Marked: Thoth's Legacy ~ Book One

by S. E. Jackson

  “Miss?”

  “Yes, of course.” Izzy smiled weakly at the woman. “Follow me, I’m sure we have something you can use.”

  “My friend Charlotte just raves about this place. I can’t wait to see what all you carry.”

  “That’s so kind of your friend. We do try to keep a selection of items that appeal to everyone.” Agnes waved to Izzy beaming as she hustled her way out of the store and back to work.

  The woman glanced up at the exchange. “She appears happy.”

  “Yes, she does.”

  ◆◆◆

  The key at the end of her necklace clanked as it hit the counter. Izzy was stretched over the expanse of glass trying to clean it as they closed up shop for the day.

  Cass jerked at the sound.

  “What has you so on edge?” Izzy asked.

  “Nothing,” Cass’ eyes strayed back to the necklace. “I know we talked about this the other day, but do you ever think about your mom? You said she gave you the necklace?”

  Izzy glanced over as she continued to clean. “I have a vivid memory of her placing it around my neck that night.” Izzy looked at herself in the gleaming glass of the counter below. The gold from the key winked back at her. “I was so young though. Who knows what’s true and what I just imagined?”

  “I wonder where the gnomes were last night,” Cass ventured.

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” Izzy half-laughed. “They do seem to be scarce when real danger comes around, don’t they?”

  “Maybe they were there, and we didn’t even know it. I mean, Gideon didn’t come to the house. He stayed wherever he was, didn’t he?”

  “That’s true,” Izzy conceded. She started to mention her conversation with the sylph and stopped. Beware your friends, your enemies wear disguises. The warning played through Izzy’s mind. Surely not Cass though. “Assuming it was Gideon.”

  Izzy scrubbed hard at the glass as she questioned whether to confide in Cass.

  “Who else could it have been?”

  “I don’t know. I just don’t want to jump to conclusions.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  She could feel Cass watching her as she cleaned. “Nothing,” Izzy insisted.

  “Then why have you cleaned that same spot at least four times,” Cass pointed out. “And you’re not looking at me.”

  Izzy forcefully let out a sigh. “It’s me. Not you.”

  “Then tell me about it, maybe I can help.”

  Izzy came to a decision. If she couldn’t trust Cass, then she was SOL anyway. She needed a friend in this madness that had become her life.

  “What are you doing tonight?” Izzy tried to make the question sound off-hand.

  “I can do whatever you need me to.”

  That. That right there, Izzy knew. Cass never questioned their friendship. She always gave. It was to do some giving of her own.

  “How about we drink some of that relaxing booze Wren cooked up and hang out at my place tonight?”

  “We can do that.” Cass nodded in agreement. “Let me make a phone call.”

  “If you had plans…” Izzy let the thought trail off. She really needed a sounding board, but she felt honor-bound to at least offer to postpone if Cass had other things to do.

  “Nonsense,” Cass shook her head vehemently. “It was a blind date that I agreed to in a moment of weakness. I’ve been dreading tonight for over a week. You’re doing me a favor. I promise.”

  “If you want to go, we can meet up tomorrow.” Deviltry played in Izzy’s eyes as she offered.

  “Don’t you even go there,” Cass warned her. “Fate can’t strike me down when I have a reasonable excuse for canceling.”

  “Personally, I wouldn’t dare her like that. She can be a right bitch when you tempt her like that.”

  “Don’t I know it! Just give me two minutes,” Cass scooted behind Izzy and then made her way to the back. “One phone call and I’m a free woman.”

  “What if he doesn’t answer?” Izzy shouted the question so Cass could hear her.

  “Even better!” Cass yelled back. “I’ll leave a voicemail, that counts!”

  Izzy laughed. “If you say so.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Izzy

  Izzy laid her head back in the crook between the cushions and arm of the couch. Both she and Cass had chosen the floor as their seat of choice while they shared to go boxes from a local Chinese restaurant.

  Cass rubbed her belly, “I am stuffed. Don’t offer me anything else.”

  “I can’t finish the wontons though. We shouldn’t let them go to waste. They’re not good as leftovers.”

  “Give them to Dodger. I’m not eating another bite.”

  “No, I don’t let him eat my food. He’s already a thief. Can you imagine if he figured out how much better our food tastes than his? No leftovers for Dodge-boy over there.”

  “He probably shouldn’t eat it anyway.” Cass reached down and unbuttoned the top button of her jeans. “Ugh, that feels so good.”

  Izzy laughed. “You want some yoga pants?” She pulled at the stretchy material of the pants she had changed into. “I would live in these if I could.”

  “I would trip with every step. Did you forget you’re ten feet taller than me?”

  “I think I have some clean shorts in there. You could wear those.”

  “I’ll manage,” Cass grinned. “Thanks for the offer though. Now quit stalling, you wanted to talk, let’s talk.”

  All at once, Izzy’s mind went blank. She didn’t know where to start or even what she really wanted to tell her. “This is harder than I thought.”

  “Start in the middle. We’ll get to whatever it is soon enough.”

  “The middle, huh?” Izzy took a deep breath. “Not sure this is the middle, but you know about the sylphs, right?”

  “Yes, wind talking to you. Cryptic messages. I remember.”

  “Well, a couple of nights ago, I was in the backyard practicing. I was having a hard time, and I was frustrated. I couldn’t get my shield to work,” Izzy explained. “I might have yelled at them a little.”

  “You yelled at the sylphs,” Cass held her belly as she laughed then groaned in discomfort. “Don’t make me laugh. I did mention I was dying over here, right?”

  “You’re not dying. You forced me to talk, this is what I need to talk about. So listen.”

  “Okay, what did she, they? I’m not sure what I should be calling it?”

  “I hear a woman’s voice. I haven’t really thought about it. I guess there’s more than one.”

  “Fine,” Cass pushed up to a proper sitting position. “Let’s get serious. She – what did she do?”

  “Just corrected me in that superior way she does. Told me I shouldn’t be using spells, that I’ll know,” Izzy raised her hands in quotes as she spoke, “how to call for wind with my will. And, that’s weird enough right?”

  “Using a summoning spell?”

  “No, not even that. She says it’s something inherent in me. My will equals their action. What’s weird is, it worked. Last night with Sebastian? I didn’t cast for anything. I didn’t even really think about what I wanted, I just willed it.”

  “Huh. That’s umm…”

  “I know, right?” Izzy leaned forward. “That’s not even half of it, though. She started talking all this gibberish. The key comes alive at twenty-five. Destiny waits for no one, and I need to act. Act on what? We’ve decided before the key is my necklace, but…” Izzy pulled the ends of her hair, straightening the curls momentarily. “I don’t like this. I feel like my life is barreling out of my control and I have no clue how to stop it.”

  “Okay, let’s break it down.”

  “Key. I agree with you. That has to refer to your necklace. You wear that key around your neck. Have for years. I know, don’t say it, I know your mom gave it to you. But maybe it’s the actual key to something?”

  “Assuming that’s right. She said comes alive. How can a
key come alive?”

  “Hmm, good point.”

  Dodger dragged one of his toys next to Izzy. He pushed it up her leg with one paw while using the other to pull himself up. The toy escaped his grasp and bounced down her leg, back to the floor. She smiled at his antics. Izzy reached over and retrieved the toy, placing it in the center of her lap. Dodger jumped up and settled down with his toy. Apparently satisfied with the arrangements, Dodger began chewing and pressing on the toy. The high-pitched squeaks made Izzy wince. “Okay little guy, cage for you.”

  “Aww, give him here. Auntie Cass will cuddle you.”

  Izzy handed him over. “He’s all yours.”

  “Do you remember anything else about your mom? Did she talk about anything that maybe needed a key? Anything like that?”

  “I was three,” Izzy rolled her eyes. “I have memories of a song or two she used to sing. That’s about it.” Izzy’s shrug said it all.

  “What song?” Cass asked.

  “I couldn’t tell you the words,” Izzy closed her eyes and let the tune play in her head. “I don’t think it was in English, now that you mention it.”

  “Hmm, that’s no help then. Any other ideas?”

  “Well, the sylph. She said something else too.” Izzy’s gaze fell, shame at what she was about to tell her friend. “She told me to beware of my friends.”

  “Like me?” Cass appeared hurt.

  “She didn’t specify.” Izzy hated that she had doubted Cass for a moment.

  “But, you thought she was talking about me. That’s why you didn’t tell me.”

  “I, I might have hesitated,” Izzy wanted to scream. At herself, at the sylphs, at every little damn thing. “I was stupid. I’m sorry.” Her eyes pleaded with Cass to understand. “I’m literally at the end of my rope. I don’t know what to do or even who to ask for help.”

  “I would never betray you.”

  “I know that,” Izzy promised. “In my heart of hearts, I do know that. That’s why I’m talking to you now. You’re my Obi-Wan.”

  “Obi-Wan only wished he was as cool as me.”

  “Definitely,” Izzy let out a watery laugh. “Forgive me?”

  “Yeah. I forgive you. It’s not like I can go out and find a new best friend now. We’re kind of stuck with each other at this point.”

  Izzy scooched over closer to Cass and bumped shoulders with her. “No one I’d rather be stuck with.”

  “Same.” Cass laid her head on Izzy’s shoulder. “But, what did she mean, I wonder. Who is the friend you can’t trust?”

  “That’s just it. I don’t have a clue. I never really considered Maeve a friend, per se. I thought she and Gideon were all I had to worry about.” Izzy leaned back. “I don’t like doubting my friends.”

  Cass sat up. “We should talk to my mom. She’s impartial to all of this. Maybe she’ll see or think of something that we don’t.”

  “It’s worth a shot I guess,” Izzy agreed. “Your mom kind of scares me though.”

  Cass nodded. “Me too. And she’s my mother.” Cass started grabbing the now mostly empty cartons and paper plates. “Let’s clean this place up and then I’ll call her.”

  “You’re the best,” Izzy blurted out. “I just wanted you to know that.”

  “Sounds like I’m the only one that knows,” Cass stuck out her tongue and scurried away.

  ◆◆◆

  Settled on the couch, Cass’ cell phone between them, Cass queried, “Ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be,” Izzy wasn’t lying when she said that Cass’ mom intimidated her. They had only met briefly once before when she’d come to visit Cass. But, no one forgot Seraphine Despres.

  Cass set up the call through Skype on her phone. Her mother answered on the second ring, her face appearing almost instantly.

  “’Allo, mon ‘tit cher! – iz dat really you?”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  Jet black hair, coarser and curlier than Izzy’s own, had been sifted through with streaks of white. She had a cherub’s face with plump cheeks and deep mocha skin. Tiny dark moles decorated the surface of her face but instead of detracting, they highlighted her beauty. But, it was her eyes that made Izzy proceed with caution. Seraphine Despres didn’t look at a person as much as she looked into a person. Large, round, dark brown eyes, so inky they appeared bottomless, pierced as she looked at you. Izzy was convinced once you were caught in Seraphine’s gaze, she knew your soul and your darkest secrets.

  “Mama, Izzy’s with me. I’m hoping you can help her.”

  “I’ll do what I can cher. You know dat. What ‘choo no good?”

  “Well, a lot of stuff has happened since we last talked,” Cass hedged. “Izzy has – well, sylphs are talking to her. And gnomes, she has an army of gnomes that protect her.”

  “Uh huh. What does she need protecting from?”

  “I don’t know,” Izzy chimed in for the first time. “They call me the Marked and the gnomes say that war is coming.”

  “Well, you iz Marked. Any blind fool can see that. But war, you should ask them about it. Gnomes, they like to talk, child.”

  “It’s not the gnomes that she needs help with,” Cass spoke up again. “The sylphs are being cryptic. It’s confusing.”

  “Tell me what you got. I’ll do what I can.”

  Izzy and Cass took turns telling Seraphine everything, starting with Edith’s death up until the attack from Gideon the previous night.

  “Sounds like to me, you two need to come on home. No sense sticking around when you got all dat mess going on.”

  “Mama,” Cass cajoled. “We can’t do that now. I’ll come home soon, I promise.”

  “See you do,” she chided. “Now, let me think. Twenty-five, aren’t you ‘bout to turn twenty-five?”

  Izzy paused. “Actually, we don’t know exactly when I was born. But, yeah, I celebrate my birthday next month.”

  “I’m thinking your birthday is closer than you know.”

  “Okay, but what about the key?”

  “Sweetheart, you, you are the key. You’re Marked.” Seraphine shook her head. “I thought you two was smart.”

  “I’m the key?” Izzy was flummoxed. “The key to what?”

  “Now, dat’s the question you should be asking.”

  “What about the untrustworthy friend thing the sylph spoke about?” Cass was excited. The thing about the key made sense. Maybe they would figure this stuff out after all. “Any ideas, there?”

  “Try an unseen enemy spell. Dat should do the trick.” Seraphine cackled. “Find out who they are and bring ‘em to me, chat! Mama will take care of ‘em for you!”

  “Mama!”

  “I will, ‘tit chat. Your mama loves you, baby girl.”

  “I love you too, Mama. We need to go.”

  “Take care, sweetheart. And come home. We all miss you.”

  “Miss you too!” Cass puckered and smacked a loud kiss toward the phone. “Love you!”

  Cass pressed a few buttons ending the call. “I think she’s on to something.”

  Izzy nodded. “Me too. It makes sense. But I still have no clue what I’m a key for…” She looked around, “I need my grimoire. Have you ever done an unseen enemy spell?”

  “Not that I remember. I hope we don’t have to sacrifice a frog for this. Gross, just gross.” Cass shuddered.

  “Eep! Sacrifice a frog?”

  “Well, it’s Mama,” Cass lifted a shoulder. “It’s a possibility.”

  “I hope not!”

  “Me too,” Cass concurred. “Me too.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Izzy

  Izzy and Cass’ conversation with Seraphine had left both of them with much to think about. Cass, adamant that she’d seen the spell her mother mentioned somewhere before, had headed for home to search through her library. Cass had been fortunate in accumulating a massive collection of old books. They contained everything from spells to old lore, others focused on basic witchcraft, but even they were e
nlightening. Most of them had been handed down through her family. Others she’d found in out of the way shops and a few had even turned up online. If a witch knew where to look, the internet was a spectacular source for knowledge that had previously only been passed down mother to daughter.

  Izzy was always careful when she thumbed through Cass’ collection. Some of the books centered on the darker side of the craft. Cass had never explained her penchant for keeping them and Izzy had never asked. Izzy knew Cass’ mother practiced voodoo which could sometimes skate the line between white and dark. It wasn’t for her to judge what was right and wrong. Only to stand by her friend whenever she was needed.

  Cass had been gone almost an hour and Izzy wondered if she had discovered anything yet. Regardless, she sincerely hoped dead frogs weren’t an ingredient in whatever she found.

  Still laid back on the couch with arms resting behind her head, Izzy tried to make sense of everything Seraphine had told them. The key, she twiddled the pendant with her fingers as she thought. It kept coming back to the key. She rubbed its gold. Her mind went hazy and numb. As if hovering above herself, she watched herself speak. Felt the words vibrate on her tongue. But it wasn’t her speaking. Her body almost hummed, vibrating.

  This key I wear o’er my heart,

  A mother’s gift, from whenst we part,

  More than gold, she did share,

  This cross she gave, my curse to bear.

  Goddess, please, what is the key?

  As I will, so mote it be.

  The vibration stopped. Izzy felt in control once more. She opened her fingers and dropped the key, allowing it to fall back onto her chest.

  What had just happened?

  Eyes pressed closed, she was terrified to look. Did she just summon the Goddess? Surely not. The goddess would have already smote her for her arrogance if she’d managed to pull that off. The air had felt different for a second. Everything appeared the same now though. Aware of how stupid she was being, Izzy forced herself to

  Izzy didn’t know what she had expected. But, a big fat zero was definitely not it. It was unacceptable. With everything she’d had to deal with recently, something should have happened.