Chapter 17
The night is a restless one as I experience mixed feelings of guilt and pride. After watching the time change from 4:45am to 5:00am , I decided to get up and go for a run. The night still looms on but the sense that day is approaching can be felt. I lace up my workout sneakers and quietly walk down the stairs. Before putting my cell holder on my arm I choose a playlist and turn up the volume as loud as possible before going over the recommended level. I secure the band on my arm, and walk out the door. Although there is no one out, I look around to double check before using magic to lock the door. I even go as far as pretending I am using a key. I slip the pretend key in the back of the holder and set off.
I decide to walk down to the track field in Memorial park. The walk is all of 10 minutes but serves as a good warm up. I cross the normally busy main road in no time, but decide to take the side entrance through the woods. There is a small path that lines the miniature golf course and leads to the entrance to the tennis court. I begin my run as I enter the woods. The sound of Pit Bull's Shake Senora booms in my ear making me want to shake my money maker as I run. Realizing that would probably result in an embarrassing, and painful fall, I reign in the need to show that my hips don't lie. I decide to start my run with a slow jog taking in the area around me. There are squirrels and birds loitering about the path. I keep a close eye on the birds, the ugliest and most vicious of shifters use birds as their go to animal. Not surprising considering their ability to fly and fool humans into thinking they are harmless creatures just hanging around.
As the music switches I think I hear a noise behind me. Thinking it is just my imagination I continue on as one of my favorite David Guetta jams starts to play. I am approaching the exit of the woods that leads to the main portion of the park when I stop in my tracks. Shock and disbelief overwhelms me as I look into the angry, cold eyes of my Grams. "Grams is that you?" I say hesitantly.
"I went to your room but obviously you weren't there," she replies sternly. I approach with caution. As I get closer her figure blurs. She's not physically here but is astral projecting herself to me. I know I am in trouble if Grams chooses to exert her power just to talk with me practically face-to-face. We could have had this conversation over the phone if you ask me. "Why don't we walk over to a bench and talk," she says with disdain.
I follow the figure of my grams to a nearby bench. I am going over the bullet points I planned on making when I finally faced my father, choosing which ones stand a chance with Grams. "I know you must be disappointed, but I am sure there must be more suitable options for me. Granted the two of them have done a great job protecting me, they have no respect for me and my abilities. I truly believe if I am to rule well I need someone who will nurture my strengths not work to hinder them." I take a breath to gage how I am doing with convincing her, but she is giving me a passive look that tells me nothing.
"Are you done Madeline?" Oh no, she called me Madeline, this is not going to be good.
"Yes, Ma'am," I murmur.
"First I will say yes, I agree there are likely more suitable catches for you, however, are there any out there you will have feelings for? You are now living in an era where you can choose a partner you love as opposed to one that the great counsel chooses for you. I do not believe for a second that by dismissing both Lance and Bash you are exercising your rights effectively. As a matter of fact I think you are running from the burden of breaking one of their hearts."
"Grams I have barely had an opportunity to spend time with them. I have no idea if I could love either one," I whine.
"You know that is not true, and once more you know you love them both. The question is do you choose the love from the past or the one from the present?"
"That's another thing driving me crazy. People keep eluding to the this special connection Lance and I had in the past. I wish I could remember my relationship with him. All I have learned is that it rekindles and ends by some magical means every lifetime. The details are there but so foggy."
"Maddie where did you get the idea that you and Lance end because of magical means?"
"The?" I take a pause to think it over. Was it the book? No. Was it Amelia? No. "I guess I was making an assumption," the realization staggers me.
"I am going to break the rules here and clear up your fuzzy memories. I am hoping that this will make you rethink your decision to dismiss them both. Just keep in mind that this is not a reason to choose one or the other. And I have to warn you that this recollection of memories will be a difficult pill to swallow."
"Wow, that bad, uh?" I begin to rethink my wish and wonder if I should take back my decision not to consider either one.
"I have to go sweet pea, but I just wanted to say the girl I raised is not a quitter and would not run away from her problems. And despite what you have said to justify your position, at the end of the day you are doing nothing but running. When you wake up tomorrow your memories of your previous life will be restored. Use the knowledge well. I love you." We take a lingering look at one another and just as suddenly as she appeared she disappeared. I knew going for a run would be beneficial. Or at least I hope it turns out to be. Deciding to continue my run, I get up and head out of the woods. I turn up the volume this time well past the unsafe mark and speed up my run. Before I know it I have done 8 laps around the track and am feeling winded. For a cool down I walk toward home. Doubting Grams will appear again I walk toward the main entrance. As I get to the parking lot I see Bash pull into a spot. Still unsure what to say to either him or Lance I continue walking past.
"So you're not even going to be cordial," Bash says as he gets out of his car. My first thought is I still have my headphones on, he doesn't know whether or not I can hear him. But decide to take the mature approach and stop.
"Hey Bash, I wasn't sure if you were talking to me." He removed his shades and my heart breaks at the sadness that is in his eyes. He saunters over to me wearing black basketball shorts and fitted blue boy beater.
"I actually wanted to apologize for storming out yesterday. I don't agree with your decision but I will respect it. Truth is I am hurt. But I do not think your reasoning is wrong. To an extent I am holding back for your safety, maybe that is wrong, but Madeline you are my number one priority." That was unexpected and further made me question whether I did the right thing. Wanting to wait to get back my memories before saying anything to the guys, I was reluctant to speak about the topic any further. But from the look in his eyes, I just knew I had to give him something.
"I guess that's what happens when you speak out of anger. You hurt the ones you care about." His look of sadness softens a bit and there is a glimmer of hope. I smile internally. I really do care for him I'm not sure why I am fighting it.
"You almost sound like you regret it," Bash says as he stares into my eyes looking for reassurance.
"I have a lot to mull over and some decisions to make. So I better get going," I say hastily not wanting to elaborate.
"What kind of decisions. You're not going to leave are you?"
"No, I have no plans to leave. I just think it's time I accept my position and role. And there's a couple of mysteries for me to solve."
"Really, I'm intrigued," Bash says with a smirk. "Can I help with anything?"
"Maybe, I'll let you know. I'll talk to you later," I say as I start to walk away.
"Will you?" Bash asks stopping me in my tracks. I turn and look at him questioningly. "Talk to me later?" Realization hits and I smile.
"Probably sooner than later," I smirk back, turn, and head home. As I walk home I plan my day out. After a shower, I will complete my makeup assignments, and then start doing my research on who or what was lingering in my backyard last week. I am also going to dedicate some time into my mother's search.
Arriving home I head straight up stairs and into my bathroom. I stop just as I approach the sink. Someone has been in my ro
om again. The energy is really strong and feels more intense as I go back into my room. I decide it's time to ask for help. "AMELIA," I yell. In a blink of an eye she's standing next to me.
"What's wrong, are you okay?"
"How did you? I didn't even hear you come up the stairs."
"You yelled, you never yell. I teleported. What's wr?" she stops immediately.
"You sense it don't you?"
"An unfamiliar witch has been in here," she says as she walks toward the closet. "She was in here trying to penetrate your altar."
"You sense it too?" I am surprised and start to question my abilities. Grams trained me to conceal my sacred space from detection. Whoever is visiting me should not be able to tell an alter exist in here.
"The concealment charm you use only works on intruders. Your father and I live here and therefore are not considered intruders. But rest assure we cannot open it. Your mysterious visitor has not yet figured out how to get in either. I can tell you her intentions if you can find out who she is. I can tell you she is your age and quite powerful. Let me gather some herbs, we can do a locator spell to see where she went after leaving here. If we are lucky she returned to wherever she calls home." Amelia snaps back out of the room and I stand feeling sweaty, disheveled, and violated. Before I have too much to dwell on, Amelia is back in my room with a stone bowl in hand. "Infuego," she says and a small flame appears in the bowl. The smell of the burning herbs is intoxicating. She moves closer to the closet and a dark orb derives from the top of the flame. As it increases in size a picture shows up in the center. I immediately recognize the brick building as my school. So Amelia was right, she is someone around my age with possibly the same classes. I have to be on the lookout when I head back on Monday. The orb gets bigger and the picture becomes clearer. There is a petite blonde standing in front of the school. She is alone which is to be expected since there are no classes going on right now. She is looking from left to right as if waiting for someone or something. Not too long after a blue jeep pulls up and I immediately recognize it as Lance's truck. He stops right by the girl and she runs around the car and jumps in. And just as the orb faded in, it fades out.
I sit on the bed in complete shock. Lance knows the person that has been lingering around my house. "Amelia, can you tell if she's been anywhere else in the house or around the outside. The backyard to be more specific."
"Yes, now that I have her essence it will be that much more easier." She leaves this time through the door and down the stairs. I sit on my bed thinking about the memories I lost and wondering if the ones about Lance are bad.
"Alright Madeline you have a lot of work to do, get up and work on the things you have control of and stop worrying about what you can't." After repeating my mantra a couple of more times and thanking Oprah for her constant guidance, I get up and go to the bathroom. After a nice hot shower I feel refreshed and ready to face my homework. I grab my books, my laptop, and my cell, and decide to work in the library. Walking down the stairs I find my father and Amelia in deep discussion. They both look up as I enter.
"Maddie are you okay?" My father asks, his voice laced with concern.
"Yea, I'm fine, I'm just heading into your library to do some school work. Amelia did you discover anything?"
"Maddie, this is your home, so it's your library as well," my father says stopping Amelia from answering. We both look at him and each other wondering if it is safe to continue.
"Um, yes, I found some lingering essence of the girl in the backyard and back door entrance. I am guessing that is how she is getting into the house."
"I'm going to call Lance and question him once I'm done with all this," I say lifting my books.
"Perhaps I should talk to him," my dad suggests.
"No it's okay I have something else I need to talk to him about, so I can kill two birds with one stone. I'll keep you guys updated," I say before turning and heading to the library. My favorite place in the house is the library. The smell of the books, the comfort of the furniture, it is just what I need to fully escape. I open my intro to psychology book and get started.
Four hours later my assignments are typed, proofed, and emailed to the respective professors. I yawn and stretch as I rise from the table. Gathering my things and turning off the computer I leave the library and go straight for the kitchen. As usual I find Amelia preparing a meal. "All done, finally," I say as I take a seat at the island.
"I figured you would be famished, here I've made you a sandwich." Hmm a tuna sandwich on a freshly baked baguette. What more could girl ask for?
"Thank you so much," I say with my mouth full. Amelia smiles as I devour my meal.
"When you are done there's a spell I want to try with you, to help gather more information on our unwelcomed guest."
"Okay, but I want to talk to Lance first. I am hoping he'll be forthcoming with the information." Amelia shrugs her shoulders in indifference. Clearly she doesn't believe Lance will be honest. Considering I don't remember much about him and he is reluctant for Bash to clue me in, I have to say I am inclined to agree. Once I am done with my lunch I clean my dishes and head up to my room. Putting my books back in my bag I grab my phone, take a deep breath, and dial Lance's number. After two rings the call goes to voicemail. Thank goodness!
"Hi, you've reached me, well I guess you haven't, but leave a message and I'll get back to you." Beeeeeppp.
"Hey Lance, it's Maddie. I know I am the last person you want to hear from right now, but I really need to speak with you. It begins with an apology, so please call me back. Thanks." And with that I hang up. Knowing how upset him and Bash are at me I doubt I'll be hearing from him. If he doesn't call I'll just have to corner him in school. I need to know what he's doing with that girl and if he knows that she's been snooping in my house. I wait a few minutes before taking myself downstairs in search of Amelia. Her identity spell will hopefully shed some light on who the girl is, although my main concern is what she's after. As I am heading down the stairs my cell rings, it's Lance returning my call. Oh, good, maybe he's not that mad.
"Hey Lance, thanks for calling me back," I start.
"Listen you home-wrecking trollop, you had your chance and you blew it. Leave him alone he is no longer interested," says a snarky female voice.
"Who is this, and why do you have Lance's phone?"
"I'm Lance's girlfriend, so back off, or I'll make you. You don't want to get on my bad side."
"Look I don't know who you are, but tell Lance to call me. And fyi insecurity is an unattractive quality." And with that I hung up on her. I begin to wonder if this girl is the same that's been snooping around. It could be that she was trying to find out more about me to retaliate for whatever she thinks I have done. And how dare Lance pursue me when he has a girlfriend. I walk into the kitchen to find Amelia has taken out all the ingredients she needs for the spell.
"Maddie are you ready, did you speak with Lance?"
"No I left him a message, and some girl called back. She accused me of trying to take him from her. I can't help wonder if she is the mystery intruder."
"Maybe, a lover scorned," Amelia says in a matter of fact kind of way.
"I just don't understand why he would come after me if he has someone. I mean is he really that hungry for power?"
"Sweetheart despite what this world thinks about men and women holding high positions, in our world it is birth right that determines power. So despite what position a man marries into at the end of the day you are the Queen and he would be King by marriage. That would give him no power or privilege. For any reason you decide to end things with him he will leave with what he came in with. As your King he can advise you but he does not have the position to make any decisions or make any demands of you or your subjects without your say so. It is pretty safe to say Lance truly cares for you and not so much your position."
"Wow, my reign sounds like
it will be in an alternate universe. This just doesn't make any sense," I say shaking my head.
"Once you talk to him, perhaps it will all be clear. Let's head to the backyard and begin the incantation." We walk outside each holding two bowls and two, white candles. We place four candles strategically around us to enclose us in a circle, and the bowls go in between the gaps. "When I finish repeating the spell three times we will both jump out of the circle giving the mystery person space to appear in the circle. Ready?" I nod my head in agreement.
We close our eyes and Amelia recites, "uninvited appareant, identitatem vestra nota sit" and after the third time Amelia and I jump out of the circle. A fog forms within the circle and as it dissipates a beautiful, petite, blonde appears in the center. "What is your name," asks Amelia.
"I am Abagail Malone." Amelia gapes at the apparition in shock.
"What coven do you belong to?" Amelia's follow up question catches me off guard. She must recognize her as being a witch. It should not matter what coven she belongs to. We have not only conviction but also proof that she is up to no good. That gives us the right to protect ourselves without interference from her group.
"I am of the O'Maloileoin. We do not subscribe to a coven but protect our family."
"What do you want with the Calderon family."
"My family wishes to merge with the Rodriguez family. Our group numbers are dwindling and we are in need of a strong marriage alliance that will lead to an increase in our population. Currently the Princess's interests are preventing the union."
"And how were you planning to stop her?"
"My mission is to collect information on her and use it to come up with a plan. I have yet to obtain enough details. But as it seems that is inconsequential since she has expressed her lack of interest in Lance Rodriquez. I only need to make sure she does not interfere any further." I swallow hard at her words. It seems everyone has a political agenda in the supernatural world. I guess since Amelia's other vision shows him picking Abagail up from the school he may have already consented to be hers. My heart begins to ache as I take all this information in. Would it be right for me to interfere? Do I even want to? Although I have gravitated to both him and Bash, the intensity between Bash and I cannot be matched. And I have to keep in mind what I learned during my time travel. Bash and I are a better match politically.
"Recedemus!" shouts Amelia. And Abagail disappears into a fog, which also quickly goes away. In one flick of her hand the flame in all four candles blow out. She walks up to me placing her hand on my cheek. "Are you okay?"
I look deep into her eyes unsure of what to say. So I say the first thing that comes to mind. "I guess my decision has been made for me. I'll talk to Bash tomorrow."
"Sweetheart I'm sorry you are placed in this position. We are going to have to talk to your father about this as well as Abigail's family. Their situation is unfortunate but the way she is going about things is not how it is done. Technically Lance is already betrothed to you and only you can give permission for him to seek another. Although truthfully I do not think he wants to be with anyone else. This does make things more complicated for you, especially if we are wrong about his feelings for you, but I'm certain we are not. Are you going to talk to your father or would you rather I do it?"
"Perhaps things will run smoother if we do it together."
"Yes, you are probably right." Amelia agrees. "Okay. Why don't you head inside. I'll clean up."
"Thank you. For everything," I say to Amelia right before giving her a huge hug. I can feel her smile on my shoulder. I am so lucky to have had so much positive guidance in my life after losing my mother. Walking back into the house I go straight upstairs to unlock my altar. I need some crystals and candles, which I will take to the park where my mother disappeared. It is easier to recall the memory of her vanishing if I am in the spot it took place. Grabbing an old gym bag, I uncover the altar and start packing the materials I need. At the top of the altar sits the one-eyed book. Glancing at it, I recall my thought that it has something to do with my recent travels. I reach up and stroke the binding.
"Well hellllloooo Princess. What can I do for you?"
"I need a locator spell for something lost in the past," I reply. The book's eye looks at me speculatively.
"Princess I hold nothing in my binding that will help you locate your mother. She is in a world beyond your imagination."
"But the locator spell you do have will take me to the point and time she was last in this plane?"
"Well yes of course, if you want to time travel again, but this time go to the past, you can find her that way," the book says casually. I knew it! The book is the reason I went into the future. The book said it wouldn't get involved but only serve as a guide. Yea, right a guide. He basically threw a young child into the deep end of the pool while yelling swim child, swim!
"Okay, thanks anyway." I prepare to place the book back on the top shelf.
"Wait, wait, Princess," the books calls out. "What are you going to do?"
"I have a couple ideas in mind. If they don't work I will go back to researching." This time I ignore the book's calls, place it on the shelf and close the altar." I close the closet put on my sneakers and prepare to head to the park.