The Council, A Witch's Memory

by J. C. Isabella

  “Henry?” she whispered.

  I was right beside her, less than a foot away.

  Moving the sheet father aside. “Seriously, Henry, I know you’re in here.”

  She would scream her head off if I said a word. I shifted slightly. The soft sound of my shoes moving on the floor had her turning my way.

  Reaching out her hand into the darkness, she tried to feel me out. “Say something.”

  “Like what?” I whispered.

  She shrieked, not loud enough to alert the house, just enough to hurt my left eardrum from the close proximity.

  Stepping behind her I took the present out of my pocket and slipped it around her neck. She gasped, realizing how close I was and brought her hand up to her throat.

  “What is this?”

  I let her figure that out for herself and settled my hands on her shoulders.

  “Henry, did you get me a necklace?”

  “Actually, it’s a family heirloom.” I glanced at the switch on the wall and turned the lights on. Venna squinted at the bright light. After her eyes adjusted and stared down at the sapphire pendant around her neck. “It matches the tiara my mum gave you.”

  She flung her arms around my neck and kissed me excitedly. “It’s so pretty, thank you.”

  I led her a few doors back down the hall to the room I had originally intended to bring her. It was large, its far wall lined with dusty, overflowing shelves. Packed full of old records and history books, maps. Rolls of yellowed parchment nearly reached the ceiling on one shelf. Most of them were out of date and a few quite irrelevant. The Council kept them anyway; you never knew when outdated information would be of use. A broom was propped next to a caldron by a brick fireplace. Those were for Halloween and joking. Venna wandered around in awe, blue eyes wide as she took in the sights. A painting of my parents, circa nineteen ten, hung over the fireplace on the far left wall. The sword my grandfather used during numerous wars sat on a blue velvet cushion below it. Venna let her fingers trail along the gold, ruby encrusted scabbard.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, it was my grandfather’s, then my father’s. He gave it to me.” I smiled as she turned to look at me.

  “How old is it?”

  “Oh, well over three hundred years.” I grinned. “My grandmother always thought it was a bit extravagant.”

  She laughed softly, looking up at the painting. “How old are your parents, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “My father was born in 1350, my mum in 1352.”

  “How long have they been married?” An old globe on the shelf snagged her attention.

  “One hundred years. They did it for legal purposes.”

  “They’ve been together a hundred years?” she sounded amazed.

  “No, my parents have been together since my mum’s seventeenth birthday.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah, most binding’s happen early. By the nineteenth birthday.”

  “What about my mother, she wasn’t bound to my father.”

  “She must not have trusted him to let go completely. Or her true mate may have been killed.” I shrugged. “We may never know the truth.”

  “Maybe some things are better left a mystery.” She shook her head, frowning. “Why did your parents have you so late?”

  “Remember when you said you wouldn’t have children before the ripe old age of thirty?”

  She nodded.

  “Try one or two hundred.”

  “What, years?”

  “When you can live for thousands of years, certain things are slower.” I felt my face go a little red. “I’m not saying that it isn’t possible…” I let out a breath. “When a witch is ready to have a child, she knows. So does the warlock. It’s instinct.”

  Venna blinked. “How? And don’t go bashful on me now Henry.”

  “You’ll sense it.”

  She blushed. “So we’ll have lots of practice before then?”

  “Years of it.” I grinned.

  “I guess I don’t have to worry about going on the pill.”

  Wandering to the center of the room, she stopped in front of a large, round table with cherry finished wood and green upholstered chairs. I took a seat and followed her with my eyes.

  She picked up a piece of paper from where it rested on part of the long shelf. She held it up for me to see. “You didn’t.”

  I laughed. “I did.”

  I kept anything special to me in this room. A few years ago when I was cleaning out some old school things, I found a crumpled piece of pink paper stuck inside a folder.

  “It’s the valentine I gave you.” She read aloud, “Henry, roses are red, violets are blue, and sugar is so much sweeter than you.”

  She tossed the paper back onto the shelf with a flick of her wrist. “We must have been going through a rough patch when I wrote you that. Was it the sixth grade?”

  “I think so…” I turned my attention to the doorway, hearing footsteps beating the stairs frantically. It sounded as if the entire house was running up to the third floor.

  “What’s wrong?” Venna followed my gaze.

  “Henry?” Flora shouted.

  “Back here,” I called out, knowing that whatever had Flora running, had to be important.

  Flora appeared in the open doorway, sobbing.

  Venna went to her and gathered her in her arms. Zane and Dmitri entered, looking equally grim and upset.

  “Bad news,” Dmitri rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s Garret.”

  Quinn’s brother Garret was a young werewolf, only thirteen. I lowered my voice so Flora wouldn’t hear. “What happened?”

  “Craven’s men attacked. Garret was at one of the covens with Quinn speaking to a few of the elders. Quinn couldn’t get to his brother in time.”

  There was a gust of air, and Quinn appeared in the doorway. “We end this now. I want every one of those bastards dead.”

  The normally stormy and quiet werewolf was not short on words. He was angry, and rightfully so. I told him to go to his family, but he did not see sitting and wallowing in pain as an acceptable solution. His brother was in the hospital under the best care magical physicians could provide.

  “Quinn, we have to stay here,” I said. “We don’t have a choice.”

  He growled, “I know. But I want those fuckers.”

  Venna caught my attention, “I could go to Garret.”

  “Too dangerous,” Quinn said. “But thanks. He’s stable for now.”

  “Can’t you bring Garret here?” Zane asked.

  “The doctors are searching for another healer. Unfortunately Venna’s powers are rare, and Garret isn’t grown into his powers enough to heal himself as fast as we’d like.” Quinn ran his hands over his face. “Maybe he can be moved in a few days.”

  Venna seemed to accept that. “As soon as they can, have them bring Garret to me.”

  “I’ll call the hospital.” Quinn stood, taking his phone from his pocket and left the room. Dmitri followed him.

  Flora wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and pushed away from the table. “I’m going to wash my face and get something to drink.”

  Zane followed her out the door, “I’ll stay with you. Oh, and you got a call from Pepper.”

  “I did?” Venna’s eyebrows went up.

  “Yeah, she wanted to know if she could see you. I told her we were staying with Henry.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure if it was a big deal or not. She didn’t say what was going on, just that she was back.”

  “Pepper is supposed to be with her mother in Georgia.”

  “Well, she left her mother in a hurry. She sounded upset.”

  Venna looked over at me. I knew she’d want to see her friend. “Just for a few minutes, and do not leave the house. Invite her inside. If this fighting ends up on our doorstep we will leave. You may not see Pepper for a while.”

  She stood from the table and stopped beside me. “I’m so sorry about Garret.”

&
nbsp; “Thank you.”

  “I’ll go call Pepper.” She pressed her hand to my cheek and kissed me before leaving.

  Chapter 27

  The silence stretched on as I sat alone, gathering my thoughts. I needed to speak with my parents. The coven where Garret was injured was just the beginning. More covens would be attacked, and more innocent people hurt or killed.

  Davy had worked hard at interrogating anyone who might have information last I spoke with him. The few men who cracked knew nothing of any value, and the ones who didn’t remained so tight-lipped I wondered if beating information out of them would work.

  Dmitri came back into the room with Quinn.

  “How is Garret doing?” I asked as they took their seats at the table.

  “He’ll live.” Quinn grunted, rubbing the scar marring the side of his face absently. He looked ready to rip a few throats out.

  “What about the men who attacked him?” they would be put to death immediately for attacking a royal. There was no greater offence…well maybe one, but it had been a very long time since anyone dared risk…I couldn’t bring myself to think about it.

  Quinn growled. “My father and I killed them.”

  I nodded. “Have you received any updates from either of your parents?”

  Dmitri spoke first. “Nothing that will help. Mari and Davy are with them now, it is calm.”

  “Yeah, too quiet for my liking,” Quinn added.

  “I’ve yet to phone my parents,” I said. “They may have news for us.”

  “Let’s get to it.” Quinn said.

  I pulled my cell from my pocket and dialed my father’s number. Setting it in the middle of the table, I listened to it ring, ready for whatever curveball they threw.

  “Henry, I was hoping you’d call.” My father picked up, sounding relieved.

  “I have Quinn and Dmitri with me.”

  “Good, they will want to hear this, too. Do you have a map?”

  “Yes.” The map of the United States flew from its resting spot on a top self and folded out on the table.

  “I’m going to give you locations of the most recent attacks. Mark them off.”

  A black marker followed the map and the cap flew off as it hovered over the paper.

  “Pittsburg, Louisville, Knoxville, and Raleigh.” He lowered his voice. “The coven in Richmond is disturbed, they think they may be next. Six humans have already been cited as witnesses, had their memories wiped. This has all happened in the last two hours.”

  Dmitri leaned forward, watching the map and the marker intently. “We’re right in the center, in the middle of the attacks. If Craven ’s men get any closer to Capeside they’ll sense us.”

  “I want you out, now.” My father sounded strained, more emotion filling his voice than usual, “I don’t care where you go, just get out of Virginia.”

  I looked at Quinn and Dmitri. “I move that we relocate to Aveyron. The house in France is safe. All attention will be on our parents.”

  They agreed, and my father breathed a sigh of relief. “Call me if you have any problems. I’m not sure how much time you have. Europe is safe for now. The Resistance wants the compound first.”

  Dmitri hesitated, he looked almost guilty, and I knew exactly what he was going to ask. “Sir, please forgive me, but I heard a rumor at the compound earlier. My father dispelled it, but I know he would lie to me to keep this from getting out.”

  “I know this rumor you speak of,” my father went very quiet, almost too quiet, before he spoke again. “It is very likely the Resistance will try to open the portal.”

  “Demons.” Quinn’s lip curled and his teeth changed, his canines taking their wolfish shape. “Why does it always have to be demons? I hate demons.”

  “You three are going to be on your own.” My father said. “This is more than the psychic’s predicted. The demon’s are on another plane and cannot be seen. I have every one of our guards posted, and the army readies itself for war.”

  “What if the portal is opened?”

  “Then we fight to the death. Be safe,” and with that final statement, he hung up.

  This was worse than Craven trying to take over the world. If he had it in his mind to open the portal and strike a deal with the demon king, we were screwed. The only men with the kind of power to open the portal were the members of the Council. Maybe, at one time in his life, Craven had been powerful enough. Hopefully, he wouldn’t reach that point again.

  I thanked him and hung up. Dmitri stood, as did Quinn.

  “I’m…” I stopped. A tingling fear crept up my spine, but I had nothing to fear. Not at this moment. A panicked feeling accompanied it.

  This was not my fear, not my panic.

  It was Venna’s.

  “What?” Dmitri asked.

  “Venna?” Now I felt nothing from her. Not a whisper of emotion.

  I phased into the living room. I heard voices and raced for the conservatory. Zane and Flora were sitting on the floor playing with Bruno.

  “Where’s Venna?”

  “On the front porch saying goodbye to Pepper.” Zane replied, staring up at me in confusion.

  I almost ran into Dmitri and Quinn, tore back through the house, the front door nearly flew off its hinges as it burst open.

  It was quiet, still. At the end of the driveway something white and fluffy caught my eye. I strode toward it and felt the blood in my veins run ice cold. My fingers curled into the fabric as I lifted it from the ground.

  It was a dress.

  “Venna!” I roared. But I knew she was gone.

  Chapter 28

  I paced helplessly, holding the dress. She was gone. No telling where. I couldn’t track someone after they phased.

  “Venna,” I whispered. “Say my name, please.”

  We were connected, all she had to do was say my name, and I would be taken to her. My soul would seek its other half. But I couldn’t feel anything from her. No fear, sadness. Nothing. She was alive, but silent.

  “What the hell happened?” Quinn joined me and glanced around, his hulking frame curved. He crouched, arms out, ready for an attack. “I don’t smell anything out of place, no…. Wait, there it is. It’s faint. Bastard didn’t phase, but he’s doing a hell of a job disguising his scent.”

  The front gates were wide open. If Venna had gone out with Pepper she wasn’t protected by the charms placed around the property. “I told her not to leave the house.”

  “Where is she?” Zane appeared beside me in a flash. “I’ve searched the house twice, and the property.”

  Flora stood on the bottom step of the front porch, watching with pained eyes.

  I turned to him, “I will find her. Stay here.”

  “No, she’s my sister!”

  “We can’t leave Flora alone.”

  Zane turned to watch Flora hurry toward us. “Are you sure about that? Sometimes she scares the crap out of me.”

  “Have her give you the number for my grandparents, call them and tell them what’s happened.” I said. “They will come get you.”

  “Henry, come on,” Zane argued. “I can fight.”

  I nodded, “Can you kill?”

  He froze. Clearly he hadn’t thought that far.

  “Zane, I know you can help, but are you ready to do that? No matter how bad they are?”

  “I-I,” he shook his head. “No, I’m not. But what about you?”

  I drew a deep breath. “This was what I was born into. I’ve trained for this and I’ve disposed of soulless creatures with diseased minds.”

  “I got it. Now go find my sister.” He clapped my back and I followed Quinn and Dmitri to the garage, giving Flora and Zane one last look over my shoulder. I watched Zane tell her everything would be all right. Zane was a good kid, and Flora had more fight in her than she let on. Once my grandparents got here, they would be fine.

  Quinn nodded, “Do we tell our parents we’re going to face him for Venna, and ask for some backup?”

&nb
sp; “We’re on our own, remember?”

  Quinn dialed a number on his phone anyway so see if he could ready a team and notify our parents. But when he hung up and shook his head. “Gentlemen, we really are on our own.”

  “Guys, we got this.” Dmitri stopped at the shelf in the far corner of the garage. He pulled on a lever disguised as a baseball bat propped against the wall. The self swung outward to reveal a small room. The walls were covered in an array of weapons, new and old. Quinn reached for a crossbow and silver tipped arrows. Dmitri preferred a matching pair of daggers, also tipped in silver. He grabbed a revolver equipped with silver bullets. Silver was the only way we could be confined or injured, the only way to slow our healing process to that of a human.

  I wasn’t going to waste my time with insignificant pawns working for a mad man, I intended on going straight to the heart of the problem. I had my eye on Craven, and I armed myself with the one thing the monster would recognize.

  Dmitri nodded to my grandfather’s sword as I phased back into the room. “You’re not messing around are you?”

  “No.” I removed the scabbard, revealing a gleaming steal blade, also tipped with silver. “My father fought Craven once before with the sword. The blade delivered the first deadly blows then, and it will finish the monster for good today.”

  “At least take one of the guns,” Quinn said, motioning around us.

  “He’s a terrible shot, leave the shooting to me.” Dmitri sealed the room behind us.

  I looked at Quinn. “Where to?”

  He took a deep breath and walked toward the gates at the end of the driveway. “The woods. They didn’t get far. I smell Venna and a male werewolf…” His eyes glowed gold. They always did that when he wanted to wolf out. “A girl. She smells like cherries and bubble gum.”

  “That would be Pepper, Venna’s human friend.” I started down the road, sword drawn and ready.

  “Now there’s a human involved?” Quinn had the crossbow up, eyes still glowing.

  “Perfect, looks like Henry will be charming her to forget if she survives.” Dmitri held a dagger in each hand, with the revolver tucked into the waistband of his black pants.