Spellbound

Chapter 2

The walk home was like any other, nothing particularly special about it except the weather was surprisingly pleasant for early February. Usually, this part of Vermont was pelted with foot after foot of snow this time of year. But not today. It was just the right amount. Crunching loudly under my feet, it glistened under the light of the shining sun. I lowered my head against the occasional gust of wind and made my way through the frosty white powder. Before I knew it, I was home.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur. “Definitely wear the white one." A voice called from behind me breaking my thoughts. I wasn't sure how long I had been staring into the full-length mirror, but I felt as though it had been a while. I turned and glanced over my shoulder to see my Sage standing in the doorway of my room.

“You think?" I asked turning back to my reflection. The dress was nice, an off white long sleeveless solid print with a whimsical feel to it.

“Absolutely it brings out your eyes." She smiled. She wasn't completely wrong. Unlike Jessica St. James I wasn't a blonde bombshell. I am slender, not super curvy but I have full hips and long legs. I was taller than the average teen girl, coming in at just over 5'8". My hair was long, thick, and so dark it was almost black, but mostly straight with a slight wave to it. But my favorite feature were my eyes. I had always thought I had pretty eyes. They were bright blue, and at times could look gray depending on what I was wearing, it set me apart from all the dark brown eyes in my family. So, she was definitely right about the dress. As I held the lightweight frock up to my skin, they seemed to glimmer a little bit brighter than usual.

“The white one it is." I smiled back at her.

She entered my room and plopped down on the large queen-sized bed. “You nervous?"

“More like, excited." I turned to her. She was also wearing a white dress, short, almost too short for this type of ceremony. It was strapless and very tight, like something you would see at a night club or bar. Sage had come into her powers early, but she didn't seem as skilled as most witches her age. Her mind was always somewhere else. Aside from the night she took her own vows she has never been very dedicated to her craft. Once she turned 18, she couldn't wait to get out of Westhaven and go to college. Now, we rarely ever see her. She comes home when she must, for sacred events like tonight, but other than that she is pretty much a ghost. But near or far she has and always will be my biggest supporter, whether I see her much or not.

“I'm glad you're home." I smirked at her, my eyes darting to the floor. I knew it was a touchy topic and one she was always arguing with my mom about.

She rolled her eyes “Ugh, well as soon as you are anointed, I am outta here. I have a date tomorrow." She chuckled.

“You really should come home more; mom and dad worry a lot." I frowned. She shot up from the bed and began to pace the room.

“They just don't get it. I don't want to live my entire life by their rules, in this small ass town. I follow the Coven law; I respect my magic. What else do they want!" her voice was shrill, and I could tell she was getting agitated.

Walking toward her I placed a hand on her shoulder. She immediately stopped walking “I get it, I think they just miss you." Her eyes seemed sad. And for a moment, I wished I hadn't mentioned the topic at all. She smiled at me, but I could tell that it was forced. “Well, you know I'll always come back for you." She laughed giving me a playful shove. “Now, get ready, it's almost midnight." She swiftly left the room. It turned back to the mirror and stared at myself.

“Showtime." I murmured. I got dressed and gave myself one last glance before heading downstairs. My mom and dad were both waiting for me by the front door. They smiled glowing with pride. They were so happy.

My Dad gleamed “You look beautiful sweetheart." as he handed me my coat.

“Are you ready?" My mother asked.

“I have never been more ready for anything."

We headed out of the house and to the car. The drive itself only took about ten minutes. We soon arrived at Matron Fiona's house. She is an incredibly skilled and powerful witch and the matriarch of our Coven. Everything went through her. Her home was sprawling; I had only been there once before, for a solstice party, but I remembered it being huge, almost like maze. It sat on almost 30 acres. She had thousands of plants and flowers both inside and outside of her home, and even had a huge hedge maze in the back. There was also a large greenhouse on the property where just about every herb and root were grown and kept for Coven usage. My favorite place though was the Eola, it was like a huge hall where all ceremonies were held, and it had a gigantic underground library. All Wiccan knowledge was kept here, everything from ancient texts, to potions, and spells. It was where the majority of my training would be completed.

There were already over two dozen cars in the round-a-bout driveway when we pulled up, and then and only then did I begin to get nervous. We were immediately greeted by Iris; she was Fiona's second in command. She hurried us through the foyer and out the back of the house onto the large stone terrace.

“Nervous?" she asked leaning toward me. My parents following close behind us.

“No, just excited." I lied lifting my dress so that it didn't drag in the snow.

She clasped her hands in front of her “Well, it is an exciting time." She opened the door to the Eola and motioned for us to enter. Inside there stood about 40 women all dressed in white standing in a circle formation, with large white flickering candles between each of them. Most of the women I knew, some were friends of my mom's, a few neighbors, even Mrs. Carrington the town librarian. I turned back to see my dad standing outside the door. I looked at him confused as to why he wasn't coming with us.

“I can't enter. This space is for you." He kissed my forehead and closed the door. I turned back to Iris. She extended her hand to me “This way." She smiled.

I followed her motion and walked into the center of the circle. And there stood Fiona holding a large book. I stopped just in front of her. The room grew silent. I glanced at the women surrounding me, my eyes landed on my sister. She smiled and me and wrinkled her nose as if to say, “it's no biggie, just relax". Taking her silent instruction, I took a deep breath and exhaled. Fiona stared at me intently, still unmoving, and silent.

“Everly Danvers." She began. “Tonight, you transcend your former life and embrace your true path." Fiona's eyes pierced into mine. Her voice boomed across the room and echoed off the large arched ceiling. “As you accept this gift, so shall you be granted capabilities. Some of these gifts you have already experienced. I see here you have already begun to display the power of levitation. Soon to follow will be a gift encompassing each earthly element and once you are truly connected to your inner being and the powers the earth has granted you, will you then receive your one individual power. A power that no other living witch will possess." She lowered her eyes from mine and began to recite from the book speaking in Latin. Placing the large book on the floor she lifted a small metal bowl that had previously sat at her feet. She dipped her thumb into the bowl and smeared what smelled like burnt thyme onto my forehead. “Repeat after me."

“It is from the earth from whence I came. And from the earth I shall rise. Grant me the power to be reborn anew." I repeated the words slowly, my voice shaking.

Turning toward the women surrounding us, Fiona raised her hands “By the power of three times three, doing harm to none, so blessed be."

“So blessed it be." Everyone repeated in unison.

“Please welcome our new sister Everly." Fiona smiled. Instantly the room broke out in applause and cheers. Sage ran over to me hugging me tightly.

“You did it!" she screamed. We both laughed and jumped up and down with excitement. I couldn't believe it.

Fiona raised her hand high in an effort to quiet the crowd. “Now, ladies there is one more piece of business. We must complete the designation of the familiar bond." She instructed. The room immediately grew quiet again.

Sage squeezed my hand in anticipation. I was equally excited. Lucas, Sage's gay best friend who she also shared an apartment within college was chosen as her familiar and had instantly become a part of our family the day their bonding ceremony was complete. And my uncle Craig. He wasn't really my uncle, although I had known him my entire life. He was my mom's familiar, and the first and only wolf I had ever seen shift. The entire process was, let's just say intense, painful, but also incredibly mind-blowing. I wondered who my familiar would be. Would we get along? I hoped we would be as close as my sister and Lucas, or my mom and uncle Craig.

“As active Coven members know, every witch is granted a familiar. This individual will remain by your side, they are a place of comfort, growth, and protection. There will be no one closer to you than your familiar." Fiona continued. She turned and motioned to the main entrance of the Eola.

“Iris please escort in Deacon and the selected familiar." Iris scurried to the doors and pulled them open, on the other side stood a tall man with salt and pepper-streaked hair and a large scar down his left eye. He entered the room cautiously, scanning each person. “Matron Fiona, as always it is a pleasure." He growled. His voice was low and scratchy as if he were getting over a bad cold.

She smirked “Deacon, my canine comrade, how good it is to see you."

Clearing his throat with a loud cough Deacon finished scrutinizing the room “Let me introduce you to the selected familiar. Carson Andrews. His father is a devoted pack member and owns Andrew's realty." My eyes instantly shot to the doorway. Did he just say Carson Andrews?