CHAPTER 23

Emmy A few days have passed since my meeting with Vivian. I know I have to talk to Carter, but I feel bad bringing up all this right around graduation. I’m meeting him for pizza at our favorite place in town. I’m going to tell him then. Even if it would be hard, he has a right to know.

I get us a booth in the back and order our regular meal that we always get as Carter is walking in the door. He joins me and the waitress brings us our drinks. He looks a bit worn out from his day. The lacrosse team has one final game in a few days, and I can imagine the couch is working them hard.

“I’m starving, is there some way to make our food come out faster?” Carter jokes.

“Probably, but I haven’t mastered everything yet. Plus, I’m not supposed to draw attention to myself. Speaking of magic and all that stuff, I have something I need to tell you.”

“Alright go for it.” Carter is calm. Hopefully he will stay calm once I tell him what was going on.

“Well, I met with Vivian who turns out to be my grandmother. Anyway, me and four others are a part of this prophecy to save the magical world. There’s some big bad coming to take us out. I have three weeks, and then I must go live with Vivian and the others at the manor for training. I know this is a lot to take in. Hell, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. You can come with me if you want. I get it if you don’t want to.”

“Yes, I’m coming with you,” Carter cuts me off. “I’m not going to college this year. I haven’t really told anyone yet besides my parents.”

“Seriously?” I had no idea he wasn’t planning on college.

“Yeah. I decided at the beginning of the school year. I turned down all my sports scholarships. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I think this is what I’m meant to do. My uncle said I was meant for bigger things. I think helping you with this is the start of that. Do I get to train too?”

“Yes, you do. You and Avary, who is Bexton’s, soulmate will be our back up so to speak.”

“That’s awesome! What are we going to tell our families?”

“That we are taking a road trip across America. That we want to see all fifty states.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’m not saying this isn’t a lot to take in. I’m still processing the fact that you’re a witch.” Carter whispers the last part and I smile at him. “I have a feeling my life is never going to be boring with you as my soulmate.”

“Boring no, crazy most likely, but I love you and I’m happy you will be by my side during this. I’m freaking out a bit. Oh, and you know my friend Alice from my hometown?” Carter nods his head. “She is a witch too and is part of my team. So, you will get to meet her, believe me she wants to meet you. Oh, and Jason is my uncle and his kids Brie and Bexton are my cousins.”

“Wait, your chef Jason?”

“The one and only. He’s married to Kenzie, my godmother who I also found out is my aunt. They are soulmates. I know small world, right?”

“Yeah. Maybe a little too small. Wow so Jason is a witch?”

“We call them warlocks and yes he is. He got the job working for my dad so he could keep an eye on me for Kenzie. Warlocks have all the same rules as us witches. Believe me I was stunned by all this information as well. I don’t know how many more secrets I can take popping up on me.”

“Hopefully there aren’t anymore. So, who’s this big bad?”

I laugh. “We don’t know. Somehow, we don’t know yet. The prophecy says it will be revealed to us soon.”

“How are you supposed to train to beat something if you don’t know what it is?”

“That’s the hundred dollar question of the hour,” I joke. If I don’t joke about this, I will cry, and crying is not an option. “I’m sure Vivian will be training us for everything and anything. Get ready for the worst boot camp of your life.”

“I can handle it. As long as I have you in my life, I can handle whatever comes my way.” Carter takes my hand and kisses it.

I smile at him. “I feel the same way Carter.”

Our food comes and we eat. Carter wasn’t kidding when he said he was hungry. I thought he might eat the whole pizza, but he stops after five slices. I have two. I was waiting for him to finish the last slice, but he never did so I shoved it down my throat like the pig I am. Thankfully he doesn't mind the fact that I loved food and could eat like a pig.

We come up with the plan of when and what we will tell our parents. I don’t think my dad cares as long as I let him know I’m alive. Sam might be sad, but she is going away to college and I’m sure she would spend her summer with Evan before they went their separate ways. I really hope they stay together, they would only be three hours away from each other, so hopefully they can make it work. Evan has managed to grow on me, even if he can be a total jerk.

After our date, Carter and I go our own ways. He needs rest and sleep because he has an early practice tomorrow. I must start packing and figuring out exactly what I will need and want to take. I can’t believe how much my life has changed in the last few months. I found out I was a witch, about my family, I found my soulmate, and now I’m supposed to train to fight some evil darkness that was threatening the magical world.

So much has happened and changed. My world has been turned upside down, set right and then turned upside down again. Every time I think I was getting a handle on my life something knocks me back on my ass again. I’m starting to wonder if I would ever fully get a hold of my life. Doesn’t matter if I do or don’t because I feel stronger now. I feel like I can handle this even if it’s overwhelming at times.

I have been in contact with Brie and Alice, it seems we are all a little scared and nervous about the prophecy. I don’t know how Bex and Ryan feel, but I’d imagine they feel the same way or similar. It is so strange to think we were supposed to save the magic world. It’s so weird that we were expected to form a team and fight to save our people, our world. It was a bit much to ask, but who were we to defy prophecy or fate for that matter?

I had meant what I said to Carter earlier. I really didn’t think I could take any more secrets. I could only hope everything was out in the open because I feel like I was going to break. There’s only so many surprises and secrets one person can take before they go crazy. I must wonder if that is what happened to my mom. I don’t like thinking about my mom because it makes me sad and angry. I have to forgive her; I just don't know how or where to begin. Maybe it’s because there’s a part of me that doesn't think she left me on purpose. I hope that she didn’t. Maybe there’s more to the story that Kenzie just doesn’t know about, but that would mean someone is hiding something from me and I’m not okay with that.

Secrets make you sick, and I didn't like thinking that someone could be keeping something from me. It was bad enough Jason and Vivian kept my family history from me. Sure, they came clean, but it still didn’t mean I was happy that they kept it from me. I can only hope there are no more secrets, but somehow, I just don’t think that’s going to be the case. I wonder how much more I can take before I am completely shattered.

I keep telling myself I’m stronger and I am. The old me would have been crying in the corner by now. Just because I’m stronger and I feel like I can handle more doesn't mean I want to. I have my limits, everyone does. I don’t know where mine are, and I’m not sure I want to find out, but with the way things are going I might not have a choice.

On top of everything else I feel a darkness inside of me awakening. I’ve felt it before, but it seems to be getting stronger. I haven’t mentioned it to Kenzie or anyone. I know everyone is watching me closely to make sure I don’t follow the path my mom went on. I’m afraid if I mention this to them, they won’t understand and only judge me. At the same time if I don’t say something do I risk ending up like my mom?

My world feels like it is spinning out of control around me, and it just doesn't want to stop. I must hold on, at least that’s what I tell myself as I curl up in my bed. I need sleep to recover from everything that has been going on. As I closed my eyes, Luna jumps on the bed and curls up with me. Sleep overtakes my mind as my dreams take me to a happier place.