Tethered (A BirthRight Novel) (30 page)

“That’s right,” he continues, “the Russo bloodline also comes from Witches. For hundreds of years they did wonderful things together. That is, until my great, great, great, great, great, grandmother, Raven Parsons, ruined
everything
.

“As legend has it, she somehow got involved in the black arts. One night, while calling on a power to aid her with her magic, she was possessed by a
powerful
demon who wanted to be reborn as a human.

“I’m not sure how long it lasted, but while it did, she was responsible for
hundreds
of deaths. She was later burnt at the stake for her crimes, but it was the family who suffered the most. It was because of
her
that our family gave up the craft to find Christ and the Catholic Church.

“The promise had been made that someone from each generation would be a man of the cloth...to oversee the family and the land, to ensure no more magical misdeeds are done. I suppose you could say Father Gabriel is a ‘guardian’ of sorts.” He pulls out the rosary beads Michael returned after the fire, rubbing the cross with his thumb.

“From the way it was always told...it was only the ancient Wiccan’s who were truly good. It might be safe to say we were brainwashed to believe Witchcraft in
any
form, is evil.” He covers his heart with his hand. “Yes, I’m guilty of succumbing to this belief, and for that, I’m sorrier than you’ll ever know.”

Is this really happening?

“I know what my ignorance and prejudice has cost your family...and my own for that matter. Twenty-one years ago, I feared for my family and their safety. I’d hoped you weren’t practicing magic, but when I found out you were, I panicked. There is
no
excuse for the lies and betrayal...and I can never right the wrongs I have done. I just need you to know, after what I have seen here tonight, I no longer believe you’re evil. You would have had every right to leave me burn in that fire for my sins. But despite my horrible misdeeds, you had enough compassion in your heart to save my family
and
me. I don’t know that I would have had such strength, had the tables been reversed.

“You went out of your way to warn us. Not once...but twice. Even when I didn’t listen, you
still
figured out a way to save us. So the way I see it, there is
no way
your magic could be bad when
that’s
how you choose to use it.

“I will be forever grateful and in your debt. If there is
ever
anything I can do to repay your kindness
, please
let me know.” He pauses. “But before we leave you folks alone, there’s just one question I have.” Mr. Russo looks at Gram.

“What is it, dear? Ask away.”

Mr. Russo’s face turns red. “I just need to know...what on earth was going on the night I saw you through the windows in the back? It scared the
daylights
out of me, but now I wonder if I might have imagined it.”

Gram laughs. “No, Peter...you didn’t imagine anything. What you witnessed was another miracle of sorts. We brought Samuel home from the hospital that day because they told us he was brain-dead. But before we pulled the plug, I wanted to try a few spells to see if there might be something we could do to save him. What you witnessed...was us calling upon the power of our ancestors. What you saw was their
spirits
. It was
that
night we learned of Chloe’s gift to heal. You see, when her twin died at birth, her healing power transferred to Chloe. We had no idea.” Gram smiles at me.

“One of those spirits was my daughter, Moira, and she shared that little tidbit with us. As you can see, Samuel is alive and well, thanks to Chloe.”

Now it’s
me
who’s embarrassed. I squirm. Man, I hate attention. Ugh.

“So you’re a Healer
and
a Seer? That’s a lot of power and responsibility for one small girl...but also such a blessing. You
all
are.” He looks around the room at each of us. “You should be so proud of who you are. I only regret it took me this long to realize it. Don’t
ever
let someone make you feel less than special, just because they don’t understand you...or your beliefs.”

My family smiles at him. I’m sure from both relief and happiness at this unbelievable moment.

“I know it will take time, but I hope you can learn to forgive me. Especially Michael, Morgan, and my extraordinary grandchildren. You know, I was ready to die tonight. I had told myself it was time to give up. But then I heard a voice call out through the smoke and flames. It was the sound of hearing ‘Granddad’ that gave me the strength to speak up, and the will to live.” With his eyes now full of tears, he looks across the room at Ash and Aidan with such pride, puffing out his chest.

Tears stream down his face as he hangs his head. Watching the display, you can only feel sorry him. Ash and Aidan stand. They walk up to the broken Peter Russo and wrap their arms around him in a heartfelt embrace. When they let go, he’s bawling so hard he can’t speak. With his wife now at his side, he holds up his hand to wave before disappearing through the front door.

Both families’ lives will be forever changed because of this night. How could they not be?

I watch as my family forgives the Russo’s,
regardless
of what they’ve done.

Without prejudice.

And without hesitation.

So what’s
my
problem? If these two families can find forgiveness after a lifetime of betrayal,
surely
I can forgive Hunter. I
have
to.

Apparently, he’s my destiny.

As Hunter wraps his strong, loving arms around me, I realize—
everything
truly does happen for a reason.

For days, we’ve been counting our blessings everything went so well with the big rescue. I’m still not sure if it was luck—or proper planning that was on our side. Regardless, it could have gone
so
wrong.
So easily
.

We are, without a doubt, on the uphill climb towards mending the fences with the Russo’s. That alone makes it all worth it.

Getting things back to some semblance of normalcy is all I can think about these days. I still have a few months to enjoy my summer vacation before classes start at NYU, so doing normal nineteen-year-old activities sounds perfect. Especially with my hot new boyfriend.

Tonight will be the start of a new tradition in the Crawford house. Ever since I returned home, we talked about having a game night with the family. And after much deliberation, we came up with the
perfect
game for a family such as ours:
Paranormal Poker
.

Gram wants us to practice using our magic on a regular basis, so we thought it would be more fun to make a game out of it. The rules for Paranormal Poker are: there
are
no rules.

Since Hunter’s on assignment tonight anyway, the event is family only. Just six Witches showing off their mad-skills.

As Gram rounds everyone up, I can’t help but realize—for the first time in my life since I was a child—I’m
truly
happy, in every aspect of my life.

I never thought this day would come.

For many reasons, it was a bumpy start after coming back to Long Island. But now I don’t have a single complaint. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Hopefully, some of that luck will stick with me throughout this game. I
totally
suck at cards.

“Alright, Sis. Get ready to lose your ass off.” Dru smiles, rubbing his hands together in anticipation of his winnings.

I laugh at his over-eager arrogance, just as the rest of the crew walks in ready to play.

Pap will be the official dealer, while Gram observes. With two people on each side of the table, we’re ready to begin a simple game of
Five Card Stud
.

Pap shuffles, dealing the cards out with the flip of his wrist.

I’m a bit unsure how much
my
abilities can help me in this game—so I watch everyone else. To start, there isn’t much to notice. But once they throw away the cards they don’t want—it gets interesting.

A smirk forms on Ash’s face.

Aidan bobs his head like he’s pleased with himself, so he probably doesn’t need to use magic at all.

Dhelia isn’t so easy to read, but my gut tells me she’s not happy.

Dru must sense someone has a great hand, so he folds in a huff, tossing the cards on the table.

Aunt Morgan, however, has a confused look on her face as she bites her lip.

I try to see if I can trigger some sort of vision to show me who wins. But I get nothing.

My hand sucks, so I also fold.

After that, everyone else lays down their cards.

No contest. Ash wins with three jacks.

“Before the next hand, I’d like everyone to tell me what, if anything, you were able to do?” As always, Gram’s eager to learn about our abilities.

“Well, I couldn’t see
anything
, and I had a nasty hand,” I told her.

“Yeah, my hand sucked, too...but I knew Ash was gloating inside, so I was convinced his hand was good.” Dru still wears a bit of a pout.

“Well, when Pap dealt my new cards, I tried to pull the ace out from the bottom so he’d grab it, but it didn’t work.” I’ve gotten used to Dhelia’s look of annoyance. Squinty eyes. Pursed lips.

Aunt Morgan taps her nails on the table. “I had a decent hand, so I didn’t try anything. Though, I did try to see if I could get a read off someone without touching them...but it was fuzzy. Definitely needs some work.”

“I guess I had some decent success,” Aidan adds, in a modest tone. “It wasn’t enough to win, but I was able to link-in with Ash to change two of my cards. Was kinda cool.”

“Really?” Gram’s brows spring up. “You didn’t need to touch him to share his power? That’s
wonderful
news. Perhaps the rest of you should try doing that next time.”

“Okay, here comes the next hand.” Pap deals.

Everyone discards what they don’t want then wait for new ones.

I rearrange my hand. Perhaps I can try something different this time.

I close my eyes, concentrating on having a vision.

There’s nothing.

I try to link-in with Ash to see if I can conjure a card.

Still nothing.

Perhaps I can link with Dru to
feel
who’s confident about their hand.

Nothing.

I open my eyes for a second, looking around at the rest of the group. There’s an odd tingling sensation in my head, like faint electrical currents. I’ve never felt anything like it. Someone
must
be trying to link-in with
me
. Sneaky suckers!

It’s Aidan.

The second my eyes meet the Teleporter’s, I’m mentally catapulted into the future.

I’m in the same ballroom I’ve seen so many times in past visions.

Orchestra music plays as the handsome blonde man swings me around the dance floor.

I’m excited to be in his arms. I missed him so much it hurts.

He reaches for the amulet around my neck, holding it in the palm of his hand.

He leans down to whisper in my ear. “You’re in danger, Chloe. I’m here to get you out.”

What? Danger? I don’t understand.

How can I be in danger at a place like this? “In danger how?” I ask, though I’m afraid to hear the answer.

“Look around you. These people aren’t you’re friends, Chloe. They’re using you, and they plan to destroy you when they’re finished.” His eyes are so serious, but my inability to see his face through the mask sends an uneasy shiver up my spine.

I do as he asks, looking around the room at the other masked faces.

In the future, I know most of these people. I work with them every day. In my mind, I know this to be true. Even though right now, I don’t know who they are at all.

As I try to understand what his warning means, the masked faces turn to look at me.

We continue dancing, but as we spin around the room in circles, the eyes on these familiar faces turn black-as-night.

Panic wells up in my chest.

What’s happening?

I look back into the sparkling, emerald eyes of the man who holds me in his arms. “What’s happening? Please get me out of here. I can’t breathe.”

The second the words leave my lips, there’s a loud bang—like a gunshot.

With abrupt force, we stop.

His arms fall from around my waist.

What’s going on?

Loud screams come from somewhere just behind us.

Then, without warning, he’s gone.

He vanishes.

My head spins as everything goes dark.

When the lights come back on, I’m in the long hallway I’d seen before in a vision.

“Chloe, hurry. You have to save him.” There’s that voice again. I know that voice.

“Come on, Chloe, you can do it.”

Wait a minute. It’s my mother.

How did I not realize that before?

But something doesn’t feel right.

Why are my hands wet?

I lift them and realize they’re covered in blood.

Oh my god!

Where’d the blood come from?

Fear paralyzes me.

“Chloe, you have to hurry. There isn’t much time.”

I fall to my knees, my stomach threatening to revolt.

I clutch my belly, looking up to view my surroundings.

“Chloe, he needs you. Please, you have to hurry.”

As I force myself to look up, I can see someone up ahead of me.

I can’t tell who it is, but I know it’s someone I care about. I feel it in my chest, my heart pounding out of control.

As I get to my feet and begin moving forward, I see there are five other figures standing up ahead.

The closer I get, I realize they’re standing around someone who’s lying on the ground.

I try to move faster, but it’s as if I’m moving in slow motion.

“I’m so sorry, Chloe.” My mother’s voice, riddled with sadness.

Why is she sorry? What happened?

“I’m almost there...I can help, just hold on,” I yell, fighting to make my legs move faster.

I see their faces and recognize my family.

A few seconds later, I make it to them.

I look down at the person lying on the ground and my heart stops instantly.

It’s Hunter.

Oh my god, no!

He lies motionless on the ground, his suit drenched in blood.

“No! This can’t be happening.” Tears pour down my face.

I throw myself on the ground beside him, putting my hands on his chest to heal him.

“He was trying to save you, Chloe,” Dru says.

As soon as the words register in my mind, it hits me.

The blond man I was dancing with—was Hunter! It had been Hunter all along, that’s why I knew him so well—and why I missed him. He had shape-shifted into another person.

Oh my god, I’m such a fool.

I look down to see if Hunter’s waking up, but there’s no change.

“Please help me...I’m not strong enough. We need to link powers so we can save him. Please, help him.” I plead with my family. But they don’t move. They just stand there staring at me.

He’s lifeless beneath my sticky, powerless hands.

“Chloe, it’s too late. He’s gone. You can’t bring back the dead,” says Aunt Morgan.

“No, I can’t lose him!” I shout.

As quickly as it began, the vision stops.

My eyes spring open and I yell, “Hunter can’t die. No, I won’t allow it!”

My clueless family watches in mournful silence.

It’s in this very moment I realize, I’m truly in love with this extraordinary man—and he doesn’t even know it.

We just found each other.

I
can’t
lose him.

My pulse speeds out of control.

I can’t foresee another loved one die. I can’t!

I’ve spent years despising my visions. But for the first time, I now know they’ve become the most important part of who I am. And they
will
help me change Hunter’s fate.

Nothing—and no one—will
ever
take this gift away from me.

Or
the man I love.