She smiled grimly. “My mother was a very good woman. A heart of gold and so much wisdom.”
“Sounds that way,” I replied. “What about your father?”
“I don’t know much about him other than he died when I was a baby.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Clarice,” I replied. “Did your mother tell you about him?”
“Not too much. She did say that he was a warlock and very handsome.”
“Do you know how he died?” asked Tyler.
“He was killed by a witch,” she replied. “But that’s all I really know. My mother didn’t like talking about him.”
More mysteries, I thought, as we stepped around a massive tree trunk.
“It’s strange, but men don’t seem to last very long in the world of witchcraft,” said Tyler, frowning.
“It’s not just men,” replied his mother. “It’s anyone who lets their guard down. Unfortunately, your father did and there was nothing I could do to save him either.”
“That’s why I won’t ever make that mistake,” said Tyler. “Even with Vivian gone.”
“What about your parents, Rebecca?” I asked, now walking next to her.
She smiled sadly. “They’re both gone. They died in a car accident when Tyler was a baby.”
“Truth be told, we’re all cursed with tragedies in our lives,” said Clarice. “But, it makes us stronger and more resilient.”
I wasn’t sure about that. If anything, I felt vulnerable and more cynical than ever.
As we continued walking, the sun began to rise, which, surprisingly, made the woods more ominous. Now that I could see the trees more clearly, I almost felt like they were watching us.
“Let’s take a breather,” said Clarice, stopping in a small clearing. She opened up her purse and pulled out a steaming cup of coffee. “Would you like some Rebecca?”
“That sounds wonderful,” she replied.
“If I remember, you prefer it black. Like I do,” she said, handing it over.
“Yes,” said Rebecca, smiling gratefully.
Clarice looked over at me. “Do you drink coffee, dear?”
“Uh, no. But thank you.”
“Suit yourself,” she replied. “But, you really should stay hydrated. You know, I may have some juice if you’d prefer?”
“Now that would be great,” I answered, suddenly feeling parched as I watched Rebecca take a sip of her coffee.
Clarice reached into her purse again and pulled out two small bottles of orange juice. She held one up toward Tyler. “Tyler?”
“Oh, yes, please,” he answered quickly. “I would love some.”
“Ah… I knew you’d be thirsty,” she said. “Good thing I came prepared.”
“Good thing is right,” he replied. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
When she handed me the other bottle, I was amazed to find that it was chilled. “Wow,” I said, after taking a few sips. “I’ve really got to get me one of those purses.”
She patted her purse lovingly. “My mother made it for me many years ago. It’s very special, obviously. It can keep cold things cold and hot things hot, unlike most enchanted purses.”
“Oh, that’s pretty cool,” I answered, staring at the old, worn shoulder bag. To anyone else it looked nothing more than a ratty, brown messenger bag, but, obviously, it was a real treasure to Clarice, and worth more than any designer purse at the mall.
A gust of wind made the leaves rustle in the trees and when I looked up, something made my heart stop – eyes on a tree. Large, brown ones that regarded me coldly.
I blinked and they were gone.
“What’s wrong?” asked Tyler, studying my face.
I shivered. “Uh, nothing,” I replied, now thinking that maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. I hadn’t slept for hours and it was obviously making me loopy.
“You look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” he said, watching me closely.
“No, I’m fine,” I replied, glancing again at the tree. Fortunately, it was still eyeless.
“Kind of freaky, huh?” murmured Tyler, this time near my ear. “Like they’re alive or something.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay, I hope you don’t think I’m going completely mad now, but for a second, I could have sworn that one of the trees had been staring at me.”
“Which one?” he whispered.
I nodded toward the large cottonwood behind Clarice.
He nodded slowly. “Actually, I feel like we’re being watched. I wouldn’t be surprised if these trees were reporting our every action to the coven in this area.”
My eyes darted around from tree to tree. “Let me guess – enchanted trees?”
He smiled grimly. “Exactly.”
There was a crackling sound in the distance. Almost like the sound of a bonfire.
“Did you hear that?” asked Tyler, stiffening up. He turned toward the north, where the sound had originated from.
Rebecca, who’d settled down on a large white rock to drink her coffee, stood up quickly with her wand raised. Her eyes narrowed. “We should get moving again. I don’t like this.”
Clarice shoved her china cup back into her purse and raised her own wand. “I think you’re right. Something is amiss. Now, remember – if anything bad happens, meet back at Secrets.”
“Copy that,” replied Tyler as he grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. “Don’t worry, Kendra, if I think we’re in real danger, I’ll teleport us the heck out of here before you even have time to raise your wand.”
“Good,” I replied, looking around nervously.
“This way,” said Clarice, moving deeper into the woods.
We quickly followed her with Rebecca taking up the rear and my fist gripping Chloe tightly.
“What is that noise?” I asked as the crackling sound happened again, this time directly in front of me. I froze and held up my wand, my hand trembling.
Tyler turned back to me, looking puzzled. “I don’t –”
Just then there was a burst of light and a girl with long dark hair materialized next to us. “Hurry, you must follow me!” she whispered loudly.
Clarice’s eyes widened. “Who are you?”
“My name is Willow,” she replied, her face flushed. “Please, you must come with me now, before they find you.”
“Who?” whispered Rebecca. “The coven?”
Her large brown eyes filled with horror. “Oh no. Too late. You really need to get out of here.”
Then she disappeared.
Before any of us could speak, a large group of witches materialized around us, their wands raised.
“Who are you and why are you intruding in our woods?” snapped a very old woman with hard brown eyes and tight lips. She, like all of the others, was dressed in Amish clothing, and I almost felt like we’d stepped back into time.
Clarice spoke up. “Oh, thank goodness. Meredith, it’s me. Clarice. Daughter of Fedora.”
Meredith’s face relaxed slightly as her eyes rested on Clarice’s face. “Clarice? It’s really you?”
She nodded and smiled. “Yes, it’s me. A few decades older and a couple of dress sizes larger than my last visit. But, it’s me.”
The older witch chuckled. “Oh my stars… it is you. Lower your wands, girls.”
The rest of the coven obeyed and I was able to breathe again.
Meredith walked over to Clarice and touched her face lovingly. “My old friend. Look at you! It’s been so long.”
“Too long,” said Clarice.
“Indeed. What on earth are you doing here and so early in the morning? You just about started a war, you know. We thought you were part of another coven. One that has been a thorn in our side these last few months.”
Clarice chuckled and then hugged Meredith. “I’m sorry for the unexpected arrival.” She released the woman and stepped back. “We’re here on a mission and there was really no time to contact you.”
Meredith’s forehead wrinkled. “A
mission, you say? What exactly for?”
“To save Adrianne,” replied Clarice. “There has been a terrible spell placed on her and her life is on the line.”
Meredith’s hand flew to her mouth. “Adrianne? You mean Lisbeth’s daughter?”
“Yes,” replied Clarice. She turned toward me. “This is her niece, Kendra.”
Meredith turned to me and her eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re Vivian’s daughter.”
“No,” I replied, raising my chin. “I’m Adrianne’s daughter. Maybe not by birth, but she is the only mother I’ve ever known and the only one I will ever refer to as my mom.”
Meredith studied me for a few seconds and then smiled in approval. “Yes. She obviously raised you right. I can clearly see it in your eyes and by the company that you keep.” She turned back toward Clarice. “Now tell me, what’s happened to Adrianne?”
Clarice filled her in on the details as I glanced at the other witches. There were twelve of them and some were talking quietly amongst each other while still eyeing us a little suspiciously. Many were yawning, and looked like they’d been dragged out of bed.
“Do you know where Margaritte is?” asked Clarice when she was finished with the story.
“I thought you knew. She died,” replied Meredith somberly.
Clarice’s face fell. “No, I didn’t.”
“My, you have been gone too long,” said Meredith, looking sympathetic.
“It just couldn’t be helped,” said Clarice, closing her eyes. She rubbed her forehead. “I’ve spent the last few years in Bayport, watching over Adrianne and her girls. I couldn’t risk coming back here. Not with Vivian lurking everywhere.”
“Speaking of her, we’ve had several run-ins with her coven.” Meredith frowned. “An evil bunch, they are.”
“With her as their leader, it makes sense,” said Rebecca. “Thank goodness she is gone now. We can all breathe easier.”
Meredith smiled. “It’s good to see you as well, child. I’m glad that you’re okay. I heard rumor that Vivian had been searching for your whereabouts.”
“Yes, I know,” she replied. “She was relentless.”
“And is this your son?” asked Meredith, turning to Tyler. “Tyler, the Enchanter?”
“That’s me,” he replied. “I’m also half warlock, by the way.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry to hear about all of your misfortune with Vivian. Thankfully, she’s been… disposed of.”
Rebecca nodded. “Yes, and hopefully we can save Adrianne. How long has Margaritte been gone?”
“Oh… I’d say about six years, now.” She turned back to Clarice. “I’m very sorry that you learned this way. I know that you weren’t close but she was still family.”
Clarice lowered her eyes. “Yes, that she was. Do you know how she died?”
“Natural causes,” said Meredith. “I think I heard she had a stroke.”
“That’s too bad,” replied Clarice. She let out a ragged sigh.
Meredith touched her shoulder. “Is there any way that we can help you?”
“As I said earlier, we really need that bonding wand. It’s the only way to save her. Do you have any idea of what may have happened to it?” asked Clarice.
“I believe that her granddaughter has it,” she replied.
Clarice looked stunned. “Granddaughter? I wasn’t aware that she had a child, let alone a granddaughter.”
Meredith nodded. “She had both. Unfortunately, Willow’s mother died when she was born. At least, that’s what I heard.”
“Where can we find Willow?” asked Clarice.
“Here lies the problem,” answered Meredith, raising her index finger. “She really can’t be found, unless she wants to.”
My eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean?”
Meredith looked at me. “She is a recluse. A loner. Truth be told, I’m not exactly sure if she’s of sound mind. Never had a conversation with her.”
“Does she still live here in Oregon?” asked Tyler. “Do you know that much?”
She nodded. “Yes. She still wanders into town occasionally. I haven’t seen her but others have caught sight of her.”
“I don’t understand,” I replied, looking at the group of women. “I mean, one of you must know where she lives? You’re witches and know everything, right?”
Meredith laughed. “You’d think. But, this girl is crafty. The wand she uses is obviously the one that you’re searching for, as it has kept her hidden from all of us. It’s a very powerful wand.”
I glanced down at my own wand and decided it was time to prod her a little more. “Chloe.”
She sparkled. “Yes, child.”
Meredith and the other witches gasped.
“The rumors are true,” whispered Meredith, staring at my wand in awe. “The White bonding wand is still in your family.”
“Actually, so is the Black bonding wand,” replied Clarice, patting her purse. “We have Penelope, too.”
Meredith nodded in approval. “Good. If you ask me, they should both be destroyed.”
“Nobody asked you, witch,” huffed Chloe.
I bit back a smile.
Meredith’s eyes lit up and she chuckled. “Oh, dear. No offense, Chloe. It’s nothing against you personally. It’s just that if Penelope’s dark power should fall into the wrong hands, once again, we could all be in danger.”
Clarice nodded. “Very true, and that’s why we’re going to have to find a safe place for the wand when all of this is over.”
Meredith turned to the girls in her coven. “Vivian’s death was inevitable. She used her powers for evil for so long that it was bound to catch up with her. It’s a good lesson to learn. For all of us.”
“Actually, it was Kendra who caught up with her,” said Tyler, smiling at me.
My cheeks turned pink. “Yes, but… I’m not proud of it. As evil as she was, I didn’t want her to die. Heck, I didn’t want anyone to die. I just wanted to save Adrianne.”
Meredith nodded and smiled in approval. “Yes, I see that Chloe is in the right hands with you, child. Don’t ever lose her. She is very special.”
Chloe spoke again. “At least you do appreciate my power, witch.”
“Oh, I definitely appreciate your power, Chloe,” replied Meredith. “I am just leery of Penelope’s. Even in the hands of a just person, she can cause a lot of harm.”
“That’s why we can’t lose Chloe,” replied Clarice. “Always keep her close, Kendra.”
“Oh, I will,” I replied. “I’m never letting her out of my sight now.”
“Good plan,” said Rebecca.
“We still need to find the third wand. To stop the curse,” reminded Clarice.
“Chloe,” I said, a light-bulb going off inside of my head. “Can you sense Juniper?”
The wand sparkled. “Yes.”
Clarice’s eyes widened. “Of course! How stupid of me. I never even thought to ask.”
“None of us did,” replied Rebecca, frowning. “We could have saved a lot of time.”
“Is Juniper close?” I asked.
The wand was silent.
I bit my lower lip. “Chloe?”
“I’m tracking Juniper,” she said, glowing more brightly. “Unfortunately, I can only locate her if she’s within a certain radius.”
“Okay,” I replied. “At least we’ll know if we’re even close.”
After a few minutes, Chloe’s light began to dim. “There is one thing I know for certain – she was here. But, now she’s gone.”
Clarice’s jaw dropped. “What do you mean, she was here?”
“I sensed her just before this coven arrived,” she replied.
I gasped. “What? Why didn’t you say something?”
“Nobody bothered to ask,” replied the wand.
I willed myself to remain calm. There was no reason to scream at a piece of wood, magical or not. I took a deep breath. “Okay, when exactly did you sense her? When we first arrived in the woods?
”
“No. Right before these witches appeared, there was another.”
“Willow?” I asked. “Are you saying that Willow had Juniper in her possession?”
“Indeed,” replied Chloe.
Chapter Six
“She was actually here?” asked Meredith, looking surprised. She turned toward the other witches and pointed. “Go deeper into the woods and search for her!”
The other witches began to scatter.
“What should we do?” I asked.
“Search the forest like the others. It won’t be easy, as I said before, you can only find her if she wants to be found.” She frowned. “I’m just wondering why she approached you. Did she say anything?”
“Not much,” said Rebecca. “She just basically introduced herself. Then quickly disappeared.”
I noticed that she’d left out the part about warning us of danger. Now that was strange, I thought.
I met Tyler’s eyes and could see that he was also surprised that she’d withheld the other part.
“The girl is very unpredictable,” replied Meredith, staring off into space. “Well, chances are we won’t find her, but if she shows up again, please, let me know. I have some unfinished business with her.”
“What exactly do you mean?” asked Clarice.
Meredith paused. “She’s stolen something valuable from me. Broke into my house and took it.”
“What?” asked Clarice.
“A charm necklace. I know that she’s part of your family, but I must say – the girl is a lying little thief and should not to be trusted.”
“Apparently not,” said Clarice. “I’m sorry that she stole from you.”
“Me too,” said Meredith. “The necklace meant a lot to me.”
“Is it magical?” I asked.
She smiled. “Yes, but that’s not why it’s so valuable to me. The necklace is a family heirloom.”
“We’ll try and get it back for you,” said Clarice.
“I’d appreciate it,” she replied.
“Well, we shouldn’t waste any more time,” said Clarice, holding up her wand. “Since your girls are looking for Willow in this area, I think we should search farther north. What do you think, Rebecca?”
Enchanted Objects: (Witches Of Bayport) Page 4