I sighed. “Not really,” I admitted. “But I kind of think I should. Things have been really weird around here lately.”
Dad nodded. “Okay,” he said. “Come on.”
Dad and I were silent in the car as he drove toward the church. A sense of dread was building up inside of me, and I felt unable to shake it, unable to do anything other than merely sit there and digest everything as it happened.
Dad pulled in front of the church and set the car to park. “Are you okay going in there?”
I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be? What’s wrong?”
Dad sighed. “I don’t know,” he said. “Just call when you’re ready to come home, and I’ll pick you up, okay?”
I nodded. As I climbed out of the car and walked into the nave of the church, my feeling of dread grew. Soon, I felt numb and shaky and chilled to the bone.
Inside, the church was packed. The pews were filled with all kinds of people from all over town. There was only one family noticeably absent: the Boers.
Andrea was standing behind the pulpit, resting her hands on her crutches. She didn’t look pained or even uncomfortable. She looked joyous, radiant – happier than I’d seen her in years.
“I called this meeting to talk about the state of our town,” Andrea said. Her thin voice carried over the microphone and filled the church.
There was a smattering of applause. As quickly as I could, I slipped into a pew at the back, scooting toward the edge.
“There is evil in our town,” Andrea said. Her voice sounded odd – almost like she was proud of what was happening in Jaffrey.
“Amen!”
“Amen!”
There was a loud, scattered cheering from the audience. Listening to the cheers made the blood in my veins turn to ice.
“There is evil here,” Andrea repeated. She leaned in close and scanned the crowd, turning her face slowly from side to side. There was an odd gleam in her eyes – a gleam that made her appear much older than her childlike face.
“Banish the evil,” someone shouted loudly. “Let us live in peace!”
Andrea sniffed. “There are witches here,” she said softly into the microphone. “There are witches here, tonight, in this town!”
A loud jeering sounded from the audience, and I shivered. Surely, someone was going to stand up and call her out for being so crazy, right? At any moment, I half expected Monica to burst through the doors, yelling about how all of this was complete bullshit.
Instead, to my horror, a group of people stood up and cheered. “Destroy the witches! Burn them! Banish them from our town!”
“We must embrace God,” Andrea thundered into the mic. “We must turn our faces from the evil and back toward the light, back toward the goodness!”
I glanced up and almost gasped when I saw Steven sitting just a few feet behind Andrea at the altar. He shifted and looked vaguely uncomfortable, but nowhere near as uncomfortable as I felt. For the first time, I wondered what exactly it was about Steven that had drawn me in.
“We must fight the evil!” Andrea yelled, her voice rising to a frantic pitch. “We must banish the witches!”
“Kill the witches! Kill the witches!”
Now, the congregation was stomping, clapping, and thumping their hands against the wooden backs of the pews. Sucking in a deep breath, I stood up and raced out of the church.
It was freezing outside, but the chill of the air felt like nothing after being inside that church and listening to Andrea rant like a crazy person. The worst part was, why was everyone humoring her? This was the twenty-first century…what the fuck was going on?
Chapter Six
Monica
As soon as I figured out that Henrik had been manipulating my parents, I packed a bag and ran into the woods. Henrik and Ligeia had told me that whenever I needed the coven, all I had to do was think about them and their energy. But this time, it wasn’t proving so simple. I wandered for hours before I smelled the familiar, tangy scent of the herbs and rushes used by the witches.
Henrik didn’t seem surprised to see me. He was sitting in front of the hearth, poking at something in a large cauldron. It smelled delicious, but I made a vow not to eat or drink anything offered to me by the coven. I was done with them, and I wasn’t going to let myself get sucked back into their ways.
“I know why you are here,” Henrik said. He didn’t glance up from the cauldron, but merely reached closer to stir it.
“Good,” I said. “That means we can get this over with. I’m done.”
Henrik chuckled under his breath. “This is not that simple, Monica. You have obligations. You cannot escape as easily as you think.”
I groaned. “I don’t give a shit,” I said honestly. “I’m never coming back here again. This is too crazy. It’s changing too many things in my life.”
Henrik finally turned to face me, raising one eyebrow. In the light of the fire, he almost looked young.
“You think that we are to blame for all of the upsets in life?” Henrik chuckled.
“Yeah,” I said. I crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling foolish. “I do. Ever since the first time you kidnapped me, things have been completely crazy, and I’m sick of it! I want things to go back to normal.” Tears came to my eyes, and I sniffled. “My parents don’t even care about me because of your stupid spell! They don’t even care when I’m gone for weeks at a time!”
Henrik narrowed his eyes. “It isn’t fair to pin that on me, Monica,” he said calmly. “Your parents have always been like that. I was only able to sway them with the power of suggestion. Nothing more, nothing less.”
I felt like someone had punched me in the gut, but I didn’t dare react.
“It’s true, Monica,” Henrik said. “I wouldn’t be able to change them completely. I’m not that powerful.”
My shoulders sagged, and I closed my eyes, sighing heavily. “I don’t care,” I whispered hotly. “I’m not doing this anymore. I just want my regular life back.”
“You’ve never had a normal life,” Henrik said coldly. “You’ve been destined for this for hundreds of years, Monica. You are the true heir to the coven, and nothing will change that. No amount of anger on your part will reduce your role.”
I glared at him. “I hate this,” I mumbled. “I’m going home, and I’m never coming back here ever again. And if you try to make me, well, fine. Then I guess you might as well kill me.” I grabbed Henrik’s athame from the table and held the blade to my neck. The tip was so sharp I didn’t even feel it slice my skin, but seconds later, warm blood was pooling around my collarbone.
“Go ahead and try,” Henrik said. He shrugged. “You can’t kill yourself, Monica. You’re immortal.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s fucking insane,” I snapped. I gritted my teeth, pressing the knife harder into my skin. No matter how hard I pushed, the blade wouldn’t budge. Groaning in exasperation, I threw the athame to the floor.
“I know you are weary,” Henrik said. “That will not change. But I promise, you will learn to cope better with these stresses.”
“I’m not doing this anymore,” I said. But I could already feel my resolve weakening. I glared at Henrik. ‘Damn you,’ I thought. ‘You may be able to manipulate my parents, but you can’t manipulate me!’
Henrik’s lips curled into a faint smile. “You are correct,” he said slowly. “I cannot manipulate you. I can only make you see what will happen when you refuse to obey your destiny.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Henrik used an iron poker to lift the cauldron from the fire before setting it down on the stone hearth.
“Come here, child.” Henrik beckoned toward the fire. I swallowed a lump in my throat and walked closer until I could feel the heat of the flames burning my face. Henrik gave me a stern look, then reached into his pockets and tossed a handful of herbs onto the flames. Purple clouds of smoke billowed through the room, stinging my eyes, and I coughed until I felt like I’d spit u
p my lungs.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw modern-day Jaffrey. There were cars and people walking with cell phones on the streets I recognized. I gasped as the scene shifted to the inside of a church. Andrea’s petite figure was standing at the pulpit, glaring angrily and screaming. I couldn’t make out the words – everything was hazy – but the congregation was going crazy for whatever she was saying. Everyone was screaming and cheering and fervently clapping their hands.
Andrea smiled wickedly. “Go forth,” she called loudly. “Go forth and do what you must!”
Everyone stormed out of the church. I gasped when I saw they were carrying flashlights and weapons – guns, knives, and even a few crossbows. The view shifted to the road outside of my parents’ home. Everyone was screaming and running down the road, waving their guns in the air.
“No!” I cried loudly. The scene shifted to my kitchen. Jamie and Brian were sitting at the table, their mouths moving. My ears were filled with the sounds of glass shattering, of guns being fired.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I covered my eyes, holding my hands tightly to my face. “No!” I cried out again. “I won’t watch this!”
Henrik clapped his hands. The smell of smoke stung my throat and eyes once more, but the sounds died down. When I could hear nothing but the roaring flames, I slowly pulled my hands away.
“What … what was that?” I asked in a choked whisper. “What’s going on?”
Henrik looked at me very seriously. “That is what will happen if you don’t pledge your loyalty to the coven.”
I shook my head. “No,” I said quickly. “No. There’s no way that’s gonna happen!” I squinted. “Are you crazy? This isn’t the seventeenth century anymore! Things like that don’t happen!”
Ligeia stepped out of the shadows, and I gasped.
“Why do you always have to do that?” I grumbled. “Would it kill you not to surprise me once in a while?”
Ligeia raised her eyebrows. “It isn’t intentional,” she said dryly. “Perhaps you should learn to pay more attention to your surroundings, Monica.” She shook her head sadly. “I am beginning to think that extra time you spent with us was wasted. You have not learned a single thing.”
“That’s not fair,” I shot back. “Everything is going fucking crazy at home. What I am supposed to do?”
Ligeia narrowed her eyes. “You must do as Henrik says,” she said calmly. “You must pledge your life to the coven. You must devote yourself to helping us rid the true evil of the world.”
I swallowed. “You know, you sound just like Andrea,” I muttered.
Ligeia’s nostrils flared in anger. “I resent that comment,” she said icily. “I do not understand the problem, Monica. What is your hesitation? From where does it come?”
“Does it matter?” I tangled my hands in my hair and yanked until my scalp ached.
“Yes,” Ligeia and Henrik spoke in unison.
“I just want things to go back to normal,” I said. “I don’t care what has to happen.”
“Henrik has shown you what will happen if you do not help us,” Ligeia said. “Monica, we are not trying to punish you. But you are strong, and if we survive, it will be because of you.”
“That’s a heavy thing to lay on me,” I grumbled. “Why me, huh? Why not anyone else?”
“I think you know the answer,” Henrik said gently. “You have always been known as something of a prodigy, have you not?”
“It’s not about that,” I insisted. I sighed and flopped down on a rock. “Look, I know how it sounds. I know I’m coming across as selfish. And I don’t mean to, really, but I can’t just give up my life for something I never even knew existed until now.”
Ligeia gave me a sad smile. “You are lucky to live in an age where you have the luxury of such options,” she said. “Had you been born in another other time, you would have no choice.”
I blinked. I knew she was right, but I didn’t want to admit it.
“Besides, people do the same thing all the time.” Henrik raised an eyebrow. “How many people say they will never marry, until they fall in love? Suddenly, it becomes the most important thing in their life – one of the only things they care about.”
“That’s different–”
“It’s not that different,” Henrik said. “Or how about those who feel a sudden calling? What about human urges, Monica? You dismiss those so easily.”
“I didn’t choose this,” I argued. “No one asked me whether or not I wanted to become a witch, okay?! You just fucking kidnapped me, and now here I am.”
“Do you realize that this is the first time you’ve found the coven on your own?” Ligeia asked quietly.
“Yeah, but–”
“No one but a true daughter of the coven could have done that,” Ligeia said. She and Henrik exchanged a glance. “And that proves your abilities.”
I swallowed. I felt helpless.
“You must pledge to join with us for all eternity,” Ligeia said. “If you do not, your immortality will be lost. You, and everyone you know and care for will be slaughtered like sheep.”
I sighed. Why did I suddenly feel as though I had no choice in the matter of my own destiny?
Chapter Seven
Elizabeth
After that night at the D’Amicos’ church, everything changed. I’d barely woken up the next morning when Mom came into my room and closed the door behind her. Her eyes were grave.
“Elizabeth, we need to talk.”
‘Shit,’ I thought. ‘Someone must’ve told her about that party.’
But if only it had been that innocent.
“What’s wrong?” I tried to keep my voice cheerful, but my heart was sinking with every passing nanosecond.
Mom sighed. “You’re a good kid, you know that?”
I narrowed my eyes. “That’s…that’s why you came to talk to me?”
Mom shook her head. “No,” she said softly. “Not exactly.” She sighed, running a hand through her long hair. “Elizabeth, I know this isn’t fair to you. You’re just a kid; you don’t really deserve any of this.”
“Mom, you’re gonna make me have a heart attack,” I said. “Just spit it out, okay?”
My mom looked almost relieved as she cleared her throat. “The Jaffrey police put out a bulletin. There’s a seven-thirty curfew for all people under eighteen.”
My stomach twisted into a knot. “What?” I wrinkled my nose and frowned. “That’s…crazy. That’s stupid. Did some kid get busted for something?”
My mom shifted on my bed. “I don’t know, sweetie,” she said. “It came this morning with the paper.” She handed me a canary-yellow printout. It looked like a joke, like the kind of thing a kid would’ve created. But the words chilled me to the bone.
“As of December twenty-second, all juvenile residents of Jaffrey must observe the local curfew. All persons under eighteen years must be at home, with their parents or guardians, before seven-thirty in the evening. This curfew is in effect seven days a week until further notice. Violators will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
I shuddered. “Mom, this is so creepy,” I said softly. “Why are they doing this?”
My mom shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said. “Your father…well, I don’t know,” she added.
“What? Dad thinks what?”
Mom shrugged. “Your father thinks that maybe someone went missing,” she said. She dropped her gaze. “You know, honey, like what happened to Monica?”
I sighed. “Okay,” I said softly. “Thanks for letting me know.”
---
It was the last day of school before winter break. Everyone was buzzing about the curfew memo. I tried listen in whenever I could, but the other kids’ ideas were way more implausible than anything my mom or dad had suggested. One kid thought it was aliens. Another actually suggested an invasion of killer bees.
I was standing in the cafeteria, listening to bits of conversations around me, when Steven sat do
wn next to me. I cried out in surprise and jumped. Steven grinned. I blushed.
“Sorry,” Steven said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
I nodded. “Look, do you know anything about this?”
Steven shrugged. “No,” he said. But there was something in his voice that made me wonder.
“Are you sure?” I narrowed my eyes. “I won’t tell anyone, I swear. This is all just really weird, Steven.”
Steven nodded. “Yeah,” he said, in the same distant, far-away voice. “Look, you busy tonight? You wanna go for a drive or something?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What about the curfew?”
Steven shrugged. “I’ll get you home by seven-thirty,” he said. He grinned, looking for a moment like the old, irresistible Steven. “I swear.”
I felt my resolve melting like a puddle of wax inside my chest. “Okay,” I said. My heart thudded. “That sounds good.”
Steven grinned. “Good,” he said. “I’ll pick you up after my family has dinner – say five-thirty or so?”
I nodded. “Okay,” I said. “Thanks.”
Steven cuffed me lightly on the shoulder before getting up and strolling over to his football buddies. I couldn’t stop thinking about Andrea and Monica and Steven and the curfew for the rest of the day. My thoughts were swimming around my head like sharks in a goldfish pond – too big and dangerous for the atmosphere.
When I got home, I ate a quick meal of soup and a grilled cheese. As I waited for Steven, I did my homework. By the time he pulled up in my driveway, I was so restless that I practically sprinted out to the car.
“So, where do you wanna go?”
I buckled myself in. “Anywhere,” I said. “I don’t care. Just as long as it’s not in Jaffrey.”
In the end, Steven drove out to the lake. I thought he would want to park and make out, but instead he kept one hand on the gear shift and stared straight out the window. We talked a little, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of nervousness that was creeping over me like the chill outside.
“This is all just really weird,” I said. Part of me was dying to ask him about the church thing from the other night and what the hell Andrea was playing at.
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