All Chapters of Hayle Coven Novels: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Prequel: Dreams and EchoesI loved the smell of the ocean, the crashing sound of the waves as they hit the pier with frothing, white enthusiasm. It had been years since we'd moved to a town with water for a back yard, so when Mom told me we'd be staying a while in Sable, New Jersey, I crossed my fingers, toes and every other body part, begging the elements to just make it so.Our last town hadn't been anything to write about in my diary, mostly dull, quiet and all kinds of hum blah drum. That was, until a long-forgotten artifact came to life and tried to kill my little sister.Mom was a bit temperamental when it came to Meira. Especially when the eight-year-old half- demon girl's life was in danger. Come to think of it, I felt the same way. The fact it had been my fault the little box I'd bought at the neighbor's yard sale turned out to be possessed by the spirit of a dark witch really didn't help matters.The resulting brouhaha left our house in shambles, the neighborhood on high aler

The ball leaps from my foot, back and forth, right and left as I run and dodge my way down the soccer field. The crowd roars their appreciation, my team one goal off the world championships.This is it, my moment, my chance to prove I'm the best soccer player who has ever been born. The sky overhead turns a multi-hued rainbow of colors as the demons on one side of the field stomp their feet in time with the human crowd screaming my name.I feint as a demon player rushes me, her horns down, charging me like a bull, bright red uniform matching her skin. She rushes past me, missing me as I twirl like a ballerina, the ball still in perfect balance between my feet. I complete my pirouette and pull my right foot back, the goal only feet away.Easy in. Easy win.The roaring crowd goes wild, my name chanted wildly, the air thick with heat.No, wait. Cold. Icy cold, prickling goosebumps on my arms as my foot slips and I fall-***I jerked upright, breathing out a gasp of air in a mist of

I felt my hackles rise even as Jared Runnel, Erica's boyfriend, rose from the table and headed for the door, past me. He rolled his dark eyes, one hand rising to squeeze my shoulder on the way out.Normally, I would have taken a few seconds to sigh over the very handsome, dark-haired Jared, to feed my secret little crush on his broad shoulders, muscles and chiseled jaw, but not now.Not while doom waited for me in the faces of three witches and a demon cat.I ground my teeth together, considered a dash for the stairs and my room, but before I could bolt, Mom spoke up."Sydlynn," she said, words heavy with concern, "we need to talk about the echo you encountered."The what? Oh, right. A part of my fear faded, stomach unclenching as I realized this wasn't about my job or Evie. In fact, I hadn't done anything wrong this time, not technically. It was Mom's fault formissing him when she swept the house.A little spark of smug woke inside me as I shrugged, confidence rising."What

This time I didn't freak out. Okay, I did a little, but not with the mind numbing terror which sent mescrambling last time. Instead, I reacted with magic right away, my demon power crawling in between the echo and myself, holding his bitter cold at bay.He winced as the amber flames licked at him, but didn't run when they threatened. "Give it back." His anger was a heavy, tangible weight in the cold he brought with him. I slipped the bracelet from my wrist and held it out to his ghost."I'm sorry," I said, proud my voice only shook a very little. "Here you go."He scowled at me, ghostly form shuddering as he tried twice to take it. I was grateful for the heat from my demon, keeping him from sliding his hand through mine.Frustrated, even more angry, he backed off, cold pouring from him, so much the edge of my shield misted up from the change in temperature."You do know you're dead, right?" The words slipped out before I could think how heartless they sounded. But the young ma

I almost spun and went back into the staff room. So. Close.But Evie spotted Gram waving, Mom's attention to me, and rushed forward, eyes alight."You must be Sydlynn's mother." Okay, I knew we looked a little alike. "She is your absolute clone, my dear. Are you sure you're not her sister?"Gag.Mom laughed, her deep, surprised but delighted laugh, one hand rising to her gorgeous black hair. "Quite sure," she said, a new sparkle in her gaze.Eyeroll."Tell me you're here to let me do something with this amazing hair!" Evie's gushing would get old fast, but Mom didn't seem to mind.Until Gram poked her and grinned at my boss."Mine!" She danced her jig, around and around while Evie smiled and nodded."Of course, darling," she said, patting Gram's shoulder when my grandmother fell still. "And you're Syd's aunt, yes? Or young cousin?"Gram giggled behind her hands, wicked joy in her faded blue eyes. Winked.Oh boy.My stomach a knot of anxiety already, the ball of stress grew