by Ashley McLeo
“So,” Rena’s eyebrows knit together as Sara slammed the door, “I see things have been a little rocky?”
Lily slumped to the ground by the door. She’d been dying to say the words for days, ever since she’d overheard the conversation through their bedroom door. So why do I feel worse now?
“Is this really about Evelyn not returning when you did, Lil? Or is it something else?”
Lily sighed. Leave it to Rena not to beat around the bush.
“Of course I’m mad that Evelyn is not here, but I’m more mad that I can see her abandoning us for good. She hasn’t lost anything, probably never has, and now she’s going off on some fancy vacation with a new boyfriend. Doesn’t sound like she’s very tormented by her decision, does it?”
“No, but then you can’t know that for sure, can you? What if she’s wracked with guilt but knows you don’t want to speak with her? Sara seems like a peacekeeper. I bet if you cared to ask Sara she’d tell you how Evelyn is feeling.”
Lily nodded. Probably talking to Sara would ease her frustration, but Lily couldn’t shake the notion that much of what Sara would say to her would be sugar coated to appease her. Do I want to feel better? Or do I want to rage for a bit? Isn’t that the next step in grieving or whatever?
She fingered the pages of Seraphina’s tome in the oversized pocket of a knit cardigan she’d thrown on to keep the book close. The old pieces of paper rustling over her fingers brought comfort even if they brought few answers.
“What’s that, chica?” Selma asked gesturing to Lily’s pocket.
“Is that the book you told us about? The one Empusa and Amon wanted?” Rena asked, her dark eyes growing wide as Lily pulled Seraphina’s book out. “And why do you feel it is appropriate to keep it in your pocket?”
“I wanted to be near it,” Lily shrugged. “Usually we keep it tucked away in a drawer in the sitting room.”
Rena raised her eyebrows. “May we?”
Lily handed over the book. She watched Rena’s and Selma’s expressions morph from awe to sadness, incredulity, and finally anger, reflecting what Lily felt each time she read the book. They were only missing one emotion in their progression: anxiety. But then they hadn’t read it dozens of times and still come short of what they were seeking.
“This is amazing. What a piece of history.” Rena closed the book and handed it back to Lily.
“Not only history but it confirms where magical creatures on earth came from. It gives credence to the flimsy theories based on a few myths. It’s the beginning of a magical lineage written down for all to see. My mother always wondered where we came from. Now I know if the fata made vampires, we are likely of them, too.” Selma’s eyes were shining with tears.
“What did your mother think sirens were descended from?” Lily asked, curious.
“A fish and a man,” Selma said and Lily giggled. “My mother was never a believer in aliens. It was not fashionable in the nineteenth century when she grew up.”
“I’m sorry, did you just say the nineteenth century?” Lily’s mouth gaped.
Selma grinned mischievously. “There are many things you have not learned about sirens, chica. And I have been careful not to express my true influence around you.”
“Okaaaaay, like what?”
“To start with, my true age is much higher than I’ve told you. I turn one hundred and five next June.”
Lily gawked, her eyes roving over Selma’s dewy, wrinkle-free skin.
“Being in a small, mostly female community that understood the true nature of our world, was a deliberate choice. I, like most sirens, thrive where we can rely on bonds of friendship, sisterhood, to keep us safe, from others and ourselves. Living in such a way hides our otherness. If I were to live in a city with thousands of men, most of which I do not know, I would not be able to walk down a street without harassment. Only when I am in a community I trust can I keep my power in check; otherwise it begins to get away from me. It is,” Selma paused, searching for the word, “a bit like being mad.”
“But you lived in New York.”
“Si, a turbulent period in my life. It was a time when I had less inclination to control my power. I wanted attention as many young people do. Unfortunately for those in my wake, my magic made attention easy for me to acquire. So many people under my control. Accidents and broken homes occurred because of my selfishness. I am ashamed of that time.”
“Is that why you’re the only one in your family to leave Menorca?” Lily asked recalling Richard’s stories of Selma’s hometown on the tiny Spanish island. How her family, largely female, ran the town and the men in circles. To hear Richard speak of it, the Avila women were celebrities there.
“It’s safer for them there. The tiny town knows us to be different, but most have married into our family at one time or another. Our blood bonds keep us safe.”
Lily jumped as something heavy fell to the floor outside the door. She cracked open the door to find a lemon and a can of green beans outside her bedroom door. Fiona stood arms laden with three overflowing grocery bags in the entryway.
Lily picked up the lemon and the can and rushed down the hall. “Here, let me help you.”
“Much appreciated,” Fiona said, passing off a bag. “That’s Nora’s contribution. She called me this morning. She sounded terrible and asked me to swing by her place and pick up her share. Poor lass felt so bad she left it on the front step.”
“Can’t say I’m upset about not seeing her,” Rena grumbled, coming up behind Lily. “You must be Fiona? Brigit’s cousin and Lil’s instructor in healing, right?”
“Aye. And you must be Rena. Lily has told us much about you. Welcome to Ireland. I must say I’m looking forward to an American Thanksgiving. A chance to be gluttonous and not feel bad about it for a change, am I right?”
Lily laughed at Fiona’s blatant honesty, “That is pretty much what we use it for.”
They made their way into the kitchen, which smelled heavenly. Brigit had gotten roped into the task of chopping vegetables with Aoife, who had been working too slowly for Annika’s liking. Annika, Gwenn, and Mary were preparing three different pies. Sara, Lily noticed with a pang of guilt, was nowhere to be seen.
“It smells about right in here,” Rena said inhaling deeply.
“We’re making good time. Aoife is helping move things along quite nicely. It’s good to have a fire witch around when you’re starving and want to cook the bird a bit faster. I’m guessing it will be done in less than two hours,” Annika said, a wide grin on her face.
Lily’s stomach voiced its approval.
“I heard that,” Rena and Brigit said together.
“What can we do to help?” Lily asked after the laughter that enveloped the room had died down. “Nothing too complicated—we don’t want Rena or Selma losing a finger trying to cook their first holiday meal.”
A zap of electricity caused Lily’s butt muscle to seize and she whirled around to face the culprit.
“Watch your words, child. Remember, we’re free to do magic around you now,” Rena said with a smirk.
Lily gaped. My own mother used magic against me?! A snort of laughter caught her ear and Lily swiveled her head to find Brigit barely holding in her mirth.
Hmmm, seems like this Thanksgiving will be more authentic than I thought it would be, Lily thought, sticking out her tongue and turning to peel a pile of potatoes.
Heiress Down
“When you said a weekend away, I’d assumed you meant somewhere warmer.” Evelyn stared out the window of the Bentley and shivered. “I packed too light for all this snow.”
“Who says we’re doing anything outside?” Roman replied, his sandy eyebrows raised roguishly.
Evelyn grinned and shoved his arm. It was nice to be taken somewhere, treated, and surprised. Roman had arranged everything. He’d even requested they both leave their cell phones at home, an idea Evelyn did not embrace, but she did consent to meet Roman halfway. The phone would remain off from
the time they got in the car to the moment they returned home, with the exception of one check-in a day. Evelyn couldn’t remember the last time she’d been without a cell phone. Even at Fern Cottage she’d kept it close by though the reception there was awful. She had to admit, with all the pressure she’d been feeling it was nice to be cut off from the rest of the world for a short time.
Evelyn suspected Roman needed a break, too. He’d been acting strange, sadder, and a bit frustrated since returning to New York from his home office earlier that week. Something must have happened with his family. She wasn’t about to push him; after all, she had secrets, too.
She swept the worry from her head. Stop thinking of all that. Stay positive and this weekend will be what we both need to get on track. He’s just a boy and I’m just a normal girl. We’re as carefree as can be.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this far north. It’s too remote for everyday living for my tastes, but there’s no denying it’s beautiful.”
“The remoteness is my favorite part. The seclusion reminds me of our cabin back in Tennessee. You can do anything there and no one will care, or even know. Not like the city where everyone knows every time you take a breath.”
He had a point. Evelyn could appreciate a little privacy from all the comings and goings of city life, for a short period anyway.
“How did you even find this place?”
“A friend told me about it. She stayed here once with her family. Said it had every luxury you can imagine. I for one can’t wait to take a soak in the hot tub.”
She shook her head, only half listening as Roman continued to list the amenities the rental property boasted. How on earth did I land a man so wonderful? Aside from the sadness he’d been trying his best to conceal from her, Evelyn had yet to find a single flaw in Roman, and as for their sex life . . . well, she’d never been so turned on by anyone, ever. If she didn’t know any better, she’d guess Roman was the siren and not her.
She also loved the fact that her parents liked Roman almost as much as she did. So much in fact, that since Roman told James they were a couple Evelyn’s parents had asked how things were going every day. If Evelyn visited her parents’ city apartment, they insisted she bring Roman. At work James latched onto her boyfriend so often Evelyn was finding it impossible to talk to her father alone. It was for this reason that Evelyn still hadn’t told her parents about her being a witch. She wanted more than anything to tell them, but didn’t think it was time to tell Roman yet. She wasn’t so overconfident to assume he’d be into the whole supernatural thing and she couldn’t bear the idea of them breaking up. It gave Evelyn a new appreciation for Brigit’s story about telling the triplets’ biological father, Aengus Clery, that she was a witch. Telling the truth is harder than I thought it would be.
“There’s the drive,” Roman said, his voice cracking weirdly as he squinted at a sign coming up fast on the secluded country road.
The sign proclaimed they were at Peacock Manor and was decorated with some of the most amazing metal work Evelyn had ever seen. A dozen peacocks in copper, silver, and gold stood with their plumage spread wide below a full starry sky. A large gate loomed behind the sign, resolutely closed.
“Is someone here to let us in?” Evelyn asked squinting through the ironwork.
“They sent me a code,” Roman replied inching closer to the sign and rolled down the window.
Cold air gushed into the car and Evelyn shivered. She noticed Roman’s fingers trembling slightly as he punched in the numbers onto a keypad and the gate swung open to allow them entrance. He pushed the button to roll the window back up but stopped short, leaving it open an inch.
Evelyn glanced at the gap in the window and rolled the scarf in her lap around her neck. I guess it is a little stuffy in here.
They continued down a long drive lined with skeletal trees. This property would be gorgeous in summer or fall, when the trees are full of color. I wonder if they actually keep peacocks here? That’d be amazing to see them running around.
“Is that an archery range?” she asked pointing to what looked like targets in the distance.
“Oh, yea, I forgot to mention that. Too much snow for our interest, but still pretty cool, right?” Roman undid the top button on his shirt and cracked the window open further.
“Very. I’ve always wanted to get into archery, but sailing took up too much of my time. Would you believe I’ve never even shot a gun?” Evelyn pulled her scarf around her tighter. How is he hot? It’s freezing out.
Roman smiled a tight-lipped smile. “You mean you’re an heiress that grew up in Manhattan and you're not trained to defend yourself? I hate to say it, sugar, but that’s pretty believable.”
You’d be surprised at what I’ve trained for, even if I am a little rusty. Evelyn smirked and watched the lights twinkling down the long, secluded drive draw closer.
The drive ended in a circle, abutting one of the most impressive homes she’d ever seen. Larger than her family’s ten bedroom Hampton home, the building looked like an old English manor house, but more chic. The massive windows revealed that the lights had been left on to welcome them.
“Do you like it?” Roman asked as he bit his lip, his eyes fixed on her.
“Like it? It’s gorgeous. I’m tempted to ask Dad to buy it.”
“Good,” he paused and drew a long breath. “Evelyn?”
“Hmm?” Evelyn asked flipping down the visor mirror to reapply her lipstick.
He didn’t answer, only stared at her before sighing and popping open the car door. “Never mind. Let’s get our bags and head in.”
I hope he tells me soon what happened when he was home. Evelyn dabbed her lips with a tissue and followed Roman.
The winter air hit Evelyn full in the face as she opened the car door. A patch of snow fell from an old-timey decorative street light above, landing on the top of her head and sliding down her cheeks. Evelyn shot an embarrassed glance at Roman, who had his head buried deep in the trunk. Thank goodness he didn’t see that. She waved her hand near her face and the snow vanished, leaving behind a coiffed chignon once more.
Roman’s head flew from the trunk, his face pale against the backdrop of snow and eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?” Evelyn watched his bright blue eyes dart from her to the house to the woods that surrounded them.
“Sorry. I thought I heard . . . a bear.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” Evelyn said, sidling up to him as he shut the trunk and hefted both their weekend bags over his shoulders. She noticed his was much smaller than hers. “I guess you weren’t joking about not going outside. Did you even pack a jacket?”
“I’ll be warm soon enough,” Roman answered avoiding her eyes as he made his way toward the steps without waiting for her.
She wracked her brain. Okaaay . . . Cue inexplicably frustrated Roman. She jogged to catch up.
“How are we going to decide which room to stay in?” she said as they reached the top of the massive staircase. “This place is huge. There must be at least twenty rooms to choose from.” She spoke lightly in an effort to cheer up his sudden moodiness.
Roman shrugged and entered the code on the keypad.
Warm air rushed to greet them, inundating Evelyn’s frozen hands and face with welcoming heat. She sniffed and caught the faintest whiff of smoke on the air. At least part of this trip will be warm. She glanced at Roman who stared icily in front of him and shook her head slightly. Hoping if she stayed positive she could lift his sour mood, Evelyn revolved on the spot to better take in the ambiance of gold gilding upon creamy white walls, the gleaming marble floors, the intricate stained glass above the front doors, and the grand staircase that spiraled delightfully from floor to floor.
“Dad would love—” she jumped as two figures emerged at the top of the staircase. There was one male, one female, both stunning and intimidating. “Who are they, Roman?” Evelyn asked backing into Roman, who dropped their bags to the floor, ready to def
end them.
“You mean you don’t recognize us, dearest Eve?” the woman asked in a faint French accent.
Evelyn’s blood ran cold. Eve? She studied the pair as they started down the staircase in perfect unison. Their skin was the color of lightly burnt caramel and even from the bottom of the staircase Evelyn could see the woman’s eyes were a startling bright green, and the man’s a mercurial gray. The man smiled and Evelyn’s heart stopped short at the sight of their sharp, shapely canines.
“Now she knows who we are, sister!” Amon cried in delight.
Fuck! Evelyn whirled around and ran straight into Roman’s chest. “We have to get out of here. Hurry, I’ll explain later.” She grabbed his hand and pulled but he stayed rooted in place.
“Roman,” she hissed. “I’m serious!”
Roman’s eyes, trained on the vampire twins, shifted to Evelyn and softened. “There’s no way out. You can’t outrun them. They’re natural predators and will hunt you down in a second. I know. I’ve seen it.”
Evelyn’s mouth fell open. “What do you mean you know?”
“Our old friend Roman here has been—how should I put it?—in our employ for some time now. We helped his father out of a bind a while back. Incubi cause an ungodly amount of trouble! They’re so egotistical, always putting images of themselves in dreams that make them prime suspects of later crimes. Though I must say, we never imagined Roman would be able to repay us so thoroughly,” Empusa purred as she reached the bottom of the steps.
“I’m not your friend, I . . .” Roman’s whispered words died in his mouth when Evelyn spoke.
“What?! You’re an incubus?” Evelyn’s mind reeled trying to filter through her supernatural knowledge and come up with what the hell an incubus was.
“Tsk, tsk. Brigit isn’t up to snuff when it comes to teaching you girls, now is she? First Lily and her abysmal fighting and now you don’t even knowing what an incubus is?” The twins were before her now and Evelyn stood paralyzed with fear as Amon grabbed her arm roughly.
“Careful, brother, we don’t want to harm her. How will she do what we want her to if she’s battered and bruised?” Empusa’s emerald eyes shifted from Amon to Evelyn. “I’ll admit, it was difficult deciding how we would convince one of you to come visit us next. Lily’s guard was sure to be up and rumor has it Sara remained safe and sound with Brigit. You were the obvious target, free roaming around New York as you were. So independent and arrogant. But how to ensnare a powerful water witch and siren? That was were Roman came into the picture. Most creatures are susceptible to sirens, but not incubi. As you are aware from your many nights together, Roman has immense talents with the opposite sex, sirens included. We postulated you two might balance each other well. It was simpler than we dared hope. Roman was already growing rich, and he owed us a favor for saving his family’s reputation. He knew the consequences would be dire if he did not make good on that favor. Siblings lost, a father back in prison . . . The plan fell into place like that,” Empusa snapped her fingers.