They continued down a path and a stream ran next to them, watering a beautiful tree whose branches hung over the water. There was a simple table sitting under a gazebo with a butler standing by. Scarlett turned towards the table. “Let’s have a drink, shall we?”
They nodded. The iced tea was refreshing as Elizabeth’s choice of dress was now making her perspire. She used a napkin to dab at her neck.
Scarlett turned her attention. “Nikki, what is this plan your father thinks will take down Lazaro?”
“I wish you would ask him.”
“I’m asking you. You work with him, and I’d rather deal with a woman, even if she doesn’t approve of our way of living.”
“I never said—”
Scarlett raised a hand, interrupting her. “I know, but like I said before, I feel things. It helps me know who to trust and who not to. You’ve been on edge since you arrived. Cave living has not done you any favors.”
“Or maybe it has.” Nikki wasn’t backing down.
Scarlett stared at her, maybe reading Nikki. “Can you answer my question, or do you have to get approval from your father?”
“We are rallying allies. We can’t tell you specifics in case Lazaro comes to call on you. The less everyone knows about each other, the better.”
“Good to know.” Scarlett nodded and turned her attention towards Elizabeth. “What about this sister of yours, Elizabeth? Is she gathering allies? I have a hard time believing she’d go through all that then leave you so easily.”
Elizabeth bristled at the insult. This witch didn’t know her sister. “She never leaves me.”
“What are you talking about?” Gail had a bizarre look on her face.
Scarlett narrowed her eyes. You mean telepathically?
“You can do that too?” Elizabeth rubbed her temple, worried at what that meant.
“Don’t worry, little bird. I won’t intrude in your conversations. That’s poor manners. Someone does need to teach you better defensive shields though, to keep others out.” Scarlett glanced at Nikki.
“Elizabeth and her sister,” Nikki lowered her brow in obvious annoyance, “have a permanent connection, no matter the distance.”
“Really? You two are amazing sisters.” Scarlett watched Elizabeth with an odd desire like she wanted a new toy.
Elizabeth smoothed out her skirt, trying hard not to faulter under the scrutiny.
You doing okay, sis? Becca spoke in her mind. It felt like you were thinking of me or something.
Talking about you, actually. I think you have a fan.
Who?
A witch in a female coven. Elizabeth squirmed under Gail’s and Scarlett’s gaze.
I don’t think I want fans.
Becca wasn’t happy to find Andre had taken Elizabeth to a coven, all-female or not. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself that she trusted Andre and Caleb, and neither of them would put her sister in danger.
Unsettled, Becca headed back to her room with Navina, claiming she needed rest. It wasn’t a total lie, but she didn’t have the energy to mingle with those people. She preferred a more direct approach, but violence wouldn’t be a good tactic there. She’ll let Darion be the politician in the group.
“Can we check in with my mom?” Navina asked once back in the room.
“Come have a seat and bring your cards,” Becca said, hoping to distract her. “I’ll see what Elizabeth knows.”
Liz, are you able to see how Navina’s mom is doing? She’s worried about her. After a minute there was still no reply. Elizabeth?
It took a few seconds for a reply from her sister. Sorry, in the middle of something. Last we heard, they were doing fine.
Last you heard?
Elizabeth quickly explained how long they had been away, but that they check in regularly. Becca sent her love and disconnected, promising to talk tonight.
“Anything?” Navina asked as soon as Becca opened her eyes.
“Sorry, but Elizabeth left the others. Andre checks in with them every day and so far, they are doing well.”
Navina dropped her hands in her lap and stared at them.
Becca placed a hand on her thin shoulder. “We’ll be back soon. Trust me. I don’t want to stay here any longer than you do.”
“How will we get back? We burned the last boat we were on.”
Becca chuckled. “True. We may have to go up the coast to another port if our reputation precedes us. We’ll figure something out.”
“I wish I never came,” Navina’s voice broke.
“I know. As much as I like you, kid, me too. But there’s no use in focusing on what we can’t change. So, deal me in.” Becca motioned to the cards.
“What are we playing?”
“Poker?”
“I don’t know how to play poker. My mom says that’s for grownups.”
Becca rubbed her sore shoulder. “You’re growing up pretty quick lately, so it’s time to learn. Five cards each.”
They played several hands and Navina started to get it down. They went to blackjack next, and she picked it up just as fast.
“Who taught you how to be so good at math?”
“My mom is a stickler for an education.” Her mood lightened when she beat Becca at blackjack the last couple of times.
“Good.”
They played a few more hands before Darion joined them. “Teaching her young, I see.”
“She’s got some skills.” Becca turned to Darion, glad he was back. The last several minutes she’d been wondering if they made a mistake. Maybe when they first discovered Navina all three of them should have turned back?
“Can you two take a break so we can talk?”
Navina shrugged obviously disappointed. “Yeah.”
Darion turned to their door and placed a spell for privacy.
“What was that for?”
“To keep out other ears.”
Becca tilted her head towards Navina, wondering if they should go outside to talk.
“I figure she’s with us, she deserves to know,” Darion said.
While agreeing, Becca worried that it would be too much for Navina. Either way she would have to face it though. Becca nodded, telling him to go ahead.
“I think we both know we’re going to have to do what the people are calling a pilgrimage. They all speak of a temple in the middle of a jungle. Nothing too specific.”
“When I mentioned it to Isabella, she told us we weren’t true believers and stormed off.”
“That was the impression I got from the others as well.” He took a seat on the single brown chair in the room. “Evidently you have to pay a lot to get a guide for the pilgrimage. And no one really knows of a guide firsthand. You have to know someone that knows someone. I honestly believe no one knows how, except maybe Stewart.”
“Really? What makes you think that?” To Becca, he just appeared to be another sheep.
“Nothing concrete, but it’s more what he didn’t say. Does that make sense?”
Becca nodded. “Doesn’t help us much.”
“Sometimes you forget your own power, don’t you?” He looked at Becca expectantly for a moment.
Then it clicked. “You want me to get in his head. It doesn’t seem like a pleasant place to be.”
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was important.” He leaned forward, elbows on knees.
“I know. I’ll do it. I just worry what I’ll find in there.” She rubbed her hands together, trying to warm them. The room wasn’t cold, but she couldn’t seem to keep warm.
“We came for answers, but we have to be prepared that we may not like them.” He got off the chair and sat next to Becca on the mat. Taking her hands, he rubbed his on top.
A warmth entered her hands and flowed through her body. “We’ll have to get him alone. I don’t think I can control two people at once.”
“I can put her to sleep.” Navina looked up from her cards.
“I don’t want you to get involved in this,” B
ecca said. “I can put her to sleep as well.”
“I don’t mind helping. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we get home, right?”
“Right,” Darion said. “We’ll see what’s going on at this temple everyone is talking about. If we don’t find answers, we’ll head back to join the others. But maybe, we can find something to use against Lazaro. There was a reason he came down here and everyone still strives to go.”
Chapter Ninety-Three
Caleb spent the day watching Andre and the older witch, Sylvia, catch up. Boring to say the least, and honestly, beyond frustrating. He worried about Elizabeth, and sitting around doing nothing while they had more to do than they could ever get to drove him crazy. Thankfully, after an hour or so, the woman excused herself. She didn’t have the stamina anymore.
Once she was gone, a servant put them in the sitting room they first went to when they arrived. Was this some type of safe room they put people in they really didn’t trust? There was a cart of drinks and snacks, making Caleb think they might be here for a while.
“What do you think Nikki and Elizabeth are doing?”
“Talking to Scarlett and trying to convince her to help us.” Andre picked a book off the shelves and sat down on the couch.
“Does she really hate men that much, that we can’t even be included in the conversation? You are head of a coven.”
“Yes, they do, and I know.” He pried open the book and began to read.
Caleb became even more agitated. “Will they be safe with Scarlett?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I thought they weren’t.”
“Even with the Soultorns here?”
With a large sigh, Andre closed the book, but kept his finger in the page. “Scarlett would never hurt another witch unless she had too. She’d love a seer in her coven, but I don’t think Elizabeth would ever leave without Becca, so I’m not worried. I’m sure Nikki and Scarlett are butting heads, but I trust Nikki to reach Scarlett in a way I never could. Now please, read a book, sit down, relax.”
Caleb grabbed the closest book without even looking and plopped down on the couch. “I just don’t know how you can be so calm.”
“Because worrying when there is nothing you can do, doesn’t help anyone.”
“Maybe…” He opened his book, to find out it was about roses. How can a book be so thick and only talk about one type of flower? He tried to read the first page, but his mind traveled, unable to focus. “When did you meet the older Ms. Mathison? I thought you were raised in hiding.”
Andre didn’t hide his exasperation as he set his book aside. “My parents did raise me in hiding, but when I was a young man, around your age, I wanted to explore the world. Live a little. I rebelled, saying I could survive in the world without becoming tainted by the dark magic.”
“And?”
“Before I eventually settled down with my wife, I spent a year with Sylvia.”
“Really?” Caleb found it interesting since they seemed so different now.
“Yes. Back then we were both idealistic. She had just played with the idea of an all-female coven. She had been burned too many times by wizards wanting her magic.”
“What happened?” Caleb asked. “Sorry if that’s too personal.”
“Difference of opinion.” Andre ran a finger down the edge of his book. “While she fought for equal rights for women, which I agreed with, she didn’t see Mundanes as equal. Knowing I had a younger brother who showed no magical talent at that point, I couldn’t see the world that way. My parents were right in a way. I knew if I stayed, dark magic would taint my soul. It was one thing to use demons, but not humans. And even if I didn’t use Soultorns or demon pets, I didn’t want to live in a world where others did. I eventually made my way home and found my wife along the way.”
Caleb was tempted to ask that question as well but didn’t want to push. Knowing the story with Sylvia helped him to understand their relationship.
Caleb tried to go back to his book.
“Speaking of relationships, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Andre waited for Caleb to look up. “What are your intentions with my daughter?”
Caleb choked for a moment, taken aback by the question. “What?”
“I know something is there, and since we’re being honest, I figured I’d ask you. Do you have feelings for my daughter?”
His face warmed as he tried to figure out the best way to phrase this. “I have feelings for her but haven’t quite figured them out myself. I care for her though.”
“Fair enough.” Andre nodded, keeping his face a stern mask, revealing nothing. “Now, can we read?”
“Yes, sir.” Caleb glued his eyes to the book, even if he couldn’t read. It wasn’t until several minutes after, he wondered if Andre really wanted to know about their relationship or if he just wanted Caleb to shut up. Either way, it worked.
The afternoon passed slowly, but eventually the others returned. They were given time in their rooms to rest before dinner. Caleb felt like he had been resting all day, so he got a workout in instead. He missed running and working out with Leon. He didn’t have the luxury of magic, so staying in shape could make the difference between life and death in a fight.
He took another shower, then got ready for dinner. He dressed in a dark shirt and pants but kept his boots on. They stowed his knives nicely. He waited for the others in the hall.
“You’re going to wear a hole in that carpet.” Nikki stepped out, looking amazing. Her hair was pulled up into a high bun. Her white dressed hugged her body in all the right ways, leaving her shoulders bare and contrasting beautifully with her dark skin.
He struggled to find the right words. “Nikki, you’re…”
“You look beautiful, daughter.” Andre spoke behind him, like a cold glass of water. “You can wipe the drool off your chin, Caleb.” He stepped around Caleb and gave Nikki a hug.
Trying to focus his thoughts on something else, he turned to find Elizabeth, her dress toned down since this morning, and looking more like the Elizabeth he knew.
“How are you doing?” he asked her, hoping she got some rest in.
“Good. I slept and checked in with Becca.”
“And how are they doing?”
She shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Becca says she is doing better, but I still sense her pain. And Navina is getting homesick.”
Andre and Nikki had turned to listen to Elizabeth as well.
“I still can’t believe Navina went with them,” Nikki said.
“Navina is an amazing child. She’ll do great things, if she doesn’t give her mother a heart attack first.” Andre lifted his elbow to escort his daughter. “Shall we?”
“Yes.” They headed down the hall to the dining room.
Caleb followed suit and escorted Elizabeth. Her hand was cold on his arm. “How did everything go this morning with Scarlett?” He kept his voice low, keeping the conversation between them.
“She invited Becca and I to join her here. Can you see Becca here?” Her blue eyes held quiet laughter in them.
“I can, and it would be very entertaining.” Caleb missed his friend. “Did Scarlett take the rejection well?”
“Like any proper lady would, but she kept it open if I change my mind.”
Nodding, he turned down the stairs. He could see Elizabeth here, sitting among the elegance, and she would enjoy it. This wouldn’t be a bad place for her either. The Soultorns did get under her skin, but who knows, if they could defeat Lazaro a new age could be ushered in. One where Soultorns were illegal.
They met in a sitting room first for drinks. It was similar to the other rooms, filled with paintings, books and, of course, fresh flowers. Except in this one a large piano sat off to one side with a man playing a beautiful soft tune.
“Elizabeth,” Scarlett welcomed them. “You look like an angel.”
Caleb let go of her arm, and Scarlett greeted her with a light kiss on each cheek. What a change in attitude, but people would do a lot for Eli
zabeth. Especially if she decided to join the coven.
“Thank you.” Elizabeth pulled back first. “I love the music.”
“Yes, he’s very talented, and as you can see completely Mundane.”
Caleb tightened his lips, so nothing would slip out. Did this woman want a medal for not putting a demon in this man? Probably.
“He is very talented.” Elizabeth froze for a moment but seemed to have no problem maintaining her manners.
“Caleb.” Scarlett finally acknowledged him. “Both of you please help yourself to drinks, dinner will be starting shortly.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth nodded as Scarlett left to talk to someone else, then turned to him. “Would you like a drink?”
“Nothing beside water. I don’t dare drink with this many magicians around.”
“You know I’m a magician, right?”
“Yes, but I know you and trust you. People that use Mundanes as demon hosts, I don’t.”
“True.” She lowered her eyes as if guilty for enjoying herself.
“Hey,” he lifted a finger under her chin. “Do you want a drink?”
“I’ve never had one before. Not sure tonight is the best time.”
He felt bad. Elizabeth had lived a sheltered life. After living on a farm most of her life, this would be like becoming a princess. Fancy dresses, drinks, music, this was another world, and the type of world Elizabeth probably dreamed about. He always saw her as a little sister, and he never wanted anything for her but to be safe. Maybe she should be able to live a little, especially with all she had gone through. “How about half a glass? And I’ll make sure to keep an eye on you.”
Her blue eyes perked up. “A few sips wouldn’t hurt.” She turned and headed towards a servant holding drinks.
As he watched her, Nikki appeared with a drink in her hand. “Not drinking?”
Shaking his head, he said, “No. Your uncle Leon taught me better than that. I’m on duty.”
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