The Promise (Book 1, The Coven Series)

Chapter Nine

** My favorite chapter in the whole book! **

The trees became thicker the farther in we walked, knitting overhead to block off any light from the moon. It should have been dark, but it wasn't. I could see the path clearly in front of me. A soft light permeated the entire area, but I couldn't find its source.

"What's with the light?" I asked Ethan. "Where's it coming from?"

He smiled. "Magic."

I rolled my eyes. The ground around me yielded no clues. I couldn't so much as detect a wire anywhere. It was just a soft glow that covered the forest floor. The harder I looked, the more confused I became. Where was the stupid light coming from?

"We're here," Ethan whispered.

My head jerked up. I'd been so busy looking for the source of the light, I'd failed to notice we had come upon a large clearing. I knew this place. Emily and I had come here often growing up, more so after she'd joined the Coven. She'd always said she got her best ideas here, that it was her special place. She would usually let me tag along with her and I'd enjoyed it as much as she had. This place had a hushed, quiet feel to it that managed to soothe and calm a person. I loved it here. I still came here to think. It had become my own private thinking place after she died.

But not tonight. There was nothing hushed or quiet about it. Practically the whole town mingled in and around the circular clearing. Our entire town was a part of the Coven and the only people not in attendance were those who were too young to be here and their unfortunate babysitters. I smiled, my hand reaching up to touch Emily's locket as I remembered again my agitation at being left at home the night of Emily's induction.

I recognized everyone. They were laughing and talking with each other, some in heated debates. Everyone had dressed in their best. Ball gowns, tuxedos, expensive shoes, and pricey jewelry were mixed in with Target and JC Penny dress clothes and evening wear. All I could think was...WOW.

I glanced up at Ethan. He grinned down at me. "Not what you were expecting?"

I shook my head. Definitely not what I was expecting. In truth, I had expected people to be wearing long, hooded robes and to be standing all quiet and hushed while they waited for the Coven Master to begin the ceremony. This, however, was bright and airy, full of smiles and laughter. The atmosphere gave off a sense of home, of belonging. It felt familiar to me, like I was coming home after a long trip. Was this what Emily had meant when she'd said I'd understand when I was older? Was this what she'd felt? Was this why she had loved the Coven so much? There was just so much I didn't understand.

"Are we going to stand here all day or are we going in?" Ethan whispered against my ear. It caused a shiver to run down my spine. He chuckled.

"We enter the circle one at a time," he told me as we walked closer.

"But I thought you couldn't cross a circle once it had been cast."

"This one isn't closed yet," he explained. "Kay will close it when she begins the ceremony."

Oh, well, I guess that made sense. He pushed me forward. I dragged my feet. I'd come, but a part of me wanted to turn tail and run. An insane feeling gripped me. If I entered that clearing, I would never be the same. The sane part of my brain told me I was being ridiculous, but the deeper part of my brain that still pulsed with primitive instincts, it said to run as far and as fast as I could away from this place.

I needed answers, though. If these people had played any part in Emily's death, I would find out. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself forward and crossed into the circle.