Escape the Covenant || Shawmila [Completed]

Chapter 1

My eyes hurt and my head feels like it's about to explode. The smell of burned herbs in my room doesn't help my sickness and the dim light provided by the candles makes even more difficult to read from my book. I spent the entire afternoon trying to learn this new spell, but no matter how hard I try I can't understand what I'm missing. It bothers me to leave things like this, but I know that I won't conclude anything today. I must step back and take a break. My mind has to rest and I'm in desperate need of fresh air. The sun is about to set, and I crave the feeling of the golden sunlight on my skin. I sneak outside quietly for a lazy walk hoping to avoid my grandma. She would probably ask me to make some errands and I just want to have some time for myself.

The warm breeze of the early summer is comforting, and it brings some peace to my restless soul. I stroll around the empty neighborhood feeling regenerated. I've always loved the quietness of this place. At times a few children can be seen playing around, and the oldest ladies of the area catch up on the newest gossip, even if most of the times there's nothing new going on. I knew for a fact that my people prefer to go out mainly at night. The coven lives unbothered during the day, mimicking a normal life, only to meet in the darkness to free their true selves.

When I turn the corner at the end of the street, I spot something unusual. A moving truck is parked in front of old Gerard's house and a few people keep on going back and forth bringing boxes inside. It seems like we have to welcome someone new in the neighborhood. Curiosity overwhelms me and, approaching the house, I try to glance over there to spy on the newcomers. Only when I see a tall boy with brown curls, I connect all the dots and understand who is moving in. Every summer during the last thirteen years, old Gerard greeted his grandson to spend a few months together. I used to see him relaxing on his porch or helping the old man back in the garden all the time. We never spoke once. He seemed a chill boy, minding his own business and following his grandad orders, which includes avoiding everyone on this street.

The citizens of New Poitiers are convinced that something mystical rules this town. Some of them just accept this fact, others don't believe it for a second. But there are some residents, like old Gerard, that are terrified by it. The coven has always worked on the low, never exposing our witchcraft nor the power that we witches have around here. Nevertheless, some events are inexplicable and as a result the rumor about our existence spread all over the town.

Gerard always knew about us. He saw us going out late at night for rituals, casting simple spells or collecting herbs and rocks. But he never tried to expose us. He simply stood aside and watched us do our things, silently judging. He avoids us like we are the devil. He surely has informed his grandson about the dangers of mingling with witches.

Every summer I saw Shawn come around here and I wondered how he was like. Was he a ball of energy, super popular at school and a heartbreaker, or was he more reserved and shyer, a sweet loving guy to give your heart to? The only thing that I was sure of was that he was freaking handsome. And now he is even more breathtaking. I'm not the kind of girl who lusts on random guys and loses her mind just for a pretty face. Most of the time, I even avoid looking at other people. This way it's easier for me, so I'm not tempted to let my heart free and eventually burn between the flames of my curse. Unfortunately, that defined jaw and honey-like eyes have not gone unnoticed. Shawn and his perfect look caught my attention and I accepted this bitter truth. I'm relieved to know that he probably doesn't even acknowledge my existence.

I watch his muscles tense as he lifts another box, while a slim layer of sweat covers his forehead damping his curls. His older copy, who I presume is his father, follows him inside after paying the driver of the moving truck. Leaving that sight behind my back, I walk towards the city limits, where wide cotton fields are waiting for me. A lingering question echoes in my head. Is he moving here for good? I never saw him bring that much stuff to his grandad's house. The possibility of his permanence unnerves me and the strange feeling that something is changing haunts me. I'm not an expert at premonitions, but deep down I know that Shawn's arrival brought some troubles with it.