Awakening Fate (The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn Book 4)

by Cheryllynn Dyess

  Twisting her mouth in thought, Elizabeth knew she had to explain things. “Sorina, this is Wesley Roberts. He is Sire Levi’s son. He is… he is the keeper of Prince Petre’s items.”

  Sorina suddenly was at the forest line, “No! Not an elf. They would never!” Her voice was filled with shock as she glided towards them in a rush. She circled Wesley, looking over every inch of his body. “You look like him, except for the hair.”

  Wesley turned to watch the woman taking him in, “I am honored.”

  She smiled at him, “I can see why the amulet chose you. Your heart is good. But I’m surprised, I never considered an elf to be a keeper. You have no magic.”

  Lowering his head, Wesley considered her words. “Well, not exactly.”

  Both women turned their heads quickly and responded more loudly than they intended and in unison, “WHAT!”

  He chuckled. “When the coven was having their battle last year, we left as we are supposed to do. Well, I went to Southern Europe and was studying. My father wants me to take over his house one day, as expected, but he wanted me to meet a distant relative and learn from her. She is an ancestor of an elf and witch, both from Romania.”

  That got a rise out of the women, Sorina instructed him, “Please continue.”

  “Well, that branch of elves has magic because of their bloodline to you.” Elizabeth gasped and Wesley quickly recovered the conversation, “We would not be related. The bloodline has been so distant that none of that family would be closer than seventh cousins, at best.”

  “You are the children of Leagh?” Sorina asked.

  Wesley nodded, “No ma’am, not Leagh but Randolph, her twin, he married an elf… During their marriage, they had six children. One was my father's grandfather and one the grandfather of Tiffany. And the rest is history.” As he spoke Sorina covered her mouth with her hand. Randolph and Leagh was the first set of twins born after the magic was gifted to Petre and Sorina, both had returned to Romania after a few years in Northern Europe. They had said they had to be in a place they felt at home.

  “Did you know this before you met Elizabeth?”

  “No. I only found out when I went to train. Tiffany filled me in on the entire family history and started teaching me spells that we could work.” He turned to Elizabeth, “I wanted to tell you everything.”

  She pulled back from him, angry that she hadn’t listened to him. “It was my fault. I was being stubborn and hard-headed and I… I didn’t want to listen. I wanted to be mad. How foolish!” She snipped.

  Sorina took Elizabeth in an embrace and whispered in her ear, “My child there was no way anyone would blame you for your actions. You were kept hidden from the world you belonged to and when thrown in did the best you could.” Tears escaped down Elizabeth’s cheeks. Sorina held her tighter, “You are so strong even when you think you are weak.”

  Wesley stood watching the two women embrace. He had wanted to be there for Elizabeth, but he knew she had been through so much emotionally, there was no way he could stay angry at her. Sorina pulled back from Elizabeth and took one of each of their hands and smiled, “You two will do great things for our people.” Looking to Wesley, “One day, you will need to meet Petre but not until he is ready. He is not as forthcoming as I am.” She released their hands and began to turn away gliding towards the woods, just at edge she turned to them one last time, “You have our blessings,” then she shimmered into nothingness.

  Sitting straight up, Elizabeth turns to see Wesley slowly waking up. She turns to her mother, “He is it. He is the keeper. We have Sorina’s blessings.” Releasing Wesley’s hand, Elizabeth starts to stand when she hears him mumble. Looking back, she realizes he is having trouble coming out of the dream and put a hand on his shoulder to shake him, “Wesley, wake up.” She calls out trying to get him to come around.

  He turns his head back and forth like he is fighting something, then suddenly calms down. Inside the dream, Petre came to talk to Wesley but only after Elizabeth and Sorina had gone.

  Wesley tried to follow Elizabeth. As he was moving towards her, he felt something grab his arm. He turned to find a man holding onto him and looking quite angry. "Who are you?"

  "You say you are the descendant of Randolph?" The man stood tall with broad shoulders holding onto Wesley's arm with a tight grip, nearly cutting off the circulation.

  Wesley turned to face the man who wouldn't let him leave. Ripping his arm from the man's grasp he asked with a growl, "Who are you and why have you held me back?"

  "Answer my question elf. Are you the true descendant of Randolph?" the man asked once more.

  Not in the mood for games, Wesley took a step back. Sorina had said Petre wasn't very forthcoming, could this be him? He was told Petre's personality lacked compassion but this was absurd. "I won't answer anything until I know who you are? I'm thinking you're Petre, Prince Petre!" The man's face softened. The elf was smart and easily figured out who he was without over reacting.

  "Walk with me my child... we have so much to discuss."

  Raina knelt next to him placing a hand on his forehead and one on his wrist. “His pulse is good, but he has a slight sheen of sweat starting to come up.” She turned to Reba, “Can you hear his thoughts? What’s happening?” Reba only shook her head, she heard nothing.

  “Can you go back in and get him?” Sari asked worriedly.

  Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth replied, “It doesn’t work like that mom. Once a person is out, they can’t come back unless the person pulls them in,” she was now standing. Looking worried, “He doesn’t know how to get someone in. We just have to wait. I’ll get a cool cloth.” She turned to the kitchen.

  It was another two hours before Wesley’s eyes fluttered open, by this time Elizabeth had knelt by his side so long her feet were numb but as soon as she saw life coming back to him, she was alert. She didn’t say a word as he came out of this slumber and looked around a bit dazed. He turned to Elizabeth, “Why’d you leave me there?”

  “You’ve been asleep two hours. I came out of the dream as soon as Sorina left, I tried to bring you with me. What happened?”

  “Prince Petre appeared!” He sat up annoyed. “He was upset!” He tried to stand but the women blocked him, so he sat and rested on his arm.

  “Tell me everything!” Elizabeth demanded.

  He turned to her slowly with a smile appearing, “Are you sure you want to hear it all?”

  She huffed, “Of course I do. Don’t I?” this made everyone laugh.

  Chuckling, Wesley replied, “Well I’ll give you the quick rundown, cause I’m starved. Prince Petre appeared out of nowhere right in front of me and grabbed my hand, that made it so I couldn’t leave the dream. He took me on a walk, and we discussed the situation. He said that he was glad I was chosen, he had been watching me and knew I was a descendant of one of his children.”

  “Is that it? You were out two hours!” Elizabeth huffed.

  His eyes widened, “No. No, it was not, but it’s all I’m telling you for now. And you,” he looked to Reba and tapped his temple, “you can’t get in there, I feel you trying.” She blushed and looked away. He didn’t want to talk about the threats Petre had made if he hurt Elizabeth or his people, that was before he realized Wesley was his people too.

  CHAPTER 3

  There was a light knock at the door, Wesley turned his head as if hearing a person whisper in his ear but said nothing. He glanced at Reba and nodded. The other three women didn’t notice them although they heard the knock.

  Annoyed already with the last hour of research, Elizabeth sighed and stood, “I’ll get it. I need a break anyway.”

  Reba quickly caught her arm, “No. I’ll get it. Go put on some tea. We’ll need eight cups.” Elizabeth’s face scrunched but she nodded. She knew her aunt could hear thoughts so she must know who is at the door.

  Heading to the kitchen, the youngest witch in the house, picked up the tray laying it on the counter then filling the kettle. Turning to put it
on the stove, Elizabeth was startled when she saw Wesley standing behind her. His ability to walk up silently behind her was unsettling but it was her nerves that were on edge. No one had spoken to Prince Petre in decades and somehow this elf has not only been able to do it but also get his blessing. “Good god man. Give a girl a heart attack, will ya!”

  He only smiled before backing out of her way. He watched her move around the kitchen with methodical precision as she prepared fresh herbal tea for everyone. Pointing to the cups, she asked, “Can you pull out the cups? Eight… I guess.”

  “It’s eight for sure. The Charles sisters have arrived.”

  Nearly dropping the hot kettle, she had pulled from the stove as the whistling began, she slowly turned her head to look at Wesley. “Who?”

  “The Charles sisters. You’ve met them. Well, sort of.”

  “Why is in all holy hell are they here?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t read them, and neither can Reba. They only allowed us to see who was here.”

  Her face reddened with anger, the Charles sisters were never up to any good and she was really ready for a break from the madness of her new life. The amulet she wore darkened and began a rhythmic pulse that Wesley’s stone matched. Looking down, she could see the transition and felt the warning deep inside. “Let’s get to the den, shall we. We have company it would seem.”

  Walking behind Elizabeth, both keepers entered the den. The three Charles sisters stood on one side of the room facing the three Fairbairn sisters. Until that very moment, Elizabeth never realized how much her aunts and mother looked alike aside from their hair color. She was quite impressed by them and the way they always stood together, something her and her sibling would never do.

  Looking at the Charles sisters, Elizabeth noticed a change in them. The triplets no longer wore their hair differently, they were now completely identical. Lani’s pixie had grown out quite fast and now they all had shoulder length curly hair. Wanting to cut the tension in the room, she set the tray down and looked to her guests, “Tea?” She made sure to keep calm and closed off.

  “You have manners,” hissed Lucy, “they could learn a thing or two from you.” She stepped forward and took a cup as Elizabeth poured the tea.

  “There’s honey or sugar if you like, I also brought milk.”

  Looking into her cup suspiciously, “No dear, tea by itself is fine.” She went to take a sip and hesitated, glancing up at Elizabeth. The young witch understood perfectly and poured herself a cup, taking a sip then smiling to her guest who in turn sipped her tea. “Delightfully delicious. You must tell me what herbs you used.” Elizabeth smiled and poured the other cups, handing one out to everyone.

  “Please sit.” Wesley gestured to the couches.

  Once everyone was seated Elizabeth looked to Lucy again, “So, what brings you by today?”

  “Collecting payment,” her reply was innocent sounding. Sari spit her tea out as the woman spoke.

  Holding a hand up to Sari, Elizabeth stopped her mother before she had a chance to curse the women. “I do believe the payment you seek is unwarranted. The information you gave my mom, you gave freely.”

  Lacy chuckled a maniacal laugh, “Oh no dear, not from her. From you!”

  “I made no deal with you.”

  The triplets tapped their temples in unison, but it was Lani who spoke up, “You listened in though. You saw things you weren’t supposed to see. That’ll cost you.”

  Slowly putting her cup down while looking the three women in the eyes, Elizabeth then sat up straight in her chair, “If you wanted your thoughts safe then you should’ve made them so. You gave me access,” she looked to Lani, “therefore that was free information.”

  “Edom will hear about this!” Lucy hissed.

  The Fairbairn women all laughed but it was Raina who replied, “Oh darlin’, did you not hear? Dear old’ Edom is dead. By his daughter’s magic.”

  The Charles sisters gasped and quickly covered their mouths. “No!” they yelled in unison. It had barely been a week, so it was no shock to the others in the room that the sisters hadn’t heard but taking them off guard was priceless. They were known for having information and this really took them by surprise.

  They all turned and looked at Elizabeth, “What have you done?” asked Lucy.

  He gave me no choice.” Elizabeth tried to sound remorseful but struggled.

  “What are you wearing?” Lani asked as she looked at Wesley and pointed at his amulet.

  Looking down at the stone, Wesley took it in his hand and rubbed it. Looking back at the woman who sat across the room from him, he replied simply, “I am the new keeper.”

  Lacy looked at Reba, “Is this true? An elf is a keeper of the amulet of Prince Petre?” Reba nodded. “And how is that possible?”

  Twitching her lips as she worked her thoughts, Reba finally spoke, “He is from one of Petre’s lines. Petre himself gave his blessings. We now have an elf as a keeper, your prospects of a coven with Edom is gone. Peace will happen.” She raised a brow as she said the last words, giving them emphasis.

  “We are done here. We have to go home now,” announced Lacy as the three stood in unison. Turning to Elizabeth, she said, “The tea was nice. Thank you for inviting us into your home.” All three turned and walked out the door in a single file. Elizabeth followed them, shutting the door only after she watched them get in their car and leave the driveway.

  Turning back to the den, Elizabeth found her mother, aunts, and Wesley standing a few feet behind her watching as well. “That was weird. What do you think it was about?” She asked her mother.

  Sari shrugged, “I’m not sure. But they didn’t know about Edom so I am wondering what will happen next.”

  CHAPTER 4

  For the next two weeks, Elizabeth and Wesley practiced the spells in the grimoires. Elizabeth struggled the first few days as it hadn’t been long since she had done those exact spells with Devlon. The more they worked, the more she realized the spells felt different, more natural. She slowly began understanding that this is how the magic was supposed to be. The love she had for him was still very prevalent only now she held back, being manipulated and hurt by Devlon caused her to be even more cautious now.

  “Morning!” Called out Wesley as he rounded the house to find all the women in the backyard practicing with the metal men.

  They all called back in unison, “Morning.”

  He stood back and watched as each woman did their part before deciding to be a bit mischievous. As Elizabeth aimed her fire at one of the metal figures, Sari picked it up and was moving it around, making her daughter learn to follow a target. Wesley whispered a small chant and brought forth his own magic and soon the metal man dropped to the ground falling over in a heap. He only smiled when the women looked around. “What in the world mom?”

  “I didn’t do that,” Sari said as she walked up the metal contraption. As she went to grab the metal, she quickly pulled her hand back and hissed. “What in the hell?”

  Raina called out, “Let me get some salve for that burn.”

  But before she could get to the house, Sari replied, “Not a hot burn! It's frozen solid!” All four women slowly turned to look at the elf who stood by the side grinning from ear to ear. “Wesley! You devil,” Sari snipped at him.

  He burst into laughter, doubled over nearly crying. He had to work to catch his breath as he hadn't laughed so much in a very long time. “I,” he spoke between laughs, “couldn’t help myself.”

  Reba went over to him, looked him in the eyes, “You want to have fun… well, let’s see how good you are! Get over there.” Wesley straightened and tried not to laugh anymore. Reba was the mischievous one and very ornery too. She really liked Wesley and hoped that Elizabeth and he would work out their differences, deep down she knew he was what was right for her niece.

  “Gladly,” His eyes twinkled at the challenge. Elizabeth rolled her eyes as he walked up to her.

  “You know they are
gonna give you crap about that now,” she looked back to the metal men who were now all standing upright and ready to do battle.

  He gave her a quick wink, “It's half the fun. Plus, we should be prepared for anything. From what I’ve seen of your enemies so far, we have to expect everything.”

  “True but you know now those three,” she thumbed behind them, “are going to make us work even harder.”

  He winked at her, “It’ll be fun.” They both laughed and waited for their training to start again. Wesley had harnessed the power Petre’s items gave him access to as if they were his natural powers. Standing side-by-side with Elizabeth, he couldn’t think of a place he’d rather be.

  About three hours later, Wesley fell to the ground looking up at the sky, “I give up! You win.” He could hear the women snickering at him. “Yeah, yeah, y’all are brutal.”

  Standing over him, Elizabeth looked down, “You asked for that.”

  “I’m going to need a change of clothes.” He rolled his head to the side looking at Raina, “You are evil.” They both laughed. Raina had decided to shower him while he practiced because he kept besting the women, so when a mist didn’t work, she gave him a downpour. “Why didn’t she get wet?”

  Raina cut her eyes but with a smile, “She didn’t instigate me.” Always the playful aunt, Raina knew that teasing the young elf was in good humor. He had stolen a piece of her heart long ago, before Elizabeth even lived with them, and knew he was a good man for any woman who'd take the time to love him.

  “I knew better.” Elizabeth retorted as she walked towards the house, “I’m starved let’s eat.”

  The other women began to follow Elizabeth into the house, Sari turned to Wesley, “You might as well get up. I can dry you off before you come in,” Wesley gave her an odd look, “air magic and all! Come on.”

  “This is embarrassing,” he said while Sari used her magic to make the wind blow back and forth over him until he dried completely.