Miss Me When the Sun Goes Down

by Lisa Olsen

  “You have to join me in the circle.” Taking care not to muss the star, I went to her obediently after an encouraging nod from Rob. “Sit here across from me.” Leila smiled that glorious, sunny smile and I did as she asked, mimicking her pose and sitting cross legged on the wood floor. “Now give me your hands.”

  I darted a last nervous look to Rob and placed my hands into Leila’s. With a mere glance, the candles burst into flame and she began an incantation in a language as old as time itself.

  “Fra utover dette lyset lyset…”

  While my ears didn’t recognize the words themselves, the meaning was clear as day to me as I sat linked to the witch.

  From beyond this candlelight

  Wax and herb now bring me power

  Protect me and mine

  Make this house a bastion of safety

  None shall pass with evil in his heart

  None shall hold sway over me but what I give them

  As I will it so mote it be.

  A rush of wind lifted my hair and I felt the power swirling around us, gathering, waiting to be released.

  “With me,” I heard Leila’s voice in my mind, “say it with me.”

  I opened my mouth to object that I didn’t know the proper words to say, but instead the incantation rose to my lips as though I’d learned it like the Pledge of Allegiance. We repeated the words to the spell in the strange language again twice more, and then when the last line hung heavy in the air, “Idet Jeg vil den så lage den være,” Leila’s head flung back and the full force of the spell was released into the air.

  I moaned with the intensity of it, my entire body tingling as the power enveloped me and I became part of it. In the space of a few heartbeats, it was over and I felt drained but still hyperaware as I saw the world with new eyes. All of the colors in the room were richer and I could see a nimbus of golden energy around Leila. I gave her a serene smile – it had worked. I could feel the strength in my house now, and I wondered that I could feel such a thing.

  Then Leila pulled her hands away and everything returned to normal again, and I missed it with an instant longing. Was that the way she saw the world all the time? What would it be like to feel so connected all the time?

  “Shall we let Robby back in now?” Leila winked and I looked up in surprise to see he no longer stood at the fringe of the room.

  “Where did he go?” I blinked.

  “Anyone outside the circle was banished outside the house. You’ll have to invite them in again.”

  “Oh, I thought that only worked for the living, and then would only apply to vampires.”

  “No, Robby said you needed to be safe from everything. And now none who intends you evil can enter the house, even if you invite them.”

  “Rob was right, you are a handy person to know.” I couldn’t help but smile, sorry I’d doubted her in the first place. “Robby, you can come back in,” I called out a little louder.

  “I’ll have my biscuits now,” Leila announced when he appeared again.

  “Yes, you shall,” Rob smiled indulgently. “And oatcakes and honey if you want them.” His sister rose and scampered towards the kitchen, and Rob offered me a hand up, a worried expression on his face. “You alright?” His voice dropped, low and intimate.

  “Yes, I’m good, I feel…” Unsure how to explain it, I just gave him a crooked smile as I took his hand. There was a flare of something when our fingers touched. A bit of leftover magic? “I think I could use some oatcakes and honey myself.”

  “Right then, let’s go find her in the kitchen before she eats them all.” He fixed me with a smile that warmed me all the way down to my toes.

  “What about the candles, should we blow them out?”

  “No, they’ll need to burn down. Don’t worry, they’ll be fine.”

  Rob led me to the kitchen where his sister had unerringly found the tea and cookies he’d bought in preparation for her visit. She was busy laying out a bunch of crescent shaped cookies and miniature cakes drizzled in honey. Leila chattered on as if she hadn’t performed a ritual moments before, drawing smiles from her brother with her animated conversation. While I still felt a little uneasy around the witch, I found myself smiling back, trying to follow the rapid shift of subjects.

  Once everything was laid out on the table, Rob poured a glass of wine, passing it to his sister. “Will you give us your sacrament now?” Leila asked, placing the goblet before me.

  “My sacrament?” My brows rose as I looked to Rob.

  “She means your blood. Just a few drops is all, it’s ceremonial. But you don’t have to if you’d rather not.”

  I got the feeling this was something they’d shared with Jakob before, and I nodded, bringing my wrist to my mouth. How could I say no? They’d both gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep me safe, the least I could do was offer a few measly drops of blood.

  “That’s fine,” Rob insisted when the tiny trickle dried up as my flesh healed almost instantly. He swished the wine around in the glass setting it back in the center of the table, picking up Leila’s hand before reaching for mine. His sister grabbed for my other hand, and we sat linked around the breakfast table.

  “Now’s where you say something nice about our service and offer your sacrament in exchange,” she said in a stage whisper.

  “Oh, okay,” I swallowed, wracking my brain to come up with something suitable. “Ah, I offer my blood as my thanks for your excellent service,” I stated formally, keeping it simple. “May you live long and prosper.”

  Leila nodded, dropping our hands to pick up the goblet. “I drink of your blood and pledge my fealty to you. May your line endure, childe of the gods,” she returned, just as formally, lifting the glass to her lips before holding it out to Rob.

  “As do I.” Rob accepted the glass, drinking deeply before offering it to me.

  “Now it’s your turn,” Leila smiled encouragingly. “Best drink it up so none of the magic is lost.”

  “Oh, right,” I nodded, feeling a little odd about drinking my own blood, but all I tasted was the wine as I drained what was left in the glass. “So listen, thanks for coming, I really appreciate it. Is there a fee involved?” There had to be some way to repay her other than the few drops of ceremonial blood.

  “Only your immortal soul,” she replied gravely. I stared back at her, my mouth going dry until she cracked, the sunny smile returning.

  Rob reached for a cookie, head shaking as he brought it to his mouth. “We’ll have no more of that, Bits. Anja’s not to be tormented, she’s been through a lot.”

  “Has she now?” Leila asked, studying her brother carefully, and Rob fidgeted under the intense scrutiny.

  “What?”

  Leila just stared, a knowing smile curving her lips until she was satisfied she’d made Rob squirm long enough. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to add insult to injury.”

  “No, it’s fine,” I shrugged, not sure what all the secret looks were about. “I can appreciate a good joke.”

  “Anyway,” Rob cleared his throat. “Ta for coming so quickly, I know you don’t like to travel.”

  “No worries, I’ll add it to the list.” Leila gave him a winsome smile, dropping a quick kiss to his raspy cheek before sneaking another cookie and slipping out of the room.

  I waited until I was sure she’d moved out of hearing range. “Your sister is…”

  “A bit off her tree.”

  “I was going to say nice. But… a little, yes.”

  “Like I said, she sees things differently,” he shrugged. “Been that way her whole life.”

  “I’d love to hear more about the two of you growing up together. Do you have a big family?”

  Leila stuck her head back into the room. “Company’s coming. I do so enjoy a party.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I vowed to brace Rob about his childhood another time as I left the kitchen to see who could be at the door. Leila didn’t approach the door herself, instead she sat
on the stairs directly opposite, elbows on her knees and face propped in her hands to watch.

  “Oh hey, guys,” I grinned when I opened it to find Ellie poking and prodding in mid air where the doorknob used to be. Gunnar, Isak and even Maggie were fanned out beside her, each probing the invisible barrier.

  “What’s this?” Ellie demanded, shoving harder, to no avail.

  “Oh right, I forgot to tell you. You’re all out on the street unless you can answer three questions,” I replied glibly, suppressing a smile when Ellie’s face scrunched in outrage for half a second until she caught onto my whimsical mood.

  “Right then, go on, let’s hear ‘em.” She squared her shoulders, as though I was about to tackle her, not ply her with silly trivia.

  “Alrighty, let’s see… first question – name all eleven Doctors. Ellie you’re up first.”

  “What? I don’t know that!”

  “Fine, just name one of them then.”

  “Um… the Doctor?”

  “Ooh, I was looking for the name of the actors, but technically that’s correct, so I’ll give that one to you. Let’s see, next question, what is your favorite color?” I grinned openly now, and she matched my smile.

  “Purple.”

  “That’s correct! And now, the final and most difficult of the questions. What’s the secret password?” I waggled my brows, wondering what craziness she’d come up with.

  “Jellybeans and ice cream!” she crowed with delight.

  “You got it. Ellie, please come in,” I said formally, and her brow crumpled with relief as she stepped into the house.

  “Blimey, I didn’t think I’d ever have to be invited into my own home.”

  “I know, but you can come and go as you wish now,” I explained, turning back to the door. “Maggie?”

  She stepped into the doorway, hands pressed against the invisible wall. “I don’t understand how I’m being kept out here to begin with. I’m not a vampire.”

  “Ah, but that doesn’t matter, thanks to Rob’s sister here. No one can get in now without my permission, and not at all if they intend me harm. Oh, everyone, this is Rob’s sister, Leila. Leila, this is Ellie, Maggie, Isak, and Gunnar.”

  “Answer truthfully now, the Lady is watching.” Leila touched the side of her nose, and the others stared.

  “Right.” I cleared my throat, getting back to Maggie. “Now then, name a captain, any captain.”

  “Oh, Captain Wentworth.”

  “Ooh, nice one.” I nodded my approval. “And what is your favorite flower?”

  “Marigolds.”

  “Interesting… oh, I mean correct,” I grinned. “And the secret password?”

  “Jellybeans and ice cream?” she ventured.

  “No, sorry, that was Ellie’s password. I’m afraid yours is completely different. You get two more tries.”

  Maggie’s brows drew together, but almost instantly smoothed apart again. “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,” she beamed.

  “Technically that’s two things, but you’re correct! Maggie, please come in.” I made a sweeping gesture as she stepped across the threshold. The girls linked arms together, eagerly awaiting the next questions as Isak stepped up to the door. Rob hung back by the archway to the parlor, a half-smile of amusement on his lips. Leila hadn’t moved an inch from her perch on the stairs and she watched us intently, like I was asking life and death questions instead of silly trivia.

  “Isak, name one of the Avengers, any of them.”

  “Oh, I know this… the Ironman, yes?” His face lit up with pride and I gave him a sage nod.

  “Very good. And now, what is your favorite song?”

  “Pumped up Kicks.”

  “Huh.” I never would have figured him for a fan of Foster the People. “I mean, correct,” I added, sticking with the format. “And your secret password?”

  “Chocolate pudding,” Isak gave a crooked smile, stepping forward, but he met the invisible barrier with a grunt.

  “Oh, sorry. Isak, you may come in,” I said formally, but the barrier didn’t dissolve. “That’s weird,” I muttered, moving forward, only to have Rob step in front of me, shielding me from the door with his body.

  A ribbon of fear showed on Isak’s face, and his body twitched to the left as though he was about to spring away when he crumpled to the ground with a groan of pain. Gunnar stood behind him, his face twisted with grief and anger, the wooden stake he’d plunged into his brother’s back pulling free from his hand as Isak fell.

  “Bù kê néng!” I yelped, stunned by the display of sudden violence between brothers. “What’s going on?”

  “No one can enter that intends you harm,” Rob said quietly as we all stared down at Isak lying prone on the porch, his shoulder bleeding liberally.

  “Isak? But…” My eyes stretched wide as my brain took a few seconds longer to react to the rapid shift from friend to foe. “I don’t believe it.”

  “House magic don’t lie,” Rob replied darkly, stepping out to haul Isak to his feet. He was still passed out with the thick wood embedded deep in his flesh, but we all knew he’d heal quickly once it was removed.

  “The Lady always knows,” Leila added sagely.

  Isak was a baddie? And he’d been living in my house this whole time?

  “Now you,” Rob jerked his head towards Gunnar. “Anja, invite him in.”

  “But…”

  “The spell will hold, trust in that. We have to see if he’s in it with Isak or if he can be trusted.”

  “He staked his own brother,” Ellie pointed out, still holding tight to Maggie in all the confusion.

  “Nevertheless…”

  “I will take the test.” Gunnar drew himself up to his full height, tearing his gaze away from his fallen brother. “Ask me your questions.”

  “Just come in, Gunnar,” I waved him on, no longer in the mood for the silly game. Rob tensed, but Gunnar came in with no trouble, stepping almost immediately back outside again to put an arm under Isak’s shoulder.

  “I will take care of him.”

  “No wait, we have to know how he’s my enemy,” I stopped him, rightly inferring that ‘take care of him’ meant get rid of him, as in permanently.

  “Take him ‘round back and tie him up,” Rob ordered. “We can’t keep him in the house, and he’ll be hard to control once we pull that stake out. Ellie, you go on with him, give a yell if he tries anything. Maggie, be a good girl and fetch us a tarp from the shed.”

  As I watched, the family hopped to do his bidding. But were they really my family? I’d grown close to them, yet Isak’s perfidy cast serious doubts into my character judgment. Just because the house let them enter didn’t mean they had my best interests at heart.

  “I like your parties, they’re ever so entertaining.” Leila stood up with a yawn. “I’m knackered though. I’m for bed now, try to keep the noise down, yeah?” With a pointed look to Rob, she ascended the stairs, off to find a room to bed down in for the night.

  Left alone in the entry hall, Rob’s head canted to one side, peering at me closely. “Are you alright?”

  “Why does everyone always ask me that? Don’t I look alright?”

  “You look white as a sheet,” he said, rubbing his wrists over mine. “That had to give you quite a turn finding out about Isak like that.”

  “Better I find out like that than with a stake to my back,” I considered aloud. “I just don’t get it. How could Isak be against me? I never did anything to him but give him a job and a home and…” I swallowed, choking back a sob. Maybe I wasn’t alright after all.

  “There now, don’t take on so,” Rob soothed, pulling me into his arms to rub my back comfortingly. “We’ll find the answers out soon enough. Why don’t you go and have a lie down though? Leave it to me.”

  “You expect me to go lie down now?” I asked, pulling back to look at him incredulously. “Are you nuts? I want to hear what the bastard has to say.”

  Rob smiled wide.
“Now there’s the girl I…” he blinked, remembering himself, but the hint of a smile remained when he spoke again. “We’d best get back there and see what’s what, yeah?”

  By the time we got outside, Gunnar had spread the tarp down on the flagstones and Isak sat tied to a wrought iron chair, his head slumped heavily to one side. Ellie’s face shone with pure excitement as she practically danced beside him, begging to be included in the interrogation. Maggie stood at the bottom of the rear stairs, hugging her arms close to her body.

  “You don’t have to be here for this,” I said to her softly as we reached the patio.

  “No, I want to know what he’s done as well,” she replied, her head coming up with determination.

  I drew in a steadying breath. “Alright then. What’s the best way to do this?”

  Rob took charge of the situation once more. “Gunnar, you stand behind him and pull out the stake. Be prepared to poke him with it again if he so much as twitches out of the chair. Ellie, fetch me that hammer in the potting shed. And the shears as well,” he added as an afterthought.

  “Wait, what? No way,” I insisted, blocking Ellie from leaving. “We are not going to torture him into answering our questions.”

  “It is the only way he will talk. It is the only thing he will respect,” Gunnar offered, his voice grave with regret.

  “Oi, why can’t you put the whammy on him, Anja?” Ellie piped up. “Make him tell you the truth?”

  Not something I wanted to announce to them all, but I nodded; it was the only way to get him to cooperate without any blood shed. “Let’s see what he has to say to begin with, how about that?”

  Gunnar took up his position behind Isak, wrenching the wooden stake free. Isak drew in a great, gasping breath, his eyes flaring wide in pain and fear as he realized his predicament.