Wish (21 page)

“I’ll go after your mother.” My father told me sounding
desperate and yes, worried. That stoked my confidence a little bit more. 

“He’s lying Sydney,” Keith said. “He’s still her Sentry. He
can’t harm his witch. Even though he took her powers, he’s still bound to
protect her.” Keith groaned then. His face contorted and his features blurred.
His hands went to his head, as if he were fighting an internal battle.

      “No,” Keith shouted. “I won’t betray her.” He looked
right at me then, his eyes pained, but clear. He groaned and shook his head,
his eyes pleading with me not to give up.  

“You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” I said to my
father. I got to my feet.

“Nor do you little girl.”

“Not your little girl, that’s for sure.” I raised my hand
towards my father creating a bigger surge than ever. “You will never get the
necklace or my powers. I won’t let you hurt us anymore.” My powers budded and
then, I let him have it.

My father fell to the ground growling in anger, like a
grizzly bear in a bear trap. His face blurred as images of other men distorted
his features. 

I concentrated hard, reaching inside of him, searching inside
his mind. Ignoring the blackness and rage of the SHEILDERS pulling at me,
trying to get me out.

“Dad. Don’t do this to us.” I spoke right to him. Inside of
his head. To him.

      I sensed confusion, but I dug deep inside murky shadows
and collective voices inside his head. The raging emotions of SHIELDERS fought
me but I searched for my father pushed onward, reaching deeper.

“You loved her once. And she loved you. Be strong, Dad. Think
of Cody. He loves you. He remembers you and he loves you. He keeps a picture of
you in his room. Make him proud. Be strong for him.”

      I tested out my newly forming powers and imagined Cody,
projected images of Cody into his mind. “Cody believes you’re a good man. Prove
him right. Fight them. Fight the SHEILDERS.”

I touched on my father’s sadness as he remembered his son.

I heard a faint, lost voice speak to my mine. “I can’t resist
the SHIELDERS, Sydney. I can’t do it. Forgive me.”

      The voice grew weaker, slipping from my grasp, yet my
own body throbbed and I tried to hold on. I reached further inside to find the
man my mom had loved.

I felt his pain and tried to hold on but I felt him slipping
from my mind hold. I wanted to tell him I forgave him for what he’d done, but
for many reasons, I couldn’t do that. “I wish I’d been stronger, Sydney,” my
father said. I panted and it took me a moment to realize the sound was coming
from his lips. He’d spoken out loud in his own voice.

Inside him I felt the anger, so pure I saw pure blackness.
Loud male voices chanted inside my head, turning on me, coming at my innards.

And then, my father howled in a horrible voice. A bolt of
heat seared my brain. I fell to the ground, clutching my head. The soreness
increased. Voices tore at my mind, pulling at me, demanding I give up and hand
over the powers. I weakened. Pain overwhelmed me.

I wasn’t strong enough to fight the SHIELDERS off. They were
inside me now, ripping at me, pulling me apart, making me crave surrender. Give
him your powers, they demanded. Or we’ll kill you.

In the distance I heard Keith call my name. I heard Nana join
him, calling for me and then in my mind, I saw an image of my mom, watching me
struggle.

I gasped, realizing with a startled certainty that if I gave
in she would die in there. There was only one choice. I had to be the one to
die. It was the only way. If they destroyed me, they wouldn’t get my powers.
They would flee. No one would hurt my mom. Or Keith.

I had to be the one to die to save my friends and family. I
let myself go. The beating of the tattoo on my shoulder faded. I stopped
fighting the SENTRIES. And then.

So did I.

Blackness consumed me and then there was a flicker. A flicker
of light that kept me breathing.

“Sydney,” a voice said to me in the darkness. “Sydney. It’s
me. Hold on.”

I couldn’t hold on. I couldn’t.

“I wish I could give the powers back to your mom, Sydney, but
I can’t.” It sounded as if he were speaking to me in another time. Another
dimension. I was removed from my body, but I hadn’t left it. Yet.

“I can wish them to you. Take them, Sydney. You showed me
your strength. You found me when I didn’t even know I was still there. And now.
In my final act, I’ve found my own strength. Take them. Know I loved her. I
loved Cody. You too little one I loved you, too. I am sorry. Be strong my
little witch. Take them. Take the powers.”

His voice stopped and then spoke louder.

“I wish I could transfer my powers. All my powers. To Sydney Grant.
My daughter. Now.”

Colors flickered in my head. Slowly I felt the sensation of
my body return. Heaviness in my fingers. I wiggled my toes. I breathed. My
heart pumped. My blood flowed. I was alive.

I opened my eyes. My father stared back at me. The blackness
left his eyes and as they faded, they lightened and became a nice even blue.
Just like mine.

He smiled and lifted an eyebrow again, reminding me of Cody.
Then his face registered shock, pain and something glassed over him, faces
trying to take shape under his skin, but he groaned and lifted his hand and
touched me.

A physical surge sparked between us as if he were a live
wire. I gasped as if my insides were frying, like I was being electrocuted from
the inside out.

“Take care of them.” His voice spoke in my head. “Take care
of your mom. And Cody. Tell him. I love him.”

The pain disappeared and I went limp with relief.

Keith’s hand rested on my forehead. I glanced around. My
father lay beside. Not breathing. Still. Beside him, Magic didn’t move either.
I blinked and closed my eyes. Exhausted. 

My brain craved blissful unawareness. I didn’t want to get
up, but Keith kept calling my name. Whimpering, I slowly opened my eyes and my
dad’s body was gone.

“What just happened?” I croaked. I looked around. Keith and I
were alone. My father and Magic were both gone.

I lay still without sitting up.

“I don’t know.” Keith’s voice sounded confused. Done.

“I was standing outside this castle thing, waiting for you
and then I don’t know. The voices got so strong. I tried to fight them off,
keep them out of my head, but they were so powerful. I couldn’t hold out. And
then they were inside me. The worst evil I’ve ever felt. It was like I was
watching what was happening to me, as if I was dreaming and couldn’t stop it.
They felt my memories and my thoughts but I couldn’t stop them from doing what
they wanted. They wanted your powers so badly I could taste it.”

I
knew what he meant. I’d felt the power of the SHIELDERS inside my own head. I
struggled to sit up. Keith dropped his head in shame.

“I’m
so sorry. Your cat. I don’t know what happened. I felt this hot flash inside of
me and then it went out and man. I think I killed Magic.”

I sighed. A tear squeezed out of my eye. There was too much
on my plate. I didn’t have room for anything else. “Well. It was either Magic
or you. Tough call, but you won.”

He stared at me. “God. I’m so sorry about your cat.”        

I looked at him. The Keith I knew. The Keith who was my best
friend. I knocked him over jumping into his arms.

“Oh my God, Keith, what the heck just happened?” I said to
his chest. Overwhelmed barely described it.

      Keith held me for a while. “I don’t know.” He untangled
himself and then he got to his feet and held out a hand to help me up. “I am so
sorry,” he said again and his voice crackled with remorse. He looked like he
was going to cry.

      “It was the SHIELDERS, not you. It’s okay,” I said
sincerely.

Neither one of us mentioned the horrible kiss they’d also
caused but I knew we were both thinking about it. 

      I glanced around us. We’d have to deal with so much of
this later. If we ever got back to real life.

“Where did the damn exit to this place go? How do we get out
of here?” I asked. The walls seemed to have closed in a little. There was no
sign of the exit.

      Keith glanced around and shrugged. “You’re the witch.
Use your powers, Sydney. You have to get us out.”

My heart kerplunked. I was a Witch. I would stay one.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on my Mom’s face. When I
opened them, my mom held my hand.

“Good job, Sydney.” She pressed her hand to my forehead.
“You’re okay. You’re okay.”

Nana stood beside her. Keith was at my other side, a worried
expression on his face. I glanced down again where my father’s body had lain.

“He’s gone,” my mom whispered. “It’s over. The Sheilders
can’t hurt us now, not without your father.” She smiled but it didn’t quite
reach her eyes. “He gave you his powers, Sydney. He gave you his powers and
that’s what saved us. We’ll be okay.”

She wiped a tear from my eye. “It’s okay. He’s been gone a
long time already. Let’s get out of here and we’ll mourn him properly. Right
now let’s go get your brother and go home.”

      “What about Magic?”

      “Magic is fine,” she said. “He’s gone but he’ll be back
for the next witch. Your witch.”

I glanced at Keith. He stepped forward and held out his hand.
I took it.

      “I hate to tell you this, but you are now the most
kick-ass witch in the world,” he said with a grin. “Super Witch.”

      “She is,” Nana added in a disapproving voice. “But she
has a lot to learn with all the power she’s got. We have our work cut out for
us.”

“Close your eyes and take us with you to Cody,” she ordered.

      “What?” I asked, confused.

      Nana clucked. “Oh Lord, Tara. We’re in for big trouble.
All the power and none of the training. Okay. Hold hands.” She grabbed Keith’s
hand and reached for my mom with the other. My mom reached for my hand. We
formed a circle.

      “Now. Close your eyes and take us to Cody,” Nana commanded,
like it was a normal everyday request.

I blinked.

“Oh for goodness sake, do a basic wish. Just think about
where he is. Think really hard and then wish we were there.”
          I looked at Keith, shrugged and did what I was told.

      When I opened my eyes, we were all standing on the edge
of the forest. The scene in front of us was almost comical. 

      Police cars flanked Cody, Stevie and Jenny. No sirens
were going off, but lights were flashing and officers were wandering around
trying to make sense of what was going on.

Jenny was in the arms of one of the officers, who was
murmuring comforting words at her as she wiped her tears. I noted he was the
youngest and the best looking cop there. Girl could work it all right.

I turned and looked behind me. The greenery didn’t seem to be
scoffing me anymore. The forest was just a bunch of trees. I didn’t have to be
afraid anymore. I’d faced bigger boogiemen.

Cody noticed us and squinted. “Mom!” he yelled.

      The officers and Stevie looked over. The four of us
stepped forward, walking towards them.

      Cody ran past the police and ran to Mom and picked her
up and twirled her around in the air. She giggled and then he put her down and
squeezed her tight.

She smiled over at me and mouthed, Thanks.

Then, like a cat on catnip, Cody raced back to Stevie, took
her hand and pulled her close. Stevie stared at me with wide eyes. Keith lifted
his hand in a wave and I smiled at her, but she shrunk back, hiding behind
Cody.

      Jenny started shrieking when she peeked out from under
the officer’s arm and saw me.

“It was her. It was. She’s a witch, a witch.”

“I wish she would just be quiet,” I said, without thinking.
Jenny instantly shut up.

Nana sighed and whispered in my ear. “You’re going to have to
cast a forget spell on all of them. We’ll have to figure out what spell we’ll
need to clear this all up with the police and your friend, Jeremy.”

“Mike, Nana. And how on earth am I supposed to cast a forget
spell?”

      She sighed dramatically. “For now, just wish that Stevie,
Cody and that girl in bare feet forget all about magic and witches and any
weird things they’ve seen. The police, too. I’ll have to teach you to cast
spells at work. We’re going to need a good one for this mess.”