Witch (Supernatural #2)

26: Magic Before The Storm

To await, verb.

1. to wait for; expect; look for.
2. to be in store for; be imminent.
3. Obsolete; to lie in wait for.

***

Friday was something special. After a week of constantly looking over my shoulder, of fearing every patch of shadow, Friday morning came without any of that. A sereneness filled me completely, leaving me feeling light and peaceful. No fearing the day before it had even begun. Not a single dark thought as if I might die before nightfall.

In fact, that Friday was so different from the week that had preceded it, it almost felt... normal.

Practice was normal. Classes were normal. Students complaining about everything were normal. Everything was the way it was supposed to be. Except, of course, that no one knew what to make of the change in me. I had been a complete mess, clinging to Ken whenever he was around and jumping if someone so much as coughed. And now, I was fooling around in the water with the others, somersaulting into the water because the boys weren't the only ones who knew tricks. I was answering questions and reading assigned paragraphs like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Joyce and I even had a conversation about Mrs. Walters dress. It was a hideous thing that we couldn't quite decide was a Halloween costume or an authentic nineteenth-century dress.

Okay, I'll admit. A proper conversation between Joyce and me that didn't involve her insulting me and me trying not to curse her wasn't quite ordinary. But it did illustrate the change in me. When Joyce and I both laughed at something we'd said and agreed on, we both caught ourselves and exchanged a look. Are we really laughing together? Then, casting a discreet glance at the others, they were as stunned as Joyce and I were. We fell silent after that, awkwardly returning to our lunch.

Something was different between Ken and me as well.

The connection had changed. When we were around each other, we moved fluidly, always aware of the other and adjusting to each movement, however small. If Ken shifted to the left, I adjusted myself to him, shifting left or moving closer to him. Not only that though. There was an electric current between us. Whenever we held hands, the current jumped back and forth between our palms. If we did not touch, I could still feel it. It was maddening. It made me so hyper-aware of him, at times, it made it very difficult to simply walk next to him, or sit next to him, without pulling him to me and kiss him silly.

I wasn't even sure if he was affected in the same way. Whenever I glanced at him, he would meet my gaze curiously but he never showed any sign of feeling this same attraction.

Maybe it was my magic going crazy.

Maybe it was something else altogether.

I wished I could have asked him about it, but, as we were walking out of the school, Tate and Sawyer caught up with us. And I didn't want to ask my questions in front of a hellhound. Or a siren. Or anyone else for that matter. I wanted to discuss it in private. Though privacy would be a luxury we wouldn't have for the next God knows how many hours.

"Are you two ready?" Tate asked cheerily. It was like he was taking us on an exciting trip; something like mountain climbing rather than on a hunt. "I hope you got plenty of rest."

The way he said it made it sound like he knew there had been more activity than rest the evening before, but I felt great. Full of energy. Bursting with energy even. If it hadn't been for all the humans around, I would have shown him right there and then.

"I feel great. Ready to do this and get it over with. I hope you have enough blankets though; they are expecting snow."

"They are probably right," Tate said. He glanced up at the light gray sky that looked heavy with snow. "I can smell it."