Destiny Disrupted (17 page)

I resisted bursting into tears until I got home. The second I entered my bedroom and flopped on the bed, the sobs broke free. My chest ached as tears flowed down my face and I bawled into my pillow. Hours later, I got up and changed into pajamas, then crawled under the blankets. I flipped on my side, clutching the ring in my fist until I drifted off into restless dreams.

A knock on my bedroom door roused me from a deep sleep. Lifting my head, I peered at the alarm clock. I had slept most of the day.

The insistent knock pounded again. I pulled the comforter over my head and groaned.

“Go away,” I grumbled.

The door cracked open. “Are you okay?” Ariana asked from the doorway. “Is something wrong? It’s almost three o’clock.”

I peeked my head out and sniffled, but I couldn’t meet her eyes. “I had a big fight with Trent.”

“What did his evil ass do now?” Her tone had all the warmth of black ice.

“Nothing…it was nothing.”

“Then why are your eyes all puffy and bloodshot?” She crossed the room and sat on the bed to rub my back. “Talk to me.”

Sitting up, I held my stomach and stared at the fuzzy pink rug through bleary eyes. Last night, I’d been making love to Trent. Now I was a heartbroken mess. No guy had ever made me laugh as hard, cry as much, or drive me as crazy as he did. For better or worse, one thing was for sure, it was real love, and I didn’t know what I’d do if I ever lost him.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. “
We
…Trent and I…”

She wiggled her eyebrows. “You were at Trent’s and you guys…?”

I hugged my pillow. “Mmm-hmm.”

“Seriously?” Her hand stilled on my back.

I nodded. “Uh-huh.”

“Please tell me you were careful and used protection. The last thing we need is for you to be carrying the Devil’s spawn—”

“Of course!” Tears dripped off my chin and I twisted the sapphire ring around my finger.

Ariana pointed at the sapphire. “What is that?”

I held up the piece of jewelry sparkling on my hand. “A gift from Trent.”

She snorted. “Do
not
tell me you’re engaged.”

I shook my head and gazed at the sapphire gem. “No, it’s more like a promise ring.”

Her expression turned cold. “You’re trying to hold onto something that was never meant to be yours, Shiloh.”

My heart responded with a clench. “That’s not true! I can still save him.”

“I admire your stubbornness, but there comes a time when you just gotta let someone go.” She shook her head and sighed. “You can’t save everybody.”

“I know that!” My eyes filled with fresh tears. “But you don’t get it, do you? I
love
him.”

She stared at the black wall behind my bed. “I suppose there’s no use arguing about it. Although it’s obvious we need the girls over ASAP,” Ari said, standing up and pulling her cell from the pocket of her light blue pullover. She turned her back to me and spoke into the receiver. After a minute or two, she snapped the phone shut and faced me again. “You will
not
spend another second crying alone in your room over that half-breed. Now go wash your face and blow your nose.”

I shuffled into the bathroom to wash my face with cool water. I barely recognized the pale girl—with the hollow eyes and sunken cheeks—gazing back at me from the mirror above the sink. I needed to pull myself together before Brittany and Kayla arrived.

Why was I blubbering anyway? It wasn’t like Trent and I had broken up. We’d only had a fight. I blew my nose and some of the tension left my body. I was acting like some big drama queen. Ari was right, I wouldn’t keep blubbering over him. I’d call Trent once we both had time to calm down and we’d make up like we always did, with lots of kisses and hugs and apologies.

Turning on the shower, I set a new world record for bathing and washing my hair the quickest. Back in my room, I pulled on a ruffled blouse that I’d bought at Forever 21, and a pair of comfy distressed skinny jeans.

The doorbell rang, and Ariana called out, “I’ll get it!”

I went downstairs and into the living room where Ariana, Brittany, and Kayla had gathered.

Brittany gave me a tight hug. “Hoes before bros, okay?”

I nodded and faintly smiled. Kayla gave me a brief hug and I couldn’t help but stiffen. Well, with good reason. Kayla was Fallen Oaks’s resident zombie. Except she wasn’t like the clichéd walking dead featured in horror movies, but more like a functional teenage corpse.

“Shiloh,” Ariana said, studying my face. “No more tears, okay?”

“None whatsoever,” I replied, leaning back against the couch.

The four of us sprawled on floor pillows with chenille blankets. Brittany had brought cupcakes from the local bakery to cheer me up, and crumbs and sprinkles were scattered everywhere. After her fourth cupcake, Ari groaned, placing her hand across her plump stomach, a bit of chocolate stuck to the corner of her mouth.

Brittany and Kayla spotted the jewel on my finger at the same time and squealed.

“Let me see that.” Brittany leaned closer to inspect the ring. She seized my hand and whistled. “That must’ve cost a small fortune. It’s gorgeous.”

I pulled back my hand. “It’s the first time a guy has given me any jewelry.”

“It’s very pretty. Trent has good taste,” Kayla said.

Ariana huffed. “But she should give it back.”

“Why?” I said quickly. “It’s like a symbol of our love and commitment to each other.”

The three girls rolled their eyes and threw pillows at me. I dodged their attack, the pillows ricocheting off the sofa and coffee table, while they cracked up.

“I hate you guys,” I said, trying hard not to smile.

Kayla patted my arm. “Nah, you love us.”

“I say keep it. A girl never returns a gift.
Especially
, jewelry,” Brittany said, catching my eye. “So what’s the deal? You’re going to keep seeing Trent now that you’ve been cured?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I asked.

“Because you’re a White Witch now. My mom says that witches don’t usually date demons,” Brittany said matter-of-factly.

I touched the ring. “But he’s not really a demon...”

Ariana and Brittany stared at me with matching expressions of concern.

Brittany frowned. “Yeah, he kinda is. I like Trent, but you do realize that you need to stay away from him, right? Even after you guys had sex. He’s not safe to be around with that temper of his until you can find a way to cure him.”

“Plus, Trent’s destined to be evil’s bitch. He has
Darkness
inside him. Grade-A demon DNA,” Ariana added.

Blood rushed to my cheeks. “What is this? Demon Lovers Anonymous? I don’t need an intervention!”

“Don’t you?” Brittany lifted an eyebrow. “If Trent’s as dangerous as everyone believes, he needs to be locked up or something.”

“Or in some type of rehab program for demons,” Ariana said.

“Can’t those DarkSide Detectives do anything for him?” Kayla asked.

My heart panged. Trent had said that it was my love that helped him fight the evil within. How could I abandon him now?

“Are you guys seriously saying that I should breakup with him?” I turned away and chewed on my lip. “But I can’t do that—he needs me.”

“So you keep saying,” Ariana mumbled.

Brittany crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s
not
a lost puppy, Shiloh. He can take care of himself.”

“I realize that, but I’m
not
dumping him,” I said, trying and failing not to sound irritated. “I would never put any of you in any danger. If I thought for a second that Trent was going to hurt anyone—”

“You would vanquish him?” Every word echoed Ariana’s impatience with me. “Shiloh, I think when it comes to Trent, you can’t see straight. And we’re gonna help you through this.”

My head hung down, long black hair shielding my face. “Give me a break. I just had sex for the first time, had a huge fight with my boyfriend, and then you guys started ganging up on me. I need…time to sort stuff out. Okay? So can we talk about anything other than boys tonight? Please?” I asked.

Kayla nodded. “Boys are trouble.”

“You got that right,” Brittany agreed.

“I’ve been thinking...what if we try doing a séance tonight? Maybe we can summon the spirit of Ariana’s aunt, and find out if she knows anything about the murders, since the graveyard thing with my mom was a complete bust.” I glanced at my best friend. “If that’s okay with you.”

Ariana’s brow crease deepened, and for a moment, I thought she might protest. Then Brittany turned, gently knocking Ariana with her shoulder.

“Yeah, it’s cool,” Ari said.

“Okay. Let’s do this,” Brittany added.

“I’ll cast a circle of protective light with salt around us before we begin,” I said. “I’ll be right back.” It took me only a minute to grab my supplies from the kitchen. I draped a white cloth over the coffee table and lit several candles, then I poured a fine line of salt around us.

I killed the lights, and we joined hands. “Repeat after me,” I instructed.
“Spirit from the other side, I summon thee. Crossover from the spirit realm,
and hear my plea. Commune with us and let your presence be.”

The temperature dropped. The candles flickered. A gust of frigid air rushed through the room, blowing out all the candles except one, along with a musty scent that reminded me of the library at Craven Manor.

An apparition of a woman solidified in front of us—Cadence Thornburgh, Ari’s aunt. Her tousled brown hair rested on her shoulders and she wore a white gown, like angels did in the movies. Minus the wings.

Ariana’s eyes clouded with tears. “Aunt Cadence!”

“Sweetheart, how are you?” Cadence asked, with her eyes downcast and wearing a tight, worried expression.

“How am I? Are you kidding?” Ariana asked, blinking up at her.

Cadence floated closer. “I meant, how are you holding up, dear?”

Ariana hung her head and tears streaked her face. “Not very well. I’m feeling a little lost.”

“At least you have good friends to see you through this, darling,” Cadence replied softly. “And I’ll always be watching out for you.”

“Sorry to break up this heartfelt family reunion, but we need some answers,” Brittany said.

“Yeah, um, Cadence, can you please tell us who did this to you?” I asked.

“A hooded figure attacked me.” Her voice was soft and distant, like an echo. “Didn’t you get my note, Shiloh?”

“Uh-huh, thanks for the warning,” I said.

Ariana gazed up at her spectral aunt. “What did the hooded guy look like? Did you see his face?”

“It happened so fast,” Cadence said. “I was on my way home from work, and then I suddenly found myself in the woods.”

“Can you be more specific?” Brittany asked.

“Well…” Cadence’s oblique eyes met each of ours. “Something grabbed me. It was really tall and strong, but that’s about it.”

“It might be better if you show me,” I said, holding out my hands with my palms raised.

Cadence floated closer and grasped my hands with her translucent ones. Around me, the edges of the room became hazy, shadowy, like I was descending into a dream world. When I regained my senses, I stood near the woods in a dark parking lot like an outsider watching the events unfold.

Cadence walked toward her car. The crunch of footsteps approaching made her look up. Before she could use magick to protect herself, a hooded figure seized Cadence from behind.

“Thirteen must die,” the evil thing said. “Sheol must be unlocked!”

The demon slammed her head into the hood of a car. Then he put his hands around her throat and started choking her. The capillaries burst under her skin, flecking her eyes with red. She fought. Tried to loosen the stranglehold. The hooded beast’s hold seemed impenetrable. He squeezed until her hands fell to her sides, and Cadence’s body went limp.

He bent over her, and with a knife, the demon started to carve a symbol into her forehead…

Everything went all swirly again, and I was back in my living room with my friends. Cadence’s hands dropped mine. The vision had been so intense it took me several minutes to get a hold of myself. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply until my head was clear again.

“Thank you, Cadence,” I said.

The ghost scowled. “I also have a dire warning.”

I almost rolled my eyes. Of course, she did. If Cadence gave me a mysterious message to decipher like the other ghost I’d encountered, I was gonna throw salt at her head.

“Beware. You are all in grave danger. And not from the hooded demon.”

“Then from who?” Ariana asked.

“Girls, you must protect yourselves. You must join forces to defeat the evil coming to Fallen Oaks. When three people do magick together, it increases the power of their supernatural abilities. The power of three is linked to Wiccan magick and Mother Nature—earth, sea, and sky. Whether you’re ready or not, it’s time you girls received your full powers.”

Ariana’s face screwed up. “Don’t tell me you expect us to put on black dresses, pointy hats, and start flying around the neighborhood on broomsticks?”

“You use humor to hide your fears, but it’s time to face them, darling,” Cadence said to Ariana. “You have a destiny. You were always meant to join in the power of the trio. You, Shiloh, and Brittany will help a great many people. Be good to each other.” The spirit of Ariana’s aunt wavered before dissolving into tiny dust particles.

Ariana bowed her head and her shoulders fell inward as if she was digesting the words of wisdom from her aunt. She lifted her head and glanced at me. “What did you see?”

I described the vision while they quietly listened. Then I got up to go into the kitchen, grab a broom, and went back to the living room to sweep up the salt circle.

“Are we done now?” Brittany asked, her voice dropping an octave.

“No,” I said. “There’s another spell I want to cast to try to locate the Evil Triad, but I need a few items first.”

Rushing back into the kitchen, I grabbed a flashlight and a brown bag before I slipped out the backdoor. As I neared the garden shed, Darrah’s private spell casting abode, I held the flashlight in front of me.