“See ya later, Callie gal. Have a good day.” And he was out the door.
What the…?
So now, on top of everything else, I had to host a dinner party with Nicholas and my father? I guessed this was my karmic payback for muddling in his love life the other day.
I let out a long suffering sigh and started to clean up the kitchen. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, I told myself. Really, most of the time we’d be eating… rude to talk with your mouth full. Dad was never one for a lot of words anyways, at least not with strangers. He probably just wanted to see Nicholas and make sure he was a nice guy. And Nicholas was as charming as they come, and certainly knew how to handle himself under pressure. No problem. This was nothing to worry about.
I brushed my fears aside and went to my room to change. A few minutes later I called Nicholas and told him I’d meet him down by the rocks.
He was there before I was, and he greeted me with a smile and a kiss. “You’re up earlier than I thought you’d be,” he said and ran his hand down my arm. “How’d you sleep?”
We started our slow warm-up lope towards the pier. “It was the strangest thing… I dreamed I was kidnapped and taken to an enchanted island by a handsome prince.”
He smiled at me with the corner of his mouth. “Sounds like a nice dream.”
We picked up the pace, and soon were running at our maximum sustainable speed. I loved this feeling… the cool air rushing past me, chilling my exposed skin, while my insides got warmer and warmer… the rush of exhilaration that flowed through my body as my blood raced faster through my veins. And I loved feeling the rhythmic energy flowing between Nicholas and me as we strode side-by-side. I knew running with him pushed me to do my best, and I loved how strong and sure he felt next to me.
The early morning sun cast a soft golden hue over the water, and the bright blue sky slowly overtook the puffs of white clouds dotting the horizon. It was another spectacular day in Crystal Cove, and the soft lull of the waves, the sparkling sand, and Nicholas by my side, completed this picture of perfection. My soul was happy and content.
We reached the pier and slowed, first to a jog, then to a walk. Both of us paced around in silence as we caught our breath.
I circled him a few times before I spit out my news. “So, my dad wants to meet you. He wants us all to have dinner tonight.” I shielded my eyes from the sun, as I waited for his reaction.
When it came, it wasn’t at all what I’d expected. His eyes lit up, and his mouth spread into a wide grin. “I’d love to! What time should I be there? What’s his favorite wine? Or is he more of a beer guy? Beer, I bet.”
“Uh…I was thinking six-ish. You’re excited about having dinner with my dad?” I asked, dumbfounded. I’d assumed he’d be a good sport about it… go along for my benefit. But he seemed genuinely pleased.
He threw his arm over my shoulders, and we started heading back. “Well, sure, why not? I’m curious to meet the man you’ve spoken of so fondly. And he obviously loves you with all his heart and raised you right. It’d be an honor to meet him and pay my respects.”
I actually stopped in my tracks. Nicholas wanted to pay respects to my dad. Nicholas Mancini… son of a world-famous movie star, whose family was worth millions, a magical warlock who’d travelled the world… wanted to pay respects to a poor, hardworking, blue-color, semi-literate man who talked funny and wasn’t even my biological father? I blinked several times and took a deep breath. Now was not the time to get sentimental.
“Hey, you okay?” Nicholas turned to look at me.
I gazed into his gorgeous soul. “I just don’t think it’s possible for me to love you any more than I do at this very moment.”
The corner of his lips turned up just the slightest. “I have that exact same thought every time I look at you.”
We stayed lost in each other’s eyes for a moment longer, then, without another word, we turned and ran home.
*****
I quickly showered and got ready for my day. Despite Nicholas’s ominous warnings of the night before, I still needed to talk with Ana. Maybe she really was hiding something from me and had lied to me like he’d said… but maybe she wasn’t. Maybe his sources were lying. Nevertheless, I had a few questions for her, and since Dad’s invitation would require Nicholas to be on more of her property than just the beach, I thought it best to let her know.
I dried my hair, pulled the top part back with a small clip and let the rest fall free. Then I slipped on an oversized black cashmere sweater and put on some matching riding boots over my fitted jeans. I liked it when I could wear my own beautiful clothes and not the boring St. Morgan Preparatory Academy uniform. I chuckled to myself as I remembered my initial reaction when I’d first arrived and discovered my new wardrobe. I had been so amazed at how Ana had been able to guess my sizes so perfectly.
Silly, naïve me.
As usual the kitchen door was open. But for once it wasn’t filled with delicious aromas, and Dee was nowhere to be found.
“Hello? Ana?” I called out, as I wandered on through the foyer and into the main room. I glanced around. Small fires burned in each of the fireplaces, but the house seemed empty.
“Ana… Henri… Anyone home?”
Just when I was about to give up, I heard Ana’s voice from the top of the stairs. “Just a moment, dear. I’ll be right down.”
I curled up on the couch next to the main fireplace and waited. A few minutes later she descended the long spiral staircase, looking like something out of Vogue magazine. Her stylish black dress was elegantly cut, and her long silver hair twisted up in a fancy chignon and topped with a small lacy hat. Yellow diamonds dangled from her earlobes and wrists, and her magical Rings were on full display.
“Wow, you look amazing!” I stood up and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. To my relief, I felt nothing from her but a calm warmth. Nothing suspicious or shady. And nothing tumultuous, either. Whatever charm she was using was working wonders, and this gave me hope. As much as I didn’t want to disturb her peaceful state of mind, this was probably my best chance to talk to her. Except she obviously had somewhere important to be.
“Dee wasn’t here so I let myself in. I hope that was okay.” We both sat down, me back on the couch, Ana in the tall, maroon chair that always reminded me of a throne.
She furrowed her brow. “Delilah has the day off, and she went into town to go shopping. But Calista, no one ever needs to ‘let you in’. This is as much your home as it is mine. You are welcome anytime. I hope you know that.” Her voice rang with an earnest sincerity that I could feel.
I smiled. “I... I guess I know that.” I glanced around and gave a little laugh. “But you gotta admit, it’s pretty hard to really believe that this is a house I would live in… that I would belong to.”
“Why not? Gabriella grew up here. Had she not left, you would’ve been raised here, too.”
I raised my eyebrows. “But she did leave. And I wasn’t raised here. Quite the opposite, in fact. As opposite as can be.” My mind flashed back to the run-down apartments Dad and I had shared over the years. The biggest one had been less than half the size of the room we sat in now.
“I want you to feel comfortable here. This is where you come from. Where you belong.”
That’s my cue.
“Speaking of, I wanted to talk to you about something. Something kind of important. But you look like you’re on your way somewhere…?” I let the question dangle.
She nodded. “Yes, I’m going to a very special event for a friend in Santa Barbara. But I have time. Henri isn’t bringing the car for another half-hour.”
“Oh, good. Because I had a few questions for you.” I paused as I debated which one to lead with. I bit my lip and charged in. “My dad knows that I’m seeing Nicholas. He wants to meet him and wants the three of us to have dinner together at the house. Tonight.”
Her lips were firm, and she glanced down at her hands which lay folded in her lap. “I see. Your father
is aware that you’re involved with him, then?”
I nodded. “I guess he saw us on the beach together. He asked me about him this morning. I wasn’t the one who said anything,” I added. I hated the way my voice suddenly sounded defensive.
She crossed her hands and gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “It is understandable that a father would be curious about the person his daughter is spending time with. It’s only natural he would want to meet him.”
“So is it okay if Nicholas comes over for dinner tonight?” I repeated when it was clear she hadn’t actually answered my question.
She let out a sigh. “Yes, it is allowed. I’m trying to make peace with the idea that my only granddaughter is in love with a Triple Star warlock, just like her mother. I can only hope and pray to the goddesses that you do not follow in her same path.
Cue number two…
“Okay, thanks. And thank you for trusting me to do the right thing. I won’t make the same mistakes as my mom did, that I can promise you. But I was wondering something else…”
Her eyes met mine with a wary curiosity. But with all the questions, the revelations, the shocking discoveries, she had to know this one was coming.
“I need you to tell me exactly who my real father is and where I can find him. And I need to know now.”
Chapter 18. Ugly Truth
Ana’s eyes widened briefly, but she immediately regained her composure. “Your real father?”
I scowled. “Obviously I know the truth that my dad isn’t my real dad. How else could I have seen Nicholas’s Mark? I have the Triple Star bloodline in me, and Lily and Sophie told me all about how Mom was pregnant when she ran away. And you’d even said that her boyfriend was from that coven.”
Maybe I was just imagining it, but Ana’s face actually seemed to pale. I felt nothing unusual from her, but I almost wished I could. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t help you.” Her voice was low as she glanced toward one of the fireplaces.
But mine wasn’t. “Can’t or won’t?” I demanded. I was not going to let her stonewall me. Not about this.
She looked a bit startled at my intensity, and shook her head again. “I don’t know for sure what is real and what is just speculation and innuendo. I wasn’t aware that Gabriella might’ve been pregnant until sometime later. Many stories flew around, first regarding Arthur’s tragedy and later with Gabby’s departure. I don’t know what to believe.”
“I know the feeling,” I muttered.
Ana tilted her chin and studied me. “Why do you feel the need to find the man you believe to be your real father?”
I threw up my hands. “Seriously? You find it hard to believe that I would want to know the truth about my heritage for once? Forget about the fact that my mom is alive. There is a man out there whose DNA I inherited. For all I know I’m a magical ticking time bomb!”
The corners of Ana’s mouth twitched slightly. She relaxed her stiff posture and delicately smoothed down the front of her long dress. “You are not a ticking time bomb, magical or otherwise.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Oh yeah? You don’t know what I’ve done lately! What’s been happening. Okay, you were a witness for the Amazing Empath Show, but there’s been other stuff, too.”
She glanced up. “Like what?”
“Like…stuff.”
“And whatever is happening, you think it is because of who your real father is?” she asked, rising from her chair.
I nodded. “Maybe. Maybe some of his magical powers are making me do things—”
“Calista, I already told you—that is not how our magic works. It is passed down through the mother and only the mother. Whether or not the father is a warlock is irrelevant. Your magic is yours alone, and whatever is happening with you has nothing to do with anyone else.” She crossed the room and kneeled down, setting another small log on the fire.
My frustration continued to mount. “What is going on then? Why am I feeling so much stronger now? It’s almost like my powers are taking me over… and sometimes are out of my control. Just this morning, I almost blew my cover with my dad ‘cause it was such an automatic reflex to do magic—”
She quickly glanced at me over her shoulder. “But you didn’t, did you?”
I shook my head. “No, but it was a close call.” Too close.
Ana stood up and brushed off her hands. “This is natural… all part of the process. It’s to be expected.” She pursed her lips. “True, you are showing signs of being even stronger than I’d originally anticipated, but I have no doubt you will learn to manage your powers in time. One is only given as much as one can handle.”
I nodded, but her words provided me with little comfort. I hadn’t really thought I’d get anywhere with her anyways, but it’d been worth a shot.
But, unlike Nicholas, I wasn’t a hundred percent convinced she was intentionally lying or keeping secrets from me. At least it hadn’t felt that way. Maybe she really didn’t know what the truth was. Or maybe she did, and I just couldn’t feel her enough anymore to know.
There was only one person who knew what had really happened. And I was going to find her.
Today.
I hung around a bit longer until it was time for Henri to take Ana to her event. It’d felt surprisingly good to talk with her, almost like how it was before all the tension and drama started between us. We chatted about school and what to do for my dad’s birthday next month. She’d already bought him two tickets to attend this year’s Super Bowl in Atlanta as an early gift, and I knew he’d be over the moon. I didn’t know what I could possibly do to top that.
When Henri finally pulled the car around, I escorted Ana out the front door and hugged her goodbye. Then I continued on as if I was going to wander through the gardens and back to the cottage.
But as soon as the limo rounded the bend of the long driveway I doubled back, cautious to avoid passing by Ecudiar and Drakonas, Ana’s pet monsters. The hideous gargoyles were harmless to me, of course, and were actually created to serve as our protectors from evil. But ever since the night they’d let out that horrific cry signaling that they were coming for Nicholas, I’d hated them with a passion.
It was such a beautiful morning… the crisp salty-sweet air blew gently in from the ocean, and the colors in the gardens looked particularly fresh and vibrant. I was in no hurry to return inside right away, so I casually strolled around the bird sanctuary, pausing briefly to appreciate the shocking array of brightly-colored tropical birds as they fluttered from perch to perch. They always seemed so full of joy, as if wherever they were was exactly where they wanted to be. What was their secret? What did they know that I didn’t?
Further up, I admired the meticulously manicured rows of fresh roses. They were in almost every color imaginable, from fiery-orange to lavender-lilac. There was even a bush with blooms blacker than the darkest night, except for their tips which were bright white. Next to them was a group with such a shiny gold color, they looked like they were made from actual metal. I leaned down to sniff their sweet fragrance and a light euphoria swept over me. I knew Ana liked to experiment with her plants, and she had told me once she had help from the garden gnomes. I still hadn’t seen them, but these flowers were spectacular, even for a magical garden.
Beyond the flower beds were the ponds of strangely-colored exotic fish. My favorite was the simple golden koi. I crossed the little footbridge over their underwater kingdom, and they looked up at me with open mouths and wizened eyes.
“You guys have it so good, you know that? Getting to just swim around this beautiful place all day, hanging with your friends. No big fish out to get you, no one ever leaves you or lies to you—”
“Callie, you there?!” I literally jumped at Sophie’s voice.
“Yeah, I’m here… you startled me!”
“Sorry. What’re you doing?”
I paused. “Walking through Ana’s gardens and talking to the fish.”
“Great! Is she with you,
or is the coast clear?” Lily asked.
“Just me and the fish. Ana’s gone for the day. I was just about to call you over, actually—”
“We’re on our way!”
Sophie had barely completed the last word before she and Lily appeared several yards away, by the birds. They spotted me and began heading in my direction.
Even at that distance, I could feel their excitement. I held up my hand. “Hold it right there.”
They both stopped. “What is it?” Sophie asked.
I shook my head. “I’m just feeling you guys really strongly right now. If you can, please try and dial back your enthusiasm or whatever’s got you both so worked up.” They probably weren’t that hyper individually, but having both of them there together made me feel like my internal organs were doing jumping jacks and cartwheels.
They both took several deep, calming breaths. Sophie did some weird, dramatic stretching thing, jogged quickly in place, and then rolled her neck around several times and cracked her knuckles.
“Okay, I’m cool,” she said.
Lily laughed and rolled her eyes, and the three of us slowly walked toward each other. They’d done a good job of calming down, but I could still feel their excitement.
“Okay, what is going on?” My eyes were as big as Sophie’s smile.
“I did it! I thought of a way we can help you find your mom!” she exclaimed.
Lily gave her a chagrined look. “We both thought of it.”
“No, you said, ‘Remember how cool it was on New Year’s Eve when we went flying and Callie played my song in our heads… and I said, ‘yeah, too bad she can’t do the same thing with her vision, so we can See what she Sees in the Looking Stone and shimmer there!’”
Lily playfully rolled her eyes again. “Okay, whatever, you win.” She grinned and looked at me. “So what do you think?”
I glanced back and forth at them. “What do I think about what?”
Sophie threw up her hands in mock exasperation. “About our plan!”