Catalyst (Forevermore, Book Two) (13 page)

“
No. That’s enough. She needs to learn it on her own. Now, run back to your little house of witches and let me know when you realize what has changed.”

“
Changed? What’re you even talking about?”

Hannah sighed.
“Really? Did you not understand a word I just said? Go home and don’t come back until you’ve figured it out. Go on. Shoo.”

I looked toward Ezra for help but he merely shrugged and frowned. With a
huff, I rose from the couch and left the apartment.

Serena was nowhere to be seen when I returned to Haven. She hadn’t left me any text messages or voicemail, either. The lobby was empty, although it smelled like it had recently been eaten in, and the scent churned up some previously unnoticed hunger. Due to all of the stress about my mom and Jason, as well as Serena, I’d completely spaced out eating breakfast. It was a good thing I could summon food whenever I wanted, or else I would likely starve myself to death with everything that was going on around me. I headed straight for my room, only to be stopped halfway by Alan.

“
I’ve been looking for you,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that you were all right. Word has it you have a non-magical friend here ... everyone’s talking about it. It’s … well … it’s most unusual, to say the least.”

“
Great,” I mumbled sarcastically. “It’s no big deal. I mean, it is ... but it isn’t. She’s just staying here while some things blow over, I guess.”

“
Oh, I understand. Castus Palmer seems to be rather fond of her.”

Scoffing, I walked by him and unlocked my door.
“Noah is the type of guy who seems fond
of anything with breasts.”

I entered my room and saw there was a note
on the mini-fridge from my mom — she was out with Jason yet again. There went my appetite.

“
You can come in,” I said to Alan as I filled Willow’s food dish. “I didn’t mean to just rush by and seem like I was ignoring you or anything. It’s just been a long day and I don’t know … I haven’t even eaten.”

“
We could go someplace, if you want,” he suggested as he stepped over the threshold and into my room. “To eat, that is. It can’t be a lot of fun summoning every meal you eat.”

I laughed.
“It’s actually pretty convenient, but yeah ... it’s nice having other people actually make my food for me, even though picturing a simple sandwich takes so much less time.”

“
If you don’t feel like going anywhere, we could just eat here. I haven’t had lunch, either.”

“
I, uh, sure ... we can eat here. I have no plans ... it seems that Serena is ignoring me, and my mom is occupied with ... other things, anyway. Not to mention Mathias doesn’t seem to be talking to me today.”

Alan frowned and stepped over to where I stood in the kitchen.
“Artemis is the only one that has seen Castus Forsythe all day. He’s been cooped up in his room, and no one is allowed to enter but Artemis ... he claims he’s sick with the flu now, but I’m not sure I believe him.”

“
Why wouldn’t you believe him?” I asked worriedly even as I struggled to concentrate on summoning a sheet of lasagna, two plates, glasses, and a bottle of cola.

“
Any other time a Clan member had a serious illness that Artemis could not mend, they were sent to a doctor ... not shut up in their room and refused visitors. It’s just not normal. Plus, he’s changed.”

Swallowing, I tried to hide my concern
and recognition. “What do you mean by
changed
?”

Alan looked at me with disbelief.
“You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed. His eyes are changing ... it’s like the shimmering effect is leaving a permanent mark on him.”

“
What do you know about Shimmerers? Why are they such a rare type of witch?” I inquired uneasily and pulled out one of the dining chairs. Alan sat across from me.

“
This smells great, by the way,” he said before scooping out a square of lasagna for me and then one for himself. “All I know is the basics. They can essentially teleport from one place to the other unseen, and over time, it has some minor side effects.”

“
Like his hair,” I stated and blew on a forkful of pasta. “Do you think that’s what’s causing his eyes to change too?”

Alan shrugged and looked thoughtful.
“I really don’t know.”

It was tough eating and enjoying the conversation with Alan when all I could think of now was Mathias. Was his gift changing him even further? Would it stop at his eyes and fingernails?
Would he eventually just look like a silvery, white-washed person? Was that even all that bad? And my mother ... how was I to keep her away from Jason, especially if Hannah didn’t plan to intervene? Surely she had to know how awful it was. Then again, maybe she didn’t really care if my mom and dad were together again — seeing as she practically said that plain and clear. She was definitely the type to hold a grudge. She just cared that Salem was alive. Although if she really wanted my mom out of the picture she could just let her go and die over there. But she was right … I would go with her, no matter what. And that would mean Hannah would have to follow. Then I realized – she was scared. Despite the front she always had, this vision of a war to come truly frightened my aunt. If someone like her – so confident and strong – feared for the future, then who was I to stop it from happening?

She seemed so sure that I would come into some sort of power soon … part of me hoped she was right, while another wanted to shed all of this away and be normal and oblivious again. The eyes of a brother I had never known flashed through my mind again, and I shivered.

Alan helped me clear the table once we were done eating. We had talked a little about his family and what life had been like for him growing up in the mansion. His mom was rarely seen, being too busy working and bringing in more and more money. It had been like an obsession for her — she rarely even spent the money, only when it was necessary. Alan said she was like a dragon hoarding gold. His dad decided to become an Exile when things became too stressful for him; we were alike in a way, he could see into the future too. He denounced his role as a witch and forced himself to believe that he didn’t have any powers, and after a long while, it was like he never did. He somehow forced himself to forget how to look ahead, but, after a time, it began to drive him mad despite his previous desires. He found that he wanted the power back. He was lost without his gift, unsure of what was safe and what wasn’t. He locked himself in his office for hours, writing and reading and losing himself in fictional worlds where magic was still alive, trying to find a way to bring the gift back into him and remember.

“
I think that if he hadn’t repressed the memories, my parents would still be alive.”

“
Maybe ... but there are some things we can’t see even with magic,” I said, chugging down the remainder of my drink. “What happened to Michael?”

He looked up at me, having been looking down at the surface of the table, examining the patterns in the wood.
“He still lives in the mansion. It was the least I could do after he dedicated his life to serving my parents. I allow him to live there at no cost, and he has a fair share of funds to occupy himself with.”

“
Most people would take advantage of the situation you are in ... with all of that money.”

“
After a childhood of being spoiled with toys, clothing, education, cars ... it grew old. I still use the money they left behind, but only when I need it. The majority of it goes to helping fund the Clan.”

I looked at him then with a sense of admiration.
“That’s great,” I said and truly meant it. “So why does Artemis use this old run-down motel?”

Alan scoffed, but looked amused.
“I offered the mansion to him on numerous occasions. We could all make great use of the space, but he seems attached to this place for some reason. Maybe if the number of members became too much to handle in such a small place he would reconsider it.”

“
Is there something special about this place that makes him want to stay here?” I asked and walked over to my bed where Willow was curled up — I swear that cat was always asleep somewhere.

“
He believes it is built on sacred ground ... and not in the spiritual sense. There are some places in the world that are naturally magical and witches are attracted to it.”

I remembered Noah saying he felt an attraction to the motel when he was lost and weary after being kicked out by his parents.
“I saw something on TV about places like that. Like Ireland or something too, right? It talked about a lot of places there and throughout Europe.” I suggested.

Alan
’s eyes twinkled. “I suppose so. It is rumored to be a magical place, with faeries and the like. But these places of energy are definitely not limited to Europe.”

“
Are things like faeries real?” I asked, although it was more out of humor than anything. It felt silly asking.

“
Who is to say what is real and what isn’t? There was once a time where I would have said that witches and vampires were all fairy tales, but now look at me — I live among people that are capable of magic. I am capable of it. And you. Your mother was a vampire.”

I was left wondering what else could be in the world that I didn
’t know about. Hannah didn’t seem unconvinced that werewolves or ghosts could exist when I asked her a similar question. Alan approached the bed and sat beside me, his eyes resting on an object lying on my nightstand — Serena’s charm bracelet her dad had given her.

“
Is this yours?” he asked, pointing to it.

I shook my head.
“No. It’s Serena’s ... I guess she left it behind.”

“
May I?”

“
May you what ...?”

He smiled lightly.
“Do you mind if I use my gift on it?”

“
It’s not really mine to say whether you can or not ... I don’t know.”

Alan delicately lifted the charm bracelet off of the nightstand, held the trinket in the middle of his palm and his eyes turned that same unusual green they had the day he showed me the past through his ancestor
’s necklace. A look of discomfort and repulsion displayed on his delicate face and I became worried — what could he possibly be seeing?

Thinking little of it, I reached my hand out and placed it over his.
As soon as I felt his skin against mine, I felt myself being pulled into the vision along with him.

Serena was maybe six or seven, with her hair its natural brown, and was looking at her reflection in a full-length mirror in her bedroom. She let the oversized charm bracelet fall to the floor, then lifted the side of her shirt, grimacing as the fabric scraped across her abdomen. A purpling bruise marked her skin, running along the length of her ribs. Trailing a slim finger along the injury, she winced and forced back tears.

“
I won’t cry. I won’t cry. He’ll hurt me again if I cry!”

Shouting vo
ices sounded in the background
—
I recognized them at once as her mom and dad.

“
You don’t hit my baby girl!” Mrs. Dupont screamed.

“
She wouldn’t eat her damned food! She can’t just get away with that.”

“
They’re just beans, Henry!
Beans
! You don’t have to hit her! You did the same with Cameron, and where did that lead?! He was taken away! They took my boy away!”

“
They brought him back.”

“
Maybe they shouldn’t have. Not with you here.”

There was
a loud crash, a muffled scream, more banging, a slammed door, and then silence.

Gasping, I clung onto Alan’s hand until I noticed it was turning red from the pressure. “Oh, my god,” I said almost inaudibly. “What did I miss?”

He shook his head and pulled me against him.
“You don’t want to know, Madison ... believe me.”

“
Why did she never tell me? How could she keep something like that a secret from me?”

“
I don’t know,” he whispered and held me firmly. “Some things are better left unsaid … or forgotten.”

“
It’s no wonder her mom cheated on him ... he’s an abusive asshole and always has been. How did I never know? We’ve been friends for ... almost as long as I can remember. I should have known!”

“
She clearly did a good job of covering it up. Don’t guilt yourself over it. It isn’t your fault, and it is in the past. No matter how much someone may want to, they can never change what has been done.”

I raised my head to look at him.
“I’m sorry if I ... if I hurt your hand or anything ... and if it felt like I was intruding ...”

Alan smiled and brushed a strand of hair from my face.
“You had every right to see it, at least more so than I did. It’s your best friend’s memory, not mine. And my hand is fine.”

I didn
’t get a chance to respond. His warm lips brushed against mine and at first I was afraid — remembering the night at the Halloween party when James tried to take advantage of me — then relaxed and felt myself easing into his arms, circling mine around him and kissing him back. I gently pushed him back against the bed and unleashed all of the stress, worry, and frustration I felt, letting it all seep through me and develop into passion as our kisses grew fiercer. His hand trailed up my sides and I shivered involuntarily at his touch.

“
Alan —” I murmured against his lips and he pulled away hesitantly. “I don’t think we should be doing this.”

He looked reluctant at first, then pushed me gentl
y off of him, and lay beside me, staring up at the ceiling. “I didn’t mean to upset you or anything … I’m sorry.”

I shook with laughter.
“You didn’t upset me ... it’s just ... I’m not ready for anything like that.”

“
You certainly seemed like you were ready,” he said with a suppressed grin.

“
My body might be, but my mind ... not so much.” I turned onto my side, looking at him closely. “I was almost raped last month.”

He looked at a loss for words.
“Oh, Madison… I’m sorry. If I had known …”

I knew there was little more that he could say.
“Don’t be. Mathias saved me.”

“
Is he another reason you can’t do this?”

Startled by his question, I failed to reply right away.
“I-I don’t know. I’m not sure how I feel about him, or how he feels about me.”

Alan scoffed and sat up.
“Forsythe’s feelings for you are ... evident in everything he does. The way he follows you around to ensure your
safety
, as he puts it, the way he gets jealous if any other boy talks to you, the way he
looks
at you.”

“
I never really noticed ... and he follows me around because Artemis assigned him as my guide and protector.”

“
You’re too focused on everything else to notice,” he said and stood up. “Thank you for dinner, Castus Young ... I’ll see myself out.”

“
Alan, wait!” I tried to get up from the bed fast enough to catch him before he made it through the door, but he was much too quick.

“
Great,” I grumbled to myself. “Now I have two boys upset with me.”

The door swung open and Serena came in, carrying a single white rose, her face wearing a grimace. I sat up on my bed and eyed the flower curiously. She plopped down next to me, discarding the flower and setting it beside her.

“
Who’s that from?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes.
“That Noah kid. Sure, he’s cute and all, but does he not know how to take a hint? I must have told him a hundred times already that I’m in an exclusive relationship.”

“
Maybe he’s just being really friendly,” I shrugged. I didn’t believe that, and by the look on her face, neither did Serena. “Okay, okay. He’s not ... he obviously likes you, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You should be used to it by now.”

“
I am, or I was ... things at school kind of changed a lot after Zach and I got together. The other boys seemed to realize that I was no longer on the market and left me alone. I missed the attention at first, but then I decided the only attention I wanted anymore was from Zach.”

“
You really like him, huh?”

“
Uh, duh,” she said with another eye roll. She sometimes reminded me of my aunt. “He should be back tomorrow, and hopefully he can help distract me from ... everything.”

“
I’m sure he will have no trouble distracting you.”

She blushed.
“Is there like, a rule on bringing boys over here?”

“
I have no idea. But you already somehow broke one of the Clan’s policies, so I wouldn’t risk it with trying to sneak Zach in. How’s Cam doing, anyway?”

“
Fine. He’s really pissed off, but who can blame him. He hasn’t spoken to mom since he told her to leave the hospital.”

“
That’s harsh,” I said, then shook my head. “Actually, it isn’t. There’s something I kind of wanted to ask you, though.”

“
Yeah? What is it?” She reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out a tube of chap-stick and applied a large amount to her lips.

“
One of the witches here ... he can see things from the past by touching things.”

“
Oh, wow, that would be so cool! I wish I could do … something.”

“
Yeah, but that’s beside the point. He kind of —” I paused and nervously tugged on the fabric of my blanket — a growing habit that I had only just realized I engaged in when I was upset or anxious. “He touched your bracelet. You left it here on my nightstand ... he thought it was mine and was curious about it. He picked it up …”

Her expression went blank.
“Wh-what did he see?”

I shifted uncomfortably and tucked my hands under my legs to avoid any more fidgeting.
“Your dad used to abuse you.”

Moisture
began to coat her eyes and she wiped at the corners, smearing her mascara. “A long time ago ... he did. He’d get so mad over ... just little things. If I said I didn’t like something he cooked for dinner, he got furious. If I missed a day from school ... ” She paused, her lip quivering. “More of my scars are from him than anything else. I … I haven’t thought about that in a long … long time.”