13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga) Read online

  My brow furrowed. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to accept his explanation, but I was just like my parents in this way…I explored every option without dismissing any possibilities.

  She stood up, and I had to join her. “Could I see him?” she asked.

  The doctor nodded to her. “Of course, but prepare yourself. He is on a ventilator to help with his breathing. So very sad, seeing that his wife passed just recently.”

  “What?” My aunt asked as she squeezed my hand.

  “His wife, Carrie Jenny. I’m afraid that she died last week. James was here with her when it happened.”

  We both paused. “How terrible,” I muttered, and she nodded. “Yes, that’s just terrible.” At least now it made more sense as to why he had refused to call my aunt back.

  “Well, I can take you to see him now if you like.”

  She sighed and glanced over at me. “Honey, why don’t you go home? I’m going to stay the night if you don’t mind. There’s fresh bread on the table and leftovers in the refrigerator. In fact, call Mattie, have her stay over.”

  I didn’t argue with her. The look on her face tore through me.

  “Okay.” I leaned in and hugged her as I noticed the doctor keeping a close eye on me. I cleared my throat and stepped back as she touched my cheek and tried to grin. I left her standing there and walked down the hallway, ready to escape the fluorescent lighting that buzzed over my head.

  26

  “I still can’t believe it,” Mattie said as she sat in front of me on the large couch in the living room.

  This room housed the flat screen television and a vintage record player. It also had a fireplace in it, but it was smaller than the one in the other room. I had successfully started a fire, which I was proud of. Midnight was the one with the survival skills, but somehow I had retained some of what my parents had shown us.

  The fire crackled and popped.

  “Yeah, he was so sick, he looked like he was dying.” I blurted out. I just couldn’t get the vision of his sickly face out of my head. Visions of blood on the handkerchief boiled up in my mind, along with ringing in my ears.

  Whispers behind a closed door.

  Persephone Vega opening it up just as I reached for the knob.

  Her eyes lingered on me.

  Cold and calculating.

  The ringing got louder and louder.

  Mattie snapped me out of it when she spoke up.

  “Oh man, that had to scare the crap out of you.”

  I blinked and lifted my cup of hot chocolate. I blew on it and then took a sip as Mattie blew on hers. The sweet scent filled the space between us. It soothed me as much as it could.

  I swallowed. “Yeah, I’m just glad I showed up when I did. I mean, maybe Persephone would have…”

  “Who?”

  “Persephone Vega, Thorn’s aunt. She was there, well, she was leaving his office when I was about to knock on the door.”

  She laughed. “That’s a name.”

  I half grinned. “She’s beautiful.”

  Mattie giggled. “That’s good because a name like that could ruin everything.”

  I stared into my cup and lost my train of thought for a moment; I was forced back into reality when I heard a knock on the front door. I set my cup down and tilted my head, matching my reaction with a deepening wrinkle between my eyebrows.

  “Who could that be?” I asked, and Mattie said nothing as she buried her face into her cup. I leaned down. “Mattie?”

  Finally, she looked up at me and that mischievous glint had reappeared in her eyes.

  “Who?” I asked.

  “I don’t know!” she said as her voice went up an octave. I pointed at her. “Liar.”

  She laughed and took another sip. I approached the front door pausing for a second and catching my reflection in the mirror that sat above the long table in the entryway. My hair bobbed on the top of my head in a messy bun and a few strands lay around my face. The knock came again, and I had no time to clean myself up. I reached the door and took a deep breath as I opened it up, letting it out as my gaze landed on joyful eyes and a happy grin.

  “Bri,” I said with relief, and she nodded to me. I let my eyes lower, and she had a bag in her hand. I parted my lips, and she looked past me and into the house. “Are you going to invite me in?”

  I waited too long, and her grin started to dissipate. “Sure…yeah, okay,” I said, and her smile immediately returned. She stepped in, one foot at a time, while cautiously looking around the entryway. I rubbed the tops of my arms as she did a full turn and looked upward, inspecting everything. She stopped and let her large eyes land on me. I dropped my hand and crossed my arms over my chest. I assume she didn’t expect me to react this way but I had no idea she was coming. I thought it would just be Mattie and me tonight.

  “She didn’t tell you, did she?”

  I bit my lip and unfolded my arms. “I, no, it’s okay.”

  She looked down at her feet and gripped her small bag in her hand. I could see the stickers on the outside of it. I could see a black cat, a witch flying through the moon, and a large red heart with a black fissure running down the length of it. All stickers I would have probably chosen myself.

  “Bri, honestly, it’s fine. Come in.”

  She lifted her chin and nodded to me. I marched back to the living room and stepped aside, crossing my arms over my chest as Bri bounded in and scanned the room. Her eyes found Mattie, and she lit up even brighter than the sun. I couldn’t fault her for liking Mattie Fitzpatrick. What wasn’t to like? She was beautiful, outgoing, smart and honest, well, right up until she decided to omit the fact that she had invited Bri to my house without mentioning it to me.

  Rebellion intrigues me, especially when it’s unnecessary. She knows I would have probably given into her so maybe it was the thrill of not asking me that made this fun for her.

  I paused, and a small grin forced a wrinkle in my otherwise smooth cheek. Thorn does this for me. He is something I would never ask for, not in a million years. Asking would dampen the effect of knowing he may be mine. My grin faded as fast as it had occurred. His expression when I told him that I was sorry about his mom had upset me. I couldn’t deny that. Just when I would feel protected and wanted by him, he would push me away again, which only did one thing.

  Made me want him more.

  “Bri!” Mattie said, trying to sound surprised to see her. I guess she doesn’t know that we’re the same age with the same tricks up our sleeves. I tilted my head and Mattie made a b-line for Bri and barely allowed herself any time to look at me.

  She stopped in front of her, and they seemed to be at a loss for words. I recognized the look because I had experienced the same with Thorn, and still do.

  I suddenly felt like a third wheel in my own house. They hugged and then looked at me.

  “Is it okay that she’s here?” Mattie asked with wide eyes.

  There, she asked me. All was forgiven. I nodded to her. “Of course! Why would I care?”

  They both smiled, and it lit up the room. Bri tilted her chin and stared up at the ceiling. Every room in this house was covered with small metal squares that looked like silver. It was something you’d see in every old building in larger cities, but it usually wasn’t done in homes. I peered upward and narrowed my eyes. Each square had a symbol dead center. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t noticed it before. A ringing rose up in my ears, and I swayed on my feet for a moment until I felt a hand on my elbow. I blinked a couple of times, and both Bri and Mattie were staring at me, their joyful expressions were now gone only to be replaced by concern.

  “Sorry,” I spoke quietly, hoping it would calm them down. “I get dizzy; I’m sure it has to do with the blow to my head.”

  “You okay?” Mattie asked while Bri stood silently next to her. Bri clenched her fist at her si
de and then relaxed it. She reached up and fingered at a charm on her necklace while her lips moved, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. Mattie acted like she didn’t even notice, but I did, and Bri closed her eyes, kissing the charm and then looking up at me in a blur. Her eyes were dark as night, just as dark as Thorn’s would become from time to time.

  I could hear whispers in the room while Mattie spoke again and touched my arm, the voices stopped, and I had to blink. Bri now stood there looking completely normal, staring up at the ceiling.

  “Warding.” She said, and Mattie glanced at her. I narrowed my eyes. Bri stared at me and grinned. She pointed toward the ceiling. “The ceiling tiles, they have symbols on them to ward off evil.” Both Mattie and I looked up. “You mean like witchcraft?” Mattie asked, and Bri bit her lip as we both stared at each other. “Yes.”

  Mattie looked at me then at Bri. “How would you know?”

  Bri crossed her arms over her chest. “Because I am one.”

  “A what?” Mattie asked. “You mean a witch?”

  Bri paused for only a brief moment and then plowed right in without much worry. Obviously, she didn’t want to hide this part of herself from us any longer.

  “Third-gen.”

  Mattie nodded and gave me a quick glance. “You mean third generation? Wicked!” She yelled without attempting to quell her reaction.

  “Sometimes,” Bri added as she locked her eyes onto mine. I swallowed hard. It was easy to shirk off the possibilities while drowning yourself in the logic that science can provide when you didn’t know anyone who practiced things like this. But here she was, a witch, or a self-proclaimed one, right here in my house.

  “Does it bother you?” Bri asked me and I parted my lips, giving my bottom one a firm bite and then releasing it. I shrugged my shoulder. “Of course not, why would it bother me?” I asked. I wanted to sound convincing, but I didn’t know if it was more for her sake or mine.

  “I think it’s cool, totally cool.” Mattie chimed in, breaking the tension that welled up between us. Of course, I didn’t care what Mattie believed in, but the strange had seemed to follow me here when I had hoped to leave it behind deep in the jungles of Brazil.

  “You do know that your aunt practices, right?”

  I sucked in my breath. By practices, I assume she meant was like her.

  “I, well, no. I didn’t.” My gaze shifted upward.

  “Yeah, she’s known to practice white magic, or at least that’s what I hear.”

  I glanced at Mattie who was completely enthralled. There was no talking to her now. I blinked a couple of times and adjusted my stance trying to act casual, but I’m sure it came off as awkward as it felt.

  “By white magic, you mean good magic,” I said. Bri grinned.

  “So do you practice white magic?” Mattie asked, and Bri looked down and then over at her.

  “Sometimes.”

  I didn’t like that word at all. I would have preferred the word yes.

  Mattie’s questioning continued. “So you cast spells on people?”

  Bri set her suitcase down and slowly opened it up. Both Mattie and I stepped back like she was going to pop up with a wand in her hand and wave it around the room. She produced a small black book and clutched it to her chest.

  “This is my book of charms.”

  I stepped forward; books call out to me…all of them, they always have. It doesn’t matter the subject; it’s the secrets behind the covers that intrigue me. Curiosity, it’s my greatest weakness and yet my only strength. In books, I was courageous, adventurous, and unlike myself caught here in the physical world. There, I was capable of deciphering so many things. I reached out before I even knew it and Bri smiled at me.

  “Only a real witch can understand this book.”

  I stopped and lowered my hand, feeling a little embarrassed to have stepped outside of my comfort zone again. “Well, I’m not a witch, just an avid reader. A word warrior.”

  “Oh, I love that, Echo,” Mattie whispered.

  I took a small breath. “It’s what my dad calls me.”

  “Well, you should ask your dad why this house is warded against evil because of those.” She pointed upward. “Those are powerful spells meant to keep the dark things locked away in the veil.”

  “Wait…what did you say?” I asked.

  “Of course it’s been a long time since your aunt cast anything, from what I’m told.”

  Bri parted her lips, and a voice interrupted us.

  “Or perhaps you should ask me.”

  We all turned, and my aunt stood in the doorway of the living room. Her hair was wet from the gentle storm that had produced a little rain. I didn’t even notice the sound of it hitting the windows until she arrived. My breath hitched in the back of my throat.

  “Aunt Luna.”

  “Echo, Mattie.” She walked into the room and stared at Bri.

  “Brianna Corintine, where’s your partner in crime, Tailor Ravenswood?”

  Bri placed her book back into her suitcase and closed it up. She rose up with it in her hand.

  “Luna.” She said as if something lingered between the two of them.

  “Tell your mother hello for me.”

  Bri said nothing as she rushed out of the room and we heard the door close before either of us could evaluate the situation. My aunt didn’t look happy at all.

  “I said call Mattie and have her stay with you.” My aunt spoke with an even tone.

  “I did…” Mattie interrupted me. “It was me, I invited Bri here, I’m sorry.”

  Luna’s expression softened, but her eyes held a sadness that I knew all too well.

  “It’s okay. I just prefer to be asked who steps foot in this house. It’s our home and a sanctuary, as all houses should be.”

  “Of course,” Mattie added.

  My aunt rubbed her shoulders. “That chill outside is frightful. Let’s stoke the fire and get something hot to eat. Does that sound good?”

  We both nodded as she left the room. I finally let out my breath, not even noticing that I had been holding it. Mattie stared down at her feet, and I had to speak up.

  “Hey, it’s okay,” I said in a half whisper.

  She shook her head. “No, it isn’t. I offended your aunt, and that sucks; it sucks bad.”

  “Mattie.” She walked toward the door and grabbed her bag that was sitting at the long table. She gripped the handle and stood there for a second longer as I stepped up behind her.

  “Stay,” I said, and she shook her head again. “No, I’m just going to go home, if that’s okay. I really didn’t mean any harm and I had no idea that your aunt was, well, you know.”

  “A witch.” My aunt chimed in. “It’s okay; it isn’t a dirty word.”

  I looked down and allowed her to leave without saying another word, but I felt sad for her. I know she didn’t mean anything bad by it.

  “Come.” My aunt said, and I turned to face her. “She’ll be fine.” She added.

  I nodded and stared at the door for only a moment longer, knowing my aunt was probably right.

  27

  We ate in silence although I wanted to ask so many things. Finally, my aunt lowered her spoon and sighed. She stared into the fire, and I waited as patiently as I could.

  “Was he, I mean, did the doctor say anything else to you?”

  Her soft eyes landed on me, and I knew before she spoke. “They don’t know anything, yet.”

  “I’m so sorry, Aunt Luna.”

  She stared down at her bowl of chicken noodle soup and then set it aside. She intertwined her fingers, and a calm came over her. “I appreciate that honey, I do, but we both know that isn’t what you want to ask me.”

  I bit my lip. “What you do is your business.”

  She laughed. I wasn’t sure if I upset he
r or not, but then she sighed. “You can appreciate history, right sweetheart?”

  Of course, I could, so I nodded without speaking.

  “Centuries ago two families escaped persecution from Christians who couldn’t allow any other religions to exist in their world. These God fearing people held a firm belief that those who practiced, such as I do were wicked and surely damned to the fiery pits of hell. Witches and Warlocks alike.” She adjusted on the couch and continued after she tucked her feet to one side and tightened the charcoal gray blanket around her delicate shoulders. I watched her hair swing forward and gently settle on her face. She didn’t even bother to move it. My eyes lowered, and I studied her mouth as she began to speak again. “These two families amassed a following of sorts. Others who believed that we should be able to practice our beliefs without fear of death and persecution. These two families sold everything they had, bought boats, food, and whatever provisions they could and sailed in hopes of freedom. Those people landed right here, in Port Royal and settled in, living with the land, not against it. Planting seeds and clearing some of this forest away for firewood and shelter. Only taking what we needed and nothing more.”

  “We?” I asked, and her eyes lit up. “Our ancestors, Echo. The Navarri, along with the Vega’s. We were the two families that took that great leap of faith to find a place of peace.”

  “But you act like you hate them.”

  Her eyes lowered. “I do, and so should you.”

  “Why?”

  She looked into the fire. “Our family practiced witchcraft with good intention and so did the Vega family, at first. But greed and power tainted them, and instead of living as they should, they pushed on, deeper into the forests of Port Royal, tearing down trees and vegetation that had stood long before we ever existed. Until they…” she stopped, and I narrowed my eyes. “What happened?”

  “A terrible thing. Horribly wicked, Echo. They stumbled across what was referred to as the veil. It was a mystical place in the forest, a holy place to the native people who lived here. It was there that they buried their dead, honored their Gods and the Vega family, they tried to buy this land from them, but the native people refused. They held this place sacred and had for centuries.” She took a slow breath and let it out. She looked up at me, and her eyes looked glossy in the amber light of the room. “So they burned everything. Set fires to drive them out but instead of leaving, the native people gathered around and met their fate without resistance. Men, women, children. A hundred and thirteen in all. They perished in the veil and ever since a blue mist rises, and it’s said that it’s the sorrowful spirits of those who were murdered seeking revenge. But before they died, their Chief cursed this place, all of Port Royal, stealing it away from the sunlight and casting a darkness over us, especially the Vega family, the Chief cursed them to eternal damnation for what they had done. He released the God of Death on all of us.”