Magick (The Unwanted Series Book 1) (10 page)

The wind blows in my face and the moon lights up the beach. I came to this beach with my dad when I was little, after mother had passed away, after the accident. My resolve is stone: I’ll get my dad and Lucy back, and nothing and no one is going to get in my way. In fact, it excites me that someone might try. Oh, the power and strength radiates through me, the hum of my magick. Shouldn’t I be scared? I’m not.

I take in the smell of the ocean and silently I send a message: Rhydian, find me.

Fate whispers to the girl,

“You cannot withstand the storm,”

And the girl whispers back:

“I am the storm.”

Chapter Twelve

I
sit in the sand mindlessly touching my necklace, my mother’s necklace, watching the gentle waves lap the beach in a mesmerizing rhythm. It’s distracting, and my mind is quiet. I don’t hear or see Rhydian arrive, but suddenly he’s sitting next to me.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

He seems okay to watch the waves with me in silence. I’m nervous to talk to him, knowing more about my future — the crown, political coos. For some reason, I want him on my side, and to agree with all that I need to do. I have the feeling he wouldn’t let me down, what with the blooded bond he has to me. I wonder if he has to agree as a result, that hangs in the back of my mind.

“I need you to go with me to the High Coven in a few hours,” I say.

He raises his eyebrows at me. “That’s a dangerous mission. Why?”

The word dangerous excites me, and he seems undeterred by it. That’s good. What is with my magick, its taunting me to flex outwardly power. The nudge is there and I feel like, it’s part of me and no longer nervous to do something wrong. It’s my thoughts and will that drive it but, I’m not familiar with Edayri and the realm in general. I need guides.

“I need the Guardians’ help to rescue my father and my friend. They have been taken, and are being tortured to lure me out.”

He turns to me. “You have Guardians, Willow. You don’t need the High Coven involved in this. They’ll make it a political move and tie you down.” He thrusts his hand into his hair. “Where did they take you? Evan and Theon. You know I’ve been looking for you? All of us, I mean… Tullen, Quinn — even Cross.” He smirks on the last name.

“Even Cross, you say?” I look sideways at him.

Rhydian snickers. “Cross is pretty much grumpy about everything, but he’s loyal almost to a fault. He isn’t too keen on the royal caste system, though, and blames Harkin for a battle that shouldn’t have taken place. But his loyalty to his father and what the Guardians stand for, in general, keep him with us. He likes to challenge pretty much everything and everyone.” He rolls his eyes, as if reliving something that recently happened with Cross.

“Oh, good, I thought it was just me.”

Rhydian and I laugh together. It’s nice. It’s easy being around him. I feel like I’m getting to know him, and I’m getting more comfortable around him. His good looks aren’t overly distracting as they first were, but it’s hard not to stare at him. His perfect white smile and full lips.

“Seriously, I was shocked to see Evan. I thought he was dead,” Rhydian says.

Do I reveal everything to Rhydian that I’ve learned? Maybe he knows more than I do. There’s something about him, and knowing that he’s made a blooded bond, and that my father asked me to seek him out… it means I can trust him, right?

I look down at my feet, covered in the sand, and tell him everything.

He is taking it all in, and I ask, “Why are you and the others rogue, to help me? Out of duty? Because I don’t want that. I don’t want the responsibility of anyone getting hurt because of me. I didn’t ask for any of this.” I especially don’t want to make someone do something they don’t want, like this blooded bond? Why would he do that?

“When we were in school for training to be Guardians, we took oaths to protect the crown and its interests. Now the crown is absent, and the High Coven is taking on that responsibility and warping it. It’s not right. You are the crown, whether or not you’ve completely accepted that yet.” His hazel eyes search mine, and he continues, “There is an idea that the crown could be divided and bring harmony before the Convergence. Many are starting to feel the Convergence is starting to happen. The truly powerful are afraid — afraid that you’re an outsider, and that your youth will bring change that doesn’t suit them. I have the feeling, along with others, that you’re the one who can bring about a positive change.”

“Ah, so it’s not all about me, then?” I tag his shoulder gently, and he chuckles. His smile and relaxed demeanor are so attractive.

“What’s the Convergence?” I ask.

His lips purse and his eyes look up, “That’s tough to answer.”

“Why?”

He shrugs his shoulders and says, “because no one really knows and it’s mythical. There are some old histories that the Convergence is something that happens every 2000 years or so, within the various realms that bring them together. It’s a contest of sorts, is what some say — whereas others say its colonization and war of territories.” He runs his hand through his dark blonde hair. When he does I notice a golden ring clipped to the top of his left earlobe. “The thing is, as a Guardian I’ve been training for the Convergence, this unknown threat for a couple of years. If you ask Tullen, he’ll say it’s coming in the next year or so, if you ask Quinn he’ll say the Convergence is a myth. I don’t know what I believe, but I do feel a change from others like the Valkyrie and Fae. They seem to be preparing themselves, and since Wiccans are not always on friendly terms with other species no one shares information, which is tragic if you ask me.”

I’m so out of my depth here. I will have to address this ‘Convergence’ and I’m 17, a few weeks ago my biggest decision was which phone case I wanted to buy. Stressing about the start of school and who would be in my classes. Wondering if Daniel and I would see much of each other, because we had different schedules.

Daniel.

Have I already forgotten my life?

It’s all different now. My father was right, magick will come whether I want it or not. However, will my friends and Daniel accept me as still me? Am I still me? I’m just enhanced, surely I can go back to my life once I find father. He and I can put something in place that allows me to finish out my senior year, well I hope.

Rhydian and I sit in silence. He in his head and me in mine. I notice that our hands are close to each other in the sand as we sit back and watch the sun peeking over the horizon, and the colors are amazing. The purples that combine with the blue hues give way to red and orange.

“Nice spot you’ve chosen.”

“Yes, yes it is. It was simple when I was here before.” I let that hang on my tongue, and reminisce about my father holding my six-year-old hand.

Looking back at Rhydian, I say, “It’s about time. We should probably go.”

We arrive in Edayri at the Lunar Fields, and I feel at home, it’s like my soul knows where I belong. I see lush in greenery all around, from the grass to the trees to the gently rolling hills. The Hallowed Hall is ahead of us, with beautiful manicured gardens and fountains. There are people scattered throughout the space, talking and sitting together. All are dressed in cloaks of various colors and patterns. I look down at myself and conjure a red cloak, similar to those I see in front of me. Rhydian’s eyes open wide and he nods at the change in my clothes. My ability to use my magick is becoming easier, and I feel strong, even if the chatter in my head is going off kilter and shouting this is a stupid idea!

Rhydian turns to me. He’s very close. Our agreement is that I will enter the Hallowed Hall by myself, and he will wait on the outskirts while the others cause some chaos elsewhere in the Lunar Fields to help distract the Guardians searching for me. The Guardians are ordered to retain me, if they catch me. Where it goes from there, is unclear but I have the impression from Evan that someone in the High Coven is pulling strings to be rid of me.

“It’s hard for me to leave you here,” he breathes.

He’s too close, and I could easily be pulled away from what I need to do, and who I am. I’m with Daniel. I step away from him.

“Thank you for the lift. I’ll ring you when I’m done.” I tap my head, grin at him, then walk down the path to the entry of the lush gardens.

My ability to walk into the Hallowed Halls unnoticed is abated with the arrival of Sabine. She’s in a deep purple cloak, she stands out. She sees me and approaches. There are many eyes on her.

“Willow?”

My magick stirs in my hand as nervous energy. Is Sabine someone I can trust? Will she allow me to attend?

I nod, but keep my hood in place.

“I’m glad you’re here. It’s a good step to meet with your High Coven and show your intent — and good will toward our ways,” she says.

I follow Sabine through the large wooden doors. Once inside, Sabine walks through the open courtyard to the far side, where there’s another pair of large arched doors. She places her hand on the door, and it glows around her hand before opening. I follow her into the room.

Inside is a large room with a circular table at its center. There are four purple-cloaked figures, all female, at the table. Their eyes are wide and watching me as I follow Sabine to the empty seat.

“And who is this?” one asks with a snicker.

Another claps her hands together and rubs them vigorously, as if excited for some major event.

Sabine stands by her chair. “You would have felt someone who didn’t belong enter this room. May I introduce Willow, my granddaughter, and successor to the crown.” She sounds proud.

She introduces the snickering female as Celestia and the excited female as Pansy.

I gently pull the hood back to reveal myself fully to the High Coven. They are assessing me, as I am assessing them. Let the games commence.

They immediately begin with a flurry of questions:

Celestia was first, “so, your intention is to come into your birthright?”

“How can you do that when you’re an outsider?” The one with white hair asked.

“Have you used your magick yet?” Pansy was all smiles.

“What is your elemental magick? I bet she doesn’t even know!” Celestia sneered.

The questions and discussion only include three of the women at the table. The one to my right is surveying her fingernails, looking bored. She looked rather young among these women, not much older than me.

Part of me wants to run out the door. The other part of me wants to scream. I always hated it when I had to do presentations in class, and this feels no different — except that I feel even less prepared, on a topic I can’t research.

“Stop throwing questions at her,” Sabine thunders over the chatter.

I take advantage of the silence. “I’ve come here to ask for your approval and assistance. My father and friend have been taken.”

Sabine looks shocked. “Who has taken them?”

“I imagine the same demons and Wiccans who came to my home and murdered a member of my family, Mrs. Juliette Scott.”

The one who looked bored is now watching me intently. Sabine introduces her as Aren.

“I understand that this High Coven has control over the Guardians, and I would like to—”

“No, no, no.” Pansy says in a nervous way.

Sabine lays her hand on her shoulder. “Let’s hear her out. Would you deny her only—”

“Sabine, you know we are set for you to take the crown,” the white haired one, named Renata says.

Sabine shakes her head, face flushed. So Sabine can step in for the crown? Why didn’t she say anything when we first met?

I feel the shift in the room. I can sense the tension, not only from Sabine, but from the three who say no, Celestia, Pansy, and Renata. This is a lost cause. They don’t want me here; they had plans to move forward without me. I don’t know why that makes me mad, but it does. I feel my magick stir against the hypocrisy of this coven, that claims to serve the crown — my crown. Idiots. I don’t need them.

I walk back toward the door I had come through. “Thank you for your time.”

“You can’t accept the crown without our support.” Says Celestia in a challenge.

Are you going to stop me? I wonder to myself. That could be quite fun… Instead, I say to Celestia’s cold dark eyes: “Actually, it’s only the Goddess I need. Get ready to be replaced.”

Empowered, I slam the door behind me. I leave my hood down and walk through the open hall, out the front of the building, and through the gardens. Several see and recognize me. I sense Rhydian and others at the outskirts of the gardens. Sorry boys’ plans have changed! I continue to look straight ahead and go right to the fountain in the center of the gardens. When I turn, I see Sabine and the other members of the High Coven standing at the steps of the building with Guardians in armor, who are coming from both sides of the building.

They want to detain me? They want to know what I can do and who I am? Fine! I don’t need them, Rhydian is right.

My magick is eager and so I am I — together as one. Without thinking much about it, I thrust my hands above my head, and the lightning from my hands shoots upward into the clear blue sky. I control the environment here; the clear day will become my storm of warning. The wind picks up, and the clouds move in on my command. The designs on my hands and arms glow with pulsing blue light. The people around the fountain have moved away, but not too far. They seem at odds of fascination and self-preservation.

All attention is on me and I relish it. I sneer at the High Coven and yell to them, “Does this satisfy you?”

The people retreat further away, and the Guardians take caution advancing forward from all sides. I command the wind around me and rise above the ground and look at them, all of them — the High Coven, Guardians, and other Wiccans — searching to see if one will challenge me. None will. The High Coven looks in shock as their cloaks whip in the wind I have conjured; in fact, several have gapping mouths. Sabine’s eyes are wide and she is bracing against the wind.

Rhydian, Tullen, Quinn and Cross transport to me and take position around me like a compass. The Guardians closest stop advancing. I float down to the center of my rogue Guardians and protectors. Cross and Rhydian step aside as I walk forward facing the High Coven.