I sat on my bed, thinking about everything that had happened since I arrived in California. I ended my acting career before it even started, got fired from several jobs, made some friends, dated a movie star, found out I was a witch, and then forced that movie star to kill his brother. Wow, I had been a busy beaver, hadn’t I?
I didn’t know if time reversed and I had the option to start over if I would move to L.A. again, but now that I was here, I saw that this was the only possible life I could lead. How messed up is that? I liked who I was now, even if it was a witch. I could make a difference in the world. I don’t know if I could have said that before. I was nothing more than a prospective rich man’s wife before I got here, but now I was Maxie Duncan, Witch Extraordinaire. Maybe some of my wide-eyed innocence had worn away, but that was okay. Everyone needed to grow up eventually. I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long.
I knew this world for what it was now. It wasn’t just shiny sports cars and corporate mixers; it was a world where fairytales and nightmares met. Where a witch could be roommates with a pixie. It was a world where a girl needed to be prepared, because a would-be vampire king was out there somewhere, ready to raise an army. That thought terrified me, but I realized I could handle it. There must be a reason he wanted me so badly. And a guy like that is only interested in one thing.
Power.
Obviously, I had it and I was going to do my best to find all of it. I wouldn’t be a victim anymore.
A knock on my bedroom door pulled me from my thoughts. Van stuck her head in and smiled. I still couldn’t get over how tiny she had become, but what can I say, my best friend was full of surprises. “You okay?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I said, getting up from the bed. After all it had been a week since the kidnapping. I should be okay, right?
I could tell she knew I wasn’t quite sure if I was or not. She came into the room, shutting the door behind her. “You’ve been through a lot. It’s hard enough to find out you’re something other than what you always thought you were, but to have your heart broken and then be kidnapped by the guy’s father…All I know is you’re handling it better than I would be. You’re one tough cookie.”
I shrugged as I looked at her. “I don’t know if that is something I can ever get used to, but...I want to be this Maxie. The magical Maxie. So, I guess I’ll have to find a way to deal with these kinds of things happening.”
Van laughed, pleased by my answer. “Like I said, tough cookie.” The smile faded from her face, a serious expression taking its place. “I ran into a friend of yours at the hotel. He was checking out. He needs to get away from everything right now,” she told me with a shrug. “I guess hanging out in Hollywood wasn’t really helping anything. He needs to figure out who he really is.” She pulled a small box from her pocket and tossed it to me. “He wanted me to give this to you. He said it would protect you where he failed.”
I glanced down at the white box in my hands. Did I really want anything from Ryan? I know he never meant for any of this to happen, but…he still betrayed me by proxy.
But being one who never turned down gifts, I lifted the lid and looked inside. A huge ruby pendant hung from a silver chain laid there. It was a piece of fire frozen in time, still burning in the light now and then. I pulled it from the box, holding it up. Van gasped softly and I had to agree, it was breathtaking.
A folded up piece of paper was at the bottom of the empty box. Laying the necklace on the bed, I unfolded the note. Ryan’s elegant script filled the page. I didn’t care, but somehow I couldn’t convince myself enough to tear up the note.
Bell, Book, and Sandals Page 41
