The Haze [The Rosati Series]

ten

At exactly five in the morning, the ringer on my new cellphone went off. I silenced it immediately. I absolutely couldn't wake up anyone in the house. Nate had given me a cellphone he said he no longer used so we could be in contact whenever necessary. He told me it was essential that no one knew about the cellphone because that would lead to questions, and we did not need questions. I slid into sweat pants and a tee shirt. Afterwards, I headed to the bathroom, quietly, and finished getting ready. About ten minutes later I was ready to go and I slipped quietly out the front door. As planned, Nate's white Lincoln was pulled up slightly past the front of the house. I walked swiftly towards the car, shoving my hands into my pockets. A stinging chill hung in the morning air.

"Hey." I greeted him as I climbed inside, the warmth instantly bringing the color back to my cheeks.

"Hey, you didn't wake anyone right?" He asked as he shifted the car into drive.

"Of course not."

"Good."

He started driving and a comfortable silence enveloped us.

"So where exactly are we going anyway?" I wondered.

"My place."

I nodded my head and we drove the rest of the way in silence. I'd never been to his place before.

We pulled up into his circular driveway and he killed the engine.

"Your parents aren't home?"

"They're out."

"Like for work or something?" It was kind of early for most to be at work, not that it mattered.

"Something like that." He answered nonchalantly.

I followed him inside and sat down in his living room on the nearest sofa. After a few minutes he was sitting across from me with a stack of various books and papers in his hand.

"So first things first," He started. "This spell has to be done on the Samhain Eve."

I frowned slightly. "What is that?"

"The Samhain Eve is one of the most important days for Witches of the entire year. Most think of it as a celebration almost. It's when the veil to the other side is weakest, and when it's the easiest to cast dangerous spells, but that's not all. Certain spells can only be done during this day, and this is one of them. So it's important that you learn this spell as soon as possible so on the day of Samhain Eve it can be cast. You only get one shot at this Celine."

I ran my hands nervously through my hair. "When is it?"

"October thirty-first at sunset, and it ends November first at sunset."

I felt my pulse increasing by the second and a wave of panic settled over me. "October thirty-first? That's in less than two weeks."

He nodded solemnly.

"What happens if I can't do it? I won't ever see my family again will I? They'll kill me before I even see next year!" My voice shakily cried out.

"Celine don't say that!"

"It's true and you know it! They-"

"Celine look at me!" He demanded firmly. He grabbed my arms roughly and stared into my eyes causing my pathetic cries to seize. I was still shaking slightly. "You can do this. You're the most powerful witch I've ever seen. I know without a doubt in my mind that you can. Your family will be fine, and so will you, but if you've already convinced yourself that you're going to fail, you will. Just take a deep breath."