Broken (The Immortal Coven Book 1)

by April Gutierrez

  “Oh, I have been here quite a while. It’s such a peaceful work environment, even when it’s the busy season.”

  “When is that, typically?” I added as he looked back when I fired out my next question.

  “The holidays are particularly busy as we have a big Christmas and New Year’s celebration each year.”

  Turning the corner, we walked into a great room. The view was stunning. The marbled walls were lined with upper windows which all met a great mural of angelic magnitude on the ceiling.. The white and black checkered flooring echoed our footsteps, leading no one to wonder if there was anyone around.

  We followed, ever so slowly, the butler who had taken to waiting for us as we walked with our heads staring up at the different artwork on the walls. Late 16th century art made up a pretty impressive collection of masterpieces.

  “Can you imagine living here?” Lisa asked, her whisper echoing throughout the room.

  We giggled and caught up to everyone who had started walking faster to meet Claudino.

  The moment we reached the rest, he stopped and faced us.

  “This is the west wing. As you can see, there are several different areas of the castle. It is at the request of the main resident, the Duke of Marlborough that you keep to the west wing for the duration of your stay. This is to say, if you need anything at all, you may ask for my services. If you wish to visit any other part of the castle, we will do so at appropriate times.”

  He didn’t wait for any questions or responses. It was not a request he was relaying but more a command to stay out of sight.

  The hall we turned down was much like the previous area only now filled with voices and life.

  Valerie’s name was called out and laughter and cheer rang through the hall.

  Four different women I’d never seen rushed over to her, hugging her and asking her how she was.

  She turned to me, leaving a great space in my direction, “Ladies, this is Celia, Nanette’s daughter.”

  I will admit, I wasn’t grateful for the spotlight. My hand, which had been firmly in Dmitri’s grasp, at that point was let go. My eyes met his, caution clearly lined mine, and I had to ask what to do.

  You greet them. They are your coven sisters now.

  Gazing back at them, I moved in their direction and they each reached out to hug me.

  “I am so sorry to hear about your mother.” One said, patting my loose hair.

  “I know, I cried for days when I heard the news. Your mother was one of my very good friends, I’m Katerina.”

  The name sounded familiar. “Did you use to call the house all the time?” I asked her.

  “Yes, and you would almost always answer.”

  Recalling the calls, I felt more at ease. I’d known her, even if I didn’t really know who she was.

  “But dear, we’ve all met you before. It was a very long time ago, but you should remember the snow and the afternoon we spent outside in the garden by the bridge.” One of the other women said.

  “I don’t know, I want to say I remember, but they’ve always felt like flashes of a dream.” I tried to recall what she was talking about but the memories were like phantoms dancing in the endless sea of thoughts passing through my mind.

  “Let’s get your things to your room.” Dmitri suggested, looking to the ladies who had taken us from our original task…get ourselves settled.

  “We will talk later.” I smiled at them, turning back to Dmitri who had already begun making his way towards Claudino at the end of the hallway.

  He gestured for me to walk into an opened doorway, but I didn’t quite understand. The room looked to be a giant library.

  “I thought we would each have our own room.”

  “Yes, this is your room.”

  With wide eyes, “but this is a library?”

  His face softened, “It’s not a library, and it’s just filled with many books that are of particular interest for your cause. You were chosen to have this guest quarters for a particular reason.”

  “Oh, I’m to study then?” I asked, my question directed at Dmitri who was a few feet behind me.

  “It’s a privilege to be in this room, Celia. Don’t kick a gift horse in the mouth.”

  My head flung back sarcastically, “because I am to know these things.”

  Claudino gestured for me to enter and boy was I surprised when I did.

  It wasn’t just books, there was a study and a four post king sized bed that reached at least 15 feet high. The engravings on the bed gave the impression that kings and queens would have stayed in this room.

  “I take it back, I swear, I could live here forever if you let me.” I giggled at Dmitri.

  “It is very tempting, especially when you visit the gardens.”

  “Well if you don’t need anything for the night, I will let you relax and get yourself situated. Please pull the cord if my services are required. I will go see the remainder of your party to their chambers.”

  Claudino swiftly turned and left, but I was pleased that he had been the one to greet us and take such patience with us.

  The moment the door shut behind him, I dropped my bags and bolted to the bed. In one swift jump, I cleared the foot board and landed square in the middle of pillow paradise.

  There is a heaven in knowing that a bed could be so comfortable. I turned and looked up to the open part of the bed. Its design allowed you to see the mural painted on the ceiling. This one looked to be of Greek apathy. Angels were floating around a bunch of half naked men, their arms reaching out to women on the opposite side of the ceiling.

  “Dmitri, have you ever shared this room with any of your other witches?”

  His hands stopped removing items from our bags and he looked up to me, our eyes meeting.

  “I have never shared a room with any of my other witches, Celia. You should know that I am treading on uncharted territory with you here.”

  “Then I feel better. This place is too beautiful to share old memories with anyone from your past.”

  His face shifted down, going back to what he had been doing, but I saw the smile he was trying to hide.

  “I will warn you, however, about the lady of the castle.” He sighed, still working on unpacking us.

  My interest was immediately peeked. “Oh.”

  “The coven will probably tell you about her, maybe to gauge if you care for such things.”

  “Why would that matter?”

  “Because your mother died, Celia, they will want to know if you’ve asked to summon her spirit.”

  I jumped on both knees the moment he said it. “Can I do that?”

  “You shouldn’t.” he snapped back, his head shooting up and our eyes locking. It was not negotiable, I could tell.

  “Why?” I asked, making sure it wouldn’t come out defiant.

  He shook his head, pulling clothes out of my last bag. “The natural progression of life and death has boundaries. The moment you cross those boundaries, you change the type of witch you are choosing to be.”

  “So it’s the difference between being a good witch and a bad witch?”

  “It’s the difference between being a natural witch and a dark witch.”

  “But those lines are crossed all the time, aren’t they. I mean, sometimes we have to make quick decisions and don’t have a choice on the spell we use.”

  “No, there is no grey area in this. The moment you use dark magic, your energy becomes tainted. You change and I have never known a witch to come back from a change such as that.”

  “So that’s it then, someone can turn from good to evil with as simple as a spell to defend themselves.” I threw my hands up in the air.

  “Dark magic is more than just words strung together, Celia. There are rituals, tools used. Life sources diminished to accomplish Dark spells that change us.”

  “My book doesn’t explain any of this.”

  “It wouldn’t. Your mother’s line has never faced a moment where a choice would be made, an
d I doubt it ever will.”

  “Good, you had me worried there for a minute.”

  Closing the distance between us, he met me at the edge of the bed. “You don’t have to worry, my sweet. You have me, anyway.” His arms wrapped around my waist and the warmth of his body felt comforting.

  “Am I going to have you this close the whole visit to this place?”

  His face bent down to mine and his lips grazed mine softly, “As tempting as that sounds, I will actually be in the adjoining quarters.”

  His admission brought my eyes to widen. “I am not going to be able to fall asleep in here by myself.”

  “Then I will lay with you until you are off into the dream world, but you must know that nothing is going to happen between us.”

  Here it was, that moment of embarrassment. We’d never talked about sex, not that it was always on the brain or anything, but every 17 year old girl wonders if it will ever happen.

  “Do you ever think about it?” I asked, my cheeks heating up at my audacity.

  “More times than I care to admit,” he kissed me again. This time, he slowly opened his mouth, making it more of a distraction, the passion in my gut jumbling up my thoughts.

  It took all the resolve in my system to push him back, to break off the kiss that would make me want more of what he isn’t willing to give.

  “You shouldn’t kiss me like that if certain things are not going to be happening.” I sighed, placing my forehead to his moist lips.

  “Just because they can’t happen doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be hard to keep them from happening naturally.”

  Oh, how you confuse me dear Dmitri!

  He hugged me; I promise I don’t mean to confuse you.

  There was a loud knock at my door and without responding a face peeked out from the other side. “I’m sorry to interrupt but the ladies are all meeting in the great hall at the end of the wing. They are asking that the two of you make your way there.” She winced, as if extremely apologetic, and closed the door.

  “And so it begins. Just remember, you are Nanette’s daughter and of Ciara’s bloodline. Don’t let them give you any superiority crap. As far as everyone is concerned, you are of the greatest bloodline of the group.” He warned.

  I nodded, as prepared for this as I was ever going to be.

  We walked, hand and hand, to the end of the marbled castle hallway. The opening to the great room of the West wing was similar to that of the entrance way.

  The voices trailed into the hallway so it was an obvious relief to see 7 other female faces and their male protectors nearby.

  I caught sight of Kyle first, and smiled at him. His features showed genuine appreciation for my presence. I squeezed Dmitri’s hand, the nerves jumping like silly beans in my stomach.

  They all seemed to be standing in a circle formation, so I just walked to an empty opening and looked at everyone chit chatting.

  The woman to my right, someone I hadn’t met, took my free hand and smiled. “I am Beatrice, but you can call me Bea. You are Celia, correct.”

  My expression mirrored hers, “Yes, I’m Nanette’s daughter.”

  “Oh, honey, I am so sorry about your mother.”

  They had all known my mom, and this made me sad. They knew this part of her, and I did not. “Thank you.”

  She wanted something more for you, always remember that. Dmitri interrupted my thoughts

  I shifted to face him, with Bea still holding my hand. I know now, without a shadow of a doubt that I would have like to have shared this with her, to know this side of her.

  “I suppose we should begin.” A voice at the far end of the room boomed, ceasing the voices from continuing.

  Being that I had met all but three members, I would assume the woman speaking was the lady of the house, Pricilla.

  “First of all, has everyone had a chance to greet Celia?” She gestured in my direction. I looked at all the faces that were now familiar.

  “As you all know, Augusta is not with us. This is why we are all here. The situation with Kalvati has reached its cusp and something must be done. Our generation has not had to defeat dark magic and so we look to our predecessors and their knowledge.” She gestured to who I would assume is her protector who came forward to be seen and heard.

  “We, as your protectors, have learned as much as we can about the situation and it is grave, indeed.”

  Dmitri let go of my hand and got in front of me. “I was explaining to our small Western world member that Celia has made a discovery regarding Augusta’s absence from the coven.” He turned and signaled for me to address the group.

  Where was that damn courage when I required it!

  Remember, I believe in you, my love. His eyes beamed pride and it was the tiny push I needed to be bold and unafraid.

  “My mother did extensive research about Kalvati before she was murdered by the shadow demons. He has always attacked our coven because of our ability to defeat dark magic, especially those that pertain to the shadow realm. All it takes is one coven spell for the veil to be closed, but all the witches in the coven must be present and only coven witches.”

  The whispers began, their faces shocked by the simplicity behind it.

  “He won’t kill Augusta because he needs her alive long enough to attack us while the veil is opened.” I reached into my pocket and removed a sheet of paper I’d been carrying around with me for the past few weeks. It was a copy of mom’s notes from her book.

  “We could try to isolate Kalvati, if each of us casts a binding spell on him, including the successors, but I’m not sure it will be strong enough.”

  “We should summon Ciara. She holds the power to close the veil in one spell.” Maura suggested, her annoyance far too clear to deny.

  My eyes met Dmitri, not knowing what to counter her request with.

  “Ciara doesn’t respond to summoning, Maura. She hasn’t been seen or heard of for many generations.” Kyle said prominently.

  “That’s not true.” Valerie countered, loud enough to cause an echo in the hall.

  The women all stopped their conversations cold, their eyes affixed, as mine were, to her stance which had become tense.

  “What do you mean by that?” Pricilla asked her as quickly as a whip.

  “She pulled Celia in, not too long ago.”

  ‘Now why did she have to go bringing me into this?’ I thought!

  “What did she say to you, Celia?” Gloria asked, her hand slightly grazing my arm.

  “She made it clear that if we don’t do this right the first time, something bad would happen.” The matter of factly tone didn’t make my case easy to swallow. I looked to each of them, waiting for one of them to say something but they were waiting for the rest of it, almost as if knowing a warning like that would be followed with something even worse.

  “She said that if we fail, I alone would bear the consequences.”

  Their eyes drifted from me to Dmitri, who was staring at me. His temper boiled just below the surface. He said nothing, didn’t even budge an inch, merely waited for me to continue on.

  “She also said that I would know what to do, while difficult the decision would be, the coven would follow my lead.”

  To this, a tisk was heard leaving Valerie’s mouth. “And why would we follow a 17 year old amateur into any sort of spell casting?” she sassed, turning to the rest to find agreement.

  She found none.

  “What have you learned from your mother’s book other than the spell to bind Kalvati?” Jezabel inquired the worried lines on her brow ever present.

  “Every coven spell in the past thousand years has needed a great life force, something hundreds of years old to sacrifice.”

  “A tree of life,” Katerina countered.

  “Yes, I recall seeing such a spell in my book. Here in Oxfordshire is such a tree. The tourist claims it is one of the most magical places on earth.” Pricilla added.

  Jezabel began to shake her hand, as if recalling
something. “I too remember seeing something about a tree in my book, but mine referred to one by where we live in the US.”

  She looked to me, “Your mother took you there almost every year as a little girl. The tree was at Philippe Park in Safety Harbor, the one that’s near the ocean.” She tried to jog my memory.

  I put two images together and found the memory, a giant tree with huge long branches that hung low to the ground, and the smell of the salt water all around.