T*Witches: The Power of Two (21 page)

Alex turned to face Cam. Their extraordinary gray eyes locked. "You want to know what I think? Read my mind."

And so Cam did. "Wait," she said, "I'm getting mixed messages here. I'm not sure whether you're thinking, 'Twins.' Or 'Witches.' 'Cause it came out 'T'Wtiches.'"

"Exactly," Alex said.

It was midnight when Karsh and Ileana, exhausted and exhilarated, got back to Coventry Island and arrived at Ileana's cottage. The temperature had dipped well below freezing, and the old trickster could see his breath as he tried to speak. Correction, he could see what breath he still had. Rescuing the twins had taken its toll on him.

With a rush of pride, he regarded Ileana, at his side now, still in her police uniform. She'd been absolutely brilliant today. She'd proved the Council's decision of fourteen years ago a wise one. For she really was up to the task of guarding and guiding Artemis and Apolla.

"That was fine work you did today," he complimented her.

"Necessary—thanks to you," she grumbled, whipping off her policewoman's cap. "Do I have hat hair?"

Karsh beamed. "Your hair, my dear Ileana, is perfect. As were you. You rose to the occasion."

Ileana sighed deeply and collapsed on her front steps, displacing the sleeping cat, Boris. "Look, Karsh, I never wanted them together. Now that they are, 'the occasion,' as you call it, will rise again and again. It will be harder and harder to protect them."

"Ah, my good-hearted but crabby crone, it really is too late to undo what's been done. As they grow, with our help, their powers will get stronger. More important, they'll learn how to use them."

"You wanted me to see them for myself. Well, I did. And here's what I saw. Two cocky kids who think they're
all that
. They solved a mystery; they found Marleigh Cooper. And it was easy! So they think they're invincible. But in a face-off with Thantos, they'll be quickly rendered powerless."

"That's where we come in—just as we did today," Karsh reminded her.

"What part of this don't you get, Karsh? Thantos has seen everything we have. The nerve of him—to confront them! To tease them with talk of Miranda. He is shameless."

"The Council will have something to say about that," Karsh reminded her.

"If he acquiesces and stands before them. Is there any power on Earth that can get him to do what he doesn't want to?"

"I'm sure there is," Karsh said mysteriously.

"I don't know what you're referring to, and I'm really far too exhausted to debate this." She stood abruptly. "I'm going in. But let this be a parting thought. He knows where they are. He doesn't work alone. He's got allies, who will come to them in various shapes and forms. The twin daughters of Aron and Miranda will be tested every single day."

"Then we'll have to be more vigilant. But these girls—we're going to have to get used to calling them Camryn and Alex—deserve to have a life, a home, a family, friends. They deserve to have some sense of normalcy and happiness, as they grow toward fulfilling their destiny."

"Their destiny! You keep talking about that. You're still not seeing it. Now that they are together, in this normal life as you call it, it's not just they who are at risk. Thantos will stop at nothing. All those people around them, friends and protectors alike? From this moment on, no one is safe."

Randi Reisfeld has written many bestselling novels for teens and tweens, including
What The Dog Said; Rehab
,
Making Waves
(with H.B),
The Starlet
trilogy,
Oh, Baby!
(with H.B.),
Summer Share: Cape Cod
,
Summer Share: Hollywood
,
Hooking Up
and
Friends With Benefits
. Most of these titles will be, or already are, available on-line.

Check Randi's website,
www.randireisfeld.com
for the latest info.

She and H.B. were extremely proud of all ten books in the T*Witches series, as well as the two Disney Channel TV-movies based on the books, which are available on DVD.

H.B. Gilmour, who passed away in 2010, authored numerous bestselling books for adults and young readers including
Oh, Baby!
,
Making Waves
, the
Clueless
movie novelization and series,
Pretty In Pink
, a University of Iowa Best Book for Young Readers, and
Godzilla
, a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice nominee. She also co-wrote the award-winning screenplay,
Tag
.

H.B., who is sorely missed and forever loved, is survived by her husband John and daughter Jessica.