“But isn’t it, uh…cursed? I read an article about that.”
“You carry Isabella’s blood, and you will be safe. Only those in your bloodline will be protected, so please do not sell any of these or try to give them away. If, for any reason, you no longer want them or cannot keep them, they must be returned to the castle or given only to another of Isabella’s descendants.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I don’t know what to say. I’m touched. These are such precious heirlooms.”
“Yes, I know. Just take good care of them.”
“I will. I promise.”
“You know, you do look just like her,” he said, staring at the portrait. “The resemblance is uncanny.”
“Yes, it is.”
“You come from the blood of royalty. It would not be difficult to prove that. You’d inherit the whole castle.”
I chuckled. “Thanks, Mr. Rowens. This is a really interesting place, but I’m not really cut out to be a princess in some stuffy old castle. I’m happy with my life just the way it is.”
* * *
Graduation day arrived, too soon it seemed. My parents came and, like all moms and dads, were bubbling over with excitement, snapping pictures of the ceremony left and right and squealing and clapping, proud of their “little girl.”
Though most of our classmates were excited and eager to turn their tassels, my friends and I were all deeply melancholy. In all my previous eleven years of school, the last day had come with a great deal of relief, but this one marked more than summer vacation. We were about to embark on our journey into new lives as adults, and that was a bit overwhelming.
Glowing with new health and a far more genuine smile, our principal began his commencement speech. “As young adults coming into your own, you’re bound to face many trials and challenges. Some obstacles may feel impossible to conquer,” he said, offering me a brief glance. “Some may even be frightening. Remember, young men and women, that you have gained great strength here, in this special school for special people. Remember that each and every one of you is capable of something great. You must only set your hearts and minds on it.”
***
“My mom’s here,” I whispered.
Hunter smiled and gave me a long, passionate kiss.
I touched his face. “I don’t wanna leave you.”
“It’s only temporary. I’ll go home and settle things, and when I turn eighteen in August, I’ll move.”
“But what about all your plans?”
“My plans are to spend my life with you. I can only be happy with you. I’ll be in New Orleans before you know it.”
“In the meantime, I guess there’s Facebook and stuff,” I said, sighing and holding him tight.
“Yup…and Facetime, Skype, texting, cells. You’re gonna get so sick of me.”
I kissed his lips. “Not possible,” I said when I came up for air. A tear slipped down my face; the thought of saying goodbye to him, even for a time, cut me deep, clear to my core, breaking my heart all over again.
He gazed deeply into my eyes and wiped the tear away. “Babe, this isn’t the end of our love story. I promise. It’s just the beginning of our forever. I love you, Zoey,” he whispered before his lips brushed against mine again.
“I love you too.”
“Nothing will ever keep us apart. You have to trust me on that.”
“Just hurry back to me.”
“I will.”
Hunter looked at the tear-shape, crystal necklace around my neck. “What are you going to do with the necklace?”
“Just wear it as a nice, normal necklace.”
“But it’s so much more.”
“I know. But it’s too dangerous. And without a guidebook, we shouldn’t risk using it. We just don’t know enough about it.”
“You didn’t get any tips from Isabella?”
“She did give me a few. She said there wasn’t time to go deep into complex lessons. But I know a few simple things.”
“Like?”
“Like if I’m getting mugged or something, I could go invisible.”
“Go invisible? Now that’s cool.”
“Truthfully, I don’t want to mess with this kind of magic.”
“You can’t deny who you are. You’re a psychic, Zoey. And this necklace was meant for you.”
“I have come to terms with my gifts. And I hope I can develop them even better over time. Maybe I can help people.”
“That would be great. And I’ve come to terms with my psychic abilities too.”
I smiled. “Both of our abilities will develop over time. Can you imagine where we’ll be next year? We’ll make quite the psychic team, huh?”
He smiled, then kissed me.
We talked for a few more minutes, and I wished that conversation would never end. Even if we would only be apart for a time, I didn’t ever want to let him go.
Shantal looked at me and smiled. “How will I ever forget the girl who taught me that ghosts exist?”
I grinned. “You don’t have to forget me. You have my phone number. Call me anytime.”
She cocked a brow. “So the school wasn’t poisoning us with cafeteria food, huh?”
“Nope.”
“Coulda fooled me, from the looks of that alleged Salisbury steak. Don’t they have a Health Department in Scotland? How can they get away with serving kids a glob of mystery meat slathered in brown slime?”
I laughed. “I don’t know, Shantal, but it wasn’t the food. Mr. Rowens wanted me for an immortality spell, and Miss Shila needed gifted students so they could be possessed for her own personal gain. It really just came down to greed and selfishness and desperation, not food poisoning.”
“I was close,” she said. “I knew something was wrong.”
“Yeah, a regular Sherlock. Be careful, before Scotland Yard snatches you up!”
“Frankly, my dear Watson,” she joked.
Pam walked over and hugged me. “I’m going to miss you so much,” she said. “You’d better keep in touch, and I expect an invitation to that wedding.”
“Whoa, bridezilla,” Eric said from behind her. “I haven’t seen Hunter put a ring on it. They’re not even legal adults yet, and isn’t marriage some sort of contract?”
She rolled her eyes and looked at me. “I suppose I’ll continue dating this imbecile for a while, at least see where it takes us.”
“Yeah. Can’t you tell we’re hopelessly in love?” Eric teased. “She only calls me an imbecile because she adores me.”
She rolled her eyes again and slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “We’ll find a way to make it work…in spite of him.”
“The same with me and Hunter. We should all meet up this summer.”
“That’d be great!” Pam said, excitedly jumping up and down till her mortarboard fell off her head.
“There you are, sweetie!” Mom said, hugging me tight. “Congratulations, Zoey. Oh my, a high school graduate already. Did you have a good year?”
“It was…magic,” I said, laughing with my friends.
“I’m so glad,” she cooed, stroking my hair beneath my cap. “How about I take you to one of the most wonderful restaurants in Scotland to celebrate? We can spend the night in a luxury hotel, with all the trimmings, even a spa if you want! You’ve had a big day, and there’s a long flight tomorrow.”
“Hmm. A mani-pedi does sound pretty great, Mom,” I said, smiling at her. “No massages though.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged and winked at Hunter. “I’m just not in the mood to walk around in a sheet.”
“Oh, boo!” Pam teased, a pun that drew chuckles from us all.
“I’m so proud of you, Zoey,” my mother said, kissing my forehead. “We’re always here for you, dear, whenever you need us. I know we haven’t been really, but your father and I are going to settle down and quit traveling. We need to be closer, more like a family.”
“I’d love that!”
She hugged me
tightly. “We haven’t been there for you, but that will change now. I love you more than anything.”
“Me too,” Dad said.
“I love you both too.”
“Are you ready to go?” my dad asked.
“More than you could possibly know. It’s been fun, but I’ve had my fair share of enchanted castles for now.”
My crystal necklace started to glow as if in perfect harmony. I wasn’t that sad, pathetic girl that had first pulled up to the castle almost a year ago. I felt healed from the inside out. My life had completely changed for the better. I knew where I was going and didn’t feel lost. I wasn’t sinking or drowning anymore. I had made peace with my past. I’d been so upset that I was the sole survivor out of my friends that had drowned during the hurricane. But they told me to go live my life. I finally accepted that fate had given me a second chance at life that grim day. And because I was given the chance to live, I was able to come here and free all the trapped spirits. Not only that, but my parents told me they were going to quit traveling and wanted to spend more time with me. And I had Hunter. Life couldn’t be happier.
“I’m glad you had a magical year,” my dad said with a grin and a twinkle in his eye.
I grinned. “Only the best ever!”
The End
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Books by Chrissy Peebles
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The Ruby Ring Saga
The Ruby Ring Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_w-eZwPJbA
New version: http://youtu.be/JJzoHW0xVMI
Eternal Vows - book 1
Eternal Destiny - book 2
Eternal Fire - book 3
Eternal Faith - book 4
Eternal Bloom - book 5
Eternal Flame – book 6
The Enchanted Castle Series
The Enchanted Castle Series Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Ysb6uzIdsEk
Enchanted Castle - book 1
My Haunted Fairytale - book 2
Enchanted Dreams - book 3
Ablaze – book 4
Apocalypse Unleashed Series
Book Trailer for The Zombie Chronicles Series: http://youtu.be/ociUHiL1g70
Val (prequelto the zombie series) Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mp43Ml4hvE
Val - The prequel to The Zombie Chronicles
The Zombie Chronicles - book 1
The Zombie Chronicles - book 2 - Race for the Cure
The Zombie Chronicles - book 3 - Deadly City
The Zombie Chronicles - book 4 - Poisonous Serum
The Zombie Chronicles - book 5 - Undead Nightmare
The Zombie Chronicles - book 6 - Revelation
The Zombie Chronicles - book 7 – Trepidation
The Crush Saga
The Crush Saga Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/4eMF8KXEUc4
Crush - Book 1
Crash - Book 2
Chosen - book 3
Chaos – book 4
Deep Web – book 5
Conflicted – book 6
Clash – book 7
Cursed – book 8
Conspire – book 9
The Hope Saga
The Hope Saga Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF9UkY0qiSo
Apocalypse - Underwater City - book 1
Rebel Princess - book 2
Rebel Warrior - book 3
Rebel – book 4
Trapped in the Hollow Earth Novelette Series
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/viwT0M8Ms_g
Book 1 - Castaway
Book 2 - Dread
Book 3 - Peril
Book 4 - Outlive
Book 5 - Endure
Book 6 - Persevere
Book 7 - Turbulence
Book 8 - Hope
Book 9 - Termination - The Conclusion
The Ice Pack
Book 1 – Frozen Paws
Book 2 – Winter’s Wolf
Book 3 – The Ice Pack
BLOG:
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Ablaze - Book 4 (The Enchanted Castle Series) Page 13