Chapter 6: Warnings

I hadn't realized how much noise this old Victorian house made in the middle of the night until I was lying there, unable to close my eyes. The floors creaked and the walls groaned, sounding like and elderly person complaining as they were moving around a nursing home, I thought almost bitterly. I could hear the wind whistling through the poorly insulated window in my bedroom, sending a chill down my spine.

I wondered to myself how late it was, and how long I had slept. Danny had said that we would leave at four, but a single thought kept plaguing my mind. What if we were being led into a trap?

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes; I couldn't afford to think like that now. I had to trust the mysterious Danny Jayce, because he was the key to saving my mother. Oh, my mother... Memories from the day before flooded into my mind. Imaged of the bright purple and blue lights flooded into my mind, swirling in my vision until all I could see was a shadow looming in the distance of colors.

"Laurie, dear, you mustn't dwell on the past. You must leave this place, and leave it fast. Take the boy, take him far. Far away, away from cars. Into the deserts or into the trees, I have no idea, where they are leading thee..," my mother's voice, faint but distinct, reverberated through my mind in a sing-song sort of way, sounding lost and desolate.

She sounded broken, lost, and forgotten. That wasn't the woman who I remembered, the woman who left me when I was four years old. The orbs of colors moved faster and faster.

"What do you mean?" I managed to whisper to her, catching a glimpse of her shadowed form from the corner of my eye, withering away like a dying rose. That was the only way that I could describe her.

"Go now, little one, be safe," he voice rang like tinkling bells, her words burnt into my mind for god only knows how long.

Everything went black, and I realized that my mother had left. French words hung on my tongue, threatening to escape from my lips, but I had no idea what they were, or how to continue. My body was drenched with sweat, and tears streaked down my face.

The sudden realization hit me once more - I still hadn't gotten to see my mother's face. My body rocked with silent sobs as I folded in on myself, wrapping my arms around my stomach and squeezing as tightly as I could. I tried to reassure myself that I would see her again soon enough, but there was always the nagging what if's that came to mind as soon as I'd calm down a little bit. Damn voice of reason, I couldn't help but think to myself.

So many thoughts raced through my mind at that moment. Why was my mother speaking in riddles like that? I don't understand... I mean... Take Danny far, far away from the cars. Okay, that leaves the deserts and forests she was talking about. But what did she mean by she didn't know where they were leading us? Who are they? Maybe.. Maybe it really is a trap, and she's trying to tell us which way to go, but she's not allowed to...

I shook my head quickly, shoving the black duvet blanket off of myself and springing out of the bed, almost landing on the floor. I couldn't keep thinking about things like that. The voice of reason in my head chastised me for even considering any of that, but I couldn't help but consider every little thing.

Making my way through the dark bedroom that I'd quickly become accustomed to, I turned the lamp on and made my way to the wardobe and dresser, grabbing a dark outfit, and heading for the shower.

Maybe a hot shower will help take my mind off of everything...


I slowly wove through the twisted hallways of the Victorian house, carefully listening to the low chatter of voices coming from what I thought was the kitchen. As I rounded a corner, I realized I'd been right. I seen a little blonde head bobbing up and down slowly, looking up to a shaggy black haired Danny. I grinned slightly.

Was he really going to leave little Gracie behind? I never had any siblings, so I didn't know what it was like... but I knew that I wouldn't want to leave her behind to face the wrath of my Aunt Sade who had most likely seen this one coming. Was this her plan? I let out a sigh as I sat on a bar stool; all of this thinking was giving me a headache.

Danny raised an eyebrow at me as I took a seat on a stool at the kitchen table, and Gracie beamed at me. I took a quick glance at my surroundings and noticed that the two of them were dressed in the same attire as I was, though I was the only one fidgeting nervously. Should I tell them about once again calling my mother to me? I internally sighed, glancing at the clock. 2:47 A.M. - we definitely weren't leaving for another hour.

"Gracie, go make sure you've got everything under control on your end," Danny murmured quietly, giving his little sister a small nudge towards the long halls.

She smiled and nodded, still looking tired. "Will do, big brother. How many days shall we pack for?" she asked quietly, slinking off of her chair.

I watched their hushed exchange quietly, resting my elbows on the table and stifling a yawn.

Danny's eyes darkened, a look on his face that I hadn't seen before. "I wish you'd stay with Jewels, Gracie. It's not safe where we're going. I promise I'll bring mom and dad back to you," the last part was barely a whisper as he pulled her into a tight hug, and I turned my head. I felt like I was intruding on their moment.

My face felt hot, and I didn't feel like I belonged at that moment. I squirmed in my seat, looking at the black kitchen floor tiling.

"Gracie is staying with someone I trust," Danny finally said, causing me to jump a little. He chuckled, and I felt my face get even warmer as I realized I really hadn't been paying attention when Gracie had left the room.

I pushed my black hair out of my face. "How long are we packing for, though? And what would you suggest packing," I asked him, getting straight to the point, almost forgetting about what had happened when I first woke up.

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Pack sturdy and comfortable clothing. Jeans and tees, stuff like that. Magic doesn't have a rough time with cotton or denim, so that also helps."

That would explain why her spell the other night hasn't lasted long at all, I thought bitterly to myself. The dress that I was wearing was definitely not cotton or denim. It didn't feel like either of them, anyway, and it definitely didn't breathe as well as cotton did.

I nodded my head curtly. "Anything else I should pack?" I'd never been one for planning - I normally just threw what I could into a bag before I was noticed and left before my presence was missed.

I groaned internally, remembering my large messenger bag I'd had at the store when the two men began chasing me. It didn't hold anything too important, just clothing and a prepaid cell phone. What good the cell phone was I had no idea, it wasn't like I kept contact with anyone once I fled an area.

My groan must have left my thoughts, because Danny was eyeing me curiously once more. "We're going to need these," he said quietly, producing a touch screen cell phone.

My eyes widened slightly. Not even my phone had been this advanced. It was a simple, black little flip phone with a couple of numbers programmed into it. There wasn't even a camera. This? This had Internet, a camera, a GPS, and everything.

Take him far, far from cars...

"It has mine and Gracie's number programmed into it, and Jewels'. It's just a simple android phone, don't look at it like that, Laura," he scolded, laughing quietly. "Anyway. It has a GPS, and an app where you can track me by my phone too if ever you're lost and I'm not around. Same goes for me. We can't afford to lose each other. Though, we'll be going by car-"

I cut him off, my mother's words ringing through my mind, clear and urgent. "We really need to talk, Danny." My voice was as even as I could get it, but it still cracked with fear. I searched his face, looking for anything besides the obvious confusion.

I stood abruptly, grabbing his wrist and pulling him towards my bedroom. We couldn't risk anyone or anything hearing what I had to say, not yet.


Poking at the smoldering piece of wood in the fireplace, I began to tell Danny about how I'd called my mother to me again. I didn't know where to begin, but I chose to start with how I remembered those lights.

"They were so mesmerizing, and I pictured them in my mind perfectly. Suddenly, her shadow was there again. But this time, she was speaking in riddles. She told me to take you far, far from cars," I murmured, staring into the bright orange flames licking the wood in front of me.

"What I didn't understand is that she told me... She told me she didn't know where they're sending us. If they're sending us into the forest or the desert. Are we headed straight for a trap, Danny?" I demanded, turning my head quickly to face him where he sat across the room against the door watching me solemnly.

The cold air hit my face and I realized I was crying, again. I mentally cursed at myself for letting him see me so vulnerable. It shouldn't be this way...

He shook his head. "If I knew, you'd be the first person I'd tell, if that makes you feel any better," he murmured. Something flickered in his eyes, but as soon as I'd seen it, it was gone. Maybe I'm imagining things...

I'm the only person besides his sister that he can tell, I thought bitterly to myself. Who else is there? Jewels? I didn't even know her - she could be a witch hunter too. God I'm turning into a pessimist...

"Do you even know where we're going to go first?" I asked him after a few minutes of almost awkward silence. I don't have a plan at all, so someone should have one.. Right?

He nodded slowly. "I'm driving us south, there's a coven that's been tracking the trackers. Ironic, right? They've got leads, and a spy. They're willing to help out..," he trailed off, watching my expression carefully.

I looked at him in shock. Hadn't I just told him what my mother had said? She said to stay away from cars!

"Before you even open that mouth of yours," he spoke as I started to open my mouth, causing me to frown. "If it is a trap, they'll be expecting you to listen to her warning, because she's your mother. Just please hear me out before you go on and listen to everything she's saying, 'kay?" He raised an eyebrow at me, daring me to object.

Grumbling something unintelligible under my breath, I fiddled with my fingers, not looking at Danny. He took it as a sign to continue talking.

"I know you don't know me, Lauren," he paused and I gritted my teeth, "and I know that I can get under your skin. Believe me, you get under my skin too, just by being around me at times," he added almost bitterly.

I subconsciously shrunk away from him, returning my gaze to the fire.

He let out a sigh. "But there's something else. There's always something else, isn't there," he laughed anxiously. "I'm not telling to you trust me or anything like that... I'm asking you to. You don't have to, but, I mean... we're gonna be spending a lot of time together... it'd help if we had each other's backs and all. And I mean, I can teach you spells, too," he stuttered and stammered through all of his words, as if he didn't know what to say or how to say it. Where had all of his confidence gone?

Shaking my head, I let out an unsteady laugh. "Are you saying you don't think I'm good with spells?" I asked him, ignoring everything else that he'd said. I continued to stare straight ahead though, at the orange and blue flames that were slowly dying in the fireplace.

Danny chuckled. "Can you cast a spell without speaking the words and blowing your own cover," he asked me, his tone serious. When I didn't answer him right away, he chuckled once more. "Thought so. I can teach you how to do that, Laura, if you'd like," he told me. When he spoke, his voice sounded distant.

I looked up where he was suddenly, and he was crossing the room to the door now. "I'd appreciate it," I said softly, a sad smile on my lips. My mother would have been one to teach me spells, like she had tried when I was a child, before she'd been taken. And now, now there was this handsome boy taking her place with it... I mentally shook my head.

He grinned at me and nodded, leaving my room and leaving me in the cold silence of my thoughts.

Would my mother be proud of who I am today? Was I really that terrible with my spells that someone I barely knew even noticed, and has to help me with them?

Is he leading me into a trap?


A/N: Ladies and gents, it's been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry. Let's see, to recap why I haven't been writing... I got pregnant with my lovely 11 month old daughter Ashlynn, and lost all motivation to write, was put on bed-rest because I got preeclampsia and had extreme headaches so I couldn't look at my computer so I couldn't write even if I wanted to, and then when she was born she had quite a few health problems and was quite a hand full. As soon as I got caught up with everything and was able to write again, I started getting massive migraines again and had spots in my vision. I was diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri - which is too much fluid around your brain. So now, I've got distorted vision and all that good stuff, and my computer's magnifying thing is up to almost 200% right now so I can see to type, due to blind spots, haha. But I'm back! This is more of a filler chapter, since I'm getting back into the swing of this. I hope I still have my old readers and reviewers. I love you all, a lotttt. Now, on to getting me some constructive criticism? Pwease? :D