‘Your grandfather got his wish,’ he continued softly, ‘for a while at least. Your brother Logan was born without any abilities; she knew he would be safe but then you were born. We knew from early on you had the gift of sight. We tried to keep it hidden as much as we could but you were always jabbering on…’ James smiled as he looked up at Theo, ‘about a girl with golden eyes who had a bow made of fire…’
His eyes cut across to Olivia his gaze warm and amused.
‘You finally found her I see.’
Theo’s eyes narrowed warily and his lips tightened, choosing not to confirm or deny anything about Olivia.
‘We finally managed to convince you to stop talking about it and for a while everything was alright but then your mother gave birth to Temperance and she…’ his voice broke as he drew in a deep breath, ‘after Emmy was gone I had to sit by and could do nothing. Although you didn’t realize it I watched over you both as much as I could but you belonged to Matthias, there was nothing else I could do.’
Theo nodded silently.
‘What did you mean about us being ten years too early?’ he asked.
‘Your mother and I knew that as one century gave birth to a new one a great madness would descend upon Salem. Darkness would walk among us and with him he would bring a wave of death. Brother would turn upon brother and the blood of the innocent would be spilled in search of an ancient power.’ James’ voice had dropped to a whisper and his dark eyes deepened.
‘You would stand at the center of the madness with a woman by your side with hair of midnight and eyes of gold. She would hold in her hands flames of deep lavender. To your other side stood a young man who seemed to carry on his shoulders the weight of endless years and in his hands he held time itself.’
‘A vision?’ Theo asked.
‘Then there must be a way,’ Olivia muttered to Theo, ‘if they’ve seen us there must be a way for us to jump forward.’
‘Are you certain?’ Theo turned back to James.
‘Nothing is certain,’ he shook his head, ‘I can only tell you what we knew and you my friend are not supposed to be here, not yet anyway. I saw you today at market, the younger you. I don’t understand everything but I know that you have been jumping through time and now you have reached a place where you have caught up with yourself. We have to be very careful now. Until we can sort this mess out and get you both back to the time you are supposed to be in we have to make sure no one sees you, especially you Theo. Not so much Olivia, no one here knows her, I may be able to pass her off as a relative. My older sister married over twenty-five years ago and moved away to another town with her husband. No one has seen her since they left so I should have no trouble convincing people Olivia is my niece, which may give her a little more freedom.’
‘I see,’ Theo frowned. ‘What we need is a way to help our friend Sam, we can’t leave here until he is recovered but we don’t know for certain what is wrong with him or how to revive him.’
‘I take it his illness is magical in origin?’ James questioned.
Theo’s jaw once again tightened.
‘Theo,’ James sighed in frustration, ‘I understand you are reluctant to admit to anything but we are not going to resolve anything if you cannot bring yourself to trust me. I swear I mean you and Olivia no harm.’
‘That’s easy for you to say.’
‘Yes, it is,’ James conceded, ‘so I will prove it to you.’
James impulsively reached across the table and grasped Theo’s hands. It was like a door had opened in his mind. Layers and layers of memories crashed in on him, memories of his mother, memories that he knew weren’t his. It was like being thrown into a pool of ice cold water, the shock and intensity of it made his breath catch in his throat and for a second he found himself unable to release his breath. Suddenly the memories were wrapped up in intense emotions, pain, loss, regret, pride and above all a deep abiding love so intense Theo roared out in pain. Ripping his hands free he stood abruptly, stumbling backwards over the bench he’d been sitting on. His vision cleared and fixed on James who was sitting pale and shaking as he looked up at Theo, seemingly just as shocked at the intensity of their link as he was.
‘I’m sorry,’ James breathed heavily as he closed his eyes, ‘I only meant to show you. Speaking of your mother out loud after all these years has obviously affected me more than I thought. It was not my intention to cause you pain only to prove to you...’
‘Prove what? That you knew my mother? Well you’ve certainly done that,’ he hissed from between gritted teeth as he tried to get the trembling in his body to subside.
‘No, to prove you could trust me’ James replied. ‘You know what I am now, you hold my life in your hands.’
‘He’s right Theo,’ Olivia spoke quietly, her eyes soft and understanding, ‘I know this is hard for you but we have to find a way to trust each other.’
He regarded Olivia silently, turning over her words in his mind before finally turning back to James.
‘Don’t ever do that to me again,’ he warned.
James nodded contritely in agreement. ‘I’m truly sorry.’
Theo resumed his seat at the table.
‘I think there may be a way to help your friend,’ James said quietly.
‘How?’ Olivia asked curiously.
‘My neighbor Samuel Parris, he has a West Indian slave in his household. A girl he brought back from his family’s plantation in Barbados. Her name is Tituba.’
‘Tituba?’ Olivia’s gaze snapped to his, she’d heard the name before. Anyone who thought they knew anything about Salem and the witch trials knew the name Tituba. She was the slave Betty Parris and her cousin Abigail Williams had accused of witchcraft.
‘She has a great deal of power, sometimes Samuel would bring her to market and I could sense it whenever she was near. I’ve heard whispers of her curing illness. She may be able to help. I have a delivery to make to the Parris place tomorrow, Olivia could come with me. I’ll introduce her as my niece and distract the family long enough for her to speak with Tituba.’
Theo sat frowning, it was clear he didn’t like the idea of Olivia going anywhere without him but equally he knew he couldn’t risk anyone seeing him.
‘Theo we need to help Sam,’ Olivia told him, ‘we have to try.’
‘I know,’ he reached out unconsciously to touch her face, ‘I just don’t like letting you out of my sight.’
‘Believe me I know that,’ she smiled covering his hand with her own, ‘but we are going to have to take some risks.’
He sighed in resignation. ‘I know,’ he turned to James, ‘if anything happens to her…’ he warned dangerously.
‘I will protect her with my life I swear to you.’
Theo glared at him silently as if gauging his sincerity. Finally he nodded.
‘You should both get some rest,’ James told them as they stood and stepped away from the table. ‘You two should take my bed, it’s through the doorway in the next room.’
‘We can’t take your bed,’ Olivia frowned.
‘I assure you it’s no trouble,’ James shook his head. ‘I have a spare bedroll, I’m quite happy in front of the fire.’
‘You should know we’re not married,’ Theo told James.
‘I didn’t hear that,’ James smiled as he cleared the bowls from the table, ‘now take your woman to bed, she looks like she needs some sleep.’
Theo turned to Olivia and saw her yawn. Her skin was pale and there were dark circles under her eyes.
‘Come on love,’ he took her hand and bent to scoop Hester’s Grimoire from the floor before tugging her out of the room.
Olivia smiled gratefully at James as Theo led her through the keeping room and into another room where a sturdy wooden bedstead dominated the room, and a large chest was pushed against the wall. As soon as they were in the room the candle burst into flame.
‘Sorry,’ Olivia yawned.
He’d noticed she had less control over her power when she was tired and right now she looked dead on her feet, as if everything that had happened since the moment he was dragged from Mercy through the gateway to the Otherworld had finally come crashing in on her. He tucked the book safely under the pillow and turned back to Olivia. She stood still and let him undress her like a doll. He stripped her down to her linen shift before scooping her up and settling her in the bed, pulling the bedclothes up to her shoulders. She was already dozing when he stripped down and slid into bed next to her, pulling her safely into his arms. He blew out the candle but as he closed his eyes an endless reel of memories that didn’t belong to him played around and around in his head. He sighed deeply, a frown creasing his brow. Sleep would be a long time coming.
Chapter 4.
Olivia’s eyes flew open and she shot out of bed, heading for the keeping room. She grabbed the small wooden bucket she’d seen the night before and dropped to her knees as she started heaving unmercifully, violently expelling the contents of her stomach.
‘Olivia?’
She was vaguely aware of Theo’s voice as she continued to throw up for what felt like an eternity. When the heaving of her stomach finally subsided she looked up weakly to see Theo standing in the doorway looking at her in concern.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Do I look okay?’ she whispered miserably as she turned her head back to the bucket and began to heave once again.
She felt him kneel down beside her and after a moment his hand was on her back rubbing soothing circles. She murmured something but the words were lost in a muffled echo.
‘Sorry I didn’t quite catch that?’
She lifted her head out of the bucket and drew in a shaky breath as she looked up at Theo’s amused expression.
‘I said I’m never eating mutton ever again,’ she rested her aching head against the rim of the bucket. ‘Tell James to stay away from Rebecca Foster, she’s obviously trying to kill him.’
‘The food is very different here,’ Theo chuckled lightly as he smoothed back her hair which was plastered to her clammy forehead, ‘and the living standards are too. It will probably take your body a while to adjust, you’ve been through a lot lately.’
‘Why aren’t you sick?’ she frowned.
‘I grew up without a mother in a house where none of us knew how to cook. Trust me, I’ve eaten some pretty questionable meals in my time.’
‘I hate you right now’ she whispered, ‘and your lead lined stomach.’
‘I’m sure you do,’ he smiled as he stroked her hair, ‘are you finished?’
‘I think so.’
He tucked his arms gently around her back and under her knees. Lifting her easily she curved into his body as he headed back towards the bedroom.
‘Wait Theo, I can’t leave that mess, I have to clean up.’
‘I’ll take care of it love.’
‘You shouldn’t have to clean up after me,’ she frowned.
‘Olivia I spent most of my life on a farm, swilling out pigs, and mucking out cows. I think my constitution is strong enough to handle a little vomit.’
‘Still,’ she grumbled as he laid her back on the bed.
He tucked the bedclothes back over her and laid his hand on her forehead.
‘You don’t seem to have a fever.’
‘That’s because it’s not a virus,’ she propped herself up on her elbows. ‘I told you it’s probably food poisoning.’
She squeezed her eyes closed and forced herself to take deep even breaths, fighting the wave of intense nausea at the mere thought of the oily stringy meat sliding down her throat. Her mouth flooded with moisture and she clamped her lips shut, swallowing convulsively. Probably best not to think about it. She fell back against the pillow and blew out a shaky breath.
‘God, I would sell my soul for a toothbrush right now.’
‘I’m sure you would’ Theo smiled, ‘wait a moment.’
She watched patiently as he slipped from the room reappearing moments later with a cup.
‘Here,’ he lifted her head, wrapping her fingers around the cup, ‘sip slowly, it should take away some of the taste without making you sick again.’
She took a small hesitant sip and experienced the smooth light fruity flavor of James’ peach and apple cider. It wasn’t exactly ginger ale but it soothed her ragged throat.
‘Better?’ Theo asked.
She nodded, resting her throbbing head once again on the pillow as Theo placed the cup on the edge of the chest nearest the bed.
‘Where were you?’ she asked suddenly realizing that not only had he not been in bed with her when she’d woken so abruptly, but that he was fully dressed.
‘I was checking on Sam.’
‘Oh,’ she replied, ‘how is he?’
‘Much the same,’ Theo shook his head, ‘I don’t know what else to do, his fever isn’t breaking.’
‘There’s not much we can do at the moment except wait it out. What time is it anyway?’
‘Still early,’ he answered easily as he pushed her hair gently back from her face.
‘And James?’
‘Up with the dawn, he’s down in the orchard and won’t be back for some time. You should rest.’
‘But we were supposed to visit Samuel Parris,’ she struggled to get up, ‘I should get dressed.’
‘Sleep first,’ he pushed her gently back against the pillow, ‘you can’t go anywhere while you’re sick. Sleep and we’ll see how you are when you wake. James isn’t expected at the Parris house until late this afternoon, there’s plenty of time.’
‘I don’t know,’ she frowned.
‘For God’s sake Olivia,’ he rolled his eyes, ‘for once in your life can’t you just do as you’re told.’
‘You’re very bossy all of a sudden,’ she smiled.
‘Then it’ll make a nice change from you being the bossy one,’ he replied. ‘I don’t like it when you’re sick, it worries me.’
‘And it’ll worry you less if I take a nap?’ her eyebrow rose in amusement.
‘Yes.’
‘Fine then I’ll take a damn nap if it makes you happy.’
‘It does.’
‘Well then.’
He chuckled as he shook his head. ‘I’ll check in on you later,’ he stood and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
‘Kay,’ she murmured as she snuggled back down into the bed, already drifting off.
James ran his hands down the thick trunk as he glanced down the row of trees either side. The others seemed to be flourishing, all except the one in front of him. The leaves were beginning to curl at the edges and the fruit was small and underdeveloped. Frowning slightly, he ran his fingertips down the rough bark closing his eyes as he felt the tree pulsing beneath his gentle touch. It was sick, he could sense it. He dropped to his knees and pressed his fingers into the soil at its roots. His breathing slowed and his heartbeat faded into the background. He could feel everything. Pressing his awareness further down into the earth he could feel layers upon layers of rock and sediment. The top layer of soil was not as rich in minerals as he’d have liked but then again the lands surrounding his property were not known for being lush and fertile. In fact, from the moment the colonists had settled it had been a battle to grow certain crops. It was almost as if the land itself was fighting man’s possession, all except his land. He felt the earth, was a part of it. He sensed its moods and needs, he tended it like a lover, made sure it flourished. There was a reason his orchard was known for miles for its quality and abundance.
The earth felt a little dry, the roots a little brittle. It had been a good while since they’d last had a good soaking as the passing summer had been hotter than usual. Concentrating he reached further into the ground searching for moisture until he finally sensed a small stream of water deep down in the earth. He pressed a little harder nudging it with his mind and forcing it open a little wider, until
a small trickle of water started seeping upwards into the surrounding earth. Satisfied he turned his attention back to the tree, some sort of pestilence he mused as he chewed his lip thoughtfully. He could sense dark patches deep in its core. If he didn’t deal with it quickly it could spread to the surrounding trees. He pressed his palms against the trunk and reached into the tree with his mind. Starting at the roots he checked the sick young tree inch by slow inch, burning away any sign of rot. Finally satisfied he’d got it all he stood and opened his eyes. Reaching for a strip of linen he tied it around the branch to mark the tree so that his laborers would know not to pick from this tree during harvest. It would need time to recover, perhaps by next season it would produce the quality of fruit to suit his standards.
He stepped back and looked up at the tree smiling softly, anyone else would not be able to detect the difference but he could. A small breeze rippled through its branches rustling the leaves which already seemed to be relaxing like an unclenched fist. The tree itself almost seemed taller as if it had been hunched over in pain. He patted the bark fondly and stepped away stopping abruptly when his eyes fell on Theo who was watching him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
‘What were you doing?’ Theo asked.
‘The tree was sick’ James answered easily, ‘I was just treating it before the rot spread to any of the other trees.’
‘How?’
‘Do you really want the answer to that?’ he replied in amusement.
Theo didn’t reply, his eyes narrowed as he studied James speculatively. He didn’t give his trust easily, especially not now when one mistake could potentially expose Olivia but there was something about James, something he couldn’t quite figure out. He’d known this man from afar for most of his life and he’d never once suspected he was different. It was almost as if he’d stepped back in time and he was actually seeing the life he’d lived with different eyes. How could he have been so blind? Had the signs always been there? Had he been so consumed with keeping himself and his sister hidden he’d not noticed that they were not the only ones with a secret.
‘You look as if you are having an argument with yourself,’ James told him softly.
The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum Page 124