Visions of the Witch - [Whispers 04]

by Tara West

  “It doesn’t, Deborah Cobbet. It belongs to me, and now, to AJ.” Maura/Krysta turned to me and placed the book in my arms. In a smooth motion, Maura stepped away from Krysta until they both stood in front of me again.

  “Me?” I gazed down at the massive book, overwhelmed by how heavy it was. “What am I going to do with it?”

  Maura smiled. “Forge your own destiny.”

  I clutched the book to my chest and nodded. “Okay.”

  Benjamin and Maura clasped hands. “We’re ready, Krysta.”

  There was no fanfare involved. We said our thanks and goodbyes, then the happy couple stared into one another’s eyes. Olive, DeWan, Deb, Tony, and I held hands in a circle surrounding them, Tony and I connected to Krysta. She murmured an incantation, and the warmth of her spell passed over me. She drew from our combined power, the power of a coven that a week ago had not existed, and today, was spiritually connected so deeply I wondered how we’d fare if we went back home.

  When we went back home. Not if. But the thought didn’t soothe me. The warmth passed. Maura and Benjamin were gone.

  ***

  Sophie

  After Ethan left, I rushed back inside and quickly vacuumed the den before racing to my room. I had questions. Lots of questions. And I suspected my cat had the answers.

  Alessia was sprawled out on my bed waiting for me. That’s when I noticed new scratch marks across my comforter. I cringed when I thought about my mom’s reaction. She was bound to find out soon.

  My cat didn’t seem to be fazed when I shook my head at her. She flicked her tail back and forth, eyeing me as if she was a queen on her throne, and she was entitled to shred whatever she liked.

  There was no denying it. My diva feline was growing on me.

  I walked over and sank into the padded mattress before grabbing my stuffed teddy bear, Mr. Panker, off the bed and squeezing it to my chest.

  For a brief moment, my brain registered how silly and lovesick I was acting. All over a boy. I hadn’t had a crush on a guy since my freshman boyfriend, Frankie. But my crush on Ethan was much stronger, and I was finally starting to understand why.

  I looked down at my kitty. “A couple questions.”

  She slowly rose while digging her claws into my comforter. Then she crawled into my lap, looking up at me expectantly. I have needs, too.

  I rolled my eyes and reached behind her ears before shooting her a mental message. Bossy cat.

  She casually flicked her tail. Ears first, then stroke my back.

  Knowing this was a battle I was sure to lose, I ran my fingers through her soft fur. Then I mentally prepared myself to ask her the questions which had been burning a hole through my cranium for the past ten minutes. “Can boys be witches?” I asked.

  Of course.

  “Are cats the only familiars or can witches have other animals?”

  Other animals.

  I thought back to when Ethan told me he kinda had a pet. Kinda? I guess having a crow familiar would be kinda like having a pet. “Like crows?”

  Yes.

  My mouth suddenly felt parched, like I’d swallowed a wad of cotton. Could he be a witch, too? I licked my lips and summoned the courage to ask the next question. “What does it mean when a witch always has messy hair, kinda like windy hair?”

  The witch needs to learn personal hygiene.

  I heard her feline chuckle resonate through my brain.

  “You know that’s not what I mean.”

  Sometimes the witch is either a wind speaker or an elemental.

  “What are those?” I asked, fearing and yet anticipating the answer.

  Wind speakers can harness air for their magic. Elementals can harness all of the elements.

  Holy crap!

  I thought back to all the times Ethan and I had been together. Like on that first day of school, when it felt like the temperature had dropped ten degrees after he’d walked into the room. That was the day he’d been having bad thoughts, probably about his former parents.

  I remembered how my body had warmed when he was near and how my soul had practically been set on fire when he touched me. I thought the warmth had been my skin flushing because of nerves, but what if?

  “So they can make the temperature change?” I asked Alessia.

  Yes, depending on their moods.

  Holy crap was right! No wonder we had perfect chemistry when we rehearsed. No wonder I had these insatiable cravings to be near him. Ethan was like me. Ethan was a witch!

  ***

  Krysta

  We were in the car before someone finally spoke.

  Deb’s soft voice broke the silence. “AJ, I promise, I didn’t know.”

  I glanced over my shoulder. AJ’s lips were pursed; I wasn’t sure I trusted Deb, either. But Tony clamped a hand to her shoulder and shook his head.

  “She’s kinda tough, but she’s no villain,” he said.

  AJ stroked the book in her lap. “Okay. I believe you.”

  “I’m sorry for what he did.”

  “You had no control over it,” I assured her. I made a mental note to talk to AJ about it later. It would be best if that book of hers was kept hidden, at least until we knew Deb’s real motivations.

  DeWan’s honey-smooth tones drifted from the very back seat. “The best way to rise above the failures of your ancestors is to be better than they were.”

  Tony and DeWan high-fived. “Well said, dude.”

  The van took us closer to home, to Aunt B’s house, which felt like home. I didn’t say anything about the ritual. Neither did anyone else. We were still processing, I think. AJ had worked some serious binding magic.

  I didn’t know if my best friend recognized exactly what I’d learned these past few nights.

  I could summon ghosts at will.

  I could summon my mother.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sophie

  “Hey, Ethan. So, I hear you’re a witch. Good thing because I’m a witch , too.” I lifted my chin and smiled at myself in the mirror, before biting my lower lip for good measure. I was trying my best to look and sound cute and funny, with maybe just a touch of flirtatiousness. Ethan seemed like the kind of guy who’d respond well to flirting. I turned to Alessia, who was lounging on my satin comforter. “How’s that? Does it sound too—”

  Stupid, she answered with a half-lidded glare.

  My mouth fell open as I turned to the mirror. My chest literally deflated before my eyes. “Well, that wasn’t the word I’d had in mind.”

  Word of advice from your familiar. Alessia’s voice resonated in my head. Don’t bring it up. Just let it come naturally.

  I sank onto the padded chair beside my vanity table and hung my head in my hands. My parents had agreed to let Ethan take me home today, which was a really big deal for them. Alone in a car with a cute boy— who was also a witch. And I wasn’t supposed to say anything? Just let it come naturally? Ethan was probably the only other kid at school like me, maybe even the only other kid in this entire state like me. How could I not say anything?

  I looked into the mirror and glared at my cat’s reflection. “So you want me to ride home with him every day after school and pretend neither of us are witches?”

  She casually flicked her tail. Sounds like a good plan.

  I picked up my brush and violently pulled it through my hair. Meanwhile, I was fuming. How could Alessia be so indifferent about this? Didn’t she know what this meant to me? After AJ and Krysta left, I’d had no one. But now there was Ethan.

  “He’s probably the only guy witch I’ll ever meet, and you want me to pretend we’re both normal?”

  Alessia shot me a pointed look. You’re going to pull out all of your hair.

  “Alessia,” I set the brush down and heaved a sigh. “I like this guy. I really like him. And now we have a connection.”

  You’ve always had a connection and you always will. Do you think you were drawn together by accident?

  Well, yeah. Up until n
ow, that’s what I had thought. So how else had we been brought together? Then a thought struck me. Could a stronger power have guided me to him, just like I had been drawn to AJ and Krysta?

  “Are you saying it was magic? That’s how I met Ethan?”

  Magic, fate, whatever you want to call it. And fate should never be pushed or manipulated.

  “What’s so wrong in telling him I’m a witch?”

  He may not be ready to hear it.

  “Ethan?” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She obviously didn’t know him like I did. Ethan was always in a good mood, and I didn’t need to be a mind reader to know he was totally interested in me. I knew if I told him I was a witch, he’d be relieved to know I was like him, too.

  But judging by the way my cat was still leering at me, I was starting to have second thoughts.

  I turned in my chair and folded my arms while leveling her with a glare. “So how do I let this come naturally? Am I supposed to let Ethan accidentally find out I’m a witch? Should I pop into his brain by mistake?” I threw my hands in the air, my voice nearly turning shrill as I proceeded to talk to myself out loud. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry Ethan. I didn’t mean to pry inside your head. Now that I’m here, I suppose you should know that I’m a witch.”

  Alessia’s feline hiss resonated in my brain. You have so much to learn.

  I shook my head, groaning. When was this cat going to give me a break? I’d already demonstrated plenty of self-control with Vanessa. After all, despite the overwhelming urge to make her look like a total sputtering idiot, I had held back and let her say her lines without incident. Didn’t I deserve kudos for that?

  I squared my shoulders. “I think I’ve made a lot of progress this week.”

  Alessia shook her head, snickering. As a witch, yes, you’ve made progress, but you still have a lot to learn about boys.

  Oh.

  ***

  I rubbed my fingers up and down the padded vinyl seat while stealing a glance at Ethan who was behind the wheel. I tried my best to ignore the fluttering butterflies in my stomach. This was the first time I’d ever ridden in a guy’s car, well other than with my dad and AJ’s brother. But they totally didn’t count. Besides, Dad’s truck was always a mess. Ethan’s car was clean and in perfect condition. It even had that new smell. He had a sweet stereo with an iPod docking station and a kick butt sound system. I was totally impressed.

  My parents had already hinted my first car would be a clunker, or as my dad liked to call it, “a starter car.” With two sisters in college, plus helping support their twin grandbabies, my parents were strapped for cash. I suppose I should consider myself lucky my parents were considering buying me a car at all. I briefly wondered if Ethan’s adoptive parents were rich, or maybe he was just spoiled rotten. Either way, I was totally jealous, while at the same time, I was also squeeing in my pants that I got to be a passenger in a hot car owned by a cute guy.

  And yet, he’d been strangely quiet for most of the ride. Why? I figured if he didn’t want to talk to me, he’d have that state-of-the-art stereo of his at full blast, but he had the volume set at a barely audible decibel. I had to strain my ears just to hear the lyrics. At least my parents would have been pleased.

  “Thanks again for driving me home,” I said to Ethan in an attempt to break the stifling silence that hung between us.

  “No problem.” He shrugged his shoulders before flashing that winning smile. “You were awesome tonight.”

  “Really?” I couldn’t control the blush that crept into my cheeks.

  “Yeah.” He flashed that adorable slanted smile while tilting his messy mop of hair toward me. “You’re a natural.”

  I bit my lower lip, trying my best to control my inner squee. Ethan liked me. I knew he did. No other guy would be so nice to me if he wasn’t interested. Then a thought struck me, a strong urge to pop inside his head and confirm it. But, no, I couldn’t. Ethan and I had lasted this far with me keeping out of his head. I didn’t want to ruin a good thing, anyway. No, this time I’d trust in my instincts, and my instincts were telling me to make the next move.

  “So are you, Ethan.” I smiled coyly while batting my lashes. “I think we work well together.” I twisted my fingers in my lap before expelling a huge rush of air. Just say it, Sophie. “You know, it’s kinda like we were almost fated to work together.”

  The look Ethan shot me was not one I’d expected. Though his glance was fleeting, there was no mistaking the look of despair in his wide eyes.

  Oh, crap.

  Maybe Ethan didn’t like me. What the hell kinda mind reader was I that I hadn’t seen that coming?

  Despite the warmth from the car heater, a chill settled in my bones. I shivered, rubbing my arms. Just knowing Ethan’s magic may have been the cause for the sudden drop in temperature, caused an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  Ethan turned up the dial on the heater. “You look cold. Sorry about that.”

  Sorry about what? I thought. Sorry his mood had nearly sent me into hypothermia?

  “That’s okay,” I said, though my tongue felt like a dead weight in my mouth. I clenched the door handle and looked out the window. We were still several miles from my house. Crud.

  Once again, awkward silence ensued. At that moment, I wished my clothes were ten sizes too big, so I could crawl beneath them and hide until we’d reached my house. Why had I told him we were fated? What had I been thinking? More importantly, what had he been thinking?

  I fisted my hands by my sides, as my jaw hardened with resolve. What was Ethan Maeson thinking? No more playing nice. No more pretending I didn’t want to know. For the briefest of moments, I popped into his head.

  Now she’s upset. You’re an idiot, Ethan.

  My eyes darted to him. He was clenching the steering wheel, his steely gaze focused on the road. Darn right, Ethan, you were being an idiot. But why? I had to know. One more time, I promised myself. One more time, then I’d stay out of his head for good.

  You blew your chance.

  Warmth seeped into my chilled bones. Ethan liked me! I knew it! Maybe he was just too shy to admit it. Or maybe he didn’t realize I was a witch like him. I could totally understand his hesitation. But if he knew I was like him, maybe that would put him at ease. I could feel the void between us widening, like a hollow, cold aura drawing us apart. Somehow I suspected the cold was emanating from him. I had to break the tension before it was too late.

  Say something, Sophie, I told myself. “This is a nice car.”

  Ethan turned back to me, a slight smile lifting one corner of his mouth, revealing a cute dimple in his cheek. “Thanks. I’m making the payments myself.”

  “Really? You have a job?” I didn’t know any other high school kids who could afford a car like this.

  “Air conditioning and heater repair.” He shrugged before turning the car onto my block. “I help my dad with emergency calls.”

  Crap. We were in my neighborhood too soon. I was hoping we’d have longer to talk. I knew I had to step up my game, and fast. “Seems like a fitting job for you. You know, the whole hot and cold thing.”

  The look Ethan shot me was even more devastating than the first, like I’d just sprouted a dozen festering, ginormous pimples on my face and a witchy wart to boot.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You know what?” I sunk lower in my seat while shaking my head. “Never mind.”

  Alessia was right. I really did have a lot to learn about boys.

  I don’t know why I continued to torture myself, but I just had to know what he was thinking, and so glutton for punishment that I was, I popped into his head as we were pulling into my driveway.

  Big mistake.

  At that moment, all I wanted to do was get out of his car and get away from Ethan Maeson as quickly as possible.

  That’s because one word, and one word only, flashed through his mind. Awkward.

  Yep, that about summed it up.

&nb
sp; ***

  As soon as I got home, I made my excuses to the parents and ran upstairs. Alessia was waiting for me on the bed, a knowing expression in her cool kitty eyes. But at least she didn’t rub it in.

  Obviously Ethan wasn’t ready. Maybe the boy had some kind of witch issues. I laughed at that. Yeah, I knew all about witch issues.

  I guessed I’d take my familiar’s advice and give Ethan some time. Let it come naturally.

  But I still wasn’t happy about it, especially considering I knew Ethan liked me. What was up with him, anyway? Hot one minute, cold the next.

  At that moment, I knew I needed someone to talk to. Sure, my familiar had been great so far, but I needed to talk to someone else. I sent Krysta a text, and after a few minutes with no response, I sat at my desk and turned on my computer. Krysta wasn’t on Facebook, either.

  Just then, my phone vibrated. I practically flew out of my chair and pounced on my bed before unlocking the phone. It was Krysta.

  I’m here. Phone was charging. Sorry.

  I quickly fired off my response. This just in. Boys suck.

  It only took a few seconds for her to reply. Oh, no. What happened?

  I’ll tell you when you get here. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving.

  And I really couldn’t. I realized I’d been acting like a total freak these past few weeks, angry at the world for being cursed with these powers. But for some reason, I didn’t feel anger anymore, now that I knew I wasn’t the only freak on the planet. Sure, I was different, but I had been created this way for a reason. And whatever that reason was, I knew I would have to trust in fate, my friends and in my familiar to help me make sense of my life. I leaned down and scratched Alessia behind the ears. I could tell by that half-lidded glare of hers, she’d been impatiently waiting.

  We can’t wait to see you. Krysta responded. R U okay?

  I heaved a sigh as I stared down at Krysta’s response. Despite Ethan’s strange behavior, for some reason, I was doing better. I think maybe it was because I’d finally learned to accept who I was. Yes. I’m much better.

  I laughed as Alessia thumped her tail beside me. Sometime during my texting, I’d forgotten to keep scratching. I stroked her some more, knowing she’d soon show her displeasure at my lame attempt. It was hard to focus on pampering your familiar while texting.