14 | Lost in the Years

Seaside, California September 5, 2012

Lillian

I sat on a wooden stool; the paper on the easel in front of me was blank, just like the blankness that took over my mind. I sat away from everyone, taking up the back corner of the room. Elle was only a few seats away, there were only eight other people in there, and others from previous years weren't as dedicated to the arts to take the class again.

Everyone else had already gotten half of their drawing done, while I sat there staring into space. We were supposed to be creating whatever drawing that we could come up with. Elle was drawing some kind of flower, it looked like an orchid. I felt numb inside, usually, I always had creative ideas spilling through my mind; could the ring just be blocking more than just my magic? Hell, I didn't even feel any resentment for Brandon, who was drawing some weird-looking rodent.

I started twisting the band around my finger, till I slipped it off, my body jolted as I felt my magic hum back to life inside me. I grabbed a graphite pencil from the ledge of the easel. My hand started to move the pencil across the page with a mind of its own, till I rapidly began to scrawl lines going in various directions. My sight was elsewhere, deep in the recesses of my mind, looking at the half-hidden face in shadow from the past; though the dark soulless-looking eyes were prominent.

I stopped after the entire page was covered, the pencil slipped in between my fingers as I took in what I drew, gasping as I did so.

"Scott?" I whispered, why the hell would I have drawn him?

The drawing was a replica of my memory, though the face seemed slightly blurry on the page, I knew it was him. I had to find him later and find out more about all this crap that is going on. I felt a presence come up behind me, turning, I saw Mr. Hathaway assessing my work. He was a distant relation from my grandmother's side and part of the coven. Even if he was family, something was off about him.

"I admire the detail, it is amazing how quickly you were able to draw such a piece," he chuckled; maybe I was on drawing steroids. "If I may ask, who is in the drawing?"

"I-I am not sure," I stammered. "Probably just someone I saw from somewhere."

I averted my gaze from him to the ring on the easel, I knew it wasn't a good idea to take it off.

"Lily, if I may give a word of advice," Mr. Hathaway began, my eyes widened as he grabbed my ring, examining it. "I wouldn't wear something like this, especially not how things are right now."

I gawked, did my mother tell him what was happening?

"It would be in my best interest to wear it, especially around others," I replied. Holding out my hand I added, "Don't you think?"

Since I had no control over my magic yet.

Mr. Hathaway set the ring into my palm reluctantly.

"The ring isn't just blocking power, it is stripping away your emotions the longer you wear it. If you haven't noticed, you've sat and stared at a canvas for forty minutes. Normally you're the first one done with a drawing Lillian," he explained. "Whoever made it didn't do it correctly. Besides, the spell is old; it is bound to have a few flaws in it."

Well, at least I know why I felt empty. It was nice to know these rings were defective, just like everything else going on.

"Are the effects permanent?" I asked, my tone laced with worry.

"Mr. Hathaway, can you assess my drawing? I think this is one of my best yet!" I heard Elle squeal.

"No, but I would refrain from wearing it in the long term," Mr. Hathaway murmured, then left to attend to Elle.

Sighing, I sat and stared at the drawing again for a few minutes. The memory of that night was still hazy. But I could make out his face now, even if it was dark out then. I slid the ring into my jacket's pocket and grabbed the drawing to put in my portfolio.

"Nice drawing," I heard Elle chuckle. Looking more closely at it she asked, "Who is that?"

"I don't even know anymore," I huffed, walking towards the front of the class, Elle right behind me. I slid the picture into my portfolio, rather angrily, and shoved the portfolio back into its slot on the wall.

"What's up with you this morning?" Elle remarked but then her tone softened. "I know the talk you had with your parents probably wasn't pleasant."

"It's nothing, I'm just on edge from everything." I sighed. I was still reeling from the fight I had last night with my parents.

"Well, hopefully soon we will get things figured out," Elle reassured me.

We waited by the door before the bell rang. Elle was busy adjusting the strap to her bag when I noticed Brandon walking toward us. I really needed that bell to ring now.

"That was a nice rat you drew Kaiser," Elle remarked, an evil glint in her eye. "I think it reminds me of someone."

"Thanks, Harris. Though it's actually a shrew. Like yourself of course," Brandon reproached.

These two have hated each other for years, though she would never tell us why. After he and I broke up, she seemed to hate him even more, he was the only person she hated. Elle clenched both of her hands into fists.

Well, time to be the mediator. Before they spewed any more insults I stepped in front of Elle quickly. I had to crane my neck up slightly to glare at him, his dark blue eyes bore into mine. Old memories swirled through my mind, but I pushed them away.

"Look, can you both just try and act mature? We are all stuck in here till we graduate, just ignore one another," I ordered.

Swinging the door open right after that I left them. I was already halfway down the hallway when I felt Elle tug my arm.

"Why did you defend him?" Elle remarked fuming. "You still like him don't you, I know he's hot as hell and all, but he's still a douche."

My eyes nearly boggled out of my head. "Elle, do you like him? You always nag at him about everything he does."

Elle's eyes widened a fraction. She released my arm.

"I do not! He is infuriating!" Elle huffed.

As we continued down the hallway and out of the building, I saw Cel marching her way toward us.

"Lily, we have a problem," Cel gulped nervously.

A look of confusion spread over Elle. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Cel sighed. "I thought that woman was just here because of them, but I saw her with Isabel and Maggie earlier. But what has me worried now is Zach isn't even here."

"People are absent all the time Cel; maybe he had something to do," I insisted.

A shudder shot down my spine suddenly, I turned my head, till I was staring right at Seana.

Why does she always pop up like that?

"She's right my dear," Seana chimed in. "But I'm sure Scotty has the abomination hiding under a rock so I won't kill him."

Cel's expression turned murderous. "If you keep talking I will kill you here right now."

Seana kept her face eerily calm. "I would be careful with my choice of words Ms. Moone. I'm not someone you would want to cross."

She walked around us and disappeared into the thick crowds of students.

Cel kept glaring in the direction Seana went. "I don't understand why they would just up and leave when she is a fucking threat to everyone!" she hissed.

"Celesta, maybe you should calm down," I cautioned.

Cel shot me a glare. "I will not calm down till this shit is dealt with. After school, we are going to Zach's house."

THE day went by uneventfully. After Cel's outburst, she texted me Zach's address. We would go there tonight to figure out what the hell was going on. Her father came back into town and wanted to spend time with his family.

However, my parents were going out this evening. They hadn't been out for months.

When I got home my mother and I ran over some basic magic lessons. Like making a door open without blasting it off its hinges. But despite that, I still felt like I was screwed if I needed to defend myself now.

I just needed more practice. Like, a lot.

My father did have a safe full of weapons in their master closet if I ever needed them. Even though I knew the combination, I swore to my parents I would never open it. I walked downstairs and made my way to Dad's office. I creaked the door open, he was sorting out papers on his desk.

"Hey Dad, how are the cases going?" I asked.

"All of my clients have been uptight pricks lately, but that's just how it is dealing with divorcing couples." Dad snorted, setting the papers down. "What do you need mi querida?" he asked.

Oh shit, I didn't want to answer that—

"I need a stake," I blurted out. Stupid magic speaking truth bullshit.

He raised an eyebrow at me. I was going out to confront Scott to hopefully get my memories back, and Cel's nightmare had me shaken, I was going to be armed with something from now on. I couldn't rely on magic just yet.

He opened one of the many drawers to his big mahogany desk and pulled out a very sharp stake. Setting it on the top of his desk, he motioned for me to take it.

"I won't ask why you want it. I already know. All these damn vampires are flocking back to town," he went on. "Your mother and I will be gone for a few hours, I'm taking her to her favorite place."

"Red Lobster is my favorite place too you know," I chuckled, "Well have fun! I planned on going to hang out with Cel for a bit," I smiled, praying he wouldn't know I was going to do something potentially dangerous.

He got up from his chair, then stressed, "Be safe. I mean it."

"Sure thing Dad!" I chirped.

I gripped the stake in my hand, I heard my parents walk out the garage door. Running back upstairs, I changed into jeans and a T-shirt, slipped on a pair of boots, and a light jacket. I kept my hair in the French braid from earlier. God, I hope I wasn't making a mistake in going over there. I grabbed my keys and jumped into my car and hauled ass to the address Cel texted me.

RIGHT as I was driving down to Zach's, a storm out of nowhere decided to come, the winds made the trees sway around as I drove. Tonight was supposed to be clear and cold, not stormy. I glanced at the GPS on the dashboard, the next driveway was Zach's. The rain started to pour, so much that even my windshield wipers couldn't keep up with it. Sighing, I pulled over onto the side of the road, I could make out the thin line where Zach's driveway was, yet I didn't see Cel's car, she told me to meet out here.

I quickly picked up my phone, and dialed her number, she answered on the second ring.

"Where are you?" I hissed. I didn't want to be out here in this creepy forest alone.

"My father just got back! You know how strict he is when I go out after dark," she rasped, "Don't worry I'm already here. Look behind you, bitch."

I turned my head and saw headlights flood through the wall of rain. The rain started to let up.

"Okay bitch," I reproached, ending the call. I opened the door, and cool air rushed in, causing me to shiver. I hated the cold weather, I wish I had worn something warmer, perhaps a snowsuit would've sufficed. Hearing her car door slam, I turned and saw Cel texting on her phone, then she slipped it into her back pocket.

"I told Zach to come and meet us out here," Cel muttered, wrapping her arms around herself. She slid into the passenger side and went immediately to turn the heater on to full blast.

"Why can't we just go to his house? Knock on the door, you know; like normal people?" I remarked. "Has he answered any of your calls yet?"

"No, I've been trying to call him, but he hasn't responded since yesterday," she sighed, and the rain finally stopped altogether. "Which makes me wonder, maybe we should just go knock on the door now."

I glared at her as I shut the car off. Yes, maybe we should do that.

Cel looked toward my middle console, right where the stake my father gave me was.

"You brought this?" she asked, lifting the stake.

"Of course I did!" I exclaimed, grabbing it from her. "It may seem as if I'm overacting, but I don't know what we are walking into, Seana could be lurking by or something!" I set the stake back down.

"I would do the same thing," Cel grinned. "But I can control my magic and protect myself, unlike you."

Still grinning at me like the bitch she was, she exited the car.

Huffing, I angrily got out and slammed my door shut, the sound of it echoing as I did so.

"I can't help it!" I yelled. "And hopefully after tonight, I don't have to suppress my magic again!"

I yanked the ring off and with every ounce of strength I possessed, I chucked it into the woods.

"Wow! You're like the Hulk!" Cel said sarcastically. "Now come on, we're wasting time."

"Oh I forgot to tell you, we actually shouldn't wear the rings anyway, it does more than just strip magic," I informed.

"Eh, I never wore mine anyway," Cel muttered. "I had a feeling Aunt Cynthia didn't do the spell right."

"That's just great," I deadpanned.

I followed her as we began to walk down the driveway, as we did, this feeling of despair washed over me as I glanced at the woods.

"Do you feel that?" I asked, gulping. I edged closer to Cel till we were side by side.

"You're probably just feeling things that happened in the past," Cel sighed, "But yes, it feels like there has been a lot of death here."

When we reached the front door, Celesta checked her phone once more, but Zach never replied. She knocked on the door, once, twice; twenty times. I rolled my eyes, this was pointless, maybe they just decided to skip town. There was a truck parked in front of the large shed.

"Here let me try something," I muttered, Cel scoffed but moved to the side. I put my hand on the doorknob and twisted, the door opening with a loud squeaking noise; the house was shrouded in darkness.

"Well this is fucking creepy," Cel whispered.

I gawked as she strode in without a care, looking for a light source. I stepped in, the wooden floorboards creaking as I did so, Cel turned on a lamp that was beside the couch. The past mixed in with the present suddenly, and the living room flashed, one that seemed warmer and inviting, to the now bleak and depressing present one.

"It is so dusty in here," she muttered, coughing.

"I don't like this, something is off," I whispered. It was, I felt my feet moving automatically, till I was walking down the hallway.

"I'll look at the other end of the house!" I heard Cel shout, though her voice seemed far away, my mind focusing on only one thing. Finding out where this hostile energy was coming from, I switched the hall light on, and opened the door at the end; it led to a basement.

This was borderline idiotic to do this, walking into a place where werewolves lived was stupid enough. Walking into a pitch-black basement was something else. Light from the hallway trickled down the steps as I walked down them slowly, I held onto the railing with a death grip.

Suddenly, I saw two bright blue orbs staring at me. I stopped dead at the head of the stairs, my eyes widening in fear. A figure jumped out of the dark, loud snarls erupting from them, though the sound of chains moved with them, holding them back. I screamed and stumbled onto the stairs, the growling abruptly stopped, but I was already crawling back up the stairs.

"Shit! Lily wait come back, help me get out of these damn things!" I heard someone shout after me as I slammed the basement door shut, I slid down onto the floor with a thump, my body shaking.

Oh my God, was that Zach? Why the hell was he chained up in his own house?!

I saw Cel walking back through the living room and towards the hallway; she was holding someone else's cell phone.

"Hey I found his phone on the kitchen counter, none of my messages have been read," she sighed, then did a double-take at me. "What the hell happened?" she asked, rushing down the hallway to me.

"H-He's down there..." I stammered. I could hear shuffling noises coming from behind the door.

"Hello?! Lily, I know you're there, I can hear you freaking out, I'm sorry I scared you but I kinda need some help!" Zach yelled, Cel stopped in front of me, her eyes widening. "Dammit!" he seethed, his voice echoing.

Cel flung the door open and sprinted down the stairs. "Zachary?! What the hell?" she shrieked. "Why are you chained to a wall?"

I went down the steps slowly, trying to calm myself down.

"Long story, there is a light switch by the stairs," Zach muttered.

I saw it and flipped it on; flooding the basement with light.

"And again, sorry for scaring you." he chuckled at me.

I chuckled back nervously.

"I can try and break them with a spell, I just need to remember which one," Cel muttered, grabbing onto the chain and his wrist. She looked up at him sadly. I looked down at his wrists and gasped. They were bruised with dried blood on him and the chain links nearest to his wrist. Cel closed her eyes and put her hand near the lock on one of the chains, then started to chant something.

"Who put you down here?" I choked, and the right chain busted and fell to the ground. Cel grabbed the other one and did the same thing to it.

Zach held up both of his wrists, the bruises started to go away slowly. I just gaped at him in astonishment.

"My loving father, though if you two hadn't noticed, there was a full moon last night, and having Seana back in town has kinda made me, well, murderous," he went on. "We are at our strongest, and if we have silver on our skin, it weakens us, and I couldn't shift. If I did so, I could've hurt someone, though I didn't think my father would keep me in here all fucking day." he spat, I heard something grumble, then realized it was Zach. "Have you guys eaten dinner yet?" he asked.

"Yeah, I had pizza. Lily probably had some weird salad that her mom always makes." Cel snickered.

"So what?" I remarked after her and followed them up the stairs.

Zach yanked the fridge open and pulled out some leftovers, it looked like ham. There were three bar stools in front of the island.

"Want any?" Zach asked as he pulled out some plates.

I shook my head and sat on one of the stools. He threw a lot of ham onto a plate and shoved it into the microwave.

"I would, but the pizza, pepperoni, Italian sausage..." she trailed off, she looked like she was about to start drooling, "Filled me up."

Cel sat on the other stool beside me. I sighed and watched as Zach pulled the ham out, grabbed a fork, and then began inhaling the food. The plate was spotless within seconds.

"I'm starved!" he blurted, then got another serving of ham. Yes, I can tell he was.