“Sooo you wanna take a walk or something?” he suggested.
“Um, sure.”
Darren and I walked all the way out to the maze before turning around. He was easy to talk to. At first we kept it light, him talking mostly about playing football, me about being terrified of clowns. But it wasn’t long before the conversation got much deeper.
“Okay, so now that you’re filthy rich and known in witching communities all over the world, what’s next? Where does Brighton’s heir see herself in ten years?”
He studied me carefully as he spoke and I felt my face flush. Although there was a light, even playful tone to his voice, I could sense that he was interested in a genuine answer.
“I have no idea,” I shrugged. “I just know that whatever I’m doing or wherever I am, I want to make a difference in the world—something positive. That probably sounds corny but it’s true…” I was staring at the ground now, certain he would laugh at my beauty pageant reply. I meant it though, I knew enough about being “less fortunate” to know that if I ever got the chance to help others in that situation, I would jump at the chance.
“Not at all,” he replied nodding. His head was down now as we walked, and a grin lit up his face. “You’re certainly a breath of fresh air around here,” he muttered.
Barely concealing my own grin, I kept my head down. I did notice his expression begin to turn, however.
“I’m not supposed to say anything, but I’m sorry for happened to your mom. I couldn’t imagine. It’s so tough for those of us who choose to live outside of Brighton. My uncle, kindest man I’ve ever known, attacked in his bed, dragged outside like some kind of animal…”
The anger was visible in his face and I could hear it in his voice as he spoke.
“I just try not to think about it,” I said. "It's easier for me to stay positive that way."
He was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry, Ana. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
I really wished he wouldn’t have. I’d managed not to think about it much today—not too much anyway—and that was the key to managing I’d found. I’d been given so many distractions here and I was thankful for that. I felt the stirring emotion inside and waited for the crippling pain. For the crying. They didn’t come. What did come were two handfuls of water.
Darren stood near the edge of the pond, uncertain of my reaction.
“I can’t believe you would do that!” I shouted. “Insensitive jerk!”
“Listen…I, I mean I wasn’t thinking…” He was taking small steps backwards, rattling off apologies and when he was close enough to the water, I pushed him in.
He laughed. Hard. “Well, you gotta pull me out,” he said, offering up his hand.
I knew it was a trick, but I gave him my hand anyway. I made sure I splashed in his direction. We spent the better part of ten minutes shoveling water at one another, and once we were as soaked as was humanly possible, we crawled onto the bank and laid out next to the duck shaped hedges.
“I don’t think I've had this much fun since I was twelve,” he said finally, laughing.
I stared up at the sky. I hadn’t ever had this much fun—certainly not this kind of fun. Being able to do something spontaneous was so new to me. Everything in my life was always planned out, every minute of every day. So many rules to follow, procedures to remember… Was it any wonder that in only a day and a half I couldn’t cry anymore? Truth be told, I felt relieved not to always be worrying, to know that this was home, that it could be for as long as I wanted to. Relieved to have another friend.
Well, relief and guilt for feeling relieved. I tried not to think about it for very long but it wasn’t as easy this time. “Do you even want her to come back?" said a voice in my head. “This could all end if she does—“
“What are you thinking about over there?” Darren asked.
“Darren, please don’t bring up my mother anymore.”
His face straightened. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
The sun was bright overhead by the time we started back for the house. As we entered the gardens, he stopped me.
“Listen, I know my grandmother's kinda anxious for us to be a couple, and I could totally understand if that turns you off, but I really had fun today and I didn’t expect to like you as much as I do. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’d really like for us to hang out sometime.”
I stared at this boy in disbelief. He wanted to spend time with me? I tried to play it cool, but I could feel my face flushing yet again. “Uh, um, s-sure,” I stuttered.
That was smooth.
“No pressure?”
“No pressure,” I answered smiling.
Chapter 7
Helpless
The morning’s celebration was ending when Darren and I returned. Breakfast had been served and finished and the maids were busily moving around the room collecting plates. My grandmother waved us over. I followed Darren toward her table, looking over my shoulder at the trail of water we were leaving behind.
The women at her table all broke into fits of giggles as we approached. Again Darren’s grandmother sprang up from the table. She looked us over.
“Well, you two certainly had a good time, it seems,” she said with another wink. “A little romantic swim?”
Darren and I looked at one another and smiled. I stole a glance at my grandmother. I’d been nervous about returning to her gathering soaking wet, and was wary of her reaction, but there was no need for worry I found, she looked thoroughly amused.
“In any case,” she continued. “It has been a real pleasure to meet you Anastasia. You truly are a lovely girl.”
“Thank you,” I answered politely.
“Come on child,” she said beaming at Darren. “Let’s not wear out our welcome.”
Darren nodded. “See you later, Ana. And don’t worry, what happens on the stairs, stays on the stairs,” he laughed.
I felt my face flush once again. It would get stuck this shade if I wasn’t careful.
My grandmother stood up next and took me around the room for a quick meet and greet with who I guessed were some of the important people I would need to know. Most were very old, and stared at me strangely when I appeared in front of them dripping wet, but bowed just the same, each expressing how exciting it was to have me home in Brighton. That, and again how remarkably I resembled my aunt.
It occurred to me, as I watched everyone file out of the ballroom, that it was probably pretty rude of me to skip out on my own welcome party. On the other hand, it wasn’t like it hadn’t been time well spent. Darren was amazing.
My grandmother walked me as far as the stairwell leading up to my mother’s and aunt’s part of the house. I noticed a hint of emotion in her face once she’d stopped short of the first stair.
“The afternoon is yours to spend however you like. I have some important matters that need my attention, and they will probably take up most of the day. Whatever you choose to do, please try to be finished by six o’clock. I want you to meet me in my study so that we can go over a few things.”
“Okay.”
She gave one more thoughtful glance up the stairs and then turned and headed back toward the ballroom. I upped the stairs at a run, eager to get dry.
********************
I spent the afternoon lounging around my room in an old pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. They felt wonderful after having to put on that dress. “Baby steps,” I told myself. I had already seen the most of the grounds, so there wasn’t really any need to go exploring. Besides, I was perfectly content to reminisce about my earlier visit.
Helena rushed me the phone a little after five. It was Darren. I wasn’t sure if she was more excited or I was.
“Hello?” I said nervously.
“Hey, I was just wondering if you were going to school tomorrow.”
“Oh, I didn’t know it started so soon,” I answered. Hadn’t August just started? “I’ll probably end up starting late or something.”<
br />
“Okay, well just let me know if you need a ride.”
“I will.”
Darren hung up. Helena took the phone and held it close to her chest. “It’s so nice to have youngsters around the house again!”
She disappeared into the hall and I slipped into silly daydreams about showing up at school with the star quarterback. Naturally, there would jealous girls who would hate me for it, but I would just magic them into hamsters or something—whenever it was I learned how to do magic. Of course, that was assuming that everyone here couldn’t do magic. Everyone I’d met so far had been a witch or whatever it is you call a boy witch. Did Duncan say they were called warlocks? I tried to imagine a school for witches—would we make potions in chemistry? Or fly around on brooms for gym? How cool would that be?
At five minutes to six, Helena arrived at my door. I followed her down the stairs and through the house until we ended up back at the large double doors that shielded my grandmother’s study.
We didn’t have to knock this time. The doors parted—by themselves. Helena led me inside.
The room was dark save for the faint streaks of candlelight that danced across the shelves of books. My grandmother was seated at her desk, dressed in a black robe, her silver hair tied neatly behind her head. Her brown eyes sparkled.
“Have a seat, Anastasia,” she said smiling.
I took the seat opposite her desk, and Helena bowed out of the room. I only noticed her exit because I heard her footsteps moving away—my grandmother held my eyes. Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight, radiating a power that I could not only see, but feel.
“I am sure that you must have questions about all of this,” she opened.
“Not really,” I replied, feeling shy all of a sudden. “I think Duncan explained everything earlier.”
“I’m aware of what he’s shared with you. Surely, you must still have questions? Like when you’ll be able to do magick?”
I smiled faintly. “I was wondering about that.”
“I’m sure you have. Eliza—Darren’s grandmother alluded to it earlier. Witches must come of age before their abilities begin to emerge. It usually happens around their sixteenth birthday. Not very far off for you.”
“But Duncan’s grandson, he can’t be more than ten…”
“Warlocks, or male witches, get their abilities much earlier than girls, but are usually much less powerful. The exception being attack minded spells.”
Her mention of warlocks had brought Darren to mind. And his offer to give me a ride.
“I was also wondering about school. Darren says it starts tomorrow.”
My grandmother frowned. “I don’t know if school is a good idea, Anastasia. As an heir, your abilities will come on strong, much more suddenly than your peers. You would not be able to control them at first. If it were to happen in a public place…”
“So not everyone here is a witch or boy witch?” I decided I didn’t like the name warlock, it sounded like something out of a comic book.
“Oh no dear. Only a very small percentage of Brighton belongs to our witching community. Though the city was founded by witches as a safe haven after the persecutions brought against us in our former home of Salem, many non-magicking folk have moved here in the time since. The country was growing, we couldn’t very well shut them out. We did, however, learn one very valuable lesson from Salem—the importance of keeping our community a secret from those not like us.”
There was a pause before she continued. “I’m afraid school is out of the question.”
“Stand your ground,” said a voice inside my head. “I’d really like to start this year. Whatever happens, I’ll deal with it.”
I saw a flash of annoyance in my grandmother’s eyes. But when she spoke, her voice was quiet.
“Anastasia, you hardly need school. Our family is very wealthy—“
“I want to go!” I shouted, pounding the desk with my fist and knocking a couple of the candles onto the floor.
My grandmother looked up at me with stunned eyes. I was equally as stunned. Where had that come from? I wanted to apologize, but something refused to let me. “Be your own woman,” the voice said.
“If you feel that strongly, then I won’t stop you.”
I’d gotten what I wanted, but whatever this was that had come over me still wasn’t satisfied. “Another thing,” I continued. “What happened to my aunt?”
My grandmother turned her face from mine and leaned back in her chair.
I stood up. “Tell me what happened to her!”
My grandmother stood up next. “Please Anastasia, don’t ask me that. It’s not something I’m proud of—“
“Tell me!” I shouted again. “It’s your fault isn’t? You are why she had to act so desperately.”
Tears began down her face. She moved away from me and I followed her.
“Let me be!” she shouted back at me, lifting her hand toward me. She shouted something else, and what felt like a wall of air slammed into me, causing me to stumble backwards.
Anger raged inside of me. With a thought, I sent her to the floor. I walked over to her, this time lifting my hand toward her…
“Anastasia!” Helena shouted from behind me.
I came to my senses. I gasped as I looked down at my grandmother, cowering beneath me. I ran. I pushed past Helena in the doorway and didn’t stop until I got to my room.
I arrived there, shivering. I couldn’t believe what I’d done. Those thoughts, those emotions…Where had they come from? Surely my grandmother would kick me out of her house. Attacking her like that—it was unforgivable.
As my face became wet with tears, I stumbled over to my bed. There was a piece of paper on my pillow.
Dear Diary,
Tonight’s the end. I’ve never felt such a thing as this. I shouldn’t love him. I can’t, it’s wrong. But how can I deny myself this? Everything in my being loves this boy. I used to feel so trapped in this life, never being able to pursue the things I’ve wanted. I’d lost hope. But now I believe again. And he’s the reason. I’m meeting him tonight, in our spot. This may be my last entry.
I threw it on the floor. I tried not to think about it, to push all of that craziness from my mind. I couldn’t.
I stood up, wiping my face. I walked over to the glass wall and gazed out at the night sky while I gathered my thoughts. My eyes settled on the maze of hedges. “Our spot,” I thought. Our spot? No, their spot. “What is wrong with me? Am I losing it?” I ran back to my bed and buried my head under the pillows.
I tried to calm myself, but it was no use. My heart was pounding in my chest. It was all I could do just to keep still. Memories flooded my mind, but these weren’t my memories… I could picture the spot in my head. I could see him there moving toward me. I could feel his kiss on my lips.
Something in my heart—my soul, yearned for him.
I got up. I ran out into the hall, downed the stairs, and crossed the floor into the ballroom. I found the backdoor and rushed outside.
It was a windy night, and the air felt cool against the wetness on my face. I didn’t know where I was going exactly but that didn’t slow me down. I moved quickly through the gardens and past the animal shaped hedges. I only stopped because I ran into a wall—literally.
The outer walls of the maze stood up tall in front of me. It occurred to me that I had no idea where the entrance was, and that it would probably take hours to walk the perimeter of this massive thing. I looked back at the house, lights were coming on. I didn’t have much time.
“Go right.”
I did. I ran as fast as I could, following the wall until it gave way to a small archway near the end. It was dark inside the maze, and eerie sounds passed easily through its walls, reaching me at the entrance. It was terrifying, and yet as I struggled to keep still from the shivering, I knew that I couldn’t turn back now.
I darted off into the dark of the maze. I turned left and then right and then left again. I had no idea w
hether or not I was making any progress. My thoughts told me where to go and I listened, praying that I didn’t get lost in here.
The maze began to take its toll. The deeper I got, the darker it became; the walls seemed to grow in size, casting their shadows onto the floor below. Would this maze ever end? It felt like I’d been running for days. My lungs were burning, my head throbbing with the rapid pulse of my heart. I wanted to stop, to lay here until somebody found me, but I couldn’t. Something inside pleaded for me to keep going. Stumbling and out of breath, I continued.
Finally, the walls began to shrink, disappearing into the ground and revealing a large open area. But I was exhausted. I’d gone far beyond my limits and now felt myself on the verge of passing out. The world became blurry and what I could see seemed to spin around me. There was something large and white ahead of me, if I could just make it there…
I reached it, somehow. Pure willpower. Though it didn’t feel like my own. I sat down against the edge of the large white shimmering thing and closed my eyes. “Open them,” shouted the voice in my head. I forced my eyelids to part. As my body recovered from the exhaustion, my eyesight got a little better. Everything was still blurry, but it had at least stopped spinning. I looked around me. Nothing. No one.
I was alone. After all of that, there was no one here. Disappointment began to claw at my insides and I found myself crying, again. Desperate thoughts flashed in my mind. “Had I missed him? Was I too late? Had he ever been here? He had to have been. Keep looking. I’ve got to get up and keep looking for him.”
I forced myself to my feet. I felt light headed and couldn’t keep my balance. My body gave out. I fell backwards and something caught me. I stared up at his bright green eyes and smiled. I’d done it.
“You remembered,” he spoke softly.
I nodded and the world faded to black.
Chapter 8
Manipulated
When my eyes opened, a dozen faces hovered above mine, each suddenly relieved. “Oh thank goodness,” said one of them.
I was back in my room. I recognized Darren’s grandmother in the group huddled over me. She smiled and touched my hand and then stepped away. With my eyes, I followed her over to another group. This one included my grandmother and Helena, and a very tall woman with long jet black hair, among others. They were very animated in whatever they were discussing, that is, until Darren’s grandmother arrived, at which point they each turned to face me. The tall dark haired woman strode over quickly and the group surrounding my bed parted to give her space.
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