Jenna's Story

by Lizzy Stevens

  She was more nervous than she had ever been. They were only going to a movie and then to grab an ice cream with friends before coming back home. It wasn’t a big deal and she had to be home by nine o’clock, but she was still nervous.

  “Hi Todd. Come on in and meet my grandmother before we go.”

  “Okay Jenna, but we need to get going soon if we are going to make the movie on time.” Todd said as he glanced at his watch.

  “Grandma. Would you like to meet Todd before we go.”

  This was bitter sweet for Elena. Her little girl was growing up. She walked in to meet the boy. “Hello. It’s very nice to meet you. You two be careful tonight and be home on time.”

  “Yes, maam. We won’t be late. I promise.”

  The two of them went out to Todd’s car and headed to the movies as far as Jenna knew.

  They drove for a little while and then Todd turned down the road leading out of town.

  Jenna glanced out the window with a feeling of uneasiness. “Todd. Where are we going? I thought we were going to a movie.”

  “I thought we would get to know each other a little better. There weren’t any good movies playing anyway.” He smiled over at her.

  Jenna didn’t like this at all. It made her very uncomfortable to lie to her grandmother and she didn’t like not knowing where they were going.

  Todd turned down an old dirt road that led down by the river. He brought the car to a stop and turned off the engine.

  “Isn’t it beautiful out tonight, Jenna?”

  Jenna looked out the car window and had to agree, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t still nervous.

  Todd leaned over to turn the radio on a slow music playing station. He was setting the mood. Then he scooted closer to Jenna.

  “Todd, maybe we should…..”

  Before she could finish, Todd leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. He kissed her a couple of more times and then he moved to her neck.

  “Todd, stop. We can’t do this. I’m not ready for this step. It’s our first date. I think we should go back into town.”

  Todd stopped and looked up at her. “Jenna. Are you going to stay a baby forever. I mean come on. All the other kids are doing it. What’s the problem? We aren’t little kids anymore. ” He leaned in to kiss her again.

  “Todd. I said, I’m not doing this. Take me home.”

  “I didn’t know that you were such a child. I never would have asked you out. The whole school is going to hear about this tomorrow. You’re reputation will be ruined. No guy will ever ask you out again.”

  Jenna felt the air around her begin to chill. A tingle crawled up her spine and she turned to Todd. Todd’s face was ashen.

  “Todd? Todd, are you okay?”

  Todd slowly turned his head toward her.

  “I’m fine Jenna. I must apologize for the things I did and said to you.”

  “Okay…Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Jenna was frightened by the absence of emotion on Todd’s face. He spoke as if he was a robot.

  “I’m fine. But I’m a jerk and I intend to tell that to the whole school on Monday. I’m also going to tell them that you are too good for the likes of me.”

  Todd started the car and the air began to warm but not before Jenna felt a slight tingle on her scalp and sensation that almost felt like a caress on her hair.

  Todd was quiet on the ride home but thankfully not catatonic like he was previously. Arriving back home, he quickly got out and ran around the car to open the door for Jenna. He walked her to the front door and said, “Thank you Jenna for a great evening.”

  With that, he turned and walked back to his car, got in and drove away.

  Jenna stared after him trying to make sense when her Grandma came out and joined her.

  “Was that the same guy who picked you up earlier?”

  “I think so Grandma. It was weird. He tried to kiss me and all of a sudden he got a blank look on his face and said he was sorry and brought me home. I’m not sure what happened.”

  Jenna shrugged and went inside.

  Elena stood there for a minute and then smiled and shook her head.

  “Boys will be boys.” She muttered before she too went inside.

  Chapter Four

  Jenna couldn’t believe twenty years had passed since the death of her parents. Now, Jenna was burying her grandmother. She stood and stared at the mound of flowers on the ground as the rain beat down on her black umbrella. But it was not the rain that caused the chill in her spine, the knot of dread in her chest and the unbearable ache in her heart.

  She and Grandma had been very close, and for most of Jenna’s life, she worked in her grandmother’s magic shop side by side with her. The people of Snow Hollow loved the scented candles, herbs, potions and bubble baths. No one questioned whether the family really knew magic or spells. But Jenna knew, and she carried the burden deep inside, never finding true love because she had never found anyone she could trust with the family secret.

  Though she had been told her powers were a gift, they often seemed like a curse. She had foreseen the death of her own sweet grandmother, that dear old woman who had cared for her, guided her and loved her.

  The same foretelling had been there—the same signs she saw the night her parents died in that awful crash—the moon encircled by a red ring, just as before.

  Jenna stood in the living room of her grandmother’s house not really knowing what to do next. Her sisters moved away as soon as they were old enough. They longed for bigger cities and more excitement. Jenna always felt that she was pulled to Snow Hollow for some reason. She could never quite explain it, but she knew that she belonged there.

  After her sisters left, Jenna looked around the big empty two story house. She never felt more alone than she did in that very moment. Her grandmother was her best friend. Jenna knew that she needed to go through her grandmother’s belongings and get rid of things that she wouldn’t need, but the thought of doing it felt like a knife in her heart. She walked aimlessly around the house not knowing where to begin. Her grandmother had left her sister’s some money, but Jenna had received the house, the magic shop and the biggest bulk of the money. Her grandmother always liked her best. Jenna always felt a connection to her grandmother. It couldn’t be explained.

  Jenna was drawn to the attic more now than ever before. She spent many hours in there with her grandmother. It made her feel closer to her somehow by going there. She looked around the dusty old attic for hours. Something caught her attention in the corner. It was an antique trunk. She knew that she’d seen it before many times, but she never opened it. Now for some reason she wanted to know what was inside. Maybe it would make her feel closer to her grandmother. Jenna opened it up and found it full of books and papers. She looked around at all of the old papers. She picked up a book that had diary written on the front. Could it really be her grandmother’s diary? She sat there on the floor holding the book, with a tear in her eye, when she was suddenly startled by the sound of the door bell.

  Jenna walked back downstairs to see who it could possibly be. She opened the door to a handsome, rugged looking man. He had dark brown hair and he had to be at least six feet tall. He was tanned and muscular and gorgeous.

  Jenna’s heart felt like it stopped beating and she found herself taking a step towards the stranger without realizing it.

  The stranger smiled and put his hand on top of Jenna’s which was lying on his broad chest. Jenna snatched her hand away.

  How had her hand gotten on his chest? She thought to herself.

  With a chuckle he said, “I’m Jacob Masters. I knew your grandmother and I wanted to pay my respects to you.”

  Jenna thought she knew everyone that her grandmother knew. She had never seen this man before. Although she wished she had. She stood there thinking what a sexy man he was and wondering where those thoughts came from.

  “I find it extremely hard to believe you were close to my grandmother. I’ve never heard he
r mention your name before.”

  Jacob stood at the door. He knew it would take a lot to get inside the house. Elena had told him how cautious Jenna was.

  “I understand you’re skeptical of my friendship with your grandmother, but I assure you, I knew her well. Elena made me promise to come here and protect you when she died.”

  Jenna still had her hand clinched onto the edge of the door. “Okay, you say she wanted you to protect me. From what?”

  “Not what. Who.” He answered without emotion.

  Jenna couldn’t read him. She tried to get some kind of feeling about him, but she couldn’t. She was torn between letting him in and making him leave. The old saying keep your friends close and your enemies closer kept popping in her head.

  “Alright. I’ll invite you in to talk. I want to know how you knew my grandmother and who you are suppose to protect me from.”

  Jacob followed Jenna into the house and into the kitchen. “Aw, you are making cinnamon apple tea.”

  Jenna spun around. “How could you possibly know that?”

  “It was Elena’s favorite. I had tea with her many times.” he answered.

  Jenna was beginning to get angry. “This is just crazy. I have lived with my grandmother almost my whole life. I spent every waking moment with her. We lived together and we worked together. Don’t you think I would have noticed if you were coming and going around here? You’re acting like I’m stupid or something.”

  “Jenna, that isn’t my intention at all. If we had wanted you to see me then you would have. I have been here every day since the first day that you came here. I’ve been watching over you your whole life.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Jenna felt confused and scared. Not because she thought this man was lying but because she was terrified he was telling the truth.

  Suddenly Jacob went invisible. “This is what I mean.” Then he reappeared as quickly as he had disappeared.

  Jenna drew in a sharp breath. “What the hell?”

  Jacob knew what a shock this must be for her. “Let’s sit down and I’ll explain everything.”

  With a hand that wasn’t quite steady, Jenna poured them both some tea and walked over to the table to sit down. She wanted to know everything.

  “Okay, tell me what is going on.”

  Jacob sat down and stared at his cup of tea trying to find the words that would make her understand.

  “Jenna, I’ve known your grandmother for many years. My father was her protector and my grandfather was her mother’s protector as I am your protector. Your family and my family are tied to each other.”

  “What do you mean protector?” She was completely confused.

  “I am here to protect you from evil.”

  “This is Snow Hollow. There aren’t any evils in Snow Hollow.” She was certain of that.

  “Jenna, I know this is all hard to believe, but you need to take me serious. This house is more powerful than you know. Your grandmother was one of the most powerful witches there ever was.”

  “Okay, if she was so powerful then why did your father need to protect her?”

  “My family is the most powerful warlocks around. We are even more powerful than your family, which is why we are your protectors. Let me explain. This house has been passed down from generation to generation in your family. Your family only has girls, hence you and your sisters. My family only has boys. We are destined to one another. If a member of my family only has one child then he is destined to the eldest girl from your family. If we have matched numbers then we are destined to the closest age. My family only had one son.”

  Jenna choked on a mouthful of tea and coughed uncontrollably.

  “Excuse me, but are you saying that we are destined to be a couple? I think I should have a choice with who I spend the rest of my life with. There is a flaw in your theory though. For that to be the case, then my grandmother would have married your grandfather. She didn’t. We would be related and not able to be destined to one another!”

  Jenna felt proud of herself for finding the hole in his crazy, little theory. But it was short lived as he ignored her and went on.

  “As I said, this house posses a tremendous amount of magic and power. Your family draws some of its power from this house. You don’t know any of this, but your grandmother kept Snow Hollow safe from demons, vampires, evil warlocks anything that came to harm the innocent people of the town. As far as our grandparents go, they decided to stay friends only. He protected her until the day that he died and the rules changed. Instead of his destiny to love her it was now his destiny to protect her.”

  Jenna couldn’t help but wonder why she never knew any of this.

  “You were not supposed to know anything until you turned twenty six. That’s when the girls in your family come into their powers fully. I’m sure you have been aware that you possess powers. You have always known things before they happen and you know that you can do spells. You have noticed little things over the years and have always been aware of the fact that you are different. I know that Elena taught you basic spells and simple things from the time you turned into a teenager.

  As you know, I said I’ve watched over you. You have slowly been getting your powers year by year, but it’s at the age of twenty-six that you actually get your full powers. That’s why you weren’t able to do much growing up and Elena always made it seem like fun and games. She was planning on telling you everything days before she died. We spent many hours discussing how we would tell you.”

  Jenna was creeped out by the fact that he had been watching her all these years. She felt her face flame as she thought that he might have seen her naked or doing things that were private.

  Seeming to understand where her sudden embarrassment came from he quickly added, “Jenna, I would never take advantage of my gifts or treat you in such a manner. I watched over you with your Grandma’s knowledge and permission always.”

  Jacob watched as a look of relief passed over her face. For now he would keep to himself the few times when he had been unable to stop himself from comforting her in her times of need.

  Trying to change the subject, Jenna asked, “What kind of danger could I possibly be in?”

  “I’m not sure. I can’t get a good reading on it yet. All I can tell you is that the underworld is buzzing with talk. The news of your grandmother’s death has traveled fast. I think I have it narrowed down to two possibilities of an attack. We have the demon angels. They are warlocks, but not as strong as my family, but stronger than you at this point. We’ll start training you tomorrow. The other possibility is the Night Stalkers. They are a band of vampires. Your grandmother was very powerful as I’ve said, but this house also possesses power in itself. So if it can be taken over by evil it will strengthen their power. All they have to do is get you out of the way. Your sisters have never shown any interest in magic or this house. They may never come into their powers since they never try to use them. You’re different. You are more powerful. You are a lot like you grandmother, which is why you can’t deny this. You just need to let me teach you before it’s too late.”

  Jenna’s head was spinning in all directions. “Okay, for arguments sake lets say that I believe all of this. I need some time to think this all over. You have just thrown an awful lot at me all at once. I think I want to go to bed for the night. Seeing as you could pop in and out and I wouldn’t know, I guess you might as well pick a room and stay until we get this all sorted out”

  “I understand completely Jenna and I’m sorry I had to spring all of this on you. We will talk more tomorrow.”

  Jenna snuggled into her bed as she gazed at her grandmother’s diary; a diary she never knew existed until moments before when she found it on her bedroom table.

  Dear Jenna,

  If you are reading this, then I’m no longer with you. Please always remember though, that I will always be with you. I know that you feel sad and alone right now, but that isn’t the case at all. By no
w you must have met Jacob. You can trust him with all your heart. I’m sorry that I never got around to explain all of this to you, but Jacob will help you through your time of need. Trust him and let him teach you my ways. You must at all cost protect this house. It is your namesake. I know you don’t understand everything right this minute but you will in time. Just know that I love you with all of my heart and I will always watch over you. You will find the answers that you need in this house. Jacob will help you through this. Trust him and you will come to love him.

  Love always,

  Grandma

  Jenna dropped the book to the bed in disbelief. Her grandmother had just confirmed everything that Jacob had told her. Jenna looked up. “What am I supposed to do grandma? I can’t do this alone. I need you.”

  It wasn’t long before Jenna had dozed off. She tossed and turned repeatedly. Everything was dark and foggy. She couldn’t get to the house. Every step she took forward sent her two steps back. Some force field was keeping her from moving. She cried out. “Help me. Help me.” She couldn’t see anyone around her at all. What was happening? Then out of the darkness she saw a shadow of a man. She couldn’t make out who it was or what he looked like, but he was there.

  The shadow figure moved his face close to hers and said. “Leave this house now or you will die.”

  Jenna screamed as she jumped out of bed. It was too real. It couldn’t have been a dream. She walked around the room and then glanced out of the bedroom window. There across the street under the huge oak tree, she saw the same shadow figure starring up at her window.

  “Jacob! Come quickly.”

  Jacob came running into the room. “What is it Jenna?”

  “There. Look. He’s there.” She pointed out the window.

  Jacob walked to the window but saw nothing. The man disappeared as quickly as he had come. Even though Jacob didn’t see the man, he knew he was there. He walked over to Jenna and rubbed her arms in a comforting gesture.

  “Try to get some sleep and we will talk in the morning”