morning, except this was better than any Christmas gift I’d ever received.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful,” I said petting my new toy.
The bells on the front door jingled. I turned around and saw Jane step inside. Her face slightly twisted in shock and reluctance. She slowly walked toward me, careful not to touch anything, and clutching her purse.
Dawn’s face perked up at the sight of Jane.
“Jane. What brings you in today? Looking for a spell on how to revive your fashion sense? I must say your cute yellow sundress really brightens up your complexion. And that little cardigan tied around your shoulders makes me want to vomit,” she said with a smirk daring Jane to say something.
My jaw dropped so low; I could literally feel the ground. There were times when Dawn had no filter, a trait I learned to love over time but bullying others was something I wasn’t willing to tolerate. It was a sensitive subject for me because I used to get bullied in middle school.
“I’m getting frozen yogurt. I’ll wait for you in the car, Alexis,” Jane said, her cheeks turning bright pink.
“What is wrong with you?” I gave Dawn the evil eye.
“What? She’s a walking snob. She was asking for it the moment she let Martha Stewart dress her. I really don’t know why you hang out with her.”
“People have feelings, you know? Just because she doesn’t share the same tastes as you, doesn’t make her a target of your bitterness!” I was furious with Dawn and quickly regretted my decision to come see her.
The bells on the doo
r rang again. This time, it was Eddie who walked through with his little sidekicks Mason and Vance trailing behind looking around the shop with intense curiosity. They were all dressed like good churchgoing Southern boys in khaki pants, long sleeve shirts, and bow ties.
I turned to Dawn, wide-eyed and full of dread.
“What’s up?” Eddie said stopping next to me.
“Nothing. Just hanging out,” I replied, trying to sound casual.
“Cool,” he said with a smirk. “Listen, Mason is having a party after the football game on Friday. You guys should come.”
“Like, I totally wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Dawn said in a preppy voice. “I’m so there.”
“Funny.” Eddie didn’t look amused. He looked at me, waiting.
I placed my hand on the counter trying to find an excuse to give him. “Uh—you know how my mother is. She won’t let me out of her sight.”
“That’s never stopped you before,” he shot back.
I turned to Dawn and mouthed what the hell? As much as I tried to blow Eddie off, he wasn’t getting the hint I was no longer interested in him.
He was right, though. If I really wanted to go to the party, I could easily sneak out. He was the one who convinced me to sneak out of my room for the first time a year ago while we were dating. But that was in the past. I wasn’t willing to do it anymore. At least not for him. Not after what he did.
“Yo, let’s get out of here. I’m scared I’m going to get turned into a dog,” Mason said.
“You’re already a dog, Mason,” Dawn said with a curt smirk.
Mason’s face lit with anger as he clenched his jaw. “Whatever, bitch,” Mason snapped knocking over a box of candles on purpose on his way out. “Oops.”
“That’s not cool, man!” Eddie and I knelt down on the ground and picked up the candles as Dawn rushed over to us.
“Asshole!” Dawn shouted after Mason. “Great friends you have, Eddie.”
“I’m sorry,” he said mortified. I could hear the guilt in his voice. Ever since Eddie ditched us to hang with the rich, popular crowd of Dixon High, things between us had not been the same.
THE TRAGIC + DIVINE, Book 1 Page 6