Spell It Out (Book One of The Spellbound Series)

Chapter 18: Changes

Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were staring at me while I ate my pancakes. Instead of making eye contact with them, I kept my eyes on Christina and Sabrina. They were laughing about a photo on Instagram. A clanking sound caused us all to look at Mrs. Murphy.

"Is anyone going to explain why it took so long for you to realize what Claire and Joe were actually capable of?"

Anyone who knew Claire well would know she messes with anyone who doesn't cater to her. We thought we were the exception, because she was willing to hang out with us. But that might make us sound stupid. I cleared my throat, while Christina and Sabrina nonchalantly drink their fruit smoothies.

"She seemed pretty calm when she was out with us."

Mrs Murphy Honda nodded. She is here at a glance with mr. Murphy and looked back at me. She took her Samsung out of her navy blue robe pocket and set it on the table. When she tapped the screen, Claire's voice came out of it.

"I only hung out with them because they were a quick thrill. A rush of adrenaline. I had to find a way to seem edgy 'cause everyone kept calling me a priss. They were pathetic and still are. Christina begs for affection from men, Harvey needs a potion to be candid and Sabrina thinks people are only who they present themselves to be."

I rubbed my temples. Claire's mouth was much bigger than I thought. She throws temper tantrums at 19, but she  had the nerve to call us pathetic? Mrs. Murphy pressed the button under the screen and put the phone back in her pocket. Of course, the Tantrum Queen got so bored with hearing the truth about herself, she chose to use us to manipulate people.

Blaine walked in through the backdoor, holding his stomach and laughing. Everyone stared at him until he stopped to breathe. Whatever he laughed about couldn't have been that funny.

"She only hung out with you just to get a cheap thrill and prove a few people wrong? Sounds like she's the pathetic one to me. Hope reality doesn't chew her too hard before it spits her out."

He left the room, laughing again.

Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were staring at all of us. Great. Now we have to explain to them why we do those things the Tantrum Queen threw in their faces. So much for being at peace. If that's all she said, why did they spend five minutes staring at me? It's not wrong for me to keep things to myself. Sabrina's not that judgemental and Christina just wanted validation in relationships. What part of that is her business?

"So... What was it that the potion made you reveal?" Mr. Murphy narrowed his eyes at me.

Oh God. Why did he have to ask?

"She made me keep it a secret the I was helping her send the gifts and the notes. Or else, she would send me to Wizard jail. I had a plan of my own, though."

Everyone had their eyes on us now. They leaned forward at the table, turning the conversation into more of a spectacle than it should have been. He sipped on his orange juice. I had the urge to leave again.

He looked me right in the eye. "Who did you tell? Which island slum was she talking about?"

  Sabrina's hand wrapped around mine under the table. This was not how I expected to meet her dad. I thought we'd only talk for a few seconds. Probably not about anything that occurred yesterday. I leaned back in my seat, rubbing her hand with my thumb.

The whole time Claire blackmailed me, she taunted me by repeatedly telling me that she'd have me imprisoned like my mother. She kept saying she hoped my mother would never leave Hemlock Island. I realized she was bluffing when Joe asked her how she would get me arrested, and she hesitated to answer. She just enjoyed scaring me so she could feel powerful. Despite the fact that she already had people kissing her rings in this realm.

"I drank a truth potion by accident and the truth slipped out of my mouth. She claimed she would have me sent to Hemlock Island. But she wasn't really serious."

He chuckled, his hazel eyes still boring through me. "I'm sorry you had to put up with that."

Thank God, he didn't jump down my throat about the situation. He was surprisingly easy to talk to. I expected him to be yelling at me or something.

Everyone else leaned back in their seats, eating their food and still watching us. The silence bothered me, because all the nervous thoughts in here caused me to break eye contact with Mr. Murphy. One thought stood out to me.

Let's promise to not keep secrets from eachother and be careful who befriend in the future. Maybe then, everything will be fine.

  The sound of Sabrina's inner voice in my head caused me to furrow my brows. I didn't have to knock down her mind barrier that time. The promise sounded like a great idea for keeping disaster away from us. As long as we never meet anyone who wanted to use us for their own selfish reasons.

"Thank you for understanding." I said calmly.

I promise.

Me too.

The second voice belonged to Christina. Both she and Sabrina smiled in my direction. We'd all remember this promise and keep it.
No more blackmail, no more evil schemes.

Mrs. Murphy smiled as well. "So, can we start being more open with eachother from now on? Promise?"

"Yes." We all said in unison.

Mr. Murphy glanced at me and Sabrina. Except he then stared at Sabrina's neck before looking back up at us. "I can agree to that promise. Nice necklace, Sabrina."

  Sabrina smiled at me and then him. "Thanks. A friend gave it to me."

We went on eating our breakfast. The sun shone in through the window near the sink. Sabrina let go of my hand at some point, only to occasionally touch the crystal she wore. Spending time with her and her family without anything to worry about was a relief.