Sofia: Phoenix Rising - Fire and Water Book 2
Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

That silly little girl, does she really think she can get away without telling me what she’s doing, Charlie thought to herself as the vision of Sofia and Ash walking the grounds surrounding the embankment of the Ashtabula lighthouse in Ashtabula Harbor flickered into her mind. Won’t they be surprised when I show up to go with them! A slightly devilish laugh escapes her mouth after that thought runs through her mind.

The rest of the school week moves at a snail’s pace, and I heave a sigh of relief when the school bell rings at three o’clock on Friday to release us from the confines of this torturous place. Ash is hanging nearby our lockers when I walk up to them. “Hey, I just have to swap out my math book for my history book and then I will be ready to go.”

“Okay babe,” Ash says. “I’ll meet you at the car then.” He gives me a quick kiss and then leaves me to my task. Two of my other books decide to jump out at me as I am trading out the math and history books. Squatting down, I have just retrieved them from off the floor when I hear someone say my name.

“Sofia. Sofia.” I turn my head and see Blake coming towards me.

“Hey Blake, what’s up?” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“I just wanted to see if you had decided when you were going to go to your parents.” He stuffs his hands into the front pockets of his jeans as he waits for me to answer him.

“Oh, um, Ash and I are actually going to go up in just a bit and have a look around. Why do you ask?” I arch an eyebrow and look at him questioningly.

“I was going to offer to go with you guys, if you wanted me to. I just thought I could be of some help for once.” He shrugs his shoulders and then runs a hand through his hair, a nervous habit of his.

“That’s very nice of you to offer Blake, but I don’t think Ash would be willing to let you go with us. I’m sorry.” I scrunch my nose at him because I’m not able to give him a better answer than that.

“No, it’s okay. I understand. Just know I’m around if you need me. Just call!” He surprises me by giving me a hug.

“I will keep that in mind Blake. I better be going though before Ash comes looking for me.” He nods and says he will see me later and I wave to him as I walk away. I hurry down the stairs, across the lobby of the high school and out into the parking lot. Practically running, I make my way quickly to Ash’s car but stop short as I see his arms flailing about as he argues with someone. Who in the world could he be arguing with? Coming to stand next to Ash, I am sure my face is filled with shock as I see... “Charlie?”

“Hello my sweet Sofia. Are we ready to hit the road? I wouldn’t want to delay our journey any longer than necessary.” She is smiling so sweetly at me, but it almost feels like the smile is fake, forced upon her lips.

“Uh, what?” I stare at her perplexed. “This run is just Ash and I going to check things out, scope out the surroundings, the layout of the land.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m sorry if you heard or thought otherwise.” I wait a moment to see if she is going to say anything. As she opens her mouth to speak, I interrupt her, “And if need be, I will leave all of you here and go by myself.” I add sternly.

Current mood, I dare any of them to protest, argue or try stopping me! Turning away from both Charlie and Ash, I walk around to Ash’s passenger door, open it and slide inside. If Charlie tries to push me on this matter, it will not bode well for her. A couple of minutes pass by but then I hear Ash open the driver’s door and see him slide in. “Well, that wasn’t awkward at all,” he states before starting the engine up and pulling out of the parking spot. Ashtabula, here we come!

Ten minutes after speaking with Sofia, Blake pulls into his driveway and parks his truck next to his father’s Black Mercedes Benz. He sees Ashley’s little yellow Volkswagen Bug sitting in the driveway as well and wonders why she would be here, apparently hanging out with his father without him here. He walks inside the house but doesn’t hear them right away. Blake decides to check out Donovan’s office to see if maybe they are in there for some reason.

Just as Blake is about to enter his father’s office, he can hear people beyond the other side of the door speaking in hushed tones. Typically, his hearing is spot on, but as he is listening through solid oak, it is hindering his ability to hear clearly. Leaning into the door, Blake presses his ear to the wood as he tries to hear what is being said, but everything comes through muffled and unclear. Blake does manage to catch a few clear words though.

“But... that’s, ...mom.” He could hear Ashley say and then a second later he can hear his father’s voice clearly say; “it is odd. I’ve never known your mother to endure accidents of such astronomical proportions before...” Blake hesitates for one heartbeat before tossing the door open wide.

“Ashley? Is everything okay? I thought I heard you two say something about Makayla having an accident. She isn’t hurt, is she?” Blake swivels his head between the two as he asks his questions. Both Donovan and Ashley must not have been expecting him to barge in just then because they both have shocked expressions upon their faces at seeing him standing there.

“Oh, um, mom was teaching a class and explaining the ingredients to make a potion that helps witches who can see the future, to be able to see it in even more detail,” Blake takes in Ashley’s disheveled appearance and knows right away that whatever has happened to Makayla, she has indeed been badly hurt.

“Son, Makayla is in hospital and in a deep coma. As of right now, things are not looking good for her. I have told Ashely that she may stay here with us and that we will do all we can to help Makayla out of her darkness.” Blake is stunned into silence and steps closer to Ashley before opening his arms wide and allowing her to fall into his embrace.

Hugging Ashley to him, he looks at his father; “does that not seem a little strange to either of you? I have never known Makayla to make a mistake when drawing up a spell before. Does anyone know what exactly caused this accident of hers?”

“I had just said pretty much the same thing to Ashley right before you walked in son.” Donovan looks at Blake contemplatively as he considers what to say next. “I will have the healer see what she can find out.”

Her accident doesn’t seem like an accident, Blake thinks to himself. I don’t know who would want to cause her harm though... She has done nothing but try to help our community. I think I will do my own investigation and see what I can find out.

I think that Sofia and her phoenix have united. That stupid, stupid witch! She completely ruined what I had planned. Sofia wasn’t supposed to unify with the phoenix, THAT witch, was supposed to cause serious illness to Sofia so that she wouldn’t be able to save her parents. Instead, whatever she gave me to have Sofia drink backfired and actually allowed them to connect with each other.

Charlie paced back and forth through her kitchen as she tried to figure out what her next move should be. Suddenly the idea of revenge popped into her head, and she made her way through her house coming into her bedroom. Tossing her closet door open, she began to rummage through saved papers and boxes of different items until she found what she was looking for. “Bingo! This will do just fine for that retched witch.”

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