by Bonnie Lamer
“I am too,” I say defensively pointing to what’s in her hand. “You just said that’s a Witch’s ladder like the bracelet you gave me before. If you untie the knots, you let loose the magic.”
“That was five amulets ago,” she says holding up a necklace on a leather string that clearly has no knots in it. “This one prevents love spells.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Love spells? Why would we need that?”
There’s a hard glint in Grandma’s eyes when she answers. “Because Maeva is not above using something so underhanded. Not to mention Midar.”
“One of them might try to make me fall in love with them?” Eew. “I think I can fight that off without an amulet.”
Kallen’s sitting on the kitchen counter observing us. “Just think about me if you get hit with one of those. No one else will seem attractive to you,” he says with a wink. Color rushes to my cheeks, even if he is only teasing, but I can’t help a small smile, either. Mom rolls her eyes but I catch the corners of her mouth trying to move upwards as well.
Dad happens to be floating by during the exchange. He just came in from doing what he and Kallen called a ‘perimeter check.’ Dad watches too much TV. I don’t know what Kallen’s excuse is. “Same goes for you,” Dad says as he swoops down and gives Mom a kiss on her pale check. A full-fledged smile breaks out on her face now.
Hmm. I wonder if Kallen and I will still like each other if we end up as spirits. I hope we don’t have to find out any time soon. Looking up at him, I say, “What if I’m not the target of the love spell, you are?”
He shakes his head. “Can’t happen. A Witch can’t make a Fairy fall in love with her with magic.”
I narrow my eyes in doubt. Turning to Grandma, I ask, “Is that true?”
“In a way. You need to have some aspect of the person who is the target of the spell. A piece of hair, something. Since none of these Witches has ever met Kallen, they wouldn’t have anything to draw on. And it is very difficult to work a love spell on a Fairy.”
“But I’ve never met them, either. How could they do a spell on me?”
Grandma’s lips purse together for a moment before she answers. Finally, she says, “Because your grandfather may have retrieved something while he was here. It only takes one hair to work a love spell, not to mention many other spells. He could have taken some from a hairbrush, or even gotten some on his clothes while he was in the house with you.”
My jaw drops open as I turn to Mom. “He’s that sneaky? I thought he originally came here to help?”
Mom looks embarrassed. “I’m not sure. My father is a much different man than I remember. He may have had ulterior motives.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “And they’re worried about me? They’re the ones who are scary.” And right on cue, I feel a zap. This is getting old really fast. I close my eyes and there’s that belly button light again.
This time, I’m outside my house near the first oak tree that I marked. And standing about fifteen feet in front of me is my grandfather. He’s standing next to the car he parked on the side of the mountain road, probably because the protection spell wouldn’t let him get closer. He’s around six feet tall with a thick head of gray hair, and he’s dressed in a tan overcoat over black dress pants and shoes that are so brightly shined, they reflect the light of the snow.
I don’t know which one of us is more shocked. I guess the upside is that he didn’t lie to Grandma about coming ahead of the others. He just got here sooner than she expected.
Grandpa looks at the rope of light that is now entwined around his hands and then looks back up at me. I think it’s hurting him but I can’t tell for sure. He has a really good poker face. “What is this? How are you doing it?”
A laugh of disbelief escapes me. “You expect me to tell you so you can try to counteract it. I’m young, but I’m not that naïve.” Okay, I don’t really know how I’m doing it, but even if I did, I wouldn’t tell him. Just to add a little salt to his bad mood, I say smugly, “Grandma taught me how to do it.” Sort of.
Wow, his skin can’t seem to decide if it wants to turn red from anger or green from the idea that his wife is working against him. He ends up this weird orangish brown color. “What have you done to my wife?”
I roll my eyes. I don’t know how much more of this drama I can stand. I’ve never had drama in my life before. “Grandma’s fine.”
He points a shaky finger at me. “If you hurt her…” he threatens. It’s hard to look intimidating with a rope of light around your hands that extends from someone’s belly button, though.
I sigh heavily. “You know, if you would have taken half a minute to get to know me, you’d have figured out that I don’t want to hurt anybody.”
His whole body is shaking now as he shouts, “You opened the gateway between realms!”
“Yeah, to throw a couple of Fairies back through it. I didn’t let any out!” I shout back.
“Then that wasn’t a Fairy you brought home with you?”
“He’s my boyfriend! And he’s not here to hurt anybody.”
“All Fairies are evil, treacherous beings. None of them can be trusted.”
“Yeah? It seems to me that except for my mother who renounced your ways, all Witches are evil, murderous, and treacherous. That’s from my own personal experience. How many Fairies have you personally met?”
Grandpa is speechless for a moment as my words sink in. Finally, he blusters, “Witches are noble and…”
I cut him off. “You can say whatever you want, but do you honestly think I care what a man who tried to kill me – twice – has to say? How can you possibly be a representative of how good and noble Witches are when you want to kill your own flesh and blood? My God, you’re a walking Shakespearian Tragedy.”
His face turns beet red now but he says more calmly, “The prophecy says…”
“Yeah, yeah. I know the prophecy: A Witch’s child of Fae is born when spirits of the realms are torn. Into the world destruction she brings while children cry and Angels sing. None may survive the vengeance of she, and immortal her soul is to be, to remedy the world of its natural discord,” I recite from memory. Kallen had told me about the prophecy. It’s why everyone is so afraid of me. “So? Maybe it’s you who brings the discord that forces me to destroy the world, did you think of that? Maybe it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
I think I might have stumped him. He opens his mouth to say something several times but no sound comes out. I’ve had it with him and I throw my hands up in the air. “I’m going back inside. You can stay out here in the cold and figure out what you want to say to me. Just give me a shout when you have it all worked out.” I’m not actually cold because my body isn’t really here; I’m just making a point.
I think about the rope light retracting back to me and it does, just like it did at the airport. This time I don’t yank on it, though, so Grandpa doesn’t fall down. Even though I probably would have gotten some satisfaction out of that. It’s amazing how petty you can become when the world is out to get you. Well, worlds in my case. High road, I have to take the high road, is becoming my mantra. Or as Mom would say, live and let live, fairly take and fairly give. Ignoring Grandpa now, I close my eyes preparing to bring my mind back to my body.
“I melt this wax as I melt your will. Child of darkness, your body be still. I bind these hands as I bind thee, a force unbreakable ties you to me. Sprung from seeds I’ve sown, your will is my own. Cast aside your desires, consumed by my fire, as I control your mind and bring justice to our time. As I beckon, come to me, your will is no longer free.”
My eyes open back up and I glare at Grandpa as I slowly start walking towards him. A shadow of fear is in his eyes, but as I get closer, it’s replaced with a smug satisfaction. Looking at the small likeness of me in his hand that he’s holding a lighter against, I say, “I see Annika has been busy. Did you steal a picture from our house while you were there?” He doesn’t answer me and he looks guilty, so I�
�m pretty sure that’s what happened.
Squaring his shoulders, which causes the buttons of his overcoat to strain over his expanding waistline, he says, “It pays to take precautions.”
“So, stealing as well as murder is okay. Wow, if those are the morals Mom grew up with, I’m surprised she didn’t turn out to be a homicidal kleptomaniac. Oh, but that’s right, she ran away from you and your morals.”
His eyes flash with anger, but he holds his tongue in check, satisfied that I’m under his control now. Finally, I’ve breeched the fifteen foot gap between us and I’m directly in front of him. He walks to the passenger side door of his car, opens it and says, “Get in.”
“No.”
“I command you to get in the car,” he practically barks.
“No.”
Now he’s really mad. “Your will is mine, you will do as I say!”
I can’t help but laugh. I reach out and snatch the likeness from his hands. “My will is nobody’s but my own. Now, as I said before, you can stay out here in the snow, but I’m going back inside.” I close my eyes on Grandpa’s wide eyed, open mouthed shock and bring myself back to the kitchen.
A gasp causes me to open my eyes quickly. I look up to see everyone staring at my hand, which now holds, in my opinion, a pretty poor wax likeness of me.
Chapter 10
“Where on earth did you get that?” Mom asks.
“From Grandpa. It’s a little present from Annika. I don’t think it looks anything like me.”
“It is much prettier than you are,” Kallen teases and I throw the doll at him which he catches easily with one hand with a laugh.
Ignoring him and turning my attention back to Mom and Grandma, I explain. “He stole a picture of me while he was here. Grandma was right; he is a sneaky old man.”
Grandma raises her eyebrows. “I do not remember saying he was old.”
A little color rushes to my cheeks. I guess she would be around the same age as him. “Anyway, he’s outside.”
Now, they’re all shocked again. “He’s here? Now?” Dad asks looking furious.
I nod. “Yup, he’s down the road a little bit. I’m thinking he can sense the protection spell. He’s probably trying to figure out how to get around it.”
“You talked to him?” Kallen asks looking up from his study of the likeness.
“Yeah. He tried to bend my will to him using that thing.”
He smiles proudly at me. “Obviously, with no success.”
“Do I get a gold star?” I tease.
“Perhaps,” he says with a promise in his voice that tells me he’s thinking more of kissing me than giving me a gold star. My cheeks have turned pink again.
“I have a few things I’d like to say to the man myself,” Dad growls and heads towards the front of the house.
“Jim, no, you can’t,” Mom says and quickly follows him. I can hear them arguing in hushed voices in the living room. I can’t remember the last time I heard them argue. I hate what this is doing to all of us.
The phone rings, bringing my parents back into the room. They both still look angry but they don’t want to miss this phone call. There’s really no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who it must be. “Answer,” Dad snarls at the phone. “What do you want, Sveargith?”
“Jim?” a feminine voice says in confusion.
Relief washes over Dad’s face. It’s my Aunt Barb. “Barb, sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
“I’m glad I’m not, because you seem awfully upset with whoever you thought it was going to be. I just wanted to check in. Is Xandra okay?”
“Hi, Aunt Barb. I’m fine.” I can imagine her sitting at the kitchen table of the apartment she has in Denver for when she has to stay over. Usually, it’s because of work, not because a magical war is about to take place in the mountains. My brother is probably in the other room glued to a video game.
“Oh, honey, it’s so good to hear your voice! How did things go with that awful young man?”
Dad can’t hold back a snicker and Mom covers her mouth to hide her smile. Kallen looks at me with raised brows, almost like a challenge to say something derogatory. “Um, turns out he wasn’t so bad,” I say and Kallen’s eyebrows are practically at his hair line now. “Actually, I kind of like him.” I’m stammering. Between Mom and Dad and Kallen, I can’t really concentrate on what I’m saying.
“You do? Well, I guess that’s not too surprising. He was a handsome young man.”
“Uh, Aunt Barb, he’s right here.”
“Oh, Xandra! Why didn’t you tell me that?” She’s obviously embarrassed now. And now it’s Kallen’s turn to snicker.
How was I supposed to know she was going to talk about his looks? “Sorry, Aunt Barb. Things are a little crazy around here with Grandpa wanting to kill me and all.”
“What?! Jim, Julienne, what’s going on there? Is she serious? I thought Fairies were after her.”
“She took care of them,” Mom says sadly, “and then my father decided he didn’t like the amount of power she has.”
You can almost hear Aunt Barb shake her head. “Unbelievable. You know, I’m still having a hard time with all this magic stuff. But your son is here chomping at the bit, ready to get home and in the middle of it all. I take it you want me to stay put with Zac here in Denver?”
“Yes,” Dad says firmly. “The farther away from all this you two are the better.”
“Alright. Keep us posted.”
“Of course, give Zac my love,” Mom says as they ring off. I bet if she could shed ghost tears, there would be some falling down her cheeks. She looks so sad it about breaks my heart. She must wonder if she’s ever going to see them again. Yeah, me too.
The teasing atmosphere from a few minutes ago is gone as Aunt Barb’s phone call dragged to the front of all of our minds what we’re facing and what’s at stake. I need to change the subject. “Grandma, is it the spell or me that’s making it so their magic doesn’t work on me?”
She looks thoughtful for a moment. “Honestly, I don’t know. I would suspect that the protection spell is doing most of that, but you are a powerful being. You may have some natural defenses against their magic.”
I hope so because these people are determined. The phone rings before I can say that out loud. We all look at each other. It has to be Grandpa this time and nobody wants to answer, so we’re all riveted to our spots with our mouths closed.
After five rings, Dad finally says, “Answer.”
“Athear, are you there?”
A sigh of pure disgust leaves Grandma. I don’t think she’s going to answer him. So, I do. “She’s here but she doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“I demand she come to phone so I can be sure you haven’t harmed her.”
“You aren’t in a position to demand anything.” Dad is really fuming now. Good thing he’s not able to wield sharp objects anymore.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Sveargith, I’m right here,” Grandma huffs.
“Are you alright?”
“Better than I’ve been in eighteen years.” Ouch, that’s gotta make Grandpa feel pretty low.
“I’ve tried everything in my power to make you happy these last years, even when I finally admitted staying out of your life was really what you wanted. But I still care about you and I’m worried for your safety.”
Grandma narrows her eyes at the phone even though Grandpa can’t see her. “I’m sure you’ve had plenty of company to keep you from worrying too much about caring for me.”
Grandpa’s reply is indignant. “I have been faithful to you for forty years.” Yeah, Grandma looks like she believes that one. With a Seductress as an advisor? Again, even I’m not that naïve. And again, eew, to the Grandpa dating image. Especially since I’ve seen Maeva – Grandma’s way prettier.
By the looks on everyone’s faces, we’ve all heard enough of this conversation to make us feel mighty uncomfortable. Kallen is the first one to say so. “Perhaps this is a conversation
best had in private.”
Grandma blushes but says towards the phone, “He’s right. This is not the time or place for this conversation. We’ve had it a thousand times already. Unless you are willing to come to a peaceful understanding, there is nothing left to say.”
“Please remember, Athear. You forced my hand.” Grandpa utters an oath and hangs up, leaving us in an awkward silence.
“Um, what do you think he meant by that?” I ask but I’m not sure I truly want to know.
Grandma shakes her head wearily. “I don’t know. Your grandfather is a skilled Witch; it would be difficult to guess what he will try.”
