CHAPTER. ONE
Eden Pogue stood on the porch of the two bedroom, white shingled beach house her mother rented for the weekend. She stared out at the seashore and watched the waves come onto the beach and then roll back out to sea.
Eden closed her eyes and took a deep breath; the air smelled lightly of seaweed and salt and she could hear a dog's bark in the near distance. She opened her eyes and turned her head to see a woman in her late thirties with long brown hair, jean shorts, and a red tank top making her way towards the deck with a dog at her side. Eden smiled and stepped off the low porch
and onto the warm Cape Cod sand.
"It's about time you woke up" her mom, Diana, called out. Clark, Eden's German Shepherd, ran up to Eden and ran a circle around her before jumping up to greet her with a lick to her face.
"It's only ten thirty mom."
"I've been up for hours" Diana laughed. Her blue eyes resembled the ocean at its calmest and were welcoming and looked as though they were laughing.
"Of course you have. What's down that side of the beach?"
"More beach and about two houses."
"Sounds…boring" Eden laughed.
"It's nice though with the sun over the water. Clark had a great time."
"What's on the agenda for today?" Eden asked as they started for the house.
"It's the fourth of July, so I was thinking later we can cook up some hot dogs and hamburgers, make a potato salad, and relax as we watch the fireworks over the water. Unless…" Diana trailed.
"Unless what?" Eden opened the sliding glass door and allowed her mom and dog to go through first.
"Unless you want to go into Providence Town and take a look at the shops and have a bite to eat. We could watch the fireworks from the marina."
"That sounds like a great idea mom. We haven't spent any quality time in town and it is our last night here. I was going to go for a run down the beach, maybe bring Clark with me. Does that sound cool with you?"
"If you eat first it does."
"I had a bowl of cereal while you were gone. My bowl is in the sink for proof."
"Oh, well clean the bowl first and then you can go" Diana grinned.
"Yes ma'am." Eden walked to the sink and turned the water on. She scrubbed the bowl and spoon with soap, rinsed them, and placed them on a towel to dry.
"All set mom."
"Have fun. I want to leave around three."
"Okay. Come on boy!"
"Put the leash on him honey." Diana handed her daughter Clark's leash as she walked through the doorsill to the porch. Clark ran out and Eden called him back to put the leash on him.
"I have my cell if you need me sooner," said Eden.
"Okay." Eden slipped the leash around her wrist and put her long auburn hair into a ponytail.
She decided to start down the opposite side of the beach that her mom didn't cover. Two houses in the opposite direction wasn't exciting, at least to Eden it wasn't. There wasn't much where she was at all, which her mother enjoyed. As for Eden, she liked company, but there are times when she liked to be alone. Alone with her thoughts and aspirations.
Eden Pogue is not like the normal Average Joe's you pass on the street everyday. She was born different. She was born a witch. She figured it out when she was thirteen years old; she made the spoon in her cup of hot chocolate stir by itself. And at times she was able to influence a person to give her what she wanted, but she hasn't done that for a while. She hated the thought of taking someone's free will away from them. She never told her mother about it out of fear that her mom wouldn't love her anymore.
As she got older, she learned she could make other things happen as well and learn to control her powers. It came natural to her. Eden is also able to communicate with animals, as well as heal wounds on both animals and humans.
She can't understand why she can't tell her mom. Diana is a very understanding woman and Eden knows that her mom would never throw her away. It's been four years since Eden realized what she was and it comes back to fear. Fear that her mom would
be angry because Eden has known for a while about her talents.
Eden slowed her running to a walk as she approached more beach houses. She had finally reached civilization. She saw a little blonde haired girl staring up a tree and she was calling the name Lady. Eden walked over and asked, "Do you need some help?"
"Lady is stuck up in the tree," she replied. Eden looked up and saw a large long haired white cat staring down at her with bright yellow eyes. Eden slit her eyes a little and then smiled.
"I have an idea. Would you hold Clark's leash for me?" Eden asked, smiling at the little girl. She nodded and took hold of the handle. Eden grabbed the branch above her and began to step on the broken pieces of wood that used to be large sturdy limbs.
"It's okay, I won't hurt you" Eden told the cat soothingly. Lady meowed lightly as she waited for the stranger to reach her.
When Eden approached her, the cat, without hesitation, went right for her and clung to her tightly as Eden climbed back down the tree.
Let up a little bit, you're hurting me Lady, Eden connected telepathically to the cat.
I'm sorry. (Lady)
The cat's grip ceased as Eden placed the cat on that last branch and jumped out of the tree. The cat just sat there and stared at Clark.
He won't hurt you, trust me. Clark likes cats, don't you Clark? (Eden)
Eden looked at Clark for an answer.
You're pretty. (Clark)
Eden laughed as she looked at her dog's goofy grin with his tongue sticking out sideways.
"Come on Lady, he won't bother you," Eden said, still laughing. Lady jumped to the ground and the little girl scooped her up.
"Thank you!" The little girl grinned and she gave the leash back.
"You're welcome." The child started back inside and Eden and Clark continued down the beach.
She saw people outside getting ready for the holiday and putting up small tents, setting up volleyball nets, and even found some people fishing off private docks.
All of a sudden, Clark took off running down the beach, leash and all.
"Clark!" Eden shouted. She broke into a run after him and slowed when she saw him jumping all over a stranger.
"Clark! Heal!" Clark's head turned around with his tongue sticking out and Eden got closer to them.
"You know better than to run off" Eden scolded her dog. As she approached the guy in front of her, she got this feeling of alarm, darkness, and mystery.
"He's not any trouble" the stranger told her. Eden looked at the unfamiliar person and noticed how striking he was, which made her odd feelings go away. His brown hair was tousled from the light breeze off the water and his light brown eyes were the color of honey. He was taller than her and wearing khaki shorts, a white tank top, and a dark blue and white checkered unbuttoned shirt and he carried a tan leather messenger bag. She could see that his arms had muscle to them, which was attractive to Eden. He was an artist's perfect model.
"He knows not to jump up or run away from me."
"No harm, no foul" he smiled. Eden chuckled and picked up the leash. She didn't know what to say to him, which was a first for her.
Get a grip Eden! He's just a guy! Say something intelligent, Eden told herself.
"So, are you from around here?" was what came out of her mouth.
"No, I'm just passing through. How about you?"
"I'm from Seattle. My mom and I are on a little vacation since I've never been to Massachusetts before" Eden answered.
"There's nothing like the fourth of July in Cape Cod" he grinned. His smile was faultless and Eden couldn't help staring at the curves of his lips. She noticed a group of guys about her age walking down the beach toward them. She noticed the stranger's face tense up a little as he stared at them.
"You know them?" Eden asked. His face relaxed and he answered with, "No."
As the group walked by, they whistled at Eden and she rolled her eyes.
"I'm guessing you get that a lot, huh?"
"What makes you say that?" she questioned.
"Rolling your eyes gave it away I think" he chuckled.
"I'm used to it. Cat calls are not my thing. Guys don't say hi anymore, it's always a whistle or a 'Hey baby! Looking good!'. It's just a bit irritating."
"Well in that case, hi." Eden laughed.
"I'm Caleb by the way" he added.
"Eden."
"It's nice to meet you Eden."
"Likewise." The way he smiled at her was warm and gentle and his eyes smiled at her as well.
"I should get back to the house," Eden said suddenly without realizing it.
"Yeah, I should get going too. Hold on a second." Caleb went into his bag on his shoulder and took his hand out.
"You have been the first person to talk with me since I got to the Cape, so here." He placed a smooth green stone about the size of a quarter in her hand.
"Jade. Are you sure you don't want to keep this?" Eden asked him in a surprised tone.
"It's yours. I've had it for years, but I have no use for it. It's something to remember me by in case we don't see each other again" Caleb smiled.
"Do you always give strangers gifts?" Eden laughed.
"No" he replied.
"Well, thank you."
"You're welcome. You have a great holiday Eden."
"You too Caleb." He continued down the beach and Eden stared at the Jade stone in her hand. She looked back up, smiled, and started back towards the beach house.
