I nodded. “That was my guess. Why else would she all of a sudden want to leave town unless she was afraid of someone finding her…finding us?”
“You think maybe they were after you?” Sophie asked.
I shook my head. “That doesn’t seem likely. She left me behind. I think she was more worried about herself.” My voice was laced with undisguised bitterness.
“Well, how did she get away with it? How did she make everyone believe she was dead all this time?”
“My dad said that right after she told him she wanted to move away as fast as possible, she actually took me and all our stuff and left him while he was at work one day. And there was a big car accident. I was thrown to safety somehow, but everyone thought my mom died in the explosion.”
I let out a quiet moan and buried my head in my arms. “I really hope those poor people who died weren’t innocent victims of my mother’s sick plan somehow.”
Lily was aghast. “No! You can’t think that—”
I raised my head and looked her in the eye. “Can’t I? I don’t know what that woman is capable of. And I’ve already seen enough to know that she has no problem using dark magic if it suits her.” I inwardly cringed as I recalled finding her disturbing spells in our family’s Book of Shadows. I’d never thought of her in the same way again after that day. The pedestal I’d had her on had come crashing down and crushed everyone—especially me—in its fall.
“Just because she knew some dark magic doesn’t mean she was bad,” Sophie reasoned. “Heck, all powerful witches know some less-than-savory spells. I’m sure Ana has a few up her sleeve she’d use if she really had to. And by the way, what they’re doing to Justin right now isn’t exactly found in the Good Witch’s Handbook.”
I shook my head. “Even if that’s true, too much has happened to make me think she’s anything but a selfish, manipulative user. She’s the one who caused the problems that apparently got her father killed, and then she destroyed Ana even more by leaving. She used my dad to raise her love child so she could take off again, and has never even tried to be a part of my life. Part of me thinks she should just stay gone. What do I need her for anyways?”
The pity emanating from Sophie and Lily was almost too much to bear. “And please stop feeling so sorry for me,” I muttered.
“Sorry ‘bout that, but you know we can’t help how we feel.” Lily’s eyes were brimming with compassion. “We feel sorry for you because we hate to see you upset, and what happened to you is terrible.”
“But you know you have to find her,” Sophie said. “Even if you’re angry, you know you need answers. You’ll drive yourself crazy for the rest of your life if you don’t get them.”
Was she right? Would knowing the truth about my mother’s existence continue to haunt me, or would I eventually learn to accept the way things were, move on, and forget all about her?
“It’s not like any of that matters, anyways,” I said. “How am I ever supposed to actually find her? It took everything I had to See her that one time, and probably the only reason I could do it then was because my Empath powers were all juiced up at the moment.”
They were both quiet. “I dunno,” Sophie finally admitted. “But I do know that you can’t give up trying. Even if you don’t realize it yet, you’ll never be truly happy until you reconcile your feelings for her and get to the bottom of things. It’s your only option.”
The sun had slipped below the horizon, and the already brisk air had turned noticeably chilly. I shivered and rose to my feet.
“Well, if you ever figure out a way to find her, let me know,” I said, brushing myself off. “But it’s getting dark and cold. Let’s go back inside.”
Lily and Sophie nodded in agreement and stood up. Before I realized what she was doing, Lily had placed her hand on my arm. Instantly I was covered with the millions of frozen ants dancing on the inside of my skin. But only for a fraction of a second.
“Gah, warn me next time!” I laughed, glancing around my bedroom. “I really don’t mind travelling by foot for short distances.”
She gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry. Habit.”
Sophie fluffed her blonde curls in the mirror before flopping down on the chaise. “So what did you and Savannah talk about?” she asked and started absently filing her nails.
Lily gave her a light scowl. “That’s between them, Sophie. Callie wanted it private, remember?”
Sophie peeked at me. “When you cried this morning… what you were feeling… that was her, wasn’t it?”
I sat on the edge of my bed. “Yeah,” I admitted. I didn’t know why I was trying to keep things from them. It was like trying to keep a secret from myself. “She’s worried about Justin. I’d never realized how much she truly cared for him. I mean, it feels really real…” My sentence faded as I recalled my strange vision earlier. Was it a vision? Or was it something else? I wished I knew for sure.
“What is it?” Lily asked, eyeing me intently.
I glanced from her to Sophie. “I think… maybe… possibly… I might have had a vision earlier today. Like what I used to get before I moved here. I haven’t had one since the day Ana first contacted us.”
Sophie stopped filing and sat up straight. “What, like a psychic vision? You saw the future?”
I nodded, and Lily’s amber eyes grew wide. “What did you see?” she asked.
“Well, that’s the thing. It was different than how it normally was before. This vision was stronger, clearer. Like watching a movie, when before it was more of a quick slide show or something.” I shook my head. “It’s hard to explain.”
“No, we get it. So what was it of?” Lily asked.
I felt a little bad revealing what I’d seen, only because I wanted to respect Savannah’s privacy. But her liking Justin wasn’t exactly top secret info. “I saw Justin in the future, and he was healthy, normal, happy…” I paused to see their expressions light up, then took a deep breath and continued. “And he and Savannah were in love and together on a beach somewhere, being all romantic and sweet.”
“Wow,” Sophie mouthed silently. “Were they, you know, doing it?”
“Sophie!” I laughed. “No. They were just walking. Together. And they were happy, and it looked very right. I mean, it made me feel good just seeing them together like that.”
Lily seemed puzzled. “When did this happen exactly?”
“Today at lunch, right after I’d finished talking with Savannah. She was walking away and—”
“Maybe you were just feeling her?” Sophie interrupted. “You’re being a super-turbo Emapth these days, and if you’re already so tuned into her that you become a blubbering mess in the hallways, maybe that’s what this was too?”
I slowly nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. But…”
“But what?” Lily prompted as I struggled to find the right words.
“I thought that might be it—that I was just picking up on her feelings or seeing her dreams or something. But the more I think about it the less sure I am, because the Empath and the visions are so completely different. One I feel, the other I see. Two entirely separate senses.”
“So what does this mean? Justin will be fine, and he and Savannah end up together someday and live happily ever after?” Lily asked hopefully.
I shrugged. “Maybe. My visions have always been right before.”
“Oh my God, do you know what this means?” Sophie asked dramatically. Lily and I looked at her. “You can buy us all lottery tickets!” she said and giggled. Even though she was only joking, I had to set her straight.
“It doesn’t work like that – at least it hasn’t in the past. I can’t control what I see, only try to be receptive to what appears and keep my mind open. But I never know what’ll flash in there.”
“But if you did have a vision, if you really are right about what you saw, that means that Justin is going to be fine?” Sophie asked, more serious now.
I nodded, afraid to jinx it. But I was ho
peful. “That’s what it looked like. I’ve been so sick with worry over him,” I confessed. “Even with all that’s been going on with my mom and dad, he’s been in my heart and on my mind every waking second. I feel so guilty for everything that’s happened to him. He didn’t deserve any of it. He’s been through such hell, when his only mistake was ever being my friend!”
My optimism had shifted to anger. I clenched my fist so tight, my fingernails dug into my skin. At that exact moment, the lights in my bedroom went out, pitching us into complete darkness. A split second later, all the candles around my room lit on their own. Their flames were at least fifty times their normal size, like mini blow torches, and only inches away from the ceiling.
“Okay… anyone want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Sophie said after several moments of stunned silence.
“I didn’t do that,” Lily whispered.
“I didn’t do it either,” Sophie echoed.
That left only me.
“Did I do it?” I asked meekly. True, I’d felt a surge of emotions right when it happened. But why would…?
“Well, I don’t think it was Mr. Panda Bear.” Sophie waved the stuffed animal’s paw at me through the shadows.
“See if your powers can control it,” Lily suggested quietly.
I took a deep breath and focused my mind on the candles, on their unnaturally high burning wicks, and imagined them shrinking down to normal size. As if obeying my mental command, the flames slowly retracted to the tiniest glow. A few seconds later, the lights flickered back on.
Lily and Sophie stared at me, a mixture of awe and fear in their eyes. “Your emotions are growing stronger and are directly affecting your powers,” Sophie said. “You really need to be careful so you don’t accidentally do something awful—”
“Seriously, if those flames had gone much higher you could’ve burned the place down,” Lily chided.
I groaned and flopped down on my back and covered my face with my hands. “Well, what am I supposed to do? I didn’t do it on purpose, obviously.”
Sophie rolled over on her side and propped herself up with a fluffy purple pillow. “You just need to stay focused and in control at all times. Don’t allow yourself to feel too much about something. Practice deep breathing exercises. Learn meditation. Take up yoga. Down some Xanax. Anything.”
I nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Not about the Xanax, obviously—” I gave her a look, “but about being focused on controlling my emotions. Especially if they’re so closely tied to my powers.” Talk about a Catch 22.
“You’re doing remarkably well, considering.” Lily gave me an encouraging grin. “I know you feel like you’re about to lose it, but with all that’s happened, I’m really impressed with how well you’re keeping everything together.”
I gave her a grateful smile in return. “It’s because I have you guys. And Nicholas. And my dad. And Ana. You all keep me sane. You make me whole. I really love you, you know that? You’re my sisters, and I’m so blessed to have you in my life.”
“Aw, I love it when you get all sentimental on us. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.” Sophie batted her eyes several times before jumping up and coming over to give me a hug.
“I don’t know what I’d ever do without you guys,” I whispered as Lily put her arms around me, too.
Lily patted my back and Sophie smiled. “Fortunately, you’ll never have to find out.”
Chapter 15. Father
Later that night, after Dad and I had eaten his favorite dinner of chicken fried steak, corn on the cob, and cheesy mashed potatoes, I quickly cleaned up the kitchen and went to my room to start on my homework. I glanced at the mountain of laundry in the closet and gave a silent groan. Mine could wait another day, but I should make sure Dad’s wasn’t too out of control.
I went back out to the family room, expecting to see him relaxing on the couch and watching some sports game on the TV. But it was quiet, and he was nowhere in sight. I crossed to his side of the cottage… maybe he was in the bathroom or something.
Halfway down the hall, I stopped when I heard his low voice coming from his bedroom. No one else was here. Was he on the phone with someone? I couldn’t quite understand what he was saying, so I carefully moved closer. I felt bad for spying, but it was just so odd, my curiosity won out over my conscience.
Finally, I could just make out his words. “You’d just be so dang proud of her, Gabbs. She’s gettin’ more beautiful and more smart every single day…”
I held my breath and inched closer until I could peek through the crack of his door. He was sitting on the end of his bed, holding what appeared to be a picture.
“I know she gets it from you,” he continued softly, “…the looks, the smarts, the sophisticated class. But she’s got the best of me in there, too. She’s got the biggest heart full o’ love anyone ever did have. And sometimes, when I look at her and she don’t know I’m seein’ her, she reminds me of myself when I’d be thinkin’ of you. She has my soft side, but your head smarts. We did somethin’ really right, Gabby girl. We made a beautiful miracle, and you’d be so dang proud of her. I know I am…”
I slowly backed away from the door, and prayed the floorboards wouldn’t make any noise. It wasn’t until I was safely across the cottage and back in my own room with the door locked that I dared to breathe again.
I was suddenly dizzy and sat down on my bed. What was I supposed to do? Why did it suddenly seem like somehow, my whole world revolved around my mother?
I closed my eyes.
“Lily? Sophie? You there?”
A moment later Sophie’s voice sounded in my head, immediately followed by Lily’s.
“Yep, I’m here.”
“So am I. What’s up… you okay?”
“Miss us already?” Sophie teased.
“Actually, I’ve made a decision. Sophie, you’re right. I have to find my mom. And I need to do it soon. But I’ll need your help.”
“Sure, anything. What can we do?” Lily asked.
I paused. I hadn’t exactly thought it through. I just knew, with all certainty, that I had to find her. And that I couldn’t do it alone.
“I guess we have to go back to the Looking Stone.”
“What about Ana?” Sophie asked.
“We’ll have to sneak in… Lily can shimmer us. I feel like I’ll know more once I See my mom again. Like maybe I’ll find a clue, somehow.”
“I wonder if you could make her give you a hint of some sort. If you really focus your powers on her, and you see her, maybe you can, I dunno, make her give you some sort of signal where she is, or at least make the Stone show you more…”
Lily had a point. What if, instead of just trying to see my mother, I focused on her surroundings? Looked for landmarks, scenery, anything that would give me the slightest clue, the way I was able to find Justin when he was out in the ocean. Suddenly, and for the first time, I felt a glimmer of hope.
“Want us to come over now?” Sophie asked.
As eager as I was to get to the bottom of things right away, I knew I needed to be smart about it.
“No, not tonight… I’ll know when the time is right, and I’ll call for you. In the meantime, try and think of anything I can do to increase my chances of locating her. I’m open to anything.”
“Okay, will do,” Lily said.
“You got it,” Sophie echoed.
We said our goodbyes, and once again, I counted my lucky stars that I had such amazing friends. And that’s why I felt so terrible about being dishonest with them.
Again.
True, I wanted to find my mom. But I also had an ulterior motive. As I listened to Dad talking to my mom’s picture, one question had become painfully clear in my mind. If I really didn’t have his genes in me, whose did I have? If I had been just a normal girl with non-magical parents, I wouldn’t have cared one bit about finding my so-called ‘real’ father at this point. But unfortunately, there was more at stake here. My powers seemed to be wak
ing up at an unusual pace, and with a ferocity that was frightening even to me. How I wished I really had inherited Del McCoy’s sense of romanticism and his soft heart. But the truth was I hadn’t—no matter what he thought. But I did inherit some things— some very powerful things— from someone.
And it was high time I found out who it was.
It was almost midnight by the time I finally crawled into bed, exhausted. I lay there staring at the stars and thinking of my mom and of my other ‘father’. If he was a warlock, what were his powers? What had I inherited from him? Were there more things happening here than I was aware of?
As much as I hated to admit it, I was worried. When Lily had told me to be careful, she was warning me to be careful of myself. Right now, I was my own worst enemy. I’d almost killed myself not two days before, and now I’d almost burnt the house down. What would I do tomorrow, and how could I stop if I wasn’t even aware I was doing it?
What did he look like? What kind of man was he?
I turned and buried my face in my pillow, angry. I didn’t care what he looked like.
The comforter lifted ever so slightly, and a warm body slipped in so smoothly, I hardly noticed until his arms were around me.
“Nicholas!” I gasped, startled but thrilled. “What’re you doing here?”
He answered by pressing his lips against mine in a tender, passionate kiss. I momentarily lost all sense of reason as I hungrily kissed him back and entwined my body with his. He was so strong, yet soft. How was that possible?
He ran his hands through my hair and along the side of my body, sending shivers down to my toes. Being with Nicholas was such a strange paradox. Every time he touched me, my senses wanted to explode, yet I felt perfectly calm. I felt bursting with life, yet completely at peace. When I was in his arms, I felt like a woman of steel, but also like the most delicate of flowers, ready to blow apart in the slightest breeze.
“I needed my goodnight kiss,” he whispered, stroking my hair away from my face. “I knew I wasn’t going to get any sleep until I had it.”