“Take my hand" he urged reaching for me.

My heart was pounding in my chest, I could feel the blood rushing to my face. I was out of breath. I just needed to think. But there was no time. All I could hear were the voices shouting from behind us, they had been chasing us for miles, and the sound of growling snarling wolves flooded my ears. I knew it would only be a few moments before they found us.

“I can't do this." I argued shaking my head.

He smiled “Hey, yes you can, just look at me." He urged.

I forced my eyes open. It was dark, but the full moon cast a silvery hue over the valley. And although I could only make out the tops of the trees, I knew where we were. Bellows peak. The rocky cliffs that all the kids in school would frequent as a make-out spot. It overlooked the entire town of Westhaven.

“Right here." He whispered turning my face toward his. He leaned his forehead against mine, closing his eyes.

His voice lowered. “It's just you and me."

His eyes opened, twinkling in the moonlight. There it was, the fire, and mystery that drew me to him all those months ago. The flicker that made me fall in love with him. A love that was about to cost us both our lives.

“It will always be you and me." He smiled speaking just above a whisper.

I reached for him, taking his hand in mine. His hands were warm, always so warm. The shouting behind us grew louder. They weren't far now. We only had a few seconds. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, centering myself.

Sighing “Okay." I looked up into his large almond eyes. The moon reflecting back in them as he smiled at me.

“Now jump."

***

The day seemed never ending. I was anxious. I couldn't wait to get out of here and get home. I glanced at the analog clock that hung above the classroom door, 2:15? How was that even possible? Ugh, this day was never going to end. The room was stuffy for winter, someone had obviously cranked the heat up a little too high. Most kids played on their phones or chatted quietly while Mrs. Dobson droned on about atoms or some type of nuclei. It wasn't that I didn't like Chemistry, I was actually pretty good at, my mind was focused just on more important things. I tried to draw as a distraction, but my thick espresso colored hair refused to stay behind my ears, continuing to fall into my face, making it impossible to concentrate on the doodle I had been working on since class started. My lack of interest in whatever were supposed to be learning about wasn't entirely my fault. Tonight, was a big night. I was finally taking my vows. I had been waiting for this moment for as long as I could remember. I mean, it wasn't every day that a girl ascended and became a full-blown witch. But tonight, was my turn, and I was finally ready to take the next step.

My earliest memory of magic was around ten years old. My parents had always practiced it in the house and never kept anything hidden. They were so open with my sister Sage and I about our gifts and our lineage. But I still remember it like it was yesterday. We were outback at my Gram's house in the garden. She had this gorgeous backyard with stone pathways and fountains and a huge gazebo. It was my favorite place to be growing up. It always seemed… magical. Literally. It had been a warm summer afternoon; the sky was like a painting with excessively large fluffy clouds passing overhead. And my parents were trying to have, what most kids would think was “the sex talk". My Dad started with some weird statement about my body changing and evolving, and becoming something more, I seriously thought the was talking about puberty, so my mom quickly stepped in.

“You are magical." She smiled, frankly. I remember her strawberry blonde hair shining so brightly under the warm sun, that it seemed like she had strands of gold streaking throughout it.

I giggled “What do you mean."

She knelt down bring her face toward mine. I mean, you, Everly. You are magic itself. And your sister, me, even Nana. We are all magic."

“Like unicorns and rainbows?" I asked.

“Kind of, our magic comes from the earth, the wind, the trees, and from our family." She tried to explain. She leaned and plucked a tulip from the overgrowing garden. Placing it in her palm she held her other hand over it. It slowly began to wither. The previously red and vibrant flower was now turning black and quickly shriveling up until there was only a dry small pile of debris left in her hand.

“You see, the abilities we have are far greater than a rainbow or unicorn. Mine, is that I can alter the lifespan of any living thing. Either by speeding it up…or…" She cupped the dead flower in her hands and slowly opened her palm, the pile of powder began to rejuvenate, sprouting and growing until it was once again a beautiful thriving flower. “Reversing it."

“What is my ability?" I asked her fascinated by what I had just witnessed.

She leaned toward me “Well, we don't know that yet. As you grow, your abilities will begin to develop and grow as well, but your individual power will not be revealed until you are older."

“I can't wait to be old!" I smiled.

My Dad leaned in eager to be a part of the conversation “Everly, honey do you know what they call girls that are made of magic?" he smiled.

Of course, Dad! They are called witches!" I laughed.

That day in the garden seemed like another life. The years had slowly crept by. I wasn't like my sister, Sage who was 5 years older than me and who's powers first began to show in the eighth grade, and then consistently grew every year after that. Instead, my first ability came in last year. I was playing “hot lava" with two neighborhood kids I babysat. We were having a blast, jumping across the furniture, screaming, and laughing, when suddenly I attempted to leap onto the leather recliner and was unable to land. I hovered in midair for what seemed like an hour, but it could have only been about a minute. I crashed hard on the wood floor just as their parents arrived home. The kids both witnessing what had just happened took off running to their bedrooms, terrified. Their parents confused and oblivious as to what had happened. Needless to say, I don't babysit for them anymore.

But tonight, was going to change everything, I was finally 17 and could begin my Wiccan training. The whole thing was pretty serious. There was a ritual involved and the entire Coven would be there. And with their blessing and acceptance it meant that I would be able to take my vows and fully accept all of my abilities. It was going to be life changing. I glanced up at the clock again 2:17. Really? Only two minutes had passed. It was official, I was going to die of old age waiting for this day to end. I lowered my head and sunk further into my chair in an attempt to drown out whatever it was Mrs. Dobson was talking about now. I continued to draw in my notebook when I suddenly felt a burning sensation on the back of my neck. I turned slowly to see Carson Andrews staring at me. Our eyes locked, his eyes burned into mine as if longing for something. And for a second, I could have sworn I saw a silver flicker behind them.

I searched his face for some sort of explanation as to why he was staring at me so intently. “What?" I finally whispered. His eyes blinked and he awkwardly looked down.

“Sorry."

I turned back to my notebook and noticed the paper under each of my fingers was singed. I lifted my hand from the paper to reveal the outline of my hand burned into the binder. I gasped.

“The fire element." I whispered to myself. I quickly looked over my shoulder to see Carson once again staring at me.

“Did you see that?" I asked him my heart racing, fearing that he had just witnessed my first display of the fire ability, but also completely ecstatic that I was gaining another power.

He stared at me unmoving. “See what?" he replied simply. Weird. I could have sworn he saw my notebook, but thankfully I guess he didn't. The number one rule of the Wiccan society is to never use your abilities in front of humans. There is a whole dramatic thing that has to happen if the Coven even suspects that a normal human has suspicions about a fellow witch. Just more headache that I didn't need.

“What was that about?" Sophie Turner whispered turning toward me. She was my best friend and had been since third grade. She tossed her wild thick curly red hair over her shoulder as she leaned back further onto my desk.

I shrugged, glancing back at Carson. “Nothing."

“Didn't look like nothing." She grinned.

“It's Carson Andrews, what else could it be?" I asked. Carson Andrews was a tall, dark-haired Junior with tan olive skin and soulful brown eyes. He had moved to our small hamlet of a town back in middle school but had always kept to himself. He was a complete anomaly. He was mysterious, a bit brooding but a real guy's guy. He was also incredibly smart. Although he rarely ever participated in class, I remember seeing him camped out at Luna's Diner reading Niche and Plato on more than one occasion. He seemed like a nice guy… confident and self-assured. I had never really talked to him since we hung out in different circles. But there is one thing that every girl in Westhaven High could agree on. He was gorgeous. He had the kind of eyes that looked directly into you. And don't get me started on his body. Both the hockey and football coaches had been after him for years to join either team. But much to their disappointment he didn't seem to have much interest in sports. Or dating for that matter. Jessica St. James, basically the most popular and beautiful girl in school had been throwing herself at him since she ditched her stuffed training bra for a Victoria Secret C cup. But he always turned her down, and rejection just didn't happen to Jessica. So, this year she was on a mission to finally get her man. She had been throwing herself at him for weeks, but no matter what she tried he wasn't moved by her bleach blonde blow-out or her gigantic pom-poms.

Suddenly the bell rang, making me jump from my seat. Finally! I quickly stood, eager to get my stuff and get home to prepare for tonight. Sophie waited for me at the classroom door and we both quickly made our way into the hall. It was a cluster of kids excited for the end of the day but more so for the weekend. I made my way to my locker.

“Hey."

“Hey." I replied back opening my locker door. I turned to Sophie in disbelief that Carson Andrews was really talking to me.

He shifted his bookbag from one shoulder to the other “So, can I ask you a question?"

“Uh, yea. Sure." I replied, still in shock that were having a conversation.

He glanced down at his shoes and then back up at me “Okay, this is gonna sound weird, but it has been bugging me all day… So, did you change your perfume?" Yea that was weird. mainly because I wasn't wearing perfume. But also cause in the entire time growing up in this town I had never spoken more than three words to Carson or his friends, so this question was definitely in the realm of weird.

Shaking my head “Um. No. Well yea, I guess. I'm not wearing any. Anymore. I'm not wearing any, anymore. I used to, but I stopped." Now I was rambling, very cool.

Leaning toward him I lowered my voice “Why? Do I smell or something?" I asked my face growing hot.

He smiled. He had a gorgeous smile “No. You smell great. I just noticed that's all." In that moment it was if time stood still. I couldn't hear or see anything but him. His eyes sparkled as they remained fixed on me. And his nose crinkled up as his smile grew larger. I never noticed it before. I couldn't take my eyes off of him, it was as if I were drawn to him, every part of him was perfect and imperfect at the same time, he was simply beautiful.

“Ready to go?" A loud voice called breaking into my thoughts. It was Gavin Pierce, Carson's best friend and wingman, the two were rarely ever seen apart. Gavin was a chubby guy with shaggy blonde hair that was always disheveled who reminded me of a loveable teddy bear. He was super always nice to everyone and kind of a jokester.

Carson didn't move “Yea, let's get outta here." his eyes still fixed on me. I glanced over at Gavin, he smiled at me as he draped a heavy arm over Carson's shoulder.

“I'll see ya later."

“Bye." I smiled giving a slight wave as he brushed past, his shoulder lightly touching mine.

Sophie popped her head from behind her locker door, where she had remained hidden, pretending not to listen to the entire exchange. With a joker sized grin plastered across her face she poked me in the ribs “Okay, now WHAT was that?" she squealed.

“Nothing." I sighed turning toward her. Glancing over her shoulder I could see Carson and Gavin down the hall, slowly fading into the crowd.

“If you say so." She smirked. “So, any big plans this weekend?"

“Not really." I replied finally losing sight of Carson. I turned back to her; her green eyes lit up with excitement.

She laughed “Sure, just falling in love, right?" giving me a playful shove.

I laughed “Yea, right, like that would ever happen."