Fate Changer (The Lost Witch Trilogy #3) (6 page)

Sarah bit her lip before drawing in a deep breath. She glanced at Gretchen and Agnes, standing by the house, staring at them worriedly and nodded her head. She was ready. Zane grabbed her hand and they began walking around the house again. She closed her eyes and felt almost overcome by their combined power. She lifted her free arm high over her head and shouted as she felt her and Zane’s combined power pour out of her arm and arc over the house. As the arc formed, she imagined Charles and Mason standing on the outside, unable to get in. It took great concentration but she could feel her power forming a shield wherever she pointed.

She had to move faster though. She needed speed. She needed to run. She jumped into a light run and felt Zane with her every step of the way. They were completely in sync with each other’s movements and thoughts. Soon she could feel herself leave the house and move down the street, running faster. Zane pulled her gently in different directions occasionally, but she never paused or slowed down. It almost felt as if she were pulling energy from the air around her. She could barely feel the shadow of her grandmother’s old lines still hanging by threads in the wind. The shadows of her grandmother’s lines began to clasp on to her new ones as soon as she ran past and she knew that somehow her lines combined with her grandmother’s old ones would be impenetrable to Charles. Whether or not Mason would be able to get through would be another story though.

An hour later she and Zane had made a complete circle around their neighborhood, school and the shopping areas they would need. Zane pulled her to a stop in front of the house. She opened her eyes and saw that Zane was breathing heavy from all the exertion and running, but he was grinning happily too. She smiled back and laughed out loud when Zane picked her up and threw her into the air.

“We did it! I could feel the lines forming Sarah. We did it!” he yelled, grinning happily as Gretchen, Beatrice and Agnes ran outside to greet them.

Zane threw her up one more time and if she flew up a few more feet out of pure, relieved joy. She was sure no one could blame her. As she floated back down into Zane’s arms, her hair streamed out behind her, turning into silken flames.

“I don’t think anyone could mistake you for anything but what you are. You are one pretty little witch dear,” Agnes said proudly, pulling her out of Zane’s arms and hugging her tightly.

Gretchen took her turn next and hugged her followed by Beatrice, who got a little teary when she pulled away. “You’re just like your grandmother dear. She never could help showing off either.”

Sarah laughed and turned back to Zane. “I feel tired, but not completely wiped out like I did yesterday. What about you? How do you feel?”

Zane ran his hands through his hair, making it stick up on end. “I feel pretty good actually. When we consciously combine our power, we not only have twice the power, but we recharge each other at the same time. That’s pretty cool.”

Sarah grinned happily and rubbed her cooling arms. “We were due for some good news.”

Agnes nodded. “It’s good news for sure, but if Charles ever finds out about this Zane, your life will be in grave danger.”

Beatrice nodded in complete agreement while Gretchen’s face turned white in fear. “Zane,” she whispered, reaching out to him.

Zane left Sarah’s side as he pulled his mother in for a hug. “Mom, relax. All of our lives are in danger. This is nothing new. Besides, Mason has probably told him all about me anyways. You saw him yesterday morning. He’s not interested in me. He’s completely focused on Sarah.
Relax
,” he pleaded.

Gretchen smiled tremulously and nodded her head. “I know. You’re right. It’s just you’re my baby.”

Agnes smiled sadly at her daughter and took her hand in hers. “Sweetie, it would be odd if you weren’t worried. Zane is tied to Sarah now in ways even I don’t understand, but he’s part of this. A very important part. We just need to have faith that good will overcome evil. Or in this case, I just hope with everything I have that Zane is able to kick Charles’s butt all the way to Mexico.”

Sarah, Zane and Beatrice laughed and were all relieved when Gretchen smiled. Beatrice grabbed Sarah’s hand before she could head for the house though.

“I was serious about Francis’s house. I thought it would take you a long time, but you were only gone for an hour and your energy levels are stable. It would be a great favor to me and it would honor your grandmother’s memory if you and Zane would protect her home. It would mean enlarging the lines to encompass the road to the house and areas surrounding it, but we have time. Charles won’t be expecting you to do it.
Please
,” Beatrice begged, looking at her pleadingly.

Sarah swallowed heavily and looked at Zane. Zane was frowning and looked very stern for a moment before relaxing his face into a smile.

“Of course we will Beatrice. Won’t we Sarah?” Zane said, looking at her steadily.

Sarah nodded her head quickly. “Why don’t we eat lunch and rest for a half an hour and then we’ll hit it hard with everything we have,” she suggested.

Zane grinned at her and Beatrice clapped her hands. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. Francis will be so grateful,” she said smiling as she headed for the house. “I’m going to make you the best lunch you’ve ever had,” she added over her shoulder as she disappeared through the doors.

Agnes smiled at her kindly and touched her cheek with her finger. “You don’t want to go back to that house do you? You thought you’d never have to see it again. You’re a very kind hearted girl Sarah. And she’s right. Francis is very grateful and she will help you along the way,” she said and followed Gretchen into the house.

Zane gave her a half smile and pushed her hair behind her ears before leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips. “You’re amazing.”

Sarah smiled up into Zane’s bright silver eyes and shook her head. “No, it’s always been you Zane. It’s silly for everyone to look at me and think I’m something special. You’re the real power. You’re the star,”

Zane laughed a little and shook his head. “I think that’s one of the things I like the most about you. You have no idea how truly incredible you are. Come on, you’re stomach’s growling. Let’s get you fed,” he said and pulled her by the hand up the steps to the front door.

Sarah smiled at his back and sent a little energy hug through his hand along with the words,
Well, you’re definitely my star
.

Zane looked back over his shoulder and grinned at her. “So says the sun.”

Sarah decided to drop it as they were ushered into the kitchen where they immediately started scarfing down a bag of BBQ chips, orange juice and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches made with sun ripened tomatoes, grilled peppers and roast beef. When they were done eating, Sarah felt so full, she wasn’t sure she could move, let alone run to the beach, around a house a few times and back.

“You know, last time, I thought we were just going out for a leisurely stroll through town, but it ended up being a fast paced 12K. I say we change into our running gear before we head out again,” Zane suggested as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

Sarah agreed immediately. “Brilliant. But let’s rest for a half hour before we head out, okay?”

Zane glanced at Beatrice’s standing by the sink looking expectantly at them and winced. “At least fifteen minutes,”

Sarah grumbled but gave in and twenty minutes later they were outside, holding hands and running toward the ocean.

The food and rest had rejuvenated Sarah completely and now that she knew what she was doing and felt more comfortable with the task at hand, she was able to move faster and channel even more power than before. She still kept her eyes closed and her arm up. If anyone stopped to stare at the teenagers running by, holding hands and looking odd, she wasn’t aware of it.

The three and half mile run out to her grandmother’s house went faster than she wanted it too. When she began to smell the ocean and hear the waves, her heart started to thud sickly in her chest and she automatically slowed down until she was walking. She paused and opened her eyes to stare up into Zane’s worried face.

“It’s okay Sarah. Nothing will hurt you. We’ll just run along the shoreline and around the house a few times and head home. Just think of our date later tonight. Let’s get through this and then we’ll have a little fun, okay?” Zane said, trying to get her to refocus.

Sarah leaned over her knees and tried to gather her courage, but the pictures in her mind of her grandmother’s bloodless body lying in her bed wouldn’t leave. She finally stood up, her eyebrows knit together nodded. “I can’t forget what happened to my Grandmother in that house, but I can do this for her. I
will
do this,” she said, trying to convince herself.

Zane nodded with a small smile and grabbed her hand. They moved into a light jog and headed in a big circle around the house. Sarah kept her eyes tightly closed, but it was harder to do when she got to the sandy beach. All the dips in the sand made it hard to keep her balance and concentrate on the arc of power she was trying to weave through the air. They immediately slowed back down into a walk until they came to firmer ground as they headed around the house in a circle.

They made three tight circles using as much of their power and energy as they could and then widened the circle as they came back to the road in front of her grandmother’s house.

Zane pulled her to a stop and she opened her eyes. “We’re done. We’ll strengthen the line on our way back into town, but for right now, we’re pretty much done. The house is protected Sarah. We did it,” Zane said, sounding tired.

Sarah nodded and took a few deep breaths, feeling the wear on her power. “What if Mason is in the house Zane?”

Zane shook his head and stared at the house, his eyes turning a dangerous metallic color. “If he was unlucky enough to be in that house while we were drawing the lines, then he’d be almost dead about now. I’ll go check though to make sure. Why don’t you come with me? If I’m not mistaken, as soon as we get back to the house, Beatrice will be on her way home. We might as well make sure it’s safe for her. I don’t want her to walk in on something dangerous,”

Sarah winced but knew he was right. He was always a protector. Always looking out for everyone else. But the thought of entering her grandmother’s home where she was murdered made her slightly queasy. Zane tugged on her pony tail lightly and led the way up the elegant steps to the front door. The door was locked, but Zane opened it with his mind and walked through, pushing the police tape out of his way.

Sarah covered her nose in a protective way before entering. If she smelled blood she was out of there. She could not do it, knowing it was her grandmother’s.

She slowly lowered her hand as she realized the air was as clean and fresh as it had always been. She could even smell a whiff of her Grandmother’s perfume she was so fond of. Sarah smiled sadly as she walked through the hallways, following Zane closely. It was as if her Grandmother was right there with her walking alongside her. She smiled sadly and closed her eyes, imagining it and in her mind, she could see her grandmother perfectly, but she looked different. She looked younger, more vibrant and more alive than she’d ever seen her before. And she was smiling at her gently as if she were trying to tell her how proud she was of her. Sarah felt a tear slip down her cheek and she smiled back at her Grandmother in her mind. She felt or saw her grandmother wave cheerfully at her and then turn and walk away. Sarah sighed happily, knowing she could hold on to that image of her grandmother now instead of the one of her grandmother, murdered in her bed.

“Where did you go just now? You were buzzing with energy, but it wasn’t yours,” Zane said curiously, looking around the hallway back and forth.

Sarah smiled at Zane and breathed in deeply, letting it out along with all of her fear and anxiety about being in the house again. “I saw my Grandmother just now in my mind. She was standing right here with me and she was happy and okay. She was healthy and beautiful and she loved me. It was like I could feel what she was feeling for me. I felt safe and strong and that it was okay for me to be here in her house again. I guess that sounds weird, huh?” she said shyly, looking away.

Zane shook his head slowly at her and pulled her in for a long hug. “Sweetheart, I hate to break it to you, but you just saw your grandmother’s spirit. She came back to see you. She was actually right here with you, because I know your energy like I know my first name. It has a different look and feel to it. I felt your grandmother here with you. It was a good feeling,” he said with a smile in his voice.

Sarah looked up into Zane’s face and smiled happily. “You know what I just realized? You know how that morning when we came into the house and it was just covered with evil? Well, good works the same way. Whatever evil is working against us, we have just as much good working
for
us. This fight between us and Charles is a lot bigger than I realized.”

Zane smiled happily and smoothed her hair back from her forehead. “Then you know what I’ve been telling you is absolutely true. Everything’s going to be okay. You and I are going to make it through this and not only that, our children are going to love vacationing at the beach and watching you throw the ocean up into dragons.”

Sarah laughed and sighed happily. She was actually starting to believe they had a chance.

“Come on, let’s go. The house is safe and clean. I can feel it and there’s no way my Grandmother’s spirit would come to me if there was danger or evil here,” Sarah said.

Zane nodded and they turned and walked back down the stairs. “You’re right. Let’s strengthen the lines on the way back and then get ready for our date. Tomorrow is your grandmother’s graveside service. We need to be prepared for whatever happens tomorrow.”

Sarah nodded as they walked out the front door and Zane shut and locked it without even looking. “Yeah, but Charles won’t be able to come now. The cemetery is in the middle of town and our lines surround it. Do you think he’ll throw a fit and do something?”