The Witch's Chalice

by Melania Tolan

  Padrick turned to him. “You think you know everything, but you don't. If Eva had wanted you to know, she would've told you, but she didn't. She chose me. I know what this girl's going to need. You’re going to have to trust me on this.”

  “They will kill her on the spot,” Traian barked.

  “Guys, I'm standing right here.” I waved my hands and looked up at Traian. “Didn’t you say on the plane that there were people here who could help me?”

  He ignored me and continued to argue with Padrick.

  Storm jumped up on the edge of my casket and, with great interest, watched the vampire and elf go back and forth.

  “We’re being watched.” Traian glanced over his shoulder as if someone might be inside our cave, spying on us.

  Padrick threw his arms up. “Everyone is being watched. It’s only a matter of time before he shows up here. And mark my words, he will come.”

  “Who will come?” I asked.

  They both ignored me as Traian responded, “I know, but I feel this is the only place I can protect her.”

  “Oh, you dead-brained fiend. You can’t protect her here. No one can protect her. She needs to learn how to control her powers. That’s her only chance of survival.”

  I was so tired of hearing the two men going on and on as if I wasn’t standing mere feet from them. No matter how many times I spoke, neither of them answered me. I could feel my frustration building, the heat rising in me.

  crackle crackle crackle

  Little arcs of electricity and sparks flew off my palms. Not this again. The energy in my hands finally drew the attention of the two arguing men.

  Padrick was at my side in an instant. “Darling, remember what we did earlier. Take a deep breath through your nose and push it out through your mouth.”

  I pushed the elf away.

  Traian kept his distance.

  Smart guy. He’d finally figured out that maintaining space between us was safer.

  “I am so sick of listening to you two argue. Ever since the graveyard, all you guys do is disagree on everything. Get a life.” I reached for Storm, who jumped into my palm. “And I’m tired of being kept in the dark. Who is this gypsy crone? Can she really help me?”

  “Everly, I don't think it's safe for you to visit the Romani Clan,” Traian said. “You are still very fragile, and I'm afraid they will hurt you.”

  “Bullshit,” I spat.

  He rolled his neck. “What if you hurt them?”

  “Now there's the truth.” I tapped my foot. “I probably can, you are rightfully concerned about that. But who are they?”

  “How about we just take a break?” Padrick held his hands up.

  “Really?” I wanted to slap that perfectly chiseled elf cheek. “You come in here and tell me that you want me to visit the gypsies, but then when I ask you about them, you want to take a break?”

  He bowed. “I want to help, but Traian is right. Maybe it’s not time, yet. I will tell you more later. Right now, I think you need to rest.”

  I was about to explode, when a wave of exhaustion washed over my body. Traian was at my side with his arm around my waist.

  “He is right.” With his other hand, he opened the coffin lid. “Sleep. We’ll work on your garden tonight.”

  “But it’s not even morning yet.” I yawned.

  “You didn’t sleep enough yesterday,” he reminded me.

  I glanced inside the coffin. The plush interior had never looked more inviting. I turned to Padrick. “Could you help me with a project?”

  “Of course, what is it?”

  “Can you get me some plants? I want to create a garden around my coffin.” I gave him a weak smile.

  He chuckled. “Why am I not surprised. What do you need?”

  “I would like some devils weed, nightshade, lavender, rosemary, belladonna, rose hips, and comfrey.” I glanced at the area around the coffin. “I’d also like materials to build a little wall around here.” I motioned around the pile of dirt. “If this is where I'm going to be living for the next seven years, I want it to look nice, like my old apartment.”

  My old apartment? I had only been gone for two—wait, three days now, and I was already calling it ‘my old apartment’? Man, things had changed so fast, I could barely wrap my head around all the newness. But if I could focus on one thing, like planting a garden, maybe it would help me adjust to my new life.

  Padrick bowed his head slightly. “You got it. I will have these when you awaken tonight.” He turned to Traian. “Think about it. She's going to need their help sooner or later. And the sooner we get her there, the faster we can figure out what she needs from us and from the earth.”

  What I need from the earth? What does that mean?

  Traian gave me a quick kiss. “Sleep well.” Then he left with Padrick.

  Seven hours later, my longest sleep to date, I changed into a pair of jeans and an emerald green, velvety tunic with intricately embroidered, long sleeves. My feet felt nice and snug in the leather boots. I felt like I was walking off the set of a vampire flick. It felt so clichéd to have these medieval-looking garments, but they looked good on me. And I kind of liked the style.

  I noted the new piece of furniture next to the wardrobe: a vanity, complete with dressing room lights around the mirror and a plush purple stool. I sat on the seat and braided my hair, staring at my brightly lit face and feeling like a celebrity.

  Traian came in with a cup of blood for me and a plate of canned cat food for Storm.

  “You look rested,” he commented.

  “Thanks.” I took the cup. “And thanks.” I pointed to the mirror.

  “You’re welcome. Is there anything you need at the moment? I have several things I must take care of this evening.” He appeared to be in a hurry.

  “Go. I’m fine. I need to get ready for when Padrick gets back.”

  “Very well. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.” Traian kissed my forehead and disappeared through the door.

  Once again, curt tone and minimal contact. Maybe he’s second-guessing his decision to turn me.

  While I sipped on my breakfast, I strolled the entire perimeter of my small room at least five hundred times and imagined where all the plants would go. In my plans, I realized that Storm would need some furniture in here, too. A cat tree and water fountain were a must. At this point, she was using a makeshift litter box that Odeta had placed in Traian’s bathroom. As much as I hated to smell cat poop, Storm needed a box in our room. Maybe with a few plants around it, the aroma wouldn’t be as strong.

  I heard Cornell long before he came in with a wheelbarrow full of stones. “Good evening, mistress.”

  The title caught me off guard. No one had called me that before.

  “Hello.” I smiled.

  “Where would you like me to put these?”

  “Over there.” I pointed to the foot of my coffin.

  Cornell dumped the stones. The clattering of the rock hitting the stone floor sent Storm hiding behind my casket. He walked out, and two more of the coven males came in with another two wheelbarrows full of rocks.

  After three trips, the pile was big enough that we could build a little stone hedge around my coffin and soon-to-be garden. The males had also brought various supplies for gardening and masonry. Traian came in pushing a cement mixer with one hand and carrying four bags of the mix in the other arm. Cornell brought in several buckets of water before everyone left except for Traian.

  “I’ve never built a wall before,” I said.

  “Worry not, I’ve built enough walls to circle the globe.” Traian ripped a bag and dumped its contents into the mixer.

  “Where did you build so many walls?”

  He poured a bucket of water and turned the mixer on. “My old village, before it was destroyed by Octavian. While a prisoner, I built walls and fortifications around his compound and satellite homes across the world.”

  “You were a prisoner?” I shuddered. Then I realized I’d he
ard that name before. “Who’s Octavian?”

  He watched the cement mix turn over and over as he said, mostly to himself, “I’d rather die than be his prisoner again.”

  “Who’s Octavian?” I pressed.

  Traian turned his head slightly in my direction, but never took his eyes off the machine. “He’s our worst enemy and the reason Aidra came after you.”

  “How long were you his prisoner?”

  “Most of my life.” His nares flared.

  I noted the scar above his left eye, which he always avoided talking about when I brought it up. “Did he give you that?” I reached out to touch it, but he flinched away.

  “Yes.” He began moving rocks around. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

  It became very clear he still had some issues. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

  He set down the boulder and came to face me. “Octavian took everything away from me. My family, my people, my home, the love of my life, my companions, and then he tortured every last drop of humanity out of me. And now he’s interested in you.”

  I placed my hand on his arm. This time he didn’t move away.

  “He’s coming for me, isn’t he?”

  I couldn’t explain how I knew this. Something inside me, perhaps an internal warning light, had flashed, alerting me of my enemy’s presence long before I’d heard Padrick mention anything the previous morning.

  “He will.”

  “I won’t let Octavian take you,” I said.

  In a flash, Traian stood before me and took my hand. “You don’t know him. He is a monster that grows more powerful with each passing day.”

  “He doesn’t scare me.” I met his gaze.

  I spoke the truth. Everyone around me talked about him in hushed tones. I should be scared, from everything I’d heard thus far and from my encounter with Aidra, but fear was the last thing I felt when I heard Octavian’s name or thought of him. Maybe it was naivety, but he didn’t inspire the dread in me that I saw in the Carpatian coven. In fact, I felt a little tinge of anticipation. I wanted to show them what I could do—probably stupid on my part.

  “You should be afraid, Everly. No one can stop him. Not even Eva, and she was the most powerful witch in history.”

  I lifted my free hand. Tiny arcs of light popped across my palm. “But could she do this?”

  Traian closed my hand into a fist and covered it with his. “Don’t be foolish. You might have powers now, but he can just drain them, like he has from thousands of witches before you.”

  “Are you saying I’m a witch?” I cocked my head.

  His brows drew together, forming ridges above his nose. “I don’t know.”

  I sighed.

  “This wall will not build itself,” He said abruptly and released my hands. He went back to the mixer, indicating the conversation was over.

  We worked in silence. A thousand questions flew through my head, but I kept them to myself. After a while, a smooth, waist-high hedge formed in the shape of a ‘U’ around my casket, with plenty of space to plant a garden.

  After Traian was done building the wall, Padrick showed up with a cart full of all the plants I had asked him to purchase. One of the guardsmen brought in another trolley with lamps and power cables. He and Traian figured out the electrical wiring for the lights, while Padrick and I planted the flowers around my coffin. He’d picked up some other herbs I hadn’t asked for, but I didn’t mind.

  We planted the vines at the head of the coffin, so they could scale the cave wall. Scents of lavender, rosemary, thyme, and mint filled the air. When the last pot had been planted, I went into the lake room with a watering can to get water for my new garden, but not too much, as the new wall around it was still drying. When I returned to my room, the lights came on in the four corners, where they hung like street lamps.

  Seeing my vision come to life put a smile on my face.

  “One more thing.” Padrick held out a black velvet bag.

  I took the small sack and opened it. Inside were four stones. One looked milky white with an iridescent surface, another a blue-green color, also with an iridescent exterior, the next had a creamy, white tone with a columnar structure to it, and the fourth one was a familiar purple stone.

  An amethyst. I recognized that one. Mindy always used to wear a pendant of the violet stone.

  I gulped down the sudden sadness and longing that bubbled up at remembering my best friend.

  “What are these for?” I asked.

  “Protective stones to be placed at the four corners of your little garden. They will guard you while you sleep,” Padrick said. “They’re infused with elf magic.”

  “Thank you.” I gave my friend a hug and then went to every corner of the garden and placed a stone, just as he had told me to, underneath each light.

  Storm hopped onto the new wall and followed me around. “No going potty in my garden, little miss. Got it?” I gave her a treat that I had hidden in my pocket.

  She mewed and devoured the tiny morsel in a flash.

  Now that my project was complete, the restlessness returned in a fury. I felt like I needed to go for a walk. My body craved to be released in the open air.

  “So how about a little hike through the mountains?” I started for the door.

  “No!” both Traian and Padrick exclaimed and blocked my way out.

  “Why?” I stared at them incredulously.

  “It's too dangerous,” Traian said. “Have you not been listening to me?”

  “But you," I pointed to Padrick, “said it should be okay.”

  “I never said that.” The elf shook his head.

  “You said I should go meet this gypsy clan. Do they live in a cave too?”

  “No,” Traian answered, his jaw tightening.

  Padrick brushed the residual dirt from his hands onto his jeans. “I did say that you should go see them. But not yet. Soon. We’ll need to sneak you out of here.”

  “Why?” I started feeling like I was living in a prison.

  Traian lowered his voice “We’re being watched.”

  “Yeah, you said that. Let me guess, this has something to do with Octavian.” I clapped my hands together to stop the buzzing in my palms. It didn’t work.

  Padrick and Traian exchanged a brief glance before Traian responded. “Octavian has a price on my head. What happened in Seattle only upped the value, I’m afraid. Now we suspect he knows about you and will come knocking soon.”

  “I know. What I don’t understand is why? I’m nobody.”

  Padrick fake-coughed. “Your little light show back in Washington might have caught his attention.”

  “Then why bring me here?” I tossed my hands in the air.

  Traian and Padrick exchanged glances again. The elf’s pointed ear twitched.

  “Good question.” He turned to me. “This is the last place he would look for you. For the time being, that is. Which is why we need you to meet Satra soon and get that ball rolling.”

  “Who’s Satra?”

  Traian held a hand up. “Enough with the questions. All in due time. Right now, you must feed and then rest. You’ve worked hard today.”

  “Ohhhh no, you’re not playing that game with me.” I wagged my finger at him. “I’ve heard that evasive statement before, from my mother when she didn’t want to answer my question.”

  Before I could say anything else, my nose caught the scent of warm blood coming down the long hall to the lake room, carried by the human servant. Her heart pounded faster than normal in her chest. I could smell the light perspiration on her forehead and neck. The burn in my throat came so fast, I nearly leapt over Traian and Padrick to get to the door, but a soft paw on my foot stopped me cold.

  I crouched down and picked up Storm. “You’re my little savior,” I murmured.

  She let out a soft mew and rubbed her head against my neck at the level of the strongest burn in my throat. In a matter of seconds, the rabid thirst died down to a dull
but controllable ache.

  First the energy in my hands, and now the bloodthirst.

  “What kind of magic are you?” I scratched her fuzzy grey head.

  “She’s your familiar,” Padrick responded. “She balances your energy.”

  “That she does. It’s a good thing I didn’t listen to you when I first found her.” I chuckled.

  “Storm had not been in the plan. Eva never mentioned a cat.” Padrick moved away from the doorway to let in the servant who carried my hot, liquid meal.

  I handed Storm to Traian and took the cup of blood from the woman. “Thank you.”

  “Cu placere,” she replied.

  “It means ‘you’re welcome’,” Traian translated.

  The woman bowed and disappeared the way she came. Padrick left shortly too, promising to come by the next day. Storm slipped out the door moments later, leaving Traian and I alone.

  “There’s nowhere to sit in here. The wall is still drying.” He motioned toward the door. Let’s go out by the lake.”

  “Good idea.”

  I followed him out into the large cavern. We found rocks to sit on next to the lake and watched the mirrored reflection in silence as I mindfully sipped my drink. That’s when it occurred to me that I hadn’t seen Traian eat anything since we arrived in Romania.

  “When did you last eat?” I asked before taking another sip. I had to use at least seventy percent of my willpower not to chug down the blood in two seconds.

  “Right before you woke up.”

  “And what did you eat?”

  “Steak, potatoes, and green beans.”

  Of course. All the strigoi in the underground compound had already gone through the fledgling stage. I was the only one here who solely depended on blood. It was hard not to feel jealousy.

  I missed toast the most. And tea. And pancakes.

  I missed real food.

  Chapter 8

  I was getting tired of being in the cave. Building a wall around my coffin and planting my garden had occupied a good portion of one day. The following day, I spent most of my time arranging my room. I added a couch, two chairs, and a bistro table. To the right of my garden, I placed a Zen fountain, much to Storm’s delight.