High Witch Next Generation (Generations Book 1)

By Mona Hanna

This series is a spin off to my High Witch Series.

Seventeen years have passed since Ariel and Hallie worked together to defeat Innes. The child High Witches Erica and Julia are now teenagers, facing their own challenges.

When Erica meets Gareth, she feels excited that she may have found her first love and wants to see him as much as possible. But a vision featuring Erica and the dreaded test darkens her world and leaves her wondering who the mysterious blond man from her vision is.

Gareth is falling for Erica, but he’s hiding a dark secret. If she knew, she would despise him forever. He hates deceiving her but feels trapped. He has to choose between saving his father or protecting the woman he’s falling in love with. He can’t bear to hurt either, but a dark stranger has other ideas.

This is a NOVELLA of approximately 22,000 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M. Hanna
• Release date: Nov 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311350626

Mona Hanna

Mona Hanna is an author of fantasy/romance books. She enjoys writing about love, magic, conflict, trials and the joy of overcoming them. Mona enjoys reading, movies, chocolate, and adores cats. She hopes to release many more fantasy books in the years to come.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Gareth watched his father cut slices from an apple.

He finally looked up. It won’t be easy. If she doesn’t get you her mother will.

Gareth gulped. But we need her.

Father spat out a seed, then continued slicing the fruit. There are easier ways to get help for us, boy. I don’t think you have it in you. You can’t even kill an animal. Can’t even hunt! And you want to turn this girl?

Gareth shut his eyes for a moment. He had to prove himself. Had to do this. I can do it. I just need to trap her—

"No! You don’t have the strength. The only way you could do this is to get her to trust you. To befriend her and lure her into it. You can’t just overpower her. She’s a High Witch! We’re not warlocks—and even if we were, your power wouldn’t match hers. No, you must make her your friend, then trap her. You have to go the long road."

Gareth twitched. How long will it take?

His father shrugged. As long as it needs to. Trust isn’t an easy thing to develop. When she’s with you, when she truly believes everything you say, then you do it. Not before. Got it?

Gareth nodded. Alright. I’ll...I’ll start tomorrow.

Father swallowed. Fine. Go slow. We haven’t got much time, but we have enough. There’s no point in doing this if you’re going to mess it up.

Gareth watched his father for a moment, then left the room. He had to do this properly. He was terrified, but their need was greater than his fear. He just had to force himself. He’d win Erica over. Then he’d turn her. Or his father would die.

***

Erica! Come here, you. Caeden ran over to Erica, standing in her backyard, almost making her fall over as he enveloped her in a huge hug.

Erica giggled and then pushed the tall red-haired boy back, amazed at how much he’d grown in the last six months. Hallie, Sean, and her twin sons, Caeden and James, visited about once a year, and Erica and her family visited once in between. Every time she saw Caeden and James, they were so much taller, now towering over her, even though they were only fifteen. At seventeen, she knew she wasn’t going to grow anymore, dismayed that she was nearly the shortest one in her family. She moved her wavy brown hair away from her face, then looked out for James.

Hello, Erica, James said quietly, adjusting his glasses. How are you?

James! Erica said, this time being the enthusiastic one. You grew your hair!

Caeden made me, James said, grimacing as he touched the ends, well past shoulder length. He said we couldn’t trick people into thinking we’re each other if our hair didn’t match. I hate it, though. He’s getting crazier every year.

Erica smiled at him, giving him a quick hug. Did you say hello to my brothers?

James nodded. Ethan’s reading, as usual, and Elliot’s out front waiting for Julia and Merilyn.

He’s still obsessed with her, isn’t he? Caeden threw his arm across Erica’s shoulders. She’ll never fall for him.

Hush, we’re not supposed to talk about it, Erica scolded. "Elliot’s smitten with her, but Mother thinks it’s just because they’re aren’t a lot of available girls his age around here. Once he starts going out more with work, he’ll get over her. Don’t tease him about it. Promise?"

Both twins smiled. Sure, said Caeden. There’s plenty more to tease him about. I’ll start with his height.

He’s not that short! Erica wished Elliot and the twins got along better.

Elliot was only a few months younger than them, but they were always quarrelling. Ethan stayed well out of everyone’s way, being the youngest of all the children at thirteen. Julia was the oldest at eighteen, and Merilyn, her sister, was also fifteen, but she acted much older.

Merilyn was always arguing with Julia and her parents, determined to get her way in everything. Erica often thought Merilyn felt left out because she didn’t have magic like the other children in their group. Her father, Cameron, was a warlock, but her mother, Alexandra, didn’t have powers. No one really cared about Merilyn’s lack of magic, but Erica thought it bothered Merilyn. Something definitely made her constantly fight to be at the top.

Hey! No tigers! Caeden shouted, a fireball hovering above his right hand while James growled before him. Erica! Get him!

I’m willing to bet you started it! Erica walked over and used her magic to douse the flame above Caeden’s hand. James, stop that at once.

You heard her! Caeden exclaimed, but Erica slapped him on the arm.

"Hush, you. Come on, let’s go out front with Elliot. James."

James turned back into his human form, adjusting his glasses once more. It’s the only thing that stops him, he grumbled.

The trio headed for the house. Erica smiled, happy the twins were there despite the trouble they caused. She thought of them like brothers, since they’d been in her life since she was very little. They walked through the kitchen, then into the front room, where their parents were sitting.

I’m going to be sick, Caeden grumbled, gesturing to his parents cuddling on the settee.

In response, his father, Sean, planted a huge kiss on Hallie’s mouth.

Yuck! At least wait until we leave the room! Caeden exclaimed, hurrying towards the front door.

The adults chuckled, but Erica noticed James looked equally nauseous. She didn’t look at her parents, assuming they would be behaving in a likewise manner. Their age didn’t seem to dwindle their affection for each other. They were in their forties, but still madly in love.

Almost as soon as they joined Elliot in the front garden, Erica was pleased to see a carriage pull up. Julia and Merilyn got out, followed by their parents. Julia moved back her wild black curls, then grinned when she saw Erica. But before she could come forward, Merilyn pushed past her.

"I hate traveling by carriage! the shorter girl whined, flicking her wavy black hair. I still think a High Witch should be able to transport people anywhere, Julia."

It doesn’t work that way, and you know it, Julia said, grimacing at her sister. "I can only transport a certain distance. It took a whole night to get here. Stop whining and shut up."

You shut up!

Girls! Alexandra said. Stop arguing. We’re guests here. Behave.

Oh, they’re family. You always say that, Merilyn said, heading inside. "Why