The Promise (The Coven Series)

by Baker, Apryl

  “We’re working on something with the Senior Coven,” he sighed. “No one can seem to make this stupid spell work.”

  Spell? I just barely managed to keep my eyes from rolling.

  “Where’s Kay?” I asked. If they were writing spells, she should have been here.

  “Probably asleep by now,” Billy said wryly. “Ethan took her home a while ago.”

  Ethan took her home? What if…stop! Don’t jump to conclusions.

  “What are you guys working on?” I asked to distract myself. She was so dead.

  “A truth spell.” Jeff rolled his shoulders. He looked in serious need of sleep, but so did everyone else. I looked around the café again and saw the exhaustion on all their faces. What was so important about a stupid truth spell? It wasn’t even a hard one as far as spells went.

  “That’s all?” I laughed. “Those are easy.”

  Billy shot me a dirty look. “And how would you know? You don’t believe in this ‘nonsense’ remember?”

  “Are you forgetting that I grew up with parents and a sister who did? Emily could write those things in her sleep. She used to bounce ideas off me all the time.”

  “Wait, Emily talked to you about this stuff?” Billy eyed me speculatively. Heads tilted towards us. People seemed to be listening all of a sudden. Or was I just being paranoid?

  “Sure,” I nodded and frowned. Why was everyone paying so much attention to our conversation?

  “Hmm,” Billy mused. “So how would Emily have solved this problem?”

  “Depends on what kind of truth you’re looking for and the person you’re trying to get the truth out of.” The last one she’d written had been designed to find out if her boyfriend was cheating on her. I smiled at the memory. She’d been livid at the time.

  “We’re not trying to get the truth out of someone specifically,” Billy frowned. “More like trying to find out the truth about someone.”

  “That could be a little harder.” People were openly staring at me now. I fidgeted.

  “Yeah, we know,” Billy said with a sour expression. “We’ve written this thing at least a hundred times and no one can make it work.”

  “Well, you’re looking for the truth so you want to work with an Element that’s grounded in stability.” Emily used to go back and forth with that. It was crucial, she’d said, to use the right Element. “Probably Earth. It’s ever changing, but always essentially stays the same. The truth is simple, but can expand and grow as it evolves just like the earth does. It’s the lies that we build around the truth that are complex.”

  Jeff and Billy both looked at me like I’d suddenly sprouted horns.

  “What?” I asked. “I picked stuff up.”

  “Okay, Earth magic,” Billy nodded. “What else would you do?”

  “Focus it around an object representing the truth you seek. I don’t know, a tree maybe?”

  “A tree?” Jeff asked skeptically.

  “Sure. Trees are constant, surviving thousands of years.”

  “Something like tree of wisdom, tree of knowledge, give us the truth we seek?” Billy frowned, pen poised on his notepad.

  I laughed. He glared at me. “Sorry,” I said. “Couldn’t help it.”

  “Alright, smartass, let’s see you come up with something better.”

  I suppressed another laugh at the blush on his cheeks. Jeff grinned at him.

  I thought about Emily and how she would have worded it. The lines came easily to mind.

  “Tree of wisdom, tree of knowledge, leaves of truth, leaves of change, I call upon thee to bend your branches unto me and listen as I speak. Show me now the truth of which we seek.”

  “Shit,” Billy whispered. His eyes were wide with shock as he stared at me. No wait, he was staring behind me. Everyone in the café was staring behind me. I turned to look. Something flickered at the very edge of my field of vision. I followed it with my eyes. What was it?

  “CJ!” Billy’s voice held a bit of desperation. He reached out to take hold of my hand. I let out a shriek of pain. He’d grabbed my bandaged wrist instead and pulled hard to get my attention. Bursts of agony raced up and down my arm, centering in the bones of my wrist.

  “Dammit, Billy, let go!” Jeff pried his fingers away from me. “Are you okay?”

  I let out a hiss and cradled my arm to my chest. Hell no, I wasn’t okay.

  “CJ, I’m sorry,” Billy whispered, still looking behind me.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I whispered. Damn, but my arm hurt.

  “That’s a good question,” Ethan glared down at Billy. I hadn’t noticed him come up to our table.

  “I am sorry. I didn’t know you’d hurt your arm,” Billy apologized, his eyes never leaving Ethan.

  “It’s fine,” I told him absently. Why was he staring at Ethan like he’d just grown another head? And what was that shadow thing I’d seen? I frowned and looked behind me again, but there was nothing there now.

  “What happened?” Jeff signaled to the waitress. He asked for some ice in a towel for my arm which immediately distracted me. Wow. Jeff being considerate? What was up with that?

  “Nothing,” I replied. “It’s not a big deal.”

  Ethan stared at my lips and his eyes narrowed. Did my lip really quiver when I lied? I pulled my bottom lip in between my teeth to still any movement.

  “It is a big deal.” Ethan sat down across from me. “You look ready to throw up from the pain.”

  I did feel ready to hurl, but I didn’t want to talk about it. “It’s fine.”

  “You are such a little liar, Cassie Jayne Bishop,” he glared at me.

  “I said its fine,” I snapped. “Just leave it alone.”

  “Fine,” he growled.

  “You know, CJ, for a girl who doesn’t believe in witchcraft, you’re pretty good at it,” Billy tried to change the subject. His eyes moved back and forth between me and Ethan as we glared at each other.

  “He’s right, honey,” Lucy Marrow, the owner, told me as she personally delivered my make-shift ice pack. “You’re a natural. Why don’t you come and check out one of the meetings?”

  I took the ice and very gingerly placed it on the spot with the worst of the pain. “Thank you, Mrs. Marrow, but I can’t.”

  “Why not?” she asked.

  I sighed. I really didn’t want to get into this right now, especially with half the town listening, but it looked like I was going to have to.

  “I just don’t believe in it,” I told her. “I do my duty and keep the Coven a secret from outsiders who come to town and I try to respect everyone else’s beliefs. It would be nice if you would extend me the same courtesy of respecting mine.”

  She looked taken aback by the gentle rebuke, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. My entire arm throbbed from my fingertips up to my shoulder. I just wanted to go home. Date be damned. Ethan had seriously pissed me off. Between the note and him taking Kay home and his pushy behavior a second ago, I was so ready to leave his ass sitting there.

  Billy’s question stopped me. “Can I ask you something?”

  I nodded uneasily. I had no desire to talk about the Coven anymore today.

  “Well, I was wondering what to do about Kay’s birthday.”

  “Oh.” This I could totally get behind.

  “I’m not sure what to get her. I thought about a necklace or something. I saw her eyeing a piece over at Markham’s Fine Jewelry. It looked old and antiquish, but…” He stopped when I laughed.

  “CJ’s the one that likes old jewelry,” Jeff told him. My eyes snapped to him. How did he know that? I didn’t think he’d ever paid any attention to stuff like that.

  He winked. “I asked MJ what to get you for your birthday.”

  I found myself smiling up into his cornflower blue eyes. They were alight with laughter. Could this day get any weirder? Jeff being considerate and taking the time to find out what I liked? And just when did his eyes get to be so beautiful? Welcome to Wierdville.
>
  Ethan glared at him. I saw it out of the corner of my eye. Good. It served him right after leaving me a stupid note and taking Kay home when he was supposed to be meeting me for a date. Not that this was turning out to be a date, I corrected myself. A date was two people grabbing a bite to eat together, not a group hanging out and talking.

  “MJ?” Ethan asked us. The look he gave Jeff should have made the floor open up and swallow the boy whole.

  “Makayla Joyce and Cassie Jayne,” Billy explained. “MJ and CJ. So, what should I get her?”

  I frowned. Why had Billy just told Ethan Kay’s full name? That was a major no-no. It was one thing for me to do it, but quite another for someone who believed in the craft to do it. They believed there was great power in one’s name and knowing it could give someone else power over them. It just wasn’t done.

  Billy grinned at my frown and winked. I shrugged. If they were blabbing names, who was I to care anyway?

  “Honestly, I’d do something special instead of getting her a gift. Set yourself apart from the rest of her bedpost notches. Maybe take her to Boone? Some place nice, like Blowing Rock? They have some killer restaurants up there.

  Billy’s smile lit up his face. “That’s perfect, CJ. I’ll have to do it the weekend before Halloween, though. Kay’s already planning y’all’s birthday party.”

  “You celebrate your birthdays together?” Ethan asked, confused.

  “Every year,” Billy confirmed. “They were born on the same day.”

  “Really?” Ethan frowned. “When is your birthday?”

  “Halloween,” I told him.

  His eyes widened and his breath came out in a hiss. “Who’s older, you or her?”

  “Don’t know,” I shrugged. “We were born in the same hour, same minute. No one knows who came first.” Ethan’s face went a little white.

  “The chicken or the egg?” Jeff quirked an eyebrow.

  I laughed. “Real mature.”

  “I live but to please.” He smiled at me and I noticed for the first time what a nice smile he had. He was very cute, adorable really with those killer blue eyes. Why hadn’t I noticed before? Because he was a jerk before, I snorted to myself. Ethan’s interest seemed to have brought out a new side to him. Shame I still only thought of him as a friend. No, my stomach only knotted up in nervous anticipation when Ethan looked at me.

  Ethan’s frown turned into a glare again. “Come on, Cassie, let’s grab a table. We’re supposed to be on a date, remember?”

  “Are we now?” I asked. “Could have fooled me.”

  Jeff chuckled. I kicked him.

  “People don’t leave notes on lockers while they take another girl home when they’re on a date.”

  His eyes widened. Understanding dawned in his sleepy gray eyes.

  “You know, I’m really not in the mood anymore.” I stood up and Ethan mimicked the movement. “I’m going to the bathroom. Then I’m going home.”

  Ethan frowned and started to say something, but I turned away. I went through the back and made my way to the bathrooms, but stopped before rounding the corner. I heard my name.

  “Why hasn’t Rebecca forced CJ to come to the meetings?” Mrs. Anderson whispered.

  “Roger won’t allow it,” Mrs. Johnson replied. “She can’t with Roger being so stubborn about it.”

  “But did you see that, Joanne? Think of what we could do with her in the Coven? What we might have already been able to do? I haven’t seen that much talent since Emily.”

  “That may be the case,” Mrs. Johnson sighed, “but we shouldn’t let ourselves get attached in case she’s…”

  “Yes, yes, I know,” Mrs. Anderson cut in. “But just think…”

  What the hell were they talking about? Did it have something to do with that shadow thing I saw earlier? My stomach cramped. I stepped around the corner and both women let out a little gasp. “CJ, dear, we didn’t see you there.”

  I eyed them and waited. Neither seemed willing to say anything. “Are you going to explain that to me?” I asked after another long minute of silence passed.

  “Explain what, dear?” Mrs. Johnson smiled at me.

  “In case I’m what?” I asked, agitated.

  “In case you never decide to join the Coven,” Mrs. Johnson told me.

  She was lying. I could feel it in my gut.

  “Now, Alice and I have to get going, honey. If you change your mind, you’re always welcome at the meetings.”

  They stepped around me and went through the double doors leading back out to the main floor. I stared after them, frustrated to no end. What was going on? Had this entire town gone crazy?

  They’ll be pestering you soon to start coming to the meetings, my dad’s words whispered through my mind. I frowned. People were pestering me more than usual. Why were they suddenly so interested? The looks on their faces earlier came to mind. They eyed me like I was some kind of revelation or something. All I’d done was come up with a stupid poem.

  And what had Mrs. Anderson meant about Emily? Did she think I had some kind of talent, too? I just said some words. It wasn’t like I’d done anything. Or had I? Had my words made that shadow appear? I was so confused. I sighed, frustrated. This was getting me nowhere and my arm was killing me.

  I took a deep breath and went back out. I didn’t really need to go to the bathroom. I’d just wanted a minute or two by myself. Ethan was waiting right outside the double doors, my bookbag in one hand. He took my good hand and pulled me outside. He did not look at all happy.

  Well damn. Could this day get much worse?

  Chapter Six

  Ethan dragged me out of Lucy’s and across the street to the park where he settled me under the first set of trees he came to with a stern, “Don’t move.” Then he turned around and went back into the café.

  My chin hit my chest. I felt my face heat with rage and wouldn’t have been surprised to see smoke coming out of my ears. Oh, he so did not! The wind picked up and blew through the trees with a force that matched my anger. I grabbed my bookbag and started walking deeper into the park. Angry and embarrassed, I trudged along for another ten minutes or so before collapsing under a tree. Mr. Melt In Your Mouth Gorgeous was turning out to be a royal pain in the ass. Stay put? As if!

  I sighed. This had to be the worst first date of my life. I’d gotten a crappy note taped to my locker while he was with Kay and then, when he’d finally shown up, his high-handed tactics only managed to piss me off. This was worse than when Craig had taken me to the Nascar Hall of Fame and proceeded to drone on and on about cars. Sure, my dad was a mechanic, but why would he just assume I’d know all about cars? I’d been bored within minutes and he’d gotten irritated when he figured out I wasn’t paying attention to his babble. Needless to say, that had been our first and last date. I couldn’t help but to wonder if Ethan and I would end up on that same course.

  The rustle of leaves caught my attention and I looked up to see Sara Jordan and Megan Parker, Jeff’s little sister, heading down one of the trails. Megan jumped up and down, barely able to contain her excitement.

  “I can hardly wait,” she said. “Can you believe it’s on Saturday, Sara?”

  “How could I not?” Sara asked dryly. “You won’t let me forget.”

  “Well, it’s not every day a girl gets inducted into the Junior Coven,” she said defensively as they continued on down the path and out of hearing distance.

  I smiled at the excitement in her step as she bounced from one foot to the other. Megan always did get a little over excited about things, but I suppose she had a right. Her induction into the Junior Coven was a big deal. Entrance signaled the beginning of the training that would end when she turned eighteen. Junior members were inducted at age fifteen and spent the next three years learning their craft from respected teachers of the Senior Coven.

  Megan’s excitement made me remember the night of Emily’s induction. I wasn’t allowed to go, but I’d stayed with her right up until she’d gone t
o the Hall. I let myself drift back to that moment.

  Emily twisted her hair up and then let it fall back down. She turned in front of the full length mirror in her room and frowned. Her hair went back up and she flipped back and forth, trying to see it from all sides in the mirror. It blazed with life, all the colors shimmering as she moved. Her hair fascinated me. I’d never seen anyone’s with so many different colors. It was beautiful.

  “What do you think, CJ?” she fretted. “Up or down?”

  “Up,” I said promptly. “It makes you look older.” I was obsessed with being older, especially tonight. I wanted to go and see Emily inducted into the Junior Coven more than anything, but my parents said no, I was too young. You had to be fifteen to go to the meetings and I was only twelve.

  She saw my disgruntled face and smiled. “It’ll be your turn before you know it.”

  “I don’t want a turn,” I rolled my eyes at her. “I just want to go and see you.”

  “You’ll change your mind when you’re older,” she promised. “The Coven is everything you could ever want, CJ.”

  “Would it give me the new Nintendo Game Boy?”

  She laughed. “I don’t think even the Coven has that much pull. You’ll have to work on Mom and Dad for that.”

  “So what use is the Coven then?” I grouched and crossed my arms over my chest.

  “CJ, the Coven is a part of us even if we don’t want it to be. Our family has been members since the town was founded and I can’t wait to become a part of that history.”

  “Are you sure I can’t sneak in? Kay would do it. She’s dying to go too.”

  “I’m sure she is, but no, you can’t sneak in. You need to respect the laws and traditions of our past.” She pulled on her ceremonial gown. It shimmered in the light as if a thousand tiny diamonds were woven into the silvery white material. I jumped off the bed to touch it. I’d never seen it before. It was tiny and delicate, barely reaching mid thigh. Two thin straps held it up around her neck and I was glad she’d kept her hair up. It made the dress look even more fragile and Emily all but sparkled in it.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered and fingered the soft material.