CHAPTER #85

It was the day of the Christmas parade. As everyone expected, Faye's elf costume was very sexy and Zane admired it so much, that he made her late to get on the float. Dawn was not impressed, but was too stressed out to get everyone on the float and in position, to bother fighting with her daughter. She scolded Zane, who just winked at her and left to go help with the Boathouse float.

Diana and Faye were on the High-school's float, along with the guys of various teams. The cheerleaders would walk in front of the float, with the band, handing out candy and cheering. Dawn would be driving that float. Ethan would be driving the truck that would be pulling the Boathouse float. On that float Melissa was the mermaid caught in a net, Adam was Santa, Ben, Jake, Chris and Cassie were his ship's crew. They'd also be the ones getting on and off the float to hand out treats. Zane had refused to be on a float or in the parade. He would video record it all, so everyone could see their success later.

"Everyone ready?" Ethan hollered out the window of the truck.

"YES!" They all shouted.

As the parade moved out on the designated route, finally the floats took motion. It was slow going, but both spectators and parade people were having a great time. Plenty of candy sailed through the air, to the waiting children that lined the street. Various presents, wrapped with bow and ribbon, where handed to children. Blue ribbons for boys and red for the girls, so that presents were appropriate. The marching bands played all kinds of Christmas songs. Zane recorded it all, including the cotton candy 'snowball fight' between Santa and his shipmates on the Boathouse float.

Laughter, singing, cheering and calls of Merry Christmas, lingered on the air, long after the last float had passed.

The high-school and Boathouse floats were the last in the parade lineup. They would put the floats away to be dismantled and recycled, at Hudson Fields. The place still creeped out the circle, but the abandoned carnival, was the only location where there was enough space to keep all the floats. Prior to taking the high-school float there, Dawn had to wait until all the kids had got off the float. Then she drove it over and Zane helped her unhitch the float. He told her he would be waiting for the Boathouse float to arrive, to help Adam and Ethan unhitch it. Truth was, he didn't want to help clean up the parade route, like everyone else would do after they changed out of their costumes.

Dawn was just turning the corner, when she saw something, that made her wish she still had magical powers. She didn't realize she had screamed, until Zane came running by. The Boathouse float had seemed to loose control and Ethan's truck ran into a light pole going way to fast. Adam had been riding on the float and was thrown forward and into the trees. Zane teleported him before Adam hit the tree branches, that would have surely impaled him.

"Are you okay?" Zane asked.

"Thanks to you. What happened?"

"I don't know. You're dad's truck rammed a light pole. He was going way too fast. Looked like he had no brakes…. But Adam, I felt Balcoin magic. I think Samuel's behind this."

Adam ran out of the forest, calling his dad's name. But before he could get to the truck, it exploded in a ball of flame. The force made Dawn, Adam and Zane fall to the ground. The fire tried to run wild, but Zane contained it with magic. He dialled 911 and reported the accident. While he talked on the phone, he sent a message to Cassie with his mind. She was horrified and said she'd round up the others and be there soon.

Dawn held Adam, who was sobbing in her arms. Her tears dripped down on his head. They remained that way, even as emergency response teams arrived and then the police. The fire department put out the remaining flames. Paramedics ended up tranquilizing Adam. Diana had arrived before Melissa and the others, so she went with Adam to the hospital.

Chris had barely stopped the car, when Faye opened the door and hit the ground running. She flung her arms around her mom, asking her if she was okay. All was forgotten, as mother and daughter, hugged each other for comfort.

"Mom, what happened?" Faye asked.

Dawn shivered, "I don't know. Ethan drove into the pole, he didn't even slow down!"

The circle came to surround Dawn and Zane explained to everyone what he'd seen. The circle exchanged a look and Zane gave a slight nod, answering the unspoken question. This was no accident, they all knew that Samuel had just murdered Ethan. Of the adults that they could trust, only Dawn and Patrick were left. Without it being said, they knew an immediate circle meeting was needed.

"Mom, let Zane drive us home. The police have your statement, there's nothing we can do now," Faye coaxed her mother.

Dawn nodded, still in a stricken daze. "The rest of you should check on Adam. Diana went with him to the hospital."

They piled into the cars and went to the hospital to find Diana. Using magic, they found out that Adam was sedated and wouldn't be waking until the next day. They were told to come back around 10 am the next day. If he was more in control mentally, then he'd be released. Cassie sent a mass text message to meet at her house. They'd wait until everyone was there.

"After such a joyous day, to end it with death…" Cassie sighed sadly.

Jake took her hand in his, as they drove back to her place. "This is Adam's worst Christmas ever. But we'll help him through it."

They arrived at Cassie's house, just as Ben, Chris and Melissa did. Diana was driving over to Faye's to pick up her and Zane. As they got out of the car, Melissa pointed at Cassie's front door. "Did you forget to lock up?"

Cassie whirled around, "no I didn't."

Everyone was suddenly uneasy. Cautiously and as a group, they approached her door. They listened intently and heard nothing, but that didn't mean it was safe to go inside. Jake checked the ground around the house, to see if any symbols or magic inhibitors were around. He reported all was normal.

"I don't like this. I'll shape shift into a cat that looks like Lucky and go check it out," Chris said.

"Just give me a minute, before you do that." Jake stopped him. He said a spell and then waited. "The door will slam shut if there is still someone inside the house."

"Now that's a cool trick," Ben admired.

They all jumped, when the door slammed shut. Like a swat team leader, Jake directed Ben and Christ to go to the back of the house. Then Cassie, Melissa and himself opened the front door.

"Whomever is in my house, you're not welcome. Get out!" Cassie yelled.

A window in the kitchen crashed and they heard Ben and Chris shouting. Everyone ran into the kitchen. Jake went to join the guys in their pursuit of the intruder. Five minutes later, they all returned, panting from the effort.

"We chased the guy, but he got in a car and took off. I got a partial plate," Ben said.

"It was a dark blue Mazda," Chris added.

Melissa frowned as she took in their details. "Did the guy have dark hair like mine?"

Ben, Chris and Jake nodded. "Do you know who it was?"

She chewed the bottom of her lip, then blurted, "that was my dad. My dad just broke into your house. I'm sorry Cassie."

Cassie hugged her friend, "it's not your fault. And see, Jake already fixed the broken window. Good as new, thanks to magic."

Chris asked, "why would your dad break into her house?"

Jake said what they were all scared to think, "he was looking for the Skull."

"But I never told him anything about it. How would he know?" Melissa asked.

"Samuel," Ben and Chris said in unison.

CHAPTER #86

Adam woke up in the hospital, to find Diana sitting in a chair beside his bed. He saw that he had arm and leg restraints on. He used his magic to release the binds. "I'm okay now. How long was I out?"

"It's now the next day. It's 9:45 am," Diana said after checking her watch. "Do you remember what happened?"

Adam nodded and sat up. "My dad died in a crash. I just hope he was unconscious or dead when it blew up."

Diana got up and hugged him. "It was Samuel, he murdered your dad. And Patrick broke into Cassie's house looking for the Skull. We had a circle meeting late last night."

"I want to get out of here. Get the doctor so I can be released. Then I need to go to the Boathouse," Adam said.

She went and got the doctor as he requested. The doctor released Adam and gave him a prescription for Valium. Diana texted everyone that Adam would be at the Boathouse and not to bother coming to the hospital. Then that's where she took him. On the ride over, he thanked her for being there for him. Something in him switched on again. That connection they once had, was back. He loved Melissa, but he wasn't in love with her anymore. It was the difference, that allowed him to feel more than friendship for Diana. She'd always been there for him, through all the bad, especially with his father's drinking problems and depression.

"I'm glad you're here with me," Adam finally said, when they pulled into the parking lot.

She leaned over and hugged him, "I'll miss him too."

Before she pulled back, he kissed her. It was spontaneous and partially his need to be close to someone. At first she didn't return it, but then she stopped fighting herself and kissed him back. It was a short kiss, but very intimate. Diana pulled back first.

"You're with Melissa and I can't do this. I won't be a third wheel, not this time."

Adam looked away, his emotions rolling in a big chaotic pile, within him. "I know. I'm sorry."

She turned his face to her, "it's okay. I've wanted to do that to you too. We won't ever be like we once were, too much has happened. But you never know what can happen in the future and it just might be better. We've both grown up a lot, these last few years."

He nodded, "I guess I just need your friendship right now. I can't handle anything else."

Diana smiled and they got out of her car. He unlocked the Boathouse and called the employees to advise that today the restaurant would be closed. Then with Diana holding his hand, he called the morgue to find out when his dad's remains would be released. He was crying after that, when the others arrived. His hand shaking, making the pill bottle rattle.

Melissa talked to Diana and then took the pill bottle away from Adam. "Ben can you get my kit from the car? I'll make you something natural, that will be better for you than Valium."

"I'll make the funeral arrangements. We'll put him in the plot between your mom and Cassie's mom, that will give him peace," Diana added.

Adam barely heard her. Cassie told Jake and Zane to take Adam to his apartment, where Melissa gave him the potion to drink. She stayed at Adam side, as he drifted off to sleep. When she rejoined the others, they were busy cleaning. Melissa talked to Diana and they worked together to set up the funeral arrangements, wake and even put an ad in the paper to announce Ethan's passing. It was a small town and everyone probably already knew, thanks to the gossips, but the ad was still placed. Together they gathered some of Ethan's things and got photos of him. The photos they scanned into a computer, so that a video album could me made.

At last everything they could do, was done. Tomorrow Adam would say good-bye to his father, once and for all. Everyone regrouped and sat in a circle, as it was habit.

Zane saw Faye pocket the bottle of Valium and she winked at him. Jake noticed too, but just rolled his eyes. Some things never changed. "We did a good job cleaning up and setting up the area for his wake. My guess is there will be so much food left, that we'll be set for weeks."

Cassie agreed and then redirected the conversation, "what are we going to do about Samuel searching for the Skull?"

"Are you sure Patrick was following his orders? He could have been looking for it to use for himself," Chris suggested.

Melissa shook her head, "no way. My dad's not on Samuel's side. He must've been looking for it, to protect me."

"Maybe. Either way, we know they can't find it with magic. And none of us know where it's hidden, except for Jake. It's safe as long as the box isn't opened," Zane said.

"I'll start keeping a closer eye on my dad. We have to figure out what he's up to and if we can trust him," Melissa sighed.

Ben put his arm around her, in a half-hug. "We all have each other, even if we can't trust anyone else. Adam will be okay, after all, the rest of us made it through our grief."

"I hate to be a jerk, but it might be easier for Adam now, without Ethan bringing him down. Let's face it, Adam's been on his own for a long time." Zane pointed out and then watched everyone nod their heads in agreement.

"Right now we need to help him through this, then we deal with Samuel. I don't want to sit around and wait for him to kill someone else we love. We're going to take the fight to him. No more hiding and no more waiting. In the New Year, we are going to hunt him down and end this once and for all!" Cassie said with passion.

"Agreed," the others said together.

"Ready or not here we come!" Zane said with confident finality.