Maiden

By C.L. Marin

Tara secretly wished her estranged father would want her around, so when he unexpectedly contacted her, she agreed to get reacquainted. That wish turned into a nightmare.

She learned that she is an Authentic Witch—the Maiden of the Moodus Coven—and the key to obliterating the black magic Haddam coven. Tara’s mother took her into hiding when she was small in order to keep her alive but the Haddam’s found her. Now Tara must trust the help she’s found in her three close friends, one mystifying new love, and a father she barely knows as she fights for the life of her mother using a power she doesn’t yet understand.

And one of those trusts might cost Tara her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Teen
• Release date: Apr 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781772332612

Book preview

Chapter One

Damn her giant white-rimmed sunglasses. Sophie was one of my few close friends, but that didn’t stop me from wishing one of the escaped, whip-cracking hairs from her ponytail would snap her right in the eye. No chance, though … not with those obnoxious amber-tinted barriers on her face. I knew her well. Her silence thus far on our trip meant trouble.

"So tell me, Tara, why are we really going to your dad’s? She didn’t bother to stop filing her fingernails to ask me the question. There she sat, in the passenger’s seat of my Jeep with her feet propped on my glove-box, baking in the sun while the trees lining the highway whizzed past her profile. I mean, what exactly do you think you’re going to gain from this?"

I have no idea, I said. Most of the time, Sophie didn’t realize the poison her questions could inject into a person. More often than not she was selfish and sarcastic, but our friendship was based on a support system that could only be given by someone else whose father had abandoned her. Hey, if nothing else, we’re spending the weekend at Martha’s Vineyard, right?

Don’t get your hopes up. It’s just going to break your heart.

I’m not. The air rushed through my open Jeep and caught Sophie’s glasses just the right way to knock them into her lap. As she scrambled for them, and just as I wished, she got a hair square in the cornea. I have the best luck, like that. But what if this time, it’s for real…? Maybe he really wants to reconnect.

"I knew it, Sophie yelled over the wind, and dropped her bare feet heavy onto my floorboard. Turning, she pointed her nail file at me like a sword and then yelled some more. I knew you were going to get all mushy about your dad inviting you to spend a weekend with him. Damn it, Tara, haven’t you learned anything from me in the eight years we’ve been friends? Sophie grabbed her Diet Coke from the center console and took a swig. Some condensation shook free from the plastic bottle and landed on my knee. We sail in there, take whatever the rich old man wants to give us, then we sail out." She placed her drink back in the cup holder and swiped her hands together twice as if she were dusting them off.

****

Woods Hole hummed with the energy of carefree vacationers and charming locals, all shopping and gallivanting about. It was wonderful to see these streets again. They seemed to welcome me back. I imagined the parades of people on the street were all here to celebrate Benjamin’s coming-to-his-senses, his recognition of me, and his love for me. Hopefully.

Our two-hour drive from Harvard, Massachusetts barely put a dent in the immense playlist on Sophie’s iPod, but it did turn my pale shoulders a dark pink. It was so early on in summer, maybe taking the hardtop off my Rubicon wasn’t the best idea.

I took advantage of the first red light we came to. Can you get me the sunscreen? Sophie was too busy fixing her hair so I leaned across her and popped open the glove-box to get the bottle myself. The warm lotion poured out faster than I’d expected. Just as the light turned green, I was slathered in coconut-scented heaven.

We rolled down the streets, and any scant sighting of a Coast Guard boy sent Sophie into sexy face mode. In her mind the pursed lips, and lifted chin, made her look unattainable and therefore desirable––but to me the brooding mask made her look like a bitch. I’d stopped trying to understand her methods years ago.

Awesome, a ferry’s here. I inadvertently flung my arm across Sophie’s face as I pointed towards the dock. I think we can catch this one.

Fantastic. Now get your arm out of my face. You’re blocking everyone’s view.

Forty-five minutes on that bad boy and we’ll be in vacation land.

****

Summer had come on fast, leaving the cooler spring waters of the ocean to play catch-up. The two-lane road we drove, that hugged the Vineyard Haven coastline, was in the path of a breeze off the water. It granted us relief from the insufferable heat, but not enough to keep a few sweat beads from trickling down my face and spreading into the crease of my closed lips. I didn’t mind. One gentle, subconscious lick of my lips, and another fantastic layer became added to my vacation getaway—the taste of the sea.

It’s like another world here, Sophie said.

We turned off the main road and onto a long, winding path shaded by branches that arched overhead forming a kind of living tunnel. It was like opening a refrigerator door. The temperature must have dropped ten degrees in the shade—even the humidity disappeared. In all actuality, the one-lane path was my father’s driveway, but Benjamin’s mansion and all its amazing architecture—as well as the detailed landscaping—was hidden behind the woods.

Here, the trees grew tall yet not very broad, and they stood close enough together to block all but a few patchy, pinpoint sunbeams, but not so close it made hiking difficult. I was fourteen the last time I tried visiting Benjamin. My dad––strange as that was to say. I walked into these very trees, wrapped my fingers around one of them, and squeezed until my knuckles cracked, pretending it was Benjamin’s neck. No matter how hard I squeezed, I couldn’t make him love me.

Is it just me or is this place creepy? Sophie muttered. It’s probably just me. As you know, I stay as far away from nature as I can. She laughed a short, awkward laugh and shrugged in my direction.

We’re almost to Benjamin’s. Don’t freak just yet.

Our ride was slow, and the pitiful amount of light the leaves let in caused my eyes to widen. I looked and saw Sophie doing the same. It seemed my senses elevated to a supernatural level. I heard every leaf crunch and stick pop under my tires with perfect clarity. There were no obvious threats, yet it was like by instinct I kicked into survival mode, gripping my steering wheel tight, turning my attention in the direction of every little noise with cat-like reflexes. Sophie too. When a stick cracked or a bird shrieked, she clung a little harder to the edge of her seat.

The air was heavy with the sweet smell of Benjamin’s gardens. Contrasting aromas of herbs and vegetation melted together. I tried to dissect them, to label the individual scents, as I looked around at the tapestry of shadowed colors—each one very distinct, and more vibrant than anything I’d ever seen in art class. They painted the trees and rocks and moss all around me.

We’re getting the pool house, right? Sophie kept watch on the overhanging limbs like she expected a serial killer to leap out at any moment. I don’t want to pick from the seven hundred bedrooms he has.

Seven, seven hundred … who’s counting? I said, with a jovial tone, trying not to let my nerves shake into my voice.

Passing from a dirt path to the bricks of the circle driveway jarred us a little. When my head quit bobbing I focused on an elaborate water fountain directly in my line of sight. The sculpture was of a mermaid who appeared to be breeching from a small patch of grass in the center of the crisscrossed patterned drive. Her slender, marble arms stretched towards the fiery sun, and from the center of each palm pushed a calm jet of water about five inches high. It flowed over her long carved hair, torso, and curled fish tail. She was almost as big as I was. Because my mother was such a collector of rocks, and because she shared everything with me, I could tell the hair was set with amber and ammolite stones, the scales with serpentine, and two large hematite rocks sat in the eye sockets. It was a beautiful, sparkling piece of art––until you got to the steel-black of her eyes.

Wow, Sophie blurted out. That’s a lot of windows.

I eased down on the brake until the Jeep came to a smooth standstill. Sophie and I sat motionless, staring at the grandeur of the house. The spotless floor-to-ceiling windows on every side were oddly exposing for such a private man.

Just keeping those windows clean would be a full-time job. Sophie shook her head just imagining that amount of housework. I almost feel sorry for the guy.

Don’t feel too sorry, I said as I lightly pressed the gas pedal. I’m sure the task falls to his housekeeper or his gardener.

Any part of the house that wasn’t glass was sided with gray, weathered planks, apart from the lower one-third of the front which had rustic stone cascading out at either corner, blending into two small walls. They reached out then curved back in, like outstretched arms giving a cold, rigid hug.

On the inside of one arm was a koi pond with a small waterfall constructed of flat rocks stacked one on top of another. The opposite wall protected a beautiful garden of herb, some plants flowering, some not. I recognized a few as sage and snapdragons, but others could have been weeds for all I knew. Blanketing the remainder of the property were lavender bushes, columbine flowers and other perfume-y plants. Everywhere I looked, it was manicured chaos. Even the wild ivy vines that grew on the stone walls seemed to know to stay on the mortar roads holding the large rocks in place.

It’s more beautiful than I remember. We rolled to a stop next to the front steps. I put the Jeep in park.

How could your mom leave all this?

All this? I coughed and laughed at the same time. I could tell I offended Sophie by the way her eyes shot daggers at me. Listen… Shifting my knees to the right helped me look her dead in the face. "I don’t remember much about living here, but I do remember the loneliness. Benjamin was never home. The only people at my dinner table were myself and Mom. I pivoted back and pulled the handle to unlatching my door. Oh, I said, looking over my shoulder. And there was one other person in the house—Sweep."

Sweep?

Housekeeper. I don’t know her real name. I’ve just always called her that. I wrenched myself around even more, and poked Sophie’s leg with my index finger. But not to her face, got it? We slipped out of our seats and onto the warm brick. She never talks, at least not to me … she sort of travels through the shadows, you know? You’ll hardly ever see her. But if you want something, you’ll have it before you get a chance to ask for it.

We looked at the house as it glowed in the yellow fire of the afternoon sun. Then, as if by its own recourse, the front door slowly swung open and a head peeked out. Not the whole head, just enough of a head for its left eye to appear.

Uh, Tar? Sophie’s voice caught in her throat. The head vanished behind the oak fortress. What the hell was that? She didn’t move her fixed eyes one millimeter when she asked her steely question.

Sweep. I giggled. The keeper of the house.

Creepy.

Yeah, well, she’s always like that. I didn’t attempt to reassure Sophie. Sweep was creepy, and there was no sugar-coating it.

We entered the empty living room. Sweep was gone.

Is your dad even home?

Sharp steps of hard-heeled shoes clacked against the shiny wooden floors from the other room. Benjamin appeared through an arched entry, and though I’d been around him less than a handful of times, I’d never seen him so informal—having his cuffs rolled up to his forearms and his collar button undone. There wasn’t a single wrinkle on him. His smooth, black pants didn’t even have those creases one gets at their knee-pits from sitting at a computer all day.

Tara. Benjamin’s arms opened wider with every gliding step he took towards me. It is so wonderful to see you. It’s been far too long. Then, in a most out of character gesture, he hugged me. Not the kind of hug Sophie gives her thousand-year-old grandmother, like her skin is actually wet tissue paper… No. It was a real hug.

It took a minute for me to realize what he was doing but when it finally began to sink in, I pulled my arms in a gradual lift to hug him back—like one might hug a cactus. I suppose it should’ve felt wonderful, but I was too preoccupied with trying to recall a time when Benjamin had ever hugged me to appreciate the kindness. Nope. I couldn’t find any memory of a single real hug.

Dad, the place looks great, I said with hesitation. It was all I could think to say. Benjamin released me but right away, clasped my upper arms in his giant hands, and stepped back. He looked at me. Right into my eyes. I’m sure it was the first time.

Tara, you are so lovely. He hugged me again—another real hug. I have missed you.

Never would I have expected that from Benjamin, not in a million years. I hated that my mind was stuck on things like: What’s going on here? What does he want? But no matter how skeptical I was, the hug felt good.

I tried to edge off the awkwardness with an introduction. Dad, this is Sophie.

Benjamin stepped away from me and greeted Sophie with grace. Sophie, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope you're doing well, he said, polite as ever.

Hey, there … Mr. Barr. Sophie stuttered, and laughed, and nearly tripped while stepping forward to receive his handshake. I’m doing all-kay, I’m mean, o-right… Sophie looked down at the floor, widened her eyes for just a second as she cleared her throat, and then focused on Benjamin once again. I’m fine, thank you. So where’s the pool house?

Benjamin and I looked to one another at the same time. I imagined my face was bent up as funny as his because he looked as confused as I was at Sophie’s rattled behavior. She was a hot mess.

I’ll escort you there myself in just a moment, Benjamin said. I’ve had my housekeeper prepare a light dinner for you both, it should already be waiting for you in the kitchenette. And the refrigerator is stocked with food as well. Benjamin looked at me with tenderness—something I’d never seen before. It is so wonderful to have you home, Tara.

Home?

Yes, good to be home, Sophie said, clapping her hands together. I’ll get the bag. She spun around but stopped in her tracks after she saw my empty truck beyond the front door we’d neglected to close. Where’d the bags go?

You’ll want for nothing with me, Benjamin said as he led us deeper into the house. I’m having a business party here tomorrow night around the pool. You’ll find some things in your quarters, in case you didn’t bring anything formal. Benjamin walked with the most genuine grin plastered to his face.

We made it to the back yard and Sophie kicked her plastic flip-flops off immediately. She looked like a child entering Disney World as she darted across the warm slate of Benjamin’s bi-level patio. The mosaic piece of art reached out and surrounded the crystal clear pool. There were just a few carefully schemed patches of grass around the pool house, giving the illusion that it was a separate single-family home.

Benjamin and I walked behind Sophie while she skipped and jumped. I was thankful I was able to talk her into coming. She’s not one for family get-togethers, and I never blamed her for that. Her alcoholic father beat her and her mother all the time. I felt sorry for her.

My stroll was halted abruptly when Benjamin’s strong hand planted on my shoulder. You go ahead and make yourself at home, Sophie, he yelled out to her. I’m going to catch up with Tara. Breakfast is at nine-thirty tomorrow. Out here on the patio.

NP, Mr. Barr. TY, Sophie said without looking back.

Benjamin was easily a foot taller than I, and leaned down to whisper. What did she just say to me?

Oh, right…she tends to text-talk. She said no problem. Thank you.

Of course, he said with a quick smirk before turning to go back inside. I followed close. It’s been almost four years since you’ve been here. What’s going on in your life? He walked us back through the kitchen and foyer. We ended up in the sitting room. He nodded to the chair he wished me to sit in while he poured himself a scotch. "Any new, interesting, occurrences happening with you…around you…to you…that you want to tell me about?"

Uncomfortable was something I was prepared to feel but the confusion creeping in was throwing me off. Interesting? Not really. I rubbed the palms of my hands over the bare skin of my lap, hoping to produce a bit of warmth from the friction. It was a meat locker in Benjamin’s house. Well, I’m graduating soon … so I guess that’s interesting.

Again, Benjamin’s shoes clacked against the floor as he moved to the chair on the opposite side of the coffee table. I’m aware, honey. I’m positive you feel I’m just living my life down here not giving you a single thought—I’ve given you little reason to feel otherwise—but I know what goes on with you. I know you received an award last month for all of your volunteer work you do at the animal shelter in Harvard. He raised his glass to me before taking down the last dribble of iced-down alcohol.

You knew about that, eh? I hoped he didn’t hear my sarcasm because as I was speaking I wondered if he knew about how I was up all night, my mom by my side, last month throwing up. Or how two years ago I was bitten by a stray dog that just ran up to me, bit my hand, and then ran away? Mom and I spent three hours in the emergency room after that.

Oh yes. And I understand if you don’t believe me. Benjamin stood and went back to the bar. You’ll believe me soon enough. I’d like for us to be closer, and I’m willing to put in effort towards that. He lifted the scotch-filled, crystal decanter.

You don’t need to drink to hold an honest conversation with me, do you? I asked.

Just then, the crystal fell from Benjamin’s grip. It shattered as it hit the hardwood, splattering the potent liquid and pointy shards around him. I wondered if he’d be mad, but he simply looked up at me and smiled a large grin. He set down his glass, crunched the crystals under the expensive soles of his shoes, and sat back down.

Haven’t you ever wondered about your family, Tara?

I wonder about you. I know everything there is to know about Mom. Beyond that, I’ve never really thought about my family.

You don’t know anything, he laughed.

Fury simmered but one more insult beneath my calm exterior. Who was this man to tell me I know nothing about anything? My right leg began bouncing like it does when I stifle my emotions. So tell me something I don’t know about my mom. My sharp words were meant to deflate his arrogant balloon. But they seemed to breathe more wind into his smug self.

Okay, then. He sat back, crossed his legs, and folded his hands over his knees as he looked aimlessly into the air. Then a thought came to him. Your mother’s extended family is a long, hardy line that begins with kings and queens of Ireland.

What? My leg fell still.

Yes, ma’am. We are special people, Tara. We have capabilities you couldn’t possibly comprehend at this stage of the game.

I heard the clinks and scrapes of the broken decanter, and I turned to see Sweep leaving the room. The mess was gone. My attention snapped back to Benjamin. What kind of capabilities? And exactly what game are we playing? Before I knew it, I was on the edge of my seat.

I have an obligation to you, Tara, to lead you in the right direction in life. At first I thought it was best to let your mother hide you away––even from me––but things have gotten, well, to be honest… He repositioned himself on the edge of his seat as well. Things have gotten out of balance. You’re quite special.

My face flushed but I couldn’t tell if it was embarrassment or anger washing the blood into my cheeks. Not really, but…

Yes, really. You can’t tell me you don’t feel it.

Feel what? The only thing I’m feeling is confused. I stood, and as I did, I felt a vibration in my pocket. A text message.

Benjamin got up as well, and was around the coffee table standing next to me, faster than it seemed he should have been. When you wish hard enough for something, doesn’t it usually find its way to you?

How would he know something like that?

The scotch, Tara. Was it a coincidence that it fell from my hands and shattered after you’d just wished I’d have to confront you stone sober?

My phone vibrated again. As nonchalantly as I could, I moved my foot closer to the arched doorway, shifted my weight, and slid my other leg back underneath myself. What else could it be but coincidence?

Benjamin laid his palm on the side of my face, cradling my jaw. Say no more, my dear. He took me in his arms. "I can tell by the way you asked me if it could be anything else, that you have a lot of these coincidences, right? Benjamin held me so tightly that he felt the vibration of the third notification my phone sent me that someone was desperately trying to get a hold of me. He looked down at my pocket as he stepped away from me. You know what? We can finish this tomorrow. You should get back to Sophie." He couldn’t stop smiling.

Yeah, I said, as I pulled the cellular out and jostled it in my hand. That’s probably her.

Chapter Two

As soon as I took two steps out of the sitting room, and I was sure I was out of his sight, I focused on the screen of my phone. I missed more notifications than I was aware of—fifteen, to be exact. All of them said the same thing. Get back to the pool house!

I charged through the rest of the house as if Sophie’s life depended on it. After that crazy conversation I’d just had, I wasn’t too sure it didn’t.

She was in the middle of the room, shadowing the immaculate Caribbean decor and the fabulous spread of fine meats and cheeses, dressed to the hilt. Squeals exploded from her when she saw me. Oh my God, Tara, these are Alberta Ferretti’s. She was lifting the skirt of her new dress, and tapping on the shoulder of a mannequin wearing what I assumed to be my dress. Do you have any idea what an Alberta Ferretti costs?

With little effort at all, she raised one leg to show me the new heels she had on. "Jimmy Choo shoes," she cried out, even louder than before.

How are you even standing in those things? I questioned as I stepped the rest of the way in, closing the door behind me.

Sophie’s heavy breathing was the only noise she made as she pointed out the little blue Tiffany’s boxes on the coffee table. A shallow exhale left her lungs like a silk handkerchief pulled from the cuff of a Duke. I need a drink.

I removed the Elsenham water bottle from the ice-filled champagne bucket on the coffee table, and poured her a glass.

Sit down. Drink this. Breathe, I ordered.

These dresses are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, Tara, Sophie said in between sips. How did he know?

I told him you were coming.

But…how did he…?

Pick out such perfect dresses? I should have apologized for my placidness but those gifts, those pay-offs, they were all too familiar. Benjamin sent a lot of gifts by personal carrier. Yes, Benjamin went to great lengths to disassociate himself from me. Well, he asked me what you looked like, and I told him. He probably hired a wardrobe coordinator to match the dresses with our hair and eye colors.

I’m liking this guy more and more.

Well, don’t. I felt my cheeks begin to burn. He’s still the guy who abandoned me. The guy who knew where I lived but never visited.

And now he’s the guy who’s trying to suggest he knows me better than I know myself.

Whatever, Sophie said with bitter sarcasm. At least you didn’t have to wait for him to get arrested so you and your mom could run halfway across the United States to get away from him.

I felt my hot face, my pounding heart, my dry mouth, and wondered what it would be like to be in the same room with my father without triggering those physical responses. My steps to Sophie were sluggish and rueful. "When are we going to stop playing this game of ‘whose dad sucks the most’?" I plopped onto the sofa next to her.

Um … today, and I win. Sophie took another drink of the smooth water.

She was probably right, but acknowledging Benjamin wasn’t the worst dad in the world wasn’t something I was ready to do just yet.

We ate the creamy cheeses and most of the fruit, which was probably garnishment but was delicious just the same, as we paraded around in our heels. I was a bobbling fool, while Sophie looked like she’d walked in stilettos her whole life.

Her dress was knee-length, emerald green silk layered with chiffon, and pleated at the waistline. The V-neck was low but not inappropriate. I looked over my dress, and decided it was actually very beautiful: brilliant white silk, also with chiffon overlay—tiered—miniskirt length. The deep scoop neckline had a golden chainmail bib adorned with jewels the size of my thumb. It was exceedingly over the top, all of it, but for Benjamin everything was about money.

But then again…he’d hugged me. A real hug. My throat tightened and my eyes became moist. Where is this coming from? I wasn’t sure, but I also wasn’t going to cry about a man I hardly knew.

Tar, I don’t care what kind of dick that guy’s been to you, you’d be an idiot to turn your back on all of this. Sophie scanned the room, lingering on each and every expensive item in there. It was then I knew she’d never understand.

****

The stinging spray of the shower was hot, and I stood with my palms flat against the tile ahead of me trying to decide if it hurt or felt good. The scalding water was almost meditating. Why did you come here? I wanted to forgive him. I wanted to forget all the birthdays when he wasn’t there, all of the dances, and all the times I needed a dad. But I realized if I wanted him back in my life I’d have to let it all go. All of it. If there’s anyone out there listening to me … help me let go. Help me love him. The burning water splashed on my moving lips, and ran from my mouth as I spoke to an empty room. Funny thing though: I was the only one in there, but it didn’t feel like I was alone.

I was the most relaxed I’d been in weeks when I put on the thick, fluffy bathrobe before going back to my room. Just when I thought the robe was the most wonderful thing I’ve ever put against my skin, I slipped in between the cream-colored silky sheets of my bed.

Even with the comforts of the extravagance around me, I couldn’t sleep. Benjamin was implying my good luck wasn’t just luck. He knew I knew what he was talking about. If I just ignored him, maybe he’d just drop it. Yes, it’d be nice to know about my extended family, but I was graduating from Bromfield High in a couple of weeks … that was stressful enough.

Anyone who hated being the center of attention would tell you the same. Walking across a stage—in heels, in front of half the town—was sheer torture. But now, on top of that, I have royal family and the ability to make my wishes come true? This all had to be a joke.

Rolling on my side and pulling the butter-like sheet over my shoulders didn’t put a stop to my insomnia. It merely shook a new topic to the forefront. Does Benjamin really miss me? Of course he misses me. I’m his daughter. I hated the part of me that couldn’t trust him, especially while