Secrets of Shadow Hill

By S.P. Cervantes

Twin sisters Ava and Hannah were ripped from their peaceful seeming lives into a whirlwind of attacks and war only to learn the real truth about their existence.

Nothing was as it seemed anymore and may never be again. They had already lost their father in childhood now they have to cope with their mother’s kidnapping as they watch those sworn to protect them risk their lives.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.P. Cervantes
• Release date: Aug 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536524383

Book preview

Shadow Hill

My life was a lonely one. One would think that being a Chosen One, and having the respect of the high wizards of Shadow Hill, would fill the hole left in my life when my parents died, but I don’t think anything or anyone will ever do that for me. My parents were wizards too, but decided on a life outside of the world of magic. I never knew they had the gift until after they died in a car accident and my life was changed forever. It was then that Connor came and took me to live with him, here in Shadow Hill. Connor was the Grand Wizard of Shadow Hill Academy, where I now live and work. He became a father figure to me, and I became his apprentice.

It was on my tenth birthday when I learned I was a Chosen One and had powers that were far stronger than most. Life moved fast back then, and instead of spending my time riding bikes with friends and playing video games, I was learning how to control my powers.

Having the powers of a Chosen One meant I was able to deceive enchanters, perform most any spell, and had combat skills far beyond those of anyone in our coven. I spent the next ten years perfecting my craft and burying away the thought of sadness that plagued me since my parents’ deaths. My life’s goal had become to protect any others from feeling the deep scars of the memory that haunted me every time I saw my parents’ lives slip away before my eyes. I wanted to use my powers for one thing and one thing only: to save lives.

I was given the honor of being an instructor last year on my twentieth birthday. It was the best present I could have asked for. My life had become wizardry.

Now I stood at the doors of my cottage, watching the graceful, gentle waves on the River Shannon and thinking about the distressing conversation I had with Connor. He spoke with such concern and conviction; I knew I had to do everything in my power to get the girl he spoke of back here safely.

Connor had interrupted my lesson on levitating objects that fateful day. Levitation lessons were always fun because most of my students were just learning the extent of their powers. Wizards in our coven realize their powers at different ages and only then are they invited into our magical society.

As I pointed my wand toward the oversized chair I had floating elegantly over my desk, I felt Connor’s thoughts enter mine. Dalton, you must come see me right away. It is of the utmost importance. Aiden is coming for you.

I hated when he did that without warning. My concentration broke; the chair crashed onto my desk. My students broke out into laughter, not realizing a cryptic message had just unwillingly entered my mind.

All right, everyone. Break into pairs and practice levitation. Start small, like a pencil, and I’ll be back shortly, I instructed dutifully.

Aiden was waiting for me when I walked out of my classroom. He’s been my best friend since I came here and has been one of the few who has broken through the wall that protected my heart, although he didn’t give me much of a choice. When I first came to Shadow Hill, he’d show up unannounced and force me to go out and have fun with the other kids. The truth was, he helped me to find some joy in life again. As much of a fun-loving person as Aiden was, his seriousness and dedication to our craft was what drew me most to him. Aiden was also a very powerful wizard, who was well-respected by all of us. Aiden’s tall, muscular build would intimidate most people, let alone wizards. However, it was dwarfed by the strength and power he possessed. When Aiden cast a spell, it would be double the power of any other wizard. Aiden was always on the front lines of any battle because of his thirst for competition and superior skills.

We walked slowly down the long, dim hallway toward Connor’s office; I heard the quiet whispers of Connor and another woman. These were the times that I wished I could enter minds like Connor. The whispering suddenly stopped and I realized Connor knew I had arrived.

Connor’s office in Shadow Hill was covered with magnificent decorations and priceless antiques. It made me nervous just being in there. The walls were covered in artwork, all reflecting our history of wizardry. Connor had been Grand Wizard of Shadow Hill for over two hundred and thirty years and has taught some of the best wizards in the world. There are many different types of wizards walking this earth; however, our coven was considered one of the most powerful in the world.

Connor stood in front of his large picture window that looked upon River Shannon with a startlingly tall woman dressed in a long, silver cloak that brushed the deep oak floors. She was an enchanter. I had a sense for those with enchanting abilities; they had a sweet smell that seemed fitting for a talent such as enchantment. Enchanters have the ability to alter the moods and actions of people around them. Most enchanters can affect thoughts of others and use illusions to their advantage. I was grateful that I was one of the few who could repel these powers. Her golden hair glistened in the sun as she hastily walked past me to shut the heavy doors. She moved with such speed and grace that I hardly realized what she had done.

I looked to Connor and I knew instantly that this was very bad by the telling wrinkles above his brow. He walked swiftly to my side. Dalton, Aiden, thank you for coming so quickly. He turned to me with a sly smile. Sorry about the chair. I’ll have it replaced by the morning, he said, referring to my levitation lesson gone wrong.

Don’t worry about the chair. What is going on? I scanned both of their faces for answers.

I don’t have time for proper introductions. My sister-in-law, Contessa, has arrived from America and alerted me of a serious situation. Connor gestured to the enchanter beside him. She has informed me there are girls who are in grave danger. They are my granddaughters and thought to be Chosen Ones, as you are, Dalton and Aiden. They have not yet realized their powers, and their mother has done everything she could to hide the magic inside them from being realized. Their mother, Victoria, was a student here many years ago and was married to my son Balthazar.

Connor motioned for us all to take our seats as he hastily tried to fill us in on a decade of Shadow Hill history that was known to only a few.

The Sabatino coven has somehow been made aware of the girls’ existence and is planning to take them. Contessa is sure their goal is to enchant them to join their coven. This is something they had tried to achieve with my son Balthazar, and that was how we lost him. Connor’s eyes filled with rage, but his voice remained calm.

The Sabatino coven only ever has one goal: to become the strongest and most powerful coven in the world. Connor’s explanation concerned me. He rarely worried about our conflicts with the Sabatinos; they were a blip on the screen to him in most situations.

The Sabatino coven was the opposite of ours. They practiced black magic and used enchantment to deceive all those they meet. There have been many battles between their group and ours over the centuries. However, a treaty was reached almost a hundred years ago that has helped maintain relative peace between covens. This treaty was signed by all covens around the world. Our coven and the Sabatino coven were the most powerful in number and ability.

Contessa leaned toward both of us and whispered in a voice so soft, it sounded as if she were singing. Their names are Ava and Hannah Fox. They are identical twins. They seem to only be after Ava at this point. We are not sure why they aren’t seeking out Hannah yet, but she will need to be kept safe as well. They look too much alike. Both are descendants of Chosen Ones.

Connor interjected reassuringly, Dalton, you are the only one with the ability to thwart enchanters. I am sure Olivia will be one of their hunters because she is the strongest known enchanter. They will use her to their advantage in order to quietly take Ava into their coven. They will not want to make it known to other covens that they are breaking the Treaty. With your superior combat abilities and Aiden by your side, I know this can be accomplished safely, without incident.

Missions to protect our coven and the rest of society against evil was common for Shadow Hill, but Connor rarely had me involved in something so important and secret. Honor and excitement surged through me.

Connor wiped his forehead, as if exhausted with worry as he waited for my response.

Say no more, you two. This is just the adventure I had been waiting for. I was filled with pride knowing Connor trusted me enough and thought me powerful enough to help protect our coven’s savior.

Connor interrupted my thoughts. You must be discreet when you arrive. You cannot let Ava or her sister know you are watching them. Victoria doesn’t want them enlightened to our world unless absolutely necessary. Magic brought her much sadness and despair; she feels it’s the only way to protect her girls from the same fate. When we give you word that the Sabatinos are ready to make their move, you will have to take both girls back here immediately so that they will have our protection. We cannot let the Sabatinos get the girls in their control. I have spoken to their mother, Victoria, and she wants the girls to try to go to their graduation in a few weeks. She did not want this life for her daughters, which is why she left Shadow Hill. She had hoped that they would not inherit this gift.

So where are they? I asked, ready for our mission.

They’re in America. Well, New Jersey, to be exact.

I was surprised to learn they were being hidden in the exact place where I lived the short time I was in America with my parents. I had hoped to never return there.

Connor got up from the couch and walked once again to the window. I noticed how almost translucent his skin was in the sunlight. It was easy to forget he was so old considering wizards age at a snail’s pace. His hands were pressed tightly to the temples of his head and I knew he was having a vision.

He turned quickly to me. I will need you and Aiden to depart within the week. I want you to get there as soon as possible. Contessa has a small house in their neighborhood that you can both stay in. She had taken charge to keep watch over Victoria and the girls since they arrived in America after your parents’ death. She and her nephew, Dominic, are to be trusted.

For the next several days, Aiden, Connor, Contessa, and I intensely planned our strategies, making sure we covered every possible scenario. We looked over maps of their neighborhoods, pictures of friends, and identified their hangout spots. I was still shocked by the news of Connor’s family living discreetly in a small town so far away from here. Far away from the wonder that comes with living in Shadow Hill.

I stood on the dock of my lonely cottage on the river and waited for Aiden to embark on our mission. I looked around my living room, noticing how impersonal it was. My blue-gray walls accented with deep oak were scattered with artwork chosen by Maureen, Connor’s sister. She had always treated me like a son and took it upon herself to decorate my place when I moved in last year. I had no pictures from my life before Shadow Hill—or any other place, for that matter—other than one picture of my parents in the hallway. I spent most of my time studying and practicing. It was all that had mattered to me since my parents’ deaths. Magic was the one thing I could do to make me feel connected to them.

When Aiden finally arrived for our journey, I was relieved. I could not wait to go on an adventure, unaware of the dire situation we were actually facing. Aiden walked into my room with two large suitcases and a huge smile on his face.

Ready to go? Aiden slapped my back, as eager as I was to be on our first mission together. I would enjoy the change of living in the real world for a while. Aiden and I were on our way to New Jersey and the Fox girls in a flash of light.

At First Sight

We had been at Contessa’s house in Bricktown for only two days before we got word that there had been sightings of the Sabatinos in the area. Aiden had been doing most of the patrolling, keeping a close eye on the girls since we arrived. I was busy making arrangements and reviewing our plans on how to get the girls out of here without being noticed by the Sabatinos. Even though I was immune to most of the enchanting powers of the Sabatinos, none of the others I was with were. They could easily be put under a spell and be forced to follow their direction, with no control over their own minds if that was what the Sabatinos wanted. We needed to avoid a confrontation in these parts as much as possible in order to maintain our anonymity.

Contessa’s house was in the same neighborhood as the Fox girls and was much smaller and rustic than what Aiden and I were used to living in. My cottage in Ireland was three times the size of this, making my place at home seem more like a castle than a cottage.

The first night Aiden returned from watching the girls, he had the same fun-loving grin he had when we had left for America. He threw open the heavy wooden door with ease and walked smugly to the couch.

"So, do I have some good news!" He rested both thick arms on the shoulder of the worn old couch while he waited for me to guess what the news could possibly be.

After several moments of silence, Aiden couldn’t wait any longer. They—are—hot! Aiden then licked his index finger, touched his shoulder and made a sizzling sound.

I knew they were nice-looking girls from the pictures Connor had shown us, so I wasn’t sure why he was classifying this as news. Aiden, it doesn’t matter how good-looking they are. We are here to keep them safe and protect the Treaty. If the Sabatinos were to get hold of Ava and have her join their coven, all of us would surely be facing war. I tried to keep Aiden focused on our task. The survival of Shadow Hill could depend on us.

I needed some air and didn’t want to talk about the physical attributes of the teenagers we were here to protect. I was trying to remain focused on our mission and protecting our coven. I suddenly began to feel too closed in in this small place and decided I would go out on patrol myself tonight and get some fresh air. We knew it was only a matter of days before the Sabatinos made their move. I wanted to be familiar with the neighborhood firsthand.

I was instantly hit with a strong scent of pine when I stepped onto the large wooden porch that surrounded the house. Everywhere I looked, houses were completely immersed in large pine and oak trees. Ava’s house was a block away from ours, making it very easy to track her every move. It was a cool summer evening here in Bricktown, reminding me of back home in Ireland.

I approached the Fox house and saw Ava step out onto her porch, closing a bright-red door behind her. Her long, sandy-blonde hair hung over her face, making it hard to see her eyes, but I could sense she was very upset. As I walked closer, I was struck by another very powerful aroma. I felt as if I had just stepped into a strawberry field bursting with a scent so sweet, it made my mouth water. I realized instantly that Ava had enchanting abilities. To look at her was enchanting enough, but that fragrance was intoxicating. I tried not to let myself pay attention to the fact that Aiden was right—she was beautiful beyond words.

I quickly reminded myself why I was here and flew up into a tree a couple of feet ahead so I could stay out of sight but still keep a good eye on our surroundings. The wind gusted past us, blowing her hair back over her face, and I could see she was in pain. She wrapped her slender arms across her purple button-down shirt and walked slowly, seemingly unaware of anything around her. I could tell she didn’t realize I was following her. She seemed deep in her thoughts, listening to music. Aiden had said that the Fox girls were good-looking, but this was an understatement. Ava’s long body was overshadowed by the innocent beauty of her face. Most of those with enchanting abilities are beautiful; it is part of their seduction, I reminded myself.

Her crystal-blue eyes were filled with worry as she walked down the long shady street toward a large wooded area. The perfect target. If Connor was correct, the Sabatinos had someone watching her too, waiting for the best opportunity to strike.

Ava slowly walked through the forest and I thought it best if I went around so that she would not hear the crackling of leaves beneath my feet. I didn’t like having her out of my sight for any point in the woods, but I remembered how important Connor said it was to keep our presence unknown to her unless there were no other options. He said he owed it to Victoria.

Connor was always very respectful and compassionate, which made him such a good leader. I did not question him when he told me my boundaries.

I ran through the other side of the woods, zigzagging around trees and jumping over rocks and fallen branches. The damp leaves on the ground would make others slip or lose their footing. Not me; my speed left my feet hardly touching the ground.

I glided through the dense woods and wondered why she had chosen such a secluded place to go by herself. Evil wizards or not, this was not safe for any girl alone this time of night. I came upon a clearing and noticed a large faded green water tower standing ominously in the middle of the densely packed forest, like a raven sending its warning.

Ava was already lying on a large pile of leaves when I reached her: her delicate arms stretched out to her sides, eyes closed. The wind made the leaves gently dance around her perfect body as if they could hear the music she was listening to. She looked so peaceful, so breakable…like an angel.

I stood, motionless, and watched her as she lay peacefully, giggling quietly to herself as she dreamed. I noticed for the first time the delicate dimples she had when she smiled. The sun was beginning to set and the air had more of a chill than when we got here. The time had melted away.

My thoughts were quickly interrupted by a loud growling sound. The growl went from sounding human to a deep, foul, terrifying rumble of excitement. I knew instantly that was our enemy. I wondered what form they had taken to capture Ava. The Sabatinos rarely did anything in their human form. They thrived on the fear they instilled in their victims by changing forms.

Ava sat up quickly; she ripped her earphones off and threw them an inch from where I was hiding. Her eyes were full of fear.

Suddenly, an enormous creature emerged from the clearing and charged straight at Ava. My heart raced as I ran from the opposite side of the clearing as fast as I could to get there before the creature. Although I could run much faster than a mortal, so could this creature if it were truly a member of the Sabatino coven. This was going to make for a much more difficult fight.

The creature was closing in on Ava quickly, its evil red eyes fixed on its prey. I wasn’t sure I could make it in time. Overwhelming fear shot through my entire body. I wasn’t just failing Connor; I was failing our coven.

Ava stood, frozen. I started to yell for her to run when she suddenly lifted her shaking arms and yelled at the creature. Right then, the creature was frozen in midair and Ava fell to the ground, unconscious.

Unexpectedly, Aiden ran through the clearing at full speed. He instantly pounced on the creature, breaking it from its frozen form, and dragged him back into the woods. He knew we had to get this creature out of the clearing in case anyone else showed up. I knew Aiden could handle it, and I had to get Ava out of here safely. This was the moment we had been planning for. No words needed to be shared between Aiden and me; we knew what we had to do.

Often times, magical powers manifest themselves in times of need, and this was obviously what had happened to Ava. I just wasn’t sure why she was unconscious and hoped that she had not been hurt.

After Aiden dragged the creature to the woods, I ran over to Ava’s side to check for any signs of injury. Her face seemed paler than when I had seen her on the doorstep earlier. When she opened her eyes, I could see the questions come pouring through. She seemed so vulnerable and innocent. I reminded myself that Ava was an enchanter when my breath was taken away as she gazed into my eyes and I felt my heart sink into hers.

Bricktown

Iremember the night my life changed forever. It had been an unusually cool summer evening in Bricktown, New Jersey. I loved my little town. Some people thought of New Jersey as a place to make fun of, with all of its big hair and East Coast accents. It made me cringe to think that shows like Jersey Shore and Housewives portrayed my home as a place of reckless people with no class. Not me. I knew it for all of its beauty. In my neighborhood, there were no two houses alike, each with its own story.

The houses in my neighborhood all fly their American flags, proudly showing their patriotism. On weekends, families could be found mowing their own lawns and planting whatever flower was in season, and every summer is filled with festive block parties. My little bright-yellow house accented with a red door was the most noticeable on the street. Large pine and oak trees lined the sidewalks and surrounded the houses in my neighborhood like a protective shield, although I had no idea of the protection we would need.

I stepped out of my house and inhaled the cool pine scent that filled the air. I closed the bright-red door quietly behind me, having no idea that my life would be changed forever after that day.

I just had an argument with my twin sister, Hannah. Hannah and I were best friends. We did just about everything together but fought half the time over little things: what to watch on TV, who left the room a mess, clothes. Above all, Hannah and I have a bond that is much different than most people. Unbreakable and unspoken.

My first couple years of high school were picture-perfect in many people’s eyes. I was a straight-A student and a star athlete and my boyfriend was the captain of the football team. At eighteen, Patrick was taller than most at our school, with dark-brown wavy hair, and eyes so green, I thought I was looking into the Atlantic Ocean. He was the boy everyone wanted, and he was mine.

That night, I was feeling overwhelmed with graduating from high school and going off to college at the end of summer. Patrick was going with me to NYU, and I was beginning to feel trapped. Although I loved Patrick, I had always felt that there was something or someone else out in the world for me. I wanted time away to be allowed to go out and figure out whether it was meant to be with Patrick, or whether my destiny lay with someone else. Our relationship seemed to have turned to one of comfort.

This wasn’t the first time we took a break over our three-year relationship, and it always ended up with us more in love. However, something deep inside me told me this time was different. It felt as if my heart was being pulled toward something else, only I had no idea where. When I was saying the words to Patrick, I could feel little pieces of my heart fade away. They were the pieces I knew would always belong to Patrick.

It’s me, not you, Patrick, I said regretfully. I just need some space. We’re young. We have our whole lives to be together if that is what is meant to be. I tried to ignore the pain in his face.

Patrick just stared at me, sadness welling in his eyes. I will be waiting for you, Ava. I’ll always wait for you.

And I walked away. I knew this was true.

As I walked away from my house that cool summer night, images of my talk with Patrick replayed in my mind like a bad dream. His face when I walked away from him, inconsolable and heartbroken, tormented my thoughts. Had I done the right thing?

I walked slowly down my street, listening to my iPod and trying to erase all of the distressing thoughts that flooded my head. As Scientist played, I tried to lose my thoughts in the singer’s hypnotic voice, letting the words speak for me.

Mindlessly, I found myself making my way to the water tower a couple of blocks away. I would often go there and meet up with my friends to get away from my mom. It was a very secluded area, completely surrounded by tall trees and bushes. I was never nervous going there by myself; it was a place of peace for me. As I walked, I couldn’t help but think that I had made a mistake. I should send Patrick a text, begging him to forgive my stupidity and immaturity. Maybe it was the pressure of graduation and going to college that made me make the rash decision to break up with him.

I decided to text him and told him to meet me at the boardwalk tomorrow so we could talk. I knew that I still needed time to be sure that I was making the right decision, but still had some lingering doubts; I couldn’t mess with his heart anymore.

I walked slowly through the damp woods, leaves sticking to the bottom of my Nikes, and I couldn’t take my eyes off my cell as I waited for his reply.

Finally, Patrick replied that he