by Bear Matthew
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Savannah said.
“You just blinked on command and with someone also. How did you do that?” Parker asked.
“I… I don’t know.” Savannah said. Her head was ringing louder than it normally does after blinking. “Let’s just finish this.”
Parker and Faye were confused. “What do you mean finish this? We can’t beat him.” Faye said.
“We can try, right?” Savannah had to of completely lost her mind.
“Savi, I don’t think…we can do this.” Parker said.
Huck started to get up, “Well, we are about to find out.” Savannah said. “Hey asshole, let’s finish this.”
Savannah whispered into Faye’s ear, “Can you do a double handspring and a kick?”
Faye was confused, “I guess.”
“Then do it when I tell you, okay.” Savannah grabbed Parker’s hand and started to walk in a circle towards Huck.
“What are we doing?” Parker whispered to Savannah.
“We are going to kick Huck’s ass.” Savannah seemed determined to Parker. “Watch this.”
They made a straight line in front of Huck, all the way back to Faye. “Hey Huck” Savannah shouted at him. He got up on his feet and looked at them. “Watch this!” Savannah said. She ran up towards him and did a double kick and a back flip. Parker and Faye’s mouths dropped as they watched. Huck stumbled backwards as Savannah landed back on her feet. “NOW!” she screamed at Faye.
Faye got a running start and did a handspring, then another, and came up with a nasty kick to Huck’s face. He stumbled to the ground. Faye and Savannah stood there, as Huck tried to get up. He looked at them as if he had a grudge to repay. He formed a lightning ball in his hands and threw it. Only he did not throw it at Savannah and Faye, but at Parker.
Parker stood there as it was tumbling towards her. She braced herself for the hit and as the lightning ball hit her, she snapped back and flew all the way against the hard wall. She fell to the floor and did not move. “Parker!” they both screamed for her but she did not answer. Huck got up and lifted his hand to slap Savannah but backhanded Faye, sending her sliding against the floor.
Huck grabbed Savannah by the upper arms and lifted her up to him. “Now how does this feel bitch!” Huck said.
“Don’t call a lady that!” A familiar voice said. Savannah twisted her neck to see Sebastian coming in.
“And who would you be?” Huck said.
“Backup!” Savannah said. Savannah kicked Huck in the jewels and he dropped her to the floor.
“Are you okay?” Sebastian asked.
“Not now!” Savannah said. Huck was still standing and that was not going over well for Savannah. She round kicked him, causing him to be bent over. Sebastian pulled out a knife from his leather jacket pocket and handed it to her.
“Here, finish it.” Sebastian said. Savannah eyed the knife and then took it into her hands. She stared at Huck for a moment when suddenly she flung him across the gym. Savannah looked at Faye who was barely standing up. “Finish it Savannah. It’s the only way to stop him.”
Savannah went over to him and Faye followed, as Sebastian just watched. “Should we do it?” Savannah asked Faye.
“It’s the only way, right?” Faye was making sure.
“I just don’t know.” Savannah said.
“Who is that guy?” Faye asked Savannah abut Sebastian.
“I’ll tell you later, long story.” Savannah said.
They looked back at Huck and he was not on the ground anymore. He was not even, where he just was. They scanned the room quickly, as Sebastian shouted, “Over there!” and pointed by the bleachers.
Savannah and Faye both said at the same time, “Let’s kill him.” Savannah threw the knife straight at Huck and just as it reached him, he shimmered away. He vanished right in front of them, the knife too. They ran over to where he was, looking for some answers. “Is he invisible?” Savannah asked Sebastian.
“No he shimmered away. He’s gone.” Sebastian said. “Where’s Parker?”
Then it hit them, Parker. They darted to Parker on the ground, Sebastian too. Sebastian flipped her over and Parker looked like the lightning ball electrocuted her. “Oh-my-gosh” Savannah and Faye both said.
“Look out” Sebastian said to Savannah and Faye. Sebastian checked for a heartbeat, but there was not one. He placed his hands over the part where the lightning ball hit her. His hands started to glow, just as bright as he did when he appeared in front of Savannah back at the Blackwell Manor. A few seconds later Parker came back. A life appeared back in her body – as if it had never left. She gasped for air, as Savannah and Faye just held her. She was alive, Huck was gone, they were safe, and Savannah still had to explain who Sebastian was or, whatever he is.
A few minutes later Parker could finally speak again. “Where’s the demon?” was the first thing she said.
“He’s gone.” Savannah told her. Parker smiled.
“Good, he was getting on my nerves.” Parker said. “How did I… the lightning ball hit me, right?”
“Yeah it did.” Faye said.
“Then how? How did I survive?” Parker noticed Savannah and Faye’s eyes move off her and towards the same part of the gym. Parker looked over there and saw Sebastian standing there. “What is he doing here?” she wanted to know.
“He saved you.” Faye said.
“What, how?” Parker tried sitting up.
“That’s a good question. Savannah you got an answer?” Faye asked her.
Savannah looked back at Parker and Faye and said, “I have some stuff to tell you guys and it starts with Sebastian.”
“You’re telling me that he knows about us?” Parker demanded to know.
“I didn’t exactly tell him. He threw an athame at me and I blinked. What was I supposed to do, die?” Savannah said.
The girls were arguing inside the gym, while Sebastian just eavesdropped. Savannah told them that he knows about their magic and he was the one who helped save their lives.
“You should’ve ducked. Besides what were you even doing at his place? I told you to stay away from him.” Parker said.
“Well why do you keep telling me to stay away from him?” Savannah asked.
“I’m looking out for you, both of you.” Parker said.
“Well you don’t have to tell me twice. I have a boyfriend, which reminds me don’t you Savannah?” Faye said.
“I’m not dating Trey, were just going on a date. That is it, but do not go and change the subject. Sebastian saved us, we owe him.” Savannah told them.
“We don’t owe him anything. Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to owe him.” Parker said.
“Tell me why and I’ll listen, otherwise we should hear him out.” Savannah said.
“Hear him out, about what?” Faye asked.
Savannah had not told them yet about the protector part. She did not tell them about him appearing in a beam of light either. “Well there’s things I know about him that both of you should too.” Savannah said.
“Like what?” Parker asked, she was upset with Savannah but would not tell her why.
“How about I answer those questions,” Sebastian said.
“Were you listening to our conversation?” Parker asked.
“It was more like you guys were arguing and very loudly. What was I supposed to do? Close my ears?” Sebastian said.
“Fine, we’ll listen what you have to say.” Parker said. “Go ahead and speak.”
“Not here. It will make more sense back at the house.” Sebastian said. He started walking to the doors in the gym.
“What house is he talking about?” Parker asked.
“That’s another thing.” Savannah said.
“The Blackwell manor,” Faye bellowed out from in front of the house. It was the middle of the night and everyone was sleeping.
“Quieter” Savannah told her.
“I’m sorry but he lives in the Blackwell Manor. Is h
e the one who you saw in the window?” Faye asked.
“I don’t know but I assume so.” Savannah said.
“Sebastian lives here? You went inside?” Parker asked.
“Yeah I did. Trust me I didn’t want to, but he can be convincing.” Savannah said.
“Sure he can,” Parker said. She walked towards the porch.
“Where are you going?” Faye asked her.
“Fine, let’s go inside to get this over with.” Parker told her. Sebastian was already inside and the lights were already on.
“You don’t have to come in, but you’ll probably want to.” Savannah told Faye. Faye had not been inside since that day and never wanted to go back inside again.
“It’s fine. I’ll go, but this better be good.” Faye followed Parker inside.
Savannah watched as they went inside. “Yeah I hope it’s good too.” She said to herself. She went inside after them.
Chapter 18-
“So what’s this you have to tell us?” Parker asked Sebastian. Savannah came into the manor and noticed Faye just staring down at the marks in the floor. Same thing she did when she came inside. Sebastian went over to his table – the same one he picked up that athame off earlier – and turned around to look at the girls.
“It’s pretty simple,” Sebastian said. “I’m Sebastian and I’ve been assigned to you three. I’m your protector.”
They let that sink in and Parker said, “You have been assigned us? What does that mean?”
“I was assigned by the councilor.” Sebastian said.
“What’s the councilor?” Savannah asked.
“It’s the highest ranking protectors. There job is to give protectors like me my charges.” Sebastian told them.
“What’s a protector?” Parker asked.
“A protector is like a guardian angel.” Sebastian said.
Faye looked up from the marks and stared right at Sebastian, “So if you’re some guardian angel where’s your wings and halo?” she asked sarcastically.
“You’re witches, where are your broomsticks and pointy noses?” Sebastian said sarcastically too.
“Touché” Faye said with a little laugh. Savannah and Parker smiled.
“It’s a cliché that we have halos and wings, same for you girls. People created images of what they believed we looked like a long time ago and people still believe it. So is your questions answered?” Sebastian said.
“Not mine. What’s a protector?” Parker asked.
“A protector’s job is to keep their charges alive and guide them on their journey. My job is to help you understand yours and when you get hurt – like today – I have the power to heal you.” Sebastian told them. Parker did not seem convinced.
“Why you though?” Parker asked. Sebastian looked at her and he knew. He knew she knew. The cat was out of the bag, only Savannah and Faye had no clue.
“Because I was assigned this, I didn’t want it. My last charge was in Paris and I liked it a hell of a lot better than here in Charm Harbor.” Sebastian said.
“You said that you were from here, is that true?” Savannah asked Sebastian. He looked at her for a clue to figure out if she knew. It was clear she did not.
“I was from here a long time ago,” Sebastian said as he turned to look at Parker. She looked away.
“So what else is there?” she wanted to know.
Sebastian turned around and picked something up from the table. When he turned around for everyone to see, the girls recognized it right away. It was the book.
“Where the hell did you get that?” Parker demanded to know.
“Ease up; I was given it to give to you all. Why?” Sebastian asked.
“That is the book that started it all. We casted the spell and boom. Now we’re witches with freaking magical powers.” Faye said.
“You casted a spell,” Sebastian seemed to be surprised.
“Yeah, we casted the ‘Spellbound Spell’.” Savannah said.
“Oh, well then you got that out of the way.” Sebastian said.
“Out of the way, like as if the spell isn’t the thing that gave us our powers?” Faye asked.
“The spell isn’t like that. People are not just randomly chosen; your lives were chosen way before you could have imagined. This is your destiny.” Sebastian said.
“Not the destiny shit again, please. We’ve heard it enough from Parker.” Faye said. “Can we just get that spell and undo it now please.” Faye went to grab the book from Sebastian but he pulled it away.
At the same time Parker and Sebastian both said, “No”.
“Whoa, take a chill pill. I just want this to be over with please! Don’t you?” Faye asked Parker.
“No, like you heard, this is our destiny. What we are meant to do is something great.” Parker told her.
“Well if it consists of more nights like tonight I’ll pass on the whole destiny crap.” Faye said.
“Faye, what if they’re right? What if we are meant to do something that saves the whole world?” Savannah asked Faye.
“I really don’t like almost dying. My face still hurts from that asshole smacking me. Neither one of you was smacked, so you don’t get it.” Faye said.
“I died! So, getting smacked is nothing Faye!” Parker said.
Both Savannah and Faye thought, at the same time, she is going to be milking that one for a while. “It’s different you don’t feel anything wrong. It’s going to take a lot of concealer to cover this up tomorrow morning.” Faye said.
“Get over it” Parker told Faye. “We can’t undo this spell…ever.”
“She’s right, though I hate to admit it. Undoing the spell would mean danger, un-protective danger.” Sebastian said.
“What can we do with the book?” Savannah asked.
“The book is a Grimoire, a book of magic. Inside it are spells, ways to make potions, and some of the most common demons around.” Sebastian said. “It’s a common book for witches, only this one is not a normal one.”
“Not a normal one?” Savannah asked. “What does that mean?”
“There are people out there that believe that they are witches and have Grimoire’s. Though their spells might work, they are not as strong as yours are. Yours are to keep you safe and so they are not spells to mess with. Your Grimoire has been passed down to you through a long line of very powerful witches, just like yourselves.” Sebastian told them.
“You’re saying that these spells aren’t even meant to help our lives for the better?” Faye said. “What’s the point of the book then, of all of this?”
“They are to keep the world safe,” Sebastian said.
“Well that’s stupid.” Faye said.
“Yeah it is, but that’s life. Your destiny, all of your destinies have taken course.” Sebastian said.
“And what would that be?” Parker asked.
“You girls don’t know about your destinies already?” Sebastian asked.
“No” they all said at the same time.
“Well that’s a bitch. I guess I’m the one who has to break the news.” Sebastian told them. “Your destinies are intertwined. You are, meant to be the good in the world. You are, meant to save the world and this town. You are good witches who will forever be the answer to fight evil. Your lives will never be the same. Everything has just changed for you.”
Faye, Savannah, and Parker looked at each other, not fully sure what this all means. “You’re telling us that this means the end of a normal life, the end of a normal high school existence. You are telling me that I am never going to be homecoming or prom queen, go to college or get married and have kids. You are essentially telling me that this is it. Life is over.” Faye did not like the news.
“Faye calm down. He is not saying it is over. He is saying that it is changed. Our priorities have to change. We have to put the world before ourselves.” Parker said to her.
“You can still have a life, still grow up and move on, but you three will never be able to be apart.
You will have to be close to work together. It’s that simple.” Sebastian said.
“Simple isn’t the word that comes to mind, more like complicated. More like everything I’ve ever wanted is over.” Faye said. She went to the door and said, “I can’t do this. I do not accept this. I do not accept that my life is going to change. I quit this.”
“You can’t quit Faye!” Sebastian told her. She left anyway. “She can’t quit. This isn’t some game, this is life or death and when one of you is vulnerable you’re all vulnerable.”
“She just needs time.” Savannah said.
“Time is one thing you girls don’t have. You will never know when you will need to fight another demon or keep the town safe. Time is irrelevant.” Sebastian harshly said.
“Take a chill. This is a lot to take in at once.” Savannah said. “We all just need some time.” Savannah went after Faye.
“I’ll talk to them and go from there.” Parker said.
“You better, because if they don’t come around and next time Huck does, then none of you will survive.” Sebastian said.
“I got it,” Parker said as she left the Blackwell Manor. She ran down the walkway to Savannah who was standing there. “Where’s Faye?” Parker asked her.
“She drove off. She would not even let me talk to her. She doesn’t want to be a part of this and right now, I don’t know if I do either.” Savannah said. For the first time Parker understood her. Being a witch was their destiny but something in Parker wanted a normal destiny too. She wanted to be able to go out on dates and fall in love without hiding a secret, but she knew that was impossible.
“I understand. Trust me I get it, but we cannot deny destiny. We will just have to find a way to fix this. To make it all work. Our destinies say we are meant to save the world, so we do that, just in between dates, sex, and fun.” Parker said.
Parker saying that surprised Savannah.
Chapter 19-
Faye drove off from the Blackwell Manor in a hurry. She did not want to talk to Parker or Savannah about her not wanting to do this. She did not want to have to defend her decision to them. She wants a normal life, a magic free, demon free, life. She did not want to go home right now, so she decided to drive.
