by Fabio Bueno
“What about us, Skye?” He tries to hide it, but his voice quivers.
I remove my hand from his and look into his eyes. “I made a mistake. I’m not coming back.” My chest tightens, but I need to do it. It’s how I feel. “It’s over, Drake. We’re over.”
He stares at me in disbelief.
I stand up and move to get back to the line.
But Drake comes after me and blocks my path. “Wait, Skye.” He stares into my eyes. He’s breathing hard, but his tone is composed. “Let’s figure out us later. Right now, just tell me what I can do to help.”
“You’ve done enough,” I say. “You betrayed me, Drake.”
I turn fast and leave. When I’m about to go around the corner, an overwhelming feeling takes over me. I stop and take one last look at Drake.
After that moment of weakness, I’m gone.
Chapter 44: Drake
If romantic comedies taught me anything, it is that rushing to the airport at the last minute to plead with a girl always leads to a happily ever after.
I botched it.
I walk through the airport, devastated. Somehow, I find my way back to the parking garage. I arrive at the car, having no idea how I got there. Mona is waiting for me. We get in, and I drive in silence.
When we’re on the I-5, she says, “It didn’t go well, did it?”
“No.”
“When is she coming back?”
“She isn’t.” I can barely hear myself. I sneak a peek at Mona.
She covers her mouth with her hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not right now.”
She looks out of the window. “Do you want to talk about something else?”
“Please. Anything.”
“I spent a few enlightening hours with Jane,” she says with a hesitant voice. “She told me Jason’s story. And hers. In detail.”
“Do you trust her, Mona?”
“Do you?”
“She’s a master manipulator. Or was. I don’t know anymore. I’m sure her story is true, but it may also be part of a long con of hers.”
“She didn’t harm me. I want to help her, Drake.”
“Really? What good came from helping Boulder?”
Mona puts her hand on my shoulder. “He’ll survive, won’t he? What else matters?”
“That’s a good point. Let’s help Jane then. Why not? But who’s helping you?”
She squeezes my shoulder in a tender gesture. “Well, you. And who knows? Maybe someone is watching over us, Drake. We’re still here. Maybe we can get out of this jam.”
I nod, but my thoughts are still with Skye.
“Come on,” Mona says. “Look on the bright side. At least I didn’t destroy the city this time.”
But I can’t make myself chuckle.
Mona slaps the dashboard. “Okay, I need to tell you. I know for a fact that you love Skye.”
“How can you know that?”
“I saw your aura with her glasses.”
I scoff. “Okay. It’s not that big of a revelation, you know?”
“Yeah, but here’s the thing: a big red aura shows the person is in love.”
“And?”
“And I saw hers too. I never told her, but hers is as red as yours, big bro. Maybe a deeper red, even.”
The car leaves the lane for a second. I stare at Mona, who beams at me.
But I can’t smile. I feel like someone punched me in the stomach.
***
Why is all this happening?
I can’t really blame anyone. If I must blame someone, I’d better start with myself.
But I’ll fix it. I will fix everything.
The image of Skye leaving is seared in my memory. The beautiful face I know so well was cold. Her lips were curved down. Stray strands of hair fell on her face. The buttoned-up blouse covered half of her neck, as if suffocating her. She looked broken inside.
I remember how Skye stopped and raised her chin. She was about to say something, but she didn’t. She gave me one last glimpse, those once loving blue eyes piercing mine. It could be an accusatory gaze or a regretful one. Maybe I’ll never know.
It doesn’t matter. She stopped and looked back. That meant something.
I’ll do everything to help her. I owe her.
And I hope she takes me back. I won’t give up. I can’t, really.
That girl put a spell on me.
###
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you for reading BROKEN SPELL. Please let your friends know about it! Word-of-mouth is vital for an author. If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads, even if it’s just a short paragraph. Your review makes a big difference and would be much appreciated.
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All the best,
Fabio
GLOSSARY
Charms: natural magical powers. Each Sister has two, which manifest after Daybreak. Charms are always active and cannot be “turned off” or countered with potions. Most Sisters have an Allure Charm. Other common ones are Athletics, Intellect, Charisma, and Trust.
Coven: a gathering of Sisters. A witch’s coven is a second family to her.
Craft: the culture of the witches. It includes their values, traditions, history, and system of beliefs. Magic is but a part of the Craft.
Daybreak: the coming-of-age of a Sister. A Sister’s personal magic awakens at Daybreak, around her fifteenth birthday, usually accompanied by a small burst of magical energy.
Goddess: most Sisters believe the Goddess is a deity, but some view the Goddess as a symbol, an icon, or a manifestation of magical energy. Irrespective of belief, all Sisters pray to the Goddess.
Knowing: somebody who knows magic exists, but is not a witch herself.
Magic/Personal Magic/Magical Energy: all living things possess this universal energy, but only witches can tap into it, connect with the Goddess, and create potions and spells.
Night Magic: Night magic, Night coven, and Night Sisters are the twisted versions of the true Craft. Night magic is more powerful than regular magic.
Potions: brewed during rituals and infused with a Sister’s personal magic. Require specific ingredients. Popular potions are Fancy Me, Sleep, and Truth. The most common methods of delivery are beverages, oils, serums, and ointments.
Rituals: solo ceremonies performed by Sisters, with the goal of meditation, connecting with the Goddess, and creating spells and potions. A ritual performed by more than one witch is called a commune ritual.
Singularity: the most powerful witch alive. Her reserve of magical energy is exponentially higher than a regular witch’s. The Singularity has more than two Charms, and only releases energy when she casts a spell or loses control of her magic.
Spells: prayers and incantations recited during a ritual where the Sister embeds a little of her personal magic into the prayer. Prayers usually require a simple offering to the Goddess and involve burning of herbs, leaves, flowers, oils, or incense.
Talisman/Amulet: a small object imbued with personal magic; a vessel for a spell or potion.
Veil: an unwritten code, followed by all magic users: nobody reveals the existence of magic. It’s the Craft’s most important rule.
Witch/Sister: a practitioner of the Craft.
Witch Sense: all Sisters release a constant flow of magical energy that can be felt by other Sisters nearby.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Some say that writers live solitary lives, but I believe it’s quite the opposite. The wonderful people listed here are responsible for helping BROKEN SPELL spring into existence—and for making its journey to publication 72 times more fun and rewarding.
A huge thank you and big hug to:
M
y beloved critique group, Writers in The Rain: Brenda Beem, Angela Orlowski-Peart, Suma Subramaniam, Martina Dalton, and Eileen Riccio. True friends and talented authors.
DMs, YA Ninjas, WANAs, and WG2E Street Team: you rock, and you know it.
The super-team: Pixel Artist Martina Dalton designed the cover; Queen Editress Alyssa Linn Palmer and Proofreader Goddess Amanda Shofner edited the novel.
My unofficial mentors: C. C. Mackenzie, Jillian Dodd, Rhonda Hopkins, and Diane Capri.
Beta-readers/alpha-friends: Julie, Claudio, Carlos, Flavia, Jose, and Lucio.
My kids: thank you for your patience and support. You are the light of my life.
Wonder Wife, who inspires me in every way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fabio resides in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and kids. When not writing or reading, he geeks out with family and friends, solidifies his reputation as the world’s slowest runner, and acts very snobbish about movies. He loves to hear from readers and hangs out here:
@_FabioBueno_
Fabiobueno.com
Facebook.com/FabioBuenoAuthor