“Don’t be silly, I’m happy to help you with anything you need,” a voice behind me said. I spun around and saw the boy with the sweet smile. He was much taller than I’d expected.
“Thank you, Mr. Martin,” Mr. Walters said. Then he turned to me. “This is a beginning photography class, and I have no doubt you’ll be up to speed in no time. All that’s required is a desire to learn how to take the best pictures you possibly can. Try to catch up on the main points in the reading—just to learn the technical terms and techniques. Any questions you have, feel free to talk to me anytime.” He smiled wryly. “Or ask your ever-helpful partner here. He really is quite talented.”
He opened a drawer in his desk and handed me a camera. “Most students have their own, but some use the ones we have here. You may borrow this one as long as you need – just put it back in the drawer at the end of each class.”
I thanked Mr. Walters and followed my new partner out of the classroom. When we reached the grass, he glanced over to me.
“You’re Calista, right? Trippy name. I like it.”
“Thanks. Or you can call me Callie,” I mumbled.
“Cool. I’m Justin.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, as we headed across the lawn toward the fountains.
“So, you liking it here so far? First days can be sort of rough.”
I hadn’t even thought about how I felt until he asked the question. “I love it here! Everyone is so friendly, and the campus is beautiful. The teachers are pretty cool, too…” My voice faded off as I bit my lip, afraid I sounded like a complete dork. But Justin just smiled warmly.
“Yeah, Mr. Walters is one of the coolest. This is a fun class – gives me something to look forward to all day.”
“What year are you?” I asked. I hadn’t seen him in any of my other classes.
“I’m a senior. Just moved here over the summer though, so I know how it feels to be the new guy – or girl.” He winked.
He was definitely good looking. Like a surfer boy, with too-long, sun-bleached locks, a tan face, and just the lightest dusting of freckles on his nose. His eyes were the exact color of the Pacific Ocean on a bright, sunny day. His athletic body was lean and strong, and he towered next to me as we walked through the field looking for things to photograph.
“Here’s a good spot,” he announced as we reached an open, park-like area. From where we stood we could see the mountains to the right, and the high cliffs overlooking the ocean to our left.
Justin showed me the basics, patiently answering my numerous questions. I was impressed by his painstaking care as he placed his camera, trying several different angles before taking his shot.
I trained my camera on the mountain range where the greens, golds, and silvers of the hillside terrain sparkled in the afternoon sun, but my ill-fitting glasses prevented me from getting my eye close enough to the camera to focus very well.
After several minutes of concentrated silence, Justin ambled back to where I stood. “How’s it going, rookie?”
“I dunno…I was just shooting the mountainside…see how the boulders cast shadows that way,” I said pointing, “but the other side is glistening and sparkly? I thought it looked pretty neat.”
He squinted in the direction I indicated. “That is a good shot. You have a good eye for this…a natural.”
I accidentally dropped my lens cap. As I bent over to retrieve it I heard a quiet click click, and looked up to see Justin pointing his camera at me.
“What are you doing?” I gasped, standing up quickly.
“Sorry, sorry, don’t be mad. When you tilted your head down, the sun shone through your hair like a million rays of light and it looked so beautiful…I had to catch it.” He grinned sheepishly. My face had been angled away from his camera when he snapped the picture, but still –
“It’s okay,” I mumbled, feeling slightly embarrassed. I’d never had pictures taken of me before except for the school yearbooks, and even then my self-consciousness at having my frumpy image captured for permanent records had caused me to skip out on the past several years of class portraits.
“C’mon, don’t be so shy. You’re a total cutie. Most people love to have their picture taken. Especially in this part of SoCal,” he said with a smirk.
We walked back to the bench in front of the main fountains. “Where’d you move here from?” I asked, trying to change the subject. I was getting better at this small-talk thing with boys. Of course, talking to this particular boy didn’t send rockets of fire through my gut the way talking to Nicholas had.
“Grew up in Del Mar—that’s in San Diego—but my dad got transferred up here for work. Where’re you from? Not around here, judging by that accent.”
I blushed again. Why, as soon as I started to feel normal, did something about me signal the fact that I was, indeed, an outsider?
“Louisiana…and Tennessee before that.”
“Ah, a real-live sweet southern belle here to break our hearts!” He laughed and dramatically clutched his chest.
“We should head back,” I said, my voice quiet.
“Oh. Okay, you’re probably right,” he agreed. We walked back across the field for a few minutes in awkward silence. Suddenly, he stopped and placed a hand on my arm.
“Look, I’m sorry…I really didn’t mean to offend you back there. I’ll destroy the picture if you want me to. And, well, the southern-belle thing…that was my way of trying to give you a compliment. My stupid way.” His cheeks had a faint pink tinge.
Justin’s was one of the gentlest, kindest energies I’d been around in a long while, and I felt his genuine remorse at hurting my feelings. He’d thought he was being clever and friendly when, really, he was nervous and unsure what to say.
I sighed. He was right. It was me who was overreacting to his boyish attempts at flirting. I mustered the courage to give him what I thought might pass for a coy smile. “Kind suh, your apology is most gen’rous, and most unnecessary,” I drawled, exaggerating my accent so that it sounded nearly unrecognizable even to me. “Please forgive mah rudeness at yaw gentle cha’ms…”
He burst out laughing. A loud, easy laugh that made me want to do the same.
“Touché,” he said with a crooked grin. As we walked back to the building, I felt like we were already old friends.
Chapter 11. Visible
I stood out in front of the school with Lily and Sophie as we waited for our rides. Both of them had full afternoons planned with their studies and extra-curricular activities, and I knew the bulk of what was left of my day would be spent studying as well. Although I’d always been a good student, I still needed to catch up with my new classes and to familiarize myself with the textbooks.
Henri’s shiny black town car pulled up. I said goodbye to my new friends, and waved to Justin as he passed by on his way to the student parking lot. I still couldn’t believe my good fortune at meeting not one, but two girls who were like me... and who liked me. What a fun day; I’d never thought that about school before. And meeting Justin was great. I knew he and I were going to become good friends as well.
I was anxious to see Ana again. I hadn’t had much time to spend with her the past few days, and now that school had started my time would be even more limited. Dad had made me promise I wouldn’t go over to her house until after my homework was all done, but with the amount I had waiting for me, that wouldn’t be until well after dinnertime. I decided it wouldn’t hurt to stop by and see her for just a few minutes.
“Thanks for the ride, Henri!” I said, as he parked the car in front of the mansion.
Ana was out back tending to her herb garden. When she saw me, she beamed and motioned for me to come over. I had to suppress a giggle. She wore a billowing flowered shirt under pale blue overalls, which were covered in mismatched patches and rolled up to her knees. An oversized straw hat, large yellow sunglasses, and bright-pink gardening gloves completed her whimsical appearance.
“Like my outfit?” She lifted he
r arms and turned around to give me a better look. “It’s the latest fashion…straight off the Paris runway.”
I scrutinized her with mock seriousness. “High couture garden design. A must have for the most discriminating of farming fashionistas,” I deadpanned.
Ana’s tinkling laugh made me smile, and I watched as she sprinkled some golden dust over the ripe-red tomatoes.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Crushed Dragon Fruit,” she replied. “Very good at keeping away pests and for enhancing growth. Totally natural. Well, magically speaking of course.”
Indeed, the tomatoes already seemed to be plumping up under the light dusting, until they looked like they were ready to burst with rich ripe sweetness. “I insist on doing the vegetable and herb gardens myself. The gnomes can spin their magical web over all the rest of the property, but these areas here are off limits to them.”
“Gnomes?”
“Gnomes…garden elves…you didn’t think that a person could create a landscape this beautiful, did you?”
I supposed not. There was something extraordinary in the majestic splendor of the grounds. “Where are they, the gnomes and elves?” I asked, wondering what they looked like.
“Oh, I’m sure they are around here somewhere. They don’t care too much for people though, and have quite nasty temperaments. So tell me—” She took off her gloves and wiped her hands on her pants. “How was your first day? Make any new friends?” Her eyes sparkled expectantly.
“It was really nice. And yes, I met Sophie and Lily. I really like them both.”
“Great! I just knew the three of you would hit it off. You’ll make a wonderful Morningstar Trinity.”
“A Morningstar Trinity?”
“Yes. A Morningstar witch—like you—is the most powerful, her magic the purest and most potent, when she works in conjunction with two others who share complementary energies with her. When they choose to form a Trinity the bonds are nearly unbreakable, and they have a deeper connection than in any other magical relationship.”
I thought about this for awhile as Ana tended to her vegetables. It’s not that I never wanted friends before…I desperately did. I just never seemed to find any that wanted to be friends with me. First Nicholas, then Sophie, Lily and Justin…plus the other students who gave me friendly smiles and inquisitive glances all day…it couldn’t be just coincidence.
“Ana,” I said as a thought struck, “Am I only having friends now because I’m a witch?”
She stopped what she was doing and looked up at me. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
I sat down on a stone bench beside some rosebushes. “It’s just that before…before I came here, well, it’s almost like I didn’t exist to people. No one ever really looked at me or wanted to talk to me. I had no friends…girls my age seemed to go out of their way to avoid me.” I glanced away, embarrassed. “The only person who ever really talked to me was Dad. But since I’ve been here, things have been different. People see me, and they’re nice to me. I feel like I’m a part of the world instead of on the outside looking in. Does this make any sense? I’m just wondering, is it real—how things are now—or is it some magical spell that is causing people to talk to me?” I cautiously met her gaze.
“Oh, dear, I had no idea what it was like for you before.” Ana furrowed her brow and bit her lip before looking away.
Something about my question bothered her, and she didn’t want me to know.
“Why did it change when I came here?” I pressed when she remained quiet for several moments.
She took a deep breath and returned to her pruning, trying to appear casual. But I could tell she was unnerved. “I don’t know. Perhaps your mother’s cloaking spell could have had a certain amount of carryover into your ‘real life’. It was a very powerful enchantment and it shouldn’t surprise me to learn of possible side-effects.”
She glanced back at me, her face more relaxed as she gave me a small smile. “Perhaps it was intentional –she wanted to shield you as much as possible. Or, perhaps you were just ready for those walls to come down, and so they did.”
“Oh.” Her answer should have satisfied me, but for some reason it didn’t.
“But you liked the school? Everyone treated you well?” she asked brightly.
“Yeah, everyone was real nice.” My eyes dropped as my voice trailed off.
“But?” she probed.
“Well…it’s just that school is one of the hardest places for me to be. Even a nice school like St. Morgan’s. When I’m surrounded by so many people all at once and they are all feeling crazy emotions all the time…it’s hard to distinguish what I’m really feeling from what someone else is. I can be perfectly happy one moment, but if the person sitting next to me is depressed or stressed or something.”
Ana held up a gloved hand. “Say no more,” she said, and pulled a thin strand of what looked like entwined flowers from her pocket. “I made this for you today. It will help to block those unwanted emotions.”
“What is it?”
“Just some specially enchanted flowers and herbs. It’s my own creation, one I developed many years ago when I suffered through the same thing. May I?” She held up the pretty string and tied it around my wrist like a bracelet. I held it to my nose. It smelled sweet...like candy.
“This will help?” I asked dubiously.
“It should reduce your inflow dramatically until you’re older and learn to control your power better. It won’t block everything, though.”
“Won’t they wilt and die?” I asked, fingering the tiny purple and white buds.
“No. The flowers will remain alive and potent as long as you are wearing them. You still have your necklace on, correct?”
I nodded and patted my chest where the amulet lay safely hidden beneath my blouse.
*****
Dad and I ate dinner at Ana’s again that evening. Dad was pleased with his project on the house, and was eager to hear about my successful first day. Of course, he had no idea how nerve-racking the whole experience had been for me, but nevertheless, he seemed relieved to see me so happy for a change.
After dinner I did some homework, and then took a break to give Sophie and Lily a call. Lily was studying for a history quiz, and Sophie chatted nonstop about a dancing contest on TV she was watching. Apparently the viewers could call in and vote for their favorite ones, and she was mulling over the idea of charming the phone lines so her favorite dancer would be sure to get through to the next round.
For the first time in my life, I looked forward to going back to school. The three of us had agreed to meet on the steps before first period. How different it felt knowing that friends would be waiting for me! This, along with Nicholas’ beautiful face in my mind, made me smile one last time as I drifted off to sleep.
*****
I fly over the waters to the island of lights, where the enchanted forest is alive with glowing flowers and trees. I feel him before I see him. He’s waiting for me.
Our hearts reunite as one as he takes me in his arms. I see his face clearly now. I know who he is. He speaks to me, his voice sounds like the song of a myriad of angels. “Calista…my love…” He holds me close and kisses me softly. Together we float up into the sky, over the trees, amid the stars. I never want to leave here. In this place and at this moment, everything is perfect. Everything is clear.
Everything...makes...sense.
This is why I was born and why I exist. To feel this miraculous love that fuels my soul with such fire.
**
With all my might I fought against my impending consciousness. Powerless to stop it, I lay there, trying to hold on to the memory of what I’d just seen...where I’d just been, and most importantly, who I’d just been with.
I raised my fingers to my lips and remembered Nicholas’ face and the feel of his kiss…the feel of his arms around me as we drifted together in the night sky.
I remembered everything. Unlike all the other dreams, thi
s time, the feeling of love stayed with me long after I awoke.
I held the warm feeling close to my heart as I flicked open the drapes. My mind was still on Nicholas as I walked out to the patio and gazed beyond the hillside to the ocean’s gentle swells. Images of reality and fantasy spliced together as I remembered him on the beach with Max, and remembered him holding and kissing me in my dream. How real it felt! If only there was some way to have it all actually be real…
Entirely caught up in my reverie, it took me a while to realize something very profound had happened...something about me had changed. While I gazed at the lustrous, panoramic view of nature’s beauty, reminiscing about delicious visions of Nicholas, my glasses were still beside my bed where I’d left them last night.
Astonished, I rubbed my eyes and focused again. I could see perfectly—even better than with my glasses. Everything looked so sharp, so clean. Colors were brighter, details more in-depth and intricate. I could make out the tiniest indentation on a blade of grass, and distinguish the several shades of pink on each of the rose bushes.
I ran back inside and into the bathroom, flipping on the light so I could see myself in the mirror. I’d never been able to see my face clearly without my glasses on, and as a result, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was supposed to look like. But this!
I touched my face. It felt the same. It just looked different without the large spectacles covering it up. My features were more defined, better shaped. But that wasn’t what I noticed the most.
My eyes, normally a dull grey when hidden behind the thick lenses, had transformed into a deep turquoise-blue. They looked larger and rounder than before, and shone with the brilliance of sapphire.
Ana’s eyes.
My mother’s eyes.
I splashed some cool water on my face, half afraid my new-found focus would disappear, but also half-hoping it would. Why had this happened? What caused my eyes to somehow magically heal themselves and change color overnight?
Witchy, Witchy (Spellbound Trilogy #1) Page 8
