by Nora Lee
When a slight breeze ruffled a nearby tapestry, she thought the darkness behind looked like an open doorway. A second draft shifted the tapestry again and reinforced her belief she’d found the stairs. Problem was that she didn’t know how to get through to the other side.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes…and walked right into the tapestry. She couldn’t feel the texture of the cloth but something more like a dense cobweb she couldn’t break through.
Yet she’d seen Hephaestus pass through solid rock. She should be able to manage cloth.
She closed her eyes again and remembered what he’d told her about moving objects. If she couldn’t pass through, maybe she could move the tapestry out of her way.
Enid reached out with her hand and mind. When she opened her eyes, she saw an open space large enough for her to squeeze through.
The cloth dropped back into place behind her when she reached the other side. Trembling from exertion, she took a deep breath, rubbing a hand across her eyes. She’d not only not eaten since she’d been pulled over, she hadn’t slept either, and felt exhaustion taking a toll on her.
How long could she go on this way?
The muttering she’d heard before echoed through the circular space in which she stood. The winding spiral staircase before her seemed to indicate that she’d entered one of the turrets, a likely location for the bedchamber of the lord of the manor. The narrow stair favored the defenders of the home since attackers heading up from ground level would be hard-pressed to fight through anyone bearing down on them from above. The narrow slit windows along the walls also allowed for archers to aim down on anyone trying to invade the castle from outside.
Of course, none of this mattered in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. They weren’t in medieval Europe with the Knights of the Round Table. This was the modern new world where very few citizens invaded the property of their neighbors. Especially the residents of Secret Hallow. Despite the disagreement between the young couples down in the main hall, everyone here loved each other and would never cause their friends and family deliberate harm.
The thoughts racing through her mind distracted her as she climbed the narrow stair to the top floor. Here she found a small vestibule and a door with what looked like tooled leather fastenings holding it into the frame, a wrought iron handle locking the thick wooden slab in place. She couldn’t move this the way she had the tapestry below.
“May I come in Hephaestus?” The voice inside the room faded away. She stood in silence staring at the closed door. “Please. I just want to talk with you and can’t get through.”
The head and shoulders of her companion appeared before her. “You can do this.”
Enid shook her head. “I tried with the tapestry. Getting through wood is beyond me.”
Hephaestus’ hand popped out. “Very well, then. Come in.”
She closed her eyes as he helped her pass through the door. He released her hand as soon as she reached the other side. Opening her eyes, she saw him move across the circular room to stand in silhouette before the window.
“Where are we?” Enid looked around the space. As she suspected, they were in a bedchamber. A massive four-poster stood in the center, the canopy leaning at a slight angle, the tattered curtains fluttering the breeze coming in through the broken glass of the window. A couple carved wooden nightstands stood on either side of the bed, one drawer hanging open, the other missing. Beneath a second window rested a matching dressing table with a cracked and dusty mirror. She crossed to examine the items spread out on the surface: a pewter brush and comb, a crystal jar with some cloudy liquid inside, and a pair of broken cufflinks. “Was this your room?”
“Yes,” said Hephaestus. “This was once my refuge from the rest of the village.”
Enid placed a tentative hand on his arm. The more time passed, the more she appreciated the soothing presence of this man. She shuddered to think what might have happened to her if he hadn’t been here. “What’s troubling you?”
He whirled to her, his eyes alight. “That man cannot be allowed to take over Secret Hallow in the way he hopes. The arrangement will not work.” His shoulders slumped and he ran a hand through his hair. “Trust me.”
“Do you mean Caedmon?” Enid ran her hand up his arm and smoothed down the lapel of his jacket. The slight warmth radiating from him and the texture of the fabric beneath her palm reassured her. “He’s overbearing, but I don’t believe he wants to harm the community.”
“No matter what he intends, the arrangement he proposes will cause more harm than good.”
“How do you know?”
Hephaestus removed her hand from his jacket and turned back to the window.
She felt bereft. “Please tell me why you’re so bothered. Maybe I can help.”
He took a deep breath before speaking again. “During my life, I agreed to a similar arrangement with your ancestor, Emilia. I served as High Priest in name only while she wielded all the power.” Hephaestus rested his hand on the rough stone of the windowsill. “I never felt like a true warlock while someone else handled all the problems facing our community.” Glancing over at her, he frowned. “Spending this time with you has brought back all the worst memories of that period.”
She moved to his side. “I am not Emilia.”
“I cannot help how I feel.” Hephaestus stepped away again. “We must not allow that fellow to have his way. While young Miss Middlebrook may be joining with a mundane, she is meant to be the true High Priestess. The situation with the Elder Tree should have reminded everyone of that fact.” He sighed. “And young Master McFarland will come to feel as I have before too much time passes. I cannot allow another man to spend the rest of his existence like this. Even the Spirit World hasn’t blunted the pain of feeling myself to be less than a warlock, less than even a mundane man.”
Enid placed his hand over her heart. “The reason this continues to beat is because you saved me from all those ghouls. I couldn’t have managed without you. And you were the one who decorated for the celebration when I couldn’t. You are much more powerful and resilient than you think. You just need to believe in yourself again.” Her eyes met his as she placed a gentle hand on his cheek and stroked his skin with her thumb. “The way I believe in you.”
Hephaestus stared into her eyes for several long moments before removing her hands from him and turning away. “Thank you for your kind words, young Miss Enid.” He began pacing circles around the room for endless minutes.
Only the sound of the wind beyond the walls broke the silence.
A chill crept over Enid and she rubbed her hands over her arms to warm them. She couldn’t think what else she might say or do to reassure the man. He’d been facing these feelings of insecurity for so long that they’d festered. Healing from them would take time. She could only hope he’d listen, if for no other reason than that he didn’t deserve to spend all eternity hating himself this way. No being should face such a fate. Especially not someone as good and kind as Hephaestus.
“Shall we return to the celebration?” Hephaestus stopped before her and held out a hand. “We have much practice yet to be ready.”
Enid brightened. “Then you’ll marry them?”
Tucking her hand into the crook of his arm, he nodded.
They passed through the door, glided down the stairs, made their way through the portrait gallery, and reappeared on the landing above the great hall in much less time than the trip up had taken Enid. As she prepared to speak up to get the attention of the gathered guests who continued to argue among themselves the front door crashed open.
A figure stood silhouetted in the frame as lightning flashed behind him.
All eyes turned to the newcomer.
Glancing down at Enid, Hephaestus raised a questioning brow at her.
She shook her head to indicate she had no idea of the stranger’s identity.
Wind howled through the space and extinguished all the candles so the fireplaces provided
the only illumination. The flickering light cast dancing shadows across the walls.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.
The man stepped inside and slammed the door with a wave of his hand. Drops of rain glistened in the wild hair framing a broad face that looked somewhat familiar to her. She couldn’t make out his features or see the color of his eyes, but sensed she’d seen him before. At least, that’s how she felt. She knew better. Enid swore the man had never before set foot in Secret Hallow.
Everyone stared in shock as the stranger scanned the room until his eyes fell on Orianna.
She stood as he walked toward her with the strength and grace of a force of nature.
Hephaestus led Enid down the stairs and over to the head table. They continued to watch the stranger the entire time, as did everyone else in the room. The coven protected their own and wouldn’t allow this interloper to harm one of the family.
The man stopped before the head table.
“Rafe?” Orianna laid a protective hand atop Fern’s head. “What are you doing here?”
The man looked from the woman to the child. His broad smile revealed a row of teeth so straight and white as to blind Enid through blue shimmer of the veil. “I’ve come to meet my daughter.”
Fern looked up at Orianna. “Mama?”
Soothing the child’s brow with a reassuring hand, Orianna smiled. “This is your daddy, Fern.”
10
The great hall erupted in shocked babble as everyone started talking at once. All eyes continued to stare at the head table, where Caedmon now stood between his fiancée and the man she’d revealed to be the father of her child. The groom-to-be still seemed agitated from his confrontation with Rowan and looked eager to take his anger out on the other man. “Stay away from them, if you value your safety.”
Rafe smiled as though the other man presented no threat whatsoever. “I’m not here to cause trouble.” He looked around the room. “You seem to be having a great party. Mind if I join you?”
“This isn’t a good time,” said Orianna. She placed a soothing hand on Caedmon’s arm and motioned for him to sit down again before giving Rowan and Garrett a reassuring glance. The other couple also looked as though they were ready to protect Orianna and Fern. “We’re about to celebrate a wedding. A double wedding, in fact.”
“Congratulations. Who are the happy couples?”
Hephaestus and Enid stood nearby. Though Enid knew she couldn’t do anything to help due to her current situation, she at least felt the need to lend moral support to her friend.
Orianna smiled her way.
“Hello, beautiful.” Rafe knelt at the edge of the dais. “What are you called?”
She looked up at her mother. When Orianna nodded, she said, “My name’s Fern.”
Rafe put out to stroke her cheek.
The child recoiled and stuck her thumb in her mouth.
Enid knew Fern must be frightened of the strange man claiming to be her daddy. She’d never before seen hide nor hair of him. And Enid didn’t think Orianna would have told her daughter about the man. She’d never mentioned anything to anyone except that an elemental fathered her child. They all assumed they’d never meet the man.
How wrong they’d been.
She looked over at her sister as she came to the realization that Gemma had been right. The storm came from Rafe, an elemental, not his daughter. He must’ve been in the area for some time before he’d made his appearance. His timing seemed a calculated means of making a grand entrance.
Gemma nodded as though she understood her sister’s unspoken apology.
Everyone strained to listen in to the conversation between Orianna and Rafe.
“We should go elsewhere and talk,” said the newcomer. “I have a proposition for you.”
Orianna looked out at all her friends and family. She met her grandmother’s eye and gave a slight smile in response to Iris’ questioning look. After a moment, she looked back down at Rafe. “No more secrets. Anything you need to say to me can be spoken in front of the rest of my coven. They need to know everything I do.”
A sense of solidarity filled the great hall.
Flickering firelight highlighted the severe planes of Rafe’s face as he looked around. Enid saw his jaw move as he seemed to clench his teeth and realized why he’d seemed so familiar. Fern looked a lot like her daddy. She hadn’t noticed before because the girl also looked a lot like her mother and the similarities only became visible when she and a parent stood together.
Fern’s unruly black hair matched Rafe’s and she seemed to share his nose and jawline as well. Her sparkling green eyes and pale, freckled skin looked more like Orianna’s, though. The girl looked like a miniaturized compilation of both parents. As did most kids, for that matter, thought Enid as she looked over at Siobhan sleeping in her mother’s arms.
Rowan stroked her baby’s soft hair as she watched with a look of concern. Garrett rested a protective arm around her as though he feared Rafe might attack them for some reason.
Enid understood his concern. As a mundane, he wasn’t used to being around such power. And Rafe exuded a more intense magic than she’d ever before seen; she could only imagine how strong he seemed on the other side of the veil since she knew very well she didn’t seeing everything with the same clarity as the people in the Living World.
Her attention returned to Rafe as he spoke again.
“If that’s what you want.” Getting to his feet, Rafe held out a hand. “Could you at least come down to my level? I feel you have the advantage up there.”
Orianna again rested a hand on Caedmon’s arm when he moved to step between her and Rafe. She then took the hand of her child’s father and stepped down to his level. He stood a head taller, making her appear much more petite than normal. “What do you want?”
“I’ve sensed Fern’s developing powers. No one else in your coven seems elemental, so it must be her.”
“That’s true,” said Orianna. “Fern is the only one in Secret Hallow.” She looked up at her daughter, who now rested in Caedmon’s lap, his arms wrapped around her in a protective way that warmed Enid’s heart. She’d hoped he would be a good father to the child. Now she knew for sure he’d do his best for her. “We’re still a community of strong witches. Don’t think we’re not.”
“I don’t feel anyone here is qualified to teach my child how to control her powers. An elemental’s magic shares a strong connection with their emotions. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, since I assume Fern is a normal child.”
“Yes, Fern throws the occasional tantrum. We’re teaching her how to handle her powers when she’s angry or upset. You don’t need to worry.”
“I’m more worried about the rest of you. You might be able to handle her now, but when she reaches puberty…watch out.” Rafe laughed. “Remember that day on the beach?”
Orianna looked worried. “That’s not funny.”
“That’s what you can expect if she’s not properly trained.”
Enid wondered what might have occurred ‘that day on the beach’ to frighten Orianna so much. Before Rowan’s return to the village, Orianna refused to allow Fern out into the greater community because she feared her daughter’s powers. The events surrounding Rowan’s return and the healing of the Elder Tree reassured Orianna enough that she’d agreed to send Fern to the Ash Academy for training. During her time helping out at the school, Enid saw the child’s power first-hand and she’d listened to Gemma and Rowan discuss their concerns about teaching her without understanding the true nature of her powers. If the storm raging outside were any indication, Enid now felt a true understanding of Orianna’s initial fear, and shared some of the concerns herself.
Could Secret Hallow survive Fern’s teen years?
“Fern needs to come with me so I can give her proper lessons in control,” Rafe said.
Orianna backed away and extended her arms. “She’s staying with me.”
Fern buried her face in Caedmon
’s chest.
“You’re scaring the child,” said Rafe. “I’m her father and wish her no harm. She’ll come back home as soon as I feel she’s ready, and of course she’ll be permitted visits any time you and she desire it.”
“She’s not going with you. You may be her father, but you’re a total stranger.”
“Now don’t be melodramatic, Orianna…”
Caedmon stood with Fern held tight in his arms. “I won’t allow you to take her, either. I’m her daddy and I’ll do everything possible to take care of her and her mother.” He pointed at the door. “You should go now. You’ve worn out your welcome.”
Rafe laughed aloud at the same time a huge rumble of thunder shook the castle.
Enid shivered, realizing she’d underestimated the strength of the stranger’s power.
“You think you can train her better than me? What’s your power?”
“Water,” said Caedmon, standing straighter and taller than before. His bearing impressed Enid even more. “But you already know that, don’t you? I’ve sensed you watching us for the past few days.” Orianna sent a startled look his way. “I’m sure you sensed the same thing. Something strange seemed to be going on, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to worry you.”
She climbed onto the dais and stepped into Caedmon’s arms. Orianna then encircled her fiancée and daughter in a protective embrace. “We’ll all be fine without you, Rafe. You should go now.”
“This is important and I don’t want to fight. You need to trust me. Fern needs proper training or your entire community will suffer.” He looked out over the curious faces watching the drama unfold before them. “Do you all trust that my child won’t do something to destroy this village? Or, even worse, injure or kill one of you?”