Enchanted Objects: (Witches Of Bayport)

by Kristen Middleton

  Semora’s eyes moved to the globe in Rebecca’s hand. “Ah, you’ve managed to capture her with one of those? Excellent.”

  “Yes,” said Rebecca. “She’s trapped.”

  Semora walked over and bent down to peer inside. She clapped her hands together and laughed. “Snow and cheer? Oh, that’s simply perfect. She must be furious.”

  “Yes,” agreed Adrianne, chuckling. “She never was one for winter.”

  “May I keep it?” asked Semora. “I’d love to watch her misery. Especially after everything she’s put us through.”

  “You? She’s put us through so much more,” I replied, staring at her in disbelief.

  “Sorry, Semora, but we are keeping the globe,” said Adrianne. “I don’t want it falling into the wrong hands. Someone might find a way to free her.”

  Semora sighed. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Besides, I know that you people certainly won’t set her free.”

  “Kala, is that what I think it is? What are you doing with Vivian’s wand?” asked Bailey, looking startled.

  “It’s mine now,” she replied, her eyes glittering with excitement. “Cool, huh?”

  His eyes widened. “It’s yours? How can that be? You’re not like Vivian.” He looked at Semora and the dark witches. “You’re not like any of them.”

  Semora snickered. “That’s where you’re wrong, shape-shifter. In fact, a bonding wand that is made for Black Magic knows the true nature of its owner.”

  “I don’t care what you say, my Kala is sweet and a very good girl,” argued Adrianne. “You don’t know anything about her.”

  “I agree,” I said, putting an arm around my sister protectively. “Kala would never hurt a fly.”

  “Well,” said Kala. “In all honesty, I definitely would hurt a fly and I guess I’ve told a couple of lies in my life. Nothing serious, though.”

  “We all have,” said Bailey. “That doesn’t make you an evil person.”

  Kala sighed. “I don’t consider myself evil either. Can’t someone own the wand and still use it for good?”

  “You can, but using it consistently for anything will change you,” said Clarice.” Just like it did to Vivian. Kala, it’s really not safe owning a wand like that.”

  “But… I want it,” pouted Kala. “I feel like we should be together. It just feels right.” She looked at me. “You understand, right Kendra?”

  I did, and that’s what scared me. It was obvious that the wand was claiming my sister and it made me wonder what that meant for her future.

  “If you do decide to give up the wand,” said Semora, staring at it with longing. “I would be happy to take it off your hands.”

  “Yeah, I bet,” I muttered, still not trusting her, even if she was Adele’s cousin.

  “We must be leaving,” said Semora. She turned to Kala. “My dear, whenever you’re ready to join a real coven, we’ll be waiting for you with open arms.”

  She smiled sheepishly. “Uh, thanks but I really want to stay with my family.”

  “If things change,” replied Semora, her eyes twinkling, “I’ll be staying at Vivian’s now that she no longer needs her house.”

  “Of course you will,” said Clarice, smirking. “It would be a shame to let all of her fortune go to waste, huh?”

  “Exactly. Anyway, ta-ta…” said Semora, as she disappeared with her witches.

  “What now?” I asked Adrianne.

  Before she could respond, Adele, Megan, Meredith, and her coven appeared.

  “Where have all of you been?” I asked.

  Everyone began to talk at once.

  “Wait a second,” said Meredith, raising her voice. “Please quiet down. Let Adele talk.”

  Adele cleared her throat. “There was some kind of invisible field surrounding you. Almost like a bubble.”

  “Exactly,” said Megan. “We could barely hear you. The barrier must have been really thick.”

  “Yes, and try as we did, none of us could penetrate it,” said Adele. “That is, until now.”

  “It’s good to know that Vivian’s spells no longer work, now that she’s trapped inside of the globe,” I said.

  “Oh, I forgot to mention that,” said Rebecca, looking embarrassed. “Spells, curses, anything that she created, will return to normal or just disappear.”

  Willow glanced at the picture of her mother again and smiled. “It hasn’t changed!”

  “What?” asked Adrianne.

  “The picture! Vivian couldn’t have manipulated it!” she replied.

  “What do you know?” I said dryly. “She finally told the truth for once.”

  “You know what that means?” asked Willow.

  “Yes,” I replied. “It means we’re going to have another family reunion?”

  Willow sighed wistfully. “God, I hope so.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Two Weeks Later

  “Are you nervous?” I asked, staring at Willow, who was fidgeting.

  She nodded. “Yes. I mean, I can’t wait to meet her, but… I’m also, kind of freaking out. I just can’t help it.”

  We were sitting in the waiting room of a psychiatric hospital, where Clarice and Rebecca had finally traced Opal. Oddly enough, it was a normal hospital, but run by a warlock.

  “She’s going to love you,” I said.

  “What if she doesn’t know who I am?” she whispered, as an older couple shuffled by.

  “She might not. But, that’s okay. She’s alive and that’s all that matters,” I reminded her.

  She began tapping her foot nervously. “I know you’re right.”

  “I still can’t believe we’re finally going to meet her,” I said. “And Rebecca said that because you’re an adult, they could release her into your custody in a couple of months. If everything goes right.”

  “Yes. Thanks to you guys. I owe you so much,” she said, biting her nail. “And now this. I feel like I’m dreaming.”

  “You don’t owe us anything. Besides, remember, we’re family. We do stuff like this for each other.” I pushed her hand away from her mouth. “Quit doing that.”

  She grinned. “That drives you nuts, doesn’t it?”

  I snorted. “Is it that obvious?”

  She stopped fidgeting. “Look, thanks for taking me in and everything. You guys didn’t have to do that.”

  Willow was now living with us, in Bayport. It was only temporary until she was able to bring Opal home and things settled down.

  “Are you kidding me? We really enjoy having you at our home. And I know Rebecca loves having you at the shop.”

  “I like working there,” she replied, smiling in pleasure.

  “I need to get a job,” I said, although, admittedly, I knew that I’d be bored to death working at the mall or a fast-food restaurant. I was now obsessed with learning everything that I could about magic, which often drove Adrianne nuts.

  “You can have my job. After I return to Salem.”

  I frowned. “Then I’d have to work with Tyler. They say you shouldn’t work with your boyfriend. It can get too complicated.”

  “He’s going back to college soon, isn’t he?”

  I nodded. “I think so. I’m trying to talk him into it. He keeps saying that he doesn’t want to go back, because of the store. But, I know the truth.”

  “He doesn’t want to leave you?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I figured.”

  I sighed. “I’m not going to let him give up school just because of me. We can still be together. It takes less than five seconds to teleport anywhere in the world, including UCLA. But, he’s being so darn stubborn about it.”

  “You could always bribe him,” she replied.

  I laughed. “Oh, believe me – he already brought that up. Said I could bribe him with kisses and… well, other things.”

  She snorted. “Even Enchanters are pervs.”

  “They certainly are. But, I’m not complaining too much. I’ve never been happier.”<
br />
  The truth was, I’d fallen for him pretty hard and I couldn’t imagine being without him for one day. That didn’t mean I wanted him to drop everything for me, however. That included school. I also had my own plans, and that included traveling. Rebecca had already promised to take me to China after graduation, to help her gather more enchanted objects. I could hardly wait.

  “Hey, maybe you can get a job at that bookstore. The one your sister works at?”

  I felt a shiver go up my spine. Since Kala had taken possession of Penelope, she’d become distant and aloof. “I didn’t even know she was working.”

  “She didn’t tell you?” asked Willow, looking surprised.

  “No. She didn’t.”

  “Well, I’m sure she just forgot to mention it.”

  “Yeah. I hope you’re right,” I replied, more disturbed than I cared to admit. Kala had never hidden anything from me before.

  “So, is she seeing Bailey?”

  I sighed. “She mentioned getting together with him, but since we never seem to have time to talk, I don’t really know what’s going on between those two. Has she said anything to you?”

  “No,” said Willow. “Your mom isn’t too sure either.”

  “Looks like I need to sit down and talk to Kala.”

  “That would be a good idea,” said Willow. “I just hope…”

  “What?” I asked.

  “The wand she has… I just hope it’s not changing her.”

  Before I could answer, a friendly-looking attendant approached us. “Willow?” she asked.

  Willow stood up. “Yes.”

  “Please, follow me.”

  She swallowed hard. “Uh, okay.” She turned to me and held out her hand. “Don’t let me go in there alone.”

  I stood up and grabbed it. To me, Willow looked like a deer caught in a pair of very bright headlights. “Don’t worry,” I whispered, as we followed the woman down the hallway. “You’ll do fine.”

  “I’m shaking,” she whispered back.

  “This way,” said the lady, opening up one of the private rooms near the back of the building. “Perfect timing. She just woke up.”

  I followed Willow inside and we both stopped to stare at the woman sitting near the large window, overlooking a pond out back. She had long, sandy blond hair and high cheekbones.

  “Opal,” said the attendant. “We have someone here to see you.”

  She turned and stared back at us with large, haunted brown eyes.

  “Uh, hello,” said Willow, looking terrified.

  Opal’s lip began to tremble, and her eyes filled with tears. She put a hand to her mouth. “Willow?” she whispered, standing up.

  Willow’s body began to convulse as her true emotions caught up with her. She nodded, unable to speak.

  The woman opened up her arms and smiled through her tears. “I’ve dreamed about this day.

  Sobbing, Willow released my hand and stepped forward, to meet her mother.

  The End

  For more of Kristen Middleton’s books, please check out her Amazon Page by clicking here.

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  This YA story is a lighthearted adventure filled with zombies, butt-kicking teenaged girls, a man obsessed with video games, an annoying but totally HOT karate instructor, and humor when needed. For ages 16 and older.