The man marched with the same methodical precision he had since I’d roused him from the spell and we followed him down hall after hall, twisting and turning through the prison’s guts. Then we saw it. A door at the end of the hall held a square portal and moonlight shone through the hole casting a silver shard of light onto the floor. I tugged Benjamin toward the door, though it meant closing the gap between our captor and us. When the man reached the door he remained still, which concerned me, but when we stood next to him, with only the door and a latch to separate us from freedom, I wasn’t afraid. The man fumbled again with the key ring on his belt before slipping yet another key into the lock. He slowly pulled the bolt from the lock and pushed the door open revealing a moonlit courtyard.
With just a passing glance at our captor’s face, I pulled Benjamin over the threshold and rushed out into the night. The air was sweet and clean. The door of the prison slammed behind us, punctuating our freedom.
But the moment of exhilaration was fleeting. With Benjamin’s small hand still clinging to mine, I spun around searching. The courtyard was surrounded by a high stone wall and there was no apparent exit. A breeze swirled around me, accentuating the uncomfortable dampness of my clothing. I had successfully freed Benjamin and escaped our captor but if that was all that was required to master the lesson, why was I still there… trapped?
I was so absorbed in fretting over my next move that I barely noticed the small hand tugging at my sleeve. When I glanced down, I was met with surprise. Benjamin suddenly did not look a bit like he had within the confines of the prison. He stood well dressed and groomed, his smooth golden hair glistening in the moonlight. He smiled up into my shocked face.
Then he spoke and the voice that emerged was not one that would normally be heard from a small boy. It was the voice of someone older and wise.
“Well done, Eliza. May I congratulate you on successfully completing your first lesson.” He said with a twinkle in his eye, “But before you go, there is just one last thing I must show you.” He said conspiratorially as if he was divulging a guarded secret.
“Come.” He said, motioning for me to follow him.
Benjamin crossed the courtyard heading for the darkest part of the wall. I followed him, suspiciously scanning my surroundings with every step.
“Benjamin… What are you?” I asked cautiously realizing that he was certainly not the child he appeared to be.
His twinkling eyes sparkled bright in moonlight when he glanced back at me.
“I am the cliwen.” He said brightly. “I’ll always be here for you. Though I will never look the same.”
He stopped walking and plunged his hands into a thicket of vines hanging over the wall. He pulled them back and smiled. There was the gate.
It was made of dark, aging wood. And at the heart of it was a carving but the light was too scant to see it clearly. I reached out allowing my fingers to trace the smooth lines, then took a step back allowing the moonlight to illuminate it.
A ray of light spilled across the dark wood lighting up the engraving like polished marble, a large intricate water lily. As I admired it, I thought of another water lily I had seen dangling against my mother’s smooth chest.
Benjamin spoke in whisper. “One may follow through the gate but one’s own will must be strong to escape.”
Then quick as a wink, he pulled the rusty latch back and the gate swung open. He smiled warmly.
“Until next lesson, Eliza. Good luck.” He said and with his other hand pushed me out the other side.
15
“Are you still up for coming over after school?” Ren asked hopefully, excluding any mention of Nan and the tutoring she’d promised to begin with me, since we were in the company of Bryn and Pete. His brow creased as he studied my expression and waited for my response.
It had been nearly a week since I’d mastered my first primer lesson barely escaping death by drowning and I had needed a rest from magic.
Thanks to Nan’s protective spell that seemed to be working against the Shadow, I’d forced Ren to agree to a break from any discussion of or experimentation with magic. At first, he was sympathetic considering what I’d been through. But as the days crept by, he grew impatient with my reluctance to discuss even minor experiments to test my gifts. It was Monday and I had promised Nan that I would meet with her after school to begin studying herbology, spells, and casting, the three areas of witchcraft that required a live teacher. However, my frayed nerves had just begun to mend and I wasn’t excited about the possibility of shredding them again.
Ren obviously had no intention of allowing me to forget my commitment to Nan. I gazed out the window of the cafeteria, slowly chewing a bite of pizza to avoid answering him. Bryn and Pete bantered about a quiz they’d both just taken in Art History, a class neither Ren nor I had in our schedules. I was glad that they were immersed in their own conversation and hadn’t noticed the tension building between Ren and me.
It was a cold November day and most of the leaves on the trees had been whisked away by a windstorm that stripped the landscape the night before. My eyes traced the delicate lines of a bare oak tree silhouetted against the clear blue sky as I considered what was in store for me. Nan would just be teaching me about herbology, which was gardening, for goodness sakes. Then of course spells and casting. How freaky could that get?
Apprenticing with Nan was probably safer than any topic the primer would throw at me. I’d purposefully stuffed the primer into a dresser drawer and refused to open it again, at least until I felt ready for another brush with death. I reached for my lemonade and took a sip before answering Ren.
“Yeah, I guess I’ll come over. Nan’s expecting me, right?” I asked superficially, well aware of the answer.
One of Ren’s eyebrows shot up and he gave me an exasperated look. “Yes. She’s expecting you.” He said testily.
I avoided meeting his eyes and fidgeted with a straw wrapper then shifted my eyes discretely toward Bryn and Pete who were beginning to turn their attention toward us.
“Ok, I’ll meet you in the Quad after school.” I said with false cheer, hoping to mask my discontentment. Pushing back in my chair, I gathered my garbage and rose to leave. “I better get going. Later all.” I said crisply stepping away from the table.
I turned my back on my table of friends and swiftly paced across the cafeteria toward the door. I dumped my garbage and pushed my way through the heavy double doors into the hallway, which at the moment was vacant since almost all of the other students were still enjoying their lunch period. My head rocked slightly from side to side, stretching the muscles in my neck to release some of the tension that had built up across my shoulders. I walked toward the library where I intended to spend the rest of my time before the next class began in quiet solitude. The hallow clicking of my low-heeled boots on the glossy tile floor was the only sound in the vacant hallway.
As I passed a wall of windows revealing a glimpse of the Quad a tingling sensation crawled up my spine setting my hair on end. I spun around quickly searching each direction of the corridor for the source of the sensation but it was empty. Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a girl through the window standing beneath a tree. Her hair shimmered an angelic blond in the sun making it difficult to miss her. She stood facing me behind the window, a smirk cut across her pale face like a knife wound. The girl’s stare captured my gaze and for a moment held my attention hostage. Her eyes sucked at my mind like a riptide. A gust of wind lifted her hair into the air giving her the appearance of standing in a whirlpool. A shiver sprinkled my skin like a spray of cold water.
I stared challengingly back at her. The creeping sensation had certainly come from her but was she also a witch? Then just as quickly as she’d called me, the girl turned and vanished behind the tree. I paced the floor before the huge windows inspecting the tree from both sides concluding that she’d definitely disappeared altogether. I backed away from the window slowly watching the spot where the girl ha
d stood until I bumped into something.
“Ouch! Look out, Eliza!” Bryn giggled.
I spun around quickly with surprise. “Oh, geez, sorry Bryn. I just thought I saw something out there…” then quickly shook my head dismissively, “it was nothing, though.” I mumbled distractedly.
Bryn frowned at me.
“Eliza, we’ve gotta talk.” She said sternly.
My heart sank. This was the moment I had been dreading. After the whole mind manipulation debacle with Bryn, I’d been nervous around her. She was my best friend and not only was I drowning in guilt for using her as a guinea pig but I was also scared. I didn’t want to hurt her again and she was way too close not to notice that something was going on with me. For lack of a better option, I’d been avoiding her.
“You’ve got study hall now, right?” She pressed.
I nodded weakly in response.
“Good,” she said grabbing my arm, “let’s go,” and started dragging me in the direction of the library.
I wiggled loose. “Hey, but you don’t.” I protested.
Bryn rolled her eyes in exasperation. “I can miss class. This is more important. C’mon.” She said grabbing my arm again.
As we made our way to the library, my mind raced trying to figure out what in the world I was going to tell her. The truth was definitely out and that was going to be hard because Bryn had a way of seeing passed my excuses.
When we entered the library Bryn slipped by the main desk and hid between the stacks while I signed in. I took my time scrolling my name on the sheet, using every moment I had to prepare myself for the conversation ahead.
When I finished, I spied Bryn impatiently motioning for me to join her. I took a deep breath and ducked into the stacks with her. Together we weaved our way up deep into the library until we found a quiet spot.
Bryn carefully surveyed the rows around us. Once satisfied that we were alone, she slumped to the floor, leaning against a row of thick reference books. I sank to the floor opposite her and wrapped my arms around my knees.
Bryn pursed her lips and gave me a long look. “So… what’s up?” She asked as she crossed her legs waiting for my response.
I shrugged and cast my eyes to the ground nervously. “Well, I have a geometry test to study for but that’s about all I have to do today, I guess.” I said innocently.
Bryn’s hands fell to her sides and slapped the carpet beneath her. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about Eliza. What’s up with us?” She said, her voice cracking.
I looked up quickly, surprised to see tears shining in the corners of her eyes.
Bryn reached up and wiped her eyes with frustration. “You’ve been avoiding me!” She said. “And Pete told me about what happened at the concert but you never said anything about it to me. You don’t call me back half the time and you’re always so distracted like you don’t want to be hanging out with me.” She said, tears steadily trickling down her cheeks.
My shoulders slumped and I felt guiltier than ever. “Oh Bryn…” I mumbled.
She sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
I thought about how distant I had been and how she must feel. If she’d treated me the same way, I’d be crushed. But what could I say? My life was messy now… and dangerous.
“Is this about Ren? I mean, Eliza, I’m really happy for you two and all but I never thought you’d be the kind of person who’d dump me once you got a boyfriend.” She said sulkily.
At that, I blushed.
“Bryn… this isn’t about Ren. And he’s not my boyfriend.” I said quickly.
Bryn raised an eyebrow and gave me one of her looks again. “Yeah, ok.” She said sarcastically.
I blushed deeper. “He’s not! Even if I wanted him to be… it’s not like that.” I stammered defensively.
Bryn’s expression softened. “Ok, ok. Then what the hell is going on?” She asked.
I took a deep breath, the truth was not an option but Bryn deserved something more than a flat out lie. What could I tell her without giving away too much?
“Ok…. So you know that my mom disappeared when I was a kid?” I began hesitantly.
Bryn’s eyes sharpened with surprise. “Yeah…” She said slowly.
“Well, recently, I found out some information that might help explain what happened to her.” I said evenly.
Bryn’s mouth fell open and she blinked rapidly staring at me with disbelief.
“Like… police evidence or something?” She asked quickly.
“Um, kinda like that… look, I’m not allowed to talk about it and nothing may come of it but that’s why I’ve been distracted, ok? I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.” I said, hoping that would satisfy Bryn enough for the time being.
She nodded thoughtfully absorbing my explanation. Then shot me a dubious look.
“Does Ren know about it?” She asked.
I shrugged and nodded in response. “Yeah, he does. I told him too.”
“Uh huh.” Bryn mumbled biting her lip.
I could tell she was hurt that I’d told Ren before her but that wasn’t something I could help. It hurt me as much as it was hurting her that there had to be some distance between us. Bryn was my best friend but the painful truth was that things were changing whether I wanted them to or not. A sad, lonely place opened up within me as that truth sunk in.
“Bryn?” I asked softly.
She looked at me and I saw the same vulnerability I was feeling reflected in her eyes.
“I really care about Ren but you’ll always be my best friend, no matter what… even if you don’t want to be mine anymore. I’m sorry there’s stuff going on that I can’t tell you right now. If I could, I would.” I said, my voice catching in my throat.
Bryn held my gaze, her eyes filled with conflict as she considered my words. Then she sighed and gave me the gift of an accepting grin.
“Well, can you at least return my texts and calls?” She asked playfully.
I giggled gratefully in response. “That I can do.”
In a distant part of the library the bell signaling the next period rang but we didn’t move. I sat, pensively waiting for Bryn to give a sign that she was, for now, satisfied.
“So we’re good then.” Bryn said decidedly.
A wave of relief washed over me and I nodded vigorously in response. “Of course, we’re definitely all good.” I stammered.
Bryn rolled up onto her feet and extended a hand, helping me hop to mine.
“I may not always understand you Eliza but I still love you like a sister.” She said. When we were younger, we used to promise each other that we’d always be friends, like sisters, since neither of us had one. We had been similar then. Bryn lived alone with her mom just like I lived with Jane. She was always more outgoing and optimistic than me and I loved her for that. But now, the gap between our similarities was growing wider. I felt like I was on an iceberg floating further away from her shore.
“Thanks, Bryn.” I said, my chest tightening at her words. “me too.”
As we weaved through the maze of stacks to the exit of the library my thoughts turned dark. My life had changed and our friendship would never be the same because now there would always be secrets.
I’d smoothed things over this time but it wouldn’t be the last. It was inevitable that someday Bryn would get fed up. And sooner or later, she’d push for the truth. When that time came, what would I do?
16
“I think another witch has found me.” I stated flatly as Ren and I climbed the steep hill toward his house. It seemed only fitting that something like an unfriendly witch would wander into my life since I’d enjoyed a few days of peace.
“You what?!” He exclaimed.
“Apparently every time I try to avoid magic, it comes searching for me.” I said despondently.
“Who is it?” He asked barely able to contain his curiosity.
I puffed a few times, before responding. We had nearly reache
d the crest of the hill and the shortcut through his neighbor’s lawn that lead to his house.
“I don’t know. She was standing in the Quad. She called to me, through the glass of the window and I felt her.” I confessed and shivered recalling the event.
“She was there, in the Quad standing next to a tree, then she slipped behind it and vanished.” I shrugged.
Ren pursed his lips, looking thoughtful.
“I’ll ask Nan if she knows of any visiting witches around here. Better be careful Eliza. Unless we discover otherwise, it’s probably best to assume she’s not friendly.” He added cautiously.
My eyebrows darted up. “Of course.”
Ren watched me out of the corner of his eye as we crossed the last few yards to the doorstep of his house but remained silent.
As we neared the door, he responded.
“Try not to worry about it. If she comes back just keep your distance and let me know. We’ll confront her together.” He added supportively.
I grimaced and slid my hand through the crook in his arm. For only knowing each other a short time, Ren and I had covered a lot of ground together.
“Thanks. Keep your eye out too. If she found me who’s to say she won’t approach you too if she gets a chance.” I reminded him.
“I hadn’t thought of that.” He said.
We exchanged a shared sigh of aggravation. Considering that we had finally subdued the Shadow and put my first primer lesson behind us, it was a little disconcerting that a rogue witch may have turned up as a distraction. It would be nice to have a break from trouble in order to concentrate on vetting my skills and learning more about my powers.
Ren and I slipped into the kitchen and grabbed a couple of drinks before heading up the grand staircase toward the greenhouse.
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