Episode 2 of The Witch’s Key: Far From Human
Yesterday’s reading was so much fun! It’s giving me something to look forward to every day, which I’m so grateful for right now.
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I had several people ask yesterday why not just put this up for sale in ebook? Well, several reasons! For one, I’m editing this as I go for fun! It’s not a fully edited, polished story yet, so I wouldn’t feel right about listing it for sale.
Second, the whole reason behind doing it this way is to give people something to look forward to that will help get your mind off the virus and give you something to chat about on social media or YouTube! If I published it as an ebook, you’d just read it alone in your house in a few hours and be done with it!
This is just something a little different that I’m hoping many of you will appreciate and enjoy as an escape each day. Once the story is done, if everyone loves it, I’ll happily have it professionally edited and publish it in ebook format for those of you who just don’t like to read stories chapter by chapter.
Now, let’s read Episode Two!!
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Episode Two: Far From Home
Dark eyes held me to the spot, and it was as though everyone else in the hallway disappeared entirely.
He saw me, but it was more than that.
He knew who I was. What I was.
Which put me at a distinct disadvantage, because even though I could tell from the magical energy radiating from him that he wasnโt entirely human, I wasnโt good enough at this to tell exactly what he was.
And that made him dangerous.
The bell rang, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
โEarth to Lenny,โ Peyton said with a laugh. She touched my arm, and I seemed to break free from whatever spell had held me there. โHeโs really cute, right? Heโs new here, too, kind of. He just moved to town last year. He doesnโt say much in class, and as far as I know, he hasnโt even dated anyone yet, which is not for a lack of interest, if you know what I mean.โ
โWho is he?โ I asked, fumbling with my locker combination again until it finally popped open.
โHis name is Kai Richards. Despite his height and apparent athletic ability, he isnโt on a single sports team, and heโs really good at math. Thatโs pretty much all I know about him. Well, that and almost every girl in school wants to date him, so get in line.โ
Kai Richards. Not much to go on, but at least it was a start.
I didnโt like having a big question mark over his head. After what happened to my parents, I wanted to know as much information as possible about the people close to me. Especially the non-human ones.
Besides, now I had a project. Something to keep my mind occupied throughout the day.
โWeโd better get going,โ Peyton said. โWe have to be in the next hall before the second bell rings. And we both have Mr. Wallace for homeroom. Heโs not exactly known for being the most lenient teacher around here, even if it is your first day. You donโt want to paint a target on your back right away, either.โ
She was right. I really didnโt want to draw anyoneโs attention today, if I could help it.
And for the most part, I managed to get through the first day without any major mistakes or embarrassments. Other than Peyton and Kai, most people ignored me. I still didnโt understand why my spell hadnโt worked on Peyton. As far as I could tell, she was purely human. She just seemed to be immune to this particular spell, which made me immediately want to test a different one on her.
I would have to think of something else to do tomorrow just to see if she was immune to everything, or just that one spell in particular.
I was already thinking about different herbs to mix together when I got home as I stepped out of the main building. I nearly ran right into Peyton and another girl I hadnโt met yet.
โThere you are,โ Peyton said. โI was just talking about you.โ
How someone could be so bubbly and energetic at the end of a full day of boring classes was beyond me.
โThis is my friend Brandy,โ she said. โBrandy, this is Lenny. Sheโs really cool and well-traveled, and youโre going to love her.โ
โHey,โ Brandy said, lifting her chin toward me. Her jet-black hair hung in tight curls around her face, and there was a smile in her dark eyes. โPeyton hasnโt been able to shut up about you all day. I canโt believe I didnโt see you around today. She said we had a couple classes together, but I didnโt even notice you at all. Iโm sorry. I must have been in my own little world today.โ
I smiled. Magic was so much fun when it worked.
โItโs no problem,โ I said. โI tend to blend in.โ
โPretty girls like you donโt just blend in,โ Peyton said, rolling her eyes.
I gave her a look. Iโd never thought of myself as a pretty girl. In fact, I was incredibly plain, which is part of what made it easy for me to fade into the crowd, even when I wasnโt using magic to make it happen.
โWell, thank you, but Iโm honestly just glad I made it through the day without too much trouble,โ I said. โWhat you did for me this morning was really nice. I appreciate it.โ
โIt was my pleasure,โ Peyton said, a slight gleam in her eye. โBut if you really want to repay me, youโll agree to come with us to Sir Bean this afternoon and hang.โ
I raised a questioning eyebrow. โExcuse me? Did you just say Sir Bean?โ
Brandy laughed. โItโs the local coffee shop and bakery here,โ she said. โA lot of us hang out there after school to do homework and just, well, avoid going home for as long as possible.โ
A strange warmth spread through my stomach. Had I really just been asked to hang out with friends after school?
It was the kind of thing that seemed so incredibly normal. So human.
And to think Iโd been dreading this day for months. What would Uncle Martin say when he found out Iโd made actual friends?
Then again, he was expecting me home right after school. Weโd never discussed any rules about hanging out with friends or staying out late. I never even imagined it would be an issue.
โIt sounds fun, but I really should get home. My uncle will be wondering where I am if I donโt show up, and itโs my first time out of the house, uh, in a while.โ
Okay, that sounded really lame, but it had literally been months since Iโd even stepped off my uncleโs property.
โSo, call him,โ Peyton said with a shrug.
I laughed at the thought of Martin having a phone. That wasnโt exactly how he communicated with the outside world. Not that I had a phone, either.
Crap. How out of touch was I that I didnโt even have my own cell phone? I had to be the only person in school, which was going to look a bit fishy if I did manage to keep these new friends.
I would have to talk to Martin about getting me a phone. Iโd never needed one before, but if I was supposed to be blending in and trying out a so-called normal life, I was going to need all the trappings of a modern-day teenager.
Maybe that meant I could also talk him into buying me a new car.
โI must have left my phone at home today,โ I said. โMaybe Iโll come with you tomorrow, if youโre going.โ
โNope. Not good enough,โ Peyton said. โI havenโt had nearly enough time to grill you about all the places youโve lived, what kind of music you like to listen to, why you moved here to Newcastle. I have a million questions.โ
โProbably more,โ Brandy added.
โBesides,โ Peyton paused for dramatic effect. โThereโs a certain tall, dark, handsome, and aloof someone who just happens to work at Sir Bean. But if you donโt want to go, thatโs fine.โ
My breath caught in my throat.
โKai works there?โ I asked, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.
Peytonโs face broke out in a huge smile, and she bumped Brandy with her elbow. โTold you she had a major crush on him.โ
โItโs not a crush,โ I said quickly, defending myself.
โOh?โ Peyton asked. โYou just nearly drooled all over yourself this morning when you saw him, but itโs no big deal. Itโs definitely not a crush.โ
My cheeks warmed. Okay, so he was a good looking guy, but this wasnโt a crush. Still, how was I supposed to explain that to someone like Peyton?
I donโt like the guy, Iโm just trying to figure out if heโs a demon or a werewolf.
Come to think of it, it was probably better if they did think I had a crush on the guy. That would at least make my interest in him logical.
โYou know what? Maybe I left my phone in my locker,โ I said. โIโll be right back. You want me to just meet you there?โ
โOf course not. Weโll wait for you,โ Brandy said.
They started talking about chemistry homework as they took a seat on one of the benches outside the main entrance. I jogged inside to find a quiet place to contact my uncle.
It was amazing how fast the school had emptied out. I passed a single teacher on the way to the bathroom, but other than that, the entire place was deserted.
In the girlโs bathroom, double-checked the stalls to make sure no one was hiding out in there, and then I placed a hand on the door.
โCincinno,โ I whispered.
Warmth spread out from my palm as a single flash of golden light sealed the door closed. I couldnโt exactly afford for someone to walk in here and find me talking to my uncle in a mirror, now could I? Talk about an interesting first day at school.
I took a deep breath, leaned forward toward the first mirror above the sink, and exhaled. As my warm breath fogged the mirror, I drew our family sigil and whispered, โMartin vocatio.โ
It only took a few seconds for his image to appear before me.
He looked frantic, and I immediately felt guilty for scaring him.
โWhatโs wrong?โ he asked. โDo you need help?โ
โNo, nothing like that,โ I said. โIโm sorry. I didnโt think youโd be worried about me. I just needed to ask you if I could go out with some friends, and I remembered you always carry that mirror in your pocket.โ
He let out a long breath, his shoulders relaxing as he placed a hand on his chest. โYou scared me to death. I was expecting you home any minute.โ
โI know, but I actually managed to meet a few new friends today, and they want me to go to a coffee shop called The Bean or something? I want to go, but I wanted to make sure it was okay with you first,โ I said. โApparently, most of these people have cell phones, but all I had was a mirror.โ
He laughed. โGetting your use out of having that key back, I see. Of course you can go to the coffee shop with your friends,โ he said. โWeโll see about ordering some cell phones when you get home tonight. Iโve avoided modern technology long enough.โ
โThanks,โ I said.
I considered telling him about Kai, but for some reason, I wanted to keep that information to myself for now. It was possible Martin already knew this guyโs family or what they were, but for now, I was honestly just enjoying the mystery of it. It gave me something to think about other than the fact that I was stuck in this town instead of out hunting with my parents.
โNow, please, clean the family sigil off that disgusting mirror before you go,โ he said. โI donโt want some poor freshman conjuring an old man in the mirror by accident tomorrow.โ
โI will. See you in a bit,โ I said.
I threw some hot water on the mirror and wiped it off with a paper towel, hoping that was good enough. Good timing, too, because someone was pulling on the outside door like their life depended on it.
โSolvo,โ I whispered as I placed my palm on the door, and it immediately flew open, nearly knocking the girl on the other side onto her butt.
I winced. โSorry, I think the door was stuck,โ I said.
She gave me a nasty look, but I didnโt care. I was having one hell of a day, and it was the most fun Iโd had in a really long time.
**
Sir Bean was a short walk away from the high school, located in a strip mall next to a dry cleaner and a nail salon.
I stood there for several minutes just staring at the logo on the sign out front.
A knight in full armor riding a coffee bean, his sword stretched out in front of him.
โWhat?โ Peyton asked, staring up at the sign with me.
โI donโt understand,โ I said. โItโs a knight riding a bean.โ
She laughed and put her arm around me. It was such a foreign feeling, I almost pulled away, but it was actually nice. Her instant trust was comforting.
โItโs a play on our mascot, you know,โ she said. โThe Newcastle Knights. Get it?โ
โI mean, I get it, but itโs weird, right? Itโs a knight, riding a coffee bean. Beans donโt even have legs. Where could he possibly be going? Whatโs he fighting for?โ
โCoffee beans everywhere!โ Brandy said, putting her hand up like a sword.
I laughed so fully, I hardly recognized my own voice. It was such a foreign feeling, and even though it was pleasant, it was also slightly terrifying.
What if I actually liked being a normal person? What would I do with my life?
It was a sobering thought, but I was determined not to bring down the vibe of the afternoon.
โWell, letโs see if the coffeeโs any good,โ I said.
โItโs amazing,โ Peyton said. โBut the coffeeโs got nothing on the cupcakes. Theyโre to die for. Trust me. Iโve tried every single flavor they have. Twice.โ
โAh, everything makes so much sense to me now. Youโre high on sugar,โ I said.
Peyton laughed and bumped my arm, the same way sheโd done with Brandy earlier. Why did that make me feel like I belonged? It was such a simple gesture, but it carried so much meaning for me.
โNailed it,โ Brandy said. โDid you know she actually carries a giant pencil case full of candy in her bag? Itโs an addiction.โ
Peyton herded us toward a small table in the back. โItโs busy today,โ she said. โBut I guess thatโs really no surprise, since it is the first day back to school. Everyone has to gossip about what happened over the summer and make cool videos for TikTok.โ
โWhatโs TikTok?โ I asked.
Brandy and Peyton both looked at me like Iโd grown five heads, and I tried to think of a way to play it off like Iโd just been joking. But no, I had no idea what TikTok was, which apparently was some kind of sin.
Before they could start grilling me about my lack of knowledge, though, a girl with her brown hair in a high ponytail and a Sir Bean apron on came pushing through the crowd, waving madly at us.
โYou made it,โ she said, sitting down to catch her breath. โI canโt let the manager see me taking a break on such a busy day, but Iโve been keeping an eye out for you. What took you so long? All the tables were almost gone.โ
โOlive, this is Lenny,โ Peyton said. โSheโs our new friend. Lenny, this is Olive, our cupcake goddess. Weโve all been friends since we were kids.โ
โCupcake goddess? That sounds promising,โ I said. โNice to meet you, Olive.โ
Oliveโs cheeks reddened slightly, and she looked down, obviously embarrassed. โYou guys are too sweet. I donโt make them myself, anyway. My mom is really the mastermind behind the amazing cupcake flavors,โ she said. โSpeaking of which, we have some new ones in the cafe today, if anyone wants to try something. I should take your order, anyway, before Melvin gets angry.โ
โOoh, whatโs new?โ Peyton asked. โSomething Iโve never tried before? Because I was looking forward to the sโmores cupcakes again today, but you know me. I canโt resist new flavors.โ
โNeapolitan, chocolate peanut butter pretzel, and maple bacon are the new ones today, but the bacon ones are almost sold out.โ
Peyton jumped on the chance to try the last of the bacon cupcakes, but I couldnโt resist trying the chocolate peanut butter ones. What can I say? I have a thing for that flavor combination.
โGet me a caramel latte, pretty please,โ Brandy said.
โNo cupcake for you?โ I asked.
โShe canโt have gluten. Itโs a tragedy,โ Peyton said. She fished a twenty-dollar bill from her backpack and stuffed it in Oliveโs hand. โGet us all caramel lattes. And keep the change.โ
โYou donโt have to pay for mine,โ I said. โI have a few bucks in my bag.โ
โPeytonโs parents are loaded,โ Brandy said with a wink. โAbuse it.โ
I laughed. I was pretty sure Uncle Martin was loaded, too, but weโd never really talked about money before. A lot of the things we purchased in our family used a different kind of currency.
โThanks. Iโll get it next time.โ
A strange thrill went through my body. I was already thinking about a next time. Iโd never had friends before. This was weird and exciting, and I was so scared to actually trust it.
Maybe Iโd stepped out of Martinโs house and into some kind of alternate reality.
Olive turned and froze, gasping as she placed a hand to her mouth.
In fact, most of the people in the cafe grew quiet for a moment and looked toward a guy with shoulder-length blond hair whoโd just walked in.
The silence was brief as everyone tried to pretend they hadnโt noticed the guy, but there had definitely been a shift in the energy of the place.
โWhat just happened?โ I whispered. โWho is that?โ
Peyton leaned in, and we all huddled close together.
โThatโs Troy Valentine. His sister, Marcia, went missing about three weeks ago. Sheโs the most recent girl to disappear,โ Peyton said in a hushed voice.
โYou mentioned something about that earlier today,โ I said, a chill going through me. โHow many girls have gone missing? And what happened to them?โ
โNo one knows,โ Olive said. โOne day, they were going about their normal lives, and the next, they were gone without a trace. Four girls total so far in the past six months. All of them students at Newcastle High. All of them are still missing.โ
Holy what?
My mouth went dry, and I dug my nails into the palm of my hand. Four girls missing without a trace? In a town that had almost no history of crime or violence.
Why hadnโt Martin mentioned this to me?
What were the chances four missing girls was some kind of coincidence?
I wasnโt an expert Slayer or anything like my parents, and I certainly wasnโt trained as a Keeper like Martin, but I didnโt need to be to answer that question.
There was no way this was a coincidence.
And if I had to guess, I would have said there was some kind of supernatural being behind their disappearance. Kidnapping four girls wasnโt usually something humans did, even if thatโs what the news had to say.
Nine times out of ten, if there was a serial killer or mass murderer out there, he or she was far from human, no matter what they looked like on the outside.
Just then, as if on cue, Kai stepped out to take over at the cash register. It was the first time Iโd seen him since that morning, but the moment my eyes landed on him, he jerked his head toward me.
Just like earlier, our eyes locked across the crowd. It was as if he could feel my presence, the same way I could feel his.
โI have to get back to work. Iโll be back with your orders in a sec,โ Olive said, disappearing into the crowded cafe.
I pulled my gaze from Kairโs and leaned toward the other girls. โHey, so just out of curiosity, when did you say Kai started school here?โ
โSometime toward the end of the school year last year, I think,โ Peyton said.
โNo, it was earlier than that,โ Brandy said. โHe started just after the new year. I remember, because it snowed that first week back, and he stopped to help me get my car back on the road after I slid on some ice. I think that still might be the only time heโs actually talked to me, but that was definitely last winter. January or February at the latest. Why?โ
โJust curious,โ I said.
Iโd already started counting backwards, though, and the results made me feel sick to my stomach.
Four missing girls in the past six months, and a handsome new guy who just happened to come to town about six months ago and who just happened to be something other than human?
I didnโt like the way that was adding up.
Something my parents always taught me was that there are no coincidences. Everything happens for a reason, and if you see a pattern start to emerge, pay attention to it. It might save your life.
In this case, maybe it could save four lives.
I knew what Uncle Martin and the Council would say. Stay out of it. If this was really a matter for us to be concerned with, the Council would have already sent someone to deal with it.
But like my parents, Iโd never really been good at following the rules.
I needed to find out just who Kai Richards was, and I needed to do it fast.