Ellen pleasantly grinned as Jeanie informed, “Witchcraft is real.”
“And how would you know that?” Ray-ray asked just as Ellen took a bite of food.
“My mom told me stories about her college roommate,” Jeanie replied. “Her roommate was big on creating her own good luck charms and… and things like that. And I’m with Billie, Ellen. By you being a witch or sorceress won’t hurt our friendship.”
“Ellen, does it talk about witchcraft and sorcery in those journals?” Marcie asked.
Ellen swallowed the bite that she took before saying, “I hope I don’t regret this, but here it is. My ancestors were wizards and sorceresses, but each time twins were born the wizard line splits and became weaker, and twins were born every three generations after Merlin.”
“Wait!” Billie uttered. “Doesn’t your dad have a twin brother?”
Ellen grinned before saying, “Yes. My grandpa… my dad’s dad was a wizard. However, my grandpa didn’t know about the Legacy volumes nor did he know that he was a wizard.”
“And you’re certain that you’re not a wizard or witch?” Ray-ray asked.
Ellen slightly fidgeted before saying, “Here’s the thing. Wizards and sorceresses are more powerful than warlocks and witches. I don’t carry the mark of Merlin as my grandpa did, so I’m not a sorceress, but… but I can still be a witch with a hefty bite.”
“You should do it,” Ray-ray encouraged.
“What?” Ellen quickly questioned while sounding surprised.
“I would do it,” Ray-ray confessed.
“I would too,” Marcie also confessed.
“I think most people would,” Billie added.
“And you guys wouldn’t think badly of me if I would learn witchcraft?” Ellen questioned.
“Not at all, Glinda,” Billie said with a grin.
Ellen grinned before requesting, “Please don’t repeat what we had discussed with anyone else.”
“We won’t,” Billie, Marcie, Ray-ray and Jeanie assured Ellen.
“And now you can keep us updated with your drama without holding out on us,” Marcie added. “Right?”
Ellen held her grin and hesitated to say, “There are three lines of wizards and they all go back to Merlin. Tanya was from one of the other two lines.”
“So was Tanya a wizard… or whatever the female version of a wizard is?” Billie asked.
“Sorceress, and Mike, Tanya, Harris and I are all in the Phoenix stage,” Ellen began. “And before any of you ask, another set of twins has to be born before the mark of Merlin could die out completely…”
“Ellen,” Ray-ray called to grab her attention. Ellen stopped talking and looked at him. “You had never explained the mark of Merlin.”
Ellen grinned before saying, “Ah, sorry. The mark of Merlin is a birthmark that all wizards and sorceresses who are related to Merlin carry. I don’t carry the mark. Neither did Mike nor did Tanya, but Sonya does.”
“So Sonya’s a sorceress?” Billie and Marcie asked.
“She is, and by her being a sorceress is how I found out about any of this,” Ellen told them. “And again please keep this to yourselves.”
“Ellen, I don’t think anyone would believe us even if we did tell people,” Jeanie said.
“Yeah, well, I don’t want to take that chance,” Ellen informed.
“I won’t tell,” Billie said. “I promise.”
“We promise,” Jeanie added before Marcie and Ray-ray agreed.
“Besides, the threat of you turning us into toads now hangs over our heads if we talk,” Ray-ray jokingly added.
“I wouldn’t,” Ellen insisted in a tone as if she was insulted by the accusation.
“Relax, Ellen, I was only joking,” Ray-ray said.
“Yes, well, I wouldn’t do that,” Ellen continued to insist more calmly. “What I would do though if people would find out is leave the country with Sonya and never look back.”
“No one will find out from us,” Billie insisted.
“No one,” Marcie, Jeanie and Ray-ray strongly added.
“Okay,” Ellen said in a calm tone.
“So what else can you tell us?” Billie prompted eagerly.
Ellen slightly grinned before saying, “Shannon, Tanya’s mom had requested that I read her family’s first three Legacy volumes before I even touch the witchcraft, and I agreed willingly. The three volumes are on the later half of the Wizard Wars…”
“Wizard Wars?!” Marcie questioned.
Ellen vigorously nodded before she continued talking about the wars.
Chapter Eleven
Harris, Shannon and Avery’s flight to London, England was uneventful. As soon as they arrived Shannon’s mother Laura, Shannon’s sister Mary and Mary’s daughter Sadie met them with consoling hugs for each of them.
Once the hugs were over, the six went and watched as the airport workers placed Tanya’s casket into the hearse. They then walked to Mary’s minivan, climbed in and followed the hearse to the funeral home.
Laura and Mary had begun the funeral arrangements the week before, and once the six had gotten to the funeral home Shannon and Avery finalized them.
The viewing was Tuesday. All of Tanya’s relatives, most of her friends who had known her from the age of eight and a few friends from the States had showed up for it.
When Wednesday morning came, everyone who had showed up for the viewing had showed up for the funeral as well.
Once the funeral was concluded, most of the relatives and a few of Tanya’s friends had gone back to Shannon and Avery’s house.
Harris was moping near the foyer and just saying, ‘hi’ to anyone who would acknowledge his presence.
Sadie saw Harris and stepped up to him before questioning, “Are you as miserable as you look?”
“I hate funerals… and these gatherings afterwards,” Harris told her.
“I assure you that the two aren’t my cup of tea either,” Sadie said. “But Tanya wouldn’t want you lying about in misery.”
“Sadie, I love you, but I’m not in the mood for your pep talk right now,” Harris warned. “So take a step back.”
“Okay, okay,” Sadie agreed in a surrendering manner. “Don’t get all defensive. Anyway, I came to talk to you for another purpose entirely.”
“I’m listening,” Harris said.
“I put together a magic spells beginner’s manual for Ellen and Sonya,” Sadie informed. She then saw a troubled expression coming across his face. “I realize you don’t like witchcraft…”
“It’s not that I don’t like it,” Harris interjected. “I just wasn’t interested in it as you are. And neither was Tanya.”
“It sounds as though that Ellen will be… or at least wants to be.”
“Yes,” Harris agreed sullenly. “I can tell that she’s ready to dive in head first, and I fear that she might not be as levelheaded with the witchcraft as you are.” Sadie’s facial expression changed slightly to as if what Harris was saying wasn’t exactly an accurate statement. “You never do an incantation without looking at all six sides first, and you would be the best teacher for Ellen and Sonya. But…”
When Harris stopped talking, Sadie questioned, “But?”
Harris slightly hesitated to say, “But I don’t think that a homemade beginner’s manual will teach Ellen and Sonya what they need to know.”
“What do Ellen and Sonya need to know?” Sadie asked curiously.
“The absolute respect for the craft as you have,” Harris replied.
Sadie slightly grinned before saying, “As you well know, I’m older than you… and even Tanya by a few weeks. So you might not remember this, but when I was sixteen, I was diving head first into the pool of witchcraft myself… and being quite reckless with it I might add.” Harris gave Sadie an incredulous look as she continued with, “In fact, it took a few spells literally blowing up in my face for me to learn the respect that I have today for it. I still have the bloody scar from the last spell that blew
up in my face.”
“What scar?” Harris questioned.
“It’s behind my left ear.”
“I’ve never seen a scar,” Harris said while trying to look.
“I got lucky; my hair grew back and covered it,” Sadie informed. “It’s there though; trust me. Anyway, my point is; I wasn’t always the safety nut that I’ve been accused of being when it comes to witchcraft.”
Harris embarrassingly grinned before questioning innocently, “Who’s been accusing you of being a safety nut?”
“My brothers and you to point out four people,” Sadie retorted with a grin. “It’s true though, so I can’t bloody well get upset over the accusation. Anyway, I had learned to respect the craft, and I’m sure in time that Ellen and Sonya will also.”
“Yes, well, I just hope that Ellen learns to respect it before she loses her hair or a vital body part… or even kill somebody by accident.”
“Aunt Shannon says that Ellen’s a bright young woman,” Sadie began. “I’d only met her at Tanya and Mike’s wedding and from what I saw she seemed highly responsible, so I don’t really see her diving into the pool of witchcraft blindly. In fact, the only fear that I have with Ellen learning witchcraft is that she won’t know what hazards to look out for…”
“Thank you,” Harris uttered as if his point was just made.
Sadie amusingly grinned as she continued with, “Which is true with all novices and apprentices. But if she’s as bright as Aunt Shannon makes out, I have a feeling that she’ll be a quick learner.”
“I hope so,” Harris agreed sullenly.
“May I offer a suggestion?” Sadie requested.
Harris shot her a curious look before saying, “This is the first time that you offered your suggestion rather than coming out with it.”
“Yes, well, I fear that you won’t like what I’m about to suggest,” Sadie explained.
“Which is?” Harris prompted.
“Learn the craft alongside Ellen. Ellen might not recognize the hazards when she comes to them, but you might.”
Harris grinned before saying, “I had a feeling that you were going to suggest that, and I have to admit that, that had crossed my mind as well.”
“So does that mean you’ll be doing it?” Sadie questioned.
“It depends.”
When Harris didn’t finish, Sadie asked, “It depends on what?”
Harris again grinned before saying, “If I can’t talk you into coming back to the States with me and be Ellen’s mentor.”
Sadie amusingly grinned before sarcastically saying, “Right. I should close up my bookstore and move to… to Georgia.”
“You wouldn’t have to close…” Harris was only able to get out.
“Trust me, I would,” Sadie quickly said. “Most of my customers come in for the tarot card readings and the palm readings that I provide and not the books. If I would move away, my business would go out of business.”
Harris slightly shook his head with a grin before saying, “Well, it was just a thought anyway.”
“You, Allyson, Ellen and Sonya could always move here to London, you know,” Sadie pointed out.
Harris grinned before saying, “Allyson would move here if I ask her to, but she would be a fish out of water if she would move away from Savannah, Georgia, and I wouldn’t do that to her.”
“Okay, well, you can visit more often,” Sadie again pointed out.
“The same can be said about you,” Harris retorted.
“Point taken, Harry,” Sadie said with an amused grin. “Anyway, you know my cell phone number and the number to the bookstore, and I have no problems with you giving those numbers to Ellen.”
Harris nodded before saying, “I’m giving her your Email address and your IM name too.”
“That’s fine,” Sadie assured him. “Also let her know that if she has any questions or concerns or even if she just wants to talk about the craft that she can call me anytime; however, let her know to start her Emails and IM’s with, ‘In The Wizards of Buckingham’. That way if anyone would see an Email or IM by chance, the person will think that Ellen is referring to my novel.”
“Speaking of your novel, are you ever going to search for a publisher for it?” Harris questioned.
Before Sadie could respond, three of Tanya and Sadie’s female friends stepped up. When Harris and Sadie looked their way, one of them asked, “So, Harry? Are you still living in… Santa, George?”
Harris and Sadie grinned before Harris corrected, “It’s Savannah, Georgia, and yes, I’m still there.”
“Right,” she said with a polite grin. “I can never keep those cities in the States straight.”
“You were never good with geographic locations in school anyway, Angela,” Sadie told her.
“And not much has changed since school either,” Angela confessed. “I looked up Brazil on the computer. I expected it to be a city in Portugal, but it’s actually its own country in South America.”
“You don’t say?” Harris questioned jokingly with an amused grin.
Angela shot him a smirk before saying, “Of course I already know that you know that.”
Sadie was grinning too, and with a slight amusement in her voice, she asked, “Why were you looking up Brazil, Angela?”
“Stephan’s sister is planning to marry a man from Brazil,” Angela explained. “And the wedding will also be in Brazil and I was seeing where the wedding was going to be held.”
“Ah,” Sadie got out before Angela started a conversation about her sister-in-law’s upcoming wedding.
In Kansas City, after Ellen’s school had let out, Ellen and Allyson had gone to the hospital to check up on Sonya.
The two were walking through the halls of the maternity ward, and as they were walking past an intersecting hallway they heard a male voice calling, “Mrs. Bradley!”
When Ellen and Allyson took a step back to look, they saw Dr. Oliver walking their way from down the hall.
Once Dr. Oliver was close enough, Ellen told him, “Hi, Dr. Oliver. How’s that beautiful niece of ours?”
“That’s what I want to talk about,” Dr. Oliver said.
“She’s okay, right?!” Ellen demanded to know. “She was yesterday! So what happened?!”
“Ellen!” Allyson uttered to grab her attention. When Ellen looked, Allyson continued with, “Calm down and give Dr. Oliver time to tell us what’s happening.”
Ellen crossed her arms while asking Dr. Oliver, “So what’s happening?!”
Allyson slightly shook her head with a grin just before Dr. Oliver told them, “Mrs. Bradley. Ellen. Sonya is fine. In fact, she’s more than fine. She’s great. Sonya has a healthy appetite, and I was just stopping the two of you to let you two know that your niece is healthy enough to leave the hospital.”
“That’s great news,” Ellen said before hugging the doctor. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Dr. Oliver said while timidly patting Ellen’s back.
When Ellen broke the hug a second later, Allyson supplied, “The infant car seat is at the house, so Ellen and I will have to go back for that.”
“Okay, while you’re doing that, I’ll prepare the forms that you’ll have to fill out,” Dr. Oliver told her.
“Okay. Ellen and I will be back soon,” Allyson told him just before she and Ellen turned and walked away.
Allyson and Ellen had left and returned to the hospital with the infant car seat and a baby carrier within thirty minutes.
Ellen carried in the empty baby carrier, and the two went directly to the nurse’s station in the maternity ward.
Allyson filled out the forms almost as soon as they stepped up, and once the forms were completed, she was handed helpful brochures on how to care for a newborn.
Allyson and Ellen looked over the brochures, but before they were able to get too deep into them, a second nurse carried Sonya out in her arms.
Ellen sensed Sonya’s presence while the nurse and Sonya were still a g
ood distance down the hall. She immediately looked up from the brochure that she was reading while saying delightfully, “Here she comes.”
Allyson looked up from her brochure.
Once the second nurse was close enough, she told them, “Aunt Allyson. Aunt Ellen. Here’s your gorgeous niece Sonya.”
“I’ll take her,” Allyson said as she reached out her hands.
“Sonya ate and was burped ten minutes ago,” the second nurse said while Allyson was receiving Sonya; however, before anything else could be said Sonya belched loudly with very little spittle. “But apparently, Sonya wasn’t burped very well.”
Sonya’s eyes had locked on Ellen as Allyson said, “I’m sure she’s fine. At my folks’ daycare, there was this one infant boy who would burp two or three different times after eating.”
“Okay,” the second nurse said while lightly rubbing Sonya’s back.
Sonya rested her head against Allyson’s chest just as Ellen was asking, “Should we put Sonya in the carrier?”
“Sonya looks pretty snug at the moment,” Allyson informed. “Moving her right now might upset her.”
Ellen grinned before saying, “Yeah, I noticed that just after I spoke.”
“Bye, cutie-pie,” the second nurse told Sonya while lightly rubbing her back again.
Sonya let out a monotone sound that lasted a second.
“It sounded as if she was trying to answer you,” Ellen said.
“It did,” the second nurse agreed with a grin. “And that wasn’t the first time either. Anyway, I wish everyone well.”
“Thanks,” Ellen and Allyson said.
“It’s time to get this cutie-pie home,” Allyson continued.
“Bye,” the two nurses said.
“Bye,” Ellen and Allyson echoed.
As Ellen and Allyson were leaving the hospital, Ellen carried the empty baby carrier and the brochures while Allyson carried Sonya.
The infant car seat was set up in the backseat on the passenger’s side of the SUV, and once Sonya was placed in the infant car seat she fussed.
“Ooh, she doesn’t want to be put down,” Ellen pointed out as Allyson fastened Sonya into the car seat.
Legacy Page 19
