by Sela Croft
ENCHANTMENT’S TRAP
Vampire Magic – Book 4
By
Sela Croft
Table of Contents
Title Page
Chapter 1A
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 1A
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Chapter 1
Callie
It hadn’t been long since I’d climbed on Kaida’s back. My arms were tightly wrapped around Logan’s waist and my cheek was pressed against his back. My courage soared with the wind that whipped past. At last, Logan was by my side and together we’d find my sister Rosamon.
I discovered something about Logan’s pet dragon. She had magical abilities of her own, besides flying and telepathy. She could travel between realms. The landscape shifted and changed at an unnatural rate. The flight wasn’t linear, nor did it seem within the boundaries of time as I knew it.
Still gripping Logan, I leaned back for a better view. We were no longer in Shadowland. There was nothing I recognized. Behind us was a dark sky, but the glimmer of Crystal City wasn’t visible. The glowing blue and gold of the city was blotted out.
We must be too far away, yet I didn’t see how. My sense of time was askew. The ride hadn’t seemed long, but the distance we’d traveled must have been. My surroundings were unrecognizable. Although, I had a dim recall of seeing something like it in photos.
The land was majestic. In the glow of dawn, the windswept moors looked like a painting. The hues of green and gold of the barren ground contrasted with dark, craggy peaks, spiraling solo up to the sky.
If this was Fae land, then it wasn’t a part I’d seen before. There was no activity, or even inhabitants. The mystery plagued me. I stared at the landscape scrolling by and was reminded of home. What I saw fit in the outside world where I’d come from, not in Logan’s magical realm.
Kaida slowed then glided to a stop at the edge of a lagoon. The silence and tranquility of the area was stunning. I gaped at all that surrounded us. It looked like a magical place, yet instinctively I knew it wasn’t.
On the other side of the water was a Medieval castle. The stone structure was classic, perched on a summit of rock many feet above sea level. It faced the inlet and loomed above the landscape below. It stretched my imagination to think of how far we must have flown.
Kaida had transported us out of Shadowland. But I didn’t know where we were.
Logan slid off, then helped me to the ground. It was chilly, so he reached into a pack for cloaks. I gratefully put one on and pulled the hood over my head, while Logan did the same.
I shivered against the wind. “What is this place?”
Logan told Kaida to go back home. “I’ll call if we need you later.” Then he took my hand and began walking. “Come with me.”
The sky brightened with each step we took. It was early morning and the sun was rising. The eternal night of Logan’s realm was gone. “This is my world.” I pulled back on Logan’s hand. “I demand to know what’s going on.”
Logan kept walking, focused on the castle ahead.
“You promised to help me find my sister.” Rosamon had been lost for far too long. She was depending on me to find her and take her home. Yet it seemed that Logan had other ideas.
I yanked my hand away and crossed my arms. “Why aren’t you helping me find my sister, like you promised?” A sense of betrayal gripped me, so I glared at Logan, waiting for an explanation.
“That is exactly what I’m doing…helping you find Rosamon.”
“But my sister isn’t in my world; she’s lost in yours.” I was fed up with all the secrets and betrayal. I’d given my heart and loyalty to Logan. This deception was intolerable. “My sister is being held prisoner by the Fae.”
“I’m aware of that.” Logan reached for my hand. “And the only person I know who can provide answers about your sister’s captivity lives in that castle.” He glanced at the massive stone structure above us.
“You’re full of mysteries.” I accepted Logan’s hand and resumed walking. “I’m more confused with every word you utter.”
Logan squeezed my hand.
“Are you going to tell me where we are? Or are you going to keep me guessing?”
“We are on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.” Logan waved a hand toward the castle. “That is the home of a sorceress who had been around for centuries. She might be able to reveal why you and Rosamon are so important.”
Logan let go of my hand and strode along a narrow path leading up to the castle. I hurried to catch up. Each answer brought more questions, and I wondered if I’d be able to figure out how to free my sister. Since I’d followed her into Logan’s realm, there had been one difficulty after the other.
Rosamon was in danger and being held captive by the Fae. More guessing games weren’t going to improve the situation. The delays had made the situation increasingly precarious, and my patience had worn thin.
Logan glanced back to be sure that I wasn’t far behind. “A sorceress lives in this castle, and she might be in a mood to tell us what we need to know.”
“What’s her name?” I jogged to catch up. “And how old is she?” My only familiarity with sorcery was that the person possessed great magic, but that was only from the fiction I’d read.
“Her name is Morrigan and she has been around for many centuries. The castle was built in the thirteenth century, but I’ve known her well before that.”
Breathless, I grabbed Logan’s arm and pulled so he would slow down. “I haven’t met a sorceress before. Is she very powerful?”
“Morrigan has the power to manipulate supernatural forces. There was a period in Europe when she attended court. The rulers had her consult the astrological charts, and to entertain them with tricks. She could turn drinking water into wine, or, make cooked meat bleed again.”
“I’m not interested in party tricks.”
“She has the ability to do much more than that. She’s able to harness and control energy, wields physical magic. I admire her power, but she isn’t often agreeable to assisting others. I’m hoping to persuade her.”
“Morrigan sounds a bit frightening. I’ve acclima
ted to magic, from being around vampires and Fae. But it does sounds as if she has skills that surpass what I’ve seen so far.” It was also of note that Logan seemed to know Morrigan quite well; they had history together. But he hadn’t volunteered to talk about that aspect.
It didn’t make sense how a sorceress, who wasn’t even in Fae territory, would know about my sister’s capture. I supposed that I needed to have faith. Logan seemed confident that the path to Rosamon would be clearer after questioning Morrigan.
“Using her will only, Morrigan is capable of changing reality. She won’t share her secrets as her talents are inborn. Such can only be inherited not learned. Although, the skills can be perfected over time.” Logan stopped to gaze at the drawbridge leading to the castle doors. “I’ve had the sense that she has a connection to Mother Nature herself.”
We stood at the edge of the drawbridge. A thicket of trees grew around the perimeter, partially shielding the castle. There were no signs of life inside the place. I shuddered and wrapped my cloak tighter. I hoped that Logan knew what he was doing.
Chapter 2
Callie
Logan stared at the castle. “Morrigan has been around since I became a vampire. But she is from a separate line. She doesn’t share in our fate, nor is she bound to the same consequences as vampires are.”
“You’re making her sound almost godlike.”
“No, she’s far from a deity, especially in nature. Morrigan is unpredictable, and I’m not sure that she favors me.” Logan put his hand on my back to guide me across the bridge. “I must warn you…don’t take anything about this sorceress as it appears.”
If I wasn’t concerned before, I certainly was then. Clearly, Logan had known the woman for centuries. That was a very long time and it meant they shared much history. But he hadn’t shared much of that. I was certain that there was so much more he could have told me.
“Coming here is a risk,” Logan said. “It won’t necessarily be easy to get what we need from Morrigan…if we get it at all.”
There were so many questions, so much mystery shrouded the castle and its owner. And I wanted to know all that Logan could tell me. Before I could pry further into the details of the relationship, we’d crossed the bridge and reached the front doors.
I looked up at the castle wall, wondering if a sorceress needed guards. There weren’t any visible. Possibly, her magic protected her well enough.
It struck me that I didn’t know the protocol for talking to a sorceress. I hadn’t met her, yet I was in awe of her power. If I stood there like a movie-star struck teenager, it might annoy her. That’s the last thing I wanted. Castles were reminiscent of royalty, so I struggled to remember if there was a type of curtsey I’d seen in the movies.
I removed the hood of my cloak, thinking it rude to shield myself from her. Logan did the same, and I wasn’t sure if he agreed or had merely emulated my action. My throat was too dry, prohibiting my speech, and I was sure he’d consider it a silly question. I was thinking too much, a bad sign. Logan reached for the brass door knocker then I took a deep breath.
Before the knocker struck the wood, the heavy doors opened. An attractive middle-aged woman stood before us. But she was unlike any I’d seen before.
Morrigan wore all black. The long silk dress extended to her ankles. It looked Victorian with the tiny buttons down the front and wide black lace at the wrist cuffs. The collar was high, covering her neck, and accentuating her striking visage.
She had crimson lips and dark eyes. Her lashes were long, and her skin pale. She stood with her fingertips together, her long pointy nails catching my eye. There were silver rings on every finger and her blond, wavy hair hung well past her shoulders.
I chanced looking into her eyes but Morrigan’s expression revealed little. Her attitude and bearing communicated power. The sorceress seemed timeless. I couldn’t have said how old she was. Her appearance was youthful enough, yet her eyes reflected wisdom.
Logan didn’t move. I wondered if he was still breathing. He should have told me how to behave, as it seemed he waited for Morrigan to speak. I stared, unable to look away from her.
Then Morrigan stretched out her hand, neither friendly or unfriendly. With unreadable emotion, she said to Logan, “What have you brought me this time?”
Logan accepted her greeting and bent to kiss her hand. “It’s been a while, Morrigan.”
The door opened wider and we stepped inside. The entryway was elaborate, but I didn’t examine it too closely. It seemed more prudent to keep my eyes on our hostess.
Morrigan looked at me intently. I gazed back, unsure.
Logan shifted from one foot to the other, as if uncomfortable with Morrigan’s scrutiny.
Tension mounted, making me second-guess the wisdom of visiting the castle. I had the urge to turn and run while I could.
In the cavernous space, deadly quiet settled in. Morrigan seemed in no rush to proceed. Her gaze roamed over me, then she looked in my eyes. I thought to look away but didn’t. There was no warmth in her expression, yet I was compelled to stare back.
Her dark eyes were unflinching, and, looking at her it seemed I might fall into their depths forever. Then the corners of her mouth lifted, and it dawned on me that she’d smiled. “Please…come in.”
Morrigan swept her hand toward a hallway to make us feel welcome. Her change in tone rattled me. But when I looked at her there was a strong connection. The sensation was unlike any I recalled. The bond was similar to the unity I had with my sister, a feeling that had been unique…until that moment.
There was something special about Morrigan, but I couldn’t put my finger on what. I wondered if she was aware of it too, but, assumed that she likely understood it better than I did. Logan didn’t seem to notice so I didn’t say anything.
While I pondered the bond with Morrigan, we followed her down a long hallway. Sconces lit the dark space like a scene in a Gothic tale. I trusted our fate wouldn’t be so gloomy. Yet the sorceress gave little away.
It was impossible to tell what she thought, or if she was glad to see Logan. I struggled to deduce whether they were on good terms or whether some incident in the past had severed any fondness toward her vampire friend. Yet there was no opportunity to ask, so the question would have to wait. Likely the nature of their relationship would be clear, soon enough.
I was lost about how to proceed, so would have to follow Logan’s lead—trusting that he knew the best approach. He’d cautioned that Morrigan might be difficult to deal with, and I assumed that was an understatement. She seemed like the type of person who did as she pleased, whether that suited anyone else or not.
Considering my reaction to her presence, I feared she might have cast a spell on me. I might do whatever she commanded, since I lacked any inclination to defy her. The power she exuded was akin to a drug that pulled me toward her and weakened any desire to sever the connection. I was drawn to her—if only I knew why.
Logan had warned me not to take things as they appeared. I wished that he’d been more specific. I wasn’t sure what things he’d meant or how I was to see through them, so remained challenged by the magic that surrounded me.
We walked deeper into the castle, with Morrigan gliding ahead of us like a beautiful ghost. Logan held my hand, as if to reassure me. But I didn’t know if his magic could stand up to that of a sorceress. There was so much yet to learn. And what fate had in store was anyone’s guess.
Chapter 3
Rosamon
I strode through my room and ran my fingertips along the mirrors. Then I stopped at the one that Noah had come through. Using the magic of the mirror, he might know how to find me. I prayed he would, as I needed rescuing.
Yet it had been a long while since Noah had disappeared to the other side of the mirror. It was possible that he didn’t have enough clues to know where I was being held prisoner. Such discouraging thoughts made it difficult to maintain hope.
It would be best for Noah to locate this pri
son and carry me away. I’d cautioned Callie to stay away, but I feared that she wouldn’t. My sister had been determined to save me. Her desire wasn’t easily thwarted. I’m sure if the situations had been reversed, I’d have felt the same way.
Sisters stuck together, especially twins. Callie and I had been two halves of a whole, since we’d been born. The thought of any harm coming to her made me crazy. I had to get out, before she found a way inside. The enemy would get their claws in her, then we’d both be in danger.
I missed Noah and wondered how far away he was. I certainly didn’t want him in trouble. It wasn’t clear whether he would be able to get inside without my jailers being aware of his presence. Maybe he’d thought of something, some way to achieve that.
Or maybe it was a bad idea to encourage Noah to come for me. I wanted to be with him and I was desperate to be released from this prison. Yet I couldn’t live with myself if any harm came to him. Possibly it already had. I couldn’t allow myself to harbor negative thoughts.
I had to hold out hope that Noah would show up. Then he could help me escape. I must get out, as I feared what the Fae princess wanted with me. And worse, what she wanted with my sister. Whatever it was it had to be evil. Thus, reuniting in this prison must not be allowed to happen.
But how was I to control that? It seemed that I’d been the victim of circumstances. That had to cease. Events had to turn in my favor, as only then could I ensure my sister’s safety. And maybe I could have a future with Noah. Yet I dared to think of such things. Survival came first.
The luxury of pondering my future was cut short. The building began to tremble, and I dreaded what was to come. It seemed the quaking had been more frequent, giving me little peace. I heard the mirrors rattle, wondering if they’d break. And if they did, that would cut off my source of magic and prohibit me from leaving my cell—at least, in my illusory form.
The walls of the prison vibrated like a giant shook them. I envisioned a huge presence jostling the structure like playing with a toy. The massive structure seemed like a child’s construction set when matched with the ferocity of the force causing the quake.