CHAPTER 19

Carter I wake up with Emmy in my arms, we had fallen asleep on the couch. I get up and took Luna out and I start breakfast. I could make waffles, my culinary skills weren’t advanced, but I could make some stuff. I heard Emmy stir and sit up to look at me from the couch. I smile at her and tell her good morning.

Emmy gets up and wraps her arms around me. “Are you making me breakfast?”

“Yes I am.”

“Have I told you that you’re the best boyfriend?” She smiles at me and then kisses me on the lips.

“Yes, you have told me, and I think you’re pretty amazing too.” I kiss her back. I still couldn’t get over how electric our kisses were. There was something different about Emmy. I was drawn to her and sometimes I just didn’t know why. “I was thinking we could go for a hike this afternoon.”

“Sure, that sounds like fun. Tomorrow you are taking me out on the boat though.”

“As you wish.” I smile at Emmy.

We had woken up late, so it was almost noon. We eat and then get ready to go for our hike. I pack a backpack with water and some snacks. The trails around here are pretty and easy to walk. I love walking in nature, and I know Emmy felt the same way. Emmy put a leash on Luna, and we headed out.

It is a good few hours to the spot I want to take Emmy. It is a spot that overlooks the mountains and the river. About halfway through, she takes Luna off her leash convinced that Luna would listen and not wander off after some wild animal. I didn’t think Luna would run off, that dog listened, and is so well behaved I had to wonder if she had ever done anything wrong.

We reach our destination, and Emmy is taken away by the sight. It is one of my favorite spots to come to when I’m at my family’s lake house. I’m hot so I take my t-shirt off to cool off. I figured we would stay here for a bit before we head back or decide to go on another hike. Emmy has her back to me, but when she turns around, she takes in my chiseled body. All the sports I play, and my workouts have paid off. I notice her eyes go to the tattoo on my chest. It is a half moon, half sun with stars around it in a tribal style.

Emmy walks up to me and lays her hand on my tattoo.

“Carter when did you get this?” Her voice is a little winded.

“For my eighteenth birthday back in December. I did it the day of my birthday. I didn’t really tell anyone that I was doing it.” Emmy was tracing the outline of my tattoo with amazement.

“Emmy are you okay? Do you like it?” Suddenly I feel the need for her approval.

“Carter Drake Baxter I love it! I’m so happy you have the mark! You don’t know what this means to me.”

She takes a few steps away from me.

“Emmy, nothing you’re saying makes sense.” I don’t know what she is talking about. What mark and what did it mean?

“Carter, I have to tell you something. You can’t tell anyone. I’m putting my life in your hands by telling you. It’s going to sound crazy, and I have no idea how to tell you so I’m just going to say it. Carter, I’m a witch.” Emmy closes her eyes as she says the last words like they are painful to say aloud.

Emmy slowly opens her eyes to take in my reaction.

“A what?” I wasn’t sure I heard her right. I couldn’t have heard her right.

“A witch. Like a full blooded witch with magic. I didn’t find out till my seventeenth birthday. My mom was a witch too. My mom’s bloodline is powerful, she kept this part of me a secret. Witches always have magic, but it lays dormant until we turn seventeen when it is activated. Kenzie, my godmother, is a witch too. She’s been my teacher in all things magic. Luna is my animal companion; we are connected which is why she is so well behaved. Then there’s you, Carter. Every witch has a soulmate that seeks her out and they bare the mark of magic, which you have tattooed on your body. Carter, you’re my soulmate. I didn’t know until just now when I saw your tattoo.”

“Emmy you sound like a crazy person.” I couldn’t believe what she was saying.

“I can prove it to you.” She declares with a proud confidence.

Emmy waves her hand and opens the backpack on the ground up without even touching it. Then a bottle of water floats towards her and she takes it into her hand. She opens it, takes a drink from it, and closes it back up. The bottle then floats back to the backpack, and the backpack zips itself up.

“I can control the elements as well.”

Emmy waves her hand and the ground under us starts to shake Some of the ground comes up in clumps and flies around us. I’m stunned. I don’t even know what to think. A few seconds of dirt floating in the air, and then the ground settles back down, and it stops shaking as if it never even moved in the first place.

“Okay, you can stop now. I get it, you’re a witch.” I can’t deny what I just saw. It defies all logic and everything I know but I have no choice but to believe.

I look at Emmy. She looks nervous as she takes a step towards me. I put my hand out to stop her. “I need-I need to process this.”

Emmy hangs her head. “I understand. I felt the same way. I’ll go back to the lake house with Luna and start dinner.”

I nod my head. Emmy calls Luna over, and I watch as they disappear into the woods. I sit down on a rock and put my shirt back on. I can’t believe what just happened, what I was just told. Emmy is a witch, and I’m her soulmate. This is crazy, but is it?

I couldn’t honestly tell myself why I got the tattoo. I just knew I needed to have it. It didn’t make sense; it was totally impulsive. I just had to have it. I knew I wanted a tattoo of something tribal looking, but the half-moon, half sun with stars wasn’t what I had in mind when I went to get my tattoo. Then I saw it in one of the books I was looking at and I knew right then and there that was my tattoo.

Maybe I felt I needed it so that Emmy would know I had the mark that meant I was her soulmate? Oh, come on this is crazy! Shit I can’t deny what I saw though. I also can't deny that I have been drawn to her for some time now. I just was never able to admit to her how I felt, but then on her birthday I had to find out if she felt the same way. I didn’t know what changed that day but maybe it was fate making sure everything fell into place. Do I even believe in fate?

There was also the fact that when I was near Emmy or touched her, I felt alive. I felt like she was it for me. Shit, I loved her, and I thought I was crazy for feeling this way so soon, but maybe it was because we were soulmates. I also know there was something different about Emmy from the moment I met her all those years ago. Sure, I thought she was pretty, and I wanted to get to know her, but I always felt like there was more; like there was something I was missing. Maybe this was it. I have a lot of maybes right now.

I have to figure out how I feel about this situation. I don't want to lose Emmy, that much I know. I couldn't see my life without her, but her being a witch, I wasn't sure if I could handle that. I mean if I really love her, I would find a way to deal with this. I didn’t even think witches and magic were real, but shit was I wrong. Emmy proved that when she used magic to move the ground. There was so much I didn’t know, and She was the only one with the answers.

I couldn’t very well Google this shit. I wouldn't know what was true, and what was made up. It wasn’t like I could type in what to do when your girlfriend is a witch in Google either. As much as there was stuff I couldn’t explain, there was a lot that did make sense now. Like why I got this tattoo, why I was drawn to Emmy, why I always felt the need to stand up for her and protect her.

Then my Uncle Darren comes into my mind. He always said I was meant for bigger things than what my parents had planned for me. Could this be what he was talking about. He was always so mysterious and maybe that was because he knew about the magical world. Maybe he could help me. I get my phone out and dial his number. I know he won’t think I’m crazy and I’ll be discreet, so I don’t put Emmy at risk in case I’m wrong about my uncle.

“Hey Carter. How are you?” Uncle Darren’s voice is laced with his usual confidence, something that runs in our family.

“Um I have a question for you. Do you know how you always said I was meant for bigger things? How one day you’d tell me all your secrets? I think today is the day.”

“Ah I see you and Emmy have finally figured out you’re soulmates. Welcome to the magic world son, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

“You know about Emmy? About us?” I can’t believe this. All his mysterious nonsense isn’t so mysterious now. He was secretly grooming me for this moment my whole life.

Uncle Darren laughs. “Of course, I knew. I’m Warrior after all. I’ll explain that to you later. In fact, I’ve got a lot to explain to you now that you know the truth. Look son, what's important now is that you accept this new reality. It might not be easy, but Emmy will help you and so will I. I’m sure you have a dozen questions, and they will all be answered in time. Little doses is the best way to manage this.”

“How have you known about Emmy and me? I don’t get it.” I’m confused.

“Son there are prophecies about you and Emmy. You two are soulmates, and you my boy are meant for grand things and so is Emmy, you two will do a lot together. I can’t tell you too much because it’s not the right time yet. I promise it will all be revealed soon. I’ve been keeping an eye on you your whole life making sure you were ready for this moment. Why do you think I always said crypt things to you? It was to make you think and question your reality so that when it what you thought was real was challenged you would be able to accept it better than just having it thrown at you.”

“It all makes sense now.”

“Oh, this is just the beginning. Things you never thought about before are going to click into place for you. Go be with Emmy and talk with her. She will give you some answers and help you come to terms with this. It’s a lot to take in so be patient and give yourself time to process. I’ll talk with you soon my boy.”

With that Uncle Darren hangs up the phone. I can’t believe he knew this whole time. Things do make a lot of sense now. I now know why I was so drawn to Emmy. She is my soulmate. I’m a little freaked out but at the same time I think I’ve always known.

This was all a bit much to take in, but Uncle Darren with his mysterious and crypt nonsense through the years always had me thinking there was more to this world than what meets the eye. He was preparing me for this moment. I did always feel like the plans my parents have for me were bland and ordinary. I wanted more, I still do want more and now I know why. I really am meant to do something more with my life than just go to college and get a job like my dad. I’m meant to do something grand with Emmy. Our lives have been intertwined for a reason.

After a few hours of thinking I decide I need to head back. I can’t imagine what Emmy is feeling. She looked sad when she left me, but I couldn’t blame her. She had told me her secret and I told her I needed space. I just hope she understood why I needed space. Finding out Emmy is a witch is like a bomb dropping down on me and destroying everything I know, but thanks to my Uncle Darren and him secretly preparing me for this my world isn’t too destroyed.

I walk back to the house feeling confident. I see Emmy through the window. She looks anxious as she sits on the couch with her knees to her chest. Luna is lying next to her on the floor. I smile at the sight of her, she is so adorable curled into herself.

I walk through the door, and I smell whatever Emmy is cooking. She runs up to me, she is about to hug me but stops herself. I can tell she is unsure of herself and unsure of what I’m going to say.

“Carter, I’ll leave if you want. I’ll do whatever you want.” She sounds sad.

“Emmy, calm down.” I take her hands into mine. “Emmy, I don’t want you to leave. I just needed some time to process everything you told me. I believe you about being a witch and us being soulmates. There is so much I don’t understand, and I have so many questions, but I do know that since you told me the truth there are also a lot of things that do make sense. Like why I got my tattoo and why I’ve been drawn to you for so long. Emmy, I don’t want to lose you.”

Emmy has tears in her eyes. “Do you really mean that, Carter?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Carter, there’s so much I don’t know about my bloodline and about being a witch. I’m still learning about my magic and how to control it. It’s a really crazy ride, are you sure you want to come with me?”

I smile at Emmy. “Yeah, I’m sure, isn’t that what soulmates are for?”

Emmy and I kiss and this does nothing but intensify our feelings for one another. I find myself touching and caressing her, she allows me full reign over her. My mind and body are ready to explode. I must make her mine and allow her to feel the love that is flowing through my heart.