Witch (10 page)

Ophelia

The woman in the snow globe waved at her and blew her a
kiss. Ophelia looked at the six balls of light, “Do you see her often?”

‘Other than this snow globe we have not seen her since
birth. We each remember her from the minutes we had when we were born, before
we were taken.’

She frowned, “Why can’t you go there?”

‘There is a guard around the tower. No one may enter but
our father and the maids.’

“How did Annabelle make this snow globe then?”

‘One of the maids sacrificed her life to create a live
link to mother’s cell. It’s made of her blood and soul.’

She frowned, “Gross.” She was grateful she had gotten Sam
to take her to grab it. He made her promise a favor if he did it. She had cried
when she saw her house. Her parents were out. She knew they were looking for
their daughters. She imagined they were terrified, as she was.

Thoughts of Jake filled her mind. She wondered if he was
still thinking about her or if it was all a lie. She couldn’t believe her life
had taken the turn it had.

She left the snow globe and walked down the stairs to the
kitchen.

“She needs to convince them to give her their power after
she kills her brother.”

“Shh.”

She stopped as she opened the fridge door. She stood frozen
at the fridge holding the jug of orange juice.

Were they talking about her?

“Ophelia honey, do you want to come in here?”

She carried the orange juice with her into the sitting
room next to the kitchen. Lorri and Lydia sat on the chairs.

Lorri raised an eyebrow at the juice.

“I was getting a glass, I swear.”

“So you heard that I assume.”

She nodded, “You want me to kill my brother? The brother I
haven’t ever met and don’t really believe exists?”

“The way the witch who birthed the others did the spell
was so that whoever was the last standing would be graced with the power of
them all. It’s the only way to defeat him.”

She raised an eyebrow, “They told me you’re Lucifer. If
that’s true how is he stronger than you?”

Lorri looked her directly in the eyes, “He has allowed the
shadow to fill him up. He is full of the hate and pain of the world. He is the
actual Satan human kind believes me to be. The reason we guard is to keep the
darkness your mother cursed the earth with out.”

Ophelia nodded, “I know Annabelle and my sisters told me
this. Adam raped her in the garden.”

“Shhh child. Do not speak the words.” Lydia looked around
nervously.

She frowned, “Why?”

“Better to be safe than sorry.”

“Look I get that this is very real to you all but the part
that’s real to me is my sister. Do you know where she is?”

Lydia glanced at Lorri who nodded, “We think she’s in
Alaska, if she’s still alive.”

“Still alive?” Her stomach started to twist.

Lorri nodded, “Look kid the people who have her have all
the darkness in the world inside of them. Bad things are kind of their gigs.”

“Can we go get her?”

“Not until July seventh. It’s when you’ll be at your
strongest.”

She tried to contain her anger, “Are you fucking insane.
I’m not waiting over a week to get her. Especially if she might die. Freaking
nut bags. My parents have probably called the police. Everyone knows we're
missing. Jesus Christ.”

She got up and stormed up to the room where Sam was
staying. She tapped on his door.

“Yes.”

She opened it and smiled, “Hey.”

He stood at his bedside with a big bag. She frowned, “What
are you doing?”

“Leaving.”

Her heart sunk. She hated the house and the stupid people
in it. The little kids were creepy and the girls her age were bitchy. She
paused watching him and blurted out, “Can I come?”

He shrugged and put a hand out. She ran out, “Be right
back.”

She ran to her room and snagged her snow globe and ran
back to his room.

“Sam don’t do this.”

Lydia’s voice rang through the halls. Sam frowned at Ophelia
who grabbed his arm as they flashed.

She opened her eyes when they stopped moving to see the
most amazing castle she had ever seen.

“Wow. What is this place?”

He walked away from her, “Giselle’s place.”

Ophelia gulped, “The vampires house?” She barely recalled
the night the vampires had been outside Lydia's. What she did remember was
horrifying. She smiled watching Sam. She remembered him mostly. Him and the way
he made her mind fuzzy.

He was already inside. She looked up the huge creepy
castle. She walked in amazed. The foyer was the size of her main floor of her
parent’s house. Sadness filled her as she thought about them. Were they out
looking for her right now? Were they scared?

Lorri told her that she was a danger to everyone now that
her father knew she was alive. He would know he had been betrayed. She couldn’t
imagine being a baby smuggled out as a dead infant as her mother grieved the
loss of yet another baby girl. She gripped the snow globe against her chest and
tried not to cry. She couldn’t fight the fact she felt something for the snow
globe lady, even if she didn’t understand it.

Sam

He stormed to Aimee’s new room. She was huddled on her bed
crying.

“I need your help.”

A disgusted look flashed across her red and puffy face,
“What? Are you kidding me?”

“I need help. I need to find the spell that breaks my
match.”

“Can you break mine too?”

He slumped onto her bed, “You’re being a drama queen. You
aren’t matched. You were in love Aimes. Humans don’t die from falling out of love.
What happened?”

“I broke up with him, duhhhh. I thought the crying and not
even wanting to kill made that obvious.”

“Is he okay?”

She glared at him with her steely grey eyes, “What, no. Of
course not. He’s upset. He cried on the side of the road and yelled at me.”

“What did he say?”

“He said I was making a mistake and that we are supposed
to be together. Then he got really mad and asked why the fuck he was staying in
random hotels with my dad and giving up his dreams if we weren’t going to be
together. Then he called me my sister and left.”

“You know that’s not true right."

"It is true. I am my sister. I loved him and Aleks at
the same time. I dated them both. I judged her for the same shit."

He rolled his eyes, "You saved his life breaking it off.
Think of the shit that's wrong with you."

She sniffled, “It didn’t feel like it. It felt like I was
destroying it.”

“Did you go get your dad?”

She nodded, “I took him to my grams. We sold his house a
while ago and it closed the other day. He cried a lot. I’m an asshole. Everyone
hates me.”

He put an arm around her, “Aimes you're being a sobby
baby. Remember fierce death dealer. You need some of that 'I am woman hear me
roar'. You aren’t an asshole. No more than any of us. We can’t have mortal
connections. They die too easily.”

“Well my dad's staying with my gram in her new condo that
I got Lorri to buy her. It’s in the south of France. No one knows they’re
there. Not even Shane.”

“He’ll be happy Aimes.”

“I wish they could all be happy. I wish I’d cut the ties
with them all long before I became a Rose. I don’t mind my life being fucked
but I hate that they're all separated and scared and I can’t be there. I wish I
knew what was going to happen.”

Sam pulled a gold plate from his backpack, “Then I have
something to cheer you up.”

She glared at him, “Gold dishes?”

“Annabelle’s golden scrying plate. Ass.”

She snorted, “What in the eff could you possibly want to
show me in that plate? You aren’t even magical. Wanker.”

He sighed and pinched his noise, “I’m not hammer head but
Ophelia is and she is here.”

She burst into snotty laughter, “You’re a moron.”

“Be that as it may but you can see if it was the right
choice.”

She stopped laughing and looked at him, “You think she
could see that?”

He nodded, “And more. How to get Alise back. I bet she
can.”

“Uhhh that Ophelia chick is wandering the halls and Hanna
just called from Roland’s place. She’s coming over.” Giselle popped her head
in.

Sam smiled, “Ask Ophelia to meet us in the den please.”

Giselle frowned, “I am not your servant. Besides I got me
a vampire date.” She turned and shouted into the hall, “Jeeves get that witch
in the den and I’m hungry.”

She walked away.

Aimee tilted her head, “I miss poor Giselle.”

Sam nodded, “I agree.”

“I HEARD THAT ASSHOLES.”

Sam smirked, "Guess we are assholes."

Aimee laughed and picked up the golden plate.

“Wonder what her date will be like?”

“He will no doubt be young and attractive and hopefully
eager to fill my role as Jeeves the slave.”

Sam snorted as Hamish appeared in the doorway.

“Young miss Ophelia is headed to the den.”

“Thanks Hamish.”

“You are quite welcome Miss Aimee.”

Sam rolled his eyes at her grin as they walked out of the
room. Giselle had gotten moody and snotty since they had moved into the castle.
Aimee kept calling her mean high school Giselle.

Ophelia was standing in the den waiting for them when they
got there. She seemed out of place. He felt sorry for her for a small second.

“Dim the lights and light a bunch of candles.” Sam grabbed
the plate from Aimee and placed it on the small table. He grabbed a glass of
water from the bar and poured it into the shallow plate.

“Make sure the candles are behind the spot. They need to
be behind where she is going to read.” He smiled at Ophelia, “You need to look
into this plate and relax your mind. We will ask questions and you will see
answers okay?”

She nodded looking lost, “This is how a witch gets
answers?”

He nodded, “I saw the Wiccan's do this tons. Plus this
plate is really magical.”

She fidgeted with her fingers and looked into the water.

“Calm the mind Ophelia. Push away every thought and worry.
Just relax and breathe.” He tried to speak as low as he could.

Ophelia

The water looked normal. She wanted to help them so they
would help her get her sister and her life back but she doubted her own
abilities. She knew there was magic, too many things had occurred for her to
doubt that, but at the same time she had never seen a vision.

She cleared her mind and watched the water in the golden
plate. Just as she felt the last cog in her mind stop turning, the water
rippled. She looked closer. The bottom of the plate fell away revealing an
incredibly deep hole filled with water.

“Okay I think you can ask now.” She felt detached and
fuzzy.

Aimee blurted quickly, “Did I make the right decision to
break up with Shane?”

The water turned stormy and dark suddenly. Waves started
to lap across the tops of the hole. A handsome man with dark blond hair and
bright blue eyes sat alone in a room. He was drinking a beer with the TV on and
his police uniform shirt open to reveal a white under shirt. He looked like a
slob. He looked miserable. In a flash he was at a scene of an accident. A woman
in blue jeans and a baby blue t-shirt held her hand to her face. Blood dripped
from her forehead. He wiped the blood away. She smiled at him. The next flash
he was holding a baby in a hospital room. The lady from the accident smiled
from a hospital bed. His eyes still had sadness in them.

“He’s going to save a woman and fall in love and have a
baby. He looks happy I guess. Haunted still maybe. So I guess you did. His life
looks like he moved on.”

“My turn, how can I break my match?”

She frowned. She didn’t understand the question. She
watched as the water churned again and when the picture cleared a beautiful
woman stood at the edge of a lake. An older woman walked to her. Her back was
to Ophelia. The scene looked old fashioned. They both wore old-fashioned
dresses and bonnets. The young woman opened her dress and the older woman
whispered, “Fod yn rhydd o’r cadwyni o gariad” then she pulled a dagger from
the holster on her hip and dragged it across her hand making bright red blood
appear. She coated the dagger in the blood and then plunged it into the heart
of the woman. Ophelia gasped and the woman screamed in agony. The older woman
pulled the dagger out. No wound was there but a scar remained. The older woman
turned to face Ophelia. She gasped again seeing the younger face of Lydia
walking away from the screaming woman.

“I have to cut myself and say some shit and then stab you.
Lydia did it in the mirror to a young woman. She is so beautiful. She looks
like she is in agony though.”

“You know what to say right? Not just some shit?”

“Yeah god. The words are repeating in my head right now.”

Aimee cut Sam off, “Will I get my sister back?”

Ophelia thought of her own sister momentarily as the water
splashed and rolled inside of the hole. She waited for the water to clear but it
didn’t. She started to feel sick. She dropped to one knee.

“I don’t think I can do anymore right now.”

Sam was behind her smelling amazing. She felt rejuvenated
as her body leaned back into him.

“Ophelia I have the dagger if you could just do this little
spell for me quickly.”

She looked back at him and nodded, “Yeah alright fine
whatever.”

He bent down and pulled a small dagger from his sock.

“What is this Braveheart? Who keeps knives in their
socks?”

He smiled, “Hey I grew up with earth witches. They always
have a spare blade somewhere or salt in a pocket.”

He passed her the blade. It was still warm from being near
his skin.

She looked at him, “Are you sure I can do this?” Her
nerves started to freak her out.

“I can’t die anyway. Stabbing me in the heart is just
going to hurt if the spell doesn’t work.”

She glanced at Aimee who seemed off in space. She sighed
and spoke the words she’d heard the younger Lydia speak.

“Fod yn rhydd o’r cadwyni o gariad,” she slid the blade
along her hand slicing it open. The pain rushed in. She started to panic but
coated the blade in her dark red blood. It seemed darker than she remembered it
ever being. It was almost black.

He pulled off his shirt and took a deep breath, “Do
it."

She looked him in the eyes, about to back out but he shook
his head, “Please, I need this.”

The desperation in his eyes spoke to her. She plunged the
knife into his soft skin. He screamed and writhed in pain instantly. She pulled
the blade out and let it drop to the floor.

She wrapped her arms around him and began to cry, “I’m so
sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Aimee snapped out of her daydream and grabbed him as well.
She wrapped her arms around him.

He screamed in pain.

He dropped to his knees on the tile and fell to his side.
He curled into a ball. Ophelia sobbed wrapping herself around him and cradling
his head in her arms, “I’m so sorry.”

Suddenly a redhead rushed into the room, “WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE?”

She dropped to her knees in front of him sobbing.

Aimee reached a hand for the redhead but Sam put a fist
out, “No Aimes. She isn’t worth it.” He spoke through gritted teeth.

The redhead cried into her hands, “I never meant it. I
never meant it Sam. Please. Please.” She shook her head reaching for him.

He recoiled at her touch, “Never speak to me again.”

“Sam. I was confused. You were right I shouldn’t have gone
there. Sam I’m sorry. Please. I love you Sam.”

He reached for Aimee instead and let her help him off the
ground. On his chest sat a brand new scar in the shape of a heart with singed
edges.

Aimee lifted him, “Get out of our house.”

He looked weak as Aimee led him from the room.

Ophelia knelt on the floor, “I didn’t know. I didn’t mean
to. I didn’t know it would work.”

The sobbing girl covered her face. Her skin shook and
shivered like the sheriff’s had. Ophelia felt the air grow cold.

The redhead looked at her and screamed. Her face grew
frightening.

Ophelia backed away, "He asked me to do it.”

The redhead lunged at her. Ophelia felt something surge
from her. Her hands shot at the redhead. Waves of something burst from her and
shot the angry girl across the room. Ophelia felt something strong fill her. It
took over all of her emotions. She was no longer afraid. She looked up at the
ceiling. She frowned at the tile ceiling filling with dark angry clouds.

Rain began to pour across the tile floor drenching her and
the other girl. She ignored it as power surged through her.

Thunder and lightning filled the sky. Rods of lightning
struck the floor around her.

The redhead dove at her. She pulled at the lightning
hitting the redhead in the back. She screamed and flew across the room again.
She slid on the water and slammed into the wooden wall. A huge hole was bust
through into the next room.

Suddenly Giselle appeared at the door, “STOP WRECKING MY
SHIT!” She screamed into the rain and hail falling on the floor.

The redhead snarled at Ophelia, completely ignoring
Giselle's arrival.

Hanna, what the hell? Why are you trashing my den?”

The redhead leapt at her, still snarling.

Ophelia struck her with lightning again, knocking her to
the ground on her stomach.

Giselle looked at her, “Ophelia, girl your eyes are some
effed up right now. You need to stop raining on my den. And stop hitting Hanna
with lightning. She’s a Rose.”

Ophelia ignored her words. She loved the feelings that
were flowing through her. The power was licking at her.

She pulled at the lightning again and forked it, striking
Giselle and the redhead.

Giselle was knocked back into the wooden paneled walls.
She growled and leapt at Ophelia. She was faster than the redhead. She hit
Ophelia mid waist with a crushing blow. She knocked them both out the window
and onto the grass, two stories below.

Her hands came at Ophelia’s throat but Ophelia shoved her
with energy. Giselle flew back at the vines against the brick castle wall.
Ophelia twisted the vines of the castle wall, trapping Giselle against it.

A scream filled the yard, “STOP THIS!”

She turned to see Lydia standing on the grass with her
hands on her hips. The next thing she knew she was trapped against the castle
wall with vines choking her. The redhead appeared out of nowhere and was held
against the wall too.

Lydia’s eyes were solid black. With her long grey hair she
looked terrifying. Ophelia felt reality creeping in as her magic faded away. She
started to giggle.

The redhead, whose face was covered in tears, looked at
her like she was insane.

“It was my first time using my magic.”

The redhead didn’t seem to come around. She closed her
eyes and leaned her head against the hard brick wall roughly.

“WHAT DO YOU THREE THINK YOU’RE DOING?” Lydia paced in
front of them.

Giselle pointed with her fingers that she had free toward
Ophelia, “They did this. I was just defending my den. I don’t know what the den
is for but they were using it like a wrestling ring.”

“That’s boxing you moron and we saw you take Ophelia out
the window. Nice try.” Lorri put her hands on her hips the same way Lydia had.
“You’ve left a magical stain in the area. Ophelia your father is looking for you.
His people will be able to see this mess. You idiots. This shit is a beacon for
them to follow.”

Lydia sighed and put her face in her hands, “We can
disperse it some. The stain will still be in the city but at least they will
assume she’s at my house not the vampire queens.”

Lydia’s eyes looked normal and kind when she pulled her
hands away from her face. She looked like it was her heart that was broken when
she looked at the redhead, “Hanna. I’m so sorry.”

The redhead shook her head, “I did this. It’s my fault. I
never should have gone. They never taught me anything I couldn’t have figured
out from your book.”

Lydia swallowed hard as her eyes darted at Lorri, “We just
thought you would want to know your mother’s family.”

She nodded, “I did but it’s cost me everything.”

Lorri looked indignant, “It was the best place for you to
learn emergency feeding to stop the need.”

The redhead looked down, as best as the vines would allow,
“It doesn’t matter now. He’s broken the match.”

Ophelia noticed for the first time the bracelet the girl
wore was glowing like a fire burned inside of it. She couldn’t help but feel
animosity toward the girl. Something made her dislike her instinctively.

A whisper filled her mind, ‘It’s her Siren half. All
supernatural women naturally dislike her. She is a sweet girl I promise you.’
Ophelia looked at Lydia, who nodded, ‘You will like her if you give her a
chance. We need to talk about that spell and Annabelle's plate. I'm very angry
Ophelia.’

Ophelia felt sick. She had used her magic and done a
terrible thing. The redhead lost everything because of Ophelia. Ophelia didn’t
know the story. She didn’t want to. It would only make things much worse.

She needed to focus on the important things. She wanted
her sister back.

“I will let the vines release you all but you will
apologize to each other. Ophelia it’s safest for you to stay here. Giselle she
doesn’t leave the house. Ophelia I am very disappointed in you.”

Giselle opened her mouth to argue but closed it again as
black clouds floated in Lydia’s eyes.

“Fine."