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

by Patricia Proctor

  Though Xavier didn’t want to tell the Alexanders about what happened with Selene the night they returned from their house, Cian insisted on telling Chloe. He wanted her to know that the blocking spell that Brianna taught Xavier seemed to work, but that they couldn’t talk to them outside of school. He told her about the night Selene caught them trying to sneak in and how she is acting even more paranoid than usual. He stressed that pressure was building at home and although it was tense before, it’s now feeling like a pressure cooker.

  Chloe told Rowan and Kaiden what was going on with the Silvans and after hearing they were on lockdown, they made the most of their hours together at school. They are always careful not to acknowledge each other until they are safely inside, away from the observing eyes of Selene. They sit together at lunch and the Alexanders’ old friends look on, mostly disappointed in being excluded. The Alexanders and Silvans strengthen their bonds with each other and their lunch conversations are about what they learned from the grimoires, new spells, and just getting to know everything about each other. All of them wish they could spend more time together outside of school.

  Although Xavier, Brianna, and Cian have racked their brains for a good excuse to get away, they can’t ever come up with something that wouldn’t make Aunt Selene suspicious. The way she has been acting lately only confirms that she won’t tolerate any more mistakes from them. Although they would love to go to the clearing like Chloe keeps suggesting, it is much too risky to take the chance. They bide their time, hoping that an opportunity will present itself.

  Chloe and Cian have several classes together and they spend more time together than anyone else. Although they desperately want to be alone and even considered ditching school for a day, they wait patiently like everyone else. Cian knows if Selene ever found out how much he cared for Chloe, not only would Cian be in danger, but he would also be painting a target on Chloe’s back.

  Brianna and Kaiden only have two classes together and unfortunately, don’t sit anywhere near each other in either one. They walk together to their classes and settle for making eyes at each other whenever possible. Occasionally Kaiden opens his mind, and focuses his energy toward Brianna so she can read his thoughts. They make a game of it and although Kaiden does not have the ability to read minds, he doesn’t need to be psychic to know how Brianna feels about him.

  Even Rowan and Xavier are getting along. Rowan wasn’t sure how she felt about Xavier, but when Kristen, Rowan’s old friend, attempted to chat him up, Rowan made it clear to her that Xavier was off limits. Although not ready to admit she was interested in him, she certainly didn’t want anyone else interested in him either.

  She waits impatiently for her abilities to manifest and spends a lot of time talking with Brianna in PE. Whenever they are told to find a partner or pick a team, Rowan and Brianna gravitate toward each other. While Brianna’s abilities are getting stronger, Rowan’s have yet to make an appearance. Brianna continues to reassure her and insists that it will happen and to stop worrying about it. For the first time, Rowan is enjoying having a friend she considers her equal.

  Liam, Marcus, and Peter continue their search for information about Selene. Liam and Marcus agree that whatever is drawing her to them is something more than just the power the land will give to her. Whenever they ask Peter about the note left at his house, he simply shrugs and insists he has no idea what the note could mean. Liam asked Peter if it is possible that Selene had some right to the land, but Peter scoffed at the question and redirected him to keep looking at her life in California.

  They already made some discoveries about her life in California, but were still unable to find anything about her past. They were all on edge waiting for her to make her next move. Peter still hasn’t gone back to his house, opting to stay with Marcus in town. Liam has the kids driving themselves to school, so they have the means to get away from the school, if necessary. It is a waiting game and unfortunately for them, Selene has the advantage. Liam no longer sees her around town and often wonders how she spends her days. It seems strange to Liam how when she first got to town she spent so much time chasing him and then suddenly seemed to lose interest in him all together. He can’t help but wonder if she found whatever she was looking for elsewhere.

  ∗ ∗ ∗

  Although Selene intended to start her ‘siege’ on the Alexander’s property right away, instead she finds herself drawing it out as long as possible. She can feel her power strengthening from the negative energy emanating from town. The Alexanders are on edge and the more anxious they become, the more they feed her dark powers, making her stronger everyday.

  Even at home she has been drawing on the fear coming off her niece and nephews. Although she sometimes misses collaborating with Xavier, she enjoys how the power rolls through her when she is in their presence, especially Brianna. This surge of power she feels is addictive, so she decides to continue to let her strength build and hold off on her attack for a bit longer.

  She was determined to find out what went on the night the kids were out late. She knew they were with the Alexanders — the sprigs of rosemary gave them away. She found the same sprigs in Peter’s house when she searched through his belongings. As much as she wanted to know what happened, she knew she could no longer trust any of them, even Xavier. When she tried to look in his mind, she was blocked, and it seemed as if the harder she pushed, the more he pushed back until finally she gave up.

  Instead of asking them for the truth outright, or telling them she knew where they were, she lets it go, allowing them to think that she believed the little story they concocted. As much as she would enjoy the looks on their faces and their begging for forgiveness if she called them out, she wasn’t quite ready to blow her cover yet; especially when she decided the next best thing would be to set a trap and let them lead her to what she wanted.

  After the night she caught them out, she thought about various punishments, including making them walk to school, but after giving it more thought, she realized it would only make it easier for them to meet up with the Alexanders again. So she continued driving them to and from school and observed them closely when they went in and came out. Even though she never saw anything suspicious or unusual, she assumed things were happening behind closed doors.

  She noticed the Alexanders were now driving themselves to school. She filed that away as useful information, along with the fact that Peter was staying at Marcus’s house instead of at his own. He had not gone back to the house since the day she cast the spell, other than to pick up more clothes. She knew that because she happened to be at the house when he got there. She was standing at the back door trying to figure out how to break in to check on the bugs she planted, since she had not heard anything at all since she planted them. She was glad she took the time to hide her car, and although tempted to scare Peter a little, she wasn’t quite ready to make the next move. She had to admit she was curious about the relationship between the Alexanders and her niece and nephews, which gave her an idea of how she could find out more, without anyone’s help.

  When Selene told Xavier that she would be going out of town the following day for a long weekend, she enjoyed the shocked look on his face. She liked watching him try to hide his excitement from her, and rather than calling him on it, she gave him an extra moment to collect himself. She turned her back on him and continued packing while explaining that she received a call about some unfinished custody business in California that she had to tend to.

  She looked at him knowingly and said, “I trust that you will take care of things around the house while I’m gone?” Before he could respond, she told him that she would drop them off at school on Friday and would return home on Sunday afternoon. Xavier told her not to worry, that he would take care of everything. Selene just smiled with her back to him and said, “Oh, I’m sure you will.”

  Chapter 27

  Xavier can hardly wait to tell Brianna and Cian the news, but instead of telling them at home where Selene might o
verhear their excitement or pick up on their happy moods, which she has been doing more of lately, he holds it in until they get to school on Friday morning.

  As soon as Selene drives away, he says, “Aunt Selene is going out of town today and will be gone until Sunday afternoon.”

  “No way…” Brianna responds disbelieving. “She wouldn’t go out of town now, not with the way things have been at home.”

  “Maybe she needs something for whatever she is planning,” Cian says. “Which means she may be about to make a move. We need to talk to the Alexanders as soon as possible.”

  As if on cue, the Alexanders pull into the parking lot and like they have been doing for the past month, they don’t even look toward the Silvans.

  “Come on, let’s get into school to tell them.” Cian jogs toward the school and when he turns his head to see if his sister and brother are with him, he has a vision of Selene parking somewhere nearby. He stops suddenly and looks around the parking lot and across the street, but doesn’t see the white Mercedes anywhere. Like his sister, he worries that all is not as it appears, and he cringes at the idea that his aunt is setting them up.

  When he voices his concern to his brother, Xavier pats him on the shoulder and says, “I saw the plane ticket, man. Her flight leaves in a couple hours. She said it had something to do with our custody, so it might not even have anything to do with what is going on here. Just chillax, brother, stop worrying for a minute.”

  Only slightly relieved by what his brother said, he lets it go, forgetting about it altogether when he sees Chloe walking toward him in a flowing purple dress that looks stunning on her.

  “You look amazing,” he says, giving her a hug and a quick peck on the cheek. He still hasn’t really kissed her, but even just kissing her cheek is enough to make his day.

  “If it’s true, we just got the best news, ever!” Brianna says bursting with joy. “Aunt Selene is going out of town, to California, until Sunday afternoon.”

  Kaiden immediately wonders what this could possibly mean, but rather than voice his concerns he smiles back at Brianna and says, “Finally, you guys can come back up to the house!” He grabs her hand and is about to pull her into a hug when he notices Chloe texting. “Who are you texting, Chloe?”

  “Dad. I’m letting him know what’s up and telling him that you guys are coming to the house tonight,” she says to Xavier, Cian, and Brianna. “You are coming, right?”

  Cian answers, “Of course. We could hardly wait to tell you.”

  Chloe looks down at her phone and reads Liam’s response out loud for everyone, “I don’t like it. I think something’s up. Of course they can come over tonight. I’ll bring them back down tonight and pick them back up in the morning or… and I hope I won’t regret suggesting this… they can spend the night up here.”

  “This day just gets better and better,” Xavier says as the first bell rings. “We’ll figure it out later, but for now let’s plan on walking home to make sure she actually left. Then if she really is gone, we’ll pack overnight bags and stay the night?” he asks, confirming with his sister and brother.

  “Yes! Yes!” they both agree excitedly.

  Chloe can’t contain her excitement until her phone signals another text message. “Another message from dad — he says we have to make the most of this opportunity while Selene is gone and then he says, again, that he doesn’t like it.” She looks around and reads the same thing in each of their faces. No one likes it, but they can’t resist the opportunity to spend time together.

  The school day seems to creep by for everyone. By the end of the day, they are all watching the clock. When the final bell rings, the Silvans and Alexanders meet up at Xavier’s locker to firm up their plans. The Silvans will walk home, wait ten minutes, and if the coast is clear, they will text the Alexanders to come pick them up.

  “Do you think she’s really gone?” Brianna asks again, walking behind her brothers. She has been feeling somewhat fuzzy for hours. She hasn’t been able to hear anyone else’s thoughts and she can usually at least pick up her brothers’ thoughts. “I haven’t heard anything for a couple of hours,” she says voicing her concern out loud.

  “Brianna, your ability is probably magnified by her presence,” Xavier says. “Remember how when she first moved in your powers started getting stronger. I’m sure she is just some sort of beacon that draws them out so, of course, when she moves farther away from you, your abilities weaken.” He reminds her again, “I saw the plane ticket and even for Selene I can’t imagine her setting up this much of a ruse just to see what we’re up to when she’s not here. Can you?” he asks Cian.

  “Honestly? I wouldn’t put anything past her. Especially since she has been acting even more distant from us than usual,” Cian replies looking around.

  “Xavier, you’re not the least bit worried that she’s lying to us?” Brianna asks.

  He doesn’t want to worry his brother and sister, but he won’t lie to them either. He answers truthfully, “Alright. Yeah, I’m a little concerned that she’s lying to us, but I’m also damn tired of hiding out in this house all the time. I’m tired of being afraid of what she is going to do and am more than ready to talk with the Alexanders again without the entire school eavesdropping.”

  They all agree with him and continue looking around for any sign of Selene. When they get to the house, they find a note on the counter and some money for food. They walk around the house looking for evidence that she’s really gone. They even check the door to the back room, but it’s locked as usual. Brianna goes up to the second floor, and even though Selene will probably know she was in her space, she looks in Selene’s closet and bathroom. Having never been in either before, Brianna can’t be sure, but she doesn’t see any makeup or other toiletries lying around, implying that she has them with her… wherever she is.

  Resisting the temptation to snoop around, Brianna backs out of the room and starts down the stairs, meeting up with her brothers. Even though she is standing directly in front of them, she decides to text them in case Selene had the house bugged. She texts that some of Selene’s stuff is gone, which would imply she took it with her. Xavier replies to both of them to pack an overnight bag and make it fast because he is going to text the Alexanders to come pick them up.

  In the driveway, Chloe doesn’t even come to a full stop when the Silvans come bounding out the door. Chloe drives with Cian sitting in the front next to her. Xavier, Kaiden, and Rowan sit in the back and since Brianna is the smallest, she sits in the cargo area. Chloe knows her dad would not be happy if he saw Brianna in the far back without a seatbelt, but there is no other way for them all to fit. The four of them tried cramming together in the back seat, but everyone was so squished it just wouldn’t work. Brianna doesn’t mind sitting in the far back, it feels like a cozy little nook with school bags and overnight bags surrounding her. She burrows in, more comfortable in the small space than she has been all week at home.

  When they finally make the turn up the driveway, Xavier, Cian, and Brianna look out in awe at just how dense the woods are around them. Various rock outcroppings similar to those they saw on their hike when they first got to town make up a large amount of the landscape. Flowers are planted near the rock outcroppings, which Cian can see are planted in a pattern. Although it has been awhile since he studied the meaning of flowers, he knows that the flowers growing in these planters are conveying a message. White heather grows in abundance, known for protection. Dill grows wild and is powerful against evil, and valerian plants grow naturally, symbolizing readiness.

  “Who planted all the flowers?” Cian asks.

  Chloe responds that many of the flowers have always grown here but adds that she tends them and plants new flowers closer to the house. Cian nods and realizes that Chloe might not know the meaning or significance of the flowers or the message they are sending to anyone coming up the driveway.

  When they get to the top, they all are disappointed when they see Liam’s jeep and G
randpa Marcus’s truck already parked in the driveway.

  “That’s weird,” Kaiden says. “Dad is never home this early. And why is Grandpa Marcus here?”

  Although happy to spend any time together outside of school, they were most looking forward to the two hours they had alone with each other before Liam got home from work. Collective sighs of disappointment fill the car as Liam steps out of the house.

  Liam makes his way to the car and noticing Brianna in the cargo area shakes his head in disappointment at Chloe. He opens Chloe’s door and says “Chloe…”

  “Dad, before you say anything, they all couldn’t fit in the backseat and I drove very carefully.”

  Xavier steps out of the car and Liam claps him on the shoulder and says, “Hey, Xavier.” Xavier reaches out his hand to shake Liam’s. He distractedly looks around at the house and gardens directly in front of him. He has never seen anything as amazing as this property. The dense woods they hiked through when they first got to town, butts up against the yard, enclosing the house and yard in complete privacy. The gardens in the back are green and lush, while the air is filled with the scent of earth. This place is definitely magical and for the first time, he can see why his aunt is obsessed with it. He wonders if she even knows how amazing it is, since as far as he knows she has never even seen it in person.

  Everyone climbs out of the car and grabs their bags from the cargo area so that Brianna can get out.

  “You all look so disappointed,” Liam says teasingly. “You didn’t actually think that I would leave the six of you alone, right?”