‘Are you okay? You look worried.’
She flashed him a smile. ‘I’m fine, just thinking.’
Thinking, thinking, like what was she going to say to Rory Penderton. She’d never met him. Now she was going to rock on in, and accuse him of hexing a complete stranger and trying to hex her. After having met Drew, she wasn’t keen on meeting the father.
She hadn’t bothered to hail or call beforehand. Rory would feel her approach because he was bound to have wards around the house.
The older folk tended to do that, establish wards. Elena only had them set when she went away, or if she was particularly afraid at night. Grace usually set them for her, because they were beyond Elena’s talent. Once she’d inadvertently thrown an intruder through a window and part of a wall. Although Aunt Elvira was impressed with the hint of great talent the strength of her defence had shown, Elena had not ever repeated it. A ward was less intimidating, and didn’t need explaining to the police. It put humans off without them knowing. It was no shame to her to get her talented cousin to set one when she needed it.
They pulled into the driveway of an old weatherboard cottage, painted grey with white trim. It had a stained glass panel on the front door. The house and garden were reasonably neat, but not very big.
She sat in the car for a bit, feeling about with her senses, testing for wards. There was a ward, a mild repelling spell to keep out the ordinary passer-by. She sent a hail into the house. Rory Penderton. I’m Elena Denholm, may I come in?
Warmth spread on the back of her neck. Jake had put his hand there. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes,’ she whispered. He was very close. Next thing she knew, he was kissing her. She opened to him. His kiss wrote domination all over her. He controlled it, letting out enough passion to swamp her and dampening it down when she tried to ease off. He drew her closer and she brought her hands up to his chest, hoping to push him away, but then his strength and the firm muscle and the heat of him caressed her palms. She wasn’t fighting anymore; she was clinging to him, until she was a warm, languid thing in his arms.
Backing off, his eyes were dark with passion. Elena could only gape at him, stupidly. What was that? How did he make her feel that way?
Part of her was scared. She didn’t want her heart broken, but already knew it was a work in progress. She stroked his chin, rubbed her thumb across his lower lip. ‘Jake, what are you doing to me?’
‘Loving you,’ he replied, his eyes twinkling with humour. He had a satisfied look on his face.
‘Look, we’ll have to talk about that. There is something I need to explain.’ She wasn’t sure how to broach the subject of the love spell, but she had time to think of something.
‘Tell me.’
‘Later. Right now I have to talk to someone inside. I won’t be long. Do you mind waiting here in the car for me?’
There was a slight lowering of his eyelashes. ‘Yes, sure.’ He wasn’t happy about it, she could tell.
‘I…look, I don’t know this person, so I don’t feel right inviting you in. Give me a chance to get the lay of the land. I’ll come and get you after that.’
His eyes widened. ‘Sure. No problem. Are you sure you’re okay? You seem nervous.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ She slid out of the car and headed up the drive. She walked through Penderton’s ward like a knife through soft butter. She began to think Penderton was even less skilled than she was.
He hadn’t answered her hail, but he was home and waiting. He couldn’t hide that from her. The front door was ajar so she pushed it open, alert to traps. ‘Hello, may I enter?’
A shadowy figure rushed at her. She deflected the spell, ripped it to grey rags. Rather amateurish and half-hearted, she thought, although it would have been enough to scare an ordinary human. She needed to reserve judgement until she met the man. It was only fair.
The hall divided the house leading straight to the back. All of the adjoining rooms had their doors shut. That was okay, because she could feel Penderton was at the rear of the house, waiting. She walked along the dark corridor, her sandals clunking on the polished floorboards. The light was dim in the hall, but the crimson glass inset on the door let in a rose-coloured glow.
The house had a nice vibration to it, despite Penderton’s attempts to scare her off. Or maybe not scare her off, in particular, but people.
At her touch, the door swung open. She blinked at the sudden flood of sunshine. It was a veranda, enclosed by windows. Sitting at a small table, with a little red teapot that had steam curling out of its spout, was Rory Penderton.
He stood as she entered. About five foot ten, he was greying above the ears, and he was quite stocky. She thought he was about 50, but you could never tell with warlocks because they aged more slowly than normal humans. His skin tone was olive, like Drew’s, but his eyes were a clear grey, not dark like his son’s. He had regular features, and was rather good looking for an older man.
Rory Penderton stood there and stared at her with his mouth slightly agape.
‘I’m Elena. I’m sorry for troubling you, but something important has happened. I need…need to ask you about it.’
He seemed to shudder once before springing into action. ‘Forgive me, please, take a seat. Tea?’
Elena relaxed at his tone. His voice was pitched at a level to soothe her anxiety. ‘Yes, thank you,’ she said as she sat down. Her gaze caught sight of a lovely garden through the windows. She could see that he spent a lot of time growing things, and growing them beautifully.
‘What a lovely garden,’ she said, with a smile. There was a flowering jacaranda tree in the corner, and a beautiful frangipani. One day she’d like a garden big enough for those types of trees.
Penderton’s eyes tracked over her face down to her hands. ‘What is it?’
‘You’re Pris’s daughter aren’t you?’
‘Yes. You knew my mother?’ Elena swallowed. Pris was a taboo topic, with Elvira, at least.
He nodded, his eyes taking on a glazed expression as if he was looking back in time.
‘We were once close, she and I.’
Elena was puzzled and disturbed. He’d known her mother well, if his reaction was anything to go by. Why hadn’t Elvira said? She would have liked to have spoken to someone who had known her mother during those years when she was getting to know that she was a witch, and part of a coven. She couldn’t remember her mother, and no one knew where she was, or if she was even alive.
‘So what brings you out here to see me today? Looking for Drew?’ He grinned knowingly.
Elena picked up the tea and took a sip. It was Earl Grey; not a favourite. ‘I’m not sure I’m looking for Drew. You see, someone cast a spell, a love spell. I’m afraid it caught a human.’
Rory Penderton’s eyes widened. ‘Why would you be coming to see me about that?’
She put her cup back in the saucer and used the handle to turn it back and forward as she thought about how to proceed.
‘Three essential ingredients for a love potion were purchased in your name.’ Elena decided she may as well go for it. ‘I’ve come to ask you to remove the spell. I won’t make a complaint about this. The human, though, may have other ideas.’
He sat back in his chair and lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘But I didn’t buy any ingredients. I haven’t practised the craft of potion making for quite a while. My heart isn’t in it.’
Elena believed what he said. There was something heartfelt and sad in his words. ‘So, do you know who would have bought those ingredients under your name?’ Elena had a pretty good idea.
Rory Penderton shrugged. ‘No, I don’t.’
‘Surely your son?’
His expression became flushed with anger. ‘Leave him out of this. Everyone is so quick to judge him. Isn’t it enough that you spurned him, humiliated him?’
Elena stood up, her fists clenching. ‘Look, I don’t know what Drew told you. But we went on a date and it didn’t work out. We didn’t g
el. There was no spurning, humiliating or anything remotely like that. It just didn’t work.’
He sat still, his breathing calm. ‘Oh. But I – ’
She leaned back in her chair, feeling sheepish. ‘Don’t worry. I can guess. Drew is kind of surly, so I can well imagine what he said. Do you know where he is?’
Penderton shook his head, then got out of his seat and looked out the window, rubbing his chin. ‘I’ve not seen him for over a week. He doesn’t live here anymore.’
‘Will you tell me where he is?’
Penderton sat back down in his chair and poured himself another cup of tea. He opened up a canister on the table and drew out a slice of cake. ‘Let me try to contact him first.’ He held out a slice of cake to her. ‘Then I’ll contact you.’
She shook her head. ‘I won’t take cake, thank you. I’d better be going. Thank you for your time.’ She lifted her arms to tie her loose hair back up into a bun.
Penderton studied her, and then he sucked in a breath as his eyes dropped to her throat.
‘What?’ she asked, dropping her hands to her lap. Heat rushed to her cheeks at the intensity of his scrutiny.
‘Where did you get that charm?’
Elena’s hand went her necklace. ‘I’ve had it since I was a baby. I think my mother gave to me.’
‘Stop, wait a moment.’ He got up from the table and approached her. Elena’s eyes widened. He was looking at her again, studying her. This close, she could see he had green flecks in his grey eyes.
‘She never told me,’ he said.
‘Told you what?’
He stepped back. ‘About you.’
‘I don’t understand. Why would my mother tell you about me?’
Turning to the side, he rubbed the heel of his hand against his forehead. ‘We had a thing going. A relationship. She ran away.’ He shrugged, as he turned to face her again. ‘Not that I blame her. I was a pigheaded fool. The whole situation was fraught. It took me a while to grow up. I never got over what happened.’
‘But…Drew?’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, his mother came along less than a year later. Didn’t stay long. Left me the boy. That’s something, I suppose.’
‘I see… You must have been lonely.’
He chuckled. ‘I’ve had the garden.’
It was true he didn’t mingle much with the coven. She’d never seen him at the essential rites and festivities, though she knew him by name and had heard him spoken of.
‘Aunt Elvira — ’
‘Yes, she hates me after what happened. She blames me for your mother running away, among other things.’
Elena had to get out. Something was going on. She didn’t quite like where this conversation was leading. She had to get help for Jake.
‘Look, I have to go. Please try contacting Drew for me. This spell on Jake is serious. He is a top lawyer. The spell is affecting his judgement.’ She took a few hurried steps then paused, and faced him. ‘I can’t let him out of my sight. I beg you to help me.’
‘I will. Look…’ He put his hand out, not quite reaching her. She paused, sensing he was desperate for her stay. ‘You’re my daughter, Elena.’
The door opened. Jake stood there. She could tell he had heard most of it. How had he snuck up the hallway without them hearing?
‘You think I’m affected by a love spell?’ he said in a voice that barely disguised his incredulity.
‘Jake. Hi! Give me a minute, please.’
She turned to Penderton. ‘Did you say I’m your daughter?’ Her voice had a hysterical edge.
‘Yes, I’m pretty sure. That charm, I made it for her. Traditionally, a charm like that would be given to a child of the warlock who made it. And I can see me in you, too.’
Elena’s knees buckled as her world spun around her. Jake raced over, gathered her up in his arms, and then placed her on a chair. ‘Can you bring her some water?’ She heard him ask Penderton.
There was a gasp from Jake. Penderton had conjured a glass of water. ‘Where did you…?’
Jake look flustered as he held a glass of water to her lips. This whole meeting was not playing out as she had planned. Penderton said he was her father; Jake heard about the love spell; and, to top things off, Penderton had conjured a glass of water in front of a human. Perhaps she should faint away and hope that everything resolved before she woke up.
Unfortunately, that was not how Aunt Elvira had brought her up. She had to fix this. There was no getting out of it. She started pulling herself together.
Jake stroked her hair out of her face, his concerned eyes meeting hers. He caressed her cheek.
‘Are you okay? Can I get you anything?’
She pushed out of his arms. ‘I’m fine. I’ve had a bit of a shock, that’s all.’
She looked Rory Penderton over again, looking for the parts of him that were in her. Surreptitiously, she explored his aura, wishing that it wasn’t true. Yet a close blood relationship would explain why she and Drew had not taken to one another, not in a romantic sense. Sibling blood repelled. The truth hit her like a sledgehammer. ‘Goddess. You’re my father.’ Her hand went to her mouth to cover the cry that was rising up inside her.
Jake stepped back, giving them room. Rory took his place and pulled her to him, burying his face in her neck. He controlled a sob, a hastily drawn breath full of emotion.
Controlling her own tears was difficult. She had a father. He was a warlock. She was no half-breed witch after all. All those years, and he’d lived so close, and she didn’t know he was there. All those wasted years.
A flash of anger rose inside. Did Aunt Elvira know? Had she hid it from her because she hated the man? What had happened so long ago that caused all this angst?
Her father pulled back, using his thumbs to her wipe the tears from her cheeks. ‘Don’t cry. This is a happy moment. I may have lost my chance of happiness all those years ago, but I have you now.’
Jake shifted from one foot to another, obviously ill at ease. Rory Penderton looked over his shoulder and gestured to the vacant chair. ‘Jake, I’m Rory Penderton. You may as well sit down and have a cup of tea.’
The little red teapot had steam curling out the spout again. Elena dug a tissue out of her purse and blew her nose. Her father’s casual use of magic brought a smile to her face. Luckily, Jake didn’t seem to notice as he sat down and poured himself some tea into a spare cup. ‘I’m sorry I intruded,’ he said, sheepishly. ‘I should have stayed in the car.’
‘Not a problem young man,’ Penderton said, getting up and slapping him on the back. ‘So, you’re the man who is in love with my daughter?’
‘Yes, I am. I want to marry her.’
Elena groaned. ‘Please don’t go there.’ She looked fleetingly at her father. ‘Can you help him?’
Jake squared his shoulders and sat back. ‘I don’t need any help, except to get you to say yes.’
Rory Penderton laughed, belly-laughed. ‘You’re right. It is a spell.’ He eyed her closely, checking whether she had been affected.
‘You’re clear of the spell, but not unaffected by him, I think.’
Elena had the grace to blush, which brought a knowing smile to her father’s face. Heavens, she thought, this is my dad. She was so confused. One part of her wanted to stay and be with him forever, and the other part wanted to go away and sort through all her feelings and come to terms with this knowledge. And then there was Jake in the mix.
‘What are you talking about? I’m not affected by a spell. Forgive me for saying this, Mr Penderton, but your daughter is gorgeous. I love her. I want to be with her. Pure and simple.’
‘Look, Jake, I’m sorry to say but there is a thing called magic. Someone has definitely hexed you with a love spell. I can see it, like I can see my garden out there. You need to stay with Elena until this gets sorted.’
‘But — ’
‘Don’t make any decisions. Just enjoy it.’
‘There’s no such thing as magic.’
Elena’s cheeks flamed. ‘Stop. Don’t encourage him. I can’t be with him, don’t you understand? I would be taking advantage of him when his judgement is impaired.’
They both turned to gape at her. ‘Making love with me is taking advantage of me?’ Jake asked, hand on his chest.
‘Of course it is. In your right mind you wouldn’t want to.’
He gave her a very serious and sexy look, from the top of her head to the bottom of her toes. ‘Yes. I would.’
Her gaze flicked to her father, silently pleading. ‘Oh yes, he would,’ he replied, with a knowing look.
‘You’re no help.’
Rory Penderton shrugged, but his smile had transformed his face. There was a real shine sparkling out of his eyes. He shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
‘I have a daughter, a beautiful daughter.’ Tears trickled down his cheeks as he sunk into a chair.
‘It’s okay,’ she said, moving toward him. Jake stood up and said he’d wait outside.
Nestled on Rory Penderton’s lap, she cuddled her father, cuddled him as she would have as a little girl growing up. She didn’t feel embarrassed. Those cuddles were hers, the ones she should have had her whole life.
‘Will you come again?’ he asked, when she kissed him on the cheek to say goodbye.
‘Yes, I’d like that. But I have to sort this mess out with Jake first. Also, I need to talk to Aunt Elvira.’
‘Don’t be hard on her. She didn’t know your mother was pregnant when she ran away. I didn’t either.’
‘Do you know why she left?’
‘Your mother?’ He shook his head. ‘I thought she was angry with me, but she wouldn’t have had you and left you with humans if it wasn’t something more — something she hid from all of us. She was different, you know, not content with the rules of the coven…’
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