by L. D. Wosar
“We can’t look.”
Brendon started to speak until I held my hand up, “don’t say another word, please. You are on my crap list right now and I just can’t with you, Brendon.”
An Hour Later
When we arrived at the school, my eyes widened with awe, the huge brick castle reminded me of Hogwarts but with a more gothic feel. Thoughts swam through my head as to if there were little wizards in their respective robes, as professors in pointy hats ordered them around or even dwarves or leprechauns scampering all over the place. This was Ireland after all.
Brendon slid out of the taxi and opened my door for me. I am sure he was being a gentleman to make up for making me angry earlier. When I was angry, it lingered for hours, sometimes days, depending on the circumstances. In this case, it may last just for hours, I was too crazy about this boy to prolong the silence between us. “Here we are, sweet girl, the Draíocht Coven house.”
“House? It’s a castle and I know I will get lost the first week,” I chuckled and he gave me a relieved smile as his cheeks blushed when I bit my lower lip while stealing a glance from him.
“So, I gather yer not mad at me anymore?” He asked shyly, almost pussy footing around the topic so as not to upset me further.
“Oh, I am still mad. But it doesn’t mean I like you any less,” I responded and he saw this as an unwarranted invitation to take my hand until I pulled it away. “It also doesn't mean I want unwanted affections either.”
When we entered the vast estate, the foyer was colorful and bright as the sun peered through the wall of stained glass windows that followed the wide staircase. Right now it was peaceful in the coven, I am sure it was too early for classes to be in session, assuming this is a school. It was where Brendon spent twelve years of his life, so it was safe to assume this was a boarding house for casters and a school to prepare them for the real world when they come of age.
We were met by a tall, willowy woman whose crimson hair sparkled when the sun hit it a certain way. Where’s her pointy hat? I wondered to myself. This striking beauty was young and the warm smile on her face shaved at least five years off her actual age. When Brendon told me about Professor McCullough, I pictured her to be my grandmother’s age, not someone in their twenties. Yet, I never took into consideration the lifespan of a caster. From what Brendon told me, they are not eternal, they age the same as humans do. “Ya must be Samantha Flowers,” the woman announced while reaching to take my hand in both of hers. “I am Professor Ciara McCullough. Brendon has told me quite a bit about ya. He has been giving ya lessons, although he was not instructed ta do so. However, it gives him something to do and he says yer a quick learner. With that being said, I know the reason yer here with him, but ya still have much ta learn in order ta defend yerself when the time comes.”
Did she know something? We both feared Aidan and Aisling would follow us here, but did word already get back to the school? As if she could read my mind, she responded to the questions that ran through my mind. “Samantha.”
“Please call me Sammie,” I smiled, “I am only called Samantha when I am in trouble with my parents.”
Ciara smiled and nodded, “Very well, Sammie. We didn’t receive word about the Byrnes coming to Ireland, we just have a feeling that they will follow ya since Aidan is pretty predictable, which has trickled down ta his daughter - yer cousin.” I groaned at the notion of that even snipe being my cousin. “Let me show you ta yer rooms, ya two. I want to ask, is Brendon taking good care of ya?”
“Of course, he is. However, I just learned about my mother’s past and wished I was told that long before this morning,” I replied, turning my head to look at Brendon who quickly avoided eye contact.
Ciara stopped in front of us and turned around when she got to the first landing of the staircase. “I sensed something more between you two than a guardian to his subject. Is there something you want to tell me, Brendon?”
“Why are you putting me in the hot seat?” I stifled my giggling when I saw the smirk on Professor McCullough’s face. “No, Professor, I swear. Okay, fine. I like Sammie, but it goes no further. Can’t we drop this? We are both exhausted from the long flight and I don’t know about Sammie but I would like to take a nap before we start her onslaught of defense skills.” He rushed up the stairs past the professor, who only shrugged at his response. This gave us time to talk about my mother and Aidan, it was a very brief conversation, but I am sure I would hear more over the next few weeks during my visit. I needed to learn about my mother to get a better idea of the history and relationship she had with her twin. It would also be the fuel I need to put a stop to Aidan and Aisling’s shenanigans before they manage to commit World War Magic Warfare.
The Next Day
I swear if I have to throw one more fireball or ice spear at another dummy, it will be the death of Brendon. Trying to keep my temper in check has been more of a challenge today since I know we are so close to the hiding place of my mother’s necklace. The only question I have is what am I going to do with it if I find it? Brendon told me I can’t even siphon her magic for another two years. What happens if it’s done earlier? I think the only way to keep this powerful magic from Aidan and Aisling is to siphon it. On the other hand, it gives them more reason to attempt a merge with me. Aidan is a super old warlock and I am sure he is much more powerful than me. Well, his magic may be stronger, but my will is even more so.
“Brendon?” I asked as I formed, yet, another fire sphere in my hand. “You never told me what would happen if I siphoned my mother’s magic before I’m eighteen.”
“Aye, I did. It goes against yer mother’s wishes.” I turned and accidentally released the sphere in Brendon’s direction. He ducked immediately, standing up while glaring at me. “Sammie, pay attention for Pete’s sake, ye coulda killed me. To answer yer question. The results could be detrimental for all, especially you, if ya siphon her magic too early. Ye can’t even control the magic ya have now, what makes ya think you can handle three times that?”
I blew off his answer. Yeah, he was my guardian but as far as I was concerned, he knew nothing more about my mother’s past than what he’d been told. I had every intention of finding that necklace, in turn, siphon the magic and wield it against those two idiots who want it for themselves. But first, we needed to find it before Aidan and Aisling, if they are even here in Ireland. As predictable as they are, I can guarantee they are here already, in hiding.
Exhaustion set in as we had been doing this since before sun up. I looked at my watch to see it was already noon, I was starving and we skipped breakfast to start my training. I don’t count the bag of gummy bears Brendon gave me as a substantial breakfast when I was craving pancakes with lots of syrup, sausage, scrambled eggs and a gallon of orange juice to wash it down. “Brendon, you slavedriver, we need to take a break for lunch. I am so hungry I can eat an entire cow by myself.”
“We have one more lesson and then we can have lunch,” the bossy guardian of mine said as I stomped past him to the dining hall, I smacked him in the chest, silently telling him I was finished.
“You are not my boss. We eat then after lunch we go to the forest to look for my mother’s necklace. Got it?” The blank stare only told me it was his way of controlling the annoyance he had for me right now; which I’m sure, equaled mine. He followed me anyway, what else was he going to do?
“We can’t do that, Sammie. It’s suicidal.”
I stopped walking and peered at him over my shoulder, “aw, bull! That was the only reason you brought me here. It wasn’t for more training or to meet your schoolmates. You sense something really bad is going to happen and bring me here to get the necklace before your homies do.”
Ireland
“Remember what I told ya back home, m’wee girl. We cannot go near the Draíocht Coven or our entire reason for being here is blown. I taught ya the cloaking spell, ya need to utilize that.” I told Aisling gently, a gentle approach didn't always work with my bull-headed dau
ghter; but I wasn’t in the mood ta get into fisticuffs with her or she’d attempt ta turn me inta a frog.
“I thought our purpose was ta find Brendon and Sammie and kill them before they found the necklace,” Aisling responded, crossing her arms over her chest like the spoiled child she was.
A growl escaped from the pits of ma gut as I raised ma fist, though, recoiling from striking ma daughter. “What do ya think will happen if we kill the two of them?”
“They are dead and no longer in our way of getting what ya want; Aunt Mavis’s necklace and great power.” Aisling was confident in her response until she glanced at me ta see the anger building. The heat I felt on ma face gave her credence that my face was blood red with frustration.
Gritting my teeth, I answered her, “If ya kill them, we will never find the necklace. It’s safe ta say is it bonded with the neck in the family line.”
“Aye, that would be me. I am older than Sammie.” Aisling grinned at me, I am sure with wishful thinking that she was next in line to siphon ma twin’s powers.
“Get out of yer little make believe world, Aisling. Mavis would never have bonded it to ya. She would’ve bonded it to her oldest child, that being Sammie. We need Sammie to find the necklace in order ta get it away from her, is that clear?” I responded as I gripped Aisling’s arm and shoved her into the rental car. “This needs ta be timed perfectly. Brendon Finnegan is a powerful warlock, even for being so young. Even more powerful than you and certainly more than Sammie.”
“What are we even here fer? It doesn’t seem like ya have any kind of game plan. Are ya frightened of two teenagers? Yer a two-hundred-year old warlock, Da! Ye should be able ta wipe out their existence by snapping yer fingers.”
She had a valid point; however, I don’t think she heard a thing I said. Sammie dead equals no necklace. I suppose I’d have ta put it in neon lights fer her or some Instagram post. As much as I valued and loved ma daughter, she was as daft as they come at times and already proof that she is a loose cannon. A smirk spread on ma face without her seeing with the thought that the only way this could be done without complications was ta render Aisling unconscious before I headed inta the forest.
Sammie
During lunch, I used the excuse I needed to visit the little girl’s room and left the table with the thought that Brendon couldn’t be so desperate to follow me to the bathroom. As soon as I got far enough down the hall, I ran down the long corridor, finally reaching the large double doors that led to the outside world.
Running around the vast property, I noticed the cluster of trees to the west of the school with the belief this had to be the forest where my mother hid her talisman. I sprinted toward the opening of the forest that surrounded a dirt trail. However, there was an invisible barrier and no way of stepping inside. Raising my hands, I attempted a dispel charm to no avail and gathered the notion I wasn’t strong enough to use this spell. “SAMMIE!” I heard Brendon yelling from behind me. Letting out a heavy sigh I came to the conclusion that there was no way to ditch a warlock who could read your every thought. “What?” He stopped and asked breathlessly, bending over to catch his breath. “Are you thinking of doing?”
I collapsed to the ground, slumped over in defeat before I threw myself backward, laying in the soft grass. “I thought I’d be able to run in there and look for where my mother hid her necklace.” Brendon laid beside me, hearing the defeat in my voice. It wasn’t only defeat, it was impatience to find that stupid necklace before Aisling and Aidan do. I can only expect the worst if they were to find it first.
“Ya know I can read every thought of yers, including how cute ya think I am.” Brendon joked and I turned my head, glaring at him. Annoyed that he was trying to break me out of the nuisance of my overthinking and overanalyzing the whole situation. “Sammie, there is no way those two can find the necklace if she set a cloaking spell on the location.”
“Well, then how are we going to find it?” I asked as I sat up quickly, looking toward the trail, “there is a barrier around the forest. How are we going to get into the forest when there is some protective barrier around it?”
A smirk developed in the corners of Brendon’s mouth and he lifted his hand, fluttering his fingers. “I can make us an opening, but it doesn’t mean I want ta.” I gave him a look of indignance and crossed my arms. “Sammie? Yer incorrigible, absolutely incorrigible. Do ya have any idea how much trouble we can get inta by going past that barrier?”
“Do ya realize we’re wastin’ time while ya pussyfoot around following the rules?” I asked, mocking his Irish brogue.
“Those rules have been established for the safety of the students, Sammie!” Brendon told me, trying to convince he was a conformist to the rules set by the headmaster of the school or leader of the coven, whatever he was. I couldn’t remember his name, nor had I met him.
Feeling bold, I marched toward the trail, calling out, “Well, we’re not students so that stupid rule doens’t apply to us.” Brendon rushed up, gripping my arm and twisting my body to face him.
“I may not be a student, but I’m still a member of the coven and when I tell ya it isn’t a good idea, I mean it. We need ta head back before they start looking for us.” His voice trembled, which made me wonder what he was so frightened of. This seemed a peaceful coven and we were on our own, what trouble were we causing? None that I could see. He sighed and held up his hands, “I give up trying ta butt heads with ya. If we run inta a troll or wild animals who want us as their lunch, don’t let me remind ya I told ya so.” Brendon took my hand, “it will come down quicker if we work together - so repeat this with me, “inferius clypeus, ingressum quaestum. It means ‘lower the shield, gain entry’ in Latin.”
“Inferior clappus”
“In-fear-ee-us Clay - pay - oos.”
“Inferius Clypeus - Aggressive Quantum.”
Brendon chuckled at the butchering of the chant, “in-gress-oom kway-toom. Close your eyes and let’s try this.”
We both repeated, “Inferius clypeus, ingressum quaestum.” It took ten repeats until I heard what sounded like heavy material dropping to the floor. I released Brendon’s hand and moved toward the trail.
No sooner had I taken one step, Brendon took my hand, shaking his head to stop me. “We need ta be mindful of what creatures could be lurking in here. Keep yer magic in check and don’t use it unless ya need ta. We don’t need to give away we’re in here.”
“You’re joking, right? We just did a spell to drop the shield, don’t you think they will sense that?” Brendon’s eyes widened at my question. I’m sure he didn’t think of that and he pulled me into the forest before he turned around, setting up the shield, as well as a cloaking spell on both of us. “Wait, now I am confused by how contradictory you are. You deter me from going into the forest because we can get in trouble with the headmaster. However, you place a cloaking spell on us anyway? Why are you like this? I think you lie because you’re so afraid I’m going to bypass my mother’s wishes and siphon her magic once we find her necklace. Am I right?”
“Well, yer not completely wrong. Ya lack patience and ya have issues listening ta anything I say because yer too bullheaded.”
I sniffed at his comment and laughed, “what will happen if I siphon it before I turn eighteen?”
“I’ve no idea, it could kill ya fer all I know and I won’t allow that ta happen ta ya. I like ya too much to let ya die.”
How could I ever stay mad at this guy? Even though he kept some very valuable and important information about my mother’s true past from me, he was still a peach. Could an Irish boy be a peach? Or was he a peach-shaped marshmallow in a Lucky Charms cereal box? Okay, bad pun, I know and a rather scathing leprechaun crack too. Brendon laughed, which I am certain, were my thoughts about him.
“Pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars and green clovers - no peach peaches,” Brendon said, “aye, they’re always after me Lucky Charms. I have a pink heart, aye and green clovers are a myth only, since a m
an makes his own luck. However, when I think I have a chance with ya, it will be a yellow moon and orange stars before ya show the same interest in me.”
“I don’t feel like having this discussion with you. There is nothing romantic about our mission, so leave that out of the mix. It’s all about saving my mother’s life and putting a cap on those who want to hurt her, namely, her evil twin Aidan.” Seeing how his face dropped to sheer disappointment, I don’t think it was the response he was looking for. However, at this point in time, it had to be acceptable. I was only fifteen and my parents were adamant about me and boys. No dating until I was seventeen and until I have completed my SATs and got my future in order. I was not going to go against my parents wishes no matter how much I liked Brendon. If he was patient, he’d wait a couple of years for me. It was certainly worth it for me to wait that long as I found myself falling for him each and every day I spent with him.
Ma father, the idiot that he is, thought he’d be wise ta knock me out and fer what reason may that be? He thinks I’m going ta barge into that crusty old school and cause all kinds of hate and discontent. Maybe, he had a valid point in doing what he did, however, all he did was wake up the beast inside me. When I woke from my stupor, I pulled maself up and looked out the windshield to see nothing but trees. It was safe to say, we were at the forest outside the school, yet he was nowhere ta be found.
I slid out of the car carefully, paranoid of what may await me the moment I stepped outside. Immediately, I noticed we were parked pretty far from the Draiocht grounds so as not to get caught. “Da?” I called out for ma father, but there was no response and tried to contact him mentally, “Da?”
“Aye, the beast has awakened. I am over here, trying ta find a way inta the forest.” I finally noticed him when he was walking along the edge of the forest, feeling around for an opening. “There is a barrier set up and the only way in is magic, which we cannot use or it would set off an alarm in the coven house.”
