A/N: Small Warning: There are a few curse words used in this chapter and a reference that may offend certain people-but it's only to show the type of character who speaks it. I don't judge others (I try my best not too and I have friends/family members whose life partner are of the same sex) so please do not confuse any ignorant character's views with the author's. Thank you.
I wanted to share a clear recording/lyrics of the Eagles version of "Witchy Woman," but I couldn't find one. This video comes close and I like it because it helps set the mood for this chapter so well.
Question: Do you prefer chapters written as "Chapter One, etc," or titled such as this one is? I've heard that some readers and writers prefer not to name the chapters because it gives things away, but I'm not sure. Let me know what you think, and thanks for reading!
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CARTER'S POV:
Carter was sitting on Anna's bed while she worked on her laptop at her desk.
Snickers, Anna's new black and white kitten was curled up on a ruffled pillow. Every once in a while, she opened one eye as if to check on them then went back to sleep. She liked Carter which was strange as he didn't have a rapport with most animals. Now and then he would pet her and make her purr.
"I'm getting a bit freaked out lately. You said you would stop this 'thing' from crossing over or coming into this world, so tell me why the crap is still happening."
He watched Anna as she sighed and turned in her chair to look at him.
"I'm working on sending it back."
"That's nice. You had said and I quote, '...stop this thing from coming into our world,'
"Don't get snarky with me. I am stopping it. It's just taking a bit of time."
"Fine, sorry," Carter sighed. "Are you still sending the texts to Edison?"
Anna's pink glossed mouth frowned. "Texts?"
"The plan we had to send the anonymous texts to Edison. Have you forgotten our entire plan?!" His voice rose.
"Calm down. No, I haven't forgotten. But I never sent the texts we talked about. I decided that that wouldn't have been a good idea. You don't need to bully him anymore. It's time to let it go, don't you think?"
"He ruined my life when I was younger. Besides, I like having him do my homework."
"I'll help you with your homework from now on."
"You would? You used to tell me to do it myself."
"That was before I liked you."
"You're not an easy girl to figure out, Anna."
"How did Edison ruin your life? You never tell me, babe."
"It was before you moved here. I'll explain it someday. Don't say 'babe' so loudly, your parents might hear," His voice dripped with sarcasm.
Anna got up and sat down next to him. Her perfume was so delicious as it wafted over to him. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt which was a step down for her, but they weren't going out so she didn't mind. He liked that the t-shirt was a bit tight in all the right places.
"You know full well my parents are on a cruise 'til Friday. That gives us five days," she leaned forward and kissed his cheek and neck. Carter felt his hands sliding up beneath her t-shirt. her skin was so silky.
"I want to be with you, Anna...You help me forget all the bad things."
"Carter, I'm sorry I was so mean to you at school. I just...sometimes I feel confused about us. The cousin thing is weird if you think about it," she leaned back against a pillow and flipped her hair behind her.
"We're only second cousins. And-"
"I know the story. Just because you were adopted doesn't make this right."
"I get that, but I love you," Carter ran his hand down her side. "Change of subject. We need to talk about this messed up thing going on. Trey and I are concerned."
"Ha! Trey is a scaredy-cat."
"That's irrelevant. Why haven't you gotten rid of whatever this thing is, demon, wtf you called it?"
"I told you like a zillion times. Listen, I want it gone as much as you do."
"So you can be with Edison."
"No, Carter. The only reason is to tap into Edison's power. I've told you this."
Carter rubbed his forehead. "Power? I thought you quit magic."
"Yes, I did, for a long time."
Carter stood up. "So you started it up again? When?"
"Don't be angry," Anna cooed.
"Maybe you accidentally brought that 'thing' here. Did you cause that accident at Edison's house too? I got hurt, you know."
"I know what I'm doing and I don't do asinine things like that."
"Did you have anything to do with that thing to happened to me and Trey in the school hallway?"
Anna's bracelets jingled as she scooted to the edge of the bed. "No. I wouldn't hurt you or Trey, even though Trey has a tendency to get on my nerves and I sometimes wouldn't mind just doing something small to him..."
Carter swallowed hard. "Uh, can you put a protection spell or whatever those are on me and Trey? Without using too much magic? I don't approve of magic. It's not something to play with, Anna."663Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX8RMYPZEX
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"I know how to practice safely and I've already put protection around you and Trey."
"I don't feel safe."
"You're just paranoid. Don't worry, okay? I'll get this 'thing' out of all our lives and we can get back to normal. Try not to be scared. Fear irritates this thing."
"Freakin' terrific," Carter mumbled.
"You'll be okay. You have me to protect you," Anna said.
"No. Guys protect girls. That's how it is."
Anna rolled her eyes. "How archaic."
"What's archaic mean?"663Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPJOrpOf1Z
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"Archaic as in old, ancient, etc. Really, you never heard the word?"
Carter shook his head.
"You can't get by in life with only your looks. Unless you're a model."
"You always bring modeling up. I won't do it. Male models are fags."
Anna laughed, then led him back to the bed to smooth his ruffled feathers.
A few minutes later, Snickers leaped from the pillow and landed on one of Anna's throw rugs. The kitten's claws could be heard scrabbling on the wooden floor as they lost traction. The kitten meowed and scrambled under Anna's bed as the bedroom door slowly opened.
Anna and Carter broke their embrace and sat up. They stared at the door as it started to move back and forth. The problem was that there was no one there moving the door. Or, at least, no one that could be seen.
"What in hell," Carter.
"That's where it's going," Anna said as she jumped off the bed and faced the door.
Carter tried to not act like a coward but he couldn't stop himself from trying to fit his tall frame behind the desk chair like a wimp.
Anna folded her arms as she talked to the empty space in front of the door. "Tell me why you came to me."
The air lowered degree by degree and Carter noticed goose pimples on his skin. He peeked from around the chair.
A mist started to swirl before Anna and when the swirling stopped, the outline of a dark-haired girl stood in its place. She was about the same height as Anna. The thing was even kind of beautiful in a creepy way. Its silver eyes glared into Anna's blue ones, but Anna stood her ground.
Carter couldn't take his eyes off the two of them. They were mesmerizing.
"You killed that Gracie girl," Anna accused.
The girl thing smiled; her silver eyes flashing.
Carter gulped and stood up. He couldn't keep being a coward. Only losers were cowards. With the background noise of tiny meows and the chair scraping the floor, he moved from his hiding place and stood beside Anna.
The girl thing jerked her head to him then back to Anna.
"Two witches," it hissed and then it was gone.
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