Callyn
Finding that witch has been harder than we hoped. It’s been a week and still no word. At this point, I would take any witch that could help us. I mean they all have to know the same sort of spells. Right?
“Earth to Callie,” a hand waves in front of my face. “What’s going on in the pretty little head of yours?” Max questions.
“I was just thinking about the witch, wondering if they all know the same spells and if we could just use any witch, or do we have to find the one that my mother used because she originally placed the spell.”
“Actually, that’s a good question,” Zeke states.
“The only problem is who the hell do we ask? I would think that the only one that could answer that question would be another witch, but I don’t see a plethora of witches we can ask,” Graydon growls.
I sigh, “I know.” I turn and focus on Lucian. “How about your grandfather? Do you think he would have any more luck?”
“I could ask, but I don’t know how much help he can give us right now. You know he’s been swamped since half the council turned out to be against us. He’s been taking over for all of them. Plus, the lessons he’s been giving us, so we can eventually take over, he’s stretched thin.”
“Is there anyone else we can ask for help?”
“I honestly can’t answer that. It’s hard just trying to figure out who we can and can’t trust.”
“I know, but how much longer can we wait. We don’t know when or who the next attack will be, and you know there will be more.”
“Okay, can we stop the doom and gloom talk before it really begins,” Max says.
“Unfortunately, no. This isn’t the time or place for it, but a serious discussion on our next steps is definitely needed. We can’t be caught unaware like we were last time,” Lucian states.
“I would rather be prepared, than not. Cat being the new prophetess is the best thing that has happened. This is a first step in the right direction. We now have time to plan; we didn’t get that luxury with Kelsey,” I say.
“Speaking of the she-bitch, has anyone seen or heard from her since the stunt that she pulled?” Max questions.
Everyone shakes their head. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing. A part of me hopes that she stays in hiding, ashamed of what she has done. But, I don’t know if Kelsey can actually feel that emotion. If I had to guess, she is probably still plotting against us. I highly doubt that she sees what she did was wrong. I don’t want this to go to war. I don’t want to see anymore bloodshed over this, but I know that I’m not going to get my way.
The only thing that I can do now is prepare for what is to come. We all do. Yeah, Lucian’s grandfather is helping us understand the politics, but we’re eighteen years old. Who is going to take us seriously? Who is going to listen and abide by rules set by eighteen year old’s? No one. That’s who. No one in their right mind is going to listen to us. So, we really have our work cut out for us. Lucian’s grandfather thinks that this war will help us. This will be our first real test as leaders and the outcome is everything.
No pressure, right?
Just win a little thing called war, and that will appease the masses. I inwardly groan. You know, if someone would have told me that this is what my life was going to be like, I would have laughed. The shy, quiet girl in school is the Alpha Queen. I have not one, but four mates, who I love and love me. They are the best part of all this. They keep me going. I don’t know what I would do without them.
“Well, wherever she is, let’s hope that she stays there,” Graydon says.
I couldn't agree more, but we all know that won’t happen.
I’m sitting on my bed, doing my homework, when I hear a knock on my door. A second later, my Aunt Dahlia pops her head in, opening the door.
“Hey, you think you can text the boys and have them come over? I have some news for you guys, and I want to tell you all together.”
“Sure, is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything is fine. Actually, there is someone coming that I would like you to meet.” She must see the confused look on my face and decides to stop with the mystery. “I found a witch, and she says she might be able to help us.”
“Where did you find her?”
“Actually, I’ve known her for awhile. She’s more of an acquaintance.”
“Do you trust her?”
“I believe we can. She hasn’t given me any reason not to.”
“Well, damn. I’ll message them now. When is the witch going to be here?”
“Should be any minute. They don’t need to drive anywhere. They have the ability of snapping their fingers and transporting themselves wherever they want. A neat trick really.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
I pick up phone and send out a group text.
Me: My aunt found a witch; she should be here any moment. Come over when you can.
Zeke: We’ll be there in a few minutes.
Graydon: I’ll drive. Meet me at my house.
Max: Do you think she has a cauldron?
Lucian: Really, Max? Just get to Graydon’s.
Lucian: On our way, baby.
I let out a sigh. I hope this witch can help us.
Graydon
This witch better have some answers. We’re beating our heads against the wall at this point. Something’s got to give. I know we aren’t showing it, but the vision has all of us shook. Even me. I will do whatever I have to, to make sure that Callie is safe. It doesn’t take long for everyone to pile into my truck. I think we were all in motion the moment we got that text.
“What do you think of this? Do you think we are going to get some answers finally?” Zeke questions.
“We can only hope, but at this point what else do we have to go on?” Lucian answers.
Not another word is said as I drive the few blocks over to Callie’s house. I pulled up on to the driveway, none of us wasting time getting out.
We go up the stairs and knock on the front door. Callie answers with a smile on her face. “Hey guys.”
Callie moves to let us past as I go I place a quick kiss on her lips. If she is going to get rid of any doubt about us being fine with seeing her give all of us affection and attention, then we need to do the same with her. I move over to the side to let the rest of the guys in. Zeke follows and does the same thing I do. Lucian tugs on her hair before he gives her a kiss.
“Come on, you guys are taking too long I want my turn,” Max whines.
Callie chuckles as Max picks her up and spins her in a circle before giving her a quick kiss. Instead of putting her back on her feet, he carries her into the living room.
“You know I can walk right?”
“Yeah, but this is more fun.” She rolls her eyes but smiles.
No sooner after we all pick a spot to sit, you could feel the pressure in the room change. In a blink of an eye, there is a woman standing before us. She has black hair that reaches her shoulders in an array of messy curls. Her skin is the color of mocha, flawless, and her eyes are the brightest, violet I have ever seen. They are framed with thick lashes, black eyeliner, and mascara. She has on a high-waisted, pleated, ankle length, grey skirt. Her top is off the shoulder, simple, and black. She has on strappy, black high heels. She’s a beautiful woman, but I don’t trust her. How did she magically appear in this room?
“Who the hell are you?” I growl, getting up so I can move closer to Callie. I’m not the only one.
“My name is Alcina, and I’m the witch who’s going to help you.”
“And just how do you plan to do that?”
“I’m going to take a look at the journal and see if there is more to it. I will be able to sense the magic. After that, I will help aide you in the oncoming war.”
“Why would you do that?” Callie questions. “You don’t know us, so why would you help?”
“One, beggars can’t be choosers. You clearly need my help; otherwise, why would your aunt have contacted me? As far as I can tell, I’m the only witch here. Are you really going to turn away my help? And two, I don’t want this war to happen. But, I know that it is. Do you honestly think that the world, or shifters for that matter, will be better off in the hands of whoever your enemies are? You got a taste of that a couple of months ago, the Elder Council. That was a dictatorship waiting to happen or try to happen at the least. They were never going to succeed.”
“Care to explain,” I growl.
“Someone else was giving the council orders. Well, a few of them anyways. It’s always easy to spot the power-hungry ones,” she says with a shrug, like it’s no big deal.
“How do you know someone was pulling their strings?” Max asks.
“Come on, you can’t really be that dense. There is always someone bigger who needs underlings to do their dirty work. Case in point, to get rid of you five. You are the biggest obstacle and threat to whatever they have planned.”
“So, are you trying to tell me you’re Glinda the Good Witch and you’re going to help us defeat the Wicked Witch of the West? How do we know you won’t betray us?” Max questions.
“You don’t, but I’m hoping that by me helping you along the way that I can gain your trust. I’m going to start doing that by helping you with the journals.”
Callie sighs, “Fine, I’ll go get them.”
“I’m coming with you,” I utter.
I make sure I place myself between Callie and Alcina. No way in hell am I giving this unknown witch easy access. I follow Callie up the stairs and to her room. Neither of us speak until we close her bedroom door behind us.
“What do you make of her? Do you think we can trust her?” Callie ask as she starts to pile some of the journals on her nightstand back in the box with the others.
I sigh, “You know me; I don’t trust anyone, and it’s even harder for me to trust anyone after what we all went through, you especially. We are going to have to keep an eye on her, and one shifty move from her and she’s done.”
Callie turns to look at me. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, okay.”
“I expected you to fight me about that.”
“Not about this. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to argue with you but not about this.”
I walk up and wrap my arms around her. “Are you ready for this?”
“Not really, but who is? I wonder if she knows the witch from Cat’s vision, and if she does, maybe she can help us stop her?”
“Maybe.”
She tilts her head back to look at me. I love the smile she gives me. I lean down and place my lips on hers. What’s supposed to be a quick chaste kiss turns into something more. She moans, and it’s the best sound I’ve heard. I’m so focused on Callie, that I don’t hear the door open.
“Ahem. Am I interrupting something?”
Max.
Callie giggles. “I guess we were taking too long.”
“I guess so.”
“We should get back downstairs. Can you carry the box downstairs for me?” she asks as she pats my chest.
“Yeah,” I grumble.
“Thank you, grumpy bear.”
Callie steps around me and toward the door. She stops in front Max and gives him a quick peck on the cheek. Max swats her butt before she can move away.
“Behave.”
Callie leaves me and Max standing in her room.
“Pay back,” Max says with a smile. I take a step toward him, but he laughs and ducks out the room. The bastard. I pick up the box and head down the stairs after them.
Zeke
I watch as Callie, Max, and Graydon walk back down the stairs. This whole witch thing is crazy. We have to be crazy, right? After that vision of all of us dying, we have to be more careful about who we give information to. The whole thing with Kelsey and Elder Council already has us going out of our minds with worry over who will be coming after us next. And the longer it takes for the next attack, the bigger it will be.
I eye the witch again, as Callie makes her way over to the couch and sits next to me. Max takes the chair that Graydon normally sits in. Graydon places the box on the coffee table in front of Callie and sits on Callie’s other side, the two biggest guys taking post to protect her.
Alcina moves forward and places a hand over the box. “Yes, I can feel the magic. At least one of those journals has been altered.”
“Do you think you can break whatever spell is on it?” Callie inquires.
“I won’t know unless I try.”
Callie looks at me, then to Graydon, followed by Lucian and Max. She gives us a slight nod. “Okay, why not. What can it hurt?”
We watch with eagle eyes as Alcina starts to pull the journals out of the box one by one. She’s about half way through when she stops; her hands just hovering above the next journal.
“This is it? Are you sure?” Zeke questions. I nod my head.
“I’m going to warn you now whatever this journal holds maybe of no use to you. At least it may not help you with this coming war,” Alcina states.
“Well, we’ve come this far; no use turning back now. Besides, why place a spell on the book if it holds no useful information? There’s something in there that they wanted to hide.”
Alcina carefully pulls the journal out of the box. Graydon and I quickly clear off the coffee table. She places the book down in the center. All of us are waiting, glued to what she is doing. Her eyes are closed, and she is muttering something underneath her breath. Both of her hands, palms down, are spread across the journal. There is a soft white glow that emanates from her hands. This goes on for a few minutes and nothing happens. Well, as far as I can tell nothing happens.
“So, did it work?” Graydon says with a slight attitude.
“Let’s open it and see.” Alcina flips through a couple of pages before she stops at a blank page. She utters another spell and words start to appear, well like magic. “Hm, it looks like only a spell spoken by and a drop of blood from the Alpha Queens line will reveal its secrets.”
“I don’t know any spells.”
“We can start by placing a drop of your blood on the page and see what else appears. The spell may be hidden in the pages and only activated with the blood.”
“No, absolutely not,” Graydon growls.
“I don’t think I have a choice. This seems to be the only way.” Callie looks at Alcina. “This is the only way, right?”
“Yes.”
Callie sighs, “Okay, let’s get this over with.”
With a wave of her hand, Alcina conjures a needle.
“Well, that’s a nifty trick,” Max says.
“Your hand please.” Callie lifts her hand and places it palm up in Alcina’s. A quick prick of her finger, Alcina turns it over and squeezes until a single drop falls onto the page. You can feel the ripple of magic spread across the book. “There should be a spell.” Alcina turns the journal around and faces toward Callyn. All of us scoot closer. “Just speak the words that are on the page.”
“What words?” I say.
Callie looks over at me. “You don’t see them?”
“No.”
“Hm. Very clever. It seems the witch that placed the spell made it only visible to the Alpha Queen or the heir. I can’t see the words either, but I felt the magic. At least we know you are the legitimate heir to the throne.”
Callie reaches up and pulls her necklace from beneath her shirt. “Like this wasn’t enough. Oh, and by the way, I shift into a phoenix.”
Alcina nods her head. “That necklace is legend. It’s part of the stories that are told to us as children. I never thought I would see it up close.”
“Can we just do this? There will be time for all of this later,” Graydon says angrily.
“Geez, take a chill pill,” Max states. “Go ahead Callie; we don’t need Graydon hulking out.”
Callie takes a deep breath before leaning forward to peer at the book.
“A drop of blood is all takes for you see the hidden spell inside of me. The words spoken for you to hear will also make what you can’t see clear. This only works for those with the right gene for I am the rightful Alpha Queen.”
The pages of the book start to flip back and forth rapidly before finally settling down. All of us scoot even closer together. There is not an inch of space that separates us. The first page is a picture of talisman. The center is a blood red, hexagon shaped stone that is surrounded by a Celtic star. Callie turns the page and in big, bold, black ink is a name; Lorcan Camden.
“Why does Camden sound familiar?” I ask.
“Because… that was my mother’s last name.”
“Well, damn,” I whisper.