Magical New Beginnings

by Brenda Trim

  I picked up one of the fuzzy tipped pens from a display and rubbed it between my palms, needing a distraction. “I can’t believe all of this is real. That all of Grams’s stories were true.”

  “It’s a lot to take in. I imagine you feel like the rug has been pulled from under you,” Violet said as she watched me fidget.

  “Exactly! Sebastian was no help, and Aislinn told me some, but not what I really need to know. I want to stick my head in the sand and pretend I never heard any of it.”

  “But you won’t,” Violet interjected with a knowing smile. “You face things head-on, even when they seem impossible or are painful to deal with.”

  “You know me too well. I can’t ignore any of this which is why I’m here. I need to know how I am supposed to guard this portal. I don’t even know where it is. Do you have anything that can help me?”

  “I might be a witch, but I can’t give you those answers. That’s information only your family is privy to,” Violet informed me with a wince.

  My shoulders sank and I felt like hitting something. “How the hell am I supposed to do this job when I have no information? Sebastian just told me King Voron was going to send something awful through the portal and I would be responsible for the end of the world. Don’t you have a book that can at least give me information on what I’m dealing with?”

  Violet waved a hand through the air. “First of all, don’t listen to him. He has made brooding an art form. Second, I wish I had something that would help. My best piece of advice is that you look through your house. Your grandmother had to have left something that will help. She knew you’d come back eventually.”

  “She could have mailed me a letter. Or left it on the kitchen table. Hell, emailed me even. Anything to give me the information I need. The weight of the world is literally on my middle-aged shoulders and they’re about to give out on me.”

  Violet chuckled and shook her head. “Sounds like you’ve been running yourself in circles all day. Let’s get dinner then I can help you search through your house.”

  I nodded, emotion suddenly overwhelming me. Something clicked into place inside my chest.

  Violet bounced in place with a wide smile lifting her lips. “Hey, did we just form a coven of two?” She must have felt something similar to what I did.

  “I think it’s more like three. Aislinn would not like being left out,” I corrected.

  “You’re right about that. Let me close up shop and we can get out of here.”

  “That would be fantastic. Thank you.” I had no desire to do this on my own. It was nice to have someone supporting me.

  I might have stepped into the twilight zone, but there were plenty of people around to help me navigate through the darkness. I wasn’t alone and that eased my worry more than anything. One thing I’d learned in life was that you needed to surround yourself with supportive friends and family or you’ll be eaten alive by the twists and turns.

  Chapter 4

  “Is this anything?” I held the book aloft, unsure if the strange markings on the cover of the book meant anything.

  Violet poked her head into the craft room a second later. Her eyebrows furrowed and she scanned the brown cover in my hand. “That’s not your grandmother’s writing or your family Grimoire. It looks like a book from Faery. That is the Fae language. I don’t imagine Isidora would have left you notes in that.”

  I shook my head and blew out a breath. “Well, I haven’t come across anything. This is futile. It seems as if my grandma didn’t think to leave me a note or clue me in on this world. Maybe I should return to North Carolina with my kids.”

  Violet crossed to me and squeezed my hand. “You mentioned something clicking into place. Do you feel differently now?”

  Glancing out the window, I watched the pond and the flowering lily pads. “Honestly, I’m overwhelmed, but I still feel like this is where I’m meant to be. But I have no idea how I am supposed to be this Guardian. And that pisses me off. I’m not used to not knowing.”

  Violet chuckled and headed out of the room, tugging me with her. “Now, that sounds like Isidora. She was the go-to in town for most people whether they were asking about potions or recipes or how to help loved ones. What matters is that you feel like you belong.”

  “That’s not all that matters. I can’t help anyone with anything. I don’t even know what potions are. I would say I have no magic to even learn with, but I know that would be a lie.”

  “That’s something, then. The fact that you are certain you have magic is vastly different than the woman I spoke with a few weeks ago. Are you saying that because of what you’ve been told? Or has something happened?” Violet let go of my hand and went into the kitchen.

  I continued past her when she went to the stove. “I made those flowers appear when I was in the garden pulling weeds. I was overwhelmed at the time and sent the feelings out of me. But when I really look at my life, I think there has always been something under the surface. When I was in labor with my kids, I caused the fetal monitors to fritz. And, people that made me mad in some way experienced things like spilled drinks, wardrobe malfunctions, and diarrhea when I sent my anger towards them. I never gave it a second thought, assuming I was reading too much into it. After the last few weeks I have considered the events differently.”

  Violet braced herself on the counter as she bent over and laughed. “Diarrhea? That’s classic. As far as learning magic, I can help with potions and other spells with the witchcraft part. But you are also part Fae and I can’t help with that half. Nor the role you’ve accepted as Guardian. That’s where your family Grimoire comes in handy.”

  “You mentioned that before. That’s a book, right? What does it look like? I haven’t found anything with my family history in it.”

  Violet turned on the stove and set the kettle on to boil. “I’ve never seen it, but it’s far more than your family history. It’s an accounting of spells and magic your ancestors created. And, I would bet there’s information about the portal and your duties in it, as well.”

  “Then it sounds like I need to find the damn book.” I suddenly felt defeated. I’d searched most of the house but didn’t find anything there. “Can you tell me why my family has this role? Why can’t I pass the job off to someone like Sebastian? He’d be able to fight off anyone that isn’t supposed to cross to Earth.”

  Violet shook her head and grabbed the milk from the fridge. “Having him in charge would be a disaster. He would never allow anyone through. I don’t know the entire story, but I do know your family settled in Pymm’s Pondside long ago when there were many bridges from Faery to this world. As the magic dried up, the portal on your land remained. I suspect someone in your line created it as a way to visit family here and tied its existence to your bloodline when the Fae realm started losing its power.”

  I swiveled to face her and nearly dropped the mugs I had just grabbed in my shock. “How can an entire realm lose power? That seems impossible.”

  Violet sighed and put tea bags in the mugs I set down. “It has to do with the King and when he took the throne. He consumed a significant portion of the magic in the realm and even stole some from the various creatures living in it. It was the only way for him to beat the previous King.”

  That was fascinating. “So, is there like some hidden royal family that can take the throne back and restore Faery to its former glory?” It was a common trope in fantasy novels, my favorite genre.

  Violet chuckled at that and removed the kettle when it started whistling. She poured the hot water into the cups. “The stories don’t mention that. I’m not Fae, but from what I have gathered the throne is taken by force. It’s not something that is passed down from heir to heir. The strongest rule Eidothea and its people. There is an upper echelon and only those top families have the capability to fight for the throne. I suspect your family belongs to that higher tier.”

  I reared back as if she’d slapped me. I wanted nothing to do with beings that would exploit other
s for personal gain. “Ugh. Thank the Gods I’m not some vile person that would steal from others so I could take the throne.”

  “Faery needs a ruler that thinks of the greater good. Maybe then the balance between our worlds could be reestablished.” Violet poured sugar into her tea then brought the steaming mug to her lips.

  I lifted mine and let the aromatic steam calm me. “What would that mean? I can’t see humans accepting Fae exist. They’d deploy nuclear bombs to destroy us all if they learned mythic creatures were real.” There was no denying the way we reacted to fear. I considered getting a gun after Tim died. In the end I realized it would pose more of a risk than it would help.

  “That’s true. It doesn’t matter right now anyway. There’s no one alive that will challenge King Voron.”

  A gasp left me, and I dropped my tea when my hands flew to my head. That awful pinging had started again and was far stronger than it had ever been before. “Are you okay, Fiona? What’s wrong?” Violet’s voice came to me from far away. I couldn’t concentrate on anything except the noise and tugging in my chest.

  ‘My head,” I said through clenched teeth. “There’s this pinging.”

  A hand ran up and down my back, rubbing circles. Find out where this shit is coming from! I took several deep breaths and focused on the source for several seconds. Violet was asking if she should take me to someone or something in town named Zreegy. I had no idea who or what Zreegy was.

  All I could think about was settling the pinging and tugging. It was getting worse and was now downright painful. After several seconds, I dropped my hands and looked into Violet’s wide blue eyes. The concern was the exact reminder I needed that there were some in town that cared about me.

  “Are you okay?” She asked after a couple seconds.

  I bobbed my head and licked dry lips. “I’m good now. I’ve felt this pinging ever since I arrived, and it is getting worse. I thought it was coming from the house, but now I suspect it’s coming from outside.”

  Violet turned and went to the pantry. “It might just be the leylines and you being sensitive to the power coursing through them, but we will go out and find what’s causing it. Not yet, though. Stay where you are. You’re barefoot and there’s ceramic pieces all over the floor.”

  I hadn’t even heard it break. I kept focused on the pinging which was now getting softer and softer. “You know I’d be lost without you and Aislinn. Knowing I can turn to you both erases any doubt about my decision to stay. But what do you mean ley lines and why would I be sensitive to them?”

  “Leylines are pathways of condensed magic. Here in Cottlehill Wilds several different ones converge. That draws supernatural to our location and is one reason we have a significant population living here. The other is the portal. I suspect the convergence made it possible for the portal to be created here.”

  “I reiterate that I would be lost without you. I get the concept you are describing but my mind refuses to believe it outright.”

  Violet dumped the sharp debris into the trash, and I mopped up the liquid with some paper towels. “I’ve felt a kinship with you for as long as I can remember. I just wish you’d known about your magic when Trent decided he was leaving me for his secretary. We could’ve hexed him with loose bowels like we joked about. That would’ve turned the twenty-something bimbo off.”

  I barked out a laugh and stuffed my feet into the slip-ons I kept in the mudroom. “Now that’s magic I can get behind. Why do men do that when they hit their forties? As if that will turn back the clock? He will have to work twice as hard to keep that young woman. Dumbass. You deserve so much better.”

  Violet snorted and followed me out of the house. “From your lips to the Gods’ ears. Now, let’s see what we can learn out here. Do you have any idea where it is?”

  I thought about that as the cool night air surrounded us. The scent of nightshade and jasmine filtered to me from the garden. I really needed to do some research to discover what I had out there. And how to make potions. Perhaps I could find Violet’s ex and slip him something to give him cramps.

  “I haven’t got a clue. It happens intermittently and at odd times. Like I said I first thought it had to do with the house because it started right after I informed Pymm’s Pondside that I was staying.”

  Violet lifted a hand and muttered, “Revelare.” I have no idea what foreign language she was speaking, but energy pulsed through the air and my skin started tingling in response. A light blue glow seeped from my pores a second later. There was a green glow coming from the garden and various ones coming from the cemetery.

  “What did you just do?” I turned in a circle and took in the forest and plant life around me. The maple with the nymph glowed brown and the flowers scattered about glowed brighter, as well.

  I focused on the gravestones wondering why each one displayed a different color. And then there was the crypt. Pretty much every color in the rainbow emanated from the stone building.

  “I cast a reveal spell. With magic it’s all about intent and I wanted to reveal anything your grandmother may have concealed. There’s far more hidden here, so it isn’t going to help us.” Violet waved her arms to encompass everything.

  “What’s that?” I am moving through the foliage before Violet responds. There’s this black glow that pulls me forward. It’s now menacing, but there is definitely a darkness that speaks to the grief I’ve been carrying for far too long.

  Violet’s steps were loud behind me as I kept going. “This is all your land. Your grandmother took in strays and allowed to live on Pymm’s Pondside, so you will find many out here.”

  “How can I find out everyone that lives here with me? It’s creepy not knowing who’s close by.” Trees glowed randomly, as did hollows in the trunks and shrubs. The moon was high in the sky, telling me it was late. I hadn’t been out after eight for many years. It was nice to be out at this time of night. Almost made me feel like I was twenty again. Well, if I ignored the aches and pains, hot flashes and fatigue.

  Before Violet could respond I stopped in my tracks. Sebastian was standing in the middle of the forest with his arms crossed over his chest. “What are you doing out here?”

  “You live on my property?”

  A growl rumbled from his chest. “No. You left Pymm’s Pondside about ten feet back. Go home.”

  Violet stopped next to me. “Hello to you, too, Bas. Lovely evening isn’t it?”

  “Why did you cast a reveal spell? I didn’t want her knowing where I live.” The look he sent my way was enough to make me cringe and tuck tail then crawl home.

  “I don’t give a crap where you live. I’m trying to understand my role. We don’t have time to argue with you,” I informed him and continued walking. In the distance I caught sight of an iridescent bubble.

  “I wasn’t arguing with you, Guardian. But you should leave before you’re hurt. You’re in over your head.”

  I stopped walking and turned narrowed eyes on the guy. “I wouldn’t be in over my head if you’d pull that stick out of your ass and offer me some help.”

  His jaw dropped open for a second before he snapped it closed. “Why would I do that? If I wanted to be involved in this shit I would be back in Faery. Not here close to the likes of you.”

  “What is your problem?” I practically yelled at him. Violet sprang forward and grabbed my arm.

  “Let’s continue on. I’ll be by to get my athame later this week, Bas,” she called over her shoulder as she dragged me away.

  “That guy is an asshole. Does he like anyone? No, you know what? I don’t care. What’s an athame?” I deeply wanted to know why Sebastian loathed me. Not that I believed he was overly nice or anything. He was just as brooding when talking to others. Although he seemed to save his extreme dislike for me.

  “An athame is a ceremonial blade. It’s the main ritual implement or magical tool among witches. We use them in ceremonial magic rituals. Your grandmother should have left you one, but if you can’t find it, Bas
is the one you want to buy another from.”

  “No offense, but I won’t be buying anything from that man, no matter how sexy he is.”

  Violet made a choking sound that ended in a coughing fit. She looked back over her shoulder then picked up her pace. “Bas is a Fae with exceptional hearing.”

  The blood drained from my head at the same time my entire body lit up. I refused to see if he was watching me. What I was feeling was nothing more than a hot flash. Or so I told myself. “You could have told me that sooner. Anyway, it doesn’t matter how attractive someone is if they’re an asshole.” I said the last louder hoping he would hear that.

  Violet shook her head and pointed ahead of us. “We’ve reached the edge of the town border. That offers some protection for us.”

  I lifted a hand and reached for the iridescent barrier in front of us. A zing traveled through my fingers when I touched it. “Is this like a protection spell or something?”

  Violet shook her head. “Not really. It’s more of a warning to the town. When a human with no magic or Fae blood passes through it sends out a signal so those of us that stand out can hide before they are seen. It also helps hide the existence of the portal in our town. That’s why we aren’t overrun by Fae in this world.”

  I scan the area around us and drop my arm. The cliffs were ahead of us with Cottlehill Wilds behind us. The barrier ended to the left but wasn’t visible to the right. “I had wondered how you manage to remain hidden. It must alert you to any newcomers. I never saw the pixies or gnomes when my kids and I first arrived. Now they’re everywhere.”

  Violet headed back toward my house but took a path several feet from the one leading to Sebastian’s property. “You’re right. It tells us when someone that has magic and doesn’t live here crosses the border. Now that you’ve claimed your place here you won’t trigger the spell. Your kids will every time they come to visit.”