I forced my mind to a happier thought: Nicholas. Sweet, sexy, strong, Nicholas. I knew I was falling in love with him. He was my rock…my pillar of strength, standing beside me and supporting me in whatever I did.
I chuckled quietly under my breath as I remembered my terror at seeing the stars on his back, until I had learned that the very fact I could see them proved they weren’t the real thing. Could anything have been worse than that right now? To have fallen in love with a boy from the coven of dark witches that had been responsible for destroying Ana’s family? My family? That would have been just the most perfect example of cruel irony.
“What’s so funny?” Sophie murmured groggily.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing, just thinking of something. Thought you were already asleep,” I whispered.
“Nah, just watching the stars. Come on, what’s funny?” she said, a little more alert now.
“Yeah, “Lily piped in. “If we get to wipe away your tears, we should get to hear your happy thoughts, too.”
I smiled. “Oh, okay. But it’s not ‘ha-ha’ funny, just a ‘wouldn’t that have been just the worst joke ever’ sort of thing.”
“Spill it.”
We obviously weren’t falling asleep right away, so I closed my eyes and let my mind connect with the heavens above me. I opened them again to the breathtaking array of brightly colored jewels set against the black, velvety sky. I smiled and sank back into my fluffy pillow and enjoyed the transcendent sight.
“When we were in Australia earlier—” I began.
“Uh, yeah…when were you planning on filling us in on exactly what went on down there?” Sophie interrupted.
Lily shushed her. “Well, there’s not a lot to tell. Obviously I didn’t find the answers I wanted.”
“Were they dark witches? They were, right? That’s why the witch gave you that bad spell?”
I was quiet for a moment, hoping Lily would hush her again. But she didn’t, clearly interested in my answer as well. “I really didn’t get the impression that she was bad,” I finally replied. “I think maybe it was my fault. I didn’t properly explain the situation or something. I think she must have misunderstood me, or didn’t realize that the spell wouldn’t work.”
“Uh, huh,” Sophie muttered under her breath.
“What was it like?” Lily asked, her voice muted.
I knew I was treading on dangerous territory here. If I told them how it really was, they’d disapprove for sure, and be even angrier at Nicholas for taking me there. I didn’t have the energy to deal with that right now. “It was nice,” I replied. “Just a small village with a few witches doing their thing. Everyone was very friendly.”
“Uh, huh,” Sophie repeated, as if she didn’t really believe me.
“So anyways,” I continued, eager to change the subject. “Just as we were getting ready to leave, Nicholas was playing football with some guys and he had his shirt off—”
“Ahh. I bet that was nice,” Sophie swooned. “I wouldn’t mind catching a peek of that—”
I smiled to myself as Lily shushed her again.
“But I’d never really seen him without a shirt on before, not in the light anyways. Not from behind.”
“Uh, huh…” Sophie giggled salaciously.
I rolled my eyes and continued. “So, he has this really sexy tattoo on his back. But when I first saw it, I freaked out…like totally had a panic attack, because it looked like…” I paused, suddenly unsure if I should tell them what I had thought. They already had their suspicions… why push it?
“Like what?” they demanded in unison.
I sighed. Might as well tell them. Maybe they’d get a kick out of my mistake.
“Well, at first it looked like three interlocking stars, the really intricate kind—”
They both gasped.
“See! That’s what I thought for a second, too. That it was the same mark as the Triple Star coven—”
Both Lily and Sophie sat up in a flash and turned to stare at me. Lily swished her arms and lit the candles around my room; Sophie had her hand over her mouth.
“Oh my God. Oh my God.” Sophie kept staring at me.
I shook my head. “No, you got it all wrong; let me finish. But see? That’s what I thought too, for a second…that it was the same mark. But then Ana told me—”
“Wait, wait, stop…” Lily shook her head and gave Sophie a piercing stare. “Did it look like the Triple Star mark?”
“Well, yeah. That’s why—”
“Oh my God,” Sophie gasped again.
“And you saw that…in Australia…and you didn’t say anything to us?!” Lily continued, her voice now shaking.
I was starting to get exasperated. “Will you please let me finish? I mean, yeah, at first I was freaked. Totally. But I needed to get home, right? What was I going to do, stay in Australia for the rest of my life?”
Lily closed her eyes, and Sophie covered her face with her hands. I shook my head again.
“And I was going to say something, or at least ask him why he had it. But as soon as we got back here Ana was here and then everything sorta snowballed. But I did say something to her after you guys left.”
“You did? What did she say?” Sophie’s voice was guarded.
“She told me the only people who can see that mark are other Triple Star witches, so obviously—”
“Did you tell her you saw it on him?” Lily demanded.
“No, I’m not a Triple Star witch so what was the point? Why are you guys freaking out? He just has a star tattoo on his back and I thought it was the Triple Star, but obviously it wasn’t. Geez, if I’d known you’d get this worked up I wouldn’t have even mentioned it.” I rolled over on my stomach and pressed my face into the pillow, and hoped the tears in my eyes would stay put. They trusted Nicholas even less than Ana did. Why was everyone so suspicious of him?
“Calista, you need to talk to us. This is important,” Lily said.
“What is there to talk about? Forget I said anything. I’m tired. Goodnight.”
“You know you can’t shut us out like that,” Sophie said, then added silently, “We are a part of each other…what affects one affects us all.”
“Oh, all right,” I snapped, and rolled over and faced them. “What’s the problem?”
Lily and Sophie exchanged wary glances. “We need to know exactly what you saw,” Lily replied quietly.
I sighed. I knew I should’ve kept my mouth shut. “I saw three interlocking stars on Nicholas’s back. They looked like the ones I saw in the Book of Shadows when Ana was telling me about the witches who got my mom in trouble and killed my grandfather.”
“Did you tell Nicholas what you saw?” Sophie asked.
I shook my head. “No. we just came back here.”
“What did you say to Ana exactly?” Lily asked.
I let out another loud sigh. “I don’t remember exactly…I think I asked her if they were all bad—the Triple Star witches—and she said she didn’t know. She said how only their own bloodline could see the brand. That’s why my mom didn’t know that the guy she loved a long time ago… James… was one of them. It’s like how only we Triple Moon witches can see our Rings. So the fact that I could see it on Nicholas proves that it wasn’t really a Triple Star. Don’t you see? It was just a tat—what’s wrong?”
Sophie sniffed and shook her head. The shock and sadness I felt from both of them made no sense.
“Why are you guys not getting what I’m saying?” I asked as a knot of dread started to grow in my gut. “Sophie, why are you crying?!”
She just shook her head. “I can’t say it.”
“Say what?” I whispered.
Lily bit her lip and lowered her eyes. She placed her hand on mine, but I pulled it away when I felt her apprehension.
“What…what don’t you want to say?” I asked.
“Maybe I should get Ana,” Lily said.
“Wait—!” I grabbed her wrist. “Please...don’t. Don’t ge
t Ana. Please tell me what is bothering you both so much. I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.” I looked back and forth between the two of them. “Please…I’m your sister,” I added silently. “And you’re scaring me. Let’s work this out together.”
Lily and Sophie exchanged looks. Sophie wiped her eyes and leaned forward to give me a hug.
“Okay. We’ll tell you. But you’re not going to like it.”
Chapter 25. Shattered
I held my breath. Sadness and fear stabbed at me like hot pokers. I pulled the blankets to my chin and made a fist. “Someone needs to start talking,” I said quietly.
Lily sighed. “This is so hard for us to tell you. You’ve been through so much tonight…”
“I can take it.”
“Callie…you didn’t see a tattoo on Nicholas’s back.”
“Yes, I did—”
She held up her hand. “No, you didn’t. Because I’ve also seen him without his shirt on.” She glanced away, embarrassed. “The other night I was about to shimmer in here to talk to you, and I peeked in real quick to see if you were asleep. Well, I saw him. I got a good view of his back, and he definitely did not have any tattoo.”
I shook my head dumbly. None of this was making any sense. “What are you saying?” I whispered.
Sophie and Lily looked at each other again. “She’s saying that if you saw something that looked like the Triple Star mark, it definitely wasn’t a tattoo,” Sophie finished.
“Are you sure that’s what it looked like?” Lily asked hopefully. “Maybe your mind was playing tricks on you or something.”
“It’s possible, I suppose,” I murmured. “We’d shimmered a long distance, and the place was filled with mind altering realities. Maybe I did just imagine it—”
“Wait, what ‘mind altering realities’?” Sophie asked with a scowl.
Lily shook her head. “Not now, Sophie.” She looked at me intently. “In your heart…you know what you saw?”
I closed my eyes for a moment and let my mind flash back. Three perfectly intricate stars interlocking across his tan shoulder blades.
I slowly nodded. “I think so.”
“If that’s true…if what you saw was really the mark—”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “It can’t be. But even if it were. Even if Nicholas were part of the coven that Ana hates, you know what? It wouldn’t matter to me. I know Nicholas is a good person. He loves me…I can feel it. And I love him. That’s all that matters.”
Lily and Sophie exchanged looks again. “You’re not getting it,” Sophie whispered. “You could see his mark, but Lily couldn’t.”
I caught my breath. “So?”
Lily avoided my gaze. “You should really talk to Ana about this. Maybe we’re wrong—”
“Lily, just tell me, please! I won’t be mad at you, I promise. I know you’re just telling me what I’m asking for. So please tell me already!”
She let out a long breath and locked eyes with Sophie. Sophie gave a slight nod.
Were they doing Trinity Talk behind my back?
“We’ll tell you,” Sophie said.
I narrowed my eyes as they glanced at each other again. How long had they been doing that?
“Our families have all been friends for a while…years,” Lily began. “In fact, my mom and your mom were best friends back in the day. Before your mom…left.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “Yeah…and well, after the horrible thing that happened, naturally there was a lot of talk about it.”
“’Course this was before we were ever born,” Sophie interjected. “But we’ve heard a few things since then.”
“What sort of things?” I whispered.
Lily bit her lower lip and stared at a throw pillow. “Well, right when you came here, I happened to overhear…”
“What?!” I felt a sudden chill.
Lily sighed. “That when your mom ran away from here and never came back,” she finally said, “there were rumors that she was already pregnant. And that her baby would be exactly your age now.”
There was silence. Suddenly I felt like I was standing alone, numb, at the end of a very long tunnel. For a while I couldn’t speak.
“No. That’s impossible,” I finally whispered. The voice came from somewhere else. Someone else.
“Callie, we are so sorry…we never wanted to have to tell you this…”
This must be a nightmare. This can’t be happening. There’s some mistake.
“We thought it was just a rumor. But if you could see Nicholas’s mark, then you must have some of their bloodline in you as well…the rumor must be true.”
No. This isn’t real. It’s not true. It can’t be.
“…They say she was pregnant, and her boyfriend was from the Triple Star coven. The other coven wanted the child for themselves, but your mom didn’t want to give it up. She ran from them and came back here. Her dad, your grandfather, died trying to save her and you.”
I want to wake up now. I want to go back to my real life. This is happening to someone else. I shouldn’t be here.
Oh, God. Somebody please help me!
Nicholas? Help me…I need you…
“Callie? Callie…are you okay?” Fingers snapped in front of my face.
I do not want to be here right now.
I need to leave.
Nicholas…where are you? Please help me…
“Callie? Talk to us…”
Nicholas, I need you…
“Lily, go get Ana…”
“I don’t believe you,” my voice mumbled. But my heart knew the sickening truth.
My father wasn’t my father.
It was all a lie.
My whole life was a lie.
The shadows in my room swirled together in a nauseating mirage of light and dark. Everything felt out of place…out of sync. Like the fabric of time had been ripped and pieced back together all wrong.
“Calista, are you okay?” Nicholas’s voice was suddenly in my ear. He sat beside me on the bed and tilted my chin to meet his gaze.
“Nicholas, what are you doing here? Now’s not a good time—” Sophie started.
“Help me,” I whispered.
He nodded, his face grim, his eyes locked on mine.
“What’s going on here?” Ana demanded as she and Lily wavered into view a few feet from my bed. She glared at Nicholas. “Get away from her!”
I grabbed his hand and held it tight. He didn’t budge from my side. “Did you know?” I whispered to her. “Did you know?”
“This is a family matter that should be discussed in private,” Ana said, eyeing Nicholas. “And he is not welcome on my lands…”
“Why not?” I asked, moving my gaze to Lily. “What did she tell you?”
“The truth,” Lily replied defensively. “What you saw, what you know. You need help, Calista. You aren’t safe with him—”
I stood up and faced them. “And I’m safe with you? The only person in this room who hasn’t lied to me and betrayed my trust and confidence is Nicholas. All this time you three knew the truth, that my dad wasn’t my dad. But you let me live a lie…”
“That’s not true,” Sophie protested. “We only knew when you told us what you saw. Nicholas is the one who’s been lying to you.”
“What are you talking about?” Nicholas looked at us, bewildered.
“You knew,” I said, pointing at Ana. “You’ve known the truth all along and never bothered to tell me.”
Ana’s eyes narrowed. “Is it true what Lily said? That he bears the Mark of the Triple Star?”
“What?” Nicholas gasped and glanced at me. I clenched my jaw and didn’t answer her.
Ana glowered and swished her hand through the air. There was a loud rippp as his shirt was torn from his body and landed in a heap on the floor. Ana flipped her hand in a circle, and Nicholas spun around, obviously under her command.
“I see nothing,” Ana said.
“Me
neither,” Sophie said.
“Or me,” Lily agreed.
“Stop it,” I croaked. I didn’t want to look. But I had to.
I slowly closed my eyes when I saw the three distinctive stars, plain as day, decorating his upper back.
“What the hell is going on here?” Nicholas demanded.
“She saw it,” Lily and Sophie said in unison. Ana pursed her lips.
“Young man, get out of here and off my property and never come back! Do you hear me? You are forbidden to enter my lands, or see Calista ever again! Cross me and I’ll—”
“You can’t do that! You cannot stop me from seeing him! It’s impossible!” I protested as Nicholas turned back, visibly angry.
“I suggest you do not test that theory,” Ana said, her voice cold as ice. “Calista, open your eyes! He is just using you! He is one of them! Our enemy! Those responsible for destroying this family!”
Nicholas held up his hands. “Wait, wait, hold on. I’ve never destroyed any family. If you think—”
Ana waved her hand. “Silence,” she commanded. Instantly Nicholas’s mouth snapped shut.
She approached him slowly. “You are not allowed here. I forbid it. You are to stay far away from my granddaughter…and you have five seconds to get out of here before the sentries rip you to pieces. I’ve already sounded the alarm.” Her voice dripped with venom.
At that very second, a horrifying high-pitched shriek pierced the air. Lily and Sophie jumped back, their eyes wide.
“You have three seconds…two…”
I didn’t even need to think. I turned back to Nicholas and wrapped my arms around him. “I really wish you hadn’t done that,” I said to Ana just as the bright light hit my eyes and the freezing ants pummeled my skin.
Epilogue
It took a moment for my eyes to adjust before I realized where we were. It was the cabin deep in the forest where Nicholas had taken Justin.
Nicholas helped me over to the couch in the cozy living room, then lit a fire in the fireplace with a flick of his wrist.
I buried my face in my hands. “Oh my God…what just happened? What did I do?”