The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

Would my parents have hidden a sister from me? Is that why they separated when I was so young?

Raking my fingertips over my forehead, I turn the page to the next set of stories.

BLACKWOOD PLEADS FOR LEADS

WINDHAVEN—October 20th, 2009

It has been ten days since the disappearance of Mr. Lyle Blackwood’s seven-year-old daughter. The mystery upon her disappearance and who made the 911 call the day of her disappearance continues to swirl. While the 911 call from the home was that of a woman’s voice, new evidence was uncovered that Mrs. Blackwood was visiting family in Mistwood Point at the time of the incident.

Mr. Blackwood is urging anyone with any information to contact him directly or speak with the authorities.

I scrunch my face, trying to make sense of what I’m reading.

Someone called from the house, but Dad was out in the boathouse… How is that possible?

Continuing, I search the next page.

NEW EVIDENCE EMERGES ON MISSING BLACKWOOD GIRL

WINDHAVEN—October 23rd, 2009

New evidence suggests a possible supernatural explanation for missing Blackwood girl. Windhaven Academy experts were brought in to survey the scene of the Blackwood pond and energetic psychics found traces of a possible Vodník attack. After thirteen days missing, positive outcomes in the case are not looking good.

Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood are appealing to any and all supernatural beings and witches to aid them in the search and to find their daughter and bring the Vodník to justice.

I cover my mouth with my hand, unable to move my eyes from the word: Vodník.

Trembling, I flip the page to one last entry.

MISSING BLACKWOOD GIRL FOUND, WET & CONFUSED

WINDHAVEN—October 31st, 2009

Authorities were called out to Blackwood Manor after Lyle Blackwood’s missing daughter was found on the property’s dock, soaking-wet and confused. The frigid October air had nearly frozen the water to her frail body, but she is in otherwise good health. She is being treated at Windhaven General Hospital for hypothermia.

She has no recollection of her missing time, nor any details on the Vodník. A public search is ongoing to capture the creature.

My heart feels like it’s about to burst from my chest, and I can’t seem to settle it down. The twins had mentioned this had happened before—the missing girls, the Vodník—but everyone failed to mention the one it happened to looked like me.

Chapter 23

Surprise

Cat and Colt pick me up at the library, and for some reason, I can’t seem to shake the intense feeling that I’m on the precipice of something big—monumental, even. I have the overwhelming urge to call my Mom, but I know she’ll tell me I’m nuts. Or worse…want me to come back to Mistwood because I don’t belong here.

“Do I have a twin sister?” I blurt out, unable to restrain myself any longer.

“What? Why would you think that?” Cat asks, chancing a quick glance over to me before turning her gaze back to the road.

“Well, I found something weird. Like, something that’s unusual even for my world.” I snicker. “I found this picture, and it’s got a girl who looks like me, but I swear it’s not me. She’s wearing clothes I don’t remember, and something is, I don’t know, off about her smile.”

Colt clears his throat and leans back in his seat.

“Oh, turn here,” I say, pointing to our driveway.

“Yeah, I know,” she chuckles, tapping her blinker and turning right.

“Where did you find the picture?” Colt asks.

I weigh my options on just how much I want to tell them. Ultimately, though, I realize that I can’t do this alone.

As Cat comes to a stop in the front circle of our driveway, I unbuckle my seatbelt and twist around. “You know, it might be easier to show you both. Come on.”

The three of us exit the vehicle and head up to the front door. As I reach for the doorknob, Cat leans in, whispering something in Colt’s ear, but I can’t make it out. All I catch is, “should we?”

Pulling my eyebrows in, I shake my head and swing the door open.

“Dad, I’m home,” I call out. “I have the Gilberts with me if you’d like to stop and say hello.”

Cat and Colt take their shoes off at the door just as dad descends the stairs.

He feigns a smile that I’m sure looks genuine to Cat and Colt but looks forced to me.

“Nice to have you home, but I have errands to run, sweetie,” he says, refusing to acknowledge Cat and Colt as he continues through to the kitchen.

I shuffle awkwardly, hoping the twins don’t take offense. I make a mental note to dig more into the frigid air around the Gilberts.

“Okay, well, I guess we should keep going,” I mutter, trying to change the subject.

Cat and Colt exchange an odd look.

“So, there’s more than the picture I need to show you,” I start, “but please, don’t tell anyone else. At least, not until I figure out what the hell it all means. Deal?”

The twins both nod, but neither of them say a word.

Nodding to myself, I tilt my head. “All right, follow me.”

As we walk down the hallway toward my room, Cat’s eyes are everywhere. The walls, ceilings, floors.

“This place, it hasn’t… I mean, it’s amazing,” she whispers.

“Right? It’s like living in a museum sometimes, though,” I say, opening my bedroom door.

Colt is the first to step inside as I hold the door open for them. Cat follows afterward, tipping her head in thanks.

I drop my backpack on the floor beside my desk, and step into the middle of the room.

“All right, so I really need your help in sorting all of this out. There’s been a lot of weird coming at me and after the conversation with Dominic, and the stuff I read at the library, I don’t know what to believe anymore. But this—this has really freaked me out,” I say, walking over to my dresser and giving it a shove.

The twins gasp audibly, as I twist the handle to the