by K. A. Poe
“I’d like to keep it a surprise,” he said. “I’m sorry, again, for what I said.”
“Stop apologizing. You’re forgiven,” I said and laughed. “I’m going to go talk to my mom, but I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
Mathias grinned and stepped away from the door. “I can hardly wait.”
Once the door was shut, I listened for the sound of my mom’s voice and found that she was no longer on the phone. She was leaning back against her pillows, which were propped up in order to cushion her back, and a saddened expression swept across her face.
“Are you okay?” I asked and went into the small kitchen, where I summoned a cheeseburger with all of the fixings — cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles — and grabbed a bottle of ketchup from the mini fridge.
“I’m alright. Desmond is thrilled to hear that I’m out of Littlehaven, but he and Melissa are on a cruise in Alaska and won’t be back for another three weeks … I guess they’re stopping someplace else during the trip or something. He said that he’d make sure to come straight to Denver once the trip was over, though.”
“That’s good,” I said and bit into the burger. “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head. “I had a sandwich not too long ago. I’m going to try to call Aunt Kim, if you don’t mind. She seems to have fallen off the face of the earth ... I haven’t heard from her since quite a while before I went to Littlehaven. And she was one who knew it was all real …”
“Go for it.” I sat down and finished my burger while mom dialed the number.
I settled down on the bed next to my mom, close enough that I could hear the conversation between her and my great aunt. She didn’t seem to mind the close proximity or the fact that I was clearly eavesdropping.
“Hello?” A voice on the other end said and I stared with great interest at the phone in my mom’s hand — this was the first time I had ever heard my great aunt’s voice and I was overly curious.
“H-hey,” my mom said in a shaky voice and waited a minute. The woman on the other end asked who was speaking and my mom frowned. She was obviously disappointed that her aunt didn’t recognize her voice.
“It’s me … Alexis ... your niece.”
“A-Alexis …? Alex?! Is it ... is it really you?!” Kim exclaimed. “How are you? Where are you?”
“I’m fine. I’m in Denver. How come you never tried to find me or call me, after all of this time?”
Kim sighed deeply and something crinkled in the background. “I was sort of wondering the same thing. It’s been ... what ... ten … fifteen years?”
“Sixteen.”
“My word, has it really been that long? I thought that maybe you decided to part yourself from the rest of the Waldron family after … after Paul died ... you know ... to get away from hunting and all that. Especially with the kid. I tried calling you lots of times early on. E-mail too. Never got an answer so I figured that was that.”
My mom scoffed and glanced at me for a second. “I wish that was what happened, believe me.”
I listened to her explain what happened after going to Romania — how she was taken to Littlehaven and how she was just recently released.
“Oh my God, Alex. I had no idea. I’m so sorry.” She sounded shocked, sad, and somehow guilty. “That is awful. After everything you had been through and everyone you lost ... I was so sure that you decided being a Waldron was a curse and just banished us from your life, not that it led you to being in Dad’s — Grandpa’s — position. How did Salem cope with that? Why didn’t he get you out? Surely he could have convinced the doctors that you weren’t crazy —”
I could tell by the watery glaze in my mom’s eyes that she was holding back tears. She averted her eyes and in a croaking voice said, “S-Salem died ... right after ... right after the twins were born.”
“Oh, dear ... I’m so sorry, Alexis. You two did so much to be together ... and twins? I thought there was only one child expected?”
For a brief moment, I cringed, knowing that this sadness was unnecessary, because my dad was in fact not dead.
“It was a surprise to me too. One of them — Madison — went to live with Jason and Eila. The other ... he was taken. By Cassius, one of Malik’s henchmen.”
She gasped. “That’s awful, Alex. I mean, obviously it’s more than just awful, but ... I don’t think there’s a word for how bad that is. How are you coping with all of this?”
“I don’t know, really. I mean, I’m okay, for now. It’s different ... being outside and having all of this freedom that had been stripped away from me. I’m lost without him still — without Salem — and I don’t know where to go from here. But ... how are you? Where are you?”
“I’m in Chicago, actually. I was offered a journalist position a few months after you left for Romania. It was an immediate decision; I left Colorado without a second thought. Things haven’t been nearly as hectic and crazy for me. Job is steady, still not married, and no kids. As you probably know, I might as well be married to my job.”
To my surprise, my mom managed a light chuckle. “You always were dedicated to your job. I’m glad things have worked out so well for you. I had begun to wonder if you ... if something had happened. Or if you’d forgotten about me.”
“Oh, Alex. I could never forget about you. You’re my only niece. I have worried countless times about you, but it’s relieving to know you’re alive and well ... as well as one can be in your situation. I truly am sorry for what happened. And me? Well. I’m fine. I gave it up, you know?”
“Gave what up?”
“Hunting. After Paul … after Paul was gone, and seeing what happened to Destiny, Dad, so many others … well, I just couldn’t do it anymore. My job is dangerous enough most times as it is.”
“I have a hard time imagining you without a crossbow.” My mom croaked a partial laugh again.
“A crossbow? I’m an old lady now, remember?”
“You’re not that old.”
“Oh, don’t try to sugar-coat it. I know how old I am.”
“It’s good to hear you again, Aunt Kim.”
“You too, hon.”
“Thanks ... I hope we can see each other sometime. I’ll call you again when I get a chance, but I should probably go. Bye.”
“Bye ...”
Mom hung up the phone and moisture fell gently down her cheeks. I immediately pulled her into my arms and held her as she shook with tears — sobbing over the fresh wound of remembering her dad’s and Salem’s death. Even though he wasn’t really dead.
Chapter Six
Willow woke me the next morning, kneading on the blanket, her paws directly over my bladder. I gently pushed her off, ran to the restroom, and relieved myself. I was glad to have the white feline back in my life, but I didn’t miss being woken up by being kneaded like a slab of dough, or finding her asleep on my face. Quickly, I brushed my teeth and hair and went out to fix breakfast. Mom’s bed was empty, and the picture frame was still resting face-down on her nightstand. With a sigh, I summoned a small portion of fried eggs and sausage and ate it. It was Monday, and that meant school, which I was dreading going back to now that I had this magical life that I yearned to dedicate my time to rather than math, science, and whatever else.
Right as I was finishing my final sausage link, the door opened and Mom stepped in. She looked tired but had a faint smile on her lips.
“Morning,” I mumbled with my mouth half-full.
“Good morning,” she replied and took my plate and set it in the tiny sink. “I already had breakfast, before you ask. Jason stopped by a couple hours ago and we went out to eat.”
I looked at her in surprise. “He came here?”
“Well, I met him outside,” she clarified. “Do you need someone to take you to school, or ...?
“I’ll walk. Or call Serena. Or just not go altogether.”
My mother scowled. “I’m not going to let you end up like I did, Madison. I have regretted dropping out of high school f
or ... a long time, and I don’t want the same thing happening to my daughter.”
“There’s no reason for me to go to school! None of what I learn there is ever going to help me in the future, with being a witch, or ... anything! I’m not like normal teenagers. I won’t grow up to be a normal adult!”
For a split second, she looked like she might agree, but instead shook her head. “In the end, you’ll be grateful that you went, whether you do anything with the diploma or not.”
Groaning, I got up and gathered my backpack — which was light and comfortable since I left all of my books in my locker the last time I went to school. I reluctantly hugged my mom goodbye and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind me. Calling Serena wasn’t an option anymore; by the time she arrived, we’d both end up being late. The lobby area was empty when I entered it, and I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the fact that Mathias wouldn’t be able to join me at school, despite his vow to protect and guide me no matter where I was. Leaving Haven felt unsafe, knowing that there were dark witches likely searching for me. I had been going to school with one of them — had been friends with one — and he nearly killed me. How could my mom think it was a good idea to go to school anymore, knowing that the Nefastus could show up at any time to whisk me away?
Once I finally made it to school, I was almost ten minutes late for my first class. The day dragged on slowly, starting with math. I could hardly pay attention to a single word that fell out of the teacher’s mouth. My mind was constantly thinking about the Clan — what I could be doing with them, what I could be learning that would actually impact my future as a witch, and who I could be meeting. Instead, I was stuck in a classroom with the heat blowing down my neck and the constant drawl of Mrs. Portland as she explained how to solve linear equations. I wondered what Mathias might be doing, if Noah was goofing off playing video games, what kind of items Forrest might be replicating, and I even wondered about Alan — how could he own a mansion and not want to live there? What had his family been like, and what had the Nefastus wanted from his parents?
Science wasn’t any more interesting. In English, we got our papers back from the assignment for writing about the Salem Witch Trials, which I had barely managed to get done and turned in even a day late, and I was disappointed that my typical A was an unsightly C.
Glumly, I sauntered off to lunch in search of Serena. She was waiting at one of the tables near the doors that led outside. There was nothing appealing about the cafeteria menu, so I passed on eating the square-shaped pizza and went straight to the table. Zach was sitting at a different table with his friends — the majority of the basketball team — and I was relieved. I had seen and heard enough about him in the last few days that I didn’t need him interrupting my time with Serena at school, too.
“You weren’t in English class,” I pointed out and she didn’t appear to hear me. “Earth to Serena ...”
I followed her gaze and sighed. She was staring over at the basketball team’s table. Her slice of pizza was limp in her hand and about to fall on her lap. I leaned forward and jerked it away before it splattered onto her pale yellow top.
“Hey!” she exclaimed in surprise, blinking up at me. “I didn’t see —”
“Yeah. You didn’t see me. I got that.”
Serena frowned and pushed her tray aside. “Sorry ... what’s up?”
“Why weren’t you in English class?”
She shrugged, her eyes darting back over to Zach. “I skipped.”
“You skipped? Your mom’s going to kill you.”
“It’s not a big deal. I mean, yeah, I might get grounded for a day or two —”
“More like a week or two,” I interrupted. “Remember last year, when you missed a whole day because you wanted to go shopping? You were grounded for a month.”
“Shopping and sneaking out to see your boyfriend are two different things,” she argued.
With a sigh, I stopped making an effort to talk to my best friend. She was clearly too busy to pay attention to me. Not that I had anything to talk about outside of Clan stuff.
The rest of the school day seemed to last forever, especially history class. Mr. Watcher shocked us all by not assigning any homework, though, and for that I was thankful. I rushed out of my last class as quickly as I could and sped out of the building, trying to ignore Serena and Zach as I passed them.
I stood outside the door to the motel, tapping my foot and waiting. Not being initiated as a full member of the Clan yet, I didn’t have the special device that allowed access into the building, so every time I came ‘home’ I had to wait for someone to let me in. Today, there was an unfamiliar scrawny girl with blonde pigtails and stormy blue eyes greeting me. She looked to be younger than any of the other members, which led me to conclude that she must be Eden.
“Hey, Madison!” Noah shouted from the couch, where he sat with a game controller in one hand and a soda can in the other.
“Hey,” I said and stepped past the young girl.
“You’re Castus Young, huh?” she asked, looking up at me curiously.
With a nod, I watched her shut the door behind me. “It seems like everyone knows that.”
“It’s hard not to, with your eyes that color ... you’re the only Summoner I’ve ever seen.”
My eyes would always be a dead giveaway about the power I possessed, and a reminder to my mother that my dad wasn’t with us.
“Oh. Of course. Who are you?” I asked, searching the room for Mathias or Alan. Noah and another boy on the other side of the couch were the only others in the room.
“Eden,” she squeaked. “I’m not a witch ... well, not yet. But Artemis lets me come over to visit my brother and learn some about the Clan history and the way the place works and stuff. That’s him over there with Noah.”
I glanced again at the other boy on the couch — Elijah. He had short blonde hair with a streak of brown in the front and hazel eyes, an eyebrow piercing, and a furious expression. Had he been the boy Serena mentioned the other day – the one she’d ‘go for’ if she was single?
“This is bullshit! I can’t believe you beat me again! I had that!” he yelled and slammed his controller on the coffee table.
Noah shrugged and grinned. “I’ve been playing this game longer than you ... lots more practice. Plus, you know, I’m like, really awesome. The best really.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say that you have some gift that lets you cheat at these.”
“Oh, man, could you imagine?” Noah mused. “Of course, I wouldn’t need it. I always win.” He grinned again.
Eden and I shook our heads simultaneously. She giggled when she noticed.
“Boys, right?” I mumbled and she nodded. “It was nice meeting you, Eden. I hope you become a member of the Clan soon ... we sure need more girls around here.”
Another giggle. “I hope so, too.”
With a final glance at the two boys, I started down the hall toward my room, disappointed that Mathias wasn’t around. When I reached the door before mine, something flickered ahead of me and I paused, waiting a moment to see if it happened again. Nothing. Shrugging, I stepped forward, only to bump into something solid. Startled, I watched as Mathias began wavering in and out of existence in front of me, and he reached forward to steady me before I knocked us both over.
“H-have you been following me the entire day?” I asked, my heart hammering in my chest.
“Pretty much,” he answered and smiled. “I did vow to watch over you, did I not?”
“You did ... and thank you … I think.” I paused and thought of Eden, of how she was too young and inexperienced to be admitted into the Clan, yet could come and go as she pleased, and here I was — full-blooded witch with the powers to prove it — and I wasn’t able to. “When can I officially become a part of this ... the Clan, that is?”
Mathias’s eyes darkened and his smile vanished. “Are you asking when you’ll be Marked?”
I nodded, and to my surprise
, he frowned. “It’s a painful process ... and you have to be one hundred percent sure that you’re going to stick with us.”
“Why would you even question whether I’d stay or not?” I asked. “I intend to stay with the Clan for as long as I live. So, yeah, I think I’m more than ready to be Marked.”
Mathias looked uncertain but took my hand and led me down the hall, toward the far end of the motel. The last door in the building stood before us. He rapped his fingers against the wood but no one answered.
“You’re sure you are ready for this?”
I glared at him. “Yes. I am ready to commit myself wholly.”
“Are you just saying this because you hope it will get you out of school?”
Wasn’t I supposed to be the mind-reader?
My glare only intensified. “... No. Even if I have to suffer through school as a Clan member, I will do it. I just want to feel like a permanent part of this place. I don’t want to have to stand outside in the cold and wait for someone to let me in every day … multiple times. I’m ready for my Mark, for my own key or whatever it is you use to open the door to this place and for one of those amulets like you have. I want all of it.”
He stared at me with that same uncertain look, and I noticed that his hair looked more silver than usual but didn’t comment on it. He grinned and tried knocking once more. No answer.
“It would seem that Artemis isn’t here. However, I can tell you now; you won’t be receiving an amulet any time soon. It took me two years to earn mine after I turned thirteen, which was dreadful and I was not patient in the least about it. You’re not practiced enough to be scouting for witches and Nefastus mischief.”
I frowned and my shoulders slumped. “How am I supposed to make time for school, my family, and learning all of this stuff? It’s not just my witch abilities ... but also physical training like Artemis said. I have to learn to fight without powers.”
“I’ll train you, but I don’t know what to tell you about finding the time with everything else weighing you down.”