“I can see that.” I giggle. Between her happy nature and the wonderful smells, it’s almost impossible to be stressed here.
A couple enters the bakery, and I step away from the glass so they can eye the treats.
“Do you mind coming in on the weekends? Say, noon to four? That’s when I need the most help.”
“That’s perfect.” I would still be able to help out at the daycare, if they’ll have me, and I’ll go to an early Mass. On one hand, everything is coming together.
But on the other hand, it still feels like my life is falling apart.
“Great. You can start next weekend.” She focuses on the couple. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass. Have you decided what you want?”
I wave and leave the bakery. Luckily, Gavin and that demon dog are nowhere in sight. The mountain looms in the near distance. It hardly seems scary now, with the sun shining on it.
Will the witches be upset with me for not showing up last night?
Do I care?
A half hour later, I stand before the cottage. Before my knuckles can rap against the wooden door, it opens.
“Hello?” I call. The cottage is fully furnished again, although with new, modern furniture.
“You’re late.” Sapphire Belladonna shakes her head, hands on hips. Given her medieval attire, she looks like an annoyed queen.
“Hours late. Why didn’t you come last night? We know you receive the message.” Silver Tiger scowls and steps forward out of the shadows. Her black dress makes her look like a stereotypical witch, a mean one.
I scowl right back. “Why did you let me think that shamans attacked the other night?”
“Shamans? What night?” Sapphire Belladonna asks.
“The night you went to talk to the other covens. Amethyst Wolf handled it,” Silver Tiger answers. Her glower is potent enough to wilt flowers, but I don’t flinch or look away.
“Handled what, Silver Tiger? And why are you only mentioning this now?”
The witch wrinkles her nose and bares her teeth at me as if this is all my fault. Which, I guess, it is. “A puny witch hunter and its mangy pet.”
“Calder,” I cut in.
“Do they still breathe?” Sapphire Belladonna crosses her arms, lips pursed.
“Yes. I knew you wouldn’t be happy if I gave the go ahead to kill them while you were away.”
So Sapphire Belladonna has seniority over Silver Tiger. Good.
“Why did you call for me?” I interject. We’re standing by a triangular glass table with onyx chairs, but none of us move to sit.
“Your powers are manifesting more and more each day. Shamans are becoming aware of you, and your training must start now,” Sapphire Belladonna says. “You must learn to protect yourself.”
Silver Tiger drops gloves on top of the table.
“What are those?”
“Deerskin leather gloves,” she says. “Set them on fire.”
I step back, hands raised. “Not yet. I want to know what you told the other witches.”
Sapphire Belladonna nods. “Only that you returned to us and are willing to accept who you are.”
I doubt that.
“What do you want from me?” I ask.
“Right now, for you to set the gloves on fire.” Silver Tiger sidesteps the table to sit on a couch and eyes me as if I’m a TV.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Sapphire Belladonna touches my hair. “We promised your mother we would look after you. We are honoring that promise.”
“After you had her killed?” I don’t recognize my voice. It’s so cold.
“All magic comes with a price,” Silver Tiger says, but her normal harshness is gone, replaced with almost tenderness.
“Even mine?”
“That remains to be seen.” Sapphire Belladonna pats my head as if I’m a young child.
Not comforting but also not unexpected. “I’m the first one, aren’t I? The first magic incarnate.”
“First and perhaps only. It’s possible another powerful enough celestial event will never occur while the earth revolves for another one to be…” Sapphire Belladonna waves her hand.
Created, made, brought forth… I get the idea. If I didn’t feel like a freak before, I really do now.
“There’s really no secret agenda?” I ask.
They exchange a long glance.
“I really hate when you do that.”
Silver Tiger opens her palm, and fire appears. She closes it, and the flame extinguishes. “Other witches can also sense your growing power. They want to use you to destroy the shamans so the war will be over once and for all.”
“You two don’t want that?”
“We do want the war to be over, but to drag you into it, no, we do not think that would be wise,” Sapphire Belladonna explains.
“And Amethyst Wolf, who is that?”
“Our coven is just the two of us,” Sapphire Belladonna says. “Silver Tiger stayed here to keep an eye on you, so I asked Amethyst Wolf to stay with Silver Tiger while I spoke with the other nearby covens.”
“She looks just like you.”
Sapphire Belladonna’s laugh reminds me of bells. “That’s because she’s my sister.”
“Oh. Why aren’t you in the same coven?”
“That’s a long story and one you don’t need to know.” Sapphire Belladonna points to the gloves. “I answered most of your questions so now please try to set them on fire.”
I’ll never be happy doing what they dictate me to, but I do want to be able to protect myself and those I love, so I imagine the gloves on fire.
Nothing happens.
“Haven’t you been practicing?” Silver Tiger asks snidely.
“I was able to lift a pencil.” Wow, does that sound pathetic. A pencil. Hardly a weapon worth bringing to a fight.
“How did you do that?” Sapphire Belladonna glares at Silver Tiger.
“I concentrated really hard and failed a bunch of times, but I have a headache. It’s hard to concentrate.”
“You need more focus.” Silver Tiger points to the gloves, and an image appears—Vince’s face. “Imagine that if you don’t burn these gloves, he’ll burn in Hell.”
“That’s not funny!” I protest. “Don’t mock my beliefs.”
The witch shrugs. “Focus your anger then. Put it to good use.”
My stomach churns so violently at the thought of Vince in Hell I think I’m going to throw up. I prayed for him for years, worried he would never make peace with God. It’s one of my many fears.
I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. Slow and steady. My stomach relaxes, and the knot of tension in my neck disappears. Even the pain from my headache vanishes.
In my heart, I find my feelings for Vince. I care for him deeply and know that one day, I might grow to love him. It’s a powerful feeling, and I harness it. I take the power out of me and open my eyes.
I can almost see the glimmer of magic hovering before me and will it to enter the gloves. They now glitter but don’t burst into flames.
If Vince needs me to save him, will I be able to?
Or will I fail then too?
Chapter 20
“YOU’RE ALMOST THERE,” Sapphire Belladonna says softly.
The connection to my magic disappears. “I can’t.”
“Don’t think so much. Feel. Magic is about emotions.”
“But it’s hard,” I whine.
“Only because you have a mental block.”
Mental block? “Is that why my mom can’t use magic?”
Silver Tiger rolls her eyes. “Your mother is dead.”
“I mean Patricia Miller.”
Silver Tiger’s lips twitch upward. “Yes, Patricia can’t use magic because of a mental block. She’s too scared to actually use it. Anyone can use magic, but that doesn’t mean that everyone will.”
“I know this is hard, Crystal.” Sapphire Belladonna sits beside Silver Tiger on the couch. “We aren’t exactly su
re how we can help you. Magic for us has to be different than magic for you considering that you are magic.”
Right. If I’m magic, then shouldn’t I have a magical touch or something?
Taking a deep breath, I touch a glove and shove hotness toward it. The gloves grow warm. Sweat beads on my forehead, but still I pour energy into creating heat. Finally, just before I give up, a tiny spark flickers, and the gloves catch on fire.
“There.” I back away from the table, feeling accomplished.
The flame extinguishes.
I groan and slouch, wanting to curl up into a ball. What a joke.
“That’s a start.” Sapphire Belladonna stands, glides over, and wraps her arm around my shoulder.
“Why doesn’t it come easily for me anymore? Before I used magic without even knowing!”
“It’s always harder to do something on purpose. Although you controlling time, that is impressive.” Silver Tiger grins. “Ready for your homework assignment?”
“Do I have a choice in the matter?”
She ignores me. “If you see the witch hunter, the man in the cottage that night, run away. Do not confront him.”
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Stay away from his son too.”
“That’s impossible,” I protest. “We go to the same high school.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to be friends.”
“But Gavin isn’t a witch hunter!”
“Maybe not, but when one is forced to make a choice between friends and family, one always chooses family,” Sapphire Belladonna says. “We consider you family. I know you think this Gavin is on your side, but he isn’t.”
Actually I’m not sure if Gavin is on my side, but I do think he’ll help if shamans come. “What else?”
“Use magic however you can, whenever you can. Even if it’s only picking up pencils.” Silver Tiger’s grin stretches even wider. “Although you might want to try books soon. At least they’ll hurt.”
I can’t stand her smug look. “Pencils would hurt vampires, right?”
“If vampires existed. Which they don’t.”
Finally, a bit of good news. “What about the shamans?”
Sapphire Belladonna smiles maternally. “We’ve been monitoring the village. None have entered the city limits, although we do know that two, maybe three, have been spotted nearby. Two we can handle without outside help. Any more than that…”
“That’s why you spoke with the other covens. For help.”
“Yes.” She points to the front door, and it opens.
“Wait,” Silver Tiger says.
I grimace. What snide remark does she have now?
“You might find it easier to stop thinking of yourself as having magic and having power. You are magic. Remember that, and it might be easier for you to master yourself.”
I really need to stop being so judgmental. “Thanks for the tip, Silver Tiger. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Emotions churning, I leave and return home. The rest of the afternoon and evening fly by, and I fall asleep holding the still unopened letter from my father.
* * *
BEFORE LUNCH THE next day at school, I go to the bathroom to wash my hands when I hear sniffles coming from the last stall.
“Are you all right?” I ask through the door.
“Crystal, is that you?”
I barely recognize Paula’s voice. “Yes. What’s wrong?”
The door swings open, and Paula comes out. A few tears run down her face. “It was a disaster! All Sean talked about was Brianna, and who can blame him? Long blonde hair, blue eyes, she looks like a real live Barbie doll! How can I compete with her?”
Oh no. My heart breaks for her. “If Sean can’t see you for the great girl you are, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
Paula rips a paper towel from the dispenser and blows her nose. “That’s easy for you to say. You have Vince.”
“What about Brian? Or Ned?”
“No. It’s not like I can just snap my fingers and stop liking Sean, and I don’t like those guys, not like that. I guess I won’t be going to prom.”
“Not if I can help it.” I head toward the door. “You coming?”
Paula shakes her head. “I think I’ll eat lunch in here.”
“Ew, that’s gross. Come on. We don’t have to sit with everyone else.”
“Really?” A little bit of light comes back to her eyes.
“Sure.”
She smiles. “You’re a great friend, Crystal. Vince can sit with us too. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your prince charming.”
“Ugh! Bri told you?”
Her giggle echoes in the bathroom.
We enter the cafeteria and claim an empty table. Vince joins us a minute later. “Why’re we sitting over here?”
Paula stiffens. “Sean’s a…”
“Say no more. Go ahead and bash away. I hear that helps.” He props up his chin with his hands and fails miserably at looking serious.
Paula and I laugh.
My throat’s dry, and the water I brought isn’t going to do it for me. “I’m gonna get a soda. Be right back.”
I walk over to the soda machine, the entire time sending mental demands to Sean that he’s thirsty.
He falls into line behind me.
Huh. Maybe I’m getting better at this.
I pretend to just notice him. “Oh, hi, Sean.”
“Hey. Where’s Paula? She hasn’t come to the table.”
I stare into his green eyes. “What game are you playing?”
“What?”
Is he that oblivious? “Paula really likes you. She’s a great girl, and you would be lucky to have her.”
“She does?” He raises his eyebrows.
Completely clueless. “I can understand if you like Brianna, but that doesn’t mean you have to be so rotten to Paula. Stop hurting her.”
He frowns and rubs the back of his neck. “Did she think it was a double date?”
“How could she when you wanted Brianna to come with?”
“I never knew she liked me!” Sean throws his arms out wide.
“Well, keep being a jerk, and she won’t anymore.”
“I do like Bri,” he says quietly. “I didn’t mean to hurt Paula though.”
“Well, intentionally or not, you did.”
The guy in front of me gets his soda and walks away. I shove some coins into the machine and press the button for a Diet Coke. When I whip around to confront Sean some more, he’s already walking back to our normal table. Bri sits across from him, but he isn’t paying attention to her. Or anyone else. He seems to be thinking.
Good. Maybe he’ll decide he does like Paula.
I grin. While I won’t force Sean to like Paula, planting the seed is a reasonable compromise.
Chapter 21
I MANAGE TO ignore Gavin in the few classes we have together that afternoon. When the final bell rings, I race to my locker. Vince is already there, waiting with an easy smile.
“I called Mrs. Davis yesterday. She can’t wait to meet you. Hopefully everything will work out and you can start on Wednesday.”
“Great.” Yeah… I really need to mention my possible second job to Mom. Whoops.
I borrow his cell and leave Mom a message that I’m with Vince. After I hang up and grab my books, he holds my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world. His hand is warm, his grip perfect—not too tight but not too loose either. We walk to the parking lot.
“I noticed you haven’t talked to Gavin much lately. You can be friends with him. I’m not the jealous type.” He puffs out his chest, trying to appear macho. He doesn’t exactly fail at pulling that look off, that is, until he crosses his eyes.
I burst out laughing. I toss my backpack behind my seat and climb in. “Don’t you still need an adult in the car when you drive?”
He nodded. “Pray I don’t get pulled over.”
“Vince.”
“It’s just fo
r another ten days. Then I can take my driver license test and pass, and it’ll be fine. My parents are okay with it, so long as I don’t get caught. Besides, you didn’t have an issue the other day.”
I shake my head but can’t complain too much. I like having Vince all to myself.
Even though it’s only a short drive, I close my eyes and attempt to see the future. All I see is blackness, but then I spy a man dressed in dark clothing. He opens my bedroom door. I’m sleeping on my bed. The man approaches and removes a dagger from his clothes. As he lifts it high above his head, I gasp and open my eyes.
“Something wrong?” Vince asks.
“No, I’m fine.” Not even close to being okay.
“You haven’t opened the letter from your dad, have you?”
“Nope.”
Why do I keep putting it off? It’s the only connection I have to him. I have to open it. Just not yet.
For the rest of the ride, we talk about the memorial service. Tommy’s favorite color had been green, and I plan on using green tablecloths for the tables at the fire station. “Unless you think it’s corny.”
“It’s a nice touch.” Vince parks the car, and I climb out. “You know, girls complain all the time that chivalry’s dead.” He rolls his eyes playfully. “But they don’t wait for their guy to open the door for them.”
“Oh, I see. So it’s the woman’s fault?” I tease.
“In this case, yes.”
“Do you want me to get back in the car?”
“Yes, actually.”
I giggle and do just that. Vince makes a production out of exiting the car, closing his door, and walking around to mine. He opens the door and holds out his hand. “There you go, milady.”
I playfully rub his short hair. “Thank you.”
He kisses my cheek. “You’re welcome.”
We hold hands as we walk along the sidewalk to the daycare center. Vince opens the front door and waves me inside.
The sound of children laughing and talking greets me. About twenty kids play throughout the large room. Toys are scattered all over the floor, and I carefully place my feet to avoid stepping on any. A car zooms toward me, right beneath where I’m about to step. I teeter, and Vince grabs my arm and rights me.
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