by J. S. Malcom
Slowly, as if in a dream, I open the bundle to see my athame and the pendant. I bring my eyes back to Esras’s. “Yes, I’m Cassie.”
Esras nods. “The one they’ve been looking for,” he says. “Go now, while you can. I'll try to buy you time”
He doesn’t look back as he climbs into the saddle, nor as he flicks the reins and charges back toward the wasteland. In the distance, horses gallop toward us and dogs continue to bark. They’ll find him soon, I’m sure. Within minutes.
I reach inside myself to pull up my magic, ignoring the flash of red that surges behind my eyes. I ride out the pain, suck in my breath, and tell myself that they can’t keep the magic from me now. Not right now, at least, while they keep losing control, and especially not out here. An instant later, the current jolts through me and a blue fireball blazes to life in my cradled hands. I think about going out into the clearing to face off against the riders, but then I think about Ellie. It wouldn’t be fair if I miscalculate and leave her stranded out here alone. I tell myself I’ll deal with Lord Ferndelm’s men when I come back, and right now it’s better to settle for distracting them away from Esras.
I launch the blue fireball into the sky. Then another, green this time. And another, blazing orange, part of me still wanting the confrontation to happen. Above the leafless trees, sparks shoot across the night. That’s right, boys. Come and find me. Because I’m a veil witch and, right now, I’m fully charged and seriously pissed off.
Ellie stares back in horror. “They’re coming!”
Which is exactly what I wanted. Hopefully, by now Esras is a dark shape unnoticed in the night. But Ellie’s fear reminds me of what I need to do.
“We’ll be fine,” I say, and I know it’s true.
I thrust out my hands, knowing that the veil will open. Cade was right. I don’t find rifts in the veil. I make them. It’s part of who I am. When the swirl of shimmering air appears, this time glimmering in the night, I take hold of Ellie’s hand and we step through.
CHAPTER 34
I stare out the front windows of Grimoire, watching the sun disappear behind buildings across the street. It’s been a slow day, with just a few customers coming in to peruse the shelves. No one has asked to see the Special Collection, nor has anyone paid much attention to me, other than to make brief eye contact or offer a quick smile. None of our customers has been a witch, or seemed to have had any agenda other than passing curiosity to see what kinds of books we hold within these walls.
In the past, this might have bored or disappointed me. Not so now. I’ve need this one day of peace.
No, I haven’t been back to open Lauren Flannery’s Book of Shadows, although I’m sure it’s still here. Somehow, I’d know if it wasn’t. If there are any secrets left within it, I’m sure I now have way more held within myself. Things I haven’t brought myself yet to share with anyone, not even my sister. I only wanted to add so much to her and my mother’s trauma upon the second time I managed to return from the land of the lost. I simply told them I’d gotten involved with someone, and that it was over. I told them I was sorry, but I’d rather not talk about it yet. No, they weren’t happy. Not at all, but from there I let their imaginations run wild. I’ll have to tell Autumn eventually. It wouldn’t be right not to. Then she’ll want to kick my ass, and we’ll probably both end up crying. Oh, sisterhood. I wouldn’t change it in a million years, but it weighs heavy. Then again, so do comforters on a cold winter night.
Julia remains trapped in that other realm, her changeling still walking somewhere here among us. So I know I’ll be going back to search once more, but the question is where to begin. It would seem I’m alone in this now, but I guess that’s how it has to be. I’ll figure something out. I have no other choice, even when the idea of returning to Faerie terrifies me.
As for Grayson, a week of him being missing has left ongoing curiosity. How anyone knows, I can’t say. He was incredibly secretive to begin with, for reasons that are obvious to me now. But witches know witches, and the magical community is fairly small. Word gets around.
Anna brought him up last night, as we chatted in the hall. Maggie mentioned him in passing today when I came in, as always not particularly worried that I’d missed a day of work. Just one day! But that’s what I’d been scheduled for between the time I traveled to two other realms and came back again. A lifetime to me, and one day to Maggie. So many times throughout my life I’ve looked into the eyes of others and wondered how different their life, their experience, might be from my own. Maggie, bless her heart, confirmed the gulf between all of us again when she said, “Oh, good, you’re here,” upon my walking in to see if I still had a job. Then again, she’s used to dealing with witches, and we’re notoriously unpredictable. “I was just about to run some errands. Have you heard anything else about Grayson?”
She had fresh croissants out back, and tea, but I had no news of Grayson for her in return. I know where he is, more or less. I just don’t know who he is. Yet.
“Haven’t heard anything,” I said, and that seemed fine with her.
After that, we talked for a while, and she went about her day, finally checking in again later to see if I minded closing. No, I didn’t mind at all. I felt safe to be surrounded by these four walls, even if they hold secrets. I can’t help but believe that those books held within Grimoire end up there to help us. The witches. Those of us whose existence the rest of the world doesn’t believe in. Which is fine with us. That’s our secret, to keep us safe, so we can keep trying to help.
When I finally leave the bookstore, almost regretfully turning the key, it starts to rain. Of course, just my luck. I scan the sidewalks, to be sure no one is waiting to kill me. It appears that I’m alone, so I pull up my hood, and prepare for my wet rat routine. To anyone watching, I might seem vulnerable as I hurry along, but the secret within me brings a smile to my lips.
I think back to delivering Ellie home to her parents, who’d just an hour before heard their imposter daughter cry out in her room. Suddenly, a swarm of black moth-like forms had flown into the living room to circle the ceiling. They’d watched, confused and frightened, as the swarm circled twice more before passing through the wall. They ran to the window and stared as the swarm fluttered up toward the moonlit sky. They huddled together after, sitting on the sofa stunned and stricken, until we knocked on their door. My eyes tear up again as I think of their reunion with Ellie, at remembering the relief and joy in their faces at knowing they were truly seeing their daughter again. That alone was worth every pain I’ve endured. I’d suffer all of it again just for that moment.
I can’t say what others’ lives are about, but I know what makes mine matter. I’m a veil witch. I protect the realm, and sometimes, just sometimes, I bring people back. I know that now too.
I look up as a figure steps out of an alley, almost like he just appeared from nowhere. Which he did, of course. He keeps his own hood pulled up as he approaches, lowering it only when he gets close enough for me to see his eyes and the points of his ears.
“I know where your friend is,” Cade says. “Ready to get moving?”
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About J. S. Malcom
J. S. Malcom is the author of the Realm Watchers urban fantasy series, of which Autumn Winters is just the beginning. J. S. lives in Richmond, Virginia, a town full of history and ghosts (not to mention, many other supernatural creatures, including Autumn and Cassie).
Author Note
I’d like to extend a very special thank you
to those who “beta-read” this book, offering astute observations and eagle eyes: Carmen Repsold, Jennifer Mantura, Deborah MacArthur, Marja Coons-Torn, Patti and Patrick Winters, Andrew Torn, Rachel Karfit, Lacey Lane, Lori Kis, Susan Warr, Andrea van der Westhuizen, Tammy Baker, Diane Changala, Ed Carr, Tamara Ingram, Tina Fulkerson, Vicki McCreary, Kim Brown, Amelia Donna Rose, Victoria McCreary, Deborah Smith, Maria Myrback, Bonnie Ellis, Jennifer Ryan, Cindy Love and Tisha for beta-reading, catching edits and offering suggestions. You guys are fantastic readers and I really appreciate your time and efforts. Many thanks also to Kim, Darja and Milo at Deranged Doctor Design for creating such stunning book covers.
Copyright © 2017 J.S. Malcom
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