Once I reach the window of my room, I turn and head straight toward the moon. It’s hanging right over the ocean, so that makes for an easy find. I don’t have to walk far once I’m outside the ivy fence.
I walk about fifty feet before the trees give way to a spectacular scene. The moon is hanging high over the ocean, casting its beautiful reflection on the water’s surface. The sound of the waves crashes beneath me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
When I open my eyes, I can’t get over how amazing the view is. I’m standing high over the ocean, feeling level with the moon. The cliffs are high. I’m unsure of just how high they are, but I can tell it’s high enough to keep me from doing any night time diving.
I dangle my legs over the edge and take another deep, soothing breath. I try clearing my mind and focus on the moon shining on the water, the sound of the breeze coming up over the cliffs, the waves crashing against the rocks below me.
I don’t know how long I sit there, enjoying the peaceful serenity, but too soon I hear rustling behind me. I turn and spot Ethan walking my way. Great! I came out here for some peace and quiet, not more ignorant banter. I so do not need his moping butt keeping me company right now.
“Hey,” Ethan says, and sits an arm-reach away from me. I continue staring out at the ocean, choosing not to acknowledge him.
We sit there in uncomfortable silence for what seems like forever. I’m about to leave when Ethan starts blurting his frustrations.
“I am so glad that we are only staying here for one night. I don’t think I can take another day.”
He’s been quiet and weird since we got here. I didn’t realize it had to do with the place.
“We’ve only been here for a couple of hours.”
“Yeah and in that time, I have never felt more uncomfortable in all my life. Everywhere I turn someone is watching me. They act all scared of me or something. Keeping their distance, wary, making sure I don’t go all crazy. It’s like they think I’m going to wolf out and eat them all. I hate it. It’s so uncomfortable and well… it’s insulting.”
Ethan’s staring down at the water in his own little world. His face is drawn and pouty. His fists are tight in his lap.
I sigh heavily as I scowl at him. I was finally starting to relax. Finally getting a moment to think without anyone staring at me or pressuring me. Then he comes out here to complain about his feelings getting hurt over nothing really. No one called him names, threw food at him, or hurt him in any physical way. So there watching him, big deal. There watching me too, or did he happen to not notice?
“Are you serious? Are you seriously sitting here ruining my evening because your feelings got slightly hurt?” I rise, wiping the dirt off my butt, and turn back toward the dorms.
Ethan tries to protest. “But they—”
I turn on him so fast he doesn’t see it coming. I get right in his face. “But they what? They stare at you from afar? They don’t say much? Well, have they accused you of anything? Called you names? Anything? No! They’re just watching out for those they love. But when they start doing that, let me know. Maybe we can compare your one day of hurt to my lifetime of it.”
I turn back to the dorms just as fast and walk off. Not caring if I hurt his feelings more or not. God knows he’s done it enough to me.
I cross back over the vines with no trouble. I didn’t think about the wards I crossed to get out. I’m just thankful they’re letting me back in. I guess once you have been welcomed and cross them, they don’t keep you out.
Once I get back to my room, I huddle up in bed. I try forgetting everything and let my mind relax. I need to get a good night’s rest before meeting with the Elders in the morning.
Who knows what the day will hold and I would like to be well-rested. Soon after I have confirmed this thought with my body, I fall into a deep sleep, hearing nothing but waves crash against the cliffs.
Chapter Six
What a morning. First, I’m awoken by Danika knocking on my door at six. I knew that I would be meeting with the Elders this morning but I didn’t think it would be that early. After instructing me to get dressed, Danika told me to meet her outside in the front lawn. She disappeared before I could ask which front lawn she meant, the one in front of the dorm, or the one out in front where we parked.
I hurriedly showered and got dressed, which was a feat. I had no idea how to present myself before the Elders. Since all I had brought with me was my normal jeans and a t-shirt combo—with my boots of course—I really had no choice. After a few breathing exercises to calm my nerves, I made my way down to the kitchen, hoping to find something small to eat and grab a cup of coffee. The tiny area that they called a kitchen was more like a small nook. From the looks of it, it was more of a grab-and-go kind of place.
And as luck would have it, Ethan was there. I briskly walked by him, eager to ignore him. But Ethan surprised me. He muttered good morning with a half-smile as he stirred his coffee. Although his friendliness seemed a bit forced, he was still acting weird and quiet. Apparently the gloom of his treatment here was still weighing him down.
Then the morning got even better when I picked up the coffee pot only to find it empty. Ethan had noticed me messing with the coffee pot and told me they were out. Yeah like that wasn’t obvious. Then Ethan’s strange behavior took an even bigger leap, he offered me his cup. Cautiously, I took the coffee from him, happy but also perplexed. Why was he suddenly being so nice? Being the cautious person that I am, I examined the cup very closely. Did he poison it? Spit in it? Yuck.
Seeing my hesitation, Ethan informed me that he didn’t drink out of it. After seeing doubt on my face, he went to take the cup away. But my need for a good cup of wake up had me jerking it back. With a smirk on his face, that I’m hoping was more for teasing than spite, Ethan left.
After getting over the shocking surprise of his politeness and satisfied that the coffee was safe, I found some fresh-baked muffins. Sitting down at a lone table in the corner, I scarfed two muffins and downed the coffee.
Once finished, I headed out to find Danika. There were people out everywhere this morning. Some had books in their hands, heading to the Elders’ house. Some had baskets with various vegetables and breads in them. There were a few boys chopping firewood by the fire pit, getting it ready for its next use. Girls chuckled, while others stared, swooning at one shirtless boy, who was working hard.
There are male Witches but very few. Since Witches aren’t allowed to mix with other Shadows or humans, the girls try very hard to catch the eyes of the few male Witches around. Why can’t the Ruling Council see how cruel that is? The few Witches that do find love are lucky. The others are doomed to live alone, never being allowed the chance to love.
As I’d walked toward the front lawn, everyone had stopped what they were doing and started gawking at me. You want to talk about uncomfortable, here’s a prime example. There were probably sixty eyes watching me as I walked past. I felt like a criminal on the way to my death sentence. I was waiting for them to start chucking vegetables at me and calling me a killer.
I made it to the front of the Elders house where Danika was waiting for me. The three-story house is where meetings are held, the classes are taught, and the Elders live. When Danika asked me if I was ready, I nodded, as butterflies danced in my stomach. I had expected Ethan to come but he was nowhere around. As much as I disliked Ethan, his face was the only one that I know, and strangely missed.
Now I’m sitting in a normal-looking living room on a normal-looking couch, waiting for the Elders to join me. Once again, this is not what I expected. I expected something more like a dark room lit only by candles with a large long table with the Elders sitting behind it in high back chairs. I had pictured having to sit in front of them, sweating bullets, as they interrogated me and made a decision on whether I am worthy enough for the information they hold.
Instead I’m sitting on a cozy black couch in a warm and inviting setting. Feeling like I am waiting on a
friend rather than the Elders of the Witch Covenant. The room is done in a black, white, and burgundy scheme, the colors all intricately put together so the room is still full of light, instead of the dark, gloomy feeling you might expect.
After what seems like forever, I hear a door creak open and footsteps coming down the hall. First Danika enters the room and stands behind me, where I can’t make eye contact with her. Then they enter.
A girl who appears to be my age enters the room first, and takes a seat on the black couch opposite me. She’s very beautiful with long, black, silky hair that spirals down her back, past her hips, and ends at her knees. She has the brightest rich blue eyes I have ever seen, framed by long, thick eye lashes.
Next walks in another woman who is just as beautiful but older. She too has long, black hair that reaches to her waist, pretty, blue eyes that are a shade lighter than the younger girl’s, and smooth skin that makes it hard to pinpoint her true age. Her guarded face is watchful as she takes her seat next to the younger Witch.
The third woman that walks into the room is the oldest of the three. She still holds beauty in her features, even though they’ve been touched by age. Her hair, which holds more gray than black, is pinned high on her head in a tight bun. Her skin still holds a smooth radiance to it but there are some wrinkles that all get with age. The thing that catches my attention most about this woman is her eyes. They are endless with wisdom, understanding, knowing, and a lifetime of experiences one cannot even understand until they experienced it all themselves. Their appearance is almost white but I can see a hint of light blue in them.
After the older woman, a man walks in. I know that during Hecate’s time, three women led the Covenant. A short time after Hecate left this plane for the next, a man soon joined the Elders’ ranks. I really don’t know why the Elders of that time deemed it necessary to add a male figure, but they did.
My grandmother had scolded me time and time again for refusing to learn more about the Shadows, their history, abilities, policies, and so on. She tried to push me, tried teaching me herself, but I just didn’t care. Why should I? I was nothing like anything that had ever been created before, wasn’t a part nor was accepted as a true Shadow, so why waste my time on their history and abilities?
The man is older too, like the eldest of the women, with a complete head of gray hair. He is much taller and lankier than the women, but with the same endless light blue eyes that hold the wisdom I saw in the older woman’s. But his expression, unlike the older woman’s open and curious one, says he would rather be anywhere but here.
The three women sit on the black couch opposite me, and the man sits in a overstuffed white chair adjacent to the couches. The older woman is the first to break the silence.
“Hello dear. I am Eldrida, the Crone.” She gestures to the middle aged woman, “This is Hanalei, the Mother.” Then she gestures to the youngest of them. “This is Laveda, the Maiden.” And last she gestures to the older man. “This is Witten, the Magister.”
“Hi, my name is—”
“We know who you are Harmony. We’ve heard a lot about you, dear,” Eldrida says.
“Racquel.” I correct her.
“Yes, of course. How was your drive?” Eldrida asks, waving her hand to dismiss my comment.
Only one word could describe the drive with Ethan. “Long.”
The older woman smiles. “Dagna called and told us you would be coming. She did not specify what you needed.”
Here we go. But wait, how do I properly address the Elders? Do I say Majesties? Ma’am and Sir? Mighty Ones? Well, Majesties is a cover-all, I’ll go with it.
“Well, your Majesties—” Apparently that isn’t it because they all start chuckling. How nice.
“We are not royalty, dear. There is no need for such formality. Just call us by our names.”
“Okay,” I say, feeling a little foolish now. “I’m sure Dagna has informed you about why she thinks I’m fit to go in search of the missing Shadows.”
Each Elder nods their head with acknowledgement. It is the older of the women that speaks up again. “And we agree with Dagna, one cannot argue with one that can see more than we can.”
My throat tightens for moment as I think about my grandmother. I may not understand why she thinks I am the one to do this, but I also know she wouldn’t put me in the hands of danger without reason. “Dagna told me there were some things I might be able to learn from the Covenant and the other original colonies. Information that could lead to the missing.”
“Before we give you anything, please tell us why you have agreed to this difficult task?” Eldrida asks.
“Mostly because of Addie, my sister. She is the only one who has ever cared for me. I need to know what is going on and where she might be. I have to find her, and I will not stop until I find her.” Again, I don’t directly mention my grandmother. Eldrida already confirmed that they know, but it still isn’t something I want to openly discuss. And my grandmother’s insistence for me to be the one to do this is one of the reasons I’m here. I want and need to know why she wants me to do this, and I want to figure it out on my own.
“What makes you think we know anything? If we knew anything, why would we not act?” Witten’s face is sour as he cuts his cold blue eyes toward me.
“I... well, honestly I don’t know. I came here hoping that you might know something but unsure if you did. I have no doubt that if you had information you would act upon it.”
“Then why waste your time?” the Magister asks. I wonder what his deal is. Witten seems so cold compared to the women Elders.
“I’m not wasting my time. I will never be wasting time when it comes to finding Addie. Nor will I ever give up until I do find her.”
“I see,” Eldrida says with a pleased smile. “I was hoping you would say something like that.”
The Elders each look at each other with satisfied approval. Well I think that’s what Witten’s expression resembles anyway, and silently agree to something. Hanalei is the one who looks away from the others to address me.
“We have been looking all over not only for Addie but for the others as well. Unfortunately we have been unsuccessful. After Addie’s belongings were brought to us, we tried scrying for her. At first we were able to get a vague location on her but then we lost the connection.”
I know very little about scrying but make a mental note to check it out. I need to know every possible way that might assist me. If scrying is one way to do it, then I will figure out how. “Where was she when you located her?”
The Elders hesitate. With sorrow in her voice, Laveda answers me. “In your home town.”
“What? Why would she be there? Where did she go after?” My voice rises from the shock at hearing Addie was in Virginia.
“We do not know why she was there, but she was only there a short period of time. By the time we contacted the local Coven, they were gone. We have been trying to scry for her ever since but we keep getting bounced around the world: Egypt, Russia, China, even the Black Sea,” Eldrida explains.
“Is she…alive?”
“Yes. If she had passed on to another plane, the amulet would not move. But since it is still in motion, she is alive.”
Well that’s a relief. “I wonder if anyone seen her.”
“We did try finding that information out as well but were unable to obtain anything,” Laveda informs me.
Hanalei, looking down at her lap, looks sad. “We have also been visited by Cate’s spirit. She—”
I interrupt Hanalei. “Who is Cate?” I need to understand everything and that includes knowing who each person is and how they play a part in all this.
“She was the first Witch to be taken,” Laveda says, placing her hand on Hanalei’s.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know the names of those taken.” Then something else dawns on me. “Wait, did you say spirit?”
“Yes.” Laveda voice is tender as she look to the floor with sadness filling her eyes.
My fingers worry at a thread on my jeans, a feeling of uncomfortable sadness filling my nerves, as I start to ask my next question.
“So does that mean—”
“She has moved from this plane. Yes dear it does.” Eldrida’s sorrow matches the others, but I can also see peace within her expression. Maybe it’s peace at knowing Cate is safe and happy now, while we still don’t know what’s happening to the others.
I look down at my lap trying to hide the fear I feel for Addie, and continue to fiddle with the loose thread on my jeans. If this Witch was taken and died, then that could happen to Addie too. I try not letting that bother me now. Right now, I need to concentrate on finding her before that happens.
Unable to think of anything to say, I mutter another vague apology.
I hate moments like this, when you want to say something, but don’t know exactly what to say. It’s unnerving.
I haven’t had to deal with it too much, but the few times I have is one time too many. I was too young to remember my parent’s funerals. And when my grandmother died, not too many people came around. Then when my grandfather left, shortly after my grandmother’s death, I watched from afar as many tried consoling Addie. It looked very uncomfortable for both parties.
“It is a sad loss, but she has moved on to a higher place.”
I know that this is how the Elders and the whole Coven see it, but it doesn’t bring comfort to me. I wouldn’t have comfort if Addie was to pass away just because she was in a higher place. I know it’s selfish-sounding, but I want her here on this plane with me for a few more decades.
Hanalei clears her throat and continues. “As I was saying. Her spirit was angry and she was very adamant about getting all of our attention. So we created a circle to summon her here.”
“What did she have to say?” I ask.
“She was unable to give us much information. She was knocked out from behind when she was taken. When she woke up, she was in a type of jail cell. There were others in adjoining cells around her, but they were unable to communicate with one another. She said it was as if some type of spell had been put on the bars to make them sound proof. Human servants brought them food and water but she never saw who was in charge.”
Uniquely Unwelcome (The Shadow World, #1) Page 6