Entrelacen

by Morales, Dani

  The man starts to move his lips like he’s saying a spell. I see his hand turn red as he places it against the glass on the other side of mine. I know I should be scared. I know I should back away, but I just concentrate on everything I know about myself: the love I have for the boys, the determination to keep them safe, and the knowledge of my bloodline. These words pass through my mind, and I know it’s for protection.

  “In the shadows, evils hide,

  Ready to draw me from love’s side, But with your help I shall be strong

  And banish all that do me wrong Send them away, send them

  astray ,Never again to pass my way So mote it be” I say it under my breath. It must be a spell because a white light starts shining around my hand, and I feel heat. He wasn’t expecting me to do that because his scowl changes to shock. His hand drops from the glass, and he disappears from my view.

  I look over at Logan, and he’s staring out the window. I can’t see what he’s looking at from where I’m standing, but it’s safe to say that it’s our little friend. I can tell by the anger rolling off of him. Before he gets a chance to corner me, I turn around and head towards the back room to talk to Gran.

  “Okay Gran. I know you know what just happened out there, so don’t try to deny it. How did I know that spell, and why the hell was a light radiating out of my hand?” I manage to get out my question before having an anxiety attack.

  “Calm down April, and sit down,” she sighs. “The reason you knew the spell is because it’s inside of you. You know things you don’t realize because it has been passed through your blood from generation to generation. As for the light, a witch's power manifests differently for each individual. Maybe your power represents something bigger and is viewed by those who know of magic as a white aura or light.”

  Okay. That makes sense, I think. So I ’m a witch. I knew that, butIt’s different to actually experience being one. I have to wrap my head around this because if I can do that again, my chances of saving my family are greater. I know I can save them. Walking away from Logan was hard, but at least now there’s hope.

  “Okay. Okay, I can do this. I have to do this. So I’ll get random images in my head when I need something? Is that what you are saying?”

  “Basically yes. You can learn things by me, or you can just rely on your intuition," she speaks like this isn’t a big deal.

  “Gran, you have to realize you grew up in this. I knew about it but have never actually practiced it, at least not knowingly. This is a huge deal for me. You do realize that, right?”

  “Child I’m not worried about what is coming; It’s already here. It’s here, just like it was for Logan 5 years ago. The thing you fail to realize is that it never leaves. It just focuses its attention elsewhere when they’ve lost the battle with the one they seek.”

  “Do you think I should take the week off? I love this store, and I don’t want to quit, but I need to be able to be around the boys. Distractions can’t happen,” I say sadly. “We both know my biggest distraction is in the other room.” The last part comes out as a whisper. A few new cracks are forming on my heart. Right now, in this moment, I wish I was a kid again. You can cover up skinned knees with band aids, but you can’t cover the cracks of a broken heart.

  Gran looks at me like part of her is breaking too. We’ve all become so close in the short time that not seeing each other every day is hard to imagine. “I think that would be the best option April. You will always have a job here no matter what happens. Handle what you must and then come back. I know it seems like all is lost, but remember that love always finds a way.”

  I shrug because I’m not sure I would be able to use my voice right now. I know that walking out the door right now is the smart thing to do, the right thing, but why does it feel so wrong? Before I can think about things further, I walk over to Gran and hug her. “Thank you for everything Gran, but I think I need to go right now before I change my mind and jeopardize everything. I love you, and I’ll see you soon.”

  “I know child. I love you too. Don’t worry. Everything will work out. You’ll see. I expect you in this shop bright and early in a week with donuts," she laughs.

  I offer her a smile. Now I need to try to go back out to the front of the store without Logan seeing me. I peek out and see that he’s occupied reading to the kids. Biting my lip, I walk out of the new age section and down the aisle that leads straight to the door. I make it to the door, and when I push it open, I turn back for one last look. He’s staring right at me with a look of hurt. You have to do this April. No distractions, remember? Dropping my gaze, I turn my head, push the door open, and walk out.

  Chapter 34

  Logan I know that no one noticed the white light coming from April’s hands or the protection spell that she said guarding everyone in the store. That doesn’t bug me. What bugs me is the fact that I couldn’t make it over to her to help. She doesn’t need this added stress in her life. Whatever she said in her spell made him walk away, but I made sure to keep watch on him.

  Once he got out of her vision, he turned and looked right at me. I knew him. He was the same guy who gave me the choice four years ago, the same guy who put me into a coma. I can’t prove that obviously, but I know it was true. What is he doing back here, and why April? He smirks and salutes me as he walks away. Then he’s gone out of my sight, but I know he’s still out there somewhere. I can feel him.

  I turn to look at April and see her disappearing into the back room. Good, she’s going to talk with Gran. These pesky kids want to be read to, so I sit down and begin reading. I’m almost done with the second book when I notice her. She’s focused with her head down and walking straight for the door. Just when I think she is going to keep going, she stops. I know she can feel me looking at her. She turns around and looks right at me. It takes everything in me to remain seated and not get up to hug her. To take that look of defeat off her gorgeous face. Her eyes show the fight within her. She is debating, and I know the moment I lose. Her eyes aren’t their normal hazel; they have changed to light brown. She’s made her choice, so she turns and walks away from me without another glance. She is gone.

  I finish the book I was reading and pretend that nothing had just happened. I can’t believe she wouldn’t even say bye. How could she do that, especially after what happened between us last night? I can’t be mad though. I know that. I was just as cold this morning, but I just didn’t expect that from her. I check out all of the customers. Once the store is quiet, I make my way to the back to talk to Gran.

  “Hey Gran. Do you know how I can find the thing or person I’m supposed to protect?” “Well hello to you too Logan. You can’t find it. It will reveal itself to you when the time comes.” She sounds angry and annoyed with me.

  “Well, that’s crap, and you know it Gran. Sorry for the attitude, but April just left without telling me anything. I know I was busy, but she just… left.” I can barely bring myself to say it.

  “She has her own problems that she needs to deal with boy, as do you. You can’t fault her for leaving you before you could do the same to her, can you?”

  She has a point. I know I can't blame April, but that doesn’t change the fact that my chest is aching. The very thing I didn’t know I was missing for so long is now gone. It was taken from me. I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye.

  “I know Gran. You're right that I can’t be upset with her, but I’m hurt. I’m allowed to feel that.”

  “You both think this is the end. Maybe this is the beginning of something. Give it a week Logan. You might be surprised at what happens.” She gets up and walks out the back door.

  Great. Gran is pissed at me. April walked out on me. The day just keeps getting better and better. I need to put everything to the back of my mind and try to figure out how to find whatever It’s that I’m supposed to protect. That will keep me occupied and keep my mind off of April.

  *** It’s almost closing time. I'm here working by myself with very few cus
tomers, so I start cleaning. I lock the door as soon as the last college kid is out. Then I turn on some music and start shelving some books. It reminds me of the time I caught April cleaning and dancing. So much for not thinking about her.

  I start thinking about conversations I had with Mom before she died. I

  remember her talking about the amulet that she was supposed to protect. Maybe that will be my clue. She said she never found it after Dad took it from her. He’s in jail, and I refuse to go see him, even if it would help me. I remember her saying it was silver with an onyx stone in the center, and it had rubies and diamonds in a unique pattern around it. I let out a heavy breath. “I could use some help here,” I say to no one in particular.

  I finish up at the store and head home.

  Alone.

  It’s been two days since I’ve seen April. Gran didn’t tell me she was taking the week off. That makes me worry even more about her. April loved the bookstore. She was at home here. If she stepped away from that, its either because of me or because something major was about to go down, and she didn’t want me to be part of it. Whatever the case is, I miss her. The kids she read to every day miss her. Gran misses her, and I think she blames me for April leaving. Hell, I blame myself for her leaving.

  I’m off today, so I’m just lying on my bed thinking about how three days ago everything was perfect. I had a beautiful girl lying next to me and was having fun with three amazing kids. The future looked great. Starting to doze off, I turned the light next to me off and let my mind wander. I’ve been so wound up getting ready for a fight that I haven’t relaxed since that night, the amazing night with April underneath me and her skin pressed against mine. The way her lips felt against my neck, the way her hands clawed my back, and the way she said my name drove me crazy. GAW, it all felt so good

  So much for relaxing. I get up to take a shower. A cold shower.

  Chapter 35

  April I miss the bookstore a lot, but the boys love that I’m able to stay home and play with them. I knew I would be thinking about Logan quite a bit, even when I'm trying not to, but I didn’t expect the boys to ask about him. I wasn’t counting on that. They’ve all asked a few times if he was going to come over to play again, but I try to distract them with water balloon fights. I get soaked every time. I feel like I’m wearing a mask again. I’m happy because of the boys, but it just isn't the same when I know I can't have Logan.

  I need to wash my sheets, but the smell of him still lingers on the pillows and covers, so I haven’t been able to convince myself to actually do it. The boys are laying down watching some T.V. before bed, so I’m cleaning and doing laundry. I’m picking up clothes that are around the boy’s room when I see a shadow pass the door towards my room. I walk over there to see nothing, but I can feel a presence. I sit on the side Logan sat on and can tell the smell is fading. I should just wash the sheets, and get it over with. There is no reason to keep torturing myself, right? I get up to get the boys into their beds, so I can put the last load in the dryer before heading back to my bedroom.

  I play some music because I can’t stand it being so quiet. A random song by Taylor Swift is playing. I don’t even put my pajamas on. I just take off my pants and lay down. I grab the pillow he laid on and hug it to my chest, inhaling his smell. I’m so close to caving in and calling him, but I only have to get through 4 more days of this. I wish I knew which boyIt’s going to be. I already have an idea, but I don’t want to make assumptions just yet.

  I fall asleep to the smell of Logan and the memories of how his skin felt on mine.

  *** I get up and take the kids to school. It’s a new day, and I’m not going to let anything get to me. I’m just going to get ready for whatever It’s that’s coming. I only have 3 days left. That means I need to focus in on whatever power lies within me. I’m still a little freaked about the white light coming from my hands. I’m more freaked out that my mind displayed some weird language in my head, and I knew what it meant. So what do I do now? Research. Learn.

  After hours of scouring the internet, I find out that the “symbols” I saw are the written language of the witches, called Theban. I love the way it looks. I used to write like this in my journals when I was in elementary. At the time, I thought it was something I made up in order to keep my secrets a secret, but as it turns out, it was just my mind relaying a language I already knew. I find out that when a person is born a witch, the power in that family’s bloodline gets stronger with each generation. That’s good to know.

  My morning passed by really quickly since I was kept busy researching. I pick up the boys from school and let them go play in the backyard while I fix dinner.

  “Mom! Mathew found something, and he’s not sharing,” Lee yells.

  I drop the spoon I was washing into the sink and freeze. I knew it. I knew it was going to be him. I dry my hands and head out the back door. I call him over to me and send the others inside to wash up. I grab Mathew and hug him. He’s been through so much already; he doesn’t need any more drama in his life. He just needs to be a happy kid with no worries.

  “Let me see it Mathew.” My voice sounds tired.

  “Mom, I swear I found it buried in the dirt,” he says.

  I know he says that because he thinks he’s in trouble. The object is cold to the touch. I can tell that it must have been beautiful once. The silver is dirty, and the Onyx stone is dulled. The rubies and diamonds that surround it are also dull in color.

  “What is it mom?”

  “I believe it was a necklace once kiddo. Now it looks like it was worn and forgotten.”

  “Can I keep it Mom?”

  “I don’t see why not, but let’s put it up so your brothers won’t fight over it.”

  “Okay. Can I put it in my b ackpack for now until we can find a place for it?”

  “Sure kiddo. Now go get washed up. Dinner is ready.”

  I guess I'll be stopping by the bookstore to see Gran tomorrow while the kids are in school, so I can see what this necklace means. Sigh, I hope he’s there, and then I hope he’s not. I have too many raw emotions right now. I would be hard to see him and walk away again.

  I serve the boys their food, and we eat in silence. Either they’re tired, or they can feel something bad is coming soon. It seems like kids can sense things before the rest of us can. We finish, and Lee gets the trash together and puts it in the garage. Michael goes to the living room to sit on his bean bag to watch some cartoons while Mathew helps me with the dishes. Once everything is cleaned up, I send Gran a text to let her know I would be coming by to see her after I take the boys to school. We watch some TV, then take baths, and head to bed.

  The boys fall asleep quickly. I wait until my mom gets home to let her know that I need her to take Lee and Michael somewhere Friday after school and wait until I call her to come back. She agrees with no questions asked. Even she knows what’s going on. It’s like this thick fog is hanging in the air around us, begging to be unleashed and suffocate us.

  I go back upstairs and lay down on the bed, but the scent that has been calming me is gone. He’s gone. The smell of him no longer lingers, and I miss it. I miss him.

  I’m walking in a field of Gerber daisies, one of my favorite flowers. They’re all different colors. I take a deep breath. The air always tastes better here. The sun is shining bright, and there’s a slight breeze, so I lay down in the middle of the field. I close my eyes, and a feeling of tranquility makes its way over my skin. “I know you’re here. I can feel you.”

  “We see that you are learning to feel what’s around you. That is very good. We also know you have found out which child you need to protect.”

  “I’ve been learning about my heritage, and yes, Mathew found the object you said he would. He’s very drawn to it.”

  “We knew he would be, but it’s not worth anything. It was just to show who was next to be tested. Friday is close. Are you ready?”

  “Well, I’m as ready as I can be considering I have no
idea what I’m up against, but I know I can beat it, whatever It’s.”

  “That is why you are the chosen one April, the indigo child. You volunteered for this life, to do what you are about to do. It’s a great honor to be working with you.”

  I chose this life? I’m about to ask what they meant, but their presence is no longer here. I lay back down and enjoy the air. I enjoy the beautiful flowers and the warm sun for as long as I can because when I wake up, everything will be set in motion.

  Beep. Beep. Beep. Even though I had such a peaceful dream, I wake up feeling like I got no sleep. I repeat the same mundane routine of getting the boys ready for school. When I get home this time, I take a long hot shower. If I run into Logan, I want to look good. I put on my favorite pair of faded blue jeans and a pink tank with a black one layered over it. I leave my hair curly, add some lip gloss, and put on my black converses with the pink laces. My necklace stays on. It’s the only jewelryI’m wearing besides my lip and nose rings. Off to the book store I go.

  I se e Logan’s car in the parking lot, but I don't see Gran's. Please let her be inside. Please let her have ridden with him to the shop. Please Please Please. Taking a deep breath, I park and walk across the parking lot. I walk inside and start toward the back. I have the old necklace in my hand. Getting it from Mathew was difficult. I had to convince him that someone might take it from him at school. He was worried, so he let me hold onto it for him.

  While walking to the back, I think that if I don’t draw any attention to myself, he won’t even know I’m here. It would be so awesome to have the power of invisibility right now. Yeah, I know. I’ve lost it. I suppose It’s just hopeful thinking. I’m almost to the door of the new age room when someone clears their throat. My head drops, and I let out the breath I was holding. Do I turn around and acknowledge him or just keep going? Everything is screaming at me to turn around. I’ve missed him. The logical side of me says he can wait. Mathew is more important. That’s the side that wins out. I raise the hand holding the necklace to push open the door, and I’m stopped. Logan’s hand is wrapped around my wrist.