After the Summerland (The Witches of Spring Hill Book 1)

by Patricia Proctor

  She told her niece and nephews they were moving to North Carolina because she knew of a property that would make their abilities stronger, making them more powerful. She told them that a family already lived there, but it was highly unlikely they knew about the strength of the land since the head of the household was a man who only had a tenuous connection to the craft. It was possible he was raising three full-blooded witches, but if so they didn’t even know of their abilities, making them a perfect target for someone looking to take over the sacred location. She withheld from them that she would take the land at whatever the cost, even if it meant eliminating the family. She didn’t expect it would come to that though, and imagined it would be easy to convince them to sell, like taking candy from a baby, she thought.

  Initially, Selene thought she would approach the family and offer to purchase the house and property outright. Coming from the wealthy lifestyle she had grown accustomed to in California, she had the mindset that anything could be bought for the right price. Preparing to offer substantially more than the market value, she was deterred when she discovered that the current owner was Liam Alexander. She learned that he was attached to the house, knew that the ground was sacred, and above all, he was chief of police. It didn’t mean she would give up, it just meant she had to approach it from a different angle.

  Selene explained everything to Xavier, Cian, and Brianna. They didn’t even realize they were already showing signs of the craft when she moved in, which suited her just fine. Since that time she had nurtured their abilities until they began to use their gifts as freely as a craftsman uses his tools. Even in California they were considered eccentric, and she hoped that the reputation of Californians being free spirits would make people here simply think the same. She warned them to be nice to everyone, but to make friends with the Alexander kids as soon as possible.

  Xavier had no problem using his abilities to get people to like him, especially since Selene encouraged him to work more toward the dark arts. Dark magic didn’t come natural to him, but she was happy with the progress he had made so far. She repeatedly told him that he could get whatever he wanted from anyone, if only he used his gifts, but because he was so transparent, she had to teach him how to use spells to hide his magic.

  Cian, on the other hand, was an old soul who had seen too much in his many lifetimes, all of which weighed heavy on his current incarnation. He used his magic to bring peace wherever and whenever possible and was always the first to question Selene’s motivation for anything. He spent so much time and energy for the good of the world, rather than the good of the family.

  Brianna, beautiful Brianna… so easily malleable and would go along with just about anything if she was given something sparkly — just like her late mother. Not that Brianna wasn’t smart; in fact, just the opposite was true. She was borderline genius and would be a force to be reckoned with, if only she had more confidence. Selene made sure to keep her in her place by questioning every choice her niece made and challenging all of her individual ideas.

  When the door to the Mercedes closed, Selene looked on at the three Alexander kids and was surprised at the poise they carried. She hoped she hadn’t underestimated them. But no matter, she was certain that by the end of the school day, Xavier would have a plan that would set them on the path to taking over their land.

  As she pulled out, there was only the slightest trickle of fear that Xavier, Cian, and Brianna would find out the truth about their mother and father and learn just how much she manipulated all of them to meet her own needs. Flicking her long blonde hair, she decides this is a worry for another day and speeds off in search of the chief of police. May as well get to know my rival in person, she thinks.

  Chapter 8

  Xavier, Cian, and Brianna were surprisingly not in any of the same classes together. Rather than giving them any kind of comfort by having a class with each other, their aunt had arranged the schedule so that they would be assigned to classes with the Alexanders.

  Making the best of it, Xavier took his seat with a great view of the back of Rowan’s head. He willed her to turn around and look at him, but she didn’t even flinch. Either she was immune to his magic or she was using blocking magic herself. He remembered that she didn’t even know she was a witch, so it was more likely just her façade of being the girl who doesn’t care, which would only make her more desirable to teenage boys. He wasn’t an average teenage boy, but he definitely found her desirable. If he couldn’t get her attention with magic, he would try it the old fashioned way.

  “Hey, Red. Got any advice for a newbie?” he whispered. Without turning around she said, “Yeah, actually I do. Earn your place, Jet.” Smirking, Xavier opened his notebook and jotted notes that had nothing to do with history. It was clear he would have to approach her in a different way. He wondered how his less competent siblings were handling things.

  Across the hall, Brianna could feel the back of her head burning from the stares of the boys in the back of the class. Unfortunately, she was seated in the only available seat, which was right up front. She hated sitting up front because she didn’t like having everyone behind her. She would have a hard time observing Kaiden Alexander if she couldn’t even see him.

  She hoped that he was the one boring a hole in the back of her head, but she thought it more likely it was Tyler somebody who pounced on her as soon as she sat down. Using all the magic that she could muster without drawing attention to herself, she put out a blocking spell so that Tyler would lose interest quickly. Before the spell had time to take hold, the teacher walked in and she got up to hand him the paperwork that the principal had given her.

  “Thank you, Miss Silvan. Welcome to American Literature. Why don’t you introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself while I get a desk brought in for you. The desk you were sitting at is already taken by a student who is running a bit late.”

  Brianna has always hated the first day in a new school; and even though she has a speech prepared, she still does not like being the center of attention. She faces the class and her eyes automatically meet Kaiden Alexander’s. Kaiden smiles encouragingly and Brianna explains how she is a triplet, she recently relocated from California, she’s excited to explore the mountains and coasts of North Carolina, likes running, reading, and blah, blah, blah. She leaves out the part about being a witch and waits for the teacher to tell her where to sit since the desk she was sitting at is now occupied.

  Kaiden stands up and offers her his seat until a desk can be brought in. Mr. White tells her to go ahead and sends Kaiden to go find Mr. Martin, the janitor, to have him bring in another desk. As she passes Kaiden in the aisle, their arms brush and the touch is electric. They both stop and turn toward each other as if time has frozen.

  “Mr. Alexander — we don’t have all day. Get moving.”

  Kaiden walks out certain that something profound has just happened to him. Although he has dated a couple of girls casually, he has never felt something like this. Even though he has just met her, he is more than aware of Brianna Silvan - she feels strangely familiar to him. Once he completes his task, he heads back to class excited for the first time to be going to Mr. White’s boring American Lit class.

  At that same moment, Cian and Chloe are having an exhilarating conversation about dónde encontrar la biblioteca (where to find the library) in Spanish class. As soon as Cian, “pronounced key-in,” he explained, was introduced, Miss Espinosa instructed him to sit next to Chloe. She would not only be his Spanish partner, but would also give him a tour of his new school while describing everything in Spanish — that is, if Cian could speak and understand Spanish. Cian happily agreed that, yes, he could speak and understand Spanish fluently and was more than thrilled that he would get to spend some one-on-one time with Chloe Alexander.

  As Chloe leads the way out of Spanish class, Cian says, “I actually speak Spanish very well, so I don’t mind if we speak in English for this tour. That is, unless you want to.”

  Chloe
smiles and says, “No, I don’t mind; I don’t need the practice either. So, what brings you to Spring Hill?”

  Cian explains that his dad recently died and when his aunt stepped in to raise them, she chose to move them somewhere far from California. He stops short of telling her that his aunt wants the house and property where Chloe and her family live, though her eyes and face are so open he feels like he could tell her anything and everything. He also feels an immense amount of pressure in his chest and the strongest desire to wrap his arms around her and protect her from everything bad in the world.

  Chloe reflects on what he says and apologizes for his recent loss.

  “I’ve never really lost anyone close to me and can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you,” she says sincerely.

  “Cian brushes it off and explains that although it was unexpected, he has a strong family that makes it possible to move on. “You never really know how strong a family is until you lose a member of it. Everyone just bands together to make up for the missing person. Sort of like how if one of your senses is weakened, then one of the others get stronger to make up for the loss.”

  Chloe nods and explains that she understands the strength of a family. “My dad is pretty much raising us alone and even though at times we are so difficult, he never waivers. He consistently loves us no matter how intolerable my sister, Rowan, behaves,” she says laughing. “Really, I have seen families with both parents who don’t get along as well as we do. Being a single parent cannot be easy, especially with three, um,” she pauses choosing her wording carefully, “unique personalities.”

  “Do you ever wish your dad would remarry?” Cian asks gently not wanting to pry, but curious.

  “Not really. He is such an amazing dad that we don’t feel the loss of a mom. Well, actually, we’ve never had a woman in our lives so I don’t know if I’m missing out on something or not.

  “What about your aunt? Do you like her?” Chloe asks.

  “My aunt is… how do I say this? Difficult at best… I love my aunt, I do, but she has some issues that she needs to work out. You know how some kids put the adults in their life on a pedestal only to be devastated when the adult does something totally human, like make a mistake? Well, let’s just say my aunt has never been on a pedestal. She’s got some work to do on herself, but instead of doing it, she projects her issues onto us as an excuse to avoid working out her own stuff,” he pauses when he realizes how much he has just told her about his aunt.

  “Anyway, she and my dad were real close when they were young, and my aunt hated that he married my mom and moved to California. She never really liked my mom, or so we have been told. She only started coming around again about five years ago when my mom got sick and then when she died, my aunt moved in with us to help out.”

  Checking his watch and even though neither want their time together to end, they acknowledge that the hour has passed and the bell is about to ring. Before they get back to class, Cian asks, “Do you think I could see you sometime, you know, outside of school?”

  Chloe blushes, but nods “I would like that, Cian. It’s the strangest thing because I feel like I know you, but at the same time I don’t really know you at all — and I want to.” She laughs, thinking of Rowan telling her she needs to stop saying exactly what she means and, “leave some mystery, especially when it comes to boys.”

  Cian cocks his head and asks, “What’s so funny?”

  Chloe explains the advice that Rowan gave her, which she blatantly ignores. Cian nods before saying, “Chloe, I always want you to tell me exactly what you are thinking. Life has enough mystery without us trying to create some for ourselves.” Chloe smiles at the thought and is grateful that someone finally understands exactly how she feels inside.

  “On Saturdays, I spend the afternoon at the library doing,” she pauses, “research. If you want to meet me there this weekend,” she says shyly, “I usually use a conference room near the history center. It’s quiet on the weekend.”

  Cian agrees to meet her and can hardly wait to see what she is researching. He suspects that she is more aware of her lineage than his aunt or anyone else knows. This is good, he thinks to himself as he watches her grab her backpack and head toward her next class.

  Rowan and Brianna have PE together and spend the hour smashing the volleyball at each other. Brianna refuses to back down from Rowan who is obviously trying to show her who’s boss and put her in her place. She notices how all of Rowan’s friends suck up to her and how Rowan responds to them. It’s obvious to Brianna that Rowan is playing games with these girls, games that Bri wants nothing to do with.

  Although her aunt told her to make nice with the Alexanders, Brianna will not kiss Rowan’s ass like all her little sheep friends seem to be doing. You can forget that, she thinks to herself as she spikes the ball in Rowan’s direction, saying a quick spell to hide the ball until the last minute, — hoping that it catches Princess Rowan off guard and nails her in that pretty face of hers.

  Rowan, on the other hand, laughs inside at how hard Brianna is trying to one up her. Something is different about her, and although she can’t quite put her finger on it, she definitely sees that Brianna Silvan is way too confident for her first day in a new school. There is more to that girl than meets the eye.

  Rowan, not usually prone to introspection, recognizes that something about the Silvans is stirring up something deep inside of her. She can’t name it because she is pretty sure she has never felt it before. It feels similar to when she was little and her dad attempted to teach her about the herbs in the garden. It’s as if she is on the cusp of something familiar, yet still unknown.

  The volleyball comes out of nowhere — one minute it wasn’t there and the next moment it was coming straight at Rowan’s face, fast. Fortunately, she pops it up in the air, with reflexes she didn’t know she had, right before it hit her. Oh yes, thinks Rowan, as she looks at the smirk on Brianna’s face, there is definitely something up with this girl.

  As Xavier and Chloe pass each other in the hall Chloe is aware of the electric energy Xavier is putting off and unlike her attraction to Cian, she avoids contact with him. Xavier goes out of his way to approach her, and while Chloe doesn’t want to be rude to him, she senses something dark and doesn’t quite know what to do with it. Rather than snubbing him, she makes eye contact, gives him a quick smile, and moves on.

  At least it’s more than Rowan did in class, Xavier thinks. What is it with these girls? They are not supposed to know they are witches, yet they act as if they recognize his magic and block him. I hate to think we underestimated the Alexanders, Xavier thinks to himself. He also can’t help but like what he has learned of them, which admittedly isn’t much.

  Kaiden and Cian get partnered up in Biology where they comfortably fall into a conversation about basketball, the latest Call of Duty video game, sisters, and baseball. Cian tries not to ask too many questions about Chloe, but he is so drawn to her that he wants to know everything. Before he can even finish, “So, your sister Chloe…” Kaiden stops him, holds up a hand and says, “Off limits.” Cian understands the protective brother bit — he is just as protective of Brianna and even Xavier, who is his own worst enemy at times; however, he won’t be deterred.

  “Look, Chloe and I had Spanish class together and we got along great. I just want you to know that I really do want to get to know her better and I guess, I just want your… approval, if not friendship,” Cian explains.

  Kaiden nods his head and says, “Well, Chloe is her own person and makes her own decisions and I trust her judgment, but if you hurt her — so help me, man…”

  Cian says, “Trust me. I have no intention of hurting her or any one of you.” Kaiden glances curiously at his new friend and ponders on that last comment as the bell rings for lunch.

  For the first time in as long as anyone can remember the Alexanders give up their individuality and their friends to sit together at lunch. This seems to surprise everyone, including the
Alexanders. They speak quietly to one another so no one overhears, but they all agree the Silvans are putting off a strange vibe. Rowan’s phone chirps signaling a new text message. Kaiden’s and Chloe’s follow suit. They all look down at their phones to see a message from Liam.

  “Looks like we’re having a family meeting tonight,” Kaiden says.

  “Interesting timing,” Chloe and Rowan say at the same moment. They smile at each other and they all feel a shift of togetherness that was always lacking until now.

  The Silvans watch the Alexanders and are aware of a shifting of energy coming from their direction. “This is not good,” Xavier says.

  “I like them,” Cian starts before being interrupted by Brianna who says, “Yeah, I do too, except for Rowan. She is a complete bitch.”

  “It doesn’t matter how we feel about them. We have a job to do — or did you both forget?” Xavier snaps.

  Cian and Brianna roll their eyes, used to Xavier’s short fuse. “You sound just like Aunt Selene,” Brianna says to Xavier as she goes back to picking at her salad of iceberg lettuce and croutons. “This lunch sucks,” she says to no one in particular. Cian pats his sister’s arm, knowing that any mention of their aunt puts Brianna in a bad mood.

  Xavier, hating being left out of their closeness, stands up and snaps, “Just stay focused on what we need to do.” He walks away, leaving behind his tray for them to clean up.

  Throughout the rest of the school day, the Alexanders and Silvans cross paths many times with various reactions to each other, sometimes attraction and sometimes annoyance, but always with plain old curiosity. At the end of the day they are all a bit surprised, for very different reasons, to see Liam and Selene standing outside at the curb talking together.