When Ellen grinned while staring delightfully into his eyes, Everett gave her another passionate kiss. The kiss lasted several seconds.
When the kiss ended, Ellen grinned and said, “As much as you hated me yesterday and this morning, I find it hard to believe that you now have romantic feelings for me.”
Everett took hold and held Ellen’s hand before saying, “You were straight with me when you could’ve easily made something up. And I understand more clearly about you and the other descendants of Merlin. Not all are evil as I thought. You’re not evil… or at least I’m convinced that you’re not evil.”
“I’m not,” Ellen said with a grin.
Everett grinned as well before continuing with, “Once I had decided that you were a good person, my romantic feelings for you came quickly.”
Ellen gave Everett a passionate kiss that lasted a few seconds. When it ended, Ellen said, “Oh, you never said if you’ll go to the library with me.”
Everett amusingly grinned before saying, “I’ll go with you.”
Ellen nodded with a grin before asking, “So what’s your last name?”
“It’s Delaney, and I know yours is Anderson.”
“Yep,” Ellen said with a grin. “Anyway, I’m hungry and I think that there’s still enough lunchtime left to grab something.”
“Alright,” Everett said while standing. Ellen stood as well. “Let’s go.”
“What color is Sonya’s aura?” Ellen asked as they began walking.
“A pinkish lavender color.”
“Okay, the trend I’m seeing with your color coding is that weak powers to strong powers are pink, lavender and purple. Mmm, I wonder if the color after purple would be blue.”
“Don’t know and I don’t want to find out.”
Ellen consolingly rubbed Everett’s back for a brief moment for a response.
As Ellen and Everett were approaching the cafeteria, Andy and Ted were walking away from it.
Andy and Ted shot Everett a curious look for walking alongside Ellen, and as they were approaching each other, Ted told Everett, “Well this is a sight I never expected to see.”
“Yeah, are you two friends now?” Andy asked.
“We are,” Everett and Ellen each agreed with a grin.
“We talked and during our talk I discovered that she wasn’t what I presumed she was,” Everett continued.
“That’s good, dude,” Andy said. “There’s hope for you yet.”
“Yes,” Everett agreed. “Anyway, Ellen and I are going to grab something to eat.”
“Later,” Andy said followed by Ted.
“See ya,” Ellen said with a slight wave.
“Later,” Everett echoed while overlapping Ellen.
As Ellen and Everett continued towards the cafeteria, Andy and Ted continued in their direction.
After taking a few steps in their respective directions, Ted glanced back and saw Ellen and Everett holding hands.
“Oh, no way,” Ted mumbled.
“What?” Andy questioned while looking back.
“Everett and Ellen are holding hands,” Ted supplied. “You think Ellen is really a witch and she had cast a spell on Everett?”
“Dude, not you too,” Andy said tiresomely.
“Then how do you explain them holding hands?” Ted questioned.
“Ellen is a nice girl and Everett had figured that out during their chat.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Andy just rolled his eyes for a response.
As Ellen and Everett were entering the cafeteria, they ran into Karla, Dawn, Gary and Derek as they were preparing to leave.
“Ellen, we missed you at lunch,” Dawn informed.
“I see that you had smoothed over that misunderstanding that you’d caused yesterday,” Karla added as she looked indifferently at Everett.
“I did,” Ellen agreed.
“So, Karla, have you visited your mom in prison lately?” Everett asked maliciously.
Ellen gave Everett a curious look. Karla gave him a façade grin before saying, “Every other weekend, and all my friends know that about me. My friends and I also know your belief of how your grandma was killed. So you’re just embarrassing yourself when you speak of it.”
Everett just gave Karla an annoyed look.
“Can we please all get along?” Ellen requested. “I like all of you, and I would like to remain friends to all of you.”
“I’ve been trying to bury the hatchet with Everett for a year,” Karla informed. “And he keeps digging it up.”
“And you know why!” Everett retorted.
“Everett, please,” Ellen slightly begged. “If you don’t have anything nice to say can you not say anything?”
Everett put up his hands in a surrendering manner before telling Ellen, “I’m going to get some lunch. I’ll see you there when you get done talking.”
Ellen slightly rolled her eyes as Everett walked towards the food-line while leaving her with the others.
“Ellen, Everett has an unhealthy belief,” Gary informed. “You need to be careful around him. He could snap without warning.”
“Thanks for your concerns, and I agree that his superstition is a bit quirky, but I’m certain I’ll be alright,” Ellen told him.
“Just be careful,” Gary insisted.
Ellen politely nodded before saying, “I will.” She then gestured towards the food-line. “Well, I’m hungry. So I’m going to join Everett.”
“Okay. We’ll see you later,” Karla said.
Ellen nodded with a slight grin while saying, “Later.”
“Later,” Karla, Dawn, Gary and Derek echoed.
When Everett saw that Ellen was getting in the food-line behind him, he told her, “I can’t believe you can pretend to be friends with Karla while knowing what she had done.”
“Okay, one, Karla and even Jessica are only suspects of turning people’s brains into tapioca pudding,” Ellen began quiet enough for only Everett to hear. “Until I know it’s an undisputable fact, there’s no reason to burn bridges.”
“You’re not completely convinced of their guilt, are you?”
“I’m not,” Ellen strongly agreed. “There could be other reasons for why those people’s brains had gotten all… pudding like. So I need more evidence and that’s why I’m going to the library.”
“I thought you were going to the library to find out who their mom had killed and why,” Everett pointed out.
“Well, that too,” Ellen said with a grin.
“I hope you’re not getting in over your head.”
“I’ll be careful,” Ellen assured him.
“Mmm,” Everett uttered in a skeptical tone before a thought came to him. “So what kind of movies do you watch that you won’t make out during?”
Ellen amusingly grinned before saying, “There’s really not one genre that I like over the other or dislike the most. As long as the plot interests me, I’ll watch it.”
“Okay,” Everett said. “Have you seen the trailer to that new horror movie… ‘The Devil’s Final Seal’ that’s coming out this Friday?”
Ellen thought for a second before saying, “Not really.”
As Ellen and Everett were going through the food-line, Everett described what he saw in the movie trailer. Once he was done he continued with, “And the reason why I brought up the movie is that I wonder if I can talk you into going. This Friday. With me.”
Ellen grinned before saying, “Of course.”
After Ellen and Everett left the food-line with their food, they went to the first available table.
Once they were seated, Ellen saw a look on Everett’s face as if he had wanted to say something. When he didn’t Ellen asked, “What?”
Everett gave Ellen a curious look before asking, “What what?”
“You had a look on your face a moment ago as if you had wanted to ask or say something.”
“I didn’t think that I was transparent.”
Ellen
amusingly grinned for being right before questioning, “So?”
“I was going to ask a personal question, but then I decided not to,” Everett explained.
“Ask it,” Ellen prompted.
Everett slightly hesitated to ask, “How did your brothers and sister die?”
As they ate their meal, Ellen explained why her dad and grandpa had kidnapped her siblings and the tragic accident that took her grandpa’s and siblings’ lives. Their conversation turned casual after that and they sat at the table and talked until it was time to go back to class.
At the end of the school day, Ellen left her classroom followed by Chloe and Nathan by a few steps.
“Ellen!” Chloe called out. Ellen stopped and turned around. “Ellen, a few of us are getting a study group together tonight at my house. Do you want to come?”
“Normally I would, but Everett and I have a project going on and we’re going to the library near my house to start on it,” Ellen replied.
“What project?” Nathan asked.
“It’s a personal project actually that I don’t wish to discuss,” Ellen explained. “Nothing personal.”
“I’m not taking it personally,” Nathan assured her.
“Good,” Ellen said before gesturing down the hall. “I’m supposed to meet Everett at his art class.”
“See you tomorrow,” Chloe said.
“Later,” Nathan said.
Ellen slightly waved ‘bye’ with a polite grin before walking away. She then went directly to Everett’s last class.
As Ellen was stepping into the classroom, the art teacher asked, “May I help you?”
“She’s meeting me here, Mr. Hutcheson,” Everett said before Ellen could. “Ellen, I’ll be done as soon as I put up my paints.”
“Okay,” Ellen said as she stood near the entrance.
“Would you like to see my painting?” Everett asked as he worked to put his things away.
When Ellen glanced at Mr. Hutcheson, he gestured for her to proceed. Ellen nodded with a grin before walking towards Everett’s painting, which was of a young pretty woman.
When Ellen stepped up and saw the painting she said, “I see that you like painting pretty women.”
“She’s my biological mother,” Everett informed as he continued to put his things away.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Ellen said sincerely.
Everett grinned before saying, “You didn’t offend me, and she is pretty and I like painting her.”
Ellen nodded with a polite grin before saying, “Andy told me that she died when you were born. Was she involved in an accident or…?”
“She hemorrhaged as I was being born and the doctor couldn’t get it under control in time,” Everett said sullenly.
“I’m sorry,” Ellen said sympathetically. “It must’ve been rough growing up with no mom.”
“I wasn’t exactly motherless,” Everett supplied as he put the last thing away. “My dad and stepmother began dating when I was two. So I have no memory of not having a mother or a mother figure in my life.”
“What was her name?” Ellen asked. “Your biological mother, I mean?”
“Tammy. And for future info my dad’s name and stepmother’s name are Lance and Kristen Delaney. I also refer to Kristen as my mom and not my stepmom or stepmother.”
Ellen nodded before asking, “So is Megan the only sibling you have?”
“She is,” Everett said before gesturing towards the door. “And I’m good to go.”
Ellen nodded with a polite grin. As they were leaving the classroom, Ellen asked, “So how do you normally get home after school?”
“Normally I take the school bus home, but yesterday, my mom picked me up. What about you?”
“Allyson picks me up. So, just out of curiosity, what does your dad do?”
“He’s actually a police detective. What do Harris and Allyson do?”
“Harris works in the HR department at a children’s hospital and Allyson works for her parents. Her parents own a daycare.”
Ellen and Everett’s conversation turned casual as they walked through the corridors.
Chapter Sixteen
As Ellen and Everett approached the SUV with their book bags, Ellen saw the curious look that she was getting from Allyson.
Sonya was strapped in the infant car seat in the backseat on the passenger’s side, and when Ellen opened the front passenger door, she glanced at Sonya before saying, “You remember Everett.”
“I do,” Allyson agreed in a curious tone. “I also remember the revulsion that he had for you last night.”
“Yes, I’m sorry for that,” Everett said as he and Ellen stood on the curb outside the SUV.
“So why the change of heart?” Allyson questioned.
“I told him everything about me,” Ellen confessed.
“You told him?” Allyson questioned incredulously.
“Well, he suspected… the worse case scenario, in fact, so I felt that his suspicions were more damaging than the truth,” Ellen explained. “So I told him.”
“And now you are okay with Ellen and what she is, Everett?” Allyson questioned incredulously.
“I am,” Everett agreed with a pleasant grin. “Once Ellen had educated me about Merlin’s descendants I actually found myself attracted to her.”
Ellen took Everett’s hand and slightly lifted it while saying, “We have plans to go to the movies this Friday.”
“Great,” Allyson said sincerely with a slight grin. “So, Everett, can we give you a ride somewhere?”
“Actually, Everett and I were hoping that you can drop us off at the library by the house,” Ellen requested.
“Of course,” Allyson agreed. “Get in.”
“I’ll get in back with Sonya, Everett,” Ellen said. “You can have the front seat.”
“Aright,” Everett agreed before climbing in and placing his book bag on the floorboard.
Ellen went around to the other side and got in. Once everyone was in and set, Allyson drove away.
Once Allyson was in traffic, she asked, “So are you two working on a school project together?”
After a slight hesitation, Ellen said, “Well, we are working on a project together.”
Allyson caught Ellen’s tone and her chosen words and questioned, “But not a school project?” When Ellen didn’t answer right away, she demanded, “Start spilling, Ellen.”
Ellen slightly sighed before saying, “Okay, during my and Everett’s talk, I learned that Jessica and Karla’s mother was arrested five years ago and is currently doing life in prison for shooting and killing a reporter…”
“Whoa!” Allyson uttered. “Sally Harman is Jessica and Karla’s mother?”
Ellen was caught off guard that Allyson had possible knowledge of what she had wanted to know and she slightly hesitated before saying, “I haven’t learned the mother’s name yet. You know Sally Harman though?”
“No, I knew Peter Berkeley,” Allyson informed.
“Who’s Peter Berkeley?” Ellen quickly questioned.
“He’s the reporter who was shot and killed five years ago by Sally Harman,” Allyson replied.
“Is there any information on why Sally Harman had killed Peter Berkeley?” Ellen asked.
After thinking about it for a brief moment, Allyson asked, “Why do you want to know that?”
“Because it doesn’t make sense to me that Sally Harman— a powerful sorceress—would kill with a gun and in front of witnesses when she could’ve killed him with witchcraft and got by with it without any witnesses,” Ellen said. “So was it said as to why Sally Harman had killed Peter Berkeley?”
“Ellen, I agree that it doesn’t make sense for Sally Harman to kill with a gun and not with witchcraft, but you shouldn’t be involving yourself with this,” Allyson told her.
“The Harman family might be hurting people and I can’t idly sit by and pretend that it’s not happening,” Ellen retorted.
“What do you mean that the Harm
an family might be hurting people?” Allyson demanded to know.
“Everett’s mom is a nurse in psychiatrics and he had informed me that for the past six full moons, a college student had gotten his or her brain turned into pudding,” Ellen began. “Yesterday I learned that Jessica and Karla’s grandfather had a severe stroke more than a year ago that prevents him from verbal communication and walking and holding things. The doctors say that his mind is a prisoner of his own body and claim that his condition is permanent. Karla doesn’t think so though because his condition has been improving for the past six months. Now I’m thinking that the grandfather is being healed through witchcraft by swapping mental health for mental health.”
“Ellen, even if the Harman family is hurting people, they’re too powerful for you to even try to stop,” Allyson pointed out.
“True, but maybe there are members of the Harman family… cousins or whatever who aren’t hurting people, and if there are then maybe I can recruit their help,” Ellen said. “And who knows? It may be another family and then I could recruit the Harman family’s help.”
“Ellen, when you come across a hornet’s nest—as I believe you have—you’re not supposed to poke at it,” Allyson said.
“Yes, well, I want the hornet’s nest threat gone,” Ellen insisted in a stern tone. “And I’m going to do whatever I can to make that happen.”
“As your legal guardian, if I order you not to pursue this, you would do what?” Allyson asked.
“Do you want me to tell you what you want to hear or answer truthfully?” Ellen asked.
“Right; that’s what I thought,” Allyson said before sighing. “Okay, we’ll go talk to Claire.”
“Who’s Claire?” Ellen asked.
“Claire is Peter’s widow and my parents’ next-door neighbor,” Allyson replied.
“So that’s how you knew Peter Berkeley,” Ellen took note of.
“Yep,” Allyson agreed. “So, Everett, where do you live?”
Everett took a breath before answering.
Allyson parked the SUV in her parents’ driveway. Ellen went to get Sonya out of her car seat as Allyson and Everett were getting out.
Ellen—with Sonya in her arms—was joining Allyson and Everett as Allyson’s twenty-year-old sister Stacie and Ally-son’s parents Martin and Paige Webster were stepping out onto their front porch.
Legacy Page 27
