Turning the Stone (The Blood Rites Trilogy Book 2)

by S. L. Perrine

  “What?”

  “You look amazing.” He let his gaze rest on the bump that was his child.

  “Well, thank you, but you’re hardly impartial.” She began to spin slowly as she spoke. “I thought I’d look the part. You don’t think it's too much?” She stopped and looked at him with big eyes and a bright smile and he forgot himself, moved to her and took her in one arm, tucking the box under the other and kissed her.

  “No. Not too much. Just enough.”

  “Thanks.” Then she looked at the wooden box he held. “What’s that?”

  “Oh, right. A gift from the House of Moon. Clara said she was just the messenger. Asked to deliver this to us, for Elyse.”

  “I know that box. That was Seraphina’s. My grandmother showed it to me when I was…wow, must have been seven at the time. This is her birthright. These are the tools, recrafted and refinished, but the same tools used when Seraphina wielded moon magic for the first time. When she made the shifter-witches.” She let Silas hold onto the box, but slid her palm over the wood.

  “You should go. I’ll make sure it ends up in a safe place.” He nodded to Finis who moved in and took the box.

  “Okay. I’m ready. I guess. There are a lot of people here. Did Sabina invite the entire state?”

  Sabina bound up behind her sister, she bounced on the balls of her feet and looked more like a sixteen-year-old girl than her usual gloomy self. “That’s the point silly. Not the whole state of course, but the entire Wiccan community. That’s not just a lot of people. It’s a lot of free gifts for the baby, too.”

  “Sabina, that’s not why I consented to this.”

  “I know. They know how special this child is too. We all do, silly.”

  “Fine. Let’s do this.” Gwen sighed.

  The crowd settled and Sabina took her place at the altar. The Crawford family took seats in the front row. Silas opted to stand to the left of Gwen while she waited to join her sister. Chester stood to the right of the circle. Marcus behind it, while Hex and Finis both kept watch around the back of the crowd.

  Sabina cast the circle. She didn’t have the use of the elemental powers that her sister could conjure, but she cast it as normally as any other witch would, calling the goddess of the earth to bestow protection and tranquility within.

  First, the pink sand was used to outline the pentagram in the sand making it visible to all. She then lit each of the five white votive candles at each point of the star, then moved to the red one. She held it up, outside of the circle. “Now, I invite you in,” she said speaking to Gwen.

  Gwen made sure to lift the hem of her skirts as she moved into the circle. Sabina then lit the red candle with the nearest white one, closing the door to the circle.

  Gwen moved to the altar, she said a silent prayer to herself. Silas watched as the look of uneasiness was replaced by contentment.

  Sabina moved to Gwen’s side. “Thank you all for joining us on this momentous occasion. We are here to bless the newest member of the Crawford line. Joining the lines between the Sigmis and Crawford houses has been foreseen since the beginning. This new witch will have the gift of both houses. She is our future.

  “Now, we bless mother and child. For a safe and healthy birth. Free from evil, and those who may wish them harm. Let you all bear witness, that none outside of this circle may have any influence over this child as she enters the world.”

  Sabina turned giving Gwen the signal to start. Gwen picked up the long match and struck it, lighting the white candle. She picked up the candle and lit the blue one with it. Making the bond between mother and child. “I bless my child with my own life.” She bowed her head and spoke low so none may hear here, not even her sister. “Gaia, I ask that you bind me and mine together. Let no man harm my child, for if they do they will, in turn, harm me. If my child shall perish then so shall I, and if I perish then so does she. We are one.” Then she spoke so all may hear her, lifting her head to the heavens. "I ask of you to allow a healthy delivery of my child. Let no evil, on this earth or within the spirits interfere with nature. Welcome this child into the fold. So, mote it be.”

  The congregation around them all repeated the last line of her prayer and bowed their heads. Silas had let his mind wander while he watched Gwen perform the ceremony, but he quickly found his voice.

  "So, mote it be,” he finished a hairs breath after everyone else.

  Sabina moved to her sister holding the gift she had for the baby. “Please allow me to present you with the first gift.”

  Gwen nodded her consent.

  “My niece deserves the best we can provide. As the one who will bring the two houses together and fulfill Seraphina’s greatest wish I offer this.” She held the blanket to her sister. “A blanket to cloak her. Only on her eighteenth birthday will she be received by the world. To protect her from those who may wish her harm before she receives her full strengths.”

  Silas blinked. He couldn’t believe his ears. Had Sabina really come up with a way to conceal them further by offering their child her gift? He had to wonder if Gwen told her sister about their plans to leave until that day came.

  “Sabina, that…that is an amazing gift. Thank you.” Gwen took the blanket and quickly wrapped her arms around her sister. Tears sprang from her eyes and she retreated to wipe them away with the back of her hand.

  The two girls turned to the altar and to the crowd and closed the circle together. The rest of the affair was a blur for Silas. He was still trying to wrap his head around Sabina’s gift when Gwen moved into his arms handing him the blanket.

  “Look, it has her name stitched into it.” He looked down at the blanket now in his hands. Against the fuzzy pink fabric was the embroidered words. Elyse Margaret Crawford.

  “It’s nice.”

  “What?”

  “I just wonder if it’s sincere.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “Your sister is just…”

  “Just what? My sister. That’s what she is. She’s also this baby’s aunt. So, can you keep that in mind when you thank her for such a gift.”

  “Yes, you're right, and I will.” He kissed her forehead.

  The remainder of the party was Gwen mingling around the yard being hugged and kissed by her people. All the while she looked as if she only wanted to escape. Silas moved with her, kept close by until Chester was able to be near. His soothing touch would keep her calm, and ensure the baby’s gifts would not compromise her character. A blow up like the ones she’d been having would not bode well for them. They did not need the entire coven knowing she was off balance.

  Chester raced forward. His clothes looked fresh, even though the party had been going on for more than two hours. His face, however, was what concerned Silas. Chester nodded once and Silas dove into his mind. He felt the fear and confusion from him. Something was off and that was Chester’s way of telling him so.

  When Gwen’s protector rushed to her side and slightly touched her elbow leaning in, Silas knew the news could not be good. She spun on her heels and looked at Silas.

  Sabina has left.

  Gone where?

  She turned back to Chester who shook his head ever so slightly all while keeping a hand on her.

  He doesn’t know.

  I’m sure she has a very good reason.

  Gwen nodded, agreeing with him without speaking to his mind. Where she once was only able to conjure feelings, she now could form words, but they suspected it was due to the baby and their own connection to each other. She already tried to speak to others and failed. So, it was their own form of communication. Silas liked having a special connection into her mind.

  While she made herself busy once again with her guests and opening gifts, Silas slipped to Chester who had moved away from Gwen’s side. He stayed close enough that he could get to her if there were a need of it.

  “I have to slip away for a few moments. Stay close to her.”

  “Sure, anything I can help with?”
/>   “Not right now, but I’ll let you know what I find.”

  “Alright. I’ll have Marcus shift. Hex and Finis can handle the woods. We’ll keep by Gwen.”

  Silas gave him a nod and headed for the house. He moved through the patio area slowly, saying hello and thank you for the well wishes as he went. When he reached the back of the house he stopped and looked around to make sure no one was watching.

  Moving up the steps backward and one at a time, Silas could keep an eye on the crowd. He reached out to those around him to see if anyone thought him being suspicious. Then Silas turned and slipped through the screen door. He held it until it latched, not wanting it to slam against the frame as it normally did.

  He moved swiftly and with purpose through the house. He’d known where Gwen’s bedroom was. Up the stair and to the right. Alistair and Isabella’s was downstairs, and Barnaby’s was in the finished basement. That meant two other rooms to look at. The first was clad in posters of Power Rangers. He shook his head and closed the door. The irony wasn’t lost on him, and the corner of his mouth rose until he stopped in front of the next room.

  He suddenly felt a strong need to turn around and head downstairs. He ignored it best he could as he placed a hand on the door knob. Suddenly a thought entered his mind telling him he forgot something in the kitchen. When he turned the knob and shoved the door open the spell vanished.

  “Definitely hiding something.” Silas stepped through the door closing it behind him. The room was covered in black, red and white plaid. The posters on the wall were of heavy metal bands. A few here and there were posters from movies involving dark magic.

  Standing in the middle of the room he cast out his senses. He could feel no one from within the room. She’d cast a barrier spell. He started for the underneath of her bed first and thought better of it moving then to the closet. Nothing. Shoes and old textbooks scattered the floor. He moved to the dresser looking through each of her drawers as carefully as possible. Nothing. He was about to leave when he saw a scratch in the old hardwood. The scratch looked like it was fresh, not more than a few months’ old.

  He moved to the side of the bed, dropped down on one knee and looked beneath it. There, hidden in the far corner, next to the wall was a stack of journals. All of them were leather-bound, just as Seraphina’s and Seth’s had been. The scratch in the floor was from hastily moving the bed from the wall without lifting it from the floor.

  Silas carefully lifted the bed and pulled it from the wall. He laid over the twin bed and reached down into the corner to retrieve the books. Once he had them in his hand he could see the writing inside matched Seraphina’s hand writing. The gold stamp on the binding told him they were journals from various years. He put them on the bed and moved it back into the corner, tucking the books under his arm and left the room, looking back just once to place the wards back onto the door. It was a simple glamour, designed to make anyone who got near the room want to turn away. With any luck, she wouldn’t suspect anyone had been there for a while, depending on how often she read through those journals.

  Silas headed down the stairs, but instead of going out the back door to rejoin the party he ducked out the front, hoping not too many party guests had wandered to the front of the house.

  Where are you? He felt Gwen touch his mind.

  I went on a little excursion. Are you okay?

  I’m fine. Just missing my husband and wondering why Chester and Marcus seem to be glued to my side. Is something happening?

  Enjoy your party, Luv. I’ll be back soon. Just had to look in on something. As to Chester and Marcus, there are a lot of people around tonight. No need to tempt fate. Being proactive is a good thing. Or he could still be harboring some romantic feelings.

  Silas.

  Yes?

  Hurry back, so I can smack you for teasing.

  Yes, dear.

  Silas loved their banter back and forth. It didn’t happen nearly enough, and the fact that Gwen went along with it made him smile. Before long he was standing inside the cave. Their own special place. The blankets and pillows were strewn about from their last visit. A small black hair-tie lay in the middle somewhat out of place. The box of journals sat in the back of the cave behind a few blankets bunched up into a ball.

  He pulled the blankets away, stuffed the new journals in the box and headed back to the party. His special ability to see in the dark afforded him the secrecy of moving about at night unseen. Unless another death watcher were nearby. If there was, he wouldn’t have been able to tell anyway. So, he left the cave. Hoping the books remained there when he went back, after the party to retrieve them and bring them home. He was dying to know what they contained for Sabina to have taken them from her sister.

  As Seraphina’s heir, she had taken ownership of all of Seraphina’s magical belongings. The books, tools and anything Seraphina herself used during or for any magical ceremonies. The journals were considered a record of the magic community and therefore belonged to the current high priestess as the title transferred from descendant to descendant.

  Silas moved behind Gwen slipping his arm around her back like a snake curling up to its prey and leaned into her ear. Thomas Hughes and his pack of Luxe boys watched him with a sneer.

  “I do believe you said something about needing to slap me. I think we should find a dark corner,” he said slightly louder than he should have and Thomas veered his eyes at him. Silas figured the leader of the Luxe clan was still sore that he didn’t have a chance with Gwen.

  “Are you drinking?” She looked at him, a large grin on her face as she completely ignored whatever it was Thomas was trying to say.

  “I’m not drunk if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Excuse me.” Thomas made a point to clear his throat loudly.

  “Yes, Thomas?” Gwen didn’t push Silas away, but instead held onto him with both hands so neither would be free when Thomas said his goodbyes.

  “I was just saying we’ve had some development in Nebraska. A few coven members have stumbled into a community which doesn’t seem to follow the rules.”

  “Have you contacted the Council?”

  “Yes. I just wanted to make you aware in case they look toward you to handle this…problem.”

  “I doubt they will, Thomas,” Silas started. “The council is well aware she is unable to travel at this point, but we will be sure to extend a hand to them if they need it.” Silas gave him his best professional sounding voice.

  “Very well. Enjoy your party.” Thomas gave a curt nod and turned around. He snapped his fingers and his pack of goons followed him.

  “Well, he didn’t seem to like that answer very much, now did he?”

  “I don’t care about the Luxe, or Nebraska. It's nearly September. I have other things on my mind.”

  “Have you figured out when this will happen?”

  “I think so. See the box over there?”

  Silas looked toward a large box wrapped in pink and blue striped paper. It held a large pink bow on the top. “What about it?”

  “I recognize it. From the vision.”

  “So, any day from now.”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you want to leave?”

  “Can we?”

  “You are the guest of honor, but I think everyone will understand if we just tell them you're simply tired.”

  She looked sad, but smiled. He moved his hand from her back and entwined it with hers, bringing her to the front of the back patio. Picking up a spoon off the nearest table, he tapped a glass nearby. The crowd that lingered in the yard quieted.

  “We hate to see such a wonderful evening end, but Gwen is feeling a bit tired and needs her rest. I’m sure all you mother’s out there can relate.”

  His words met with murmurs of agreement and a bit of laughter. “Thank you, everyone, for coming, and for the wonderful gifts. We love you all,” she added.

  The crowd clapped as Silas swooped Gwen up in his arms and proceeded to carry her ou
t to the front of the house and placed her in the car.

  Chapter XXVII

  They drove to the place Silas used to park his car while they spent time together in the cave. It seemed like a century ago. Though just a year had passed since he moved to the small town. Gwen waited patiently as Silas climbed from the car and went to the cave to retrieve the books. He placed them in her lap without an explanation and drove off.

  He watched her closely out of the corner of his eye as he drove. Her face shown sadness and disbelief. Rather than make him guess, she opened up her mind and began reading to him.

  Sounds like your grandmother was hiding a few things.

  I’ll say.

  How sure are we that these are not meant to be planted bits of information?

  I don’t know since I do not know where you found them. She looked at him, studying him. He kept his eyes on the road and his hands firmly on the wheel.

  “Sabina had them hidden in her room.”

  “Sabina?”

  Gwen closed the book she had open, moved a strand of hair back behind her ear and watched the countryside as it disappeared outside the window. Her mind closed off to him again, so he focused on the road ahead.

  “Stop!” She flung herself forward to hold on to the dashboard of the car as Silas slammed his foot on the break.

  A lone figure stood in the center of their path wearing a long black cloak. Red eyes appeared beneath the hood, which was drawn up over its head. Gwen moved to open the door.

  “No, don’t.”

  “Silas, we know when we will end. This is not that time.”

  Silas left the engine running, the lights on beaming at the person in the middle of the road. Gwen wrapped the cloak she still wore around herself and exited the car. Silas did too, running around the back so he was right behind her as she stepped forward. He could feel the presence of the four shifters in the wings and motioned with his hand for them to stay back.