Darynda stepped back. "I didn't say that. Let me rephrase. Lavinia won't give up until she has done what she needs to do. She's a very talented and powerful witch...and stubborn. Giving up is not in her nature."

Mercy nodded slowly. "I need her here too."

"Trust me," Darynda said. "She left you in good hands."

"Yours?"

Darynda nodded. "And others. Lavinia knows what's going on and has made certain you will be well cared for. Your job is to continue your education, both in the mortal world and in the magick world."

"Um...Could you make the sheriff forget me too? And Mrs. O'Grady is making me crazy...And..."

Darynda shook her head. "Those challenges are left to you, my very talented young friend. Don't forget to practice your magick and feed your Orb."

Mercy nodded as the screen went dark.

The doorbell jangled and she climbed up off the floor to peek out the window. Kelli and Felicity were standing on the other side. She threw open the door and her two friends rushed in, giggling. They grabbed her in a three-way embrace with lots of jumping up and down and squealing thrown in.

"Hey!" Kelli said. "We got rid of the absentminded trio. I let them out at Amy's house. I figured there would be less drama than if we went to the Boyd place."

"Good choice," Mercy said. "How did that go?"

"Nice," Felicity said. "The family was so glad to get her back they didn't question our 'found them on the road' story, so we split."

"They were calling Lindy's and Becca's families," Kelli said.

Mercy couldn't stop grinning. "You guys are the best. I don't know what I would have ever done without you."

Kelli c.o.c.ked her head to one side. "That's what best friends are for."

"I know, but..." Mercy began.

"Don't worry about it. It was actually fun. I didn't know about witches and now I got to see some magic, up close and personal." Felicity's face was beaming with a wide grin.

"I know!" Kelli said. "I can't believe one of my best friends is a real live witch." She put both hands up to her cheeks. "I mean, I do believe, but I never would have believed it."

Mercy took a deep breath. "About that...Please try to forget about everything. I have to be just a normal girl at school, so please don't ever mention it anywhere except among the three of us."

Kelli raised her right hand and Felicity followed suit. "I swear...I mean, it's just between the circle of three."

"Thanks, guys. I know I can trust you."

"Yeah, but I gotta get home before my curfew or we'll all be biking to school." She grabbed Mercy in a hug and turned to the door. "See ya tomorrow morning."

Felicity hugged her too and gave a little finger wave. "Night."

Mercy locked the door after them. She couldn't believe that all the misery of the past few weeks had been resolved. She dreaded to face Lindy and her gang when she got to school tomorrow. She would have to pretend that she didn't know them. And what about Greg? How would he react to her change of status with Lindy and her friends?

She would have to face those challenges tomorrow. For tonight, she just needed to go to bed.

She changed into her gown and climbed in bed. She pulled the quilt under her chin.. Alistair jumped onto the bed and curled up beside her. "Goodnight, Alistair," she whispered. "Goodnight, Gran."

The next day in the cafeteria, Mercy had just barely set her tray down on the table across from Felicity. Her stomach clenched when she heard Lindy's voice nearby. Lindy was using the same scornful tone she had used to berate Mercy in the past.

"Move it, loser. Don't touch me with your dweebiness." She made a face and Donald cringed.

"Yeah," Becca echoed. "Don't touch us with your dweebiness."

Clutching his tray, Donald's face reddened. He swallowed hard and turned in the other direction, fleeing to the opposite side of the cafeteria amid hoots of laughter from the girls ridiculing him.

Lindy seemed to be enjoying being the center of attention. She tossed her hair as she had in the past.

"Wow! She really has forgotten all about you." Kelli had come up behind Mercy and stood gazing at the scene.

Mercy heaved a sigh. "But she hasn't forgotten how to be mean."

Lindy and Becca were still laughing. Amy stood a short distance away, appearing to be quite uncomfortable.

"I think I would prefer she picked on me than on Donald."

"Really?" Kelli cast her a mischievous grin. "Let's turn the tables." She strode across to where Lindy was standing, with Mercy and Felicity following on her heels.

Mercy's stomach did a tumble and roll. "Right. Might as well make her hate me again." She reached in her bag for one item she had brought with her from home.

"Hey, Lindy!" Kelli said. "How was your outing last night? Did you ever figure out where your car was?"

Lindy sat her lemonade on the table behind her and gazed down her nose at Kelli. "Not that it's any of your lame business, but my car had been towed to my parent's house. They said I had been gone for days."

Felicity's eyes grew round. "No way! I wondered where you had been hanging out because you smelled distinctly strong...kind of like a barnyard."

Lindy huffed out an impatient sound. "I'm certain that I have never in my life smelled like a barnyard."

"Well, yes," Mercy said. "As a matter of fact, you did."

Amy raised her hand as though asking permission to speak. "You did smell kind of funky."

Lindy rounded on her furiously. "n.o.body was talking to you!"

"No worries," Kelli said. "I used air freshener in my car and the stench is almost gone."

Lindy let out a roar of outrage. "Don't you dare say that! I do not stink!"

Mercy stepped closer to the table where Lindy had placed her tray.

Kelli rolled her eyes, dramatically. "If you say so."

Mercy noticed that Donald had edged closer to the gathering crowd. Her heart beat a little faster, as she tried to contribute. "We were wondering where you were hiding out. Everyone figured that you were just trying to get attention."

Lindy's face flushed with anger. She rounded on Mercy. "Shut up! I don't even know you." She turned her back and picked up the cup of lemonade from her tray, taking a long drink.

Mercy shrugged and stepped back. "No problem." She motioned to Felicity and Kelli. "Let's go eat. I'm hungry." She turned her back, leaving Lindy sputtering in her wake.

Donald started to applaud and was joined by the rest of the students. Mercy and Felicity grinned as they returned to their table.

Kelli made a deep curtsey. "Thank you. Thank you very much," she said using her best diva impersonation.

Greg pushed his way through the crowd, carrying his tray. "What's going on?"

Lindy turned back to flash a smile at him. She sucked more lemonade through the straw. "I'm just acting like a drama queen and bashing everyone because it makes me feel good to make people feel bad." She made a face and sipped her lemonade. "I like to make fun of people and have everyone afraid of me." She looked shocked and put her hand over her mouth. "I just can't seem to quit talking. Amy, what are you looking at? I only let you hang out with me because I love the way you suck up to me...Oh, why can't I stop talking?"

Greg frowned and set his tray next to Mercy's. "What's the deal with Lindy? She's acting weird, even for Lindy."

Mercy smiled and slipped the small vial of the Elixir of Truth back into her pocket then sat down beside Greg. She shrugged. "Who can tell with Lindy?"

Felicity sat across the table from them and motioned to Donald. "Come on. Get your food and join us at the dweeb table."

He laughed and went to retrieve it.

Kelli pulled out a chair and slid into it. "Well, isn't it lovely to have Lindy back...said n.o.body...ever."

Lindy was still babbling on and on.

Mercy took a deep breath and blew it out. "Yes, it's great to have everything back to...normal."

If you enjoyed Legacy, please check my Amazon Author Page for the next book in the series, which will be available October, 2012.

The Young Witch's Chronicles ~ Book II.

Lexicon.

by Calista Anastasia.