Malice

by Stacy Charasidis

  “Well, to set the containment spell I had to use very powerful magic. I will avoid a foray into magical theory to keep things simple, but with all that negative energy, building and unable to escape…there was a risk the resulting magical residue could contaminate the area with a type of magical pestilence...” Elanah was mumbling as she stood and brushed the dirt off her hands, “But it was merely a possible side effect.”

  “A possible side effect? The area you’re discussing so casually is our town,” Dean said, frowning.

  “My God,” Nathalie exclaimed. “That wasn’t in Jacob’s journal.”

  Elanah looked a little sad. “That is because he did not know. I hoped the energy would just disperse once the dome was gone.”

  “Why didn’t he know?” Dean asked aggressively. This woman rubbed him the wrong way.

  She frowned at Dean’s aggression, beginning to get angry herself. “Why? Because he was already desperate, and scared, and he had no other viable options. We certainly did not expect the hex would take hundreds of years to conclude, and I was certain I would be around to help mitigate any after effects.”

  Nathalie frowned. Something was missing from Elanah’s explanation, but she couldn’t get her mind to focus.

  Elanah spread her hands in a defeated gesture. “This is why I have been called to this place and time. I must fix this.”

  Dean was looking at Elanah with distrust. “And what about Willow? Were you her friend? It’s not very clear from what we’ve read about you whether you’re good or evil. We need to make sure we aren’t bringing danger into our town, especially to Sadie.”

  Elanah looked at him with large, cornflower blue eyes and answered him truthfully. “I knew Willow when we were girls. When my family first arrived in Limerick, Willow was married with a young son. She was very kind to me. She was filled with goodness.”

  “We did not meet that Willow,” Dean muttered.

  Elanah shook her head with sadness. “She was happy with her life, her husband Jesse, everything. She helped our family get settled. She was very beautiful. Unfortunately, my spoiled brother became obsessed with her, and it did not go well after that.”

  “No shit,” Dean said under his breath. He hated Willow Kellar. She had tried to kill him, but she had become the vicious witch she was because of the Von Vixen family. Sadie had told them Willow’s story. “I’d be pissed too. No one helped her.”

  “That is true, young Croft. No one helped her, but there was nothing I could do,” Elanah said a bit defensively. “She was angry with me because I would not intervene with my brother, but the truth is I could not. I never had the chance to explain, and Willow got her revenge in the end by taking the lives of my nephew and brother. She found me later, after she had sunk deeply in the black arts, and threatened to hurt...my loved ones, but we made an agreement instead. If anything were to happen to her I was to ensure her grimoire got to the Kellars safely, for her heir.”

  “Then you must have stolen it while they were sentencing her,” Nathalie said with distaste in her voice.

  Elanah’s manner grew cold. “What do you know of it, girl? It was a terrifying and dangerous time. To be caught with that book would have meant certain death. So while the God-fearing Barrington mob took it upon themselves to curse and spit on Willow at the county law office, I stole the book out of the fire while all their pious eyes were turned away.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any offence, but how did you know what they were planning? From what I understand, through Nettie, it all happened in one day. You lived in Limerick.”

  “An acquaintance of Willow’s told me, and brought me to Barrington so I could keep my end of the bargain.”

  “Why didn’t you try to rescue her?”

  “Because I knew she had become an abomination, and the moment she took the life of a child, she was a dead woman.”

  “How can you just say that?” Dean asked, shocked.

  Elanah tilted her head and considered Dean. “You Crofts are so sweet, and still soft, I see. Willow Kellar was so reviled, even sweet Saul overcame his distaste for murder to pull the lever at her execution. I don’t think you can imagine how terrifying a mob can be. There was no law. People took justice into their own hands. You did what you had to in order to protect yourself.” She was visibly shaking now after recounting the horrible events. Her sweaty hands were clenched in her skirts, leaving damp wrinkles.

  Nathalie approached Elanah. When she got closer she realized that Elanah wasn’t a woman under those old-fashioned clothes. She was just a girl like her.

  “How old are you?” Nathalie asked with some shock. Dean had followed protectively behind her, his hand on her arm.

  “I am three and twenty,” she said, “a woman fully grown. Why?”

  “After everything that happened…you’re so young.”

  “Whose side were you on, anyway?” Dean asked curiously. “You helped the witch hunters then turned around and hid spell books, including your own. What were you playing at?”

  “Dean!”

  “Playing!” she responded, outraged. “I had to make concessions in order to live. No one who thinks they are doing right considers themselves evil. It is all based on your view point. Every angry mob that murdered an innocent woman who had been falsely labeled a witch felt they were doing God’s work, and they slept well at night. I never gave up a healthy witch. Sometimes they got caught, usually due to their own stupidity. I would merely confirm them for the town leaders. Most of the women I named that hung or burned were regular people.”

  Nathalie and Dean looked at her, appalled.

  “You had innocent women lynched and murdered?” Nathalie asked in shock. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She was just a girl!

  Elanah shrugged. “It would not have made a difference to save them. The women I chose were all dead, anyway. That is my gift.”

  Nathalie looked mystified. “Your gift?”

  Elanah nodded. “Every witch has a gift, a particular talent. Mine is rather unique. If you are going to die within the year, a mark appears on your forehead that only I can see. It gets darker and bloodier looking as the time draws near. If I saw a woman was going to die shortly, I picked her in order to save another, healthy woman.”

  Dean was horrified. “But they died in agony, wrongfully accused.”

  Elanah snorted. “Everyone died in agony, unless you were lucky enough to be shot, or have a heart attack. Pain was not well controlled except through alcohol or unconsciousness. Better to die quick, even if it is terrifying.”

  “What’s the mark you see?” Nathalie asked in a curious whisper.

  “It looks like the top of a pitchfork. It is usually pale black at first. The darker the mark, the closer you are to dying. I only ever chose women who had blazing marks on their foreheads,” Elanah said softly, “and when it bleeds red, it means imminent death.”

  “So…that witch Hester called you so you could help Sadie before she gets sick?” Dean asked, worry replacing the hostility in his voice.

  Elanah shook her head. “Hester would not have called me, willingly anyway,” she said wryly. “Hester’s particular gift is the ability to twist time, and only a time twister would be able to pull a body from one time to another. But all witches can call the dead if they have a mind to. I suspect another witch enlisted Hester’s help to pull me here and clean up this unfortunate mess.”

  “So, there is another witch from this time we don’t know about.”

  Elanah nodded. “A strong one.”

  “So this mess...what do you mean exactly?” Nathalie asked.

  “This diseased magic, for lack of a better description, started with my base spell. I must be the one to fix it. As a Kellar, Sadie is likely the most powerful witch in Barrington, so she’s the most vulnerable. It will affect her first, rotting her magic at its very core, sickening her, and eventually killing her. Anyone with magic will get sick—how long it takes just depends on the strength of their
magic, but the results will be the same unless something is done.”

  “So why did you say ‘all of us’? We’re not sick,” Dean asked. “We don’t even have magic.”

  “Barrington is a magical town. Willow’s hex ensured that. All Barringtoners are infected to some degree. Left unchecked, the most powerful will fall first, that being Sadie, and the rest will follow slowly but surely. You understand? To me you ALL have black marks on your foreheads, pale as they are right now. Soon, everyone in Barrington will be dead.”

  Chapter 5 – Introduction

  Barrington County, Present Day

  They brought Elanah to the hotel to speak to John Barrington, the town’s mayor. He was just leaving with his wife Claire.

  “Mr. Barrington!” Dean yelled as the three of them burst out of the woods.

  The couple looked curiously at the young adults. Dean was wheezing. Nathalie was red from exertion, but the young woman with them looked completely unruffled. Her face was serene as she awaited introductions. She was oddly dressed. Perhaps she was from Superstition. Didn’t Gabriel say the residents still dressed in that old fashioned style?

  Nathalie put her hand on John’s arm. “We have a problem.”

  John eyes narrowed as he looked at Nathalie. The last three years had been peaceful, but to ignore the chronicler was to do so at great peril.

  “What’s going on Nathalie?” John asked seriously. He looked tired. They had all been up late celebrating last night.

  Claire’s eyes were trained on Elanah’s face and clothing. “And who have we here?” she asked inquiringly.

  Elanah was staring at John. “Good Lord, you look so much like him,” she exclaimed with shock.

  “Mr. Barrington, this is Elanah Von Vixen,” Dean said meaningfully, winking his eyes like a crazy person.

  “Stop that,” Nathalie whispered.

  The older couple froze, their eyes flicking to each other and then to the strange lady in front of them. She was still staring at John, but then her eyes moved to Claire. “And you are a Kirkman,” Elanah said, looking intently at her face.

  Claire was startled. “How did you know that?”

  Elanah smiled despite the sadness that appeared in her eyes. “You have the Kirkman features.” She looked at both John and Claire in turn. “Both Jacob and Sean were powerful, handsome men. Now, hundreds of years later, the two strongest families in these parts have joined together. I’m guessing the progeny of that union were the key to destroying Willow’s hex in the end.”

  John stared at Elanah in astonishment. “Why, yes.”

  Claire was a bit more reserved about discussing the topic, but she answered truthfully. “Our son, Luke, was instrumental in helping Sadie rid Barrington of the hex. Willow was destroyed three years ago.”

  “And the Kellar and Barrington houses are now joined?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is quite incredible,” Elanah exclaimed.

  Dean looked impatient. “This is all quite fascinating, but I think you can reminisce later. Elanah needs to explain why she’s here. You need to hear this.”

  Nathalie agreed. “And a more private setting would be better, too.”

  John nodded. “Okay, let’s go inside and talk.”

  They entered the hotel and John led them to the dining room. Because the hotel was not yet open, it was deserted as most of the wedding guests had left. John requested coffee from the kitchen and sat back to stare at Elanah. Coffee arrived shortly after they were settled, and Elanah stared at the brew, her nostrils flaring. “It smells delicious.”

  “It is,” Claire agreed, taking milk and sugar. Elanah did the same.

  Once they had all taken sips, Elanah explained why she had been pulled here.

  “So, we have marks on our foreheads?” Claire asked, absently lifting her hand to her forehead before realizing what she was doing and lowering it.

  “Yes. Yours is much brighter than your husband’s, though.”

  Nathalie blinked. She never thought to ask how bright her mark was.

  “I would imagine so,” Claire agreed.

  Dean looked lost.

  Elanah explained. “She has more magical ability. Sean’s family didn’t have any magic, but Hester’s did.”

  “According to family records, Sean and Hester’s son married a distant cousin of Hester’s, but she herself was reputedly a witch, so magic was in the family,” Claire explained.

  Elanah’s mouth twisted in a rueful smile. “Of course, that would explain it,” she said brusquely, taking a sip of her coffee. She seemed uneasy with the topic. “This is delicious.”

  John glanced at his wife’s forehead worriedly. “Can you fix this? Reverse the effects? Do people just die or are there symptoms first?”

  Elanah shook her head. “I don’t know how the magical effects will manifest. This situation is very…rare. I need to speak to Sadie. As the most powerful witch in Barrington, she will be the first to exhibit any symptoms.”

  “Yes, she is the most powerful, bar none,” John agreed, “but she and my son are on a plane heading far away from here. They are on their honeymoon.”

  “Will she get sick while she’s away?” Nathalie asked, worried. “We have to tell Luke. They have no idea what’s going on.”

  Elanah thought about it. “I think being removed from Barrington will halt the progression, maybe even reverse any effects she may not have realized she was experiencing. Perhaps she shouldn’t return until I have dealt with the problem and the mutation is gone.”

  John sighed. “I would prefer not to panic them on their honeymoon. Sadie seemed fine when she left. I’ll casually check up on her through Luke and see how they’re both feeling. Right now we need to arrange a place for you to stay. The hotel is at your disposal. You may use our family suite and live there for the time being. Just tell me what you need to counteract this poison and I’ll get it for you.”

  Elanah looked at John. He was just as generous and kind as his ancestor. She was going to like it here.

  Nathalie shivered. Three years ago magic had become a big part of her life. Dean’s sister Ella, it turns out, was a proficient witch. Ella’s best friend Max, Luke’s younger brother, while not magical, was a genius and often helped Ella concoct very effective spells. He had a knack for knowing what ingredients went well together to create magic. He claimed it was science and common sense. Magic, though, generated odd happenings, and when historical figures came calling, that never boded well.

  Nathalie watched as Elanah thanked them, her blue eyes round as she looked around the beautiful restaurant. “That is very generous of you, Mr. Barrington,” she said with awe in her voice.

  Everyone seemed enchanted by her. Based on the look on Dean’s face, even he was starting to find her fascinating, and Elanah seemed to return his admiration. God knows, Dean was gorgeous.

  Hmmmph.

  “Call me John,” he said warmly.

  “And me Claire,” his wife echoed.

  Dean laughed lightly. “Yes, we don’t stand on ceremony anymore, do we John?”

  “That would be Mr. Barrington to you, Dean.”

  Nathalie frowned as Dean tried to show off. She brought the conversation back to the matter at hand.

  “Elanah, what do you think you will need?” How can she still be 23? Nathalie wondered. From what she remembered of Elanah’s history, she’d helped the witch hunters, stolen Willow’s grimoire from her burning home, helped Jacob Barrington with the containment spell, and locked away a demon. She’d also been married and carrying on a secret affair with Limerick’s mayor. What a life! It made for an incredible résumé. Witch for hire! Will get rid of rivals by accusing them of witchcraft, can banish demons and do spells! Keep husbands at home.

  Elanah acknowledged Nathalie’s question. “I’ll need my family’s spell book as well as Jacob’s journal.”

  John perked up at that. “You knew about his journal?”

  Elanah nodded. “I suggested he write
down everything about the spells and keep track of what we were doing. While he was convinced Willow was coming back soon to enact vengeance on him, I wasn’t sure. The concept of time has a different meaning for witches, particularly dead ones.”

  Nathalie frowned. “Weren’t you worried that someone would read his journal and hunt you down as a witch?”

  Elanah raised her eyebrows. “Everything John had written in that journal was a blasphemy. If it had been found, he would have swung right beside me. I knew that journal would be more safely guarded than any queen’s jewels.”

  True. She’d seen the journal. The townspeople then didn’t need much of an excuse to lynch someone, and that journal contained the best evidence of all, conveniently written out—conspiring with a witch, and having magical abilities yourself. One or the other could mean horrible death in that time. Both would have been a disaster.

  “I will also require Willow’s grimoire.”

  Claire tensed but John remained calm.

  “Why do you need that book? It contains spells of the darkest evil.”

  Dean shuddered. “Ugh, and it’s bound in human skin. It’s disgusting.”

  Elanah frowned and looked sad. She seemed to be struggling with a memory. “None the less, I require it. I need to reference a banishment spell from that book. It uses the same principles with what I have to do here.”

  “Talking about banishment spells, we met the demon, you know,” Dean said. “Dannerlich was one ugly, evil bastard.”

  Elanah’s reaction was immediate. She paled and knocked her chair over as she stood up to place her fingers over Dean’s mouth, pressing his lips closed. Nathalie felt a dart of jealousy flash through her. No one touched Dean’s lips but her.

  “Never say his true name, Dean Croft. Never. He is a blasphemy. An abomination. He may be confined, but he can hear, and you do not want to catch his attention.”

  Confined? “Elanah, he’s not confined anymore. His prison was unlocked and he was taken by his demon brothers and returned to his realm,” Nathalie informed her.