Jenna's Story

  The Witches Of Snow Hollow

  Book One

  Jenna’s Secret

  Written by

  Lizzy Stevens

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book

  may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or

  by any means, electronic or mechanical,

  including photocopying, recording, or by any

  information storage and retrieval system,

  without permission in writing from the author,

  except in the case of brief quotations embodied

  in reviews.

  Publishers Note: This is a work of fiction. All

  names, characters, places, and events are the

  work of the author’s imagination. Any

  resemblance to real person, places, or events is

  coincidental.

  Solstice Publishing Ó 2010

  Chapter One

  Jenna Addison looked up at the moon and felt uneasy. She was only six years old, but she knew things that other people didn’t. She had not yet come into her full powers. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what would happen, but she knew how to read the signs—the leaves on the trees all turned upside down, and the red glowing ring around the moon.

  There were other things too. Most people would walk right past not even realizing any of it, but Jenna was different. Her entire family was different. Her sister Jamie was four and Jackie was two. Their parents wanted children close in age so they would feel close to each other as they grew. When her parents told her that, Jenna did not quite understand, but she knew she loved her sisters very much.

  Today was Jenna’s sixth birthday, and she was expecting her grandmother to show up. She had to talk to her about the signs. Her grandmother would know what to do. She always knew what to do.

  When Grandma pulled into the drive, Jenna took off running. “Grandma Elena. I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Elena Hastings—a strong woman who never seemed to age—didn’t look a day older than forty. But in fact she was sixty. “Hello, Dear. How is my big grown up granddaughter today on her birthday?” She scooped her up into a big bear hug.

  Jenna loved her grandmother dearly. “Grandma, I need to talk to you. I saw some signs today.”

  “I know honey. I’ve seen them too. It’s not good. You should prepare yourself for bad news.” She pulled her granddaughter in closer.

  “But Grandma, what is going to happen?” She knew that her grandmother knew more than she was telling.

  “I don’t know sweetie, but it’s something bad. I can’t get a reading on it, which tells me that it’s about me or somebody close to me.”

  Jenna could see the concern in her grandmother’s eyes. All the signs told her something bad would happen that evening, but they didn’t tell her what the bad thing would be. Jenna went to bed that night knowing things would be different in the morning.

  She heard her grandmother crying. It woke her in the middle of the night, and she ran downstairs, yelling, “Grandma, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  Jenna stood there starring at her grandma. She saw her tears coming and felt her own building up inside. Something bad had happened to her parents. She could feel it. The look on her grandma’s face told her everything she needed to know. Silence filled the air, and Jenna wanted to go back in time somehow. She didn’t know what happened, but she knew it wasn’t good.

  She stood there still as she could be as she listened to her grandmother explain to her that her parents were dead. It was a car crash. A drunk driver had ran a stop light and hit them head on. The police report said they died instantly. Jenna’s whole body started to shake as she stood in her living room listening to her whole world crumble in front of her. Everything was about to change. People always say change if for the good, but did those people every loose both of their parents, she wondered.

  “You girls are going to be just fine. I will take care of you.”

  Jenna wiped the tears away from her face. “What do you mean, Grandma? What’s going to happen to us?”

  Elena looked down at the precious child. “You will go back to Snow Hollow with me of course.”

  *

  Jenna wiped her tears as she awoke in a strange bed, sobbing and calling for Mommy. But Mommy didn’t answer. She called to Daddy. But no one came. The hurting in her chest was back again, and her breath came in short gasps as she sat up and looked around the room. Minutes passed before she remembered.

  Then she reminded herself her parents could never come back. Never again. Grandma had said so—and Grandma always knew.

  But Jenna also knew that her grandmother loved her very much and would take good care of her. And when she walked into Jamie and Jackie’s room and saw them there in peaceful sleep, she was sure Grandma would take great care of them too. And a little bit of her pain went away.

  The smell of bacon filled the air as Jenna walked down the stairs. Grandma stood at the kitchen stove.

  “Hello my dear child. How are you feeling this morning?”

  Jenna smiled up at her. “I’m okay Grandma.”

  “Jenna, Honey. I know things are different right now and you’re sad, but I promise you in time things will be better. It may not seem like it now, but they will.”

  Jenna fought back tears as she sat at the table and ate in silence. She loved her grandmother but didn’t feel like talking.

  When Elena went to check on her sisters, Jenna sat alone in the kitchen and looked around with a sense that someone else was there. The strange, new sensation made her feel comfortable and safe, and not afraid.

  Elena came back to the kitchen minutes later as Jenna placed her dish in the sink.

  “Jenna Honey. I want to talk to you for a minute. Do you ever have feelings like the one you had on your birthday?

  “Sometimes. I feel things.” Jenna said as she glanced around the kitchen again. Still not sure what she felt in that room.

  “What kind of things?” Elena asked.

  Jenna shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. It’s hard to tell you what I mean. Like right now. I feel like somebody is in the room with us, but I can’t see anyone.”

  Elena looked over at her granddaughter and smiled deep inside. She was right about her. She hadn’t seen it in the other two girls, but she saw it in Jenna. The other two may be too young or they may never have the gift that Jenna does. Only time would tell.

  “Okay, sweetie. I was just wondering. You can go play now. I’ll clean up the kitchen.”

  Jenna and her sisters ran and laughed and played in the fenced back yard where the little ones could not wander off. The most beautiful bluebird Jenna had ever seen rested on the birdbath. Jenna held out her hand as she walked toward it, and the bird landed on her hand. Jenna looked up and smiled. “I won’t hurt you.”

  Seconds later, the bird flew away. But as Elena watched from the porch, she knew Jenna had a way with nature. It was going to be easier than she thought to train her. This child had a very special gift, and it would be Elena’s job to teach Jenna how to use her gift.

  Jamie and Jackie sat in the sand box building sand castles, but Jenna fed the squirrels and birds. It was as if she was talking to them and they understood her. As Elena stood and watched she couldn’t be sure how much power Jenna had but she knew she would grow up to be much more powerful than herself.

  *

  Elena put the younger girls to bed for an afternoon nap, then went to Jenna’s room, where she sat on the floor playing with her Barbie doll.

  She looked up. “Hi Grandma. Want to play?”

  Elena smiled . “Sure Jenna. I would love to play. I want to teach you a secret way that you can only play with me.”

  Jenna was very excited by all the
secrecy. “Okay Grandma. How do you play?”

  Elena had to know if Jenna had any powers yet. “Jenna, see that car for your doll over by the door?” I want you to hold out your hand and then tell that car to come to your hand.”

  Jenna did as she said, but the car did not move.

  “Okay Jenna. Now I want you to think real hard that you want that car to come to your hand.”

  Jenna stared at the car and thought as hard as she could. The car started moving toward her.

  “Grandma, how is this happening?”

  Elena smiled with joy. She was right. Jenna was very gifted. Her powers were starting at an early age. Jenna would not get her full powers until she was twenty-six. Elena wouldn’t tell her everything until then. No need for her to worry about what lies ahead.

  Back in the kitchen, Elena planned protection potions to scatter around the house. She would have to protect those girls with everything she had. Once the underworld found out they were there their lives would be in danger. But she would not bother them with that sooner than necessary. Their lives should be as normal as possible.

  Elena filled her tea kettle. She loved the smell of apple cinnamon tea brewing on the stove top.

  “I have to protect the girls.”

  Jenna came running in the door for a cold drink. “Who are you talking to Grandma?”

  Elena looked up from her tea kettle. “Nobody. I was just talking to myself.”

  Jenna laughed. “You’re silly Grandma. I’m going back out to play.”

  As Jenna ran out, Elena spoke to the spirit of a man who appeared in the room. “They have so much energy now. Don’t they?”

  “They sure do. It is now your job to protect them with all that you have. You are not alone in this battle. Remember this.”

  “I know.” Elena said. “I only wish that they didn’t have to have this battle. At least they have time to prepare for it. I’m working on a potion now to protect them.”

  Elena knew that she had to get back into her regular life routine. She had a very successful magic shop. Most people in the town thought it was a fun place to buy candles and scents and things. Elena made decent money and it gave her a reason to order supplies for spells and things without drawing attention to herself. She could simply say that it was for the shop. Nobody ever questioned it.

  She would be interviewing nannies in a day or two to take care of Jaimie and Jackie. Jenna would go to the shop with Elena where she could be taught more about her gift. She needed to know how to protect herself.

  Elena went to the back door. “Girls. It’s time to come in and get cleaned up for dinner.”

  The girls came running. They never argued about it, which was a nice surprise.

  “Grandma, do you need any help with dinner?” Jenna asked.

  “Of course my dear. You can always help me.”

  Elena put Jackie in the high chair and then the rest of them sat down to a nice dinner. She loved to cook.

  Chapter two

  9 Years Later

  Elena’s intuition told her it was time to begin Jenna’s training. She was fifteen and old enough to understand that the impossible could become possible.

  Elena dropped Jamie and Jackie off at dance class and her and Jenna drove home. Jenna never showed any interest in dance. Elena knew it was because she had a much bigger purpose in life.

  They pulled into the drive. Elena turned to Jenna and said. “Jenna. I think it’s time for us to have a long talk.”

  “Did I do something wrong Grandma?”

  “Oh, no Honey. You could never do anything wrong. I simply want to talk to you about something important.”

  Elena put on some tea and got Jenna and herself both a cup. This was going to be a long talk. She was about to explain to her granddaughter that the reason she knew certain things was because she was a witch. She knew her granddaughter was going to look at her oddly. She had never labeled Jenna’s gift as being a witch. She grabbed them both some cookies from the cupboard to help ease into the conversation.

  Jenna looked up at Elena with a serious look on her face. She could tell that something was wrong. “What is it, Grandma?”

  Elena let out a sigh. “Jenna, Honey. You know how you know things and you can think really hard about something and things might move slightly?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Well Honey. The thing is… This is very difficult for me to explain. So I’m just going to blurt it out and then we will go from there. You are a witch. I am a witch and your mother was a witch. There I’ve said it.”

  Jenna looked at her grandmother like she had lost her mind. “Uh, Grandma, are you okay? You are talking crazy. I’m not a witch. I can’t do any spells or anything.”

  “Jenna. You are only fifteen. I have only begun to show you little things because it will be many years before you can fully use your gift. I will teach you as much as you want to learn. I do promise you that, but there is a catch. You can’t tell anyone. This has to be kept a secret. No one must know. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Grandma. I can’t think of any reason why I would want to tell people that I’m a witch. I don’t need burned at the stake.” She chuckled.

  The two sat there for at least an hour talking before they left to go pick up the girls from dance practice.

  Elena knew that with the other two girls going to dance practice three days a week, that would allow her and Jenna some time alone for her to teach Jenna how to use her gift.

  She spent the next few days in the attic deciding what spells would be the easiest for Jenna to work on. Her skills may not work for another year or more, but Elena had to start somewhere.

  She found a few very simple things to start with such as turning a wilted rose back into a healthy rose. She thought that would be perfect. They would start first thing in the morning.

  “Girls. It’s time for bed.”

  The moans and groan from the other room started. They were at the ages that they hated bedtime. It was a choir to get them in bed.

  “Oh, can’t we finish this movie?” Jamie asked in a whining voice.

  “What movie is it?” Elena wanted to know what was so interesting that they couldn’t got to bed on time.

  Jamie took a minute before answering. “I don’t know the name. I just started watching it and I missed the first half, but it looks really good.”

  “Okay girls. I think you should probably go ahead and go to bed. We will have to find out what the name of the movie is and rent it if it’s that good.”

  The girls reluctantly went to bed. They knew it was an argument they wouldn’t win anyway.

  As Jenna lay in bed that night, she had a hard time falling asleep. Her whole life was about to change. She had always known that she was different, but she would never have guessed how different. Jenna rolled onto her stomach trying to get comfortable. Closing her eyes, she felt a tingle go up her spine. She had felt it many times throughout her life but never the way it felt tonight. Tonight it was almost tangible, like someone was standing right above her with their hand on her back in a comforting gesture. Jenna quickly rolled over to her back, but no one was there.

  The next morning Elena got up and fixed the girls a big breakfast. It was Sunday and her shop was closed. She planned to work on spells with Jenna that morning. Jamie and Jackie would be busy practicing for their dance recital.

  Jenna came walking down the stairs bright and early. “Good Morning, Grandma. Can I help with breakfast?”

  Elena was putting the last of the food onto the table. “I’m all done. I just need to make myself some apple cinnamon tea. I can’t have my breakfast without my tea.” She smiled.

  Jenna loved the smell of her tea cooking. The aroma filled the house and made her feel safe in some crazy way. She never really understood why.

  When they finished breakfast Elena told Jamie and Jackie to go practice and her and Jenna headed to the attic.

  “What are we doing Grandma?”

  Ele
na looked over at her granddaughter. “I want to show you something. Remember what I’ve said before though. Never tell a soul about the things I show you.”

  Jenna had no idea what was going on but she nodded in agreement.

  “Okay, Honey. See this wilted dying rose?”

  Jenna looked at the saddest thing she had ever seen. It was a wilted red rose. It didn’t look happy or loved anymore. It almost brought a tear to her eye. “Yes, I see it. What about it?”

  “Jenna. I want you to look at it very hard. With all of your heart and mind, I want you to tell this flower that you love it and it needs to come back to you now.”

  Jenna thought her grandma was crazy. Did she honestly believe that she was going to be able to bring this flower back to life. Jenna didn’t want to disappoint her grandma so she looked at the rose.

  Jenna stared at it and truly with all of her heart she said. “You are the most beautiful rose that I have ever seen. You are loved and it’s not your time to die. Come back to me.”

  Before Jenna’s very eyes the rose started lifting . It was actually coming back to life. After just seconds, it was sitting straight up full of life.

  “Wow! Did I do that?” Jenna was overjoyed with emotions at that very moment.

  “Yes, my dear. You did.” Elena said with a smile. She knew that Jenna was a very special girl.

  Chapter 3

  Jenna was growing into a beautiful young woman over the years and was very excited about her first real date. She had boyfriends before, but this was the first time that she was actually going out with a boy. She was going to the movies with Todd Meads. He was only the cutest boy in her entire school. At least that’s what all the other girls thought.

  Jenna spent hours getting ready. She stood in front of her mirror changing outfit after outfit.

  Jamie sat on the bed watching her sister going crazy over the date. “Jenna. You look great. Don’t worry.”

  Jenna looked over at her sister. “Thanks, Jamie. I just want everything to be perfect.”

  When it finally was , at least in her own mind, she went downstairs to wait. She waited for what seemed like hours when in all actuality it was only minutes. Then finally the door bell rang.