Becoming

By E.S. McMillan and Mandy Kim

Best friends from birth. Sisters forever. Things start to change for Tabitha and Zoey Ryan right before their sixteenth birthdays.

When secrets are confessed and strange things start happening, will a premonition come true?

Find out what happens when Tabitha and Zoey start to become who they were born to be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.S. McMillan
• Release date: Aug 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201831233

Book preview

Prologue ~ 2003

Beatrix, I came as soon as you summoned, Alexa Ryan said, as she made her way into the home of her coven’s grand mistress. It was a total shock that Beatrix had summoned the young witch to her home. Alexa didn’t even think that the much older woman knew who she was.

Come in child. Have a seat. I had a vision about you and I must find out if what I saw is true, Beatrix said, as she ushered Alexa into her kitchen. The smell of baking bread was wafting through the air and Alexa was hit with a sudden wave of nausea. She had not been feeling like herself for a few weeks now and knew that she should probably make a call to Dr. Stone’s office to be checked out.

Are you well? Beatrix asked. The concern was etched on her face and the feeling of knowing washed over her like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day.

I am fine, Alexa replied, sitting down in one of the old wooden chairs that were stationed around the small wooden table. It was common knowledge that the table Alexa was sitting at was over four hundred years old. It was handcrafted by Beatrix’s grandfather as a wedding gift for Beatrix’s grandmother. The table was enchanted with the history of the coven. It was a very special table indeed.

Alexa, you are not fine. I already know that you are with child. Actually, you are carrying twin girls. One will carry on our line and one will not. Their father is not one of us, Beatrix informed a very shocked and confused Alexa. Looking at the young woman, Beatrix could sense that what she was saying was the truth.

How could that possibly be true? Alexa wondered out loud.

Oh child, I have dreamed this exact moment. I have also seen it during my waking moments. I have seen it over and over again. Dropping into the chair next to Alexa, Beatrix grabbed her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. Now is the time to tell me everything so that we can figure this out and save the coven.

What do you mean, ‘save the coven’? Alexa demanded, as she snatched her hand away from Beatrix’s hold.

I don’t know if I should say too much right now, but those two girls slumbering in your womb are going to be the best of friends until their sixteenth birthdays. When one sister receives the gift of magic, the other will not. Her jealousy will morph into something we have never seen before. There will be an epic battle between the sisters and only one survive. Our coven’s survival will depend on which sister is the victor and survives.

You are not making any sense. How can one sister not be born of magic when I am mother to both of them? Alexa asked, more confused than she had ever been in her life.

The boy that you laid with is not of our kind. He has lied to you. He has lied to everyone! Slamming her fist down on the table, causing it to shake, Beatrix jumps up from her seat. She turns quickly and makes her way to the built-in bookcase that houses over fifty old books. Grabbing one of books from the top shelf, blowing on it to remove all the dust that has collected on the old worn cover, Beatrix opens up the book and starts chanting. The words coming out of her mouth are words that Alexa has never heard before and she quickly rises from the chair that she is sitting in.

Umm, I am going to leave you alone. a very frightened Alexa said, as she started to make her way to the door.

Stopping her chant, Beatrix turns to look at Alexa. With a forceful voice, sit back down! I am not done yet. This spell must be cast to bind the child’s magic for as long as possible. I can’t do anything for the other one. Her powers are not like ours and I have no control over them. I will do what I can to delay the battle that is destined to take place. Beatrix returned to chanting and Alexa made her way back to chair that she had just vacated. As she sat back down, she could feel the magic from the table surround her.

What is happening? she shrieked, as she felt the magic consume her. Looking around the room, everything started to get darker and darker. When the darkness covered up any light that tried to get into the room, Beatrix walked over and placed a hand on Alexa’s trembling shoulder.

Sleep child! Let the dark magic do its job. Let it slow down what will be. When you wake up, you will be home in your own bed. I will be no more, and our coven will be safe for the time being.

I don’t understand... Alexa started to scream, before the sleep that Beatrix mentioned took over. Alexa could no longer keep her eyes open and succumbed to the magical sleep. Beatrix continued her chant until all the magic that flowed through her veins was spent and she was no more.

Chapter One ~ Tabitha

September 2019

Zoey! Have you seen my history book? I called out to my sister as I desperately tried to stuff my schoolbooks into my backpack. I had fallen asleep studying, as usual, and was rushing to get myself together before the bus pulled off to take my sister and me to school.

No Tabby! my twin sister and best friend called out to me from her bedroom.

Mom! I can’t find my history book and I need it for class! I screamed down the stairs, hoping that my mother knew where my book was. Waiting for her to call back upstairs to me, I grabbed a fresh pair of jeans and my favorite red sweatshirt from the clean clothes that my mother left folded on my dresser.

Honey, look under your pillow. I have a feeling that is where it is, my mother called up the stairs.

Following my mother’s instructions, I made my way over to my bed and looked under the pillow. Without a doubt, my history book was sitting right there. I don’t know how she always knows where missing things are, but I am so thankful that she does. Thanks mom! I called out to her, as I grab my book and shove it into my backpack.

You are welcome, Tabby! School bus will be here in twenty! she called out to me, as she made her way back into the kitchen to finish doing whatever I had interrupted her from. Getting dressed quickly and grabbing my things, I made my way down the stairs. My sister had beat me to the table and was already enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with some warm homemade bread. Walking over to the table, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. Dropping my backpack, I doubled over from the pain. Mom! I screamed, before I let the darkness that was hiding in the corners of the room consume me.

*****

Tabitha! Tabitha! I need you wake up honey! my mother pleaded. I could