Chapter 15—Jumping, Glowing Crystals

Believe in love. Believe in magic. Hell, believe in Santa Clause. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. If you don't, who will?

Jon Bon Jovi

Bella's POV

It had been ages since I had had the opportunity to shop myself, and for the second time since Edward rescued me, I was doing just that. The occult shop he had taken me to was unlike any I had been to before. It seemed to focus only on the Wiccan craft, not a hodgepodge of religions.

"Um," I said, turning to face Edward, "I don't know where to begin."

After surveying the store, he led me over to the crystals and stones. "As you pointed out, there are tools that we can't share. Of course, anything we buy will need to be cleansed."

I nodded and began perusing the various stones first. There was one that I had with me always—tiger's eye—but one day, Jacob had found it and took it away. Searching for it was fruitless, but every time he was out, I looked.

It wasn't long before a golden, red-brown colored stone caught my eye. The moment I touched it, I felt a rush of energy flood into me; it was a heady sensation. I selected several more stones before moving to join Edward. He had his hands stuffed into his pants pockets as he looked at a display of crystals.

"There's so many sizes," I commented.

He bobbed his head. "That there are, but it doesn't matter what size, as it doesn't affect the performance. What does matter is the shape."

I thought about that and recalled that my parents had said the same. What they taught me was to think about how I was going to use the stone or crystal. So, I did that now. Hmm, I thought, letting my hand drift above the crystals, how was I going to use the crystals I selected. My hand hovered over a red-orange crystal, and the crystal jumped.

"Did you see that?" I asked.

"See what?"

"Watch," I said, moving my hand away. When I moved it back, once again one of the crystals jumped.

"Pick it up and let's see what happens," Edward suggested.

The moment I touched the crystal, it lit up. "What do you suppose that means?"

"I don't know. I've never seen anything like this before."

"But I have," someone said from beside us.

Turning in unison, we saw a white-haired, elderly woman. "You have great power, young one. Only those who do can cause a crystal to jump and light up. Continue down the line of crystals and the stones," she said, motioning to the displays.

Leery, I did as instructed. Several crystals and stones jumped, and when I handled each, they all lit up. When I was at the end of both displays, I looked to the elderly woman.

"Interesting," she remarked, tapping her nose.

"What's interesting?" Edward asked.

She regarded him a moment. "There's only one commonality of all the stones and crystal in the basket you hold."

I peered into the basket. Agate, jasper, citrine, garnet, lapis, and tiger's eye were all I could identify, but the only one I knew anything about was tiger's eye. When I started high school, Mom had given me a necklace with the stone and told me it would protect me. That had to be what everything had in common. "Protection," I whispered.

The elderly woman nodded. "Each provides a different type of protection, depending on the practitioner's need at the time. Are you in need of protection, young one?"

Shaking my head, I walked away not wanting to believe what she was saying. If each had its own protective use, then why were my powers pulling me toward them? I didn't have an answer.

"Bella," Edward called.

I didn't stop and walked right out of the shop.

Edward's POV

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This woman must be crazy. Sure, Bella did need protection, but to say that the crystals knew was … well, absurd. Turning to Bella to suggest leaving, I found she was gone.

"She went that way," the woman said, pointing toward Bella's retreating back.

"Bella," I called out, chasing after her. When I stepped outside, she was sitting on the curb next to my car. "Bella."

She turned her head, gazing at me from over her shoulder. "How?" she asked.

"I don't know," I answered, squatting down beside her.

She sighed, returning her gaze to parking lot. "I need an answer."

Of course, she did; so did I. Pulling out my cell, I dialed Malcolm's private number.

"Hello, lad," he answered after a couple of rings.

"Are you free?" I asked.

"Aren't we all free," he said with a laugh.

I groaned. This was not the time to be joking around, but he didn't know that. "I'm bringing Bella by the embassy. She needs some answers, and so do I."

Keys clicked. "I need to move a few meetings, but come right over."

Forty-five minutes later, Bella and I were sitting in Malcolm's office.

"Now, lass, what has you looking so troubled?" he asked after she explained that I knew she was a witch.

"Jumping and glowing crystals," she answered.

Malcolm looked over at me for further explanation.

"We were in my altar room talking, and I told her she could use any of the items in the room, including my tools."

"Blasphemy," he cursed.

"That was her reaction, too. So, I took her to the shop where I get my supplies."

He nodded. "I see. And this is where the jumping and glowing crystals are found. I bet that was a sight."

I wanted to laugh but refrained. "Not exactly. We were looking at the crystals, and Bella started moving her hand above them."

His eyes went wide, and he turned them on his granddaughter.

"What does it mean?" she asked in a small, timid voice.

Malcolm stood and walked over to his desk, picking up the phone. "Reschedule all appointments for tomorrow, and call Moira. Ask her to come here." When he returned, he sat on the other side of Bella, wrapping an arm around her. "I'm not sure, lass, but we'll get answers. How I wish your grandmother was alive. She would know what is going on with your powers."

"And if Moira doesn't have any answers, what then?"

"One step at a time."

Malcolm looked over Bella's head at me, an understanding passing between us. I could tell no one, and I had a feeling that included my family.