Destiny in Danger

by Tara Weeks

  Destiny In Danger

  The Auberon Witches

  Book Three

  Tara Weeks

  Copyright © 2020 by Tara Weeks

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Published by K J Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  This book is fiction. All characters, events and dialogue are from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any way without express written permission from the author.

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  CONTENTS

  Introduction

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Introduction

  A

  damina’s life was turned upside down when her husband confessed to an affair with a younger colleague—who also happened to be pregnant with his child. She has longed for children for as long as she can remember, but now, on her fortieth birthday, Addie finds herself more alone than ever.

  Rich and sheltered Selene experienced a life-changing epiphany after a health scare which opened Selene’s eyes to the gilded cage she had spent her life in. Realizing she has no love for the husband she was forced to marry, or for the life that they lead, she decides to celebrate her fortieth birthday by fleeing everything she’s ever known.

  Cassiopeia’s grief has enveloped her in a dark cocoon of sadness after the deaths of her husband and two children. Yet she decides that, at forty, she still has a life, and she wants to honor their memory by living it to the fullest.

  Addie, Cassie and Selene meet by chance at the airport where they board a private flight that crash lands in Auberon. Fast forward to the three women lying passed out after exploring an old ruin and being engulfed by a strange purple smoke.

  Addie awakens and her curiosity proves dangerous when she inspects an ancient urn and finds herself pulled into a labyrinth of caverns and caves, fighting for her life.

  Cassie and Selene frantically search for their friend, before enlisting the help of Marek and their mysterious and charismatic landlord, Ravi.

  Despite the women’s newfound, rapidly evolving magic, they find their hearts challenged, as the men of Auberon leave lasting impressions. But are they really what they seem?

  If you’d like to refresh your memory before reading Book 3

  Click here for Book 1- Destiny Awaits

  Click here Book 2- Destiny Unlocked

  Chapter One

  Addie

  How on earth did I end up in 1920?

  Addie stared up at the red-haired woman on the balcony who raised her glass to the crowd below before taking a sip.

  This cannot be happening.

  Keeping close to the tree line, Addie snuck around the perimeter of the garden, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to make sure she stayed out of the view of the guests. Fortunately, they all seemed far too engrossed in their tipsy banter to pay any attention to a woman from the future lurking in the forest.

  Addie paused, looked up at the balcony again, and watched as the woman turned and disappeared back into the manor. While Addie had no idea who this woman was, or how she had ended jumping into the past, she was certain that the woman would know something.

  At least I sure hope so.

  Addie kept as close as she could to the manor without breaking from the tree line while she tried to look for a way to get inside without being seen. While Addie was known for her taste in vintage attire, the dress she wore was more akin to the 1950s and she was bound to stand out if she were to attempt to casually make her way through the crowd. As she was about to concede that she might have to hide in the trees until the evening, a band stepped onto a small stage at the opposite end of the garden. All the guests turned as a voluptuous woman in a sparkling cocktail dress and a magnificent feathered headpiece stepped up to the microphone and crooned a jazzy melody. With the crowd’s backs to her hiding place, Addie seized the opportunity and dashed out of the woods, keeping close to the edge of the manor before slipping in through the open French doors. She startled a waitress as she entered, who was fortunately more concerned with trying to stop the glasses from toppling off her tray than inspecting Addie. Muttering her apologies, Addie hurried through the kitchen, around into the foyer and towards the grand staircase. Numerous wait staff were milling about, carrying trays of sparkling wine and fancy little canapes; they were thankfully too focused on their own tasks to pay her any attention.

  Addie reached the staircase, stepped up onto the first railing and placed her hand on the curved wooden banister. As soon as she gripped the railing, she was overcome with a vision. It was only brief, but she saw herself on the second floor, opening a door. On the other side was the woman, her hand outstretched as though beckoning her. Opening her eyes, Addie knew she was on the right track—the woman had to hold the answers she was looking for. She hurried up the stairs, ignoring the burning of her leg muscles as she ran, knowing she was not the most athletic of women. She reached the landing with a grateful huff, pausing for a moment to catch her breath. Looking along the corridor, first left and then right, Addie stared at the identical doors and tried to recall the one she had gone through in the vision. As her eyes fell upon the second door to her right, she could swear it appeared illuminated, as though there was a bright light pushing through the gaps around it. Taking it as a sign, Addie hurried over to it and grasped the doorknob with her hand. As she twisted, she half-expected to find it locked, and felt surprised when it slowly swung open, revealing a grand room, and Addie gasped at the sight. It was a vast room—at least by Addie’s standards—which looked like a personal library.

  On the other side of the room stood the woman she’d seen on the balcony addressing the guests. She had her back to Addie, and appeared to be staring through a large, circular window. The music from the band below drifted up towards them as Addie took a hesitant step into the room. When the woman didn’t move, Addie ambled forward, her hands clasped before her as she looked around in awe. Oak bookshelves lined the walls on either side of the room, laden with a combination of books and ornaments. The top shelves were lined with jars which appeared to contain dried herbs, flowers and seeds—though a few jars contained some rather ominous-looking items that Addie couldn’t identify. The plush, cream carpet absorbed the sound of her footsteps and she wondered if the woman was so engrossed in the music from below that she hadn’t heard her come in. Not wanting to startle her, Addie thought it best to announce herself.

  “Excuse me? Hello?” Addie said, peering at the woman for any sign that she’d heard her. As the woman slowly turned and looked at her, Addie gasped, her hands flying over her mouth.

  She looks exactly like me!

  Chapter Two

  Selene

  T

  his makes no sense at all.” Cassie said, flicking from one photograph to another.

  Selene picked another up from the box and shook her head. “How is it even possible?”

  “It’s not, right.” Cassie frowned. “I mean, on the back of this photograph, it's dated 1890. So obviously, it’s not us. It must be some kind of
strange coincidence.”

  Selene leaned back as she looked from the box of photographs, to Cassie and back again. “Look, I get that you’re the smart one of our little group, and I’m fine with that. But if I can see there is something more than a coincidence going on here, surely you can too?”

  “Yes… I know.” Cassie groaned. “It’s just, I’ve always been the type of person who has to see something to believe it, you know? But this is ridiculous. I’m looking at these photographs with my own two eyes and I can’t believe it for a second. I mean, it’s just not possible. Is it?”

  Selene shrugged. “You already said that.”

  “Well, what are your thoughts then?” Cassie asked.

  “I don’t know what to say. I’m right there with you—I know what I’m seeing, yet I can’t make any sense of it. It’s one thing to see an old photograph of an ancestor and see a resemblance, but I know these aren’t our ancestors. And they look just like us. I think that’s the bit I’m struggling with the most.”

  “You mean aside from the fact we only met a couple of days ago and now we find vintage photos with our doppelgängers in them?” Cassie said with a rueful smile.

  “There is also that.” Selene replied with a sigh.

  They sat in silence for a moment, each of them lost in their own thoughts as they stared at the women in the photographs.

  “Okay, let’s see if we can simplify this some way. What do we know so far?” Cassie started. “We know these women look like us…”

  “Exactly like us…” Selene cut in.

  Cassie nodded. “But it’s obviously not us, because we’re here. Now.”

  “Right. I’m with you so far.” Selene agreed.

  “Good. Now, I know you said they aren’t our ancestors, but what if they are, and we just never knew about them?” Cassie suggested. “I mean, that really is the only logical explanation of why they look like us that I can think of.”

  Selene scrunched her face. “I think there’s a difference between looking similar to someone and looking exactly like someone. Besides, what are the odds of the three of us looking like three women in the same photo? Even if we’re related somewhere down the line, those odds are just insane.”

  Cassie sighed and tossed the photographs into the box. “I have no idea. I can’t explain it. Three women from as far back as two hundred years ago that looked exactly like us. Only we’re almost certain that the three of us aren’t related, and until a couple of days ago, you, me and Addie were complete strangers. I don’t know about you, but I’m fairly certain that’s the craziest shit I’ve ever heard.”

  “Oh, I don’t know… three women who were previously strangers arriving in a small town and discovering they’ve miraculously developed magical powers must be up there?” Selene grinned.

  “Well, when you put it like that…” Cassie giggled.

  “Maybe we’re just looking at this the wrong way.” Selene suggested.

  “How else can we look at it?” Cassie asked, massaging her neck with her hand.

  “Well, what if someone left this box of photographs at the front door for an entirely different reason and we’re just getting distracted with appearances?” Selene suggested, watching Cassie, who appeared to consider it before shaking her head.

  “Great, now we’ve just added to our list of unanswered questions.” Cassie sighed. “But what reason could someone have to bring these to us?”

  “Maybe we’re supposed to work out who these women were. Like a mystery or something.” Selene suggested.

  “I think you’re enjoying all this chaos and confusion way too much.” Cassie smiled.

  “Well,” Selene smiled back, “Until the moment I stepped onto the plane with you and Addie, my life was so boring. It was all charity galas and restaurants and hosting and premiers…”

  “Wow, you’re right, that sounds totally mundane, it must have been awful for you.” Cassie rolled her eyes.

  “You don’t understand. No one cared what I thought, or what I wanted. My family didn’t care that I didn’t want to marry my husband, because all they cared about was the prestige it would add to their name, and the added opportunities that came with it. My husband didn’t care that I didn’t love him, because he wanted a trophy to display, a reason for his friends to slap him on his back and tell him he’d done well for himself. Everything was about keeping up appearances, but not actually living,” Selene explained, her eyes fixed on the carpet beneath them.

  “I’m sorry, Selene. I feel like such a jerk. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. What made you leave it all behind? I imagine that would’ve been a scary decision to make.” Cassie said.

  “It was, and it wasn’t. I had a health scare a couple of months ago. I found a lump in my breast. They tested it, and I’m fine, but going through that I realized I had no one to turn to, no one that cared enough to even recognize that I was going through something stressful. Before I got the all clear, I just kept asking myself what I had to show for my life—and the answer kept coming back as ‘nothing’. I’d lived my entire life pleasing everyone else. So, while it was scary deciding to walk away from it all, I knew staying meant death, at least of one kind or another.”

  They sat quietly for a moment before Cassie spoke. “Though I’m sure being worth a fortune in your own right helps when venturing out into the big wide world.”

  “Yeah, there’s also that.” Selene replied and looked up at Cassie before the two of them burst into laughter.

  Suddenly, there was a thud from behind them, and they exchanged a quick glance before getting to their feet.

  “What was that?” Cassie asked as Selene scanned the room on the other side of the couch. On the carpet, about a meter away from the bookshelf, lay an ornament.

  “That wasn’t on the floor before, was it?” Selene asked.

  Cassie shook her head as she hurried over to it and picked it up for a closer look. She frowned as she held it up to Selene. It was a bronze statue of an owl, with its wings semi-raised, as though it was about to spread them and fly off. It had a small, curved and pointed beak, with round eyes made of red stones.

  “Are they…are they rubies?” Selene asked in awe as she gently reached out and touched them.

  “How would I know? That seems like it’s more up your ally than mine.” Cassie scoffed.

  “I think they are, which is crazy. They’d have to be the size of a coin…they must be worth a small fortune.” Selene gasped.

  “Are you really that surprised? Are you not staying in the same manor that I am?” Cassie asked.

  Selene didn’t answer as she continued to inspect the statue.

  “What I’m interested to know is how something that heavy just falls on the floor.” Before Cassie could elaborate any further, they heard a slow creaking sound coming from the front of the house. “Was that…”

  “… the front door?” Selene finished for her; the two of them scurried from the lounge room, huddled together. As they reached the foyer and saw the front door wide open, they froze.

  “Hello?” Cassie called out, “Anyone here?”

  Selene gripped Cassie’s arm, not sure which would be worse—to hear a response or not. When there wasn’t one, Cassie stepped forward. “Stuff this.” As she got within reaching distance of the front door, it suddenly slammed closed.

  Selene yelped as Cassie froze in place. “What the hell…?”

  Selene trudged up to Cassie and rubbed her back, more trying to reassure herself than anyone else, and before she could second guess herself, she stepped forward and yanked the front door back open. Cassie joined her as the two of them peered outside, looking for any sign of a prankster.

  “Maybe it was the wind.” Selene suggested.

  “That would be a fine theory if there was any. It’s as still as anything today.” Cassie added.

  The sound of a car coming up the driveway interrupted them, and seconds later Marek’s jeep app
eared. Selene felt her mouth go dry as she watched him expertly swing the jeep around the circular driveway and pull up in front of them.

  Marek jumped out of the car and walked around to them. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he said with a charming smile, his blue eyes twinkling as he ran his hands through his scruffy blond hair.

  “Hey, Marek.” Cassie replied.

  Selene just gave a small nod, finding herself unable to talk.

  What the hell is wrong with you? You don’t get like this with guys, now snap out of it! It’s not like he’s even your type. Wait…do I even have a type?

  “Did you see anyone else on your way up to the house?” Cassie asked.

  Marek frowned, shaking his head. “No, I didn’t. Why? Is everything okay?”

  “Oh yeah, no dramas, I was just curious.”

  “Speaking of curious, what is that?” he asked, pointing to the owl statue still in Cassie’s hands.

  “Oh! We’re just checking out some of the magnificent pieces around the manor.” Selene blurted out. “Cassie likes owls.”

  “Uh, yes. I do. What can we do for you?” Cassie replied.

  “Uh, I was actually wondering if Selene would like to join me for a drink in town.” Marek looked at Selene and she scowled as the heat of a blush spread across her cheeks. Despite his smile, there was an intensity to his gaze that both frightened and excited her—and she didn’t know which she was more afraid of. Before she could say anything, Cassie was pushing her forward.

  “That sounds like a lovely idea! She’d love to go, wouldn’t you, Selene?”

  “Uh, what about…?” Selene started.

  “There’s nothing that can’t wait until later. Go enjoy yourselves,” Cassie insisted, almost pushing Selene into Marek.

  “I don’t think it’s a very good idea for you to be here on your own, I mean, we still don’t know what’s happened to Addie.” Selene hesitated.