Kiera glanced up at him. He was looking at her with a mixture of anger and betrayal, “Can you hear yourself? You have a dream about some dead witch and you turn on me and Kitto. I thought we were…” he paused, “I thought we were like family.”
Kiera's heart lurched at his words. She let her head fall into her hands, “I just don't know what to do Jack. I don't know who to trust.”
She felt his hands cup her face and he tilted it upwards so that she was looking into his eyes. She couldn't bear the pain she saw there, pain that she had caused.
“Trust me,” he whispered.
Just then the front door of the car opened and Kitto climbed in. Her blood turned cold.
“Her body isn't there,” Kitto told them, “I think the Creature dragged her out across the fields, possibly towards some trees. I can track it.”
“Okay. What about Kiera?” Jack asked.
Kitto turned his gaze to her, “Is she making any sense?”
“Not really,” Jack shrugged, “she thinks you're a psychopath who's responsible for pretty much everything, from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the sinking of the Titanic. She also thinks we have problematic DNA.”
“I'm sitting right here,” Kiera mumbled.
Kitto sighed and they all fell into a strained silence.
“Is Mags alive?” Kiera asked.
Kitto didn't answer at first, then he shook his head, “Not with all that blood. The Creature never lets anyone live when he gets his teeth into them.”
Kiera let out a sob.
“What do we do?” Jack asked quietly.
“You're going to take Kiera home,” Kitto said decisively, “we need her somewhere safe and with all the spells she cast earlier, home is our best bet. I'll track the Creature.”
Jack glanced at Kiera and then back to Kitto, “What if she doesn't want to go home?”
“And I'm still here,” Kiera mumbled again.
Kitto looked at her sadly, “She has to, it's for the best.”
“Kidnapping?” Jack said, wondering how on earth they had reached this point.
“If we have to,” Kitto said flatly, “sometimes bad things must be done for a greater good.”
Kiera shuddered at his words. She had heard him say something like that before.
Chapter Thirty Two
Kitto and Jack climbed out of the car and stood on the pavement talking quietly. Kiera sat on the back seat and curled her legs under her. Her mind was a whir, she didn't know what to do for the best. She thought of Mags and shook her head in disbelief. Then she tried to formulate a plan but everything was such a mess.
She contemplated trying to use her magic to overpower Kitto, but then what? If she succeeded what would she do next? Would she have to hurt Jack? He was never going to betray Kitto. On the other hand, she was worried that Kitto might betray Jack. It wouldn't be the first time he had let his fellow Gwithiaz be slaughtered, it wouldn't be the first time he had betrayed his friends.
She sat up straight and strained her ears to hear Jack and Kitto.
“You can't go alone,” Jack protested, “it could be dangerous. I have to go with you.”
“Our priority is to look after Kiera,” Kitto told him firmly, “I'll see what I can find and I'll return to you later.”
“At least take a mobile with you,” Jack pleaded, “I have one in my glove box.”
“A mobile what?” Kitto frowned.
“Phone,” Jack said exasperated, “all you have to do is talk into it and tell me if you need help.”
Kitto shook his head, “I wouldn't be able to work one. Go and watch over Kiera, don't worry about me. I will be back later.”
She watched Kitto turn and walk back to the house. She felt a sense of relief when he was gone. Jack climbed silently into the driver's seat and switched on the engine. She caught a glimpse of him in the rear-view mirror. His jaw was tightly clenched as he pulled away from the kerb. Their eyes met briefly before he looked away and they drove home in silence.
Once home Kiera stood awkwardly in the hallway for a moment whilst Jack removed his coat. She thought he would want to speak to her but he walked swiftly into the kitchen and she could hear him pouring himself a drink.
She retreated to her bedroom and lay down on her bed. She felt exhausted as she tried to process her thoughts and consider her options. She knew what she had seen but she still found it hard to believe that the Kitto she knew and loved would do such horrific things. Kitto had told Jack to keep her in the house but she could try to leave. Perhaps she could try to use the teleportation magic that the tree-spirit had used. However, with her brain in such a spin she wasn't sure it would work or perhaps it would work and she could end up anywhere, or with different pieces of her in different places. Teleportation was best attempted with a clear mind. A second argument against it was that she had nowhere to go anyway, and thirdly, she didn't want to leave Jack.
Her bedroom door opened and Jack entered. He placed a glass of water on her bedside table, and regarded her warily as he sat down on the end of her bed.
“I know what I saw Jack,” Kiera told him quietly, “please don't be angry with me.”
Jack didn't answer. He sat back against the wall and sighed. He looked around her room.
“Nice flowers,” he commented, nodding at the purple flowers in her window sill.
“I picked them…” Kiera hesitated, “I picked them from the place where your mother was killed.”
Jack looked at her in amazement and she quickly continued, “I thought it was a dream. I saw you and your mother being chased through the woods but I couldn't see what was chasing you. I picked the flowers and when I woke up I had them in my hand.”
Jack scowled at her, “I don't like the fact you keep things from me and that you don't trust me.”
Kiera moved across the bed to him but he rose to his feet. He strode over to her bookshelves, “Where's your book on flowers?”
“Book on flowers?” Kiera repeated.
“The one that Mags gave you at Christmas.”
Kiera crossed the room. She picked up the book from her shelf and handed it to him bewildered, “Why do you want it?”
He ignored her, took a seat on the floor and began to flick through the pages. Kiera stood watching him and then leaned down and touched his cheek. He flinched and looked at her suspiciously.
“I do trust you Jack,” she said softly.
He turned back to the book and Kiera sighed and went to sit on her bed. Jack found what he was looking for. He sat thoughtfully before rising and joining Kiera on the bed. He gazed at her intently before speaking, “Do you really trust me Kiera?”
Kiera nodded without hesitating. Sometimes she felt a connection with Jack as though it was a tangible thing. Maybe there was a flaw in the Gwithiaz but, at the moment, Jack was a good man who wanted to protect her. They were in this together. If there was a flaw, maybe they could figure it out and she could fix it.
Jack continued, “Because I trust you, even though you keep things from me and you run away from me. I trust you because it seems impossible not to, because I'm connected with you in ways I can't understand.”
He ran his hand through his hair and said simply, “You're completely infuriating but you're a part of me.”
Kiera nodded. She reached out and took hold of his hand. She was pleased when he didn't pull away.
“I won't run from you again Jack,” she said earnestly, “I promise. I do trust you. You're all I have.”
Jack curled his fingers around hers, “In that case we are going back to Mags's house. I can't let Kitto track the Creature alone. He's in danger.”
Kiera frowned slightly and Jack tightened his grip on her hand, “I know you don't trust Kitto right now but I'm asking you to please trust me.”
“Okay Jack,” Kiera agreed and he smiled at her.
Jack brought her book with them and, as they climbed into the car, he handed it to her.
“What's with the boo
k?” Kiera asked perplexed.
“Turn to the page I've bookmarked,” Jack told her.
Kiera flicked through to the correct page and then scanned over it. Her eyes came to rest on some large purple flowers. She turned to Jack confused, “The flowers from my bedroom?”
“Look at what the flowers mean,” Jack reversed at speed down the bumpy drive. When they reached the road he put his foot down hard on the accelerator, “I looked through that book when you were lost between worlds, it's how I found out about Grim Seed. I remembered seeing those flowers in it.”
Kiera read the title next to the flower- 'The Katutu flower.'
“Katutu,” Kiera repeated and a hazy memory began to surface. Kitto had once told her about the flower, “Kitto told me the flower had died out when the witches did.”
Jack nodded, “Exactly. It says that the flower only blooms around witches. You found it at the spot where my mum was killed which means a witch was there.”
Kiera shook her head, “But I'm the only witch.”
“We thought you were but maybe you're not,” Jack paused, “what about Bersaba?”
“She's dead,” Kiera said.
“Is she?” Jack asked running the car through a red light, horns beeped at him but he ignored them. He had to get to Kitto, “She jumped off a cliff but it's not like a body was ever found. She's a very powerful witch so is it impossible to think she could have survived?”
“Anything's possible,” Kiera whispered, “she told me that.”
“You believe that Kitto is the bad guy because she told you he was,” Jack glanced across at Kiera, “I know that Kitto is good. I know that she's lying because I know Kitto. So I have to ask, why would she lie? And the answer is that it's her, she's controlling the Creature. That means that Kitto is in danger.”
Kiera thought about what Jack was saying, “But she…she wouldn't…you're saying that she killed her own sisters?”
“Well that makes more sense to me than Kitto,” Jack said determinedly, “I have to tell Kitto that I think Bersaba is back.”
“Do you think that's really true?” Kiera said in horror. If it was then she owed Kitto an enormous apology.
“You were too ready to believe that Kitto was the traitor,” Jack said accusingly.
“But she showed me,” Kiera said, trying to digest Jack's words, “I mean, I've always felt a connection to her.”
“You saw what she wanted you to see,” Jack said, “and perhaps you've always felt a connection with her because she's alive and she's here now. She's been manipulating you.”
They were silent for the rest of the journey as Kiera mulled over Jack's theory. When they arrived at Mags's house there was no sign of Kitto. Jack kept one hand on Kiera's arm and the other on his staff as they entered. There was no sound.
“Do you think Kitto headed across the fields?” Kiera whispered. “Should we follow him?”
They stepped over the mess that littered Mags's hallway. Something caught Jack's eye and he bent down and picked up a photo frame. A crack ran across the middle.
“That's Mags's daughter,” Kiera told him sadly.
Jack studied the picture, “Does she have any other photos of her daughter?”
Kiera shook her head, “None that I've seen. Why?”
Jack began to rummage through the belongings in the house. He started to sift through the torn books and then he made his way upstairs, pulling Kiera along behind him. They entered Mags's bedroom and Kiera gasped at the sight of all the blood.
She wiped some tears from her cheek. Now was not the time to mourn Mags. It would have to wait.
Jack looked under Mags's bed and pulled out a couple of boxes. He emptied out the contents and examined them, then he opened her wardrobe although most of Mags's clothes were scattered all over the floor.
“Jack!” Kiera exclaimed. “Stop it! You can't just go through her things like this!”
Jack shook his head, “There's something not right.”
“Yes, and that something is you rifling through a dead lady's belongings,” Kiera scolded. “Show her some respect.”
“Why are there no more photos?” Jack turned to Kiera.
“I don't follow,” Kiera frowned.
“She has a daughter but where are the baby photos, or letters? Where is any sign that there is a daughter except for that one photo downstairs?”
Kiera couldn't really see the relevance, “I don't know. They didn't get on very well.”
They were interrupted by a sound downstairs. It was the sound of glass crunching underfoot. Someone was moving in the hallway.
Kiera paled and glanced at Jack. He raised his staff.
“Perhaps it's Kitto,” Kiera whispered.
Just then a familiar voice called out, it was rasping and a little hoarse but Kiera's heart jumped for joy, “Kiera? Kiera are you there?”
It was Mags. She ran from the bedroom and to the top of the stairs. Mags stood at the bottom, blood dripped from her head and stained her clothes. She was shaking and clinging on to the bannister rail for support.
“Mags!” Kiera cried and tried to run to her but Jack suddenly pulled her back.
“Kiera, that isn't Mags,” he said sharply.
Kiera turned to him confused and then looked back at Mags.
“Kiera, help me,” Mags was reaching out to her and Kiera wanted desperately to run down the stairs to her, but Jack kept a tight grip on her arm.
Jack moved Kiera so that she was standing behind him. Then to Kiera's horror he pulled a gun from his pocket and pointed it at Mags's head.
“That's not Mags,” he repeated, “and I don't think it ever was.”
Then Kiera screamed out as he fired.
Chapter Thirty Three
It happened in a split second but Kiera seemed to see it in slow motion. Jack's gun fired and the bullet tore through the air, but, just as it was about to hit its target, Mags lifted her arm and flicked it away. Then Mags smiled, except it wasn't Mags's smile. She had changed. Her eyes narrowed and her smile dripped with malice.
“Well done Jack,” Mags straightened herself and began to walk slowly up the stairs towards them.
She wasn't hobbling and she didn't need to hold on to the bannister for support. Jack stayed in front of Kiera, shielding her protectively and backing her away across the landing.
When she reached the top she looked at Jack the way someone would look at a fly that won't stop buzzing.
“I could kill you right here and now Jack,” she said calmly and then she glanced around her, “except this place is going to take me long enough to tidy as it is. Besides, I know someone who's been positively itching to meet you.”
“Bersaba?” Kiera whispered.
Mags turned her gaze from Jack to Kiera and her smile softened slightly, “Yes sister, it's me.”
Kiera shook her head disbelievingly, “Then where is Mags?”
“There was no Mags,” Jack said, “Mags was just a cover wasn't she? One day Mags would die and then her long lost daughter would show up and take her place on the council. How long have you been doing that for?”
Bersaba laughed, “Longer than I'd care to remember. It's been a pain at times but it was worth the wait.”
“Why?” Kiera asked, shaking her head despairingly. Mags was Bersaba? She couldn't seem to process it, it made no sense. Mags had been like family.
Bersaba frowned, “It had to be this way Kiera. I needed you to trust me and I needed the Gwithiaz gone before I could tell you the truth.”
Then Bersaba rubbed her hands together, “Now, shall we talk somewhere a little more comfortable?”
She moved forward and touched Jack's arm lightly. The action made them both close their eyes and when they opened them they were inside a cave. There was a large opening where the sun streamed in, lighting up the gloomy interior. They instantly began to head towards the light but Bersaba appeared before them, blocking their exit.
“How rude of you to think about le
aving so soon,” she chided, “please make yourself at home. We have much to discuss.”
She gestured to a group of rocks further inside the cave, “Have a seat. First things first, I suppose I can take off my old-lady outfit now. I've been wearing it for so long I can barely remember what I really look like.”
She closed her eyes and they watched in amazement as she slowly transformed before them. The wrinkled skin smoothed into flawless ivory and the grey hair thickened into a gold that shimmered even in the dimly lit cave.
Kiera glanced around and spotted a body, lying crumpled on the floor in the corner.
“Jack!” Kiera pulled on his arm and they ran over to where Kitto lay. There was a cut on his head and his breathing was shallow but he was alive. Kiera lifted his head gently and placed it on her lap.
“I'm not sure why I didn't kill him all those years ago,” Bersaba leant against a large boulder and looked at Kitto thoughtfully, “something stopped me. Perhaps it was a sense of loyalty, or some sentimentality. I don't know. Whatever it was, it's long gone, I have no such qualms now.”
Kiera stared at Bersaba bewildered, “I don't understand, why are you doing this?”
Bersaba smiled kindly at Kiera, “Let me tell you a story about a girl who lived many years ago in poverty. Her days were spent working on farms and practically begging for food and money to survive. But the girl had gifts and those gifts began to be recognised.
When my powers came I was famous. People flocked to see me, they wanted my counsel, they wanted my magic.
And then came the Creatures. I was forced into hiding. The same people that had been seeking my company now shunned me. Suddenly our powers had to be contained so as not to draw attention. I could've changed the world but instead I found myself back to farming and living in poverty.
But everyone underestimated my powers. I found a way to control the very thing that hunted us. There were only two of the Kasadow left and at first I thought I would kill them. Once they were dead I'd be able to come out of hiding and fulfil my destiny. I'd be the greatest witch the world had ever known. I talked to my sisters about it. They didn't know about the spell I'd created to control the Creatures, but I spoke to them about what we could do once the Creatures were gone. I told them of my dreams.”
Nature of the Witch Page 23