Authors Note: This is a Sneak Peak at a story I'm currently working on. It was inspired by a Youtube video by Lassgal "Jasper and Bella- Hungry Eyes." Please remember that this is a WORK IN PROGRESS! Reviews are appreciated .
Summery:
Anyone who tells you that they talk with people whom others can't see is assumed to be insane; not so for Isabella Dwyer, a Spirit Witch. The Dwyers are one of the most powerful families of Spirit Witches left in the world after centuries of witch hunting. While it's uncommon for witches to marry and have children with normal humans, also known as Mundanes, it's very normal for witches to leave their Mundane partner if the child is a witch to protect both child and mundane. This is the case with Bella. Her mother left her mundane father when Bella's abilities began to show.
Bella grew up in Phoenix in a coven of witches with her mother...until five years ago when her mother was killed. Now she is forced to live with her mundane father after a custody battle with the leaders of the coven, the guardians as stated by Renee's will. Upon arriving in Forks things become more strange for Bella than she expected. Her nights are haunted by nightmares, leaving her screaming and confused.
What is this mystery unfolding before her? Could her life really be at stake? What part does the local vampire seethe play?
"Tonight, we bid farewell to one of our own. It is time for her to move on, to new places and gain new experiences." The coven master said. Samuel was a man in his late sixties with salt and pepper hair and green eyes. He was an Earth witch and a great teacher. Even before my mother died, he'd been the only father figure I had. Maggie, Samuel's wife, even said that when I was two I'd called him papa.
"Our great friend, Owl Poet has been with us for many years. Longer than many of us can remember," sniffles and sad epithets sounded from the group of witches surrounding Samuel. I was tearing up too. I had so many friends here. A coven was like a family, these witches were my family; now I had to leave my family. "Though it is sad, we all know the gods have their reasons." Samuel's green eyes looked older than his sixty odd years. "Owl," he said calling me to him inside the circle of coven members. I stepped forward, "would you honor us by casting our circle tonight?"
I nodded, "Yes Strongbear," I went to the alter Samuel stood next too. "The honor would be mine."
The alter was a low table in the middle of the large circular room. Around the room fifteen adults and a few teens stood in a line around the circle. Four of them held bowls. I took the incense bowl and the wand. I used a match to light the white sage incense and centered myself. The wand buzzed with my energy.
"Spirits of water, wind, earth, and flame,
come to me, for my call is the same.
Fill my circle with your power,
for this is the place and hour."
Magic and power filled the air, the bowls glowing with an element. I raised my arms and finished my spell,
"Now the element of mine
Spirit come through my line,
As I will it,"
I faced my palms out as more magical energy filled me."so mote it be." I brought my hands down causing a ring of energy to extend out to the ring of witches.
My circle complete, I dipped my head to Samuel and went back to my space in the circle as Samuel began a ritual.
The next afternoon...
Samuel and Maggie walked with me to the gate of my flight. I was a mix of sorrow and fury. When I was only a few months old, mom had left my dad. Because she was a witch, there was always a chance for her children (even if the father was a mundane (human)) to have her abilities. Mom saw my powers growing and left to keep both me and Charlie safe. Mom and I were Witches, mortals born with the ability to access energy of an element and the universe.
Mom's family was a long line of Spirit witches, a rare breed of witches who were almost like a Medium/Clairvoyant/telephone all in one. They can see, hear, touch and speak with ghosts. We can also call a spirit to us if we know what they look like or their full name, knowing both is best, but they can ignore us. Some Spirit witches, like me, can make a pact, or contract, with a Witches ghost. An agreement that they would heed my call in exchange for my magical ability to help them move on, a spell that takes a huge amount of power, practice, and focus.
Five years ago, my mother died. The police blame an animal but the coven knew better. It had been a werewolf. Her will stated that I was to be cared for by Samuel and Maggie until I turned eighteen. However, somehow my birth father Charlie found out this past year and had been in a long custody battle with Samuel. A month ago, he'd finally won.
Samuel hugged me, "May Hermes guide your trip," he said.
"Thanks Samuel," I hugged him back. "I'll be back sometime."
"We'll miss you Bella." Maggie took me from Samuel, hugging me hard. Tears sprang into my eyes.
"I don't want to go," I whispered to her as I returned the hug with equal force.
"I know Bella," Samuel stroked my hair trying to comfort me. "But you know we have no choice."
I hated it; hated him, Charlie. I was always told hate wasn't a good thing have in your heart, but no other word could describe it.
A deep voice interrupted the moment we had. "Miss. Dwyer?" Looking up I saw a big security guard. "Mr. and Mrs. Harrison?" he asked Samuel and Maggie.
"Yes," Samuel said.
"I'm here to escort Miss. Dwyer to the flight," the guard informed. My teeth ground, because I was still a minor I was required to be escorted to and from my flight.
"Already?" Maggie asked.
The guard's eyes showed pity, "Yes ma'am. Her flight was just called." He paused, "I'm sorry."
Maggie began to cry and hugged me again tightly. As if she could keep me here by her will. I hugged her back and when she let me go Samuel took over. "My sister said you're welcome in her coven if you want to join. I'll miss you."
I hugged him tightly and tried to commit his and Maggie's smell to memory. Maggie always smelled a little like cookies or her favorite Lilac perfume. Samuel smelled more like fresh pine trees and his Old Spice deodorant.
The guard touched my shoulder and I was lead away from the only family I'd ever had, to an airplane; aimed for the man who was taking me from them.
The flight seemed to take only minutes instead of hours, and when we landed I had to wait for a flight attendant to escort me from the plane. "Miss. Dwyer?" the flight attendant was an older lady with her gray hair in a high neat bun.
I stood, "Yes," I said sounding unhappy.
"Let's go meet your father," she said kindly.
I glared at nothing in particular, he's not my father I thought, but said nothing; just grabbed my bag from the overhead bin and followed the kind flight attendant.
The gate was mostly empty, except for a few families and stray people from my flight. The flight attendant led me over to a security guard and he led me to the baggage area.
A man in a police uniform walked over, "I think you're looking for me." He took out a wallet and showed the guard a driver's license.
"Right," the guard gave the man his license. "Thank you Mr. Swan," and left me with him. This must be Charlie.
He looked a mix between awkward and excited. "Hi Isabella." he said. "You've really grown," he must have realized how stupid that sounded because he looked down and scratched the back of his neck. The last time he'd seen me was when I was a few months old.
"Bella," I corrected stiffly. Then went to the baggage carousel. Charlie helped me grab my huge black suitcase and the smaller not-quite-carry-on sized duffel bag.
"Is this all?" he asked sounding uncomfortable.
I shook my head and went to a man with a trunk on a cart. I took out my wallet and showed the man my driver's license and the receipt, "This is my trunk," I told him.
The man inspected my license and the receipt before nodding, "Thank you Miss. Dwyer, sign here please," he handed me a clip board. I signed and thanked him.
Grabbing my trunk I turned to Charlie, he looked slightly hurt. "Dwyer?" he asked.
"Mom changed my name," I said shortly. The name Dwyer had a large push in the magical world. Before the witch trials we had been the largest family of Spirit Witches in existence. Even now we were some of the most powerful witches in the magical world. It wasn't meant as a personal jab at him, or so she'd said.
"Oh," he said sounding disappointed. "The cruiser is this way." He turned away and led me to the pick-up area; to a police car.
"You're a cop?" I asked.
"Sheriff," he corrected, opening the trunk of the cruiser. He heaved my suitcases into it and opened the back door for me to set my trunk into. "What's in the trunk?" he asked trying to make conversation.
"Some of Mom's things." I answered. Not a complete lie, but not the full truth. It was full of my alter items and hand written spell books from mom and my ancestors, all of which had belonged to mom.
Sadness touched his voice, "I see," he paused, "I'm sorry."
"It was five years ago," I responded then got into the front seat. I wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean but it seemed like the thing to say. I felt odd sitting in a police car...oh excuse me sheriff's car.
Charlie asked me questions, still trying to make conversation. I answered them and made no move to say more.
When he asked about school, telling me I was to start in the morning, the car's temperature dropped at least ten degree's my hair standing up on the back of my neck. There was a ghost in the car.
"Looks like I need to get the heater looked at," Charlie commented turning up the heat.