by Ciara Lake
“Why are you collecting now? After all of these years, you demand payment. You took too long, and now I don’t want to comply.”
“I took too long? Now you don’t want to comply?” he repeated.
“That’s what I said.”
“I’m immortal, like you. You know time flies, and we get caught up in other things. I’m a busy man.”
“You mean a busy Enforcer, doing Zeus’s bidding. You’ve waited too long.”
“Yes, I’m doing the god’s work. And there was no time limit discussed. Now I’m focused on fulfilling our bargain.” He pointed at her. “And you making that happen.”
“Yes, there was a time limit. It was when she turned eighteen.”
“I’m not going to argue with you, there was no time limit.”
“You’re not nice. You’re evil, just like the ones you hate. You use your power to hurt others.”
“I’m not trying to be nice,” he said. “I enforce the law.”
“Don’t sound so self-righteous. You do what suits you.”
“I’m not going to listen to a deceitful witch. You’re a whore of Hecate.”
“I told you I don’t worship Hecate.” She shook her head. “Why do you hate all witches so much? Your hatred makes you bad, like those you hate. Hate corrupts.”
“I’m done here for now. Remember, you brokered the deal with me. Now I need Aife’s bad seed to be delivered as was agreed. I’m done debating with you.”
“If this has to do with your hatred of Hecate, all witches don’t worship her like Aife and Crexan do. We’re not responsible for what happened to your sister.”
“You’re repeating yourself, witch.”
“My granddaughter has nothing to do with your hatred for the Goddess Hecate or her cohort, Goddess Amuliana. She’s innocent of all these wrongs you want to blame her for.”
“Don’t speak the other goddess’s name,” he shouted.
“Amuliana?” she said it again.
“I said don’t speak her name,” he shouted louder, and the wind picked Genevieve up about twenty feet in the air and held her high above him. Genevieve was sure he was going to drop her.
“Let me down,” she demanded.
He placed her back down safely on her feet. “You’re either a brave or stupid witch.”
The earth shook beneath her feet. She fell, then quickly got back up. “Aetius, you’re punishing all of us for history we have nothing to do with. I heard your sister, Faelan, has been returned to the realm of the living. The wrong has been righted. Yet you’re still bitter.”
“The ones who wronged her haven’t been punished.” Thunder clashed, and lightning struck the ground nearby.
“That’s right, the ones who wronged her. That’s not me or my granddaughter. Or even Aife for that matter.”
“Don’t assume things you don’t understand. Produce her, and soon, or you won’t like what I do next.” His dark eyes glowed brightly. His handsome face transformed into a frightening mask. “I can find her too. Maybe I will.”
A hard rain started to fall. It beat down, soaking Genevieve through her jacket. Aetius remained dry.
“You’d better use your magic to get home and dry off,” he said. “Even though witches are immortal, I hear you can sometimes get sick.”
“Thanks for your concern.” She frowned.
“By the way, there’s no need to avoid using your magic. It doesn’t take you off my radar. I’m always watching you. Don’t be so foolish to think I forget.” He vanished, but Genevieve knew he lingered on the wind, hidden from her.
“Enforcer Aetius, you’re worse than the ones you hate!” She held her fist up and shook it. “You use your superior power to hurt others. To torment them for things they’re not responsible for. Take a good look at yourself. Do you hear me, Master Elemental Aetius? Punish those who truly deserve it, and that would be you.”
She closed her eyes to control the rage and fear. Then she flashed herself back to her kitchen. She removed her coat and magically dried herself. He never forgot a thing. She fixed her hair back into a ponytail. I’ve been avoiding using magic for nothing.
Despite her angry words, Genevieve was beside herself with worry. She didn’t want to be the center of anyone’s attention. Her hands shook as she put the kettle on the stove. Relax, he’s gone for now. She stood by the stove and waited for the water to boil. After it boiled she poured it into her teapot. The aromatic rosemary blend would help her combat the anxiety she had from encountering Enforcer Aetius.
He was a true force of nature, master of all the elements. Immortals feared him. He sought out and captured those who crossed the line and brought attention to themselves in a bad way. Aife and Crexan had crossed the line. They doomed their child to Aetius’s wrath. No one could avoid a Master Elemental who controlled all the elements. His type of power was rare and godlike.
Gods, Aife, you’ve been a thorn in my side since you were born. She’d tried to put Aetius out of her mind. To forget she’d literally made a deal with the devil. And what for? Aife was a lost cause. Her granddaughter, Terra, was a young woman now, and she could very well be a wonderful immortal. How could I have betrayed her even before she was born?
Genevieve sat at her kitchen table with her cup of tea. She sipped her tea and watched the rain fall. Using several breathing exercises, she tried to calm herself more.
“Genevieve.”
She jumped, spilling her tea. She looked over to see Aetius sitting in the chair catty-corner from her at the table. “Gods.”
“I have more to say to you.”
“How did you get in here?” she yelled.
He grinned. “Like you said, I have superior abilities.”
She jumped out of her chair. “I have protection spells to prevent this.”
“Sit down, Genevieve.” He patted her spot at the table. “Or what’s left of your tea will get cold. Your magic’s weak, and the protection spells protecting your house don’t work against me.” He shrugged. “For everyone else your spells are decent enough.”
She sat back down. “But not for the great Aetius?”
“Exactly.”
“What more do you want from me?” She sighed.
“I’ve thought about what you said to me.” He held up his hand and a cup of tea appeared. He drank some. “The tea is good.”
“I didn’t know you had practical magic too.” She gestured toward his tea cup. “You control all of the elements and you have practical magic too. What can’t you do?”
“There are some things.” He looked down into his cup.
“Not very many things.”
“No, but enough about me. I spoke to God Dionysus after our earlier discussion.”
“Already? That was quick.”
“Yes, and it was a hasty discussion.”
“What did he tell you?”
“He really cares for your granddaughter. I’m surprised.” He finished his tea. “But to each his own.”
“Really?”
“You seem surprised,” he said. “I thought you knew she was a special handmaiden to God Dionysus.”
“I did know that. God Dionysus has a lot of handmaidens. I don’t know anything else much about her.”
“I see. God Dionysus says she loves the earth and cares for it as a guardian. It seems that she’s unlike Aife in every way.”
“That’s a blessing.” Genevieve leaned on the table.
“It is.” His cup filled back up with tea. “She cares for all living things and has the gift of healing. She’s only now learning the full extent of her powers as mortals raised her. And her name is Terra. Imagine that? After the goddess of the earth. There’s poetry in that irony.” He smiled.
“Yes, I’ve known her name. I named her. I thought the name was fitting considering what her mother had taken from the earth while she carried her in her womb. Aife wasn’t concerned with naming her. She was too busy pleasing her dark warlock lover. And Crexan didn’t want the chil
d.”
“God Dionysus tells me Terra’s very powerful. One of the most powerful witches he’s known. Her magic is unusual for a witch.” He cocked his head to the side as if he was measuring her responses carefully. “I’m told you would be proud of her. She’s not like Aife.”
“That’s good, I never wanted her to be like Aife.” Genevieve started to weep. “I gave her away. I’ve always regretted that. But I took her from Aife. I made sure Aife couldn’t have her. I gave her to mortals.” She whimpered as tears flowed down her face. “I was afraid she would become like Aife, or worse, like Crexan. I also wanted to keep her away from you. However, the mortals I gave her to became fearful of her. She mistakenly showed her magic with the plants. As a child she didn’t understand mortals would be afraid and that they were different from her. The people I placed her with gave her to Children Services. When they did, I cast a spell to hide her from all, even me, to keep her safe.”
“I see.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to punish her for Aife’s crimes.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
He silently watched her for several moments. His black hair fell onto his forehead, making him appear softer, kinder. “I made it rain today.” He gazed out the window. “I love the rain on days like today. I love it when the world’s green and thirsty. There’s no greater beauty.”
“Why are you changing the subject?” she asked.
He looked at her with his shiny, black eyes; they were filled with emotion. “I admit the deal we brokered was harsh, and I made you choose between your daughter and grandchild. I concede that was not my best moment, none of this has been. So, I have a proposition for you.”
“Are you offering me another deal with the devil?” She shook her head.
He leaned back in his chair. Gone was the vulnerable side he had shown her. “Listen to me, witch. I just admitted I have been wrong, and yes, I’ve taken out my hatred for Hecate against all witches I’ve encountered. That’s been wrong of me.”
“Yes.” Genevieve’s hands shook. “So, I’ll listen to your proposition.”
He leaned closer to her. “Once I wasn’t as you see me now. I was full of hope and certain the world was a good place for everyone.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his glossy, black eyes. “I danced at all the celebrations like a giddy Fey.” He rolled his eyes. “Then Amuliana and Hecate came and took one of my greatest joys, my sweet sister, Faelan. That changed me forever. But today you reminded me not to become like the ones I hate. And after all, my sister has been restored. It might be fair to spare Terra. And to punish Aife in a different way.”
“Please do.” Genevieve reached for his hand. “I’m surprised you said that goddess’s name.”
“Don’t.” He pulled his hand back. “I can say her name. I just don’t want to hear you say it. I want to evaluate Terra myself. I’ve made no promises to you yet. I’ll have to see if she’s worth letting out of this bargain her grandmother cursed her to be part of.”
“She sounds like she’s worthy.”
“Perhaps.” He shrugged. “Clever witches have been known to fool others.”
“Even God Dionysus thinks she’s impressive.”
“We’ll see. Sometimes the gods see and think about things differently than one might expect them to. I’ve worked for them for a long time, and I still don’t often grasp their way of thinking or motivations regarding things.”
“Thank you for giving Terra a chance.”
“Don’t thank me. At least not yet.” He stood up. “I’ll go meet Terra. It’ll fully depend on her. I’ll go today.”
“You know where she is?”
“Yes. God Dionysus told me.”
“It occurred to me he knew where she was, I merely had to ask him.”
“I’ll tell Terra I came to fetch her because you’re planning a huge Beltane festival to welcome her home, or something else, whatever presents itself. If the subject of you comes up, I’ll tell her you’re filled with guilt over what happened. I’ll tell her you protected her from Aife and Crexan. That is, if I have to tell her anything at all. We’ll see how things go.”
“All right.” Genevieve hung her head. “I don’t have any celebration planned. I wonder if she’ll actually comes here to visit with me?”
“You’d better get busy planning a party.” He walked over to the window. “Make it a celebration that will be spoken of for centuries. I’ll invite my sister and her mate, Lykoan. We’ll invite everyone we know. Even God Dionysus will attend.”
“How do you know the god will attend?”
“He told me he would. He gave me the idea of celebrating Beltane as a welcome home for Terra. After all, he’s the god of festivity.”
“Let me repeat what I understand you’re telling me.”
“Go ahead.” Aetius continued to look out the window.
“If you find goodness and worth in Terra, you’ll free her from the deal we made between Aife, you, and me?”
He nodded. “That’s right.”
“And what about Aife?”
“If Terra is worthy, I’ll free Aife from her earth-bound prison. But I’m still going to punish her. And if she commits any more crimes, I’ll put her back in the prison. Therefore, if Terra turned out good, this will give Aife another chance.”
“How are you going to punish her instead of prison?
“I’m going to bind her powers. Make her have no magic or supernatural powers at all. Sort of like the Forsaken vampires. But she’ll know she has lost all.”
She nodded. “Fine. That seems fair.” Genevieve stood too. “Go meet Terra.”
“I will, and unlike you, I’ll keep my word in all I negotiate.” He glared at her. “Now, I shall go and meet your granddaughter.” He vanished.
Chapter 3
It had been an early spring in southern Ohio and everything was already green and lush. Terra drove down the long, winding driveway. On both sides of the lane were well-maintained pastures where horses were grazing. At the end of the drive was a tall, white, Georgian-style home. It was the Greenwich home.
There were two attractive, matching horse barns slightly behind the house. Terra parked her car on the side of the circular drive to make room for other guests. She gathered her things and got out of the car.
“Terra, so good to see you.” Lucy Greenwich rushed to her side. She gave Terra a kiss on both cheeks. The woman’s touch made Terra feel repulsed. Lucy was a cruel and power-hungry mortal. “Can I help you carry anything?” she asked, although Terra knew she had no intention of really assisting with anything.
“No thanks.” Terra shook her head. “I think I have it all. This is a gorgeous place.”
Terra watched two other cars pull up and park behind her car. Then several more vehicles came down the driveway.
“Everyone’s arriving at once.” Lucy smiled. “Thank you. My family loves it here. The house and barns are Amish built.”
“I can see the workmanship.” Terra looked up at the tall house.
“This property’s a tribute to Zeus’s goodwill. My husband’s a devoted follower of his.” Lucy smoothed her tight, black skirt. She was a woman past her prime who pretended to be a witch. Lucy Greenwich was impeccably dressed, and she had a generally superior attitude. She was outwardly vocal with her prejudices against minority groups she found distasteful.
“Yes, Zeus has blessed you.” Terra stopped to take in the view of the rolling hillside.
“Thank you, dear.” Lucy was only slightly paying attention to Terra. She was busy keeping track of her arriving guests. Her eyes suddenly widened with disapproval. “Damn, the lesbian witches are here, as well as those colored and Mexican ones. They’ve all corrupted the purity of the old religion. I think this coven needs to clean house. I’ll take care of that when I take charge.” She scowled then turned to walk away.
Terra was nearly unable to control her urge to push the bigoted woman down. Lucy’s hateful attitude toward others infuriated Ter
ra. And you call yourself a witch? Unbelievable. As Lucy walked toward the house a nearby holly bush reached out and snagged her, ripping the side of her skirt.
“Damn it.” Lucy stomped her high-heeled shoe on the sidewalk. “I’m going to have to change this.” She rubbed her leg. “Damn bush hurt me.”
Terra gently touched the plant’s leaves as she passed by. Good job, Ms. Holly.
Terra knew the only reason many of the members were coming to today’s event was to hear Terra speak and to see Lucy’s much talked about home. Unfortunately, her wealth would help her get elected as the coven’s next high priestess. A fake witch would rule yet another coven.
“Don’t you worship Zeus, like your husband?” Terra watched Lucy wave to others to follow them.
“I respect Zeus, of course.” She entered the house and bowed her head to the clearly noticeable statue of Zeus.
Lucy had held the door open for Terra and continued to hold it open for a few others to enter. Her long, red fingernails reminded Terra of claws with bloodstains. I’m sure she’s capable of gouging someone’s eyes out.
“Come on this way,” Lucy yelled loudly and waved to those getting out of their cars. Then she turned her attention back to Terra. “I mainly worship Hecate, being a witch and all. She gives me great power.” Lucy shut the front door.
“Oh, I see.” Terra knew Hecate gave Lucy nothing. At least, anything she did give her would have a price. “God Dionysus is a good choice for those who practice wicca,” Terra suggested.
“No thank you! Hecate wouldn’t like his name mentioned here. He’s a bit too much into wine and women too. I think a lot of whores follow him. An excuse to fornicate, in my opinion.” She put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, I forgot you’re a worshiper of his. I’m sorry if I offended you. But I call them like I see them.”
“I’m not offended. Very few things offend me personally. I just don’t like others treated unfairly.” Terra glanced around the professionally decorated home. “And I’m certain you didn’t forget. You don’t seem to forget anything.”
“Very well, I didn’t.” She put her hand on her hip. “I suppose to each their own. And you know, if you weren’t so well-respected in the botany field, I’d never have you speak at a coven meeting. Our views on many things are too diverse.”