Dark Rising Trilogy

by DeAnna Browne

Becca laughed, which hurt, then slowly stood.

  Darion slid a hand around her waist to help.

  “I can do it. Remember I did make it to the crazy sermon yesterday.” She actually had been feeling better, which she thought had more to do with Darion sharing magic with her than the foul tasting concoction.

  “And you slept for the rest of the day and night.”

  “I think that may be due to tapping into the group’s consciousness.” Remembering the experience of feeling combined with all those people made her stomach churn.

  Darion stayed close. “Please don’t do that again.”

  “Don’t plan on it. I’m glad you got me out of the last one.” Becca held on to him for a moment, stretching out her legs a bit.

  “Isabella offered us breakfast with the others this morning if we stay for the whole service.” Navina looked over at the small stash of food they had left from Darion’s trip to the city the previous day. It was almost gone. Who knew a ten-year-old ate so much?

  “Let’s do it,” Becca said. “I wanted to talk to Stewart about what the lady told you in the city. I still can’t believe a religion is formed around people sacrificing themselves to the demon realms.” Becca grabbed her jacket.

  “Let me.” Darion grabbed it from her. “And I still don’t know if I believe the woman.”

  Becca didn’t know what to believe either, but it was no use worrying about a future they couldn’t control. After she got the jacket on, she turned. “Ready?”

  “I’m not the one who was shot two days ago. Are you ready?”

  She stretched her neck. Her body still ached, but between the rest, medicine, and her magical bond with Darion, it was manageable. She’d steer clear of a fight, but otherwise could manage. “I’m good.”

  The three of them headed downstairs and found chairs in the back of the group. The service was very similar to the last one Becca attended. Stewart switched up the scriptures, focusing on repentance while looking at them in the back. Becca returned the smile. You can’t fight crazy. They uncovered the demon, and all joined hands to pray.

  This time she wasn’t even tempted to tap into their consciousness. It lasted for about five minutes. Yesterday felt a lot longer, but maybe because she joined in.

  When the congregation separated hands, most of their faces were flushed with pleasure, or maybe excitement. She didn’t know or care. A slimy sensation crept up her spine just watching them. They were spent through, their energy wiped. No wonder they needed food afterwards.

  She tried to shake off the feeling as they headed inside for refreshment. These people may be willing to share more than she could find elsewhere. Or maybe they only knew what Stewart told them: that the power of the demon was a sacred privilege.

  “Navina, I want you to stay close to me.” Becca reached for the girl’s hand, figuring Darion would be off questioning others.

  “No problem. I don’t want to get lost in this crowd.”

  The uneasy feeling rolled in Becca’s stomach for some time, watching these people chat about “the experience”, as they called it, of being at one with the demon. People didn’t want to include her and Navina, giving them cold looks. One man said he didn’t have time to waste if they weren’t true believers. Darion was at least making headways with a native girl. She probably wanted to convert him for a future spouse or something. Frustrated, Navina and Becca headed back outside and sat on a bench in the shade.

  “I just needed a second.” Standing and forcing socialization was exhausting for Becca.

  Navina just looked bored.

  “Guess following us on board wasn’t as exciting as you thought?” Becca felt bad for the girl.

  Navina shrugged. “Miss my mom and my brother. Didn’t realize I would.”

  Becca pulled her in with her good arm for a side hug. “As annoying as family can be, we miss them when they are not around.”

  “Yeah. I guess. I hope my mom isn’t too mad when I get back.”

  “She’s worried more than anything, which is harder. I’ll have Elizabeth talk to her, okay?”

  Navina nodded.

  Isabella came out from the back door and spotted them. Navina hastily wiped at her eyes, and Becca ached for the girl.

  “You’re missing out on the food.”

  “We had some,” Becca said. “It was good. Thank you.”

  “Is something wrong?” Isabella looked to the girl.

  “No,” Navina said. “I’m okay.”

  Isabella watched the girl with compassion, and Becca tightened her hold on Navina.

  “I know you think us…” the woman hesitated for a moment, “weird or bad, but we’re not. We do good. We work hard, help people feel good. We all feel good and do good.”

  Becca struggled to find her diplomacy. “We appreciate the room and your kindness. Thank you.”

  The woman took a seat in a nearby chair and stared out into the forest. Navina said nothing but watched Isabella with weary eyes. Becca felt that same weariness, but today began seeing Isabella for someone in a different life. This woman led a different life which lead her to believe the way she did.

  “Are you going to do the pilgrimage one day?” It saddened Becca to think of this woman throwing her life away.

  “That’s the dream,” Isabella chuckled. “But no. They only pick one candidate every full moon and mostly men.” Her face fell a little.

  Internally, Becca was relieved. She didn’t care for Isabella’s way of life, but she didn’t want to see her die.

  “Isabella, are there any Soultorns in town?” Becca hadn’t been out of the house yet and wondered how people could idolize demons so much.

  She shrugged. “Maybe, some.”

  Confused by this mentality, Becca didn’t push it. Thoughts of a pilgrimage swirled around her mind. She realized that even though she had no desire to make a pilgrimage, that was their next step. The answers they wanted were there.

  “Where do people go for this pilgrimage? I know it’s inland but where?”

  Isabella’s face turned dark and angry. Not speaking for a moment, Becca felt the heat in her gaze and wondered what she said wrong.

  “Non-believers aren’t welcome there.” With a swish of her skirts, she strode back into the house.

  Navina turned to Becca. “We aren’t going there, are we? These people are bad enough.”

  Becca’s heart hurt as she watched the fear in Navina’s face. “We may have to.”

  The next morning, Elizabeth rolled over and felt like she had slept on clouds. She sunk into the white satin sheets and never wanted to get up. The canopy bed had drapes to keep out the morning, only letting slivers of light peek through.

  The previous night, Andre had put protections on each of their rooms. So, when someone parted the drapes, she wasn’t surprised to see Nikki’s face. Though she didn’t look excited about it either. She pitched her voice high and formal. “Our presence is being requested for breakfast this morning at nine sharp.”

  Despite her body’s protests, Elizabeth pushed up. “I could live in this bed. Really, for the rest of my life.”

  “I’m sure Ms. Scarlett would welcome you with open arms.” Nikki said her name with a mocking tone, mimicking the servant. She held open the drapes and the light from the windows poured in.

  “What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked. “You know I wouldn’t leave my sister and you guys. And could you ever see Rebecca here?”

  That put a smile on Nikki’s face. “No. Not Becca. She’d probably steal the butler’s pants. Did you know Scarlett actually provided an approved wardrobe for us?”

  Elizabeth didn’t notice different clothes on Nikki.

  “No. I wasn’t going to wear it, but you are welcome to it.”

  The idea of a whole wardrobe excited Elizabeth, even if she was leery to say so in front of Nikki. Instead, Elizabeth took a drink of water, which a maid left on the nightstand with a slice of strawberry floating on top. In the daylight, her room looked even more a
mazing. And smelled like… lilac? She noticed the fresh-cut flowers on the coffee table next to two sitting room chairs.

  “We don’t have long. Do you need any help getting ready? I know this can all be overwhelming.” Nikki scuffed her boot against the thick rug.

  “I’ll be fine.” Elizabeth really wanted to dive into the wardrobe.

  “It’s overwhelming to me, but that’s probably because I grew up in a cave.” She tried to smile at her joke, but it was fleeting.

  “I lived in a house and this still is a lot, but I’m not complaining. It’s a room fit for a princess. I’m going to enjoy it while I can before we’re back to tents and cots.”

  “That’s a good way to put it. I’ll try to ignore the Soultorns I can do nothing about and enjoy this while I can.” Nikki headed to the door. “I’ll be next door if you need anything. We have thirty minutes.”

  Guilt pulled on Elizabeth’s heart. It was so easy to get caught up in this different world and forget about the cost. The Soultorns that walked around here were hellish reminders of her own past. Her uncle blocked Elizabeth’s magic for years, waiting for the perfect time to kill her parents and insert a powerful demon inside her. Elizabeth still didn’t remember everything about those months, except they were dark and cold, and she’d rather die than go back. These people didn’t have anyone to save them.

  Thirty minutes later, Elizabeth stepped out in the hall in a crimson and black dress, a stark contrast with her pale skin and blonde hair. She pulled her hair up into a bun and put on matching blood-red lipstick. It was something to wear at night to make a statement. After spending ten minutes staring at her wardrobe thinking about the maid with demon eyes sewing these exquisite dresses, she couldn’t stand anything bright or happy.

  Caleb did a double take when he first saw her. “Making use of the wardrobe, I see.”

  She nodded, not wanting to talk about it and grateful he didn’t push. He also wore a clean blue shirt and khakis.

  “Yeah, me too.” He pulled on his shirt. “I couldn’t pass up clean clothes. Not sure when I’ll have them next.”

  The others emerged from their rooms across the halls. Andre in new clothes and even Nikki caved and put on a new black blouse.

  Nikki took in Elizabeth’s new clothes and smiled. “Good choice.”

  They traveled down the hall and downstairs. A butler at the bottom of the staircase directed them to the breakfast room.

  “Evidently, people need a room for breakfast,” Nikki spoke under her breath. “One would hate to mix that with those atrocious lunch foods.”

  Elizabeth understood Nikki’s anger, but she also realized the power these women held. She was torn between their dark use of magic, and the freedom they had. A freedom Elizabeth never thought was available to women.

  Two carved wood doors were opened to a bright room with a long dining table in the center. White curtains and a mixture of greens and pinks lit up the room like a springtime garden. Maybe Elizabeth did pick the wrong time to make a statement with her clothes. One look at the maid with pitch-black demon eyes scurrying around helped reaffirm her decision. She was done being the sweet little girl that went along with everyone. Her experience with her uncle taught her the hard way.

  “Morning, please take a seat.” Scarlett was already seated at the head of the table with a few others.

  The maid brought juice and coffee for each of them.

  “Please let me make the introductions. This is my next in command, Gail, a formidable witch.” She extended an arm to another beautiful woman with piercing green eyes and short blue-black hair. It was not much longer than Caleb’s hair, but there was nothing masculine about her.

  “Then of course, Andre, you know my mother.” Scarlett referred to the older woman with red hair next to her. The woman didn’t really look old. Her flawless skin and vibrant hair flowed around her, but her eyes had lost that shine to them.

  Andre had not taken a seat and instead appeared to wait for his cue to greet Sylvia. He walked over and kissed her hand. “It’s good to see you again, friend.”

  The woman’s voice also held a shaky quality to it. “It’s good to see you again. I never thought anyone would be able to chase you out of those dark caves of yours.”

  “When you have children, your universe shifts.” Andre stood back and motioned to his daughter. “This is Nikki, my daughter.”

  “That, I understand.” She gave a sad smile and studied Nikki for a moment.

  “My other companions, Caleb and Elizabeth, as well.”

  The witch turned her eyes to Elizabeth, and she fought the urge to squirm under her gaze. No. This woman had killed and entrapped hundreds of Mundanes like her parents and Caleb’s parents; she couldn’t forgive that. Working with them out of necessity was one thing, but not forgiveness.

  “Scarlett told me you were a little bird, but you don’t look like a bird, maybe a hawk.” The woman took a sip of coffee, but everyone waited for her. “That is good. In this man’s world, we don’t need sparrows, but hawks and eagles, like my Scarlett here. Only then can you survive.”

  “Thank you.” Elizabeth struggled to swallow and reached for the orange juice.

  Like there was some silent command, servers appeared and set in front of them plates filled with eggs of some kind, fruit, and some type of toast that she was unfamiliar with.

  “Please eat,” Scarlett said. “I was hoping that afterwards the women could come with me to tour the gardens. I could show them what this coven is all about.”

  The idea of separating the group didn’t sit well, but Elizabeth couldn’t figure out a way to turn down the offer without offending them.

  “Of course,” Nikki said. “We’d be honored.” Her words were kind, but she didn’t look any more excited than Elizabeth felt.

  Chapter Ninety-Two

  After breakfast, a servant offered Elizabeth a cloth umbrella as she was escorted outside with the other women. The sun shone high and a light breeze carried on the wind. Trees, shrubs, and water features were aligned with perfection. Elizabeth stared at everything, soaking it in like balm to a battered soul that was tired of a dark, gritty world.

  Scarlett walked beside Elizabeth with a pale yellow dress that coordinated with the landscape, amazingly. “I’m so glad you both decided to stay and learn more about our coven.”

  Elizabeth didn’t remember them saying they wanted to learn about the coven. “Your home is beautiful, down to every last detail.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Elizabeth,” Scarlett said. “Andre mentioned your powers were recently uncovered. Who would ever bind them?”

  Elizabeth played with the handle of the umbrella for a moment, unsure what she should share or what she wanted to share. Her heavy past was hard to bear, but at the same time she was tired of being embarrassed or ashamed of what that monster did to her. “My uncle, Jeremiah.”

  “Jeremiah of Ryma’s coven?”

  “Yes, he then proceeded to put a level five demon inside of me.”

  Gail gasped from behind. “How are you here?”

  Elizabeth stopped to turn to Gail and Nikki behind them. “My sister killed him, and then after several months saved me.” The fear bubbled inside of her, an ever-present reminder of the hell she survived.

  “Good. I’d like to meet your sister sometime.” Scarlett stared forward, a perfect mask in place.

  Elizabeth didn’t know how to reply, since her sister was currently on a different continent, so she said nothing. They continued strolling for a moment and approached a fountain featuring the statue of a nude woman or an elf of some kind with a small gnome-type creature at her side. Water fell in a peaceful rhythm.

  Nikki stood on her other side and whispered, “You okay?”

  Elizabeth nodded. Remembering the past brought on a mountain of feelings, but sharing them lightened the weight of that mountain just a bit. She wondered if Scarlett was okay with that revelation.

  After another minute of sil
ence, Scarlett spoke, still looking at the fountain. “Men like Jeremiah are a bane to this world. They view women as second class like demons or Mundanes. That is why my mother created this haven for women. Men, like your father,” she glanced at Nikki, “may come for short periods, but they will never live here. Together we are strong, and we are safe.”

  “That must be nice,” Nikki said. “We used to have that. In the caves, we created a community of men and woman, witch and Mundane, and we lived in peace, until Ryma destroyed all of that.”

  “Men tend to want what they can’t have.”

  “Not all men,” Nikki said.

  Elizabeth wondered if Nikki was referring to Caleb. She noticed how the two of them looked at each other. And Nikki was right, Caleb was one of the good ones.

  Gail rolled her eyes at Nikki’s comment. “Enough men are that it’s better to ban them all.”

  But there were other men here at their home, Elizabeth remembered the servant from before with pitch-black eyes. Maybe they only keep men they control. Elizabeth loathed the idea of only living around men that were Soultorns.

  “You feel unsettled.” Scarlett turned to Elizabeth. “What’s wrong?”

  Elizabeth pulled back. “How did you…”

  “I can read emotions, an enchantress of sorts. I’m strong enough in all areas to keep our coven safe but reading emotion is one of the powers that comes whether I ask for it or not. But back to you. What’s wrong?”

  “Your servants.” Elizabeth blurted it out before she could stop herself.

  Gail and Scarlett looked at each other for a moment like they didn’t understand the problem. The dark-haired witch asked, “You don’t like servants? Yet you like the grounds, the food, and even the dresses. How else do you think they come?”

  Elizabeth fiddled with the umbrella for a moment, trying to decide if she should speak. “I don’t mind you having servants, but I don’t like that they are Soultorns. Remember I used to be one.”

  “Is that the reason for the dress?” Scarlett motioned to Elizabeth’s attire. “I can see how that would be troubling given your past. We kept Soultorns to remain strong. We’d fall under man’s hammer if we didn’t, and that is something I’d never do despite the cost. But we do have servants that are still human, or Mundane as you call them. I’ll see to it you’re only served by human servants. Come, let’s see the rest of the garden.”