Chapter Three
HAZEL
Gertie’s grandson is tall, dark, and has a set of blue eyes that feel like magnets to mine. I have to force myself to look away. I offer him my hand. “I’m Hazel.”
“Jamie.”
The instant I touch his hand it’s like I’m transported through a dream.
I see him—Jamie—laying in the dirt… no, it’s not dirt, it’s a thick bed of pine needles.
He’s in the forest… it’s night and he’s lying on his back, looking up at the full moon over the top of Devil’s Crown.
He’s breathing heavy. Something stirs to his right.
There’s a low shriek. Then Jamie looks at his hand…
oh my god, is he bleeding? It’s hard to tell in the dark.
I sense that something’s wrong. He’s in pain. I have to…
I open my eyes and find myself sprawled out across the couch in the back of my shop. “What happened?” I remember touching Jamie’s hand and then… it all goes fuzzy. Did I have a vision?
“Here, take a sip of water.” Jamie lifts a cup to my lips and I drink, letting the coolness soothe my throat.
“Thank you. I… I don’t know what happened.”
“You passed out, that’s what happened. I’m glad I was here to catch you.” He smiles and his eyes draw me in and threaten never to let me go.
I feel my face flush with heat. “Sorry. I… Thanks.” I smile and just go with it. There’s no point in pretending I didn’t totally pass out and fall into the arms of a complete stranger.
“You were out for a good minute there. I would have called an ambulance except your dog threatened me whenever I touched my phone.”
“That’s Skip. He’s very protective of me.”
“I can see that. Hey, Skip.”
“Bark!”
I sit up and get my bearings, making sure I can get to my feet. “I think I’m all right, now.”
Jamie places the glass of water on the side table and stands next to me like a gymnastics spotter. After a moment, I am on my feet.
“You do have your color back. Are you sure you’re feeling all right? Is there someone I can call for you?”
I wave him off. “No. no. I’ll be fine. I just need to eat something.”
“If you’re sure… I don’t mind staying. Old Gertie would never forgive me if I didn’t make sure you were taken care of.”
I smile and think that I sure could use her right about now. “Don’t let her hear you calling her old. I know she’s your grandmother, but she’s the definition of a spitfire.”
“Isn’t that the truth!” He laughs and it’s like warm water rushing through the air. I want to hear that sound again, make him laugh over and over.
When I turn to look at him, I see him flicker and flash.
One moment he looks normal and the next he’s writhing in pain, his hands balled into fists.
I blink and things go back to normal again and then flash again, the pain and agony.
I grip the arm of my chair as a vision washes over me, filling my mind and my senses.
I hear him panting. I see the full moon through his eyes. I hear something howling through the trees. I taste his blood in my mouth and the scent of it fills the air. I know that I’ve seen this before. I know that this is what came to me when I fainted. But then, that means I didn’t actually faint.
Jamie doesn’t seem to notice how distracted I am.
And then the vision fades like it never happened. I pull myself together. “With Gertie gone, what brings you to Diablo Falls?” I ask. I turn on the kettle and get the water boiling. A cup of tea sounds like just the thing.
“I’m moving in. Gertie still owns the house. She didn’t like the idea of it sitting empty so she offered it to me.” He shrugs his broad shoulders and it makes him look like a little boy. “I’m ready for something new.”
“Really? That’s great. Welcome, neighbor. I wish we had something to toast with.” Then I remember where we were before I passed out. “Oh! Your tea! I am so sorry.” I hop out of the chair and pull open the cabinet under the kettle. “Let me put something together for you to try.”
“No. Don’t worry about—”
“I insist. It’s the least I can do after what I’ve put you through.
” I don’t see what I want in the cabinet so I head to the back of the shop where I store my main inventory.
I grab an empty tin and load it up with an assortment of black tea blends that I had already packed into little mesh tea bags.
We visit for a few more minutes with him fawning over me and me insisting I am fine until I am able to assure him he’s free to go. I escort Jamie to the door and see him out.
“Bark! Now he smells delicious,” Skip says.
I watch Jamie until his pickup is out of sight, then I flip the shop sign to closed and turn the little clock to say I’ll be back in an hour.
In the back room, I pull my notebook out of my bag and leaf through the pages looking for Gertie’s new number.
She doesn’t have a cell phone and I know she gave me her grandson’s number before she left.
I hate to bother her but I need to talk to Gertie. Maybe she can help me decipher the vision and explain why it happened in the first place.
I pick up my cell phone just as it starts ringing. The caller ID says, unknown caller.
I tap the green button. “Hello?”
Relief washes over me as Gertie’s voice fills my ears.
“Hazel Bishop, I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into but you need to tell me exactly what’s going on.
I was fast asleep when you appeared to me in my dream.
Now, you know that I love you and your pretty face, but seeing you like that I just about wet my pants. ”
“Oh, Gertie. It’s so good to hear your voice. Where do I begin?” I don’t stop the tears as they fall.
“At the beginning, of course. What did I miss?”
I fill her in on everything that’s happened in the weeks since she left, starting with me leaving the coven, and about my magic not working, Skip’s barking, and Marissa’s curse. Then I tell her about meeting Jamie and the vision touching him brought to me.
“Mmm hmm,” she says.
“Why don’t you sound surprised?”
She sighs deeply. “I have been having visions about that boy since he was a baby. It makes me feel comforted that touching him brought one on for you. Thank the goddess he’s there, now you can watch over him.”
“What do you mean? The vision was real? Is he in danger?”
“Well, clearly something is going to happen—and I bet it will be soon,” she says like I am a child who should know better.
“What should I do? Should I warn him?”
“Noooo! Don’t you dare. If you warn him and he changes his plans, the consequences could be dire. That’s forbidden, Hazel. You can’t interfere in any way. Don’t tell him anything.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Be ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“You’ll know when the time comes.”
The sound of children squealing fills the phone. “I have to run, Hazel. Keep me posted on Jamie, would you?”
“Gertie, wait! What about Skip and my magic? What about Marissa’s curse?”
“What about it? You know what to do. Send it back to her. I am sure all of that other stuff is related.” Her attitude gives me hope.
If Gertie’s not freaking out, then I shouldn’t either. “But… nothing I do is working. Should I risk it? What if my attempt at undoing the curse causes Marissa harm?”
She scoffs. “Karma’s only a witch if you are, sweetie.
There’s no other way. You must restore the balance and the rules are very clear when it comes to curses.
Marissa should know better. You get back what you give.
It isn’t your fault that she chose to give you this.
Woman up… Don’t let anyone suppress your amazing gifts.
Take back your power, Hazel. I believe in you. ”