Fateful Signs (Ballad of the Seer, Book Three)

Chapter 30 - Spring Break

Several weeks passed after Tally's attack without a single incident. Lily was on edge, wondering when Maxwell was going to strike. As each day went by, she only grew more anxious. It was making her crazy, thinking that a gang of warlocks could jump out of the shadows at any time.

        Needless to say, no one was pleased that Lily kept Maxwell's prison break a secret. Specifically, her mother. "How could you keep this a secret?" Jacquelyn yelled.

        Lily didn't speak. She didn't have an answer for that. At least, not one that her mother would consider adequate. Especially given Tally's attack, which was not the first, Lily learned. Twelve witches - guardians and non-guardians alike - had found themselves face-to-face with warlocks, bearing a message: "The high warlock is back." Tally was the only victim who didn't sustain serious injury - thanks to Lily. Lily was thoroughly gutted when Gran told her. She couldn't bear the thought that her selfishness had caused people such harm.

        Perhaps sensing Lily's thoughts, Gran was quick to offer kind words to ease her mind. "Even if you had told us, Maxwell still would have gone after them. It's in his nature; warlocks can't resist seeking out more power. And Maxwell has always been one for the dramatics."

        The words may have been true, but they did little to help assuage Lily's guilty conscience.

        While she wasn't pleased, she felt she deserved the month-long grounding she received. She wasn't permitted to go anywhere other than school and practice without adult supervision. She wasn't allowed to attend the basketball playoffs, since they were being held in another city. Duncan and her friends were only allowed to visit for an hour a day. It was exactly what she was hoping to avoid. And she had brought it upon herself.

        It was a great relief when Spring Break rolled around and her punishment was finally lifted, though, she couldn't help but think of the reason for the punishment. "I'm so glad to be free." Lily said as she and Duncan got out of her Range Rover at his house. "Plus, we get a whole week without school. It's just what I need."

        Duncan mounted the front porch steps and turned back to her, with a raised brow. "We just had nearly a month off."

        "I know, but that was different. This time we won't be running for our lives." She thought about that for a second. "Hopefully."

        He smiled, leaning over to kiss her cheek. Then her lips. He tasted of the sweet artificial strawberry flavoring from the Fruit Roll-Up he'd been eating when they met up in the parking lot at school. "Do you wanna come in for a little while?" he asked between kisses. "We haven't had any time alone in forever."

        She pulled back, reluctantly, to ask, "What about your parents?"

        "Did I not tell you?" His voice was loud as he nibbled on her earlobe. "My dad found a room to rent in town. Apparently, Ms. Birch helped him." He raised his shoulders. "He moved out a few days ago."

        She pushed against his chest to make him stop and focus for a second. "That's really great. I know how much you wanted him to stick around. I bet your grandparents are bummed, though. Right?"

        Duncan shrugged. "Maybe. But I think they understand."

        "So, how's your mom doing with that whole thing?"

        "She's okay." He didn't sound sure about that. It was a tough situation. Lily figured there weren't any self-help books to guide people through dealing with the reappearance of their thought-to-be-dead, long lost spouse. "Now, can we stop talking about my parents? It's a real mood killer."