The Parker Residence
Nathalie went home to take a nap. As she took off her shorts, a coin in her pocket fell out and rolled onto her bedroom floor.
How did that get there? she wondered.
She reached for it and when she touched it, a demon’s image roared into her mind. Nathalie screamed in terror, flinging the penny away from her where it hit the wall and rolled back onto the floor. Shaking, she ran to the phone to call Dean, but by the time she reached for the receiver, she had become calm. Why was she calling Dean? He’s busy today, and she wanted to nap. She was tired from her late night.
She looked down at the penny on the floor glinting in the sun and wondered where she got it from as she lay across her bed. She didn’t know of any country that minted the hideous face of a demon on its one-cent piece. Maybe it’s Roman…
I’ll get it later, Nathalie thought before falling asleep.
The Croft Residence
Dean was wrestling with his little brothers when Luke showed up in the Croft’s backyard. One of the twins launched himself at Luke and a small scuffle ensued, ending with the little boy sitting on Luke’s back, rubbing his face in the dirt and making the victory sign. Dean smirked, and grabbing both squirming boys under his arms, walked to the end of the yard and dropped them in their wading pool, clothes and all. They were thrilled and immediately started a water war with each other. Dean laughed as he headed back.
“You okay, Luke?”
“Yeah,” Luke snorted as he brushed dirt and grass off his body. “He took me by surprise. Those two brats have been at my house practically all summer. I’m used to it, although you’d think I’d be better prepared. I used to be my older brothers’ plaything, too. That was more painful.” Luke grinned and sprawled on the grass. Dean sat down beside him and there was silence. They had been friends for so long that Dean knew right away Luke needed to talk.
“What’s up man?” Dean asked quietly. Did he want to talk about what had happened a few days ago? Destroying the hex had been pretty intense. Dean was still a bit in awe of Sadie.
“I have a problem.”
“Okay.”
“I think I’m in over my head.”
“Is it Sadie? She’s a nice girl, Luke—” Dean started, but Luke interrupted.
“Yes, it’s Sadie, but it’s not what you think.” Luke sighed. “This is going to sound unbelievable.”
“I have to say that I believe in more things these days. That happens when a modern, sexy guy like me meets an obsessed witch who creates an actual working hex…”
Luke laughed. “Having gone through what we did last week makes this easier to bring up, actually.” Luke frowned and rubbed his eyes. He looked tired. “Sadie has been, er, missing time periodically since the end of June.
“Missing time? Explain.”
He did. “She comes back to herself and doesn’t know what she’s done, where she’s been, or who she’s been with. Sometimes she doesn’t know where she is.”
“Whoa, that’s wild.”
“Yeah, we thought it was maybe split personality or something.”
Dean made a groaning sound. “But…it’s not.”
“No.” Luke pushed on. He explained what he’d seen on the library steps and in his dream. “So it’s a mess. I’m seeing things when I’m awake. I’m dreaming things that come true. In the end…” he took a deep breath, “the current theory is that Sadie is being haunted and possessed by her ancestor, Willow Kellar.”
Silence.
“The Willow Kellar?” Dean asked.
“Yes.”
“The ‘I hex you,’ burned at the stake Willow from hundreds of years ago?”
Luke sighed. “Yes.”
“Wait, I thought they weren’t related to that Kellar. You know, that her last name, especially in this town, was merely…unfortunate.”
“That was a lie to spare Sadie persecution as a child. She is actually Willow’s direct descendant.”
“Great. Hold on,” Dean said as he got up and went into the house. He came back out with two beers and handed one to Luke.
“You can’t drink those!” the twins yelled from their little pool.
“Yeah, you’re underarms!” Eddie yelled bravely.
“That’s ‘underage’ you dink!” Zach whispered furiously to his brother, and then yelled, “we’re gonna tell!”
Dean glanced at the wet little monsters standing in their pool quivering with excitement. He shrugged and drank his beer. “So much for me taking you to the fair, tonight. Can’t go if I’m grounded.”
The boys frowned and huddled, turning their backs on the older boys. Dean snickered and Luke smiled. They really were the most conniving little brats. They put their arms around each other as they conferred. After it turned into a shoving match and a brief water fight, they had reached a decision.
“We see nothing,” they said with dignity and continued on with their playing.
Luke laughed. His mood lightened and he opened his beer. With the sun shining nothing seemed ominous.
Dean raised his eyebrows. “You weren’t going to drink that before they gave you permission, were you? Do those little guys intimidate you, buddy?”
“Yes. Yes they do. I’ve spent the better part of the summer defending myself from their tall tales to my mother! They’re reputation ruiners with those sweet, innocent faces. Only Sadie can keep them in line. They squirm in front of her.”
“They’re pretty good with Nathalie too,” he said with pride, thinking about what they had done to Beth. They drank in silence for a few minutes. “Some news, man. Does Sadie know you’re telling me this?”
“Yes. She’s actually worried about me, and after what Beth did to you…well, we need to band together. We need help.”
“Did you talk to your dad?”
“I tried, but he’s distracted.” Luke was very close to his dad. “He’s absorbed with the council these days, with the vandalism…and the windmill. He’s obsessed with the windmill. Like I said, something strange is going on.”
“Right, about the vandalism…can you get a list of the families for me? Nathalie really wants it.”
“Already done.” Luke reached behind him and handed Dean a piece of paper from his back pocket. “One of the reasons I came over. Nathalie asked while you were under Beth’s influence. I was sure Nathalie would be here.” Dean was looking at the list and Luke glanced at it. “I had to copy it fast since my mother hid it for some reason.”
“Really? I wonder why,” Dean mused, folding it and putting it in his pocket. “Okay, back to our conversation. For argument’s sake, how do you know it’s Willow Kellar and not just some random ghost?”
Luke shrugged. “I’m not sure. But I saw her…the ghost. She’s female, gorgeous like Sadie…her aunt seems to be involved, so it has to be family related. Why else pick Sadie?”
“You pick Sadie because she has power and she’s not like us regular humans.”
Luke was thoughtful. “Okay, then why not pick Beth? We know she’s a witch.”
Dean shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe Sadie’s more powerful.”
Luke shook his head. “I’ve thought this through. There’s a reason…an attraction to Sadie, and I think it’s familial. It is premeditated. I got that sense from my dream. Sadie’s the target.”
Dean shook his head and snorted in amazement. He made the sign of the cross and felt his amulet. It made him think about Nathalie, and last night. What a night. Remembered pleasure made him smile. “This is messed up. You should get Sadie an amulet from Taline.”
“Who’s Taline?”
“Wayman’s girl. You haven’t met her?”
“Not yet. She sells amulets?”
“Yeah, all kinds. They’re cool. Apparently, this necklace would have protected me from Beth, or at least lessened the hex. Tell her what you need and she’ll find something to help.”
Luke looked dubious. “Is she a witch?”
“No more than Wayma
n’s a warlock. I’m not sure how, but they have special abilities. Trust me, go see Taline.”
“Can I see yours?”
“Sure,” Dean said, pulling it out of his shirt.
Luke looked at it. “Doesn’t seem particularly remarkable.”
Dean smiled. “Oh, it’s remarkable all right. You should see it when it’s with it’s mate. Apart, well, it looks kind of ordinary, but I think that’s the point. Nothing flashy, nothing to attract anyone’s attention.”
“Let me see what Sadie says.”
“Good idea. So what can I do to help? I’d do anything for you, buddy.”
Luke was at a loss. “I don’t really know. I can’t always be with her, and her aunt will shoot me if I go near their place. I’d like to have Nat help me keep an eye on her.”
“Sure. We’ll do whatever you need.”
The Fairgrounds
Luke hung out a bit longer and when he left he called Sadie and they agreed to meet at the fairgrounds. It was early evening and the sun was beginning to set. It was beautiful. The breeze smelled of ripe grass and sunshine. They met on the North Road right outside the entrance. Sadie’s long black hair shone. Her figure was thin in the severe black dress. Excitement flared up inside him as he watched her approach. So cold and beautiful, he laughed to himself. His girlfriend. His. Mine. The moment she was close enough he pulled her into his arms and wrapped himself around her. He felt her arms tighten around him. People milled by, laughing and talking. She stepped back and he stole a quick kiss. Someone whistled and Sadie smiled self-consciously.
“I may have a solution to your problem,” Luke said, his voice full of hope. Sadie wasn’t so confident.
“Really?” she said coolly, putting her hand in Luke’s and walking into the fair. She knew that things were rarely that simple, but she didn’t say anything.
They made their way through the booths. They passed the bake table and Beth’s small drink stand. She was doing brisk business, but she looked up when Sadie approached. The girls stared at each other in passing, both with steely glints in their eyes. Beth’s was anger; Sadie’s was a warning. Beth dropped her eyes first and continued to serve her boisterous customers. There was a long lineup for her chocolate liquor.
Luke glanced back. “It wasn’t that good,” he muttered. “It barely tastes like chocolate. I don’t understand the fascination.”
“You loved it the first time,” Sadie said.
“Yeah, but I’ve had it since, and it’s not the same. Maybe she’s tainted my memory of it.” Luke looked at Beth with dislike.
Sadie looked back at the line. She knew many of the people waiting for their free sample. A lot of them were men, and Beth was a pretty thing. She hadn’t tried the concoction herself, but she wasn’t about to drink anything made by that girl.
They reached Taline’s booth. It was beautiful in the fading light. The glow of the gems cast gentle light over the stall making it look mysterious. The bundles of herbs gave off a variety of comforting smells. Sadie looked at the goods and was pleasantly surprised. Some of the plants were very rare and hard to gather in large quantities. She wondered how Taline had gotten a hold of them.
Taline herself was a breathtaking woman. Tall and slender with long silvery hair, she was an image out of a fairytale, but without the wings. The old legends of The Fairy Folk…if they existed, Taline represented what Sadie imagined they looked like, and for a moment Sadie saw impossible beauty in a white ageless face before her vision righted itself. Taline smiled, her pale, but human, skin tinged slightly pink from the sun.
“Can I help you?” she asked. She looked at Sadie and inclined her head. Sadie returned the gesture.
Luke put his arm around Sadie and drew her close. He didn’t know what to say that didn’t sound absolutely crazy, and talking crazy to this creature was not something he wanted to do. All his old gawkiness came flooding back. Sadie looked at Luke and rolled her eyes at his awkwardness. Taline was now smiling. Sadie smiled back and stuck out her hand.
“My name is Sadie Kellar,” she said simply, looking right into Taline’s icy blue eyes. “I am looking for a protective charm. An amulet to prevent…” and here Sadie hesitated slightly before she continued, “to protect my person from unwanted…well…attention from a malevolent being.”
Luke just nodded and pulled her closer to him. Taline noticed the protectiveness of the boy, and the innocence of their affection tugged at her.
“My best friend, Dean, said you may be able to help,” he managed to squeak out. He coughed and his voice resumed its normal timbre. “My name’s Luke Barrington. I know Wayman.”
Taline laughed. “He mentioned you.” She looked at Sadie. “Why don’t you explain to me exactly what’s happening and I’ll see if I can help?”
They did, together. Luke described what he had experienced in Town Circle and seen in his dream. Sadie explained the missing time and her fear that she had been involved with the blood markings, but she couldn’t remember.
Taline looked at Sadie with concern and dawning understanding.
They looked at her with such hope. She hated to burst their bubble, but she didn’t have a choice. “I can’t help you with exactly what you need right now, Sadie. I don’t have a charm or an amulet that prevents possession.”
Sadie stared at her with burning eyes, disappointment spreading over her face.
“The problem is that you have power in your own right that is in flux. It’s manifesting, so at times you can do things, and at times you can’t. Not only that, it will just destroy anything on your person that radiates magic that’s not, well, your own because you haven’t learned to control it yet.”
Sadie’s face had gone tight and cold. She tilted her chin up. “I don’t want this!” she blurted out with frustration. “I want to be left alone! I don’t want Luke hurt or in danger because of me. I just want to be normal!” She stamped her foot.
Luke was shocked. He’d never seen Sadie have a fit in public, or ever, for that matter.
Taline looked at her with ageless eyes. “I’m sorry Sadie. What you want is irrelevant, honey,” she said sympathetically. “You aren’t normal. You have great power. If you don’t learn to control it, someone else will, and may be trying to already. What you need to do is face your heritage and turn it to your advantage, and not the other way around.” Taline considered Sadie. The sheer strength and determination of the girl was palpable, but a glimmer of fear showed in her eyes for a brief second before it was gone.
She’s so young. Taline took a basket from one of the shelves and rooted through it while she talked. “This isn’t the 1590s where the townspeople will burn a woman on suspicion of witchcraft, Sadie, a situation your ancestor manipulated her way though. The ‘age of enlightenment’ has come and gone. People are unbelievers. They don’t even see what’s right in front of them.” She looked up. “Now they seek out the mystical. People want love spells and to have their palms read. People with abilities hide them now so they won’t be harassed or used, and not because they’ll be put to death. It’s a different time.”
“Being different is hard,” Sadie said sadly.
Luke looked at her with concern. “You’re not different! You’re unique and…and beautiful beyond belief,” he said adoringly, tightening his arm around her.
Sadie smiled at him. “Okay, I have one fan. Yet, you have to admit, sometimes you’re afraid of me.”
“For you,” Luke corrected firmly. “The rest is excitement,” Luke said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Taline looked at Luke curiously. “Sorry, what did you say your last name was?”
“Barrington. Lucas James Barrington.”
“Oh,” she said frowning and turned to Sadie. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a charm or an amulet that your power wouldn’t just burn. As I explained, your power is possessive and will destroy another’s magic.”
Luke’s shoulders slumped and Sadie put her head against him to reassure him.
�
�But, I may have another way around the problem,” Taline said. She continued to sift through the basket and found what she was looking for. Taline threaded a stone onto a leather thong. It was perfectly round and white with a hole in the middle. It was a rock that had been shaped to look like a donut with wire twined around it for decoration. Taline closed the stone in her hand and a blue light emanated for a split second. She smiled and handed the necklace to Luke. He took it and placed it around Sadie’s neck.
“Great, now lie to her,” Taline said with a smile.
Luke was startled and Sadie looked up from inspecting the pendant.
“What?” he asked.
“The stone detects lies. Lie to her and see if the stone reacts. The iron circling the stone will get hot.” Taline nodded in encouragement.
Sadie lifted her eyebrows with a slight smirk. “Yes, lie to me, Luke.”
“Uh, okay, er…” Luke grinned. “Sadie, you are the ugliest girl I’ve ever seen.” The stone started to glow. Sadie looked down, startled. Luke continued, “I am only dating you because there are no trolls in this town for you to take as a mate and I feel really sorry for you.” Sadie yelped as the stone heated up.
“It’s hot!” Sadie exclaimed. Luke reached to touch the stone and pulled his hand back as if stung.
Taline nodded. “When someone lies to you, the stone will glow and get hot. Small lies, small glow. The bigger the lie, the hotter and brighter the stone will get.”
“But those were outrageous lies!”
“A lie is a lie,” Taline said simply.
“Good, I wasn’t sure he was lying,” Sadie said with a straight face. Taline laughed but Luke looked worried.
“Sadie, honey, I was only…”
“Oh, I know you big goof,” Sadie said smiling as Luke hugged her.
“Don’t take it off. It will help you determine friend from foe,” Taline said.
“So why doesn’t my ‘magic’ just burn this rock to dust?”
“I don’t think your magic can detect lies, so the rock isn’t doing something your magic would consider a threat.”
“Glow necklaces!!” a kid screamed, dragging his harried mother to Taline’s table. “I want, I want!” he yelled. The mother looked at Taline. “Do you have anything to shut him up?” she asked, obviously at the end of her rope.
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