The Council, A Witch's Memory

by J. C. Isabella

  Venna let out a heavy sigh and slid down in her seat. “Must have been Mrs. Langley’s charming personality.”

  Chapter 21

  Venna

  The sun beat down on my head. It was lovely and warm. I tilted my face up to let the rays heat my skin until it felt tight and perspiration gathered on my brow.

  I opened my eyes.

  I stood behind a little white cottage. The backyard was a small area of grass littered with toys and a sand box and a large, wispy tree. The house sat on the crest of a small hill; slope easing down to a rocky shore. A rotted dock swayed with the choppy waves of murky green-blue water and a thick layer of sea foam covered the top.

  The wind picked up, sending my curls in front of my face. I heard a snap and held back my hair, watching as one of the boards on the dock broke and dropped into the foam below.

  I turned my face into the wind and let go of my hair, walking around the side of the house under a clothesline draped in sheets. Running my fingers along the damp fabric, I wondered why the atmosphere felt so still and quiet.

  I neared the front of the house and saw a much younger Zane. He had to be around four or five.

  He was knee deep in a pile of dirt with a little blue shovel, wearing a plastic fireman’s hat, saying something about digging a hole to China.

  My brother’s crazy antics started at a much younger age than I realized.

  I came to stand behind him. My gaze followed the white railing of the porch up to the front door of the house.

  Zane dropped the shovel, wiping his hands on his shorts and streaking them with dirt. “Daddy!”

  I looked up to see a man strolling along a skinny stone path to the gate. He wore black pants and a black dress shirt. Not nearly as tall as fourteen-year-old Zane, who was still growing and approaching the six-foot mark. The man’s hair was blond, clipped very close to his scalp and so lightly colored it could have been mistaken for being white. His presence brought an ominous air, as if seeing him standing at our gate should be a bad sign.

  Zane started toward him. I grabbed the back of his shirt.

  It was pure instinct that made me restrain my brother.

  Eyes black as night met mine. “I see you listen very well to your mother, Venna.”

  I raised my chin, giving my father my best brave stare.

  “How I long for the day you will trust me.” he said, his raspy voice sounding sad. It was an act. I held tighter to Zane and backed up.

  “Take your brother into the house, Venna.” I heard the softest, most beautiful voice say behind me. I turned to see my mother step gracefully down the front porch. She pushed a few wild, red curls from her face.

  “Mother?” I breathed. She didn’t hear me and immediately I knew I wasn’t in control of my situation, just along for the ride. This was a memory, playing like a movie in my head. I couldn’t change it. I couldn’t stop myself from scurrying up the steps and into the house, dragging Zane with me. He started to whine about having not seen our father in a really long time. I told him to go play in his room, and if he behaved we’d get to spend some time with daddy. He went, very reluctantly, hanging his head and shuffling down a sunny yellow hallway. I sneaked back to the door, cracking it open and peaking out to see what my mother and father were doing.

  “You are not welcome here, John Greer.” I heard my mother say, her beautiful voice turning cold. “Or should I call you Craven?”

  “I have not come to argue, Charlotte,” he said with a tone so gentle and soothing it contradicted the malice in his eyes.

  “Then what do you want?”

  “To collect my family.”

  She gasped. “No!”

  “Pack your things.”

  I was able to poke my head out far enough to see them standing on opposite sides of the gate. My mother had her arms crossed and she kept her distance, while my father braced his hands on his hips and looked down at her. This man was pure evil. I could see it in his posture, in the blazing blackness of his eyes. My mother hissed something unintelligible and backed away. Without warning my father’s leg shot out and he kicked down the gate.

  “You stay away from my children, Craven. I mean it,” my mother screamed, trying to block his path to the house.

  “I remember a time when you called me, Husband.” For a moment, fleeting sadness flickered in his eyes, like he remembered what it used to be like with us. It seemed almost believable, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

  “The man you were, is a lie.”

  He roared angrily, his figure flying at her so fast it blurred just like Zane’s did. “You betrayed me! Do you know to whom your old school mate, Irena, is bound? Do you have any idea what you have done to me?”

  “You were going to kill innocent people. Wiping the memories of humans, enslaving them for your own benefit, is something only a monster would do.” She stared him down. “Cal is just as wicked as you, and so is Captain Fulk. When I tell Irena you plan to open the demon portal you’ll be arrested. It’s treason!”

  “Irena is the queen, James Langley’s mate, and he is my enemy. For you to confide in her is the worst sort of unfaithfulness”

  “I am not bound to you Craven. I do not owe you loyalty.”

  “I trusted you!” He spat with disgust, stalking toward her.

  I screamed, watching in horror as he latched onto my mother and lifted her into the air. Not able to stand it, I turned away. There was nothing I could do for her. When I looked back she was on the ground. She didn’t move or try to get back up. I wanted to run to her.

  My father stepped over her body and looked up at me. Before I could move he flew over and lifted me into his arms. I struggled as my surroundings blurred. When I was once again standing on solid ground I glared up at my father.

  “Wait here, I’m going to find your brother.” In a blink he was gone.

  I looked over my shoulder. I was standing on the shore at the edge of the dock. My bare feet shook; unbalanced from the rocks he set me on. I didn’t have time to think about escaping. He was back, setting Zane down next to me.

  “Where’s Mommy?” Zane tugged on our father’s pant leg.

  “I’m going to find her right now.” He ruffled Zane’s hair. “You kids stay put.”

  I grabbed Zane by the hand and ran just as our father disappeared. An outcropping of rocks down the shore provided the perfect place to hide.

  “Daddy said to stay,” he cried, digging his heals into the uneven shore.

  “He is not our daddy,” I lied. “He did a bad charm to make us think he is, but he’s not, Zane. We have to hide.”

  I crouched behind a large rock, yanking him down beside me. He cried and kicked his feet, wanting to know where his real daddy was. I saw our father appear on the edge of the dock, our mother motionless in his arms. I covered Zane’s mouth with my hand to stifle his whining.

  “Venna? Zane?” Our father’s eyes swept the beach for us.

  “Zane you have to be very quiet,” I whispered. “Whatever you do, don’t come out from behind this rock.”

  He nodded, bottom lip trembling as I pulled my hand away.

  Before I could think of a plan to help our mother, an agonized scream echoed around us. I shot up to stare in shock. I wanted to be happy because she was awake and all right. But they wrestled, fighting. I began to cry.

  My mother’s terrified orders hit me. “Close your eyes, Venna!”

  I did, flinging myself to the ground to hug Zane close and hope she would be okay.

  The sound of wood splintering and cracking met my ears, followed by a loud splash. Afterwards I heard nothing but the howl of the wind and the thunder of a faraway storm. I told Zane to stay down and crawled out from behind the rock. The dock was gone, in its place floated planks of wood quickly being scattered by the surge of the waves.

  I searched frantically for my parents. Even though my father was evil, I never wanted him to get hurt. Just to leave us alone.

  I thought I saw my m
other’s blue dress swirling amongst the sea foam and didn’t stop to think, I ran. I dove into the dark salty water and began swimming in the direction where I thought I saw her. A wave hit me and I was almost pulled under. The water stung my eyes and I struggled to keep my head above the surface. I was getting too far from the shore. The current picked up and I realized that if my mother and father were gone and something happened to me, there would be no one to take care of Zane. With one last desperate glance for my parents, I turned back.

  Chapter 22

  I surged up, covered head to toe in a cold sweat, or maybe it was seawater. I patted my arms and legs and coughed. It was seawater.

  I glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was early in the morning, barley six.

  “Henry?’ I called, hoping he would come to me.

  I waited. The more I woke up, the more I began to feel his anxiety and anger. Something was wrong, and it must have been enough to keep him from me.

  Not wanting to wait another second, I leapt from the bed and raced out of the room, taking the stairs too quickly, almost landing flat on my face. I hit the first floor wall by the staircase and groaned.

  I glanced down to see that the cuts had reappeared on my feet. My side hurt as I drew in a deep breath and raced through the living room, past the conservatory and down the long hallway to the office.

  Panic ate at me as I realized what the memory charm had protected me from.

  I ran straight for the door and thankfully it opened before I slammed into it.

  Henry stood behind his desk, no doubt feeling how upset I was. His eyes were tight with concern for me as I screeched to a halt. I pressed my hand to a stitch in my side. Why hadn’t he come to me when I called for him?

  “Venna, what’s the matter?” Just because he knew my feelings didn’t mean he knew why I was having them.

  I felt the back of my neck prickle. It felt electric and…and wrong.

  I whipped around.

  “Ah, Your Highness. You seem upset. I hope you’re all right.” A tall man with a wiry brown beard smiled and bowed. He stood by the window. He was wearing a blue coat, looking like he fit right in. But the prickle on my neck got worse.

  I forced myself to nod. As I did, I realized I wore nothing but an oversized t-shirt. I scampered around the desk to hide behind the back of Henry’s chair.

  “Venna, this is Captain Fulk.”

  The blood drained from my face and I backed away from him.

  Henry’s voice was level and calm. Inside his anger rage like a hurricane. “He woke me to deliver news from the Council.”

  “Nice to meet you. Uh, I had too much sugar before bed. I always have the silliest dreams when that happens.” What was I saying? I didn’t even sound like me.

  Henry glanced over his shoulder, puzzled. He looked back at the captain, who seemed to buy my excuse. “Yes, she can get overexcited.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief, and slouched against the back of his chair.

  “I should be going,” Captain Fulk bowed again. “Things are looking up. And congratulations Your Highnesses. It is always a wonderful day when the royal family grows.”

  Giving him a grateful smile, I gripped the back of Henry’s chair, watching as Captain Fulk left through the door leading out into the backyard. He walked halfway across the crisp green grass, the morning mist swirling around him, and stopped by an old well covered in ivy just like the gate. In a flash of blue light he was gone.

  Henry turned to face me. “Why did you lie?”

  I shook my head. “Why are you so angry?”

  “You first.” He grimaced, rubbing his hands on his jeans and sitting in the chair at his desk.

  “Does the Captain know who I am?” because I knew exactly who he was.

  “Yes, why wouldn’t he?”

  “Uh, who does he think I am? I mean…does he know who my father is?”

  His mouth curved downward and a crease formed between his brows. “That is on a need to know basis.”

  I nodded, relived, but I was also overwhelmed by the storm of emotions and fury raging inside of Henry. “It was bad news the captain brought you?”

  He nodded, “Very.”

  “Are you going to share?” I wasn’t sure how to tell him who the captain was yet.

  “Cal escaped last night.”

  I blinked, stunned. “Wait, what?”

  “Cal attacked one of the guards and managed to phase. We can’t trace him. We have no way to know where he went.” Henry took my hands and held them tight. “He will not come here. This property is protected. You are protected and so is Zane.”

  I bowed my head, unable to look into his eyes when they glowed so strongly with emotion. “No, we’re not.”

  “Venna, it’s okay to be scared, but I promise—”

  “No,” I said. “I remembered more, and what I know now means we’re not safe. None of us are. I-I witnessed an argument between my parents. My mother knew two men working for Craven. We already know one of them was Cal.”

  “Who was the other man?” He asked, with an intensity that would scare most people. I have come to find out though—I’m not like most people.

  At first I thought it would be easy to blurt out, but my throat felt tighter than usual and my eyes heated with tears. I looked back up at him. “Captain Fulk.”

  Henry’s neck turned red and his eyes glowed with more menace than I’d ever seen unleashed. The green fire could surely melt metal.

  “What else?” His jaw locked.

  “My mother was going to tell your mother she knew Fulk was evil. Craven got to her before she could expose him.” My neck prickled when I saw Captain Fulk. How come Henry didn’t see him as a threat? “You can sense evil. Why didn’t you recognize Captain Fulk for what he was?”

  “Fulk has a cloaking ability. He can make his mood, his appearance, different. Hiding energy is easy for him and concealing his true self wouldn’t have been too hard.” Henry looked disgusted, wiping his hand over his mouth. “I wasn’t assessing him as an enemy either.”

  “Then how come I felt funny when I saw him?”

  “You knew already who he was. His magic can’t make you forget the truth.” He stood and kissed me, sweeping his fingers across my cheek, finding a tear that had escaped without my knowing. “That was a long time ago, Venna.”

  “I saw my mother.” I squeezed my eyes closed. “I’ll never know her.”

  “Wrong, you knew your mum, and you’ll remember.” He wrapped his arms around me, settling me against his chest. I cried quietly into his shoulder for a mother I could hardly remember, and wanted to know more than anything in the world.

  “I look like her,” I whispered, loving that I could see her face in mine.

  “Yeah?”

  “She was so pretty.”

  “She would have to be, to have a daughter as beautiful as you.” He murmured into my ear, “I have to go.”

  “Where?” I wanted to go too and tightened my hold on him.

  “I’m going to find Fulk.”

  “Oh.” I kept my arms wrapped around his waist.

  He didn’t let go of me either. “I’ll be back soon.”

  “I can’t come with you?”

  He kissed my cheek. “Not this time.”

  “I don’t want you to leave.” I was just shy of begging him to stay. “What if something happens?”

  “Just say my name, I’ll hear you and come right back.” He looked me up and down, eyes glowing. “As much as I love seeing you parade around without any pants, we could have more company and you might want to throw some clothes on.”

  Kissing me again, he pulled away, disappearing in a flash of green light.

  The color of light reminded me of his eyes.

  Such a beautiful, brilliant green, and in just a blink, he was gone.

  Chapter 23

  Henry

  I phased into my family’s living quarters and headed straight for my father’s office. I could hear his
voice and several others speaking in strained tones. Without knocking I let myself in. Not bothering to be quiet about it, I allowed the door to slam hard against the wall.

  “Henry, what is the meaning of this?” My father stood at his desk, as did Vladislav, Andrew, and Davy.

  “Please order Fulk to see you, now.” I said. “I will show you why I’m here.”

  My father nodded and picked up his phone. While he was busy, I went over to a cabinet housing weaponry and pulled out a pair of silver plated handcuffs, pocketing them. Silver was the one thing that rendered us powerless.

  “Hey, you look pissed,” Quinn sauntered into the room.

  “You have no idea.” I growled, watching the doorway.

  “Your Majesties called?” Fulk slipped in, his step light. He stopped in front of my father’s desk, waiting patiently.

  “Henry wanted to speak with you.” My father motioned to me absentmindedly, going back to papers on his desk. He was used to having me around his office, and speaking to the officers. He was about to get a big surprise.

  On the off chance the bastard tried to run, I shut the door, keeping my back to Fulk. “I’m going to ask you once Captain, and if you dare lie, I will kill you.”

  The room went silent, and as I turned, Fulk shrank back.

  “To whom do your loyalties lie?”

  Fulk blinked. “I’m sorry?”

  “I will not repeat myself,” I said.

  “To the Council, Sire. Of course.”

  My face flushed with anger and with a glare I sent him sailing into the wall. “The truth!”

  Behind me Quinn growled, and I felt Vladislav hovering over my left shoulder.

  “I am innocent,” Fulk cried. “This is madness!”

  “Liar,” I gripped the front of his coat and slammed him back into the wall.

  “You have no proof!” Fulk snapped, crossing his hands over his face to protect himself. “N-nothing incriminating against me.”