Chapter 50- Whispers In The Wind

Athens had really shaken her up. She was losing her mind, or someone was playing games with her. It wouldn’t surprise her if it was Drake’s doing.
“What was that for?” Hugo asked with pain evident on his facial features.
“I thought you were someone else. I am so sorry,”
“I guess I learned never to mess with you,” he said with a sweet grin that still held a hint of the pain he was in.
“Are you okay?” he added.
“Yeah, just tired I guess,” she responded guilt still riddling her mind.
“What was up today? You ran out of school like you had seen a ghost. I thought you and Drake were a thing?” he asked, and Crystal sighed.
“He wasn’t the person I thought he was,”
“I hate it when that happens,”
Crystal let out a small laugh. Hugo was such a dork but a sweet one who you couldn’t help but be friendly too. He had that air about him, one where he could make you smile even at the saddest of times.
“So, they lined you up another girl yet?” Crystal asked changing the subject.
“Yeah, Macy,” he pulled a face and Crystal tried to hide her giggle. Macy was an awkward girl, just into her preteens and still figuring out who she was. She was bubbly and energetic, yet she was also reserved and shy.
“I am sure she will grow into s beautiful young woman,”
“Have you seen her mother,” Hugo asked, and Crystal couldn’t hold back her laughter. Macy’s mum was a small plump lady who talked way too fast. Most of what she said got ate up by her never ending giggle.
“Yeah, but we don’t all take after our parents,” Crystal pointed out. Well, she hoped she didn’t take after her own mother.
“Your right,”
“I will see you around okay,” Crystal said and began walking again.
“Hay!” he called. Crystal turned back.
“Do you wanna hang out sometime?” with a smile on her face she responded, “See ya later.” Hugo was a great guy; however, she didn’t want to lead him on when her feelings weren’t there to start with.
When her home came into view she slowed down. Martha stormed from the front gates and stared in Crystal’s direction.
“Soon not even your mother will be able to save you,” her words were like ice as she marched away. That was one extremely old woman, Crystal thought as she watched the woman disappear from view. The elders were nothing but dictating old biddies that were stuck in the old way of life. She had no doubt her mother had upset her.
Sighing she walked down the driveway preparing herself for her mother’s foul mood which she knew would be aimed at her. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with her, yet she had nowhere else to go. She had no choice but to face the woman that she resented.
“How dare she!” Crystal heard her mother’s raging voice as she stepped through the threshold. Someone had dared to upset Jeanette Hudson and that someone was not her. It wasn’t something she saw or heard of often and couldn’t help but travel in the direction of Jeanette’s voice. She wanted to know what had gotten her worked up.
“You!” she yelled as soon as Crystal stepped into the living room.
“You are to blame for this!” Crystal rolled her eyes at her words. Sure enough, she was to blame.
“I haven’t done anything,” Crystal muttered taking a seat on the couch and tucking her legs up. She wanted a front row seat.
“Oh, but you have. You wrapped your father round your little finger with your constant whining,” Jeanette began to pace.
“He knew right from the start what we had to do, but you had to go and make him do the unthinkable. Now I face losing my place as head of the coven all because I haven’t got a husband!”
“Wow, you are in trouble,” Crystal said trying to hide the grin that wanted to spread across her face. If her mother lost her position, then she wouldn’t have as many of the strict rules she loved to break. She wouldn’t be constantly watched, and she would easily be able to slink into a normal life away from the coven. As she stood now the daughter of the leader, she didn’t stand a chance of normal.
“What do you think would happen to you? Do you think that another leader would allow you to do as you please? I will tell you what will happen. The first foot you put out of line. The first mistake you make, and they will have your head. They will be waiting,”
Crystal felt her body turn cold but kept a neutral look on her face. She was good at hiding her feelings, she had done it for that long it had become second nature to her.
“I know it was you,” Jeanette stopped her pacing and turned her death stare at Crystal.
“It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the coven suspects what I do. Who else would steal Henry’s body?” Crystal didn’t flinch or make any gesture to show her mum that she was right.
“You can’t undo what is done,” Crystal said softly. She decided not to deny what she had done. After all her mother needed her, there wasn’t really anything she could do.
“Do you think he would have wanted to move on? Be with the ancestors who he has betrayed. Taking your own life is one sin that our kind do not take lightly,” Jeanette gave Crystal a gloating smile as what she had done sunk in.
“People respected our father unlike you. I am sure where he is now, he is living the life he always deserved,” she didn’t want to hear her mother’s voice anymore or bask in the fact that someone had upset her.
She got up and looked at the woman who had given birth to her, “One day you will regret the way you treat us all. One day you will have no one and be alone,” Crystal left her mother with her words and went straight to the attic where spell books and other equipment were kept.
She flicked through numerous books before she found the one, she needed.
Gathering the candles that were listed along with the spell she drew a pentagon and put a candle on each point. Once satisfied she had done everything stated she sat crossed legged in the middle of the symbol and began to chant.
“Henry Hudson, blood of my blood, I summon thee.
Henry Hudson, blood of my blood I summon thee,” while she chanted, she ran a knife across her palm and let the blood drip onto the chalk drawn symbol. White smoke began to take the place of the chalk and slowly rose into the air.
When all the chalk was gone, and the smoke had drifted to the ceiling a bright light appeared it changed color from white to blue then back to white before morphing into her father.
“Dad?” she asked with excitement as she took in his transparent state with a bright light brimming its edges.
“Crystal?”
“Are you okay?” she asked him quickly afraid he would disappear.
“I am fine, now what about you?” he asked.
“I am okay. I miss you,” she wiped a tear that had strayed from her eyes.
“Listen Crystal. You must be strong. You go with your heart and not what you are told to do,” Crystal nodded she had never done anything but.
“How are the ancestors treating you?” He smiled one that lit up his eyes like she had never seen before.
“Like royalty,” he said.
“It is time for me to go Crystal. Just remember your instinct will never serve you wrong,” he began to fade away and this time she watched him leave with a smile, knowing that wherever he had ended up he was doing well. The light in his eyes had proved just that.
Her mother was wrong. The ancestors wouldn’t hurt him nor cause him trouble. Knowing he was safe lifted a dead weight from her heart.