Disclaimer: I own nothing but Charlotte. And be fore warned Cassie isn't in this chapter that much. And a speical thank you to Ryn Of Magic for the Nick idea!
Chapter Ten
These four walls have kept out all the light
It gets so cold in here and the door is locked from the inside
Light bleeds through, years burn to rays of smokedEvery time I turn around the shadows there to haunt me
And I can't breathe, lungs pressed against my heart
Will I get another chance to break through again?
Day To Die - Pressence
Charlotte was laying in her bed when she heard a noise, slowly she got up to find out what it was. "Cassie? Grandma?" She opened the door and came face to face with Jake. She slowly stepped back. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Your front door was open." He stepped forward and she stepped back, "You should be more careful."
She clenched her teeth, "You didn't answer my question. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" She said each word with repressed anger. "You tried to save me then you left with the witch hunters. Whose side are you on?"
"Yours. They weren't really happy with me when I let you and Cassie get away."
"Really?" She asked rhetorically and crossed her arms, "Yeah well don't expect me to welcome you back with open arms."
"I don't, but I have to talk to you. About dark magic."
"So talk."
"You can't control it. I wanted to help but the truth is no one can."
"You think I'm evil?" Tears welled behind her eyes but they didn't fall.
He stepped closer, "You don't need me to tell you." With each word he said he stepped closer until they were in each other's personal space. "You know. You have evil blood. Balcoin blood. The devil's blood." She glared and Jake fell to his knees blood forming in his mouth as he choked. She shot up in bed a strangled gasp escaping her lips. She glanced around her room but Jake was no where in sight.
She took deep breaths and touched her neck,"I am not a monster. I am not a monster."
'Had a dream last night. Choked your brother to death with my mind.' Charlotte texted Nick.
'Ha. Wish I could of seen that.' She smiled at his reply. Nick always had a way of making her feel better. Probably because they had the same sense of humor. He was out of town with his aunt for awhile and she really missed him. The door bell rang. "You don't look sick." Adam said looking her over.
She shrugged, "Feeling better. I appreciate the calls and texts." She smiled.
"But not enough for more then one word answers."
"Sorry."
"It's been two days we were all just worried. I was worried."
"I just needed some time. Witch hunters. Jake."
"Is there anything else?"
She looked at him confused and shifted her weight to her other leg, "Isn't that enough?"
"On the boat that night. Cassie said you knew the witch hunter wasn't going to hurt her. Because you knew he was afraid of you. Why?"
"I never heard of the name." Adam said looking at the paper's Calvin gave them.
"Jake said Francis Balcoin was as evil as they come. That he passed his dark power from generation to generation. To my father. To me." Charlotte laid on her bed looking through her book of shadows.
"Jake." Adam said his name with distaste, "That's where getting our truth from now?" Charlotte just rolled her eyes, "Come on is evil power even something you can pass down? Like eye color."
Charlotte sat up and shifted so she was facing Adam who sat on her window seat, "As much as I want to believe it isn't true," she crossed her legs Indian style, "it would explain how I broke Diana's bottle on Halloween. And I know Jake lied about a lot of things but I don't think he lied about this."
"No it's one explanation. Maybe another is that your mom's side passed down good power for four hundred years."
She smiled, "I love your optimism." He smiled, "But we have to consider all our options. "
"What did your grandmother say?"
"That I'm just like my mom and not to worry."
"Maybe you should listen to her. Hey maybe Diana's book might have something." He stood up, "There was a lot about black magic and demons."
"No, I don't want to tell people. Especially Cassie. Not until I'm sure it's something I should worry about."
"Charlotte."
She pointed a finger at him, "You said it yourself there could be another explanation."
He rolled his eyes and smiled, "Fine."
"Hey Charlotte." Diana said into her phone.
"Hey Diana. What's up?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to spend the night at my house?"
"Umm." Charlotte paused.
"Come on. Well eat ice cream. Watch movies. It'll get your mind off Jake."
"I'm in. See you tonight."
"Bye." She hung up just as they was knock at the door. Diana opened her front door, "Grandma Kate." They hugged.
"Oh my darling Diana."
"Come in. Are you staying?"
"Well just for a couple of nights." Kate shut the door. "If you'll have me?"
"Of course."
"Do you think your father will mind? You know he's been so busy lately. My maternal instincts are on high alert."
"He's fine. In fact he's dating." Diana smiled.
"Who's the lucky girl?"
"Dawn Chamberlain."
Kate's eyes widened, "Really? Well it's high school all over again. He's always had a crush on her."
"A crush?" Charles walked into the room, "On who?"
"Mrs. Chamberlain. I was just telling grandma that you two are Chance Harbor's new power couple."
Charles hugged his mother, "Wow it's just an honor to be nominated. Especially such an authority on power couples."
Diana gave him a look, "I'm going to get ready for school." She hugged Kate again, "I'm so happy your here."
"Me too." Diana ran upstairs. "Diana and Adam broke up."
Charles looked confused, "They did?"
"She emailed me last week. That's partly why I'm here I want to make sure she's alright. Girls don't tell their fathers these things Charles."
"Well I'm glad she can tell you."
Melissa stuffed the last item she needed for her next class into her bag and shut her locker. "Boo."
Melissa jumped in surprise, "Don't Faye I'm not in the mood."
"Okay enough. Seriously."
"Enough what?"
"This moody mopey thing. Nick is only going to gone for week. He's coming back." She stopped Melissa from walking into class, "Look being sad all the time isn't going to bring him back any faster. You need a boost. I need a boost. We haven't hanged out just the two of us since the whole demon incident."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Getting our own magic back again. I want to be a real witch again instead of this spell by committee thing."
"Dream on Faye."
"It's not a dream. And I think I know how."
Dawn was in her office when her phone rang, "Yes? Oh dear god. Okay give me a minute." She hung up her phone.
Kate walked in, "Hello Dawn. Good to see you." Her tone was flat.
"Kate. What a nice surprise. Charles told me you were in town. What do I owe the pleasure?" They both sat down.
"Something is going on in Chance Harbor."
"I don't know what you mean."
"What are you up to Dawn?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why are you involved with Charles?"
"I like him."
Kate scoffed, "No sense. All those years growing up you never gave him the time of day. It was always Blackwell. You practically worshiped the man."
"Are you really going to hold a grudge for something I did in high school?"
"On the contrary I'm grateful you turned him down. You had a habit of using people and then tossing them aside." Kate leaned forward, "I won't let you do that to my son."
Dawn glared and stood up, "I have a meeting. I'm going to have to ask you to please leave."
Kate stood up, "I'm going to find out what your up to Dawn. Whatever it takes."
Charlotte stood over Adam as he sat in front of the laptop. "So we searched the Internet for information about the Blackwell family and came up blank. So if we searched for Balcoin instead we might get some hits?"
"Maybe."
Cassie entered the abandoned house, "What are you doing?"
Charlotte turned around startled and Adam closed the laptop, "Nothing."
"Did you find out more about our father?"
"No." Charlotte shook her head. "Not yet."
"What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing. It's nothing."
"If it's nothing then just tell me."
"Cassie. I can't. I'm sorry." Cassie glared so Charlotte took a step towards her, "Just trust me."
"Don't." Cassie shouted. Charlotte's hands gripped her neck and she started to choke.
Adam stood up, "Charlotte what's wrong?" She fell to her knees, blood dripping from her mouth. Adam rushed to her side.
Cassie's eyes widened when she realized she was the one hurting Charlotte. "Charlotte." She kneeled next to Charlotte. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it."
"I don't know what happened." After Charlotte stopped choking, Adam texted the others to meet them at the abandoned house.
"You got upset." Adam said.
"And my throat started closing up."
"But the circle's bound. How can Cassie do individual magic?" Diana asked.
"It has to do with our father." Cassie looked up from her hands and at Charlotte, "Our father's side comes from strong dark magic. It's why you can do magic outside the circle and how I got free from the hunter's circle."
"Are you sure?"
"Is there any other explanation?"
"You sounded upset on the phone. What's wrong?"
Dawn stepped forward, "Your mother. She came to see me."
"About what?"
"She said she was going to get to the bottom of what happened that she wouldn't stop until she found out what I was up to."
"Nobody knows anything."
"Ethan does. You almost drowned him."
"Which is why he's to scared to talk."
"He wasn't to scared to tell Henry that you were practicing magic. And if he tells Kate she will know you have a crystal and our plan is over. We've got to get rid of her."
"Well I can't just kick her out of town she just got here."
"I'm not talking about kicking her out of town."
"Dawn we are not killing her."
"Look I know how it sounds but the elders stripped us of our powers they diminished us to nothing. They are the ones standing in our way of moving forward."
"Calm down. There are other options."
"Like what?"
"I'll figure out a way to deal with my mother."
"Look if she keeps asking questions-"
"I'll handle it." He interrupted her. "For now just stay out of her way."
Charlotte walked into Cassie's room with her bag full of stuff for her stay at Diana's. She placed her bag down and sat on Cassie's footstool at the edge of her bed. "You know if you want I can cancel. Stay home."
"Afraid I'll magically choke grandma?"
"No, I'm pretty sure grandma can take care of herself."
Cassie glared but turned serious, "I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't mean to. You know that right?"
"I know."
"That's easy for you to say. When you used dark magic you save Diana's life. When I used it I almost took yours."
Charlotte sighed, "After I found out about our dark magic the hunters attacked and I was so confused and upset and afraid I didn't even think to use my magic on them. It was like I completely forgot how to use it. I haven't used any since."
"That's still better then almost killing someone."
"But that's the thing Cassie. I did kill someone. So if one of us is a bad person it's me."
"You didn't have a choice."
"I know. Doesn't make me feel any less guilty. So do me a favor and stop obsessing over almost killing me okay?"
"Fine."
"We will control this Cassie." Charlotte grabbed Cassie's hand, "It will not control us."
"Did you rip this page out Cassie and Charlotte's book of shadows?"
"There are a million pages in there. They'll never know." Melissa rolled her eyes, "The point is whoever wrote down this spell was practicing a different kind of magic then ours. Maybe the kind that doesn't need five other people to hold hands with."
"Well I never heard of any of these ingredients."
"It's out of realm of witchcraft. Most of them were used in ancient voodoo practices."
"And how are we suppose to find them?"
"I looked up voodoo shops in a fifty mile radius of Chance Harbor and this is the only thing that popped up." Faye brought up a site on the laptop.
"Lee LaBeque? Love spells, hexing spells, oils, herbs, snake handling this is ridiculous."
"I'm desperate. If anyone is suppose to have any power here it's me. And if I'm not born with it. There has to be another way."
"Are you sure this okay?" Charlotte asked Diana as they entered her house.
"Absolutely. My grandmother will be thrilled to meet you." Diana assured her.
Kate walked in, "Meet who?"
"Grandma Kate this is my friend Charlotte Blake."
"Hi." Kate's eyes widened as she shook Charlotte's hands. "Amelia's daughter?"
"Yes. It's nice to meet you." Charlotte smiled.
"I'm sorry for your loss. Your mother was wonderful and independent girl."
"Sounds a lot like Charlotte." Diana smiled.
"I like to think so."
"Hey Charlotte." Charles walked in holding a towel, "Welcome."
Charlotte smiled, "Hey Mr. Meade."
"You should go in and sit down. My mother has made dinner. It looks amazing."
"Sounds great. Thank you." Diana hooked her arm through Charlotte's and lead her into the dinning room. There was a knock at the door.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Kate asked Charles.
"No." Charles opened the door. "Dawn?"
"Hi honey." Dawn let herself in and kissed Charles. "I thought I'd join you all for dinner if that's alright? I brought a bottle of pino from France. I remember you saying it was your mother's favorite."
"How kind of you Dawn."
"This is an excellent meal. As always mother."
"Yes, it's amazing." Charlotte agreed. Dawn opened the bottle of wine she brought.
Diana took a bite of her food, "You need to teach me how to cook this grandma."
"Alright I will." Kate looked at Charlotte, "How's your grandmother Charlotte?"
"She's good. Still working at the hospital." Dawn leaned over to pour more wine into Kate's glass.
"Dawn."
"What?" She turned to Kate, "Don't you want wine Kate?"
"I'd love some. Thank you." Charles eyed Dawn as she poured wine into his mother's glass. Kate lifted her glass to take a sip but Charles removed the glass from her hand before she could. "Charles, what are you doing?"
"I just thought I saw some cork in the bottle I don't want you to choke." He grabbed the bottle that Dawn brought.
"I didn't see anything."
"Trust me."
"I feel terrible about the cork I apologize. We'll fix that. Excuse me." Dawn stood up and followed Charles into the kitchen. Charles poured the wine down the sink, "What is wrong with you?" She noticed the empty bottle, "You think I was trying to poison your mother?"
"Based on the fact that only a few hours ago you suggested killing her. Yes."
"I'm here to keep an eye on her and to make her realize I'm not easily intimidated. You just wasted a very nice bottle of wine."
"I can handle my mother."
"Can you?"
"Doesn't exactly scream house of voodoo does it?" Faye asked Melissa.
"Your sure this is it?"
"Yes."
"Come on this is obviously an online scam. Let's just leave."
The door to the house opened, "Can I help you?" Asked a tall good looking guy.
"We emailed about a consolation."
The guy closed his door and nodded, "Follow me. I only deal in cash."
"And I only deal with professionals. Not kids who operate out of their parent's garage." The guy glared at Faye.
"We need help with a spell." Melissa told him.
"Want to set the mean girls who stole your boyfriends on fire?'
"No smart ass. We are the mean girls." She pulled out the spell and held it out to him.
He took it from her and looked at it, "This is an ancient voodoo power spell used by priests. To expand capabilities. Where did you get this?"
"A friend." She smirked.
"This is a dangerous spell." He stepped closer, "You sure you want to do it?"
"Are you sure you can?"
"The spell is meant to realise untapped power." Lee sat down in front of Faye, "It will open the channel from your heart to your head so it can function as one. Close your eyes." Melissa stood and watched. Lee dipped his hands in a bowl and touched Faye's head muttering in Latin, slowly he moved to her neck then to her chest. Her pushed her jacket back.
"Hey." Both Faye and Lee turned to her. She raised her eyebrows at Faye. Faye ignored her and pulled her jacket down more and put Lee's hands back on her and closed her eyes.
Lee dipped his hands in a bowl of blood and drew a pentagram above Faye's left breast, "Open your eyes. It's done. Give it until tomorrow. Concentrate on something you really want to happen and it will." He held out a towel for her.
"Yeah we'll do that." Melissa said. Faye wiped the blood off her chest and Melissa pulled Faye's jacket back up. They left the shop.
Charlotte couldn't sleep so she silently crept out of Diana's bed and downstairs to the kitchen. She took a glass out of the cabinet and poured herself a glass of water. The lights came on and she turned around. "I'd try something warm." Kate said. "Help you sleep." Charlotte sat down at the counter. "Your troubled."
Charlotte tucked some hair behind her ear, "Am I that obvious?" She asked taking a sip of her water.
"You have dark magic Charlotte Blake." Charlotte choked on her water, "It's weighing on you."
"I don't know what your talking about."
"I can sense it." Charlotte raised her head in defiance, "Your magic scares you."
"I guess there's no use in denying?" Kate smiled, "It doesn't scare me. It teriffies me. People keep telling me it's dark but I don't even know what that means."
Kate sat down at the counter and Charlotte turned to face her, "You have darkness in your blood. I'd hope you'd follow your mother's lienage but you are also your father's child."
"What do you know about him?"
"I know he had the same dark magic. And the same potenial. For evil. The people who knew your father said bit by bit the darkness took him over." At Charlotte's expression Kate added, "He allowed it to."
"Can I stop it?"
"We can draw it out of you. We can rid you of it's power before it takes hold of you."
"How?"
"There's a spell."
"Of course. There's a problem. There's a spell." Charlotte looked at Kate, "What do I have to do?"
"We can't just go outting ourselves to people. Espeically the elders. It's danergous." Diana said.
"I didn't. She knew. She sensed it."
"Does she know about me?"
"No. I don't think so. It was creepy. It was like she could smell it on me."
"I'm sorry." Diana sat next to Charlotte on her bed, "I can't imange what your going through."
"She said she has to do the spell in a speical part of the forest near Harbor woods. Do you know it?"
"Yes. I wish I could come with you."
"I'll be fine." Charlotte assured her, "Just don't tell Cassie. I don't want to get her hopes up in case the spell doesn't work." Diana nodded.
"Where are you headed?" Charles asked Kate as she came down the stairs.
"I'm just going out with Jane Blake. I left you two something to eat." Kate smiled and left.
"Don't stand so close. I want to make sure I'm the only one peforming the spell."
Melissa rolled her eyes and sat down, 'Fine."
"Don't even look. Just to be safe." Melissa covered her eyes. "Shatter." Faye looked at the glass bowl, "Shatter."
"What's happening?"
"Nothing yet. Shatter. Shatter. Come on." She closed her eyes, "I'm an idot."
Melissa smiled, "It happens. You know forget it."
"I'm not just going to forget it." Faye stood up and headed to the door, "Come on. Let's go show this guy what real magic looks like."
"That sounds like a really bad idea."
Faye turned around, "Melissa, here's what you have to understand somethings can be really bad and really good at the same time. Let's go. Getty up."
"Look Faye. I'm not going to follow you around anymore. I make my own descions and I don't want to go."
Faye smirked, "Looks like Nick has been good for you after all. I'll let you know how it all turns out."
Kate drove Charlotte and her out to the woods, "This is it?"
"Yes. It's back there." Kate looked at her, "You sure your ready for this?"
"Positve."
"Grandma?" Diana knocked on the door. She didn't get an answer so she let herself in and put the fresh towels in her bathroom. She saw her grandmother's suitcase open and noticed something strange sticking out. She pulled back the clothes and pulled out a plastic baggie full of mandrake root. "Oh my god."
"I see you've been busy." Charlotte commented when she noticed the alter.
"The sooner we confront you dark magic the safer you and the people around you will be. We stand on either side of the alter."
Charlotte took her place across from Kate, "What does the symbol mean?"
"The circle represents mother earth. We call on her to purge you of your darkness."
"Are sure this is going to work?"
"I know it's the best chance you have. My role is to bring the elements together it's you who will determine the spells success."
"Well if that's the case then this spell is a shoe in."
Kate smiled, "I need you to stare into the middle of the circle." Charlotte raised an eyebrow but complied. Kate bent down and picked up some dirt, "I call on you mother earth. Element of the physical. May you purge her clean." She sprinkled dirt on the alter. She then picked up the dagger and held her hand out to Charlotte, "Give me your hand." Charlotte did as she was told and watched as Kate cut a line down her palm. "Now press your hand against the center of the circle." The wind started to pick up. Kate removed the cloth, "Open the box and hand me the branch."
Charlotte held the branch, "What is this?"
"Elderberry. Also known as the death tree." Charlotte took a step back. "We need it to finish the spell." Kate broke the branch and Charlotte fell to the ground.
Diana entered the abandoned house, "Adam. Cassie. I think Charlotte's in trouble."
"What? What happened?"
"My grandmother sensed her dark magic and she told Char that she could do a ritual to get rid of but she's lying. I found this in her bag." She pulled out the baggie, "Mandrake root."
"What is it?" Cassie asked.
"A plant that can kill witches. This is what those witch hunters put in those bottles." Adam explained.
"We need to find Charlotte."
Dawn got into Charles' car, "What's going on?"
"I think your right about my mother. She's having dinner with Jane Blake. I'm going to talk to her when she gets back."
"Talk to her? I think were way past that Charles. Give me the crystal. I'll deal with it."
"No."
"Charles."
"I said no."
"Give me the damn crystal."
"Or what?" She didn't say anything, "Were down here Dawn."
"Wait a minute Charles. Your upset. We'll talk this out. Come up with a knew plan if you want."
"Were finshed here."
When Charlotte woke up she was inside the box and Kate was standing over her, "You planned on killing me the whole time? Didn't you?"
"For darkness to be destroyed the earth must bleed it from you. And you have to die." Kate closed the lid. She replaced the cloth of the box and shoved the dagger into the box.
Charlotte screamed at the unexpected action. She tried concentrating on using her magic but nothing happened. "Seriously of all the times for me to have blockage it's now?"
"Die in the ground. And let your evil magic die with you."
"Charlotte." Adam shouted but there was no answer, "Okay the creeks father in but it goes on for miles. They could be anywhere along it."
"Thank you for your optimisme." Cassie said scarsitlly and headed out into the woods.
Charlotte tried to push the lid open but it wouldn't budge. She sighed, "Well at least I'm not closterphobic." She tapped her fingers against her thigh. 'All that emotion swirling inside you right now. Anger. Pain. Passion. It's like rocket fuel. Deep down. Your just afraid to go there.' She remembered Jake's words. She breathed deeply and concentrated on her heartbeat and pictured the lid opening. "Let. Me. Out." The lid exploded. Cassie, Adam and Diana heard the exploison and headed towards it. When they found her she was pushing away the remains of the box. Cassie ran to her side and helped her out.
"Are you alright?" Diana asked.
She brushed the dirt off her pants, "Ask me tomorrow."
Kate was gathering her things when Charles entered her room, "Charles. You startled me."
"Jane Blake's working the late shift at the hospital tonight. Where were you?"
"You don't need to know."
"What have you done mother?"
"I tried to kill Charlotte Blake."
He blinked in suprise, "Your not serious?"
"I am. But her magic was more powerful then mine. And she surrived. It was quite something."
He ran a hand over his face and remembered the night he drowned her and the guilt that consumed him when he thought he killed her. But looking at his mother he saw no trace of guilt for what she did. "She's a child." He stepped foward.
"She's John Blackwell's daughter. I had to find out how powerful her magic was."
"You were testing her?"
"Bringing her to the brink of death was the only way I could be sure. She is the one we have been waiting for. Strong enough to tip the blance between good and evil."
"That's barbaic."
"Despertate times call for despreate measures."
"Well the elders will need to hear about this. And they will." He turned away.
"No they won't. I know you are responisable for Ameila Blake's death. Everyone's magic leaves it's own unique imprint on it and I know yours. I have since you started practicng."
"How could I be using magic you strippted us of our magic?"
"Don't insult me I'm not stupid. Be careful Charles you have a good heart but your weak. You give into tempation. You always have."
"I make my own descions."
"Come out of the darkness. Other wise you will be lost to me. To Diana. To yourself." Kate grabbed her things and left.
"Hey." Lee's voice stopped her from trashing his place, "You got some anger issues, huh?"
"Douche bag isssues but I'm feeling much better thanks." She walked past him.
"I know what you are."
"Aw, your a fortune teller now too."
"Your a witch." She turned around, "Obivously I'm not the voodoo priest I claim to be."
"Yeah I notticed."
"But my grandparents were. And I've been around enough magic to know what's real. Your obiovsly having trouble acessing your power otherwise you wouldn't of come to me. I can help you with that."
"Really? For how much?"
"We can arrange something that will benifit the both of us."
Charles went to check on Diana but stopped when he heard her talking to someone. "I never thought I'd say this but I hate her. I don't think I'll ever forgive her."
"You will. In time."
"How can you be so sure?"
"The same reason I forgave Cassie for choking me with her mind. She's my family and I love her. And you when you love someone you can forgive them of anything."
"How can you be so calm about this? She tried to kill you."
"Yeah and your more mad about it then I am."
"And why is that?"
Charlotte shrugged, "We don't have many family memebers left, so don't shut her out because she had a laspe in judgement." It was slient for a while. "Well I'm going to head home." Charles slowly crept away and downstairs. "Are you going to be okay?" Diana nodded. Charlotte bent foward and hugged her, "I'll see you later." Charlotte stood in the archway of the living room, "Thanks for having me Mr. Meade."
"Anytime."
"Goodnight." She smiled kindly and walked out the door. Even though Dawn and him weren't on good terms she was right about one thing. Charlotte was her mother's daughter.
Charlotte walked out of the bathroom dressed in her pajamas and pulled back her covers and climbed in. Unaware of Jake standing outside her window.
AN: So in the next episode when Lee gives nicknames to everyone what should Nick's, Melissa's and Charlotte's be? And do you think Charlotte and Adam should kiss? The poll is on my profile. Read & Review :)