Luminescence Trilogy: Complete Collection

by J. L. Weil

  “Not an overwhelming number. Only one or two that I have seen.” He appeared a little uncomfortable, and it made me wonder if maybe I knew them.

  “Is there anyone at our school who is a, you know, witch?” It still felt funny to form the word.

  He shrugged, divulging nothing.

  “Oh, my God. There’s a witch at our school. Other than you and Sophie, I mean.” He had my attention now. I jutted my straw in and out of my glass as I wracked through my brain, trying to figure out who it could be. My bet was on Rianne. “No hints?” I implored Gavin with a look, but he wasn’t going to give away any details.

  So frustrating. There was nothing worse than someone teasing you with a secret, and then not sharing the details.

  I sighed and slumped back the booth. Our food arrived, and the smell of garlic and pasta was enough to derail my mind and remind my stomach how hungry I was.

  Dinner was phenomenal, and no matter what I promised, begged, or threatened, Gavin never did reveal the name of the other witch at school.

  We stepped outside into the glittering balmy night. “Do you want to go down the Riverwalk?” Gavin asked.

  I slipped my arm through his. “I would love to.”

  A gentle evening breeze teased the ends of my dress as we strolled along the boardwalk. I imagined this was what a perfect date felt like. For all his dark and brooding qualities, deep down there was an extremely great guy, nothing about him that didn’t make me feel good and safe. I was content to walk by his side all night, with the sound of the ocean rising and falling on the shore. I was the luckiest girl in the universe. The other girls at school could keep their homecoming and proms. I had a witch.

  We walked to the end of the dock, and I leaned against the railing, inhaling the crisp ocean mist. I gazed out into the endless waters, watching the moon’s reflection glistened in the quiet surf. Gavin’s elbow brushed up against mine as he came to stand beside me.

  “It’s so peaceful. I can’t imagine not living near the ocean.” I’d grown up with it practically in my backyard. It would be like not having a park or a playground.

  We sat there enjoying the music of the splashing waves, and the company of each other. Lost in the moment, I felt the air shift with a tingling of magic. I looked at Gavin, unsure how I knew he was using his gift. Something awoke within me and wondered what he was up to.

  He stared into my violet eyes. “Your name is written in the stars,” he said, pointing to the sky over the tranquil waters.

  I tilted my head up, expecting a cheesy gesture. The air caught in my lungs. Millions of twilight stars dotted the sky, spelling out my name. It was an impressive sight that struck a chord in my romantic heart.

  “Incredible.” There was no downplaying the awe in my voice.

  With a wave of his hand, the stars scattered, reshaping into a perfect single-stemmed rose.

  Mesmerized, I met his eyes. “I guess being a witch has its high points. That was…magical.” I didn’t have any other words to describe it.

  “I wanted to show you the fun part of being a witch. We’re not finished yet.”

  The sky before us broke out into a spectacular firework display worthy of Fourth of July. Colors exploded against the black night, and his hand closed around mine as we watched the booming spectacle.

  “What is everyone going to think?”

  He shrugged. “That the city put on an impromptu show.”

  Hanging out with a witch was really raising the bar on my expectations for an evening out.

  When the fireworks came to an end, we began the walk back to his car, hand in hand. Most of the shops were closed, and only a few bars remained open. We took a shortcut down an alley just adjacent from where his car was parked. There was a stupid grin plastered on my face. Never in my wildest expectations had I imagined a night like this. I could ride on the emotional high for months.

  Lost in blissful happiness, I was confused when Gavin stiffened and suddenly stopped. Before I could ask what had caused his abrupt alarm, I heard the clanking of multiple footsteps, followed by sporadic laughter. Not a pleasing, happy laughter either. It made my skin crawl and my stomach lurch in fear. I snuck a quick glance over my shoulders, and my heart raced. Three shadowy figures were trailing us.

  “Keep walking,” Gavin whispered in my ear, drawing me closer to him.

  Their footsteps echoed from one wall of the alley to the other. I squeezed Gavin’s hand, repressing the urge to run, and kept moving forward.

  The creepers were catching up, and I started to pant from fear and trying to keep up with Gavin’s long strides.

  “Hey waittt upp,” one of the guys called out from behind us, slurring his words. “We only wantsss tooo talk.”

  They had obviously been drinking, explaining their inability to form coherent words.

  “Stay behind me,” Gavin ordered.

  My hand grasped his forearm, and his muscles bunched under my fingers. “Gavin don’t,” I pleaded when I realized his intent. I got that he was a witch, but three-on-one were not good odds. Witch or not, I didn’t want him getting hurt.

  “Bri. I am serious.” His tone was one I’d never heard before. Hard. Unyielding. “Stay out of the way. You got that?” He looked quickly over at me to make sure I got his point. His eyes were pools of blazing blue fire. They radiated with danger and something darker.

  It was the something more that frightened me.

  I gulped and nodded.

  “Hmm, what do we have here?” The one with light hair spoke up as they stopped in front of us. “Isn’t she something?”

  I shivered.

  Gavin had a different reaction. He flicked his hand and big mouth was thrown up against the brick wall by what appeared to be thin air. The impact knocked him unconscious, and his body crumbled to the concrete ground. I flinched at the sound.

  “What the hell?” One of the other two swore, staring, confused by his unmoving buddy. A moment later, the two of them charged at Gavin.

  A scream ripped from my throat, the sound bouncing off the narrow brick alley. Before either of them got the chance to throw a punch, they were withering on the floor, gasping for air. Their hands flew to their necks, eyes bulging, and fear of imminent death in their eyes. Gavin stood over them, the space surrounding him crackling with power.

  I didn’t know what to do, but if I didn’t do something, he was going to kill them both. I couldn’t let their blood be on his hands. Not even to save me.

  Chapter 20

  “Gavin,” I said. He didn’t budge, so I took a step closer, repeating his name. The two guys were gurgling as the last few breaths began to leave their body. I put my hand on Gavin’s arm and yelled. “Gavin, stop!” The second I touched him, I was jolted with a nippy shock. My hand jerked away.

  And just like that, he dropped the spell, his glossy eyes burning in an eerie glow. It was as if he didn’t see me.

  “Gavin, it’s okay.”

  Ever so slowly, his eyes cleared, focusing on my face. A sideways glanced revealed all three of the guys were lifeless, but I didn’t think any of them were dead.

  “We need to go,” Gavin said, some of the coldness leaving his tone. He put his hand under my elbow, guiding me toward his car

  There was no protest from me, and I obediently got into the passenger seat and buckled my seatbelt. This was going to be a bumpy ride, based on his current mood.

  He tore out of the parking lot, peeling his tires, and the car fishtailed, before zooming down the street. It wasn’t until we were safely speeding down the road that the effects of what had happened hit me like a bulldozer.

  I told myself I wasn’t going to cry, not now, and forced my lip to remain stiff. When I was alone I would have myself a nice ugly cry, but right now, I was going to hold it together.

  He had both hands gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles white from the pressure. “Are you okay?”

  I ran an unsteady hand through my hair. “I’m fine.”

&nbs
p; “I’m sorry I lost control. I…” He paused and took a deep breath. “I couldn’t let them hurt you.”

  “It’s okay.” His expression left me under the impression that he didn’t believe me. “Really, I’m okay. I promise.” And it was true. I was going to survive another day, and I was pretty sure those guys weren’t dead.

  He pulled up to my house, and I was never so happy to be home. The perfect date had ended as the date from hell. There was an entire side to Gavin I had never witnessed before, his darker side. It should have frightened me. It should have sent me packing. It should have concerned me. The only thing it did do was soften my heart.

  “Come over tomorrow? I know Sophie would love to see you,” he added. He was worried I was going to fall apart.

  “Um, sure.” I just barely hesitated, but it was enough for him to notice. Could he blame me? I’d gotten a glimpse of darkness that lived inside of him. Lukas might have been right after all. Gavin may be capable of evil things when pushed too far.

  Yet, I thought the same could be said for me, thinking of my own anger issues.

  None of it stopped my heart from wanting him.

  “I didn’t think you were ever going to get here,” Sophie said the moment I went to rang the door. My hand was still in the air when she ripped the door open. Apparently, her patience level was thin, and she was really excited to see me.

  Sophie was like the gorgeous sister I never had and always wanted. “Sorry, Gavin never told me when. He just said to come anytime.”

  She rolled her eyes. “He’s such an idiot.”

  “Is he here?” I asked, worried about him and slightly disappointed he didn’t answer the door.

  She started down the hall, with me at her heels. “I think he’s upstairs, brooding or something. He’s been in a mood all day, but he knows you’re here. It’s a witch thing.”

  “Oh. Okay.” I followed her into the kitchen, her floral skirt swishing as we walked. The Mason’s kitchen would make Martha Stewart sigh. I wasn’t that much of cook, but I found this kitchen intimidating. There were more appliances and gadgets than I knew what to do with. I’d probably end up losing a finger in the process.

  The kitchen was decorated in beiges, golds, and dark blues. Impressive paintings hung on display around the room, and I assumed they were all made by Lily.

  Speaking Mrs. Mason, she was standing behind the island, nibbling on a feast of snacks. A spread of salsa, guacamole, and some kind of cream cheese dip, along with a few others I couldn’t identify. It looked like the Food Network in here. I hoped she hadn’t done this all for me, but my stomach thanked her.

  “Hi, Brianna.” Lily smiled warmly at me. I couldn’t help but grin back. “Have something to eat,” she offered. “We’ve got plenty.”

  I took a seat next to Sophie and wasted no time digging in. “Thanks.”

  “Can I get you something to drink? Sophie?” she asked us. Setting two cans of soda in front of us, she mixed a bowl filled with what looked like spinach dip. “So, Gavin mentioned that he told you about our abilities,” Lily said as I was putting a pretzel in my mouth.

  Crap. I’d completely forgotten. With everything that happened last night, it had completely slipped my mind. This was the first time I’d seen his family since he told me their secret. They were witches. Thank God it hadn’t occurred to me earlier, or I would have stressed myself out like crazy.

  I swallowed the chip. “Umm, he did,” I replied, feeling a little uncomfortable. I didn’t want them to think I’d tell anyone.

  “I just want to make sure that you are okay, and to let you know that if you have any questions, any questions at all, you can ask me. Any of us,” Lily offered in a soothing motherly tone. “I can’t imagine what you are thinking. It has to be an enormous shock.”

  It had been, but I’d gotten over it, and now I was intrigued. “I’m fascinated.”

  “I’m surprised he told you,” Sophie said. She was swinging her feet under the bar chair. “Don’t get me wrong, I am glad he did. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep it from you. I don’t keep secrets very well from my friends,” she confessed.

  “Honey, you can’t keep a secret at all. Remember that, Brianna. Sophie is the last person you tell if you want a surprise to be a surprise,” Lily said with a joking twinkle.

  Sophie rolled her eyes.

  How did I tell Gavin’s mom that her son exposed himself to save my life? Not once, but twice? I didn’t think there was any easy way to put it. “He exposed himself to save my life,” I warily revealed, waiting for some kind of astonished reaction.

  “Ahh, my brother the hero.” Sophie bit into a tortilla chip.

  Something about Halloween night popped into my head. Sophie had known Gavin was going to tell me, I remember seeing the odd exchange. It hadn’t made sense then, but now… “How did you know he was going to tell me?”

  She shrugged. “Magic. Part of my ability is seeing the future. I always knew he was going to tell you, but the timing was different. The future is always changing. I don’t what changes, only certain outcomes. I also knew you and I were going to become fast friends.”

  Okay, that was a more than a little weird. “You can see the future?” I asked, completely dumbstruck by the idea.

  “Sort of. It isn’t black and white. There is a lot of gray.”

  Nothing ever was.

  “I see images, places or people. They are never clear or precise. The future is always evolving based on decisions and circumstances. Nothing is set in stone, which makes it so hard to decipher. I only get glimpses,” she explained.

  All right, that sounded far more complex than I realized magic could be. There was so much I didn’t know or understand. I was beginning to feel afraid I wouldn’t be able to fit in or belong in this world. If I couldn’t exist here, what hope would I have with him?

  Sophie shook her head. “Stop worrying. You will always be a part of this world, and magic will be a part of your future.”

  I stared at her. She had read my mind or gotten inside my head. I remember what Gavin had said about his sister, the night we had coffee. I wasn’t sure I liked her in my thoughts. The more I thought, the less safe my random thoughts felt. “Did you just read my mind?” I accused.

  “No, I can’t read your mind, but I can see your aura, and you project your feelings very loudly. Auras are my specialty.” You could see the passion on her face. She truly enjoyed her powers.

  I gave her a, what-are-you-talking-about look.

  “Very loudly,” Lily grinned, echoing Sophie’s words.

  Just great. Even in magic standards I was odd.

  Sophie reached in the guacamole dip bowl. “Everyone has an aura that is dependent upon moods and feelings. Some people are more difficult to read than others. This is my realm of magic. Auras. More so than the little glimpses of the future I sometimes get. I think my ability to see the future opens the channel to tap into people’s auras. The closer I am to the person, the easier they are to read. Each emotion is identified by a color. Sometimes colors can blend if there are conflicting or multiple feelings. Your emotions are such a part of you, that you not only show them, you project them. Loudly.”

  Great. I needed to work on that somehow.

  A movement from the doorway caught my eye and in sauntered Gavin. “Hey Bri,” he said and sat down on the other side of me, carefully eyeing me. He plucked a chip from one of the bowls and popped it in his mouth. His lip ring moved with the movements of his chewing, and I found it extremely sexy.

  “Hey,” I answered, smiling. I toyed with the pop tab on my can, anything to distract myself. I wanted him to know I was okay, and he didn’t have to tiptoe around my emotions.

  “Right now your aura just went through the roof,” Sophie giggled.

  I wanted to bury my head in mortification, and I seriously hoped she was the only one in the family with that particular ability, or I was in big trouble. They were all grinning at my obvious discomfort.

>   “Sophie giving you a lesson in auras?” he asked, as he reached in for more chips.

  “I’m getting a crash course. What about you, can you see auras?” I asked, praying he would say no.

  “Nope, unfortunately that’s never been one of my talents. Just Sophie.”

  Well thank God for small wonders. I turned to Lily, who was now cutting up pieces of bread. She was the example of what I envisioned a stay-at-home mom to be. “What is your gift?” I asked, caught up in the phenomenon of it.

  “I’m so glad you asked. I am healer of sorts. I dabble in herbs, potions, and remedies.” She was proud of what she could do. I could hear it in her tone, honest respect for such a powerful gift.

  “And Jared and John?”

  Gavin laughed. “Jared will have to show you. And my dad and I share the same defensive energy.”

  “Where’s Jared?” I wondered aloud, beyond curious about the eldest Mason.

  “He’s at class,” Gavin informed me, loving that he was instigating my impatience.

  “You’re going to make me wait, aren’t you? That’s cruel.”

  He chuckled. “It’s way more fun to see in person. Trust me.”

  Fun for whom? If I had magic right then, I would have turned him into a toad. It was hopeless; I knew a losing battle when I saw one.

  We sat around a little longer, snacking, and me listening to their stories about magic. All of which sounded mystical and electrifying. I was convinced that being a witch was utterly kickass.

  As the day slipped away, I left before it got too late. Tonight I promised my aunt I’d cook dinner, and I was meeting up with Tori and Austin tomorrow to hang out. My social life was jam-packed, a truly unusual thing.

  He walked me out to my car, and again asked about my wellbeing. “You sure you’re okay?” There was guilt tracing his words.

  In my eyes, he had nothing to feel guilty for. I took his hand. “I’m fine. You’re always saving me. One of these days you’re going to get tired of coming to my rescue.”

  He smirked, looking a little more like the confident Gavin I knew. “I’m not so sure about that.”