• Chapter Three

    A couple days later Sarah invited Max to her home to for lunch. She justified this simply by offering him some more scenery. She wouldn't deny that she was attracted to him. Not that she would admit it out loud however. She went to cliffs to watch the waves and as she stood at that spot power hummed through her. A power that had been passed to her, her birthright as was the island in her line of thinking. A breeze wafted around her and she lifted her arms with it enjoying the coolness of the sea as the salty water kissed her cheeks.

    Max drove up to the cliff and slammed on the brakes. All he saw was Sarah, standing on a dangerous looking cliff with her arms to the wind. She was a stunning sight. He got out of the car and began to walk over. "Casting spells?" he asked jokingly.

    Sarah turned swiftly and flushed out of embarrassment. Once she recovered, she smiled and stepped over to him. "I might be."

    "Love spells?"

    She smiled, "If I was Max Keaton. It definitely wasn’t for you.” She walked past him and toward her garden, “Besides they are forbidden and never work.”

    “And you would know that how?”

    She smirked as she sat at the wicker table. “Listen to island gossip, Mr. Keaton. I am the island witch.”

    He laughed, “Oh really? I don’t see any warts.”

    “Glamour spells are simple things, Max.” She smiled at him and fluttered her eyelashes dramatically. “I have no warts Max, I look exactly how you see me.”

    He smiled and sat in the chair across from her, “I’m glad for that.” Max looked around the garden for a moment, “Do you do your own yard work?”

    Sarah smiled grateful for the subject change. “Yes I do, it is very relaxing.”

    Max smiled and looked around his eyes landing on the forest path, “So you even have your own slice of forest. Doesn’t it scare you to have all those wild animals around you.”

    “Actually I find it comforting. With the animals here I’m not alone. Does it unnerve you to know we’ve so many animals around us?”

    “Oddly no. It’s just to peaceful to be unnerving here.”

    She smiled genuinely, “I’m glad you think so Max. Now how about we go inside and I give you a tour of the house?”

    “Sure as long as I don’t end up your prisoner,” he said with a wink.

    Sarah laughed and shook her head as she led the way into the kitchen. “My kitchen nothing too special.”

    “Don’t you cook your potions in here?”

    “No I use the hearth.” That at least was the truth. She moved upstairs and told him stories from her childhood. But when they got to the stair that led to her tower she directed him back downstairs.

    “Why can’t I see what’s upstairs?” he asked curiously.

    “I don’t know you well enough yet. It’s that simple.” She shrugged, “Everyone has their secrets.”

    Later that night they were eating dinner and flirting. “Why is it that your questions always drift back to spells and me being a witch?” she asked.

    Max thought about it, “Part of it was the journal… I guess the other part is how I saw you when I drove up here. You just looked… ethereal would be the more eloquent way to put it.”

    “And to put it plainly?”

    “Drop dead gorgeous.” He said it so simply, he noted her eyes widened slightly with pleasured shock and that gave him a small boost to his ego. “A queen of an unspoiled world enjoying the simple peace of everything.”

    Her face flushed at his comment, “Well… you certainly know how to charm a woman.” Sara looked to the clock and smiled lightly. “It’s getting late Max, you should head back. The nighttime mists are hell to drive through.” She led him to the door, “Goodnight, Max. Dream well.”

    Max looked at her for a moment and took a chance. He placed a hand on her cheek and kissed her. He felt the woman freeze in shock but kept the kiss light. Once she had relaxed he let her go, “Goodnight, Sarah.”

    Sarah watched as Max drove down the winding road and tried to calm her pounding heart. That kiss was totally unexpected and more pleasant than she had thought kissing him would be. She went back inside her home and poured herself another glass of wine. “Max Keaton… are you more than you seem?”