by Tanya Milne
One twin, baby boy, born with a heart so bright.
The other, a girl, with a heart both light and shade.
She who has the power of darkness on her is able to persuade.
She will be hunted by the dark forces of nature,
For she is their leader, the Fire Queen, whom they wish to claim.’
* * *
When I was silent, I settled back into my chair and took a sip of my hot drink, relief that I’d shared my every secret with a trusted soul settling on me like a warm blanket.
‘Eva,’ said Violet. Something in her voice made me sit taller. ‘You must remember what I’m about to tell you, particularly if life should become more difficult.’ She clasped my hand. ‘I know you, dearest, not by the workings of my mind, but by the workings of my heart – from someone who has pretty much seen and felt it all. So, I can say to you, with absolute, unequivocal certainty, that you do not have a dark heart.’
‘But the prophecy says–’
‘Stop this talk, Eva. I know what the prophecy says – it says that you have a heart of light and shade. So? Who doesn’t? Does that make you bad? Does that make you a dark force of nature?’
I stared at her, my voice silenced.
‘Well, does it?’ she asked.
‘I suppose not.’
Violet slowly turned her head from left to right. ‘You suppose?’
I took a deep breath and whispered my darkest secret. ‘Sometimes I feel it – the darkness – and I know, given the right situation, I could lose control.’ My voice cracked as I remembered how I’d felt, what I might have done, when I’d seen my brother tortured and broken.
‘And why did you feel like that?’
‘I would do anything to protect my family, Violet…anything.’
Violet didn’t blink. ‘And how does protecting your family make your heart dark?’
‘Well, I suppose, if I hurt someone…or worse…’
‘We live in dangerous times and you, more than anyone. You’re Ezra’s girlfriend, living right under the nose of the biggest beast of all. Your position both protects you and casts you into deeper peril.’ She bit into her biscuit and gazed off into the distance before turning back to me. ‘There may come a time when you’re forced to take action – to use your powers – to become a powerful witch. But even then, you can still choose how you use your powers. Dear, sweet girl, I know you and so I know you will choose the just and right thing.’
Violet’s words were strong and true, as though spoken not by an old woman, but by an oracle.
‘Thank you,’ I said quietly, tucking her words away for another time.
‘Now, that young man of yours will be beside himself with worry; I’m sure of that, too. Go on and enjoy your party. Eighteen is a wonderful age.’
I took a final sip of my hot chocolate and stood, not wanting to leave the sanctuary of Violet’s cosy lounge where I felt safe and cared for. Across the road Ezra waited for an answer, and then there was Noah. Somehow I would have to do the impossible – find him, try and make things right between us. Being blackmailed to be with him was not an option.
‘I know you have a big decision to make about your future with Ezra,’ she said, reaching out and holding my hand. ‘And, as with all matters of the heart, it already knows. So all you have to do is listen and then trust what it has to say.’
I brought her wrinkly hand to my lips. ‘What would I do without you?’
‘Let’s hope we don’t have to worry about that for some time. But even if I’m not around, you must remember what I have told you. You are a special girl, my dear, and even if the world gets to be a very dark place indeed, you always have choices.’
I hugged Violet, the thought of her not being around opening a gaping hole inside me.
‘Take very good care,’ she said as we pulled apart and started walking back to the front door.
We reached the little peephole window where Violet had pieced my life together. I raised the curtain to see my world through her eyes. My body froze. Outside was a scene from my worst nightmare. In that moment my life changed irrevocably.
The street was full of countless police cars that quietly lined the sidewalks. But worse, far worse, than anything I’d ever seen in my life was my family getting roughly shoved into the back of a police car. A tortured scream drew my attention back to my house. There was Anna being held firmly by Noah.
And then I heard him, Ezra yelling and cursing. The light from my veranda lit the whole scene. Ezra was standing on the footpath beside his father. Orpheus stood imposingly, his back erect, his hands placed on his wide hips. Even from a distance, I saw that his expression was full of rage; it told me everything I needed to know.
Noah had been true to his word and dobbed on me. And Orpheus had believed him. My family were being arrested for witchcraft. And right now, the police would be searching for me because I would be the one Orpheus would hate the most of all.
‘Noah lied to you, Dad – can’t you see that? Stop what you’re doing! Stop it now!’ yelled Ezra.
Orpheus bellowed into the night, ‘I know exactly what I’m doing, son! It’s you who has been the fool. And now I’m fixing up your mess. Tell me now, where is she? Where is the witch?’
‘Eva,’ said Violet, rubbing my arm.
I stared at her, and for a moment I didn’t recognise her or remember where I was.
‘You need to come away from the window,’ she said, pushing the curtain back.
I could no longer feel my body or understand how my legs kept me upright. But I could not stay here and watch my parents being taken away.
‘No!’ I said, and a rush of heat and energy filled every part of me, propelling me to stride towards the door.
But Violet was already there, her back pressed against the door. ‘You can’t go out there – they will arrest you.’
‘I don’t care! I need to help my family.’
‘They have guns. They won’t hesitate to kill you.’
‘They won’t be able to,’ I said, my voice sharp. ‘Now, move away!’
‘Once they’ve killed you, they will kill your family.’
I stopped, the truth making my powers evaporate.
‘You need to stay safe, so you can help your family.’
My legs buckled. I staggered to the couch, where I collapsed, somehow holding back the tide of emotion that threatened to destroy me.
Violet walked to the window and pulled back a fraction of the curtain to watch what was happening outside. I didn’t need to see to know what was happening. Ezra was screaming at his father that Noah was a jealous liar and that Orpheus was making the biggest mistake of his life. His father’s responses became quieter, and I could no longer make out his exact words, but his voice was deep and guttural; there was no mistaking his meaning – nothing and no one, not even his beloved son, could change his mind.
Violet whispered urgently, ‘In the hall cupboard are my warmest jacket, comfortable shoes and a backpack. You need to go and put them on. Now.’
Her tone made me stand and move, do as she said.
‘What’s happening, Violet?’
‘You need to leave – go into hiding now. Can you reach Jet tonight?’
How can this be happening?
‘Concentrate, Eva. Your life depends on it.’
‘I can’t leave my family.’
‘Eva, you can and you must. The police, they’re starting their search. They’re spreading out, looking for you. Take my wallet, my phone and my house key next to the back door and leave. NOW!’
‘What–’
And then I heard him, Ezra – screaming my name – telling me to run.
‘Did you hear that?’ asked Violet, moving to stand in front of me. ‘Do as I say. Go now! You can come back when the coast is clear, okay? Together, we will find a way to help your family.’
I felt suctioned to the ground in a way that made it difficult to breathe, impossible to move.
And then
I heard Violet’s front gate being pushed open; the metal scraping along the pavement. She leaned into me, hugged me tight. ‘Remember what I told you.’
‘I can’t leave you,’ I said, panic exploding inside me.
‘I will be okay, but you need to go, NOW. And do not come back until it’s safe.’
With that, she wiped my tears streaming down my face, turned me and pushed me towards her back door. Somehow my legs kept me upright. She opened her back door, passed me the backpack I’d filled under her directions and pressed her spare key into my hand. I kissed her cheek and took one last glance at her. She didn’t appear terrified or fragile – she looked strong and brave. If she could be, then so could I.
The police thumped on the front door.
‘OPEN THE GODDAMNED DOOR!’
I hugged Violet and stepped out of the house and into the night where my life had been stolen from me. Moments later, I heard the crash of her door being broken down, before voices and footsteps headed in my direction.
Chapter Five
I made it to the end of Violet’s garden before I heard the police open her back door – the same door I’d just left.
I slipped behind her garden shed as every light was turned on inside her house. I listened as Violet told the police off, ordering them from her home. But her authoritative words were swiftly followed by the gruff reply from a police officer who told her that I’d been seen coming inside – and that she had harboured a witch.
‘Arrest her,’ said the police officer.
What? No!
Fire rushed into my hands. I started to move out from behind the shed towards the back door, but then I heard Violet yell, ‘Get out of my house!’
I knew she didn’t mean the police.
‘Take her away!’ barked the police officer. ‘And find Eva!’
Every part of me was screaming to go to Violet – to help her – to protect her, but the moment I did, I’d implicate her. Then I would be arrested or killed. And then what? What use would I be to Violet or my family then?
A spotlight turned on, lighting Violet’s backyard, blinding me.
I stepped back behind the shed as two police officers walked into the garden.
‘She must have left this way. She can’t be far. Come on – let’s find the witch.’
Air left my lungs. For a few moments, I was frozen. Then I heard their footsteps draw closer as they sought me out like sniffer dogs. If I stayed where I was, they would find me. All hope would be lost. I would never find my family or be able to protect Violet.
I took a steadying breath. Tonight, somehow, I would have to suppress my shock, my devastation; tonight, I would have to use my every power to protect myself – so I could help those I loved.
As the police officers came close, I shut my eyes and remembered the air magic Jet had taught me, in what felt like another lifetime. Taking a deep breath, I followed Jet’s instructions, as though he whispered them in my ear. I opened my eyes. The air around me was filling with mist, and the police officers began to curse.
When the mist grew deep and heavy, I slowly, quietly crept past the officers and into the corner of Violet’s garden. I stepped over her low fence and concentrated on producing the mist that would continue to hide me.
I jogged down the side of Violet’s neighbours’ house. When I hit the road, I glanced in both directions. To my right was the road that led to the hidden dinghy that would take me to Jet. To my left was the road leading back to town – to Ezra’s boat.
Tonight, I’d been supposed to meet him there, to give him the answer to his proposal, to make love to the man who loved me, whom I loved. Would Ezra still go there? Would he hope I would still meet him there? Would he come away with me?
My eyes filled with tears. The mist surrounding me evaporated, leaving me visible under the street light. A nearby light flicked on. Someone stood at the window.
Move, Eva!
I stopped thinking, stopped analysing. I turned left and strode down the street, hiding myself with mist. In the distance I heard the sounds of sirens. I quickened my pace. As I reached an intersection, three police cars streamed by, lights flashing, sirens blaring. The moment they passed, I crossed the road and jogged towards the wharf. Occasionally a car passed me, or a light flickered on. But the mist hid me, kept me safe.
I made it down to the wharf, where I hid in the shadows. For minutes, I watched Ezra’s boat for signs of life, for police officers who may have been sent there to trap me. The night was still and watchful, and the only sound was water lapping against the sides of the boats. There were no other souls about.
I scurried down the wharf and climbed onto Ezra’s boat. Memories of our afternoon, only hours before, where we had sailed together flooded back to me. Tears rushed to my eyes. I quickly found the spare key that I’d hidden only moments before we’d jumped from the boat, racing each other to the car.
With shaking hands, I slid the key into its lock and opened up the door to the inside of the boat. Carefully, I stepped inside, then locked the door behind me. I stood still as memories from the happy times I’d shared with Ezra came dancing out from the shadows. I started to shake. I found my way to the bed and sat down, no longer able to hold back the tears.
As the minutes ticked by, the reality of what just happened took hold. My breath became jagged and my mind started turning over what this meant – for this night, but also for the days, weeks and months ahead. My thoughts scattered and re-formed, again and again, and in the end all that I knew was that my old life, the only life I’d ever truly known, was over forever. All that mattered now was saving my family. I had to focus on survival. Without me, my family were as good as dead.
I slid the backpack off, retrieved Violet’s mobile and texted Jet, who I knew kept his solar-charged phone beside his bed at night. I briefly explained what had happened and told him to expect me by daybreak. I raided Ezra’s fridge, sliding food and water bottles into the bag. Then I changed into one of my tracksuits I’d left on the boat before sliding on Violet’s warm coat and runners.
I checked my watch, knowing every second I stayed in the boat was a second closer to when the police might show up. I stared at Violet’s phone, resisting the temptation to call Ezra. Orpheus would be waiting for my call.
Orpheus! Smouldering heat rippled inside of my body. All this time, he’d wanted me to join his family, to be the wife of his only son, to be the woman who gave him grandchildren. But his treacherous true self had turned on me, turned on my family in an instant. Now he hunted me – no doubt wanting me to hang for my crime of being a witch.
My phone beeped. There was a text from Jet, telling me he would motor out halfway to meet me. He told me to be careful, and to hurry the hell up. With a jolt, I remembered my family had supplied Jet with his own dinghy. If I didn’t make a move, Jet would be out on the open waters, exposed, as he waited for me.
I stood and slipped the backpack on. I was about to head out the door when I heard soft footsteps on the deck above me. I stepped into the corner, away from the windows, my heart racing. Slowly, the doorknob turned and a large shadow filled the doorframe.
Chapter Six
The solid shape grew familiar.
‘Eva?’
Ezra.
‘It’s me,’ I said.
He jumped inside, locked the door behind himself. Then he stepped forward and enclosed me in his arms. ‘Oh, thank God. Are you…okay?’ He held me back, watched me closely.
I nodded, but my ears were straining for the sounds of the police. ‘Did anyone follow you?’
‘No, but they will come here, to…search for you.’
I tried to swallow, but my mouth felt like the sand in a desert.
Ezra tucked my hair behind my shoulder. ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you need to go now…to Jet…and get into hiding.’
‘Come with me,’ I said, my voice breaking. ‘If there’s anything good that’s come out of tonight, it’s that I want to be with you
, Ezra – not just tonight, or tomorrow, but always, forever. I love you, Ezra. Please, come away with me. We can rescue my family together.’
Ezra stared at me as though I’d grown a second head.
My mind swirled fast, but my words were faster. ‘We can leave now. We can take your dinghy. But we need to hurry.’
Ezra ran his hand through his hair, and a wide, empty pit cracked open inside of me.
‘I’m begging you, Ezra, please come with me. Never in my life have I needed anyone more than I need you now.’ My voice started to splinter, but I pressed on. ‘You can get away from your dad and we can be together.’
Ezra stepped back from me and rubbed the side of his face.
‘What’s wrong? Talk to me,’ I said.
Ezra turned and stared out the window.
I stepped in front of him. ‘I want to marry you, Ezra. I want to be with you forever. Please don’t turn away from me. Please say you’ll come with me – that we’re in this together.’
Ezra gazed over the top of my head.
‘God damn it, Ezra – look at me.’
Ezra’s eyes lowered until they locked with mine. In them was great sorrow. And there was also my answer.
I heard a cry, like that of a wounded animal. It took me a moment to realise the sound had emerged from me.
‘I’m sorry, Eva. I can’t come with you.’
I bent forward as waves of pain crashed over me, drowning me.
‘I love you, Eva. This is breaking my heart, but…’
I made myself stand tall. I made myself ask him the question I knew would haunt me if I never asked it. ‘Only hours ago, you wanted to be with me forever. You asked me to marry you. But now that I’ve been discovered as a witch, something you’ve known all along, you want nothing to do with me?’
A single tear trickled down Ezra’s face. ‘I do love you – you have no idea how much I love you. But if I leave with you now, then…who will take care of and protect my mum?’
I blinked quickly, trying to see the situation through his eyes.
‘I understand you want to look after your mum, but she’s supposed to be there to protect you, Ezra. She wouldn’t want you to…not live your life. She would want you to follow your heart. She would want us to be together.’ I took his hands and begged as I had never begged before. ‘Please, Ezra, come with me. Please, I love you – please come away with me. We can come back and get your mum.’