The Complete Spellbound Trilogy Bundle

  I was about to answer her when I heard Sophie’s exhausted voice. “Callie, can you hear us? Are you okay? We’re so sorry… please talk to us.”

  “Come home, we need you.” Lily sounded downright despondent.

  I glanced up at the enormous mansion on the bluff. All the lights were on inside, and again I felt like a hundred eyes were watching me, waiting for me.

  “I’m here… I’m almost home.”

  “CALLIE!” Lily cried out.

  “OH MY GOD WHERE ARE YOU?!” Sophie shrieked.

  I had to chuckle at their sudden burst of enthusiasm. I could picture their mannerisms perfectly right now, even though I was only hearing their voices. Sophie was jumping up and down, her blonde curls bouncing, and Lily was standing straight and proud, her amber eyes wide.

  “I’m on the beach, ‘bout a few hundred yards south of the house. I’m—” I hadn’t even finished my thought when two figures suddenly appeared up ahead.

  “Callie!” Sophie raced toward me and threw her arms around my neck in an exuberant embrace. “Oh my God, you’re really here! You’re finally back!”

  Lily joined us and gave me a big hug. I had to laugh. “I wasn’t gone that long. One night and one day. Y’all are acting like I’ve been away for months.”

  “We were just really worried that you might not come back at all, or that something really bad had happened to you,” Lily said quietly.

  “We’ve been freaked out of our minds since you left,” Sophie added. “We’ve been calling and looking for you the whole time. We haven’t even slept. Why didn’t you answer us?” The hurt was evident on her cherubic face.

  I shivered as a sudden gust of cool ocean air rushed past, blowing my hair into my eyes. “Come on; let’s get inside where it’s warm. We can talk there.”

  Lily nodded and reached for me with one hand and Sophie with the other.

  A spilt second of the tickling, freezing ants and we were standing in my bedroom. I waved my arm and turned the lights on, but once my eyes adjusted to the brightness and I could see Sophie and Lily more clearly, I almost wished I hadn’t.

  Both looked like they’d been crying. Their eyes were red and puffy, and they appeared beyond exhausted. But it was what I felt from them that really gutted me. Their fear, sadness, and overwhelming relief revealed just how concerned they’d been. I hadn’t thought that my brief absence would affect them nearly this much, and I was overcome with guilt and shame. No matter what they’d done to hurt me, it’d never been my intention for them to suffer the way they apparently had.

  I frowned. “You both look awful. Why were you so worried about me?”

  “You were just so… gone,” Lily whispered in a hoarse voice. “We couldn’t feel you, Ana couldn’t See you, you wouldn’t answer us…”

  I sat down on my bed. “Nicholas took me to the cabin where he took Justin. It’s magically cloaked.”

  Lily’s eyes flashed for a second and Sophie’s narrowed, but neither said anything.

  “Look, I’m really sorry you were so worried. I didn’t think you would be. I just needed to get away for a bit until things settled down. It was seriously crazy in here last night. You know that.”

  Sophie sat beside me and clasped my hand. “We’re just happy you’re back.”

  “Me too,” I said and gave her a hug. Then Lily came over and we all three hugged again.

  “I wonder if Ana will feel the same way,” I said, almost to myself. “And what about my dad? Did he wonder where I was?”

  Lily and Sophie glanced at each other.

  “What?” I demanded.

  They both hesitated. Finally Lily spoke up. “We had no choice, we had to do something. You just disappeared, and in the middle of the week. He’d certainly have noticed when you weren’t around for breakfast or didn’t come home after school.”

  I narrowed my eyes and glared at them. “What did you do?”

  “They didn’t do anything. It was me,” Ana answered as she suddenly swept in through the sliding glass door.

  I sucked in my breath and sat upright as she walked across the room and stood beside me. She was dressed all in black, as if she were in mourning. Her long silver hair was pulled back into a severe bun, and her normally sparkly eyes were flat and lifeless.

  But what surprised me the most were the many powerful emotions I felt from her right then—shame, regret, and a profound sadness, mixed with a deep relief and an almost overwhelming happiness.

  But not one drop of anger.

  It occurred to me… Lily and Sophie had made themselves nearly sick with worry over me. Was it possible Ana had felt the same way?

  I met her gaze. “What did you do to my dad?”

  Her voice softened. “It was a very simple spell, one that only lasts a few hours at a time—”

  “What did you do?” I repeated, firmer this time. I did not like the idea of Dad being magically manipulated again one bit.

  “We didn’t do anything to him. We did it to me,” Lily answered.

  Confused, I looked from Ana to Lily, and back to Ana again.

  “There’s an old spell, an illusion charm that can change someone’s appearance temporarily,” Sophie explained. “Since Lily was the closest to your body type and how you move and stuff, she got to be you for a few hours.”

  My eyes widened, then narrowed again. “Wait a minute… Ana cast a spell on you,” I pointed at Lily, “to make you look like me?” I pointed back to myself. “And it actually worked?”

  Lily nodded. “Yeah, it was easy. Fortunately your dad doesn’t talk much or ask too many questions. He didn’t suspect a thing.”

  I was taken aback by their rouse, but at the same time I couldn’t help but be a little impressed. What a cool spell…almost like being a shape-shifter or something.

  I returned my attention to Ana. “Thank you for that. I wouldn’t want him to worry.” Or the rest of you, I added silently, although I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud. I still wasn’t exactly pleased with the fact that she’d wanted to have the boy I loved served up as lunch for two ravenous beasts.

  Ana gave a curt nod. “I’m happy to see that you are home safe where you belong. Get a good night’s sleep, and please come see me first thing in the morning. We need to talk.” She started for the door, then turned. “Girls,” she told Sophie and Lily. “You should be heading off to bed, too. You both have school tomorrow.”

  “Yes, Ana,” they replied in unison.

  Once she’d left, Lily made herself comfortable on the chaise. She curled up like a cat and hugged a fluffy throw pillow close to her. “Ana was a wreck while you were gone, you know. She tried to hide it, but it was totally obvious.”

  Sophie nodded. “I caught her crying a few times. Her hands were shaking most of the day, too.”

  I couldn’t conceal my exasperation. “Well, I’m sorry that everyone felt just so darn devastated that I was gone—for less than twenty-four hours, mind you. I mean, I wasn’t even technically a missing person. But let’s not forget exactly why I left, shall we? I think I had a pretty good reason, and I don’t want to be made to feel like the bad guy here. I didn’t do anything wrong. If anything, I was the smart one, getting away so cooler heads could prevail. I don’t know why everyone was so terrified that I was gone forever and wasn’t ever coming back again, and frankly, I’m a little tired of the guilt trip.”

  They were quiet for a moment, and then Sophie spoke up, her voice subdued.

  “Because your mother never did.”

  Another long pause.

  “I’m not my mother,” I finally replied.

  Sophie shrugged and went over to my dresser. “True, but you’ve got to admit the similarities are starting to stack up.” She pulled out some pajamas and tossed them to Lily. Then she grabbed a set for herself and started to change.

  “What’re you doing?” I asked.

  “Oh, sorry.” She turned back to the dresser, pulled out another pair, and threw them at me. “
Here ya go.”

  “I meant, why are you changing into pj’s now?”

  Her face was a perfect mask of innocence. “You heard Ana. We have to get up early tomorrow, and neither one of us really got any sleep last night. But now that you’re home safe and sound I feel like I can sleep forever, and that’s just what I plan to do, starting now!”

  She pulled the long white t-shirt over her head and slithered into the gray flannel leggings. Then she came back over to the bed and curled up under the covers. I chuckled under my breath and turned to Lily, who was also changing into the sweatpants and t-shirt Sophie had tossed her way.

  “I think she meant for you to go to sleep in your own beds,” I said with a smile. But I was happy they were here, and that things felt like they were almost back to normal between us.

  Sophie flashed a mischievous grin. “But your bed is sooo much comfier.” She pulled the down comforter up to her chin as I got in beside her. Lily fluffed a pillow and crawled in on my other side. Although I detected a faint coolness coming from Lily, I knew she wasn’t upset with me. Just exhausted and emotionally drained. Like the rest of us.

  My heart swelled. I already felt so much better with my two sisters at my side. I waved my fingers, and the room went dark. There were still things we needed to talk about. Things we needed to straighten out. But as Lily reached for my hand and Sophie gently held the other, I knew that it would be okay. We would work it out and be that much stronger for it.

  But right now we just needed sleep.

  Chapter 6. Daughter

  I fly like a bird, high and free, soaring above the clouds and into the heavens. I am one with the stars, the sky, the earth, and the seas. I am everything, and everything is me. Exhilaration flows through my soul, an unseen power that grows stronger and stronger. My destiny calls and I answer. My voice is a whisper, but billions will listen.

  I break through the night sky and sail just above the churning waters. The illuminated island waits and welcomes me home.

  My feet walk gently on the grass, and I take pleasure in its dewy softness.

  Slowly I wander, absorbing the mystical energy. I take it in as the ancient and eternal magics nourish me.

  A pond, so crystal clear and still, I see my reflection perfectly. The longer I stare, the clearer my vision. The water ripples and the reflection changes… it is no longer mine, but the one who gave me life. With each ripple of the surface the image changes, first to her, then back to me. Soon we are indistinguishable, our faces are one,

  Creating another…

  I awoke to see Sophie putting on her shoes, and Lily staggering bleary-eyed out of the bathroom. I groaned and rolled over, and tried to shake the haunting images of my mother from my mind. “Is it really morning already?”

  Sophie grimaced and stood up. “Unfortunately. I say we all call in sick today and blow off school. I don’t know how we’re expected to be there now anyways with all that’s happening.”

  “Hey, any word on Justin?” I asked, almost afraid of their answer. It was supposed to be several days before we’d know if the spell had worked or not, but maybe they’d heard something while I was gone.

  Lily shook her head. “Nothing. C’mon, Soph, I gotta get back before my mom realizes I snuck out last night.”

  Sophie gave me a quick hug. “Good luck with Ana. See you at school.”

  I nodded. It was funny how people kept mentioning ‘school’ as if it had some sort of importance. As if it mattered even the slightest bit right now.

  Lily placed her hand on Sophie’s arm, and they faded away.

  I padded into the bathroom and started to get ready. My mind was on many things, but as the shower’s hot steam filled the air, I knew it was having to talk with Ana that was bothering me the most. Our conversation could go any of a hundred different ways, most of them bad. I had to find a way to make her see that Nicholas wasn’t evil. I had to make her understand that she couldn’t hate him for what other people did to her family, or for the bad choices her daughter made. He was blameless, and she was punishing me in order to punish him.

  I toweled off and got dressed. Noises were coming from the kitchen, along with the smell of freshly brewing coffee. That’s odd. Normally I was the one who made the coffee. In fact, I couldn’t think of a time my dad had brewed his own pot. Maybe Delilah or Henri was here?

  My heart pounded and my hand froze on the bedroom doorknob. This would be the first time seeing Dad since I found out the truth. Would he look different? Would I feel different when I looked at him, knowing what I now know?

  I let out a deep breath….only one way to find out.

  “Morning, Dad,” I said, my voice casual.

  He barely glanced up from pouring the cream in his coffee mug. “Mornin’, Callie gal.”

  I studied him out of the corner of my eye as I opened the pantry. “What do you want for breakfast?”

  “Just a couple o’ them bagels, the ones with the raisins and cin’min. But I’ll toast ‘em up myself, don’t need to be fussin’ over me.”

  “It’s no fuss. It’s what I always do.” I gave him a small smile, but inside my heart fluttered unevenly. What if he knew? What if he knew I knew, and was calling off this whole father-daughter charade?

  “Yeah, but you ain’t gonna be around forever to be takin’ care of me. You growin’ up so fast, I’ll blink my eyes and you’ll be away at college, then married with ya own kids to be worryin’ ‘bout.”

  He grinned his lopsided smile, but I couldn’t mistake the sad look in his brown eyes, or the bittersweet pride that filled his heart. He loved me and wanted the best for me. He wanted me to be happy. That was all.

  I choked up, unexpectedly overcome with emotion. I turned back to the pantry and focused on not crying. Fortunately, Dad had busied himself with the bagels and the toaster oven, and was unaware of my sudden distress.

  After a few moments, I retrieved a bag of Dee’s homemade croissants and took a deep breath. “So,” I said brightly, turning around. “When did you start making your own coffee? I didn’t even know you knew how.” I smiled and reached for the jam.

  Dad gave me a strange look. “You showed me how yesterday, ‘member?”

  I almost dropped the jar of strawberry preserves. Lily had showed him yesterday… you’d think she could’ve mentioned that tiny detail. I quickly recovered and smiled wider. “Yes, but I wasn’t sure if you were really paying attention to me, or if it was in one ear and out the other. How’d it turn out?” Yeah, real smooth, Calista. Way to think on your feet.

  But Dad seemed unfazed. He took a big sip and swallowed. “Perfect.”

  We ate in comfortable silence, Dad slathering cream cheese on his toasted cinnamon bagels, and me smothering my croissants with butter and jam. I kept waiting for everything to feel different somehow, but when I looked at him I felt exactly the same as I always had. Nicholas was right—love was all that mattered, not DNA.

  “Dad, can I ask you something?” I began slowly.

  “Shore. But it gotta be pretty fast ‘cause I gotta get goin’. What’s up?”

  I set down my croissant. I wasn’t exactly sure where I was headed with this, but figured it was worth a shot. “I was just wondering… and I know it’s personal and maybe it’s not my place to be wondering…”

  “Let’s hear it.”

  I bit my lip. This was more awkward than I’d expected it would be. “I was just wondering, well, since Mom died, you’ve been alone. Only me. You’ve never dated anyone that I know of. Unless you were keeping them secret.”

  I’d never seen Dad caught so off guard in my life, and I felt horrible. I hated putting him on the spot, just as much as he hated being there.

  He stared at me for a long moment, then returned his attention to his bagel. “I just never had time for women. I was busy tryin’ to raise one,” he muttered, his brow creased.

  “But still, isn’t it natural to want to find someone to replace the wife you lost, find someone—”


  “There’s no replacin’ my Gabby. Not with any woman. Ever.” Dad clanked his knife against the plate, his mouth twisted in a tight grimace.

  I felt awful making him relive painful memories when we’d been enjoying such a nice breakfast. But I was so desperate for answers, and he was one of the few people who could possibly give me some.

  I took a deep breath. “Is it because you never got over losing her?”

  “You say that like it’s somethin’ that could ever be done.”

  “But, don’t you get lonely? After all these years, surely you’ve thought about moving on—”

  “Why would I be lonely, when I got you to worry ‘bout all the time?”

  “It’s not the same.”

  “It’s enough.”

  I gulped. “It’s just, I mean, you’re still young and a very handsome man. Don’t you want to fall in love again?” I couldn’t believe I was sitting here trying to have a talk with my father about his love life, or lack thereof. It would’ve been less uncomfortable to walk into school in my underwear and dance on all the tables.

  He fixed his eyes on me. “You wouldn’ understand.”

  “Try me,” I said earnestly.

  He was quiet for a moment. I felt his conflict; he was trying to sort out his own jumbled emotions in his head before trying to explain them to me. So I waited patiently and picked away at some of my croissant.

  He took another deep breath and several gulps of his coffee. Finally he spoke. “I loved… love… your ma more than I ever thought it was possible for a human bein’ to love another. I truly reckon with all my heart that only a few people on this great earth are lucky enough to have what me ‘n your ma had. I knew at the time how special she was, and how blessed and fortunate I was. And when she died, a big part of me went with her.

  “But an even bigger part stayed on – she lived on in you, Cal. You’re my greatest miracle that Gabby ever gave me, and I thank the good Lord every day I got so lucky twice in this lifetime—first findin’ her, then havin’ you. Gabby may be passed, but as long as I have you, she’s never gone. But there’s no replacin’ what I had with her…there isn’t even a respectable substitute. Don’t want nothin’ cheap ‘n fake.”