Angelique Armae

by McNamara's Ghost

  A look of confusion crossed Sam’s face. “How?”

  “The day after tomorrow is October 31st, the Celtic New Year. During this time, the veil is very thin between man’s world and the ethereal realm. We can get Hugh back by bringing him through the portal.”

  “That’s impossible,” said Samuel. “Someone would have to cross over to the ethereal plane in exchange for Hugh. The two worlds must be balanced. We can’t bring one soul into this realm and not send another back. Hugh couldn’t stay here.”

  Julia put the stones back in the box. “I know.” She reached in front of Sam and picked up the lid. She secured it on to the box with a firm hand.

  Sam stared at her and shook his head. “No. What you’re thinking is ridiculous. You can’t cross over, Julia. You can’t.”

  She let out a deep sigh. “Why not? After all these years, it’s the least I can do.”

  Sam reached for her hand. “You can’t. You’ve turned your back on magic for more than two centuries. You can’t just step back into that world at will. It takes time.”

  She pulled away from him. “We don’t have time. If Hugh isn’t brought across now, he’ll be wiped from the face of existence.”

  “He’s been trapped in time for ages,” said Sam. “Why should now be any different?”

  “I, too, have kept secrets concerning that night, Sam. I should have told you long ago, but I didn’t. I couldn’t talk about it.”

  Sam placed a caring arm around her shoulders. “We have to come to terms with the past. We can’t hold anything back now.”

  She nodded her ahead. “The night Alex came to the tavern, I met with him twice—once before he met with Hugh and once afterward. I told him Hugh had earned my blessings and not him. At that point, he knew he’d never be given the powers of Oghma.” She paused.

  No one knew about the curse, and up until now, she’d refused to speak of it. But Sam deserved to know and she had an obligation to tell him. “Once the blessings of Danu were taken away from Alex, Hugh became his grandfather’s only heir. At that very moment, the powers of darkness increased Alex’s magical abilities. Your great-grandfather made it so by striking a deal with powers of good and evil. The accord was meant to even the score, so to speak.

  “But Alex wasn’t content with being evil. He yearned to control both worlds. That’s why he went after Hugh. With his brother out of the way, he was convinced he’d persuade me to change my mind. I ran into him on my way back to the tavern that night. I had hoped to bury Hugh’s remains. The thought of him here, alone and exposed to the elements, disturbed me. But when I arrived, all I found was Alex. We made a pact. He wanted to strip Hugh of his powers, but I couldn’t let that happen. You know the soul of an immortal Witch, even in death, still contains its own powers.

  “If those powers were taken from Hugh, he’d never rest. I agreed to never return here, to never again practice the limited magical abilities I still had left. My powers were diminished earlier because I broke the sacred vow and spoke of the blessings of Danu. I wasn’t permitted to discuss such dealings with Alex.

  “Your father knew of this vow, and he cursed me on the instant. I had no time to react, no time to even realize what was happening to me. By the time I went to tell Hugh about what had transpired between Alex and me, I was already under the Warlock’s curse and Hugh was already held captive by Alex.”

  Julia reached for her turtleneck collar and pulled at the wool fabric. She exposed the ancient medallion hanging on a chain at her neck. “This is your father’s crest, the mark of the Warlock. The bulk of my natural powers are held in bondage until the day he chooses to relinquish my soul from his grasp. When I remove the pendant, or attempt to interfere with Alex’s curse, my skin burns, and I am left with a branded mark scarring my flesh. It only happens sometimes, though. So, I suspect, Alex isn’t always aware or awake. I believe he attacks me only when the mood strikes him.”

  She let go of the turtleneck. “But the curse didn’t stop all my powers. I could still cause Alex minor problems and he used that fact against me. I agreed to never interfere with his doings. In exchange, he would relinquish all rights to Hugh’s powers. If I ever broke the accord, Hugh’s soul would be wiped from the face of all existence. He wouldn’t even be a mere ghost lingering in time. Alex would steal his powers. It was all part of the pact I made with Caldwell.”

  “Then why did you come back?”

  “Partly because I never trusted Alex. Partly because I felt Hugh needed me to return. I can’t explain it. I’m here because I was driven by an unseen force to return to the tavern.” She stared at Sam. His hazel eyes and square jaw reminded her so much of Hugh. She needed to settle the score with Alex; there was no way she would allow the vile Warlock to win this game.

  “The way the pact was made, your father could’ve betrayed me at any moment. He still can, and there’d be nothing I could do about it. The pact would still stand. Alex had cursed me first, and therefore, he had rights over me and my word. Besides, I came back because I found a way to make amends with Hugh. To pay him back for taking away what should have been his. I should never have told Alex about the blessings of Danu. Now I have to right that wrong.”

  Sam eyed her with caution. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “My powers in exchange for Hugh’s.”

  Sam lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and finger. He wrinkled his brow. “If you give up to my father what powers you have left, you die.”

  “I know.”

  “And my father will grow stronger.” Sam lifted his head. “I would never allow such a thing to take place.”

  “That’s exactly what I was counting on when I called you. At the moment, I didn’t know about the ripple in time. I thought Hugh was just unable to rest in peace because of the way he had died. My limited abilities would have served to help him in that state. But after sensing his soul so strongly, I felt something was wrong.

  “I knew if I lured your father out, you would fight him, together with me. Had my powers not been diminished, I’d have settled this score more than two hundred years ago. Since Hugh still has a chance at reclaiming his immortality, we can help bring him back to man’s realm, and back to watch over the Ogham stones. He’s the rightful heir.”

  She stared at him. “You’re the only one who can help me with this. You can take my powers instead of your father taking them. We’ll arrange it so the exchange takes place at the precise moment I cross over to the ethereal plane. Hugh can come across to man’s world, you increase your powers—we save Hugh’s soul. And we put an end to Alex Caldwell once and for all. You can fight him. If he dies in the mortal realm, no soul would have to be exchanged for his. My soul would be exchanged for Hugh’s.”

  “Hugh would never allow it.”

  “Hugh doesn’t have a choice.”

  Chapter 6

  She invaded his dreams.

  Visions of a raven-haired Fairy Witch danced in Hugh’s head. The beguiling beauty teased him, taunted him; she knew what he liked and she played him well.

  He reached out to her and pulled her close to him. The soft feel of her silky skin against his chest sent heated tingles down his spine. He wanted her and now he’d have her.

  In the open fields, under the blanket of night, he covered her body with his. The heady fragrance of wild lavender filled the air around them. He took a deep breath, and bent his head to her neck. His mouth explored her smooth flesh.

  She stirred ever so slightly beneath him, and draped her arms about his neck. He reveled in the sensation of being so close to her.

  A sudden, hot wind rose up from the night’s shadows and enveloped his body, pulling him away from his Fairy Witch. His skin burned. Flames of fire licked at his flesh. He struggled to free himself from the

  wind’s grasp, but his movements only served to entangle him more. The sound of a tree cracking in two echoed the distance. Heavy, bent branches came flying toward him in the wind.
His world faded to black...

  Hugh woke on the instant.

  Julia stirred his dreams. He needed to reach out to her; to know once and for all what had really transpired between her and Alex. He needed to know for his own sake.

  But to converse openly and freely with Julia, Hugh had to appear in the flesh. He concentrated his energies and zoned in on Julia’s heart. He felt her soul. She slept in the far bedroom at the end of the upstairs hall.

  In ethereal form he floated out of the house and up to the second-story balcony outside Julia’s bedroom.

  He concentrated his energies into one mass and watched in amazement as flesh and blood returned to his hands. The temporary form was like a gift from the gods. Hugh rubbed his hands together just for the sake of feeling his own skin. The sensation thrilled him to no end. He was satisfied with his efforts. Even after all these years, he hadn’t lost his touch.

  With his newly-attained form, Hugh gently pushed his fingers against the balcony doors. The tiny glass panes rattled in the quiet of night.

  He crossed the threshold and entered Julia’s bedroom.

  The fragrant perfume of freshly cut lavender filled his nostrils. He followed the scent across the room.

  A large, four-poster bed sat in the center of the bedroom. Hugh ran his hand against the fine wood posts. Intricately carved stalks of lavender tied with ribbons decorated the bed. Even for a witch, thought Hugh, Julia was superstitious. He remembered her teaching him about the magical properties of lavender, and how the ancients used the herb to protect against evil. He remembered teasing her about such beliefs.

  He remembered a lot of things about Julia.

  He stood at the side of the bed and stared down at her. For centuries, he’d longed for this moment.

  Julia lay sleeping. Her long, raven colored hair flowed freely about her alabaster face, and fanned the pillow. How he wanted to bury his face in her long locks and breathe in the sweet essence of his very own goddess. But to do so would be to disturb her. And he only planned on watching tonight.

  She looked like an angel wrapped in cream-colored silk sheets dotted with bows and flowers, and matching blanket.

  Pain twisted in Hugh’s heart. He was once the soul who kept Julia warm, the soul who wrapped his body about hers like the sheets and blanket did now. He wanted desperately to believe Alex had tricked Julia, that Alex was the one responsible for her betrayal of him. He wanted to take back that which was once his.

  He longed to hold her. A light touch would do no harm. He reached out to caress Julia’s face with his hand, but his fingers swept right through her flesh. Anger washed through him like a tidal wave. Hugh pulled back and curled his hand into a fist.

  Was this all he’d be given after centuries of confinement? To be allowed to appear as a vision or a ghost in a dream?

  Those fleeting moments when she called out to him granted him the ability to take on a shadowy form in her presence. But those connections had never lasted long. Now, however, Julia stirred him from his ages-long sleep with such strong will, his old powers returned to him. He’d waited what seemed like all eternity for this moment. But he never envisioned it to be anything like this. After all these years, his beloved Julia had finally returned to him, and he couldn’t even touch her.

  Fate was more than cruel. He hated the gods. They blessed him and cursed him at the same time. He was merely a pawn in their game.

  He cursed under his breath. While Julia was awake, he couldn’t touch her. And while she slept, he could only reach out to her in dreams. But tonight, Julia didn’t dream.

  He laughed to himself. She was a clever Witch, shielding her innermost thoughts from night’s unscrupulous invaders. Not even the powers of an immortal witch could break that barrier. He hated being trapped like this. Julia shut him out, and he was certain she didn’t even realize it.

  Hugh turned away from the bed and headed toward a vacant chair across the room.

  A moan echoed in the darkness.

  He looked back.

  Julia’s body stirred ever so slightly under the covers. “Hugh,” she whispered.

  He slowly turned around.

  She licked her lips and swallowed. A look of confusion danced across her sleeping face.

  Temptation struck Hugh’s soul like he’d never imagined. He walked to the side of the bed, and leaned over Julia’s body. His shadow covered her sleeping form. He bent his head to hers.

  He kissed her.

  The soft touch of Julia’s velvet-smooth lips pressed against his was enough to send Hugh’s emotions spiraling.

  She reached up and wrapped her hands around his neck. Her fingers entwined in his hair.

  Hugh’s heart raced. His pounding pulse echoed in his ears and throbbed at his temples. His beloved Julia had finally returned to him. The honey-kissed flavor of her mouth drove him wild. His tongue delved deeper.

  A hard punch jabbed at his chest. It took a moment for reality to set in. He was being punched.

  Julia was punching him. She repeatedly pounded her fists against his body.

  He pulled away and stepped back.

  A silver flash blinded his eyes as a ray of moonlight danced off the pendant dangling at Julia’s neck.

  Alex.

  She still wore Alex’s crest. His heart sank.

  His limbs tingled with small, shocking sensations. His blood grew warm.

  Julia woke. A frighten look crossed her face. “Hugh?” She threw back the covers and rose from her bed.

  “No,” said Hugh. “Stay away from me.” He waved his hands in a frantic manner. “Don’t touch me. It’s too dangerous.”

  * * *

  She didn’t believe her eyes. “My God, Hugh, it’s really you. You’re alive—in the flesh.” She crossed the room and followed him to the chair.

  “Please, stay away. Something is happening to me, and I don’t want it to affect you.” He doubled up, clenching his hand to his stomach.

  Julia tried to contain her emotions, but it did little good. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

  Hugh let out a deep breath and straightened his body. He walked closer to the chair.

  “I never thought I’d see you again,” said Julia.

  “Is that why you made me suffer all these years?” He stumbled.

  She reached out for him.

  “No, I don’t need your help.” He steadied himself and lowered his body into the yellow striped chair. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

  “I didn’t know you were alive. I thought you died in the fire.”

  “Alex had an obligation to tell you I was still alive. That my grandfather saved me.” He shot her an evil glare. “But I don’t suppose that would’ve mattered to the two of you”

  “What does that mean?”

  “With me out of the picture, I imagine a powerful Witch such as yourself would find my brother’s dark nature quite appealing. Did it take long for you to warm his bed?”

  The accusation hurt her. “How could you think I’d abandon you for Alex?”

  “It was my brother’s plan. He told me so before he ruthlessly tried to kill me.”

  “I thought you knew me better than that, Hugh McNamara. I loved you. I still love you. Not a moment has gone by in all these centuries that I didn’t miss you. My life has meant nothing to me without you.”

  “Really? Is that why you still wear his crest? Is that why you told me to go away—earlier in the garden?”

  A knot twisted in the pit of Julia’s stomach. Alex was right about not revealing himself to Hugh. The evil Warlock still had some viable powers. “Your brother stopped me in the garden. He was there choking my soul. I called out to him, not you. I wanted Alex to stay away.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn’t want to cry, but keeping her pain from Hugh didn’t matter anymore. He hurt her and she didn’t care if he knew how vulnerable she had become.

  He stared at her with a look of contempt in his eyes. “You think because I failed once, I’d
fail again?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Why didn’t you come back for me?”

  Julia wiped the back of her hand across her face, erasing the tears. “I did. But it was too late. I made a pact with Alex, and in exchange for him not stripping your soul of your powers, I allowed him to take mine from me. I was helpless to do anything that could help you. I also didn’t know you were still alive.”

  Hugh let out a deep breath. He closed his eyes. “I should have known better.”

  “I’m sorry I’m not the Witch you thought me to be, Hugh McNamara.”

  He cupped his face in his hands, then looked up at Julia. “No, that is not what I meant. I think the world of you, Julia. I always did. Your magical powers meant nothing to me. It was you—the purity of your soul, the playfulness of your spirit, the seduction of your beauty.” He shook his head. A look of disbelief crossed his handsome face. “Forgive me. I’m sorry. I had no right to blame you all these years without knowing the full story.”

  “You have nothing to apologize for, Hugh. I love you and you’re here now. That’s all that matters.” She reached out her hand to his forehead.

  He pulled back.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “I have some powers Alex could never take away. Whatever is happening to you right now won’t hurt me.”

  His flesh was hot to the touch. “You’re burning up, Hugh.”

  “I know. I can feel it in my blood.” He undid the tie at the top of his cape. The heavy wool cloak fell to his elbows. “I feel as if I’m slipping away. And I don’t mean just from this world, but from existence in general.”

  He was fading from existence. Julia knew Alex’s curse was beginning to take affect and she was the cause of all of this. She didn’t know how to tell Hugh. It was difficult for her to explain her own shortcomings. “Sam and I have a plan. We can save you and bring you across to man’s world.”

  “I don’t need saving. I just have to find out what is happening to me and correct the matter. Perhaps it is only the stress of using my energies after so long a sleep.”

  She turned away from him. Julia lowered her head and glanced down at the floor. “It’s not the sudden use of your energies. My return here is a violation of the pact I made with Alex. You’re fading from existence because of me. I felt you so strongly that I thought you were calling me here. I sensed something was wrong. Now I know it must’ve only been Alex wanting me to return so I’d break the pact and you would seize to exist.”