Keeper(38)

“Told me what?” I cried out. Hot tears burned my eyes as emotion after emotion slapped me in the face. Anger. Frustration. Confusion, Fear. “Please . . .”

Serena’s shoulders slumped in resignation. With a sigh, she pointed to the cards in my hands. “Choose one.”

I was about to protest, but Serena eyed me fiercely. “Choose one,” she repeated, her voice firm.

I wanted to scream, but instead I clenched my teeth together and pulled a card facedown from the stack.

“Place it on the table,” Serena instructed.

Rolling my eyes, I slammed the card down on the table. A pair of pillar candles sitting nearby rattled from the vibration. Serena swooped in and carefully flipped the card over so its image was facing up. Her eyes grew wide, and as I peered down at the image, I didn’t need Serena to tell me that it wasn’t a good sign.

The tower itself looked innocent enough, sitting atop a mountain, but the bolts of lightning and flames that rose from the windows made my stomach turn. On both sides of the tower, a body was pitched forward, falling to the craggy depths below.

“The Tower,” Serena whispered, her tone eerily reverent. She turned to me, her eyes brimming with tears. “It’s worse than I thought.” She leaned forward, as though to embrace me, but stopped suddenly when she saw the look on my face. “Please,” she said, indicating the sofas. “Sit down. There is much to say.”

It was then that Serena seemed to notice Ty and Maggie standing stiffly near the wall, their faces narrowed in seriousness. She looked at me with raised eyebrows. “Perhaps we should speak privately.”

“No,” I said, surprised by the strong tone of my voice. “They stay with me.”

Serena nodded, though her eyes were still narrowed in suspicion. After a moment, she turned back to me, her face grave. She took a deep breath before she spoke again, her expression both serious and concerned. “What do you know about your mother?”

“I know there’s some connection,” I said. “Am I right? Did my mother have something to do with whatever secret you and Gareth are keeping from me?”

“She has everything to do with it, I’m afraid.” Serena began to wring her hands. “Lainey, your mother didn’t die in a car accident like you were told. She was murdered.”

“What?” I stared at Serena. Her words made no sense to me. “That’s impossible. My mom was a schoolteacher. Why would anyone—”

“She wasn’t just a teacher, Lainey,” she interrupted. “She was a witch.”

“A witch?” The word tasted bitter on my tongue. “My mother was . . . a witch?”

“Yes. A very powerful one.” The look on Serena’s face was absolute.

This can’t be real. I’d always know Serena was a little . . . well, kooky, but she didn’t actually believe all that hocus-

pocus mumbo jumbo, did she? “This has to be some kind of a joke, right?”

“I wish it were, dear, but the truth is even far more complicated than the mere fact that your mother was a Supernatural.” Serena leaned forward, grabbing my hands. “Lainey, your mother was killed by someone very dangerous—someone who, if they knew of your existence, would come after you also.”

She paused for a moment and looked at our clasped hands. “I knew your mother. We were all friends, Gareth, your mother, and I.” She broke off and sniffed. “When she realized she’d have to go, she came to me for help, and I’ve done what I can for you all these years. I’ve done my best to watch out for you like she asked.” A single tear rolled down her cheek.

“Please understand that Gareth and I swore to keep you safe, and so far we have . . .” She trailed off.

All the moves, never staying in one place for too long. It was all starting to make sense.

“Events are in motion,” Serena continued. “Things that are beyond our control. It’s only a matter of time until they discover the secret that we’ve kept hidden these sixteen years.” She heaved a sigh and placed a palm on my cheek. “You, Lainey.”

“But why . . .” I trailed off.

She’s her mother’s daughter and she is capable of far more than we can possibly imagine. The words poured over me like a bucket of ice-cold water.

“I’m a witch, too.” My voice was barely stronger than a whisper as the realization came spilling out. “Like my mother.”

“Yes.” Serena pulled her hands away and stared down at them, picking at the dark blue polish. Her voice was soft as she spoke, indicating that the next part was both important and painful for her to say. “And if anyone finds out about you,” she pointed to the card lying ominously on the table, “you’re likely to share her fate.”





CHAPTER SIXTEEN


My brain was working overtime to make sense of Serena’s words, but it all seemed so nonsensical. I half expected someone to jump out from behind the sofa and announce I was on one of those hidden camera shows. Please let this be some sick joke.

Beside me, Serena was pacing back and forth. She had her tarot deck clutched in her hands, and her eyes kept darting between me and the tower card still lying faceup on the table.

“Why my mom?” It was the easiest of the questions to ask. “There have to be hundreds of . . . witches in the world, right?” I nearly choked on the word. “Why would someone target my mother?”