The White Witch (12 page)

My heart drops into my stomach and I worry that dinner may reappear. “I… I can’t.”

His gaze softens and I can see the disappointment in his eyes. It’s like he doesn’t have to say anything to call me out.

“I… I need some air.” I put my hand over my stomach trying to calm it as I put the napkin on the plate, push back my chair and walk out of the cabin. As soon as I walk out the air hits my face and I know by the feel of it, my skin is clammy. I look down at my hands and they’re shaking. The water around us begins to roil and the waves pound the ship. I feel something welling inside of me and I can’t figure out if it’s anger, hurt, frustration, or something else entirely.

I make my way to the back of the boat and steady myself on the railing as I watch clouds gather in the distance. The conversation of Erebos and my secret have turned my insides and I cannot seem to calm them.

“Angel?” I hear Logan approaching and despite my attempts to calm myself, I only feel more anxiety.

Tears start streaming down my face and years of ‘incidents’ and secret keeping flash before my eyes. Images of Sam and her friends lying on the ground because of me, because of something I did paint my eyelids so I cannot even close my eyes for comfort.

“Stop.” I say lowly begging these emotions to cease their assault on me.

“Katelyn.” I feel Logan standing behind me.

I am holding on to the railing so tight, my knuckles are turning white. The yacht begins to rock as some of the staff come out to tell us that we should hold on while the captain gets us to calmer waters. I feel the boat begin to move beneath us and watch the water we leave behind turning over on itself.

Logan wraps one arm around my waist and the other around my chest and arms and puts his lips next to my ear. “Talk to me, baby. Tell me what’s wrong.”

My mind tries to register the fact that he may already know. “I can’t.” I cry, more tears streaming down my face. My legs become weak, but I manage to keep upright.

“Then just focus on me. Remember what you said you feel when I hold you? The calm?”

I turn in his arms and just before I bring my head down to rest on his chest, I see my reflection in his eyes. My iris glow the bright blue that Mr. Wentworth said the other kids described and I wonder if Logan saw.

I begin to feel the calm emanating from his touch and all the emotions, memories and apprehensions stop fighting for attention in my mind and body and settle into coherent thoughts. I wonder for a moment if it is something in him, or if this is something I take from him, because my powers allow it. The thought frightens me, but not enough to let go of him.

“Are you ok?”  I ask Logan as I pull my head off his chest, leaving his dress shirt covered in my tears. “Oh, gosh, I am so sorry.” I put my hand on his shirt.

“It’s fine, I’m fine. I should be asking you if
you
are ok!”

I search his face for any sign of exhaustion to see if I pulled from his energy to feel the calm, but he looks fine. For a moment I think of a character from a comic book who takes other’s energy and remind myself that something like that couldn’t be possible. Or could it? A sudden urge to speak to Mr. Wentworth eats at me.

I glance behind us and the storm clouds that had begun to gather begin to slip away.

The captain rushes out onto the deck, “My apologies, Mr. Blackwell and Miss Miller, there was no storm on the weather report for tonight, I have no idea where that came from. I hope you two are alright.”

“We’re fine Mr. Brody.” Logan responds for us.

Mr. Brody takes a look at me and squints.

I realize that my tearstained face contradicts what Logan responded, so I add, “It’s just been an emotional day… Graduation, my birthday, meeting parents.” I give a clenched teeth smile, and strain my neck a bit, hoping he sees the humor and judging by his chuckle, he does.

The captain gives a smile. “I understand completely Miss Miller.” He turns on his heel and walks away.

“Was it that bad meeting my mother?” Logan chuckles.

“No, but it sounded better than saying,’ oh, nothing just having a meltdown because crazy stuff happens around me that I can’t explain and there is this guy that totally gives me the creeps that I encountered today and I’m pretty sure my boyfriend is two seconds from thinking I am completely crazy and committing me to an asylum.’”

Logan laughs so hard he is on the verge of tears, causing me to laugh as well. I revel in the sound of his laugh and the calm that surrounds us now. He walks me over to a wicker sofa where we sit and look up at the crescent moon and the bright stars. He puts his arm around me and I lean onto him, putting my hand on his leg, caressing his knee.

“Oh, and for the record, I don’t think you are crazy. I would like to know what it is you can’t tell me yet, but I suppose I can wait until you are ready. And to be honest, Erebos gives lots of people the creeps, and probably migraine headaches.” He kisses the top of my head.

I laugh at the truth of the last part of that sentence and then question why. Does Erebos really have the power to try and get into my head and if so, why me?

I wake up on my birthday to a room full of balloons, chocolate and a giftcard to the bookstore from Dad and Liz. I convince Liz that the bags under my eyes are because I had just had such a great day yesterday that I couldn’t sleep last night. The last thing I want to tell her is that every hour or so, I was up with nightmares about not being able to control my powers, Erebos chasing me, and Logan leaving me. Part of me is exhausted and part of me wants to get the day going so that I can find and speak to Mr. Wentworth.

I realize that he may or may not be in school today since some teachers are still there the week after school is out, getting paperwork done. But, considering he isn’t a teacher that would just be luck of the draw. I remember him saying that his powers include a psychic connection of sorts and considering that he is always looking after me, I decide to go to the last place we met in the hopes that he will show up.

I look at my phone. Ten eighteen in the morning and I already have seven texts to sort through. I have one each from Ana, Dad, Liz, and my grandparents in California. The rest are from Logan, asking how I am feeling today, wishing me a happy birthday and asking if I have plans because he wants to spend time with his girl.

I reach over to my nightstand where my dad placed a birthday card to me from him and Liz, and one from my mother’s aunt. Every year she sends me a card and every year I wonder about her briefly before going about my day, I always figured that the less people I had in my life the better.

For the first few years, I would talk to her on the phone and we even visited with her a couple of times, but after Samantha’s party, I pushed everyone away that I could. I pick up her card and turn it over in my hands.  Evangeline Adams, Salem, Mass.
Geez, the irony in that is ridiculous.
I open the card slowly, as if the card was about to reveal some secret about my mother or her family that I needed to know.

Dear Katelyn,

Happy Birthday, beautiful girl. I know it has been a while since I have seen you, but your father has been gracious enough to always send me pictures of you and let me know how you are doing. Congratulations on graduating at the top of your class. Your mother would have been so proud. I can only imagine how exciting it must be for you to turn eighteen. I remember your mother turning eighteen as if it were only yesterday.
It was quite a memorable year
.

I understand if you still want to keep your distance, but please remember that I am always here for you if you ever want to visit, come by and talk, have questions about your mother, or
anything else
.

I hope this card finds you well.

Love Always,

Your Great Aunt Eva

I look at the card, noticing that she has underlined certain words.
Well, it may not have revealed a secret, but damned if she doesn’t know something
. I consider calling her, but then decide that maybe I should pay her a visit. I text my dad to ask if I can make a drive to Boston to check out the campus tomorrow. I decide to leave out the part where I will be driving the extra hour to visit my great aunt for now.

I fold the card and put it in my messenger bag and head to the shower to begin my day and hopefully get some answers.

I pull up to the beach and park just behind the bench where I last sat with Mr. Wentworth. There is a lady sitting there watching her son play with a remote control car, so I wait for her to decide to leave. She lasts about ten minutes before packing up their things and walking away. I step out of my Jeep slowly and walk over to sit on the bench, my gaze on the ocean in front of me. I stare at some of the small waves in the water, forcing some to become just slightly bigger than the others.
Well, at least I can control some of it
.

“I was wondering how long it would take.” Mr. Wentworth’s voice comes from behind me, but I do not move to meet his gaze. Instead, I look down at my fidgeting hands.

He walks around the bench and sits beside me. He’s dressed the most casual that I have ever seen him. His blue jeans are a bit worn on the knee and his sneakers are meticulously kept. His black shirt matches the black Nike ball cap he has on.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be here. I didn’t know how this worked.” I say, sneaking a glance out of the corner of my eye. He looks much more handsome when he isn’t in work clothes and glaring at me with his ‘I know something you don’t know stare’. Very much like a TV dad or something.

He chuckles and leans forward onto his elbows. “It’s kind of hard to explain. I don’t know what you are thinking, unless I am directly in front of you and you are unguarded, but if you need to find me and think about it enough, I just know.” His lip pulls into a half smirk. “Happy Birthday, by the way.”

“Oh. Thank you.” I smile, not aware that he knew.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“I have tons of questions, but I guess I’ll start with the ones that bug me the most.” I tilt my head so I am looking at him.

He returns the look, “Shoot.”

“You said that there are others, correct? Do all of us have the same abilities?”

“I did say that there are others, but no, you do not all have the same abilities, nor has there ever been a family with powers as strong as the Langleys and Blackbournes since they came into existence. Powers can evolve and can also be watered down by different bloodlines. Some remain with the elements, some transfer to healing, some to psychic ability, some so minimal, people may not even know they possess them.”

“Have you heard of ones that can try to read minds, or get inside them, or something like that?”

“Yes. They are powerful. It may not necessarily mean that they are of the Blackbourne lineage or the Langley lineage, but it shouldn’t be discounted.” He sits up, leaning his arm on the back of the bench. “Why?”

“The guy that was in the forest that day that you saved me. I saw him for the second time and my head pounded like crazy when he was looking at me.”

“Hm, I have been trying to find him, but I didn’t get a good look at his face. Do you know his name? I can try to find out more about him.”

“His name is Erebos. His last name might be Blackwell, but I am not sure.”

Mr. Wentworth moves his jaw a couple times and squints his eyes as if making some mental notes.

“You… you said you knew my mother. Did you know her aunt as well? Did she or my mom have powers?”

“Evangeline.” He smiles fondly and I wonder just how well he knows her. “She does have powers as did your mother. Though because she raised your mother, she would best be able to tell you what your mother was capable of. She has waited for you to turn eighteen.”

“Why? What happens at eighteen?”  My heart begins to beat faster.

“All your powers develop and are more controllable and more powerful. You should be able to do more at your own will now, as opposed to things just happening. Remember though, as with anything else, you will require practice. Magic is not as easy to control as you might think.”

“Trust me, I don’t think that at all.” I take off my sun glasses and rub some exhaustion from my face. “So what do I do if I see this, Erebos again?”

“Do what you have done everyday of your life. Guard your emotions and your thoughts. That is the reason your head hurts so badly. You are so used to being guarded, you do it automatically and fight him off without trying. If he was able to get in your mind, you would feel a confusion of sorts or perhaps have difficulty concentrating.” He folds his arms across his chest. “Regardless, I will find what I can regarding him. Is there anything else you would like me to answer for you?”

“Well, there is one thing that has kind of eaten at me since it happened. How did you make me go from your house to the forest behind my house?”

Mr. Wentworth chuckles loudly and stands. “Would you rather I show you?” He extends his hand forward so that I would walk with him.

I stand wearily and walk with him to a small nearby forest. My heart begins to race and I start to wonder what is going to happen. I mean, yeah, he’s been pretty helpful and all lately but, I still don’t really know him and walking into a forest with a guy that can control magic may not be my best idea.

He begins looking around and stops when he finds two trees that are parallel to each other. “Are you sure you want to know?”

I squint my eyes and pinch my eyebrows together as I nod.

Mr. Wentworth says some words in a language I have never heard and waves his hand in a circular motion between the two trees. As soon as he is done, he extends his hand to me. “Do not be afraid.”

I place my shaking hand in his and as we both step into the space between the two trees our legs disappear from our sights. I look at him in horror, but he simply pulls my hand and continues forward. When we emerge we are standing in a forest I have never seen before. Huge Willow trees and Junipers tower over us, and most of the daylight is gone. The skies are mostly grey and the smell of rain is potent. I slowly release his hand. “Mr. Wentw-”

“Please, Gamaliel.” He interrupts softly.

I look back between the trees we just came through and they are gone. All I see is this immense forest around us. I drop my gaze to him and realize that my mouth is gaping.

“Portals.” He chuckles. “It is a very old magic and very few people can do it. In fact, probably the only ones left that can are the Keepers of Balance, Angels, and Fallen Angels, or Demons. But that’s a whole other story.”

“So, where are we?” I ask as I begin to walk forward with a purpose I know I have but cannot define. “It feels so familiar.” I call over my shoulder to him.

Gamaliel tilts his head, watching me and my heart falls into my stomach. Something is not right about this place. I continue through the trees turning at different intervals and even picking up the pace a couple of times. My sneakers pound against the soft earth and I feel the energies around me.  I don’t ask him again because I don’t have to, I know I will find out eventually.  I continue at such a pace that the trees around me seem like a blur, until I reach a clearing and I stop cold. I stand in the middle of it, looking at Gamaliel who is standing along the edge.

The willow trees that surround me have a sadness that the others did not. I feel the pull again, but it’s not to move in any direction, it is below me. I slowly drop to my knees and put my hands on the ground, twigs and dried leaves cracking beneath the pressure. The smell of the grass and the imminent rain assault my senses. I close my eyes and that is when I see it. Flashes of the Penhale massacres.

I see men and women being slain in their sleep, babies being ripped from their cribs or their weeping mother’s arms. My tears hit the ground below me and the flashes come harder. Husbands defending their wives and children slain in front of them, their bodies dragged to a cart at the edge of town with horses at the ready. The larger homes, barricaded from the outside and set ablaze, burning the residents alive. I feel my arms start to shake, but I can’t stop the onslaught. I see mothers racing through the fields with young ones in their arms only to meet the end of a sickle as it is brought down upon them with a terrible force. There are few that make it to the safety of the forest but I cannot see if they live. The rain begins to fall hard and the blood of the fallen drips from the cart, staining the streets with the blood of the Langleys.

My eyes spring open and I release a scream from the depths of my soul. I feel the pain radiate through my body and a flash of light blue light erupts from my hands out into the forest around us. Gamaliel walks to me slowly as I sit back on my heels, staring at my hands, then raise my gaze to him. He regards me with a sadness, as if he can feel my pain. Then I think that perhaps he can. Perhaps, he was there. “This is where they buried them, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

I shake my head and tears fall from my eyes. “Do any of them still live? From that time? Are any like you, immortal?”

“No.” He kneels in front of me and takes my hands, wiping off the dirt and leaves. “But there are still a few that believe the way they did then, that have killed members of your family in search of the one.”

“In search of me.” I wipe my face with the back of my hand.

“Katelyn, I have to tell you something. In all the years I have watched over your family, none have been able to find the resting place of your ancestors. Some did not try, some tried, but failed. But you, it called to you, it pulled you to it. You… you are the White Witch, the hope that will stop the Blackbournes that continue to hunt your family.” Gamaliel helps me up and leads me to another set of parallel trees where he makes a portal to go home.

I take one more look around me, taking in the sights and smell and just as the rain begins to fall, we walk through.

“I had no intention of ruining your birthday.” He says as he presses his lips together.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my spirit and I feel a need to be near Logan. “You didn’t ruin it. Thank you for taking me there. What now, though?”

Gamaliel presses his lips together and sighs. “With you being eighteen and your powers being so strong, it is only a matter of time before they find you. You must practice and be prepared. I have to warn you, though. Your family and your new boyfriend can be in danger. They may use anyone close to you to get to you. Do you understand?”