"Do you really think I use a litter box? Please." Steve padded into the kitchen.
"Jake, please give me some good news."
"I wish I could." He sat down on the sofa.
"Wanna know the reason that sea witches are banished in Enchanted Shores? Today I found out."
"Why?" I sat beside him. "Wait—who told you this?"
"Cormac. I just came from the police station."
Sea witches. I was a sea witch. I slid my arm on the back of the sofa and tried to relax.
"A hundred years ago, sea witches lived up and down the coastline alongside everyone else—with shifters and witches and other enchanted creatures. We lived in peace with the humans, who knew what we were. No secrets like now. We were open. They were accepting. We all got along."
"Sounds great," I said, sliding closer to Jake.
"Then a sea witch and a human fell in love. He betrayed her and broke her heart. So she killed him, but she didn't stop there. She used her power to destroy an entire village of humans. She washed them out to sea, and when they were all gone, the citizens of Enchanted Shores tried to take her to magic jail. But she wouldn't go, said she would do the same thing to us that she'd done to the humans. Her family supported her and so the entire clan was forbidden to return to Enchanted Shores."
So that was what happened. But it was so long ago. "You said it was a hundred years ago?"
"It was, but you can see how powerless everyone is against your ability to command the very water inside our bodies. No one else can do anything remotely like that."
"So I'm powerful. So what?"
"Sadie, Cormac said you are too potent, and too young to have so much power. A walking lethal weapon. That's what he said."
I shook my head. "A lethal weapon? I may have powers but I'm no one's weapon!"
"If you contact your family, you will be banished. That's the law."
"That's not fair!" It wasn't my fault that a sea witch had lost her marbles a century ago. "Surely you can't blame me for what one person did a hundred years ago."
"I agree with you," Jake said. "And I'll work to change the law, but for now, it is what it is. If you contact your family, you will be banished."
"How can I contact them without the shell? Wait—did Cormac destroy the shell?"
Jake nodded once. He licked his lips. "I think so."
Fury pulsed through me. I'd never felt so angry. Or so lethal. "What did he do to it?" I asked, my voice rising.
"He won't tell me what he did. But whatever it was, he took away the power the shell once held. You can't use it to contact your family."
Then it hit me. Jake must have been in on it. "How did Cormac know about the shell, Jake? I never told him."
Steve zoomed to my side. "Your so-called boyfriend ratted you out," he hissed.
Jake shook his head and reached for me. "I'm so sorry, Sadie. But I never would have told him if I'd known he would do that. I never would have allowed you to be underwater without your powers."
"Allowed me?" I pulled away. "Who do you think you are? You don't get to decide what I do or don't do!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I'm just worried about you!" He stared down at his feet, his hands at his sides. "I think that Mrs. G leaving town right now made Cormac more aggressive than normal. We've got to get her back here."
"I sent her a message, but there's no way of knowing when she'll get it. Or if."
There was a pounding at the front door. Jake and I jumped.
"Sadie, open up!" It was Cormac's voice.
Jake and I walked to the front door, and I opened it.
Cormac stood in the gathering dark with two other police officers, who I recognized as also being wolf shifters. I flipped on the porch light and their eyes narrowed.
"Sadie Summers?" Cormac barked as he walked over the threshold.
"You know who I am. What do you want, Cormac?"
"I've just received word that the sea witch who nearly destroyed Enchanted Shores a hundred years ago was also called Sadie."
"Sadie…" Jake and I said together. He took my hand.
Cormac continued, "I'm taking you in to custody for your own safety. And the safety of those around you."
"No. I won't allow that." My voice sounded gravelly and forceful; I'd never heard it like that before. I dropped Jake's hand. He took a step away from me.
"I believe she was your great-grandmother," Cormac said.
That explained a lot. "Maybe she was. But I've committed no crime and I won't have my freedom stolen from me." I put my fists on my hips and widened my stance, ready for action. I thought about was the magic draining out of the shell, and out of me. If I didn't have my powers—which was what the town of Enchanted Shores wanted for me—I wouldn't be myself. I was just discovering who I was. I didn't want to have my powers taken away just as I was learning about them.
I needed to find out who I was. And I couldn't do that in Enchanted Shores. I saw that now.
Steve had said that moving water was only the beginning of my powers. He said that I hadn't lost them. What else could I do?
The other two police officers moved to enter the house. I lifted a hand. "Stop right there. You three aren't welcome in my home. Cormac, out."
"You don't have a choice here," Cormac said. "And neither do I."
"That's where you're wrong. I do have choices." I felt my fury rise again and without even thinking about it, I directed my anger towards Cormac and the other two officers.
A blast of white hot energy ran though me and into the night. The three shifters stumbled back as if I had shoved them.
I grinned, as a thrill ran through me. Just how powerful was I? Could I destroy an entire town too?
Not that I ever would.
The officers growled and I saw their eyes flash red in the night. Would they shift? I held up my fists and crouched down in what felt like a fighting stance, although if I had to fight three shifters, I knew I'd use magic more than might.
Cormac lifted a hand to hold back his officers. "This isn't done, Sadie. You know this isn't over."
I knew they'd be back. I didn't have much time to get everything sorted out. I used my mind to give them another push into the night.
I closed the door on their startled faces and turned on Jake and Steve.
"If I'm banished, then I'm leaving. Now."
I'd need my jacket. I turned to run upstairs but Jake held me by the arms. "What do you mean you're leaving? Where are you going?"
I pulled away. "To find my family. To end this banishment."
"Just give me one second to pack," Steve meowed. He dashed into the kitchen and then darted right back out. "Okay, I'm ready."
Jake rubbed my shoulders. "Please, Sadie. Just wait a few weeks. When Mrs. G comes back, she and I can change the law and we'll all take care of this together."
I pushed him away and stomped up the stairs. "You heard Cormac. I don't have time to wait. Anyway, my family needs me and I need answers. I've got to find them."
Jake followed me. "You don't even know where they are."
"So? I'll search and find them." My bedroom was a mess. It had been a week since I'd had time to tidy up. Clothes were strewn on the floor of my closet and my covers were shoved to the foot of my bed. I shook out my backpack and started throwing in a change of clothes.
Jake grabbed a fleece jacket from the closet doorknob and offered it to me. "Let me help you. Let me come with you."
I took the fleece. "Sorry. But, no. You told Cormac about the shell." My instinct was telling me that I should travel alone up the coast line to find my family, and that they weren't as far away as I'd thought. The land north of town was rugged. I'd need a warm sweatshirt and my heavy boots. I pulled the fleece over my head.
"That's not fair," Jake said.
"It may not be fair. But it's true. The longer I spend with you, the more tools I'm giving Cormac to take my powers. Just stay here and work on changing the law, Jake. That's how you
can help."
"Sadie…" Jake took me by both hands. "Don't do this. Don't react to Cormac's fear this way. Let's show him and the town that you are safe."
I was tempted to stay with Jake and let him take care of me. His strong arms and warm kisses were like a drug to me, tempting me to stay and be cared for. He was a good man—a good bear shifter, that was. Then I remembered the power surging through me and how easy it had been to shove Cormac and the other two wolf shifters out of my house. With my mind. "Are you sure you think I'm safe? What if things go badly between us, aren't you worried that I might use my powers to hurt you?"
"Of course not. Not even a little bit, Sadie. You can't leave. Where will you go?"
If I told Jake where I was going, would Cormac be there waiting for me? Maybe I should give Jake misinformation. The town of Sunny Bay, twenty miles south of Enchanted Shores, had a ferry that traveled to the islands that dotted that bay. I wasn't headed anywhere near there.
"I just don't want to worry about you. Please," Jake continued.
I nodded. "I'm going to Sunny Bay. To the ferry. I'll leave in the morning."
Steve hissed and snarled, but meowed an encouraging, "Good move."
I felt bad about lying to Jake. It was too harsh. "Listen," I said, "I'm not really going to Sunny Bay. I just don't want to tell you the truth if you to feel you have to tell Cormac."
Jake looked crestfallen. "I deserve better than that but I know I have to earn back your trust."
I shrugged. "I need time. There's just so much happening right now. I'm sorry."
"Sadie," Jake implored, taking me in his arms. "I have to ask once more. Please stay. We can work this out together."
I hugged him, resting my head against his massive chest, savoring the warmth and musky smell of him for just a moment. Did I really have what it took to stand up to Cormac and the entire town? On my own? I'd had many sad moments in my life, but I didn't remember ever feeling so alone. "It's time for you to go, Jake."
"Promise you'll keep in touch," he told me. "Call me every day?"
"I'll try. I promise. Now please. Go."
After he left, I pulled off the fleece and changed into my flannel shirt, heavy jeans, and hiking boots. I tied the fleece around my waist.
I shoved some power bars and a bottle of water into my backpack. "Ready?" I asked Steve.
He nodded, and we walked out into the night.
For tonight, I needed a safe place to sleep. Somewhere Cormac would never look for me.
I knew just the spot.
Chapter 7
Sadie
The trail was lined with soft pine needles. Steve padded along beside me. Shafts of moonlight broke through the trees, reflecting off the lake. A mossy scent filled the air.
I was headed for the great oak tree. I knew I'd be safe at Monty's camp site. The only other person who knew about it was Leo. Despite the whole vampire thing, I felt I could trust Leo. I felt it in my gut.
"You're quiet," I said to Steve. "Why aren't you complaining about something?"
"Sometimes you actually get a good idea on your own," he purred.
"Ouch," I laughed, secretly glad he didn't think I was making a mistake. That was one good thing about hanging out with a cranky kitten: you could always trust him to be honest and tell you how he really felt.
"Of course you can trust me."
I sighed. "Stop that. I'm warning you. Get out of my head."
"I'm on your side," he meowed. "Relax."
I did need to relax. As we walked into the forest, the crisp night air invigorated me. I took a deep breath.
Despite the strange turn of events—Cormac's betrayal and Jake's lack of understanding—I was glad to be doing something, to be heading out to find my family. I didn't want to talk about it anymore. I wanted action. I wanted to discover the truth.
My truth.
Would I see my aunt tomorrow? What about my parents? Were they even alive?
Just this morning, I hadn't felt ready to travel. Now I couldn't wait.
The great oak tree was a landmark in Enchanted Shores, even older than the town itself. A coastal oak, its canopy of branches with small, dark leaves and acorns sheltered and fed animals.
I pushed through the brush to Monty's clearing.
The campsite was just as Leo and I had left it earlier that night: tidy and peaceful. Monty's blue tent rested between two pine trees and the camp chairs were arranged at the fire pit as if Steve and I had been expected.
I sat down. Steve jumped on my lap. I petted him absent-mindedly.
What had really happened to Monty? I shivered and hugged my fleece tightly. Eddie was behind bars, but was there another murderer in Enchanted Shores?
"You're safe, you know," Steve reminded me. "What you did to those shifters. You could do that to anyone who tried to hurt you. You're safe."
He was right.
Tomorrow morning, I would look around Monty's campsite. Maybe I could find out what had happened or who he might have been with when he died.
The whole gerbil thing just seemed weird. Was Hannah wrong?
Maybe Hannah wasn't really an empath. Or maybe she just needed to try again.
The clearing had a peaceful feel and before I knew it, I heard birds chirping. I opened my eyes. I was in the tent and it was morning.
I didn't remember coming into the tent, but clearly I had.
I'd slept on top of Monty's sleeping bag, my fleece tucked over me like a small blanket.
I had slept well. Light pushed through the tent's plastic ceiling. It was morning.
I reached overhead and stretched.
"Hey, I'm sleeping here," Steve hissed as I jostled him from his spot above my head.
"Do you have to sleep on my pillow?"
"Your pillow, is it? How quickly you humans assume ownership." Steve flicked his whiskers at me.
"So you're not human." I sat up. "I'd wondered if you'd been cursed. You know. Like Beauty and the Beast."
I unzipped the tent.
"Cursed? That's ridiculous," Steve hissed. "If anything I'm blessed. With beauty, charm, and special abilities."
We both stumbled out into the pale morning light.
"How come I don't remember getting into the tent?"
Steve looked up at me and meowed, "You don't remember?"
I shook my head. "Do you?"
"Of course." He began a bath, lifting his right rear leg and licking. "You must have been more tired than you realized."
"That makes no sense," I said. "I've never forgotten getting into bed before, and I've been plenty tired."
He shrugged and went back to his bath.
I had to wonder again who—and what—Steve was. "Hey, so if you're not a cursed human, are you a genie?"
He stopped licking for a moment. "What's a genie?"
I leaned over and smoothed the fur on the top of his head. "You're an adorable and talented kitten, that's what you are."
He stalked into the bushes and was quickly swallowed up by green. Between the chirping birds and rustling leaves, the forest seemed even more full of life this morning. I thought of telling Steve to be careful, but there was a fierceness about him and he seemed capable of facing down any forest animal.
I took a long drink from my water bottle and ripped open a power bar.
I needed coffee, but I didn't want to risk going into town and being spotted by Cormac.
Would my whole plan to rough it be ruined by my coffee addiction?
I texted Hannah and when she told me she was still up for breakfast; I gave her directions to the camp site.
"I'll explain when you get here," I texted. "But don't tell anyone where I am. It's a secret."
While waiting for Hannah, I tried to open the black metal cabinet. The four drawers came up to my hip. The top drawer was held by a small lock. It wouldn't budge.
I searched Monty's tent for a key, but found nothing.
And no gerbils, either.
Then Hannah ar
rived.
"You're camping? No," Hannah exclaimed, taking in the tent and peace flags. She carried a bag of bagels and two coffees. "I don't believe it. Why now?"
She handed me a coffee.
It was true. I'd never camped before. I took a gulp of coffee. It was lukewarm, but delicious. "You're a goddess," I said. "Thank you."
"What are you doing out here? Tell me everything." She sat in a camp chair and patted the other one. She'd cut her hair since yesterday, and now it was even shorter and slightly orange like sherbet.
I sat next to her. "First tell me about last night. Your couple's therapy?" I asked. "Are you okay?"
Steve trotted out of the forest and curled up at Hannah's feet.
She reached down and patted his head. "It was kind of anti-climactic. Barry didn't say anything and so it was left to me to explain why we were there. The therapist ended up suggesting that Barry not come back until he's ready to work on the relationship, and so I'm going by myself next week. He thinks she said he doesn't need therapy. That only I need therapy."
"Oh, honey. I'm sorry," I said. "That sounds so frustrating."
She shrugged. "At least I can say I tried everything."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Just be my friend."
"Always," I said. I couldn't imagine not being friends with Hannah.
"What's going on with Barry, anyway?" I asked. "Has he changed?"
Barry worked as a pharmaceutical salesman and traveled around the state to meet with doctors and hospital administrators. He seemed more anxious than usual, but maybe that was because he didn't want to lose Hannah.
"I might be the one who changed," Hannah said. "Since I've become an empath, I've started sensing things in him that I wasn't aware of before." She looked down at her coffee.
"Like what? He's not hurting you, is he?" I'd kill him.
But she shook her head. "No. Barry is… greedy. And he hides it. But he really wants to be rich, more than anything. And I never knew that about him before."
I leaned forward. "What do you mean? More than anything?"
Hannah shrugged. "Nothing is ever enough. And I can't tell if he's always been like that? Or it's new. And he won't talk to me about it."
"Maybe he can't hide who he is anymore? Is that what you mean?"
Vamping and Glamping (Enchanted Shores Book 2) Page 5