The Gift of Magic

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Devon watched the shore from the bow of the boat wondering how he was ever going to get onto Corey island. He'd been on the road for weeks, hitch hiking and taking buses when he had the money, and now that he was on what he was sure was the last leg of his journey, he realized that he might be turned away. When he'd packed up his bag and walked out of the hotel room weeks ago, he'd still had no idea where the island was but something deep inside him seemed to be guiding him, pulling him in the direction he needed to go.

He'd let the urge pull him all the way from California to Boston, then to Marblehead, and now onto this boat. The captain had made it very clear to him that unless he knew someone on the island he wouldn't get far, but he'd given the man the last of his money and got on the boat anyway. Devon had been following this need to find the woman for so long that coming this close to finding her seemed like a dream, but when he turned and looked out to sea he knew deep down that he's almost reached his goal, the dark-haired woman with the green eyes and he wasn't about to quit now.

His stomach churned at the thought of finally meeting the woman who had haunted his dreams since he was twelve, since he'd recklessly run away from home to meet his father. It had never been clear if the meeting with his father had started the dream of if it had been tied to his own magic, so much had happened in those few weeks that it was all still a blur in his memory. But he did know that after years of searching he was only a few miles from his goal, hopefully once he met the woman his task would become clear. Only then would he be able to get on with his life, live more like a normal person instead of the nomad he'd become.

As the island came into view, he weighted his options, again going over all the stories he’d come up with to explain his showing up unannounced at the island, but each and every one of them was hollow, so unbelievable that he knew he'd be turned away. Stomach churning, he realized that his best and really only option was to tell the truth, or at least some of the truth. His first hurdle would be his name, why his mother had given him his father's name was beyond him, it had proved to be nothing but a problem time and time again.

When the boat pulled up to the dock, he grabbed his backpack and jumped off, then waved the captain off. He had no intention of leaving until he'd found the woman or assured himself that she wasn't on the island, a thought that made his stomach quiver even more. But he'd reached the end of the dock and a very large menacing man stepped out of the little shack next to a very sturdy looking gate. Devon took a deep breath, this was his make it or break it moment, he had to get past this man to get on the island, and he was sure the man would be able to tell if he was lying about his reason for being there, magic radiated off of him in waves that told him to be very careful.

“What can I do for you stranger?” The man asked, barring his path.

Devon took a deep breath, “I'm not sure exactly how to explain what I'm doing here.” Devon started, then quickly added, “I've been dreaming about this island since I was twelve, I've been looking for it since then.”

The man studied Devon for a long time, then asked, “And what exactly have you been dreaming about this island?”

“That's the problem, I don't really remember any of the dreams except the island. I don't know why I've been drawn here.” Devon answered, every word he said the truth.

The man's eyes widened, Mabel Corey had long ago prophesied that a young man would show up on the island telling this very story. No one including Thomas had been able to divine any more than that, but Buddy knew that this was too big to handle on his own.

“Wait here.” He ordered, then asked, “What's your name?”

When Devon answered, Buddy’s eyes widened again, “What did you say?”

“Devon Bradbury.” He answered again, waiting for the inevitable, but the man only nodded his head and went into the little shack and picked up the phone.

When he came back out almost ten minutes later, his face was red and he was shaking his head. “Isobel wants to see you at the meeting house. I don't know why she'd let you onto the island, but against my wishes she is. Let's go.” He said, opening the gate.

Devon walked through the gate feeling like he was going to prison, and when the man growled, “I'll be watching you, Bradbury's don't belong on this island.” He knew that it wasn't going to be easy to get past the fact that Malcolm Bradbury was his father.

The welcome he received as he walked down the main street of the little village wasn't any warmer than the one he'd gotten on the dock. Word must have spread across the tiny island and people were lining up on the street to look at him, making him feel like even more of a prisoner. He should have been prepared for the greeting he was receiving, but he'd been so wrapped up in finally finding the woman, he'd not given it much thought.

When he walked into the meeting house, it was full of people, some were seated in chairs set up in the middle of the floor, some were milling around the edges too worked up to sit. Even a non-magical person could have read the mood in the room, but to him with his extra senses the hostility was even stronger. At first. he wasn't sure who he was supposed to be talking to, but then a beautiful older woman stepped up in front of the group and raised her hands.

“Let's all settle down. Our guest has arrived.” She said, taking a seat in a large chair that was on a raised platform in the front of the room. “Come forward young man and tell us your story.”

Devon hesitated for a second then stepped forward, he'd been through this ritual many times as he'd searched from coven to coven, but this time there was so much at stake, he needed to get it right. “I'm Devon Bradbury and I've come seeking this island because it's been in my dreams for as long as I can remember.” He said, loud enough for the entire room to hear.

There was a hissing in the crowd, but the woman held up her hand. “Let the boy speak.”

“I remember little of the dreams, but the last time I had one, this island remained in my memory. I've been led here for a purpose but I don't know what it is. I'm hoping you can tell me.” Devon said, thinking that he'd gotten it just right.

The woman stared at him for a long time and he knew that she was reading him, searching for the truth in his words, “Did your father send you here?” She asked, her eyes still glued to him, looking for any sign of deception.

“No, my father and I have nothing to do with one another. He made it very clear to me when I was twelve that he wanted nothing to do with me.” Devon said, then unable to stop himself, he added. “The dreams started after I saw him, after he tossed me across the room in a fit of anger.” The ache in his shoulder reminding him of that terrible day.

Devon wondered if the woman could read his mind, because a look of pity appeared on her face, a look that told him that she understood his pain, knew what he'd been through. She opened her mouth to give him her decision, but just as she began to speak his attention was drawn to a woman who walked up behind the chair. There was a man was with her, but all his attention was focused on the woman, who had black hair and startling green eyes, eyes so green he lost himself in them for a second.

Isobel must have noticed his reaction because her eyes got big, the only sign that she'd noticed anything and again she studied him. Then as if she'd suddenly learned something very important, she nodded her head and said, “I'm going to allow you to stay with us here on the island, we'll try to help you figure out what has led you here, but you have to promise me that you'll be honest with us. Your father is no friend to the Corey's and as his son we must be cautious.”

Devon let out the breath he'd been holding, “Thank you, I've been searching for so long, but I feel like this is where I'm meant to be.” He said, bowing his head to the woman.

“I'm Isobel, welcome to Corey island.” She said, then turned and whispered something to the man who had come in with the woman with the black hair. “This is my grandson Peter, he'll see to it that you've got a place to stay while you're here. We live a simple life here, so don't expect anything fancy.” She said.

“I'll be happy with what ever you offer me. I'm thankful for your hospitality.” He answered honestly, knowing that anything they offered would be better than the places he'd been staying.

Satisfied with his answer, Isobel nodded her head to Peter, “Take him to the hotel and tell Margie to put it on my bill.”

Devon followed Peter in a daze, he'd done it, been accepted on Corey island and found the woman from his dream. It was all too good to be true, but now he had to decide what his next move would be, the last thing he wanted to do was scare the woman by approaching her too quickly. In only the brief time he'd seen her, he'd sensed a vulnerability in her, but he'd also sensed great magic, the kind of magic that few witches possessed. Besides the sense of recognition that he'd felt when he saw her, there was something else, attraction, the kind of attraction that takes your breath away and leaves your heart pounding.

He'd never dreamed that he'd feel this way when he finally found her, that he would be so attracted to her that all he'd want to do was cross the room and kiss her. Never even considered the possibility that he would want her like he'd never wanted a woman, that the images of them together would pop into his mind the minute he saw her. He'd been so sure that his purpose was greater than that, that he'd been sent to do more than find the woman who could capture his heart, his soul mate.