Chapter 26 — Emmy

We are all in the main living room having a little welcome home party for my mom since she is finally feeling well enough to leave the healing wing. Mom, Kenzie, Vivian, and Stella are talking in the corner near the big windows drinking wine and playing a card game. Dad, Jason, and Darren are by the fireplace drinking whiskey on the rocks and talking.

It’s nice to see Jason and my dad getting along, they tend to butt heads. Calder, Bex, and Ryan are playing some video games. Alice and Ivy are talking on the floor. I still wasn’t sure what was going on with them. Brie, Carter, and I sit in the other corner playing Uno and other card games like War.

There is of course tons of food and drinks. No party at the manor is complete unless there is food and drinks. It doesn’t even matter how big or small the party is at the manor there is always lots of food and plenty to drink. It’s good to see mom up and about. I know she is getting tired of sitting in the healing wing day in and day out. I can’t blame her. I know how that is and it sucks. Carter’s phone rings and he leaves to go answer it. It’s probably his parents. They think he’s at college and I’m sure he doesn’t want them to hear the fact that there’s a lively party going on.

A few minutes later Carter comes back, and his face is pale. He looks upset. I rush to Carter’s side. “What’s wrong?” I ask, feeling concerned.

Everyone stops what they are doing to look at Carter and I. Carter just shakes his head. He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. He’s in shock. What the hell happened? I read Carter’s mind and the second I do I gasp as I put a hand over my mouth. Carter looks me in the eyes. He knows I just read his mind. I hug him. When I break our hug, I go to the center of the room and call everyone to gather around. Carter sits down on the sectional next to Bex and Calder.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Then open my eyes again. Everyone is looking at me wondering why the hell I just interrupted the party. I’m sure they are wondering why Carter and I look like someone just ran over our puppy. I should have known the happiness wouldn’t last long. It was March and we hadn’t heard anything from the Enchantress since January. I knew the quiet was a bad sign.

“Emmy what’s going on?” My dad asks, looking between Carter and me.

“Carter just got a phone call from his parents. We know who the Enchantress is possessing. It’s Victoria Chase. She has killed Sam and William along with Evan, Jess and Josh. All of them were Carter’s friends. They are all in different states, and yet she managed to kill them all in twenty-four hours. She is sending us a message, one that states she won’t be the one to back down.”

I want to cry. I may not have been close to Sam or William, but they were my family at one point even if they were my fake family. I also knew Evan, Jess, and Josh. They might have been mean to me in high school, but they didn’t deserve to die.

“What about Carter’s parents?” Vivian asks.

“They are fine for now.” I say, hating that I said the last part, because Carter looks at me in desperation. It’s not what he needs to hear at the moment, but it’s the truth. Just because the Enchantress didn’t go after his parents doesn’t mean she won’t try to in the future.

“Calder and I will go and put a protection spell around Carter’s parents. If anyone else in the team has family members or friends, they are worried the Enchantress will go after them, they should let us know, so we can put protection spells on them.”

“My little sister Lynden, I have to go get her, and bring her here. She has no one that I trust to stay with. Right now, she is at a boarding school. I can’t leave her out there if the Enchantress is after our families.” Ivy says, sounding a bit desperate.

“Go get her and bring her here. She can stay with us.” Vivian states.

Ivy nods her head and thanks Vivian. Ivy leaves to go get her sister. Calder and our dad go to put a protection spell on Carter’s parents and a few others. We have to cover anyone we think the Enchantress might use against us. We can’t have a repeat of what just happened.

Everyone is suddenly on edge. I sit next to Carter and put my arm around him. I know he is upset. I feel bad for him. All his old friends were dead. Carter had known Evan since they were kids, they were really close at one point. I knew the Enchantress was going to play dirty to get back at me, but I didn’t think she would go after Carter’s friends. I guess it makes sense. All my friends and family are safe at the manor, but Carter’s friends and family were out in the open.

Bex and Ryan take Carter out for a ride on their bikes to help calm Carter down. Mom and Kenzie comfort me while Brie and Alice bring me wine, ice cream, and chocolate. I feel like what happened was my fault. Everyone insists that it wasn’t my fault, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. After sulking I finally start to feel better, but then Carter comes back. He looks devastated. I hug him and he lets me. I hope he doesn’t blame me. Brie makes Carter an extra strong sleeping potion so that he can get some sleep. Ryan and Bex keep an eye on Carter for me while I wait for dad and Calder to get back.

Once Calder and dad are back, they assure me Carter’s parents are safe. Dad helps mom back to the healing wing and insists that I get some sleep, but the problem is I can’t sleep. So, around midnight I walk out on the patio that overlooks the gardens. I am staring up at the stars. It’s chilly so I’m wrapped in a warm blanket. Calder joins me. He’s wearing his all-black hoodie that he always wears when it’s cold out.

“Can’t sleep?” He asks, handing me a cup of hot tea.

I take the tea from Calder and give him a smile of thanks.

“Yeah, my mind doesn’t want to shut off. I just don’t know what to do?” I sigh and lean on the patio’s banister while I sip some of my tea.

“I hate to say it, but there isn’t much you can do. All you can do is be there for Carter. He’s a good guy. He’s good for you. He doesn’t blame you if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

“I’m afraid he will hate me.” I confess. I feel tears start to fall. Calder pulls me into his arms as I set the cup of tea down.

“It’s okay Emmy. You can’t blame yourself. I know you do. The Enchantress is evil, and she lives to destroy things. She saw a chance to hurt you, and the people you care about. We will stop her. She won’t get away with this.” Calder states in a firm voice.

“Calder, do you ever just wonder why you?” I ask in between sobs. I am really grateful for my big brother at the moment.

“All the damn time. I asked myself that so often when I was a prisoner. The thing is we are stronger than our thoughts. We are only prisoners of our minds if we allow ourselves to be.”

“You’re right.” That's all I can say because I know he is right.

After I talk with Calder, I finally take a sleeping potion and get some rest. The next few days are going to be hard. We have the funerals to go to. I am going with Carter to bury his friends. I’m not looking forward to it, but I want to be there for Carter. Plus, I want to pay my respects to William and Sam. As I fall asleep, all I can think is if the Enchantress wanted to play dirty then let the games begin. I wasn’t going to play nice anymore either. The bitch is going down.