Heart of the Secret: A Witches of Lane County Novella

by Jody A. Kessler

  “You’re not really going for a swim, are you?” he calls to me.

  The flashlight beam flickers across the spread out wings of the crow. The bird bobs up and down with the movement and I’m almost positive that I can grab it if the next wave has even one miniscule speck of sympathy for my plight.

  Over my shoulder I chance a glimpse at the love of my life and see he’s only a few yards away.

  “The crow. It’s in the water,” I beg as tears stream from my eyes and disappear into the rain.

  “What in the bloody hell are you doing out here?” he asks, reaching out to me. “Be careful and come away from there.”

  “No,” I say, and lean another inch closer to the crow. The bird knows I’m going to kill it and give its heart to the sea. His black eyes see my outstretched hand and he makes a last attempt at escaping my torture. He flutters and rises from the water, but a wave knocks him back down. “Where did it go?” I say with dread that the ocean has taken it and buried it beneath its surface. “Your light. Shine your light!” I say to Rook.

  Rook’s flashlight is pointed at me and the most direct path for him to get to me, not at the bird drowning in the Pacific.

  “It’s going to die and it’s all my fault.” By now, I’m a sobbing mess. “Help me look for it,” I plead stepping to the right where I think the bird must have been pushed into the rocks.

  “Aspen!” Rook scolds as I move farther away from him and onto a broad and extremely slimy slab of stone.

  My insistence finally gets through to him because the beam of light passes over me and moves along the water’s edge. The ray of light stops closer to Rook and we see the drenched and suffering bird at the same time. We move to rescue it, but my boyfriend is closer. He eases down to the edge, seemingly oblivious to the sea spray and pelting rain. He gets a good foothold and bends low, retrieving the sodden bird. He leans back against the stones with the crow cupped between his palms. I scramble to a higher point on the side of the jetty and half crawl and half climb toward my two corvids. Rook and a young crow. I could never hurt an innocent creature. What was I thinking? I can’t even stand to see moths hitting the windshield of my car.

  With gentle movements, Rook pivots and places the crow above him on a higher point on the rocks. Then he eases himself up.

  “There, darling. Your little bird will be fine. Now let’s get off of this wet carnival ride, shall we?”

  Using hands and feet for better grip I climb bear style over closer to him. He’s watching me and I can see the deep concern and worry etched in the lines around his eyes.

  “I…” I can’t speak. Failure wasn’t in the plans tonight.

  Rook’s going to have to break up with me permanently or die. These options are both suicide as far as my heart is concerned. I stare at his gorgeous face, rain dripping from every angle of his perfect body, and know in my soul I let us down. I stop climbing and take a second to let the realization sink in.

  “Keep coming,” he urges. “Basil is the true hero, Aspen. That dog of yours told me exactly where to find you.”

  “Traitor,” I mumble. “Hero is not quite what I would call him,” I say as I climb over one more rock.

  Rook moves a step closer to me, hand extended to give me something to hold onto. “He deserves a medal for finding you in this—”

  And then all at once the fates conspire to align with a bitter and selfish five-hundred-year-old witch, and there’s not much that can be done other than accept that the universe has a plan that doesn’t take special requests.

  A crack of lightning splits the sky and the boom of thunder cuts off his words. As the sound deafens us, the sea reaches out and takes Rook from me just as it took my other offerings. The wave hits me as well, but not as hard, and I only sink onto the rocks rather than crash into the water.

  “Curses and scars be damned!” A second after Rook gets swallowed by the ocean, I plunge in after him.

  In case you were wondering, drowning isn’t a pleasant experience. Drowning in the churning unforgiving Pacific Ocean during a storm at night is surreal to say the least. It’s also a nightmare with endless depths and boogeymen hiding in every direction.

  There’s no up or down or sideways. There’s cold and lonely and desperate. Did I fight to live? I honestly don’t remember. What I do remember is violence, pain, and then being pinned so I couldn’t move.

  Then there is more violence as I’m being forced to return to a life I’m not sure I want. What kind of life would it be knowing that love will never be something I can hold in my arms, or give without lies and conditions and secrets?

  “Aspen? You’re not allowed to leave me,” he’s saying in my ear. “This place is where our story starts, not where it ends. You’re the reason I get up in the morning. I thought I was studying the universe to find out why I exist, but now I know I only exist on this earth because of you.”

  Rook’s voice is the sound of heaven. I want to listen to it for eternity. I don’t want to rise from my stupor for the deep and primal urge that I might hear him speak again if I stay still.

  “Aspen, tell me you’re alright.”

  He sounds sad and I almost consider answering him, but part of me feels far away and not willing to face my deplorable life. I feel a hand stroking my brow and then fingers brushing down my cheek. I’m also vaguely aware of something nuzzling my hand and whimpering softly. Basil is worried about me, too.

  “If you don’t want to tell me what you’re doing out here on this ridiculously awful night, that’s fine, darling, but don’t leave me. You can have your secrets and I will still love you. I will always love you.”

  Unable to resist him any longer I murmur, “I love you too, Rook.” Then an involuntary moan escapes from my lips and a zinging pain pulses over my scalp. The stupor was much more comfortable. I reach a tentative hand up to my head.

  “Don’t move,” he says. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get a hold of you before you bumped your head, but I did save you from the tumultuous tides.”

  “It’s not enough,” I say as I struggle to rise.

  He holds me in his lap and refuses to let me get up. His face swims in my vision and I get queasy and close my eyes again.

  “You surely did not want me to let you drown out there?” he questions.

  “Love isn’t enough,” I clarify, and feel my chest collapse with grief.

  “Of course it is,” he says, and I feel his warm lips press gently to my forehead.

  “It’s not,” I say and feel the tears return. “It’s not raining,” I say because I can’t talk about the curse. The secrets are still buried in the ridiculous and evil wedding curse, and I’m also aware that for the first time all night I don’t have water streaming over my face.

  “Aye. All we had to do was fall into the sea and get completely drenched for it to stop pouring down on us.”

  I open my eyes and stare at the sky. My vision is clearer this time and I see the clouds are beginning to break. A sliver of the waning moon glows from behind the departing storm as if coming out to spy on me. It’s taunting me for failing. Giving me a kick in my backside as I leave the playing field a loser. “I needed the corvid’s heart,” I sob, and bury my face in Rook’s lap. I cover the side of my head with my arm to hide my despair. “I failed just like my mother did.”

  “What are you talking about?” he says, and places a strong and supportive hand on top of mine.

  “The heart of the corvid. It was the last step.” Let the curse turn on me. I can’t take this secrecy any longer. I don’t want to live if I have to live like this.

  “Darling, you have my heart. You always have. Since the moment I met you on this very beach,” he says, and gently lifts my hand away so he can see me.

  Rook. My corvid. “What?” I ask, and I’m vaguely aware of the magic on the beach swirling around us. The counter spell is still working. Its structure is growing and locking into place. The final key fits and a clarity like I’ve never known before opens my
mind.

  The corvid’s heart was already mine, but his spoken words make the final connection to complete the spell, or break the curse, however you want to look at it.

  “I said you own my heart. You hold it in your wily woman hands. I stopped being its sole possessor about seven months ago.”

  I raise my head, aware of the discomfort of my new bruises, but also fully aware of the lightening of the magic. Breaking the curse lifted the magic I had been casting over the beach. I’m suddenly lighter in mind, body, and spirit and I know the weight of centuries has been lifted to disappear among the stars and dissipate into the universe.

  “What just happened, Aspen?” he asks with a slight stiffening of his spine. Rook quickly glances up the beach and then back down at my face.

  “You fell into the sea and now I’m able to tell you something that I couldn’t before,” I say with wonder and sudden enlightenment. “And I won’t be struck dead for it!”

  “I’m going to enjoy this part, aren’t I?”

  A smile breaks at the corners of my mouth. “Yes, Rook. I think you’re going to like what I have to say very much.”

  “I don’t need all the specifics right this moment. Just look at your face,” he says, beaming at me. “You’re going to marry me,” he says with a spark of confidence.

  “How did you get that from the soggy half-drowned rat look on my face?” I ask pulling back an inch.

  “I know what I see, and I know you. I may not understand all that has happened in the last few minutes, but I feel the change in you and the change on this coastline. Now kiss me, darling, and tell me the date you would like to become Mrs. Avesbury.”

  “Do you know how unattractive being cocky is?” I say with mock annoyance.

  “Cocky, is it? Ah, well, you know how I like it when you talk dirty to me. I feel a stirring, Aspen Milan Morgan. Shall we take this to your rooms where you can talk dirty to me for the rest of the night?”

  I smack his taut stomach for cheekiness. “Rook Avesbury, you are the worst! I’m burnt, bruised, and drenched with sea water for crying out loud. Do you really think this is a good time to—”

  I don’t get to finish because he cuts me off by placing his sumptuous, salty, and welcome lips to mine.

  Thirteen Months Later

  “In the name of the Goddess, and witnessed by the gods of your own choosing, and by family and friends in attendance, beneath the heavenly bodies, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

  The cheers and clapping, the melodies of violin and cello are mere background noise as I stare into Rook’s tender, loving eyes. He doesn’t hear it either. His soul is focused on mine as mine is on his. We’re married. Nothing else matters but the love flowing between us. He’s seen our future and shared those visions with me, but no glimpses into the future can compare to the extraordinary gift that only the present can give.

  He leans in and my eyelids drift closed in anticipation for our first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Morgan-Avesbury. His arms wrap around me and his lips find mine. I’m in bliss as we seal this bond of marriage with our bodies. Kiss me forever, I think, as I take this promise from him and give my own promise in return that I will be by his side for the rest of my life.

  Our lips part, but our gaze stays steady on one another.

  “Do you want to ditch the reception, darling?” he asks, voice low so the priest cannot hear. “I need you in my bed and I don’t know if it can wait through a bloody dinner party?”

  “Rook!” I say, aghast that he wants to skip the reception after all the planning, catering, magical charms, and family flying in from all over the world. “We can’t leave,” I whisper even as I can’t stop grinning like a fool at the thought of what he has planned for our wedding night.

  I turn to the crowd. They’re on their feet waiting for us to march down the aisle and receive our congratulations.

  Rook leans in close to my ear and purrs his next statement. “Everyone here knows I am ready to claim you properly as my wife.” He nips my earlobe with a graze of teeth and then turns to face our family and friends.

  My body responds with a tickle of pleasure and a quiver that runs straight down to my core. Holy good god! I’m not sure I can make it through dinner, either.

  With all eyes on us, I clasp Rook’s hand in mine and he leads us into the waiting crowd.

  “Two hours and then you can have your way with me,” I murmur to him as Aunt Ivy, Aunt Jet, and Rook’s parents step forward to offer hugs.

  The flowers in my bouquet and in the centerpieces sweeten the air adding to the already fragrant and fresh mountain setting. The happy trilling and cooing from the wild birds add depth to the music playing from the band and string quartet.

  We take our seats at the table of honor and I gaze around the tent, at all the people I care about, at the gorgeous decorations chosen with so much care by me, the aunts, and Tori. The ceiling of the tent is a window to the magical sky. Rook cast the spell over the aspen grove and I now see that he is not only highlighting special constellations and stars but he’s added much more to the sunset performance.

  “Do you like the enchantments?” Rook asks and nods up to the heavens.

  “I love it,” I say.

  “Keep watching,” he says with a smile.

  The Milky Way glows bright in a wide arch across the sky disappearing behind the white-capped mountain peaks on the far side of the grove. As the sun finishes setting, and the purple and magenta backdrop fades to gray the stars begin to fall and explode like diamond fireworks.

  A collective, “Oooh,” followed by a few, “awwws,” escape from everyone in attendance, including myself.

  “That’s wonderful,” I tell Rook and run my hand over his thigh beneath the table.

  “That was for you, my love, and anything else you want in this life will be yours.”

  “Cut it out. You’re making me blush,” I say.

  “I mean it.” He takes my hand in his.

  I turn to kiss him again, ignoring the guests, the food, and the brilliant sky. He’s all too willing to meet my kiss and forget that we’re not alone.

  “Hmm-hmmm,” I hear near my left shoulder.

  I pull away from Rook feeling dreamy and light-headed. Tori is standing next to me with a glass of champagne in her hand.

  “I raise my glass in a toast to my cousin Aspen and her man, Rook,” she starts and looks down at us with a brilliant smile lighting up her face. “You have always been a sister to me and I love you like one. We are all aware of what is has taken to come to this very special moment in time for the Morgans. We owe you everything,” she pauses and gives me a meaningful look and then another one to my family.

  Interestingly enough, a very distant line of cousins has appeared out of the woodwork since I broke the family wedding curse. They’re seated with my aunts and the entire table sends gratitude my way after Tori says this.

  She continues. “To Rook, simple words cannot express how thankful we are that you decided to marry our Aspen. Wow! You must be a really brave guy.”

  My breath catches and my corset suddenly feels much tighter. What is she saying? My nerve endings sizzle for a second, wondering if she’s about to embarrass me beyond repair.

  Tori laughs and turns to face my husband. She’s holding up her glass and looks overly pleased with herself. “You’re brave, and completely deserving to have such a beautiful, strong, and amazing woman to call your wife.”

  She winks at us and I let out the breath I was holding.

  “Rook, I know you’re up for the challenge. Welcome to the family!” she finishes, and takes a drink of her champagne.

  “To the newly married couple, and especially my new daughter-in-law, Aspen,” Richard Avesbury says, standing at his table, and ready to start a new toast.

  All eyes turn to Rook’s father.

  Almost all eyes.

  Tori gives a little squeal as the potion I put into her drink takes nearly instant effect.

  First to k
ick in is total immobilization, making sure Tori is frozen as the rest of the potion starts working. She’s one hundred percent aware of everything happening to her and she’s in no real pain other than the humiliation that is sure to follow.

  Rook’s dad continues and it’s the perfect distraction from what is happening to my cousin.

  Only me, Tori’s date, Leif, and Rook seem to notice she’s in distress. Rook rises to move to her side, but I lay a hand on his arm to stop him from interfering.

  “She had this coming,” I say with a self-satisfied grin.

  Rook gives me a questioning look, but steps back. Tori’s transformation doesn’t last long. Only a couple of seconds pass before my cousin is a velvety ball of gray fur with two light green eyes.

  “Don’t you make a handsome chinchilla?” I coo over her as I carefully scoop her up and pivot in my chair toward Estella’s cage behind us.

  Basil’s tail wags with excitement and I let him sniff her before she goes into the terrarium. Basil does an excellent job of giving Tori a good slobbery sniff down from nose to tail. He opens his mouth to take a taste.

  “No, no,” I scold gently, and pull Tori away from Basil’s jaws.

  Tori’s limbs are already starting to wriggle. I only have a few more seconds before the immobilization wears off and she’ll start cursing and biting at me.

  “What did you do to her?” Tori’s date asks.

  Leif’s eyes are wide as an owl’s as he looks at Tori and then at me with newly discovered awe and terror. Leif may understand a lot about the paranormal world, but he’s not used to being around magic users on a regular basis. I almost feel sorry for him, but he may as well get used to us. Their relationship appears pretty serious these days.

  “Don’t worry, she’s only receiving her just desserts. It’ll wear off before too long and you’ll get at least one dance with her before the night is over.”

  “But…but she’s a rodent,” he stammers.

  “Yes, she is,” I say proudly. I open the terrarium lid and place Tori on top of the soft wood shavings to keep Estella company for an hour or so.