A Supernatural Secret in Faerywood Falls

by Blythe Baker

  “Apprentice, mother,” Bliss said.

  “She’s still a novice,” Aunt Candace said, glaring at Bliss. “How could she be capable of anything like that? It’s more likely that Delilah herself was the one who released the spell, and that’s probably what the council will believe, too.”

  I chewed on my thumb nail. “Bliss, what would the council say if they knew she had that book?” I asked. “Especially if they knew it was the one that her sister had stolen from the shop?”

  Bliss seemed to brighten. “Oh, that would be bad news, especially since she probably hasn’t let anyone analyze it yet. Magical artifacts like that usually need to be kept hidden away so that they aren’t used for evil.”

  “So she would probably want to keep that fact a secret?” I asked. “What if we got the book back somehow, and then went to the council with it?”

  “They’d probably write her off as crazy, especially if you had managed to use the book and they could explain away your actions with it. They could claim that Delilah was just misinformed about you, and she’d likely be punished for holding onto a magical item like that.”

  “Especially since it belonged to the Blackburns a long time ago,” I said. “Not that I want them to have it back, either.”

  “So we need to get that book back,” Bliss said. “Okay. I have an idea. I’m afraid I’m not skilled enough to help Athena on my own. If I were to take her back to the Hollow with me, seek help from Zara to heal her, and explain the situation – ”

  “Not the whole situation, I hope?” I asked, suddenly worried.

  “Of course not,” Bliss said. “I’d tell her about the book for sure, though. That way we can hopefully get to the council’s ears before Delilah talks to them about you. In the meantime, you are going to need help finding the book. And that invitation to Dr. Valerio’s party seems like the perfect excuse to find some.”

  “Do you think he’d help me?” I asked.

  “I think that man would give the whole world to you if you asked him,” Bliss said.

  “Are you sure this is wise?” Aunt Candace asked.

  “We can trust Zara,” Bliss said. “She’ll know how to address the council in order to protect Marianne. The council may have recognized Delilah’s power, but that doesn’t mean they are going to believe everything she says. That, and I know she can help me find a way to save Athena.”

  I let out a heavy sigh. “Okay. I’m game. Lucan is probably my best bet for finding that book. And I think I can trust him.” I glanced at the clock on Bliss’s wall. “I should probably go, though. The party starts in less than an hour.”

  “You’re not going in that, are you?” Bliss asked, lifting her wand to draw another portal on her wall.

  I looked down at myself. “Oh. You’re right. Can I borrow some jeans?”

  “Jeans?” Bliss asked. “Honey, you’re going to need a gown for this kind of party.”

  11

  Bliss wasn’t kidding when she said gown. She dragged dress after dress out of her closet and made me try them all on. And with a little bind of wind magic, she was able to get my tangled, chestnut hair up into some kind of twisted knot at the back of my head, secured in place with pins adorned with leaves and vines.

  “A true daughter of the forest,” Bliss said, standing back and admiring her work.

  I glanced at myself in her floor-length mirror, and was surprised to see a woman I didn’t recognize staring back at me. She had the same facial structure I did; same high cheekbones, same small ears and nose. She even had the same silver eyes that I did.

  “You look good, huh?” Bliss said proudly.

  “I think you look lovely,” Aunt Candace said.

  The sleeveless dress was a deep, mossy green, cinched at the waist, but gracefully flowing downward from there. The several layers of tulle beneath the skirt made it look like it belonged on a princess more than it did on me. Every time I moved, the silk swayed elegantly.

  “Lucan is going to absolutely die when he sees you in this,” Bliss said.

  I glared at her. “It’s not about that. I need his help.”

  “Right, and he’ll willingly give it to you, along with everything he owns,” Bliss said.

  “Okay,” I said dismissively. “Now get Athena to Zara safely, alright?”

  “Of course,” Bliss said. “You can trust me with her.”

  “I know I can,” I said.

  I helped get Athena bundled up in a soft, fleece blanket. I even crossed through the portal with her. I kissed her on the forehead before passing her to Bliss.

  “Did you want to try talking to her one last time before I head off to meet Zara?” Bliss asked.

  I looked down at Athena. Athena? I asked, pushing outward with my thoughts. Are you there?

  I tried my best to search around for any kind of communication. The harder I listened, the more I thought I heard…something. It was almost like the sounds of a forest. Birds twittering in the background, and water bubbling in a shallow riverbed.

  Was this what Athena’s thoughts were like? Her dreams?

  I withdrew and opened my eyes. “Nothing. But I can still sense her…I think.”

  “Alright. You need to get going. You’re going to be late to that party. Fashionably late, of course, which is always ideal, but still. We are working against the clock with Delilah.”

  “You’re right,” I said. I reached out and touched Athena’s soft fur once more. “Take care of my girl.”

  “She’s going to be fine, Marianne,” Bliss said. “I promise you I’ll take care of her.”

  I nodded, and before I completely lost it and chose to stay with Athena, I hurried back through the portal.

  Aunt Candace drove me over to Lucan’s house. It was a mostly silent ride until we were just about to pull into the large estate.

  “I’m sorry that the news about your mother and father was probably not what you wanted,” Aunt Candace said.

  When I looked at her, I saw a tightness in her face as she stared out onto the coming road.

  “It’s alright,” I said. “I wanted answers. And more than that, I wanted the truth. I knew they were dead, but I wish it hadn’t been quite so…” I didn’t have the heart to finish the thought out loud.

  “Well…I hope we can get this resolved quickly,” Aunt Candace said. “The same people who were jealous of your mother are likely still around…and if they learn that you are her daughter, and that you possess the same gifts she did…”

  I swallowed hard.

  “I just worry they might react in their own fear,” she said.

  More than that, what if those people decided to go after Bliss and Aunt Candace like they went after my father?

  I wasn’t going to let that happen. I wouldn’t let them find out.

  I had to protect my secret at all costs.

  “Well…you aren’t alone, you know,” Aunt Candace said, pulling up behind a car waiting to drop off guests at Lucan’s home. “Bliss and I will always be there for you.”

  I reached across the seat and wrapped my arm around her in an awkward, constrained sort of hug. “Thank you,” I said, and I hoped she knew I meant it.

  “Alright, you better go,” Aunt Candace said. “We’ll be waiting at home, okay?”

  “Thanks,” I said again, and I hopped out of the car.

  There were several young werewolves there to greet me, all dressed in black coats and tails. Lucan’s servants. I thought I recognized Gian among them, but he was helping an older woman out of her car, and I couldn’t be sure.

  I was lead up the stairs to the front doors, which were thrown wide open. Music was pouring out over the deck, and the bright lights inside were warm and inviting. The chatter of guests as they mingled in the foyer greeted me as I stepped into the brightness.

  Everyone was dressed to the nines. Men wore elaborate suits of almost every color, bright like gemstones. The ladies wore extravagant dresses with frills and lace and crystals. I saw one woman with ha
ir as white as starlight with a dress that had wings laced into the back, and it made me stop and wonder if they were real or not.

  There was a rich, savory aroma in the air, of seared meat and roasted garlic, along with something tartly sweet. As I wandered through the crowds, none of whom gave me the time of day, I glimpsed trays of gold and pewter set out on tables in every corner, stacked high with glistening, picture perfect food.

  The decoration of the house was probably the most impressive part. The chandeliers high above were wrapped in gauzy cotton that looked a lot like real cobwebs, as were all the legs of the tables, and the chairs. There were stretches of dark lace on almost every surface, and I realized that all the light sources in the room came from the candles, not electricity. It gave everything a very dark, moody feel.

  Many of the guests also wore masks; I saw one woman wearing a mask of an owl, and the man beside her wore one that looked like a cross between a bear and a lion. Further into the foyer, I saw a woman with a feathered mask that had a pointed nose like a beak.

  I wandered between the tables that had to have been pulled out of every possible room in the large estate house in order to make the open space feel so much more intimate.

  As I made my way into the two-story living room, music met my ears. Piano, violin, and cello. I glanced then at the corner of the room near the windows.

  Couples in elegant clothing danced in a large circle, and suddenly it felt like I’d stepped back into Victorian times. Between the candlelight and the attire, it was almost hard to believe I hadn’t.

  There were some familiar faces in the room; I thought I recognized one of the council of eleven standing near the wall, speaking with another guest. I also recognized some of the people from the bank Lucan owned in town. It surprised me that they all must be Gifted, too.

  I also caught sight of Alessa, who was out in the middle of the dancing, moving around excitedly with her hands clasped tightly in the tiny grip of Nico, Lucan’s son.

  It brought a smile to my face.

  Then my eyes fell on Lucan himself.

  He was standing in front of one of the tall, two-story windows, the gorgeous oranges and pinks of the clouds reflecting the setting sun as his backdrop. He wore an olive green suit, which complimented his copper beard and hair. He wasn’t wearing a mask like so many others in the room were, but his vest was black, and so was his tie. He somehow seemed regal, standing there with a pewter goblet in his hand, speaking with one of the members of his staff.

  My heart skipped as I stared at him. He was so gorgeous that it made my heart ache to even look at him. He didn’t look like he could be real. A warm glow flickered into life in my chest as I watched him for a minute. His eyes, so focused and attentive, sent shivers down my spine, and he wasn’t even looking at me. Tall and lean, I paid special attention to the shape of his jaw, his broad shoulders, his long legs…

  I’d seen him as a wolf, but for some reason, that never troubled me.

  I guessed it was the same with Cain…though with a revolting jolt in my stomach, I realized that I reacted to the idea of Cain with more fear than comfort now.

  I swallowed hard, my brain pushing my primary task back to the forefront of my mind. I needed Lucan’s help to find Delilah. She couldn’t tell the council of eleven what she thought about me. And that book…we needed to find that book as soon as possible. It was our only bargaining chip with the council to make them turn their wrath on her instead of me.

  I gathered my courage and headed across the spacious room toward Dr. Valerio, my head held as high as I could.

  His eyes found me before I was even near him.

  The crowd between us seemed to part, and I soon found myself standing with him.

  “Well, good evening, Miss Huffler,” Lucan said, his smile growing wider. His eyes were gentle and warm, and it made my skin tingle, and my heart felt vulnerable as I stared up into them. “I am quite pleased to see that you could join us this evening.”

  “I am, too,” I said, smiling back up at him. He made it so easy to do. “Your party is amazing.”

  “Thank you,” he said with a small bow. “I’ve spent many years trying to perfect it, and always want to keep it fresh every October. It seems to have become somewhat of a town tradition. Not that I mind, of course. I find it a wonderful way to get all the Gifted groups together and remember that we all have a great deal in common.”

  “That’s admirable,” I said, looking around the room.

  A flash of fear shot through me as I realized what I needed to say next, but thought it might be better to keep with the small talk. At least initially.

  “Lucan…” I said, turning my eyes to him.

  “Yes, Marianne?” he asked, his voice as smooth as velvet. And his accent made me want to melt into a puddle right then and there.

  For a moment, my mind was wiped clear of what I’d actually wanted to say to him. I blinked up at him a few times before the thoughts came drifting back. “Um…there was…something I wanted to talk to you about,” I said in a lower voice.

  He leaned in closer to me. “And what might that be?” he asked.

  It suddenly felt as if every eye in the room was on us, and as I looked around, I realized that wasn’t all that far from the truth. There were many glances from guests across the room, as they were probably wondering who this girl was who spoke so casually to Lucan Valerio.

  I swallowed nervously, my throat growing tight again.

  “Um…do you mind if we go somewhere a bit more private?” I asked.

  “Of course,” Lucan said.

  My face flushed red as I felt his hand gently pressing against my lower back. He guided me through the crowds and across the room, where there was a pair of French doors leading out onto the back deck of the house.

  The air was brisk outside, but it was enough to clear my head. It was much quieter, too; the music was distant, and the low rumble of voices faded into the night.

  I walked to the banister and looked out over the forest; against the darkening sky, there were a few bright spots from windows of homes closer to the center of town, cozy and settling in for a cold night.

  “You look absolutely stunning tonight, Marianne,” Lucan said, his hand moving easily from my back to my fingers, gently lifting them into the air and twirling me around in a slow circle. “It’s almost like we coordinated, isn’t it? Both of us wearing green like this.”

  My heart nearly purred in response. I liked that idea of us being so similar.

  But I had to focus…as much as I would have liked nothing more than to just hog his attention a little bit longer…

  “Thank you,” I said, not minding the color in my cheeks as I smiled up at him. “My cousin chose this dress for me. Said it would be a good fit for the party.”

  “She chose well,” Lucan said. “Remind me to send her some flowers to thank her for encouraging you to come tonight.” He leaned against the banister and his gaze became more serious. “So, what is it that you needed? I can see from the look in your eyes that something’s happened. You seem to have lost some of your usual spark.”

  I was taken aback by his frankness. That, and his ability to read me so clearly. “You have a keen eye, Dr. Valerio…” I sighed, reflecting back on the last few days…and realizing just how much had actually been happening. “Well, I guess a lot of this began yesterday when – ”

  “My apologies, Dr. Valerio, but it’s your son…” said a voice behind me.

  I whirled around to see one of Lucan’s young werewolves, all dressed in a coat and tails like the others, peering up at Lucan nervously.

  “What’s wrong, Ben?” Lucan asked.

  Ben took a step forward. “Nico is getting tired. He wants to know if you’d be able to help put him to bed.”

  “Yes,” Lucan said. “Tell him I’ll be in as soon as his bath is finished. Alessa said she’d take care of that tonight.”

  Ben nodded and bowed himself away from us.

  Lucan le
t out an exhale before smiling down at me. “I’m sorry about that. Now, what happened yesterday?”

  “Well, I was accepted as a spell weaver apprentice,” I said.

  Lucan’s face brightened. “Congratulations. Marianne. That’s wonderful news.”

  “Yes, it is,” I said. “And I’m very happy about it…”

  He gestured further down the deck, out of sight of the windows into the living space.

  As we began to walk, he looked down at me. “I had wondered if spell weaving was your gift,” he said. “I always knew it was something. I assumed you were just a beast talker, though, since you have Athena. How did you come to find out you had another ability?”

  That was the perfect way into telling him about the whole fiasco I found myself in. “Well, I’ve been trying hard to narrow down what exactly my gift was,” I said. “I’ve been researching into my family’s history, attempting to learn about my birth parents…and along the way, I realized that I had a knack for some spells. My cousin was the one who noticed it one day. After hearing Ruth Cunningham use a song spell, I ended up singing it one afternoon at the Lodge while I helped my aunt get ready for guests, and my cousin heard it and realized what it was.”

  “A spell song?” Lucan asked. “And you picked it up so easily?”

  “Yes,” I said, careful not to give away any more information than that. “So Bliss decided to go to the council, or rather have her mentor go to the council, and see if they’d be willing to test me for the gifting. Long story short, it turns out that’s the truth. After passing the initial test, they brought me to the council, and they inducted me.”

  “Excellent,” Lucan said. “I imagine that’s a great weight off your chest.”

  “It was,” I said. “And around the same time, I’ve started finding out more about my parents. Little by little, I was finding answers. And then, the closest I came to discovering the truth was when that tormented ghost appeared in the graveyard, and she recognized me…she said I looked just like my mother…”