by A. N. Sage
“Don’t worry,” he whispered, “we’ll find it.”
“It’s okay.”
It was one hundred percent not okay. Nothing about this was okay and I wanted to tell him that. I wanted to tell him I wanted nothing to do with him or his stupid friends and that Peton and I were leaving. Then how come I didn’t?
Instead, I waded further in the water until my cut-off shorts were drenched and helped him look for the pendant. Our hands patted the sand, picking up shells and tossing them out of the way before continuing the search. My fingers buried into the fine grain and raked through over and over until my skin burnt from the friction. I was pissed. No, I was more than pissed. I was absolutely, positively livid. We should have never come here and I never should have agreed to Peyton’s dumb plan to be friends with these morons. They would never accept me, even if it was all fake.
When River’s back was turned to me, I dug both my palms into the sand and closed my eyes. As fast as I could manage, I unleashed the magic through my fingers and into the baby blue water around us. The energy hit my body like a tidal wave and I toppled back from its impact. Despite myself, I held steady, searching for the hum of the amethyst hidden somewhere under the sand. My eyes snapped open as my magic connected to the crystal’s wavelength and I pulled back, forcing it to rush toward me like a magnet. To my left, sand spread and I saw the amethyst appear over its surface. My eyes brightened and I dove, snatching the pendant in my fist.
“Got it,” I said, clenching my jaw, and raised the pendant for River to see.
“Good catch!” He took a few strained steps toward me and the water spread out around him in slight waves. “Wanna go back?”
I looked from him to the beach where Peyton cowered on the towel. Savannah, Abigail, and Morgan circled around her like hungry sharks. Her eyes were so narrow that they were just slits across her face and I noticed her trying to get a word in while the hyenas threw insult after insult her way.
My head snapped to River and I pushed him away from me, hard enough to knock him back. “No, thanks,” I snapped. “Have fun with your friends, we’re out of here.”
Not bothering to look back at him, I rushed from the water and stomped Peyton’s way. I was fuming. In fact, I was so angry that even the crystal that vibrated in my hand did nothing to calm my thoughts. With a grunt, I pushed Savannah to the side, grabbed Peyton’s hand, and pulled her up. We ran up the trail, leaving the quarry and its pathetic occupants in our wake.
I was done with these assholes. Murders or not, nothing was worth this torture. If the witch wanted to kill them, I would not stand in her way. They could all burn in hell for all I cared.
Protectors of This Place
My feet have done all but tear holes in the fur rugs in my room while I paced its perimeter. I made Peyton stop at the Crystal Cauldron on the way back from the quarry so I could stock up on crystals and herbs, telling her I needed them to meditate to cool off. Relieved when my friend was more than eager to oblige and even ended up picking a few for herself.
Screw the High Coven and their rules, I needed magic to get through this.
I wrapped my fingers over the amber crystal in my hand and let magic do the rest. A small flame burst from my fingers and I brought it down to the bowl of sulphur, sea salt, and bloodroot; setting it alight. The flames rose as the fire spread through the bowl leaving a trail of black in its midst. I dipped my finger into the soot and brought it to the paper I prepared on the floor.
Savannah Michaels.
I traced the name over the paper three times. My hands shook with rage as I used my free hand to dab castor oil over the letter. The soot spread into twirling lines, flowing like rivers drawn on a map. When they stopped moving, I brought the paper to a lit candle at my side and watched it burn.
A sneer formed on my lips as the paper and Savannah’s name disappeared into ash.
If I couldn’t get rid of Savannah, I could at least banish her attention from me and this spell should do the trick. I smiled, blowing out the leftover embers of the paper remnants before dipping it into the bowl of water next to my feet.
“That should do it.”
I could feel the tension roll off as soon as the spell was complete and I spread myself out on my bed, reaching for my cell phone. Still no messages from Peyton but to my surprise an unknown number flashed on the screen.
Come to the front. It’s River.
My eyes doubled in size as I typed furiously on the keyboard. How did you get my number? Stalker much?
Peyton gave it to me. Come on, it’s freezing out here.
I jumped up and looked at the silver clock hanging above my door. It read nine thirty-five, well past dinnertime. No wonder he was freezing his ass off, who shows up at someone’s house this late and just chills outside like a serial killer? What in the Goddess is he doing here? I had to get this guy to leave me alone if I had any chance of staying sane. I ran to the vanity mirror in my room and wiped the streaks of mascara from under my eyes. Good thing I haven’t bothered to shower or change or I’d be greeting him in my PJs. I twisted my long hair into a low bun, zipped up my jacket, and sprinted for the door.
By the time I reached the front stoop, River was already perched on one chair. His leg kicked up on the glass coffee table that lived on the front porch and I found it hard to look away from him. His usual tee was hidden under a knit pullover and despite the layers, he looked as fit as ever. That sweater is wearing him just fine…
“Hey.” I nodded, closing the door behind me and walking over to him. “What are you doing here? It’s kinda late.”
He jumped at the sound of my voice, ripping his leg off the table and straightening in his seat. “I wanted to see if you’re okay. You left in kind of a hurry.”
“Gee, I wonder why…” I scoffed and sat at the chair opposite him.
“I’m sorry about Savannah. She can be—”
“A bitch?” I blurted out.
River laughed and the deepness of his voice riled up the magic in me. I shifted in my seat, my cheeks blushing. It was a cooler night than usual but I was certain that wasn’t the reason I was shivering in my chair. This guy got to me no matter how much I tried to deny it.
“Yeah, that’s the word.” He chuckled and leaned back. “I don’t know what got into her, to be honest.”
“Right, because I’m sure she’s usually a ray of sunshine.”
“Guess not. So you okay?”
I peered up at him through my lashes and forced a smile. “I will be.” Especially after the spell I did kicked in.
“She wasn’t always like this, you know,” he said even though I didn’t ask, or care. “We’ve been friends since we were kids and believe or not, Savannah actually used to be nice. Like, really nice. She was the first friend I made in kindergarten and for the longest time, we had each other’s backs. Still do, I guess, but it’s different now.”
“What happened?”
River sighed. “High school.”
Having zero experience with high school teenagers until I landed at Shadowhurst Academy, I had no reference point for his comment. From what I gathered, high school wasn’t the best place, mostly. I always wondered why parents bothered shoving their kids into the intrepid establishments if they knew most of them hated it. I guessed not everyone had the luxury of being raised by a coven like me.
“And you’re just friends?” I asked against my better judgment. “I mean because Peyton mentioned her having a crush on you and whatever. And you know, if you two are a thing I would kind of understand why she hates my guts. I’m sure you being here this late is not something she wants her boyfriend doing.”
River’s smile widened into something sinister and wild, knocking me off my ass in the chair. “Are you asking if I’m single?”
“Kinda.”
River’s eyes sparkled and he leaned in until our noses hovered half an inch apart. His breath was warm despite the chill of the evening and I could smell the peppermint of the gum
he was chewing in the air. His dimpled cheek brushed against mine and I lost it. My body twitched and I swallowed hard, unable to move.
“You really need to ask that?” He whispered. “I thought it was pretty obvious by now.”
“Kinda do.”
River’s hand found mine and his strong fingers tightened around my palm. My legs shook as he ran his thumb across my skin, stroking it so gently that I tried not to pass out in his lap. “She’s not my type,” he breathed.
“… Who is?”
What the hell has gotten into me? I was never this bold around boys but something about this guy made me want to spill all my secrets. Thoughts raced through my mind and I choked on a shudder. I waited for him to respond but River was as quiet as the surrounding night. His hand pulled on mine, forcing me even closer to him. I licked my lower lip and inhaled his scent with the hungry need of a starved animal. That same darkness I felt from him before invaded my senses and a gasp lumped in the base of my throat. My vision blurred and I blinked my eyes to refocus my gaze on his smooth skin. His other hand found the back of my neck and he pulled me, crashing his lips to mine.
The porch exploded in a rainbow of colors. At least it did in my head. River’s lips pressed to mine and I felt his need for me fill the air. My lips parted and his tongue found the tip of mine, demolishing my heart into pieces.
After what seemed like a lifetime, River pulled back, a goofy grin on his face.
“That answer your question?”
I nodded like a complete idiot and blushed, pressing my face into my hands. A giggle escaped me and when I looked at him again, he was smiling from ear to ear. “Took you long enough,” I purred and entwined my fingers in his.
Seriously, who are you?
River chuckled and pressed his forehead to mine before pulling away again; I missed his warmth immediately.
“You know, for a new kid, you’re awfully brazen, soldier.”
“You’ve got no idea.” I smirked.
We sat in silence for a good ten minutes before River spoke again. His hand never let go of mine and I grew fond of how it felt; I had my fair share of encounters with boys but none of them riled my magic as much as this one. It was almost like my energy fed on his. My thumb twirled the moonstone ring around obsessively to control my hands from ripping the damn sweater off him right there on the porch.
“So why are you really here?” He asked.
I hiccuped.
“I, uh,” I coughed out, “wasn’t the most obedient kid back home. Got into some trouble.”
“Do I even want to know?”
You really don’t.
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you some other time but let’s just say the Chandlers have their hands full with me.”
“HA! That’s what my mom says about me.”
I laughed. “I find that hard to believe.”
“No, seriously. After my dad left, I was, let’s just say a bit of a basket case.”
I ran my finger over his arm and collected the energy of the amethyst at my neck, pushing some of my magic into him. It wasn’t enough to cause alarm but sufficient to soothe him; make him relax a little so he felt comfortable telling me about his life. I wanted to know everything about this beautiful boy that sat across from me. I wanted all his secrets and I wanted them all to myself.
“I’m sorry,” I said, still rubbing his arm. “How old were you when he left?”
“Around ten, I think. I can’t remember anymore. We don’t have the best relationship.”
“And your mom?”
River’s lips curved at the edges. “She’s exceptional. Don’t know what I’d do without her. Well, her and my friends.”
“Even Savannah?” I asked, finding that to be impossible.
“Yeah, even her. My friends and I, we’re kind of…” He paused. “Close.”
“All friends are close.”
“Not like us.”
Something tugged at my brain, latching its claws into my mind and pulling me back. Magic rolled off me in waves and I yanked my hand away from him before it manifested into something I couldn’t control. With a quick swoop, I pulled the pendant from inside my jacket and put some distance between my skin and its energy. “What do you mean?”
River shifted in his seat, his eyes tracing my face like he was trying to choose between speaking and not.
“You can tell me,” I whispered, desperate to hear about every part of his life. Just say it, I whispered into his mind.
“It’s going to sound crazy.”
“Trust me, I’ve heard it all,” I laughed.
With ease, River scooped up my hand and placed it on his chest. His heartbeat plummeted against my palm and I let my hand rise and fall with his heavy breaths. “You know those books in that room you found?”
My eyes narrowed in his direction. “Yeah?”
“They’re mine. Well, they’re ours. Me and the others.”
“What do you mean yours? Like, you found them or something?”
“Something like that. They’ve been passed down to us by our parents, and their parents before that. To study so we’re ready.”
I pulled my hand away and stared in horror as he continued to speak.
“Turns out this town is into all that witch stuff for a reason. My family, Savannah’s family, and the rest of them; we’re kind of like protectors of this place. From witches.”
My lids fluttered and tears formed behind them. They burnt my eyes with the intensity of stars exploding and I could hear the screaming of my heart pound at my eardrums. What was he saying right now? What was happening?
River leaned back in the chair, his brow furrowed. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I told you that. It just came out!”
An icy wind blew past us and I crossed my arms over my chest to keep from screaming. I knew why he told me—because I made him tell me. Me and my stupid magic. Why did I do that? I wished I could take it back so I never found this out. I cursed myself, shaking my head back and forth.
“I told you it would sound crazy,” River said after I’ve been quiet for basically forever. “You still here?”
I didn’t know what to say. Did he even understand what he was telling me right now? Those books, that room, it was for witch hunters. Not just any witch hunters; it was for him and his friends. The trust-funders weren’t just spoiled brats with too much money and time on their hands—they were hunters. And he was one of them. No wonder he was so nonchalant when we were reading the books. Anyone else would have been shocked or at least showing a modicum of emotion but River was as cool as ice. That should have been my first clue but no, I was too busy oggling his freaking biceps to notice. Idiot!
The world spun around me. The air thickened and I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I clenched my hands into fists and forced myself to stand up. My vision swam and my lungs felt like they were about to explode. River’s face darkened and I could see the hurt of my reaction register across his features. How could this be happening? How can the one boy I let myself like in forever be a hunter? This couldn’t be real. I blinked rapidly as though I could blink the truth away. Maybe if I shut my eyes real tight? I closed my lids and prayed to the Goddess but when I opened them, River was still there and looking as confused as ever. I had to get out of here. I needed to get him out of here. Now.
“I should get inside,” I said and backed away from him. “It’s late. You should go.”
“Billie…”
“Please go,” I whimpered.
“Can I just explain? It’s not as crazy as it sounds. You and Peyton will get a kick out of it!”
I’m about to give you a kick you’ll never forget, you witch killing son of a bitch!
“Go home, River,” I growled and turned away.
Tears streamed down my face and my shoulders shook as his steps retracted. I waited until the porch was silent before turning around to see his car peel out of the driveway. It only took a few moments for me to fall apart.
&nbs
p; My knees hit the cold wood of the porch and I crashed to the floor. Sobs threatened to choke me and my magic fought to grab hold of the earth’s elements in the yard. My heart ached—it literally hurt—like someone had punched me in the chest with a mallet. How could this innocent boy be everything I had to hate? How could he hate me and my kind?
Hands fisted, I forced myself to rise and my knees buckled under the weight of my sorrow. Why did I make him tell me?
A low guttural sound escaped from behind the fountain in the driveway and I spun around, mascara dripping down my face like clown makeup. My body still shook from the pain of what I found out about River but as my eyes focused on the thick, orange fur in the distance, I knew my night was about to get even worse.
Witchy Book Collection
At the base of the fountain, paws wet, stood the tiger shifter that attacked me on campus a few days ago. Its front paws gripped the edge of the marble, monstrous claws digging into the tile. Its mouth parted to reveal glistening fangs that oozed with frothy spit. I didn’t even have time to think before the tiger pushed off the fountain and flew toward me.
The streaks of my mascara felt cool against my cheek as I pulled the dagger from my boot, pushed off the porch, and ran to meet it. My legs bounced off the stone on the driveway, silent and quick just like Rhiamon taught me. The tiger was not as dainty and each time his thick paws landed on the ground, a booming sound echoed over the lot. My heart beat triumphantly and I turned on my heels to make a beeline for the fountain. The tiger skidded to a stop before turning his clumsy, muscled body my way.
It growled and I plunged my hands into the fountain, reaching for the water element with my magic. This would get loud and unless I wanted the Chandlers to roll out of bed to find me battling a shapeshifter in their front yard, I had to mask the sounds. My eyes fluttered and rolled into the back of my head as I called on the power within me. The glittering lights were everywhere and for once, I welcomed their presence. They meant that I was close to release. Heat rose inside me; tossing my emotions like a rag doll. My eyes cracked open and my head tilted back. In seconds, I slammed my hands to the sky above, raising the water from the fountain behind me. The watery wall rushed upward, higher, and higher until it collided with the distant night clouds. My lips tightened when the first raindrop hit my face and the tiger shook its head, the orange fur darkening from the rain.
