“I’m sorry you feel this way. I never meant to hurt you.” He stepped away from her.
Emmy wanted to reach out and touch his hand, but she let it hang by her side. Head down, she walked ahead of Ayden. When they reached her house, Emmy turned to her friend. “Ayden?” He was gone. She went inside the house.
Grammie greeted her. “How were your exams?” She saw tears in Emmy’s eyes.
“Oh Grammie!” Emmy put her arms around her grandmother’s shoulders and cried.
“What’s this all about? Were your exams that difficult?”
“It’s not that.”
“Tell me what’s happened.” She led Emmy into the kitchen. “Sit down.” Grammie motioned for a glass to float to the table. She filled it with milk from the pitcher that magically appeared.
Emmy was disgusted with her behavior. “I can’t tell you.”
Grammie worried that something terrible had happened. “I think you have to tell me everything.”
“I was so mean to Ayden. He’ll never forgive me.” She sobbed.
“I don’t understand.”
“Sarah told me she didn’t want to be friends with me anymore. She knows I’ve been keeping secrets and she thinks I’m not a true friend.”
“What does this have to do with Ayden?”
“I said something I shouldn’t have. Something I didn’t mean.”
“What did you say?” Grammie tried to keep her composure in check.
“I was upset about Sarah and I said I wish I’d never known about my powers or met him. I didn’t mean it. I like Ayden… a lot.” More tears fell. “He’ll never forgive me for being so mean to him.”
“You don’t know that.”
“What should I do?” She hiccupped and furiously wiped at her tears.
“I think you know the answer to that question as well as I do.”
“But, what if he doesn’t accept my apology?”
“He will.”
“I’ll go talk to him.” Emmy dried her tears ready to face her newest and in truth, her dearest friend. He was always there when she needed him, and she couldn’t allow him to think she hated him. She stepped outside ready to apologize to him, but the spot where Ayden stood daily, was empty. She went back inside. “Grammie!”
“What is it?” She entered the front room.
“He’s not there.”
“Perhaps he had an errand to run.”
“He’s always there. I hurt him. I saw it in his eyes. He’s not coming back.”
Grammie smiled. “Child, he’ll be back. I’m certain he was called away by the Professor.”
“I don’t think he’s coming back. He’s angry with me and I don’t blame him. He didn’t deserve those words. I feel like such a fool.” How could she alienate her one true friend, her only confidant? She couldn’t believe she’d been so mean to him. This wasn’t his fault. He was the one person who stood up for her when Grammie wouldn’t let her go to graduation. He saved her life so many times, and instead of being grateful, she was hateful toward him. If he never spoke to her again, it would serve her right. She’d never forgive herself, if she lost his friendship.
“I know he’ll return, and you will apologize to him, and everything will be back to normal. Come and sit with me.” Emmy returned to her seat with Grammie in tow. “Now then, how did you do on your exams?” She tried to change the subject.
“I could kick myself for acting like such a jerk. I had no right to take it out on him.”
“He knows you didn’t intend to hurt him.”
“I don’t know. I seem to be messing up my friendships lately. Why did this have to happen now?”
“You were born into this privilege.” Grammie held up her hand. “Now before you argue the point, it is a privilege. You are a witch. You have powers, and though they’ve created problems for you, one day, you will understand why you were chosen for this.”
“I like having these powers. I mean, who wouldn’t, it’s just bad timing. I wanted to do something completely different with my life and instead, I’m stuck at home hiding from some psychotic witch and her coven. How do I explain that?”
Grammie grew pensive. “You have a point, but you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“So, on another topic, do you think you passed all your courses?”
“I think so.”
“Excellent.”
CHAPTER 40
VORTIGEN TAKES FLIGHT
The streets were bathed in darkness. Clouds wove over the moon, silencing its light from the world below. The streetlights ignited, but were extinguished, to cast the streets of Salem into a darkness not seen for some time. Soon the lanes surrounding the school were enveloped in a dark shroud.
A lone figure walked across the grounds searching for a clue, a scent, anything to lead him toward his prey. Vortigen, hid behind his glamour, and combed the streets searching for a fresh meal to quench his hunger. He searched the streets, but to his annoyance, they were bare. The inordinately, shadowy streets, frightened the townspeople who’d gone behind closed doors to seek shelter and safety.
His desperation and hunger grew, while panic seized his insides. He couldn’t fail. Suddenly, an understated movement caught his sharp eyes. Changing back into his natural demonic form, Vortigen stalked his chosen prey… wings wide, he took flight.
He circled the air, claws drawn beneath his scaly form. He watched the lone figure move from building to building and when the man stopped, the demon took this opportunity to ambush his prey. He slammed into the poor soul, knocking him to the ground.
A scream tore from the man, as he lay helpless staring up at Vortigen who now drew a circle around his fanged mouth, with his forked tongue. His smile produced another bone chilling shriek from the victim. Vortigen bent over and punctured his neck with his long, toxic fangs drawing his victim’s life’s blood into his very soul. Once the man’s life ended, he tore into the warm flesh and devoured his meal with the bloodlust he’d been forced to curb since his arrival in Salem.
When only bony remains lay upon the ground, Vortigen took flight with a satisfied laugh. He landed near the house Grisandole and her hags occupied, and donned his glamour. He entered the house and came face to face with Grisandole’s wrath.
“Where have you been?”
“Be careful Grisandole. I do not answer to you.”
The old witch faced the demon angrily. “Don’t take that tone with me, Vortigen. I brought you here and I can send you back.” She barely reached his shoulder with the top of her head, but Grisandole’s anger and power made up for her lack of height. She shook a long, slender, and almost bony finger at the demon, showing him her disgust for his midnight antics.
“You forget whom you are speaking with,” Vortigen said, his own wrath boiling beneath the surface.
“No, I haven’t forgotten, but you need to remember who brought you here, and for what purpose. The Coven of Maesliff brought you to this world for a reason, and that reason isn’t to go out at night, and feed upon the civilians of this town. We need to maintain our surreptitious reason for being in this land. Once we have the girl, then and only then, will you have the privilege of feasting on the entire coven. That should give you the power you seek.” Grisandole smiled at the thought of all the maimed bodies of witches, who centuries before, cast her out.
“You are enjoying those thoughts, far too much.”
His grin sent shivers down Grisandole’s spine. When wearing his glamour, Vortigen was more than a little appealing to the eye. But, she remembered what lay beneath the handsome facade. “Perhaps I am, but you will remain in this house. I don’t want the Coven of Orenda to discover your presence here until it is too late.”
“I can only control my hunger for so long. If it is not satiated, I could turn
on those nearest. You would do well to remember who and what I am. I will not be chastised like a child.”
Panic flitted across Grisandole’s face, but as quickly as it came, it was gone. “Don’t try anything. The power of this coven will send you back to hell, before you harm any of us.”
Vortigen laughed. “What will you do if I choose to avail myself of some of the lovely morsels in this house? Will you threaten me with hell once more?”
“Perhaps. Or worse.”
Before Grisandole could move, Vortigen snaked out his hand from the glamour and his claw was wrapped tightly around Grisandole’s withered neck. “I could snap it in two.”
They stared at each other for a moment until Vortigen set Grisandole back on the ground. His claw fell away and the old witch coughed and sputtered. She rubbed her neck where his strength left its mark.
“That was a warning. The next time you attempt to press an issue upon me, think of this moment.”
Grisandole stared at the demon. What had she done? “You may have strength against me, but not against the entire coven. You better think twice about trying this again.” She stormed past him, never seeing Bertha who stood in the shadows watching the entire display between her mistress and Vortigen.
CHAPTER 41
FRIGHTENING NEWS
Emmy came down the stairs the following morning, still wearing her pajamas and robe. Her hair disheveled, her eyes were red and puffy from the tears she’d shed over her behavior yesterday. Even sleep mocked her most of the night. She entered the kitchen. “Good morning, Grammie.” Her sullen tone shocked her grandmother.
Ayden cleared his throat.
“What are you doing here?” Emmy wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad by his presence here.
He looked her over and saw the dark circles beneath her sleepless eyes. Her entire demeanor touched him. He smiled at her, hoping to reassure her. “I came to see you.”
Emmy shuffled before his steely gaze. Unkempt, she fought the urge to flee upstairs and dress. Memories of the day before and the anger she felt, flooded her, and made her feel contrite. “Ayden, I…” she didn’t know how to say what she felt in her heart.
Ayden stood and went to her. “It’s all right. I understand.” He hugged her hoping she’d believe he wasn’t angry.
She cried into his shoulder.
“Hey, that’s quite enough of that.” He told her.
She cried even more.
He looked at Grammie who simply smiled at the pair.
“Better?”
“I thought you hated me.”
He smiled. “I could never hate you.”
Emmy looked down and realized she stood in front of this gorgeous guy in her pajamas. “I… I have to go.” She ran from the room, and left Ayden in the kitchen.
“What was that about?” Ayden sat back down and sipped his coffee.
“She realized you’re here, and she looked like that. She’s a young lady and is recognizing that she isn’t a child anymore.”
“Oh,” Ayden said, but his facial expression belied his words.
A few minutes later, Emmy came down wearing a long top over skinny jeans while a thick belt accentuated her small waist. Her hair straightened, she proudly entered the kitchen.
“Have some breakfast, you must be starving,” Grammie said. Then in a conspiratorial voice, she looked at Ayden. “Emmy couldn’t eat last night. She was far too upset.”
Emmy turned a lovely shade of pink, and sat next to Ayden.
Grammie motioned for the pancakes to flip over and once they wore a golden hue, they floated onto a plate set aside for serving. The platter rose and gently floated toward each person seated, and then set itself in the center of the table.
They talked about everything… everything but the exams or Sarah. No one wanted to broach the subject until Emmy was ready to talk about it.
After breakfast, Ayden followed Emmy into the family room. He sat down and watched her. The room was cool and comfortable. A large fireplace took up space on one of the main walls, while the other two sported a television set, and large sofa with two matching recliners. The room was designed and decorated to inspire a warm and homey feel… a place where you could sit down and relax.
Uncomfortable with the heavy silence, Emmy spoke. “Ayden, I’m really sorry for what I said. When I went outside to talk to you, and you were gone, I thought I’d never see you again.”
“Emmy, we’re friends. It would take something extraordinary to make me leave your side.”
“Really?” She was thrilled by his words. “Where were you?”
“I had something to take care of.”
“For the Professor?”
“Yes.” He remained vague in his answers.
“Is it a secret?”
“Yes.” He refused to elaborate and Emmy didn’t push.
“Ayden,” Grammie began. “What’s happened?”
“I don’t think this is the time to discuss such a distressing tale.”
“He’s saying you shouldn’t talk in front of me.” Emmy was feeling left out. No one would admit it, but they still saw her as a child in need of protection. She hated this feeling of helplessness. It wasn’t fair to treat her this way. In two months, she would see her fourteenth birthday and yet, everyone thought her too young to be told the bad side of what’s happening in Salem, and yet, she was old enough to embark on a dangerous quest to locate the Crystal Wand. This didn’t make sense to her. How could she be too young for one thing, and the right age for another?
“I don’t think Ayden means to insult you.”
“I know that, but I also know he doesn’t want to talk about his and the Professor’s business even if it involves us.” She looked in his direction.
Ayden wore his suave smile. “She knows me all too well.”
“Ha! Ha! Ha! You’re so funny.”
“Thank you.” He bowed his head in her direction.
As frustrating as he was, Emmy couldn’t stay angry with him. His jovial disposition was contagious and made her laugh.
“Emmy, please excuse us for a moment,” Grammie asked her granddaughter.
“No.”
“Emmy…”
“I’m not leaving. I want to be involved in whatever is happening. I have a stake in this too.”
“Perhaps she has a point. The time may be at hand,” Ayden said.
Emmy watched emotion after emotion flit across Grammie’s features. “I need the truth, Grammie. Please. Tell me.”
“I didn’t want to scare you, but you may be ready to handle the truth.”
“What’s happened?”
“Remember what I told you about Grisandole and her hags?”
“Yes.”
“We discovered Grisandole isn’t too happy with you or with our coven.”
“Why not?”
“We have made them very angry in keeping your location and identity a secret. We’ve succeeded in guarding you and hiding you from them and we’ve angered Grisandole to the point of madness.” Grammie glanced at Ayden.
“Last night, the Professor sent me to collect the body of a poor soul, a tragic soul who met his demise at Vortigen’s appetite.”
“Who’s Vortigen?”
She sat quietly and waited for Ayden to continue his tale. There had to be more to this story than what they were telling her.
“Lord Vortigen is a demon brought forth from the gates of hell.”
“He’s the demon you told me about a few days ago.” Emmy thought Ayden was trying to scare her, but when no one cracked a smile, she believed him. Suddenly, she felt a fear she’d never known before travel the length of her very soul. The evil that Grisandole unleashed must be what she sensed a while back.
“Who brought him here?” It was time for her to find out everything
about the people trying to harm those she loved.
“Grisandole and her coven. They haven’t had any luck finding you, so they’ve summoned his help.” Ayden’s features remained serious, even somewhat fearful.
“Are you telling me that now I’m being stalked by a demon?” Emmy thought this sounded strange… even unrealistic.
“Yes, and he’s begun to kill.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We know he’s been here for a while, and we know he’s killed a man. That’s where I went yesterday. I was sent to recover the body.”
“How could Grisandole allow such evil to roam the streets?”
“She’s ambitious, and will do anything she has to, to gather the power held within the Crystal Wand.”
Emmy digested these latest facts. How can something like this happen in this century… in this town? Even if she had the wand, how could she stand up to a demon and fight him. Her hands trembled. Although she believed the tale Ayden told her, she hadn’t really grasped the meaning of this demon’s arrival.
“I think this puts on a whole new light on everything we believe in.”
“What do you mean? Grammie, you’re not talking about graduation, are you?” Panic rose inside.
“Yes I am.”
“No! I have to go.”
“Emmy, I don’t want to argue about this.”
“Neither do I, but...”
“To allow you out of this house alone at night is asking for trouble we can’t afford. You’ll have to accept my decision.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t say I agree or understand your position, Grammie.”
“Emmy, perhaps she’s right. With Vortigen on the loose, this is a chance we shouldn’t take.”
“No one’s found me. Why should I be afraid to go to the party? I’ll be at school with all my friends. No one will recognize me.”
“I’d feel better if you stayed here, but I know how you feel.” Grammie had to think this through.
“Even with this demon prowling the streets, they haven’t been able to find out who I am? I’m safe as long as no one knows where we live.” She crossed her fingers, hoping Grammie would see reason and allow her to go to her graduation.
Emmy and the Coven of Witches Page 23