by Lily Luchesi
“Enter,” Edelstone called.
Daphne walked into the room, surprised that Draven and Caelum were there already. Two extra chairs had been set out before the King’s desk, allowing four people to sit before him. It was the fourth person whose presence shocked her.
Salem.
He looked well, if a little too thin and tired looking. His eyes were sharp and alert. She could no longer see the amulet, but she could feel its Dark energy in the room, so she knew that he still wore it.
His magic called out to her the moment she walked in the room, wrapping and weaving around hers. Warmth and love suffused her, and she had to force herself from running right into his arms.
“Okay, great. She’s here. Can we get on with this now?” Caelum asked, impatient. “I really don’t like sitting here in the dark.”
Daphne nodded. “I must echo Caelum’s sentiments. I’m a little more than concerned here, sir.”
The King nodded. “I realise that. Please have a seat. Can I get you some tea, perhaps?”
“Answers,” she replied. “You can get me answers.” She gingerly sat in the only open chair, between Caelum and Salem. “Now would be preferable.”
“And my first question is … what is he doing here?” Caelum asked, gesturing to Salem.
“Doing my job, which is more than I can say for you, considering you don’t have one,” Salem retorted calmly.
“Gentlemen, if you would please,” Edelstone said, holding his hands up. “Salem came to me yesterday evening with some disconcerting news regarding The Company of Clan Munro. News you all needed to hear, but I did not wish to alarm you in the dead of night.”
“You should have,” Draven said, surprisingly scolding an authority figure. “What if waiting had gotten someone killed?”
Edelstone smiled a little. “I wondered when you would grow into your own, Mr. Silver. Alas, I knew nothing could happen in the night. And now here you all are. And I will allow Salem to tell you what is currently happening in The Company.”
All eyes were on Salem, who looked acutely uncomfortable.
“What is it?” Daphne asked quietly, making him look in her eyes. Which was a mistake, because what she saw there completely negated the letter he had left her. There was no real Darkness in him, no malice. Her heart ached at the thought of him being alone for all these years.
“I have been involved in The Company for three years now,” he admitted. “For much of that time, it seemed nothing was happening. I thought the organisation a bit of a joke, to be frank. But it was somewhere to belong, and so I remained, even when my better sense told me to leave.”
Caelum scoffed. “Oh great, we’re taking advice from a bloody traitor.”
“Shut up, Caelum,” Daphne snapped.
“Robert and Fiona once said they wanted to fulfill an old prophecy, and they were going to sire a child to do that. And they did, perhaps you know?” Salem looked at the other three.
“Robert?” Caelum asked. “He renounced Clan Munro after we graduated. He’s our friend. And of course we know his son, he plays with little Nick.”
Salem gave a smirk, but he didn’t seem at all amused. “And you call me a traitor. At least I am not a liar. Robert Ainsley is not your friend, you overgrown alley cat. He has been plotting against you, so he claims, since our final year at school.”
Draven’s eyes widened, and he looked truly hurt, while Caelum seemed to be flabbergasted. Daphne, however, was neither. She had sensed the evil in both him and his wife, and she was disappointed in herself. She should have known better.
“You’re a filthy liar,” Caelum snapped. “There is no way he’d do that.”
“Yes there is,” Daphne said quietly, surprising everyone. “I felt Darkness growing when he was around. I should have said something.” She looked up at Salem. “What is little Roger supposed to do, exactly?”
Salem sighed. “The prophecy said something about mixed bloodlines — in this case Munro and Fraser — healing the rift between Darkness and Light forever. They plan on raising him under extreme Munro ideals in order to make him take over the Coven with eternal Darkness when he grows up. But there is something standing in their way.”
He turned to Daphne, effectively shutting out the other three in the room. “You. I overheard them: they are going to kill you — and your family — in order to complete their goal. They want you dead, and they are planning their attack soon.”
Her mouth dropped. What did she have to do with them? It made no sense. “Are you sure, Sal?”
He nodded. He reached over and took her hand in his, magic sparking on her skin. “Daph, you must take your family and hide. None of you are safe right now, and until we can make a move to stop Robert—”
“No,” she said. She turned her hand so that her fingers intertwined with his. “Salem, you know me. You know I will not hide, especially not from the Dark. If they want me, they will find that I am not so easily bested.”
He smiled a little. “I should have expected nothing less. But you will not be alone, Daphne.”
“That’s for damn sure,” Caelum said. “You think we’re going to let some mad bastard kill you, or your family?”
“We will protect you. Let you fight for yourself, of course, but like Sinclair said, you won’t be alone in this,” Draven promised.
Daphne smiled at them, despite the worry gnawing at her. “What can we do?”
“Pretend you know nothing. Today, Salem, myself, and Mr. Lynx and Silver, if they feel so inclined, will cast warding charms over your home, to at least offer some modicum of protection,” Edelstone said. “I would have you assist, we all know you are the best at Charms, but you must be inside your home when the wards are cast.
“Meanwhile, behave as if everything is normal. If you sense even the slightest rise in Dark energy, call Salem or myself immediately. And be prepared to have to either flee or fight at a moment’s notice. You are, as a whole, a much more talented magician than Michael Smith. So if it comes down to it, he should flee while you stay and fight.”
Salem smirked, as did Daphne, who nodded.
“All right. That I can do.” She looked up at Salem and said, “Thank you. For turning on your Clan for me. You know I never, ever wanted that for you.”
Caelum made a gagging sound in his throat.
“Enough, Mr. Lynx,” Edelstone scolded. “All right. Now for our plans. Salem, you must continue infiltrating The Company, as we discussed, as well as ensure that no tendrils of their Darkness reach the Coven borders.
“Lynx and Silver, you will be a protective detail for the Smith family. With your heightened shifter and Undead senses, you are the best wizards for the job.
“Daphne, simply be prepared to fight for everything you love.”
Everyone nodded, despite the growing fear in Daphne’s heart. In one hour, her entire life had been turned upside down. She went from preparing for Harley’s third birthday to having to wonder if her daughter was going to die. Which brought up a thought that made her feel lightheaded. But she couldn’t bring it up until Salem was out of the room.
“Salem, if you would, please, can you go and see Cecily’s Charm Shop and bring in trinkets for the warding? I plan to leave in one hour,” Edelstone asked. “If she wonders what for, say you are assisting Boyle in his class.”
Salem nodded and stood up, finally letting go of Daphne’s hand. “I will be back before the hour is up.” He turned and exited, but Daphne couldn’t let him go like that.
She stood up abruptly and said, “Excuse me one second.” Dashing out the door, she called Salem’s name. He was walking toward the staircase and waited, eyes searching as Daphne came closer to him.
She stepped up to him, feeling their magic entwine in a way that it hadn’t before. “Your letter…”
He sighed. “I only did it to protect us both. To save us both from heartbreak.”
“And yet my heart was pretty broken.”
“Mine was, too.” He reach
ed out tentatively, his hand barely brushing hers. “You seem happy now. You had … Nick?”
She nodded. “The Darkness was growing. I am no longer under a love potion. But that just means that I know who I truly love. And it’s still not Michael… It’s still you, Sal. It has been from the moment we met.” She held his hand tightly.
“You don’t hate me for joining The Company?” he asked.
“No. I was hurt at how you left after that night we shared, though. But I understand, and it never stopped me from loving you. I…” She trailed off, wondering if she should tell him about Harley.
“Yes, Daphne?” he asked.
“There is something vitally important I need to tell you. But I can’t, not until The Company is eradicated,” she admitted.
He gave a small smile, pressing her hand to his lips. “I will be here to hear it. And I love you, too. I never stopped. All I wanted was your happiness.”
“Next time, do me a favour: be selfish and want me for yourself,” she said, surprising herself.
Salem smiled and pulled her closer, one arm around her waist. She closed her eyes just as his lips touched hers. Magic burst behind her eyes and she couldn’t remember how long it had been since she had felt so blissful.
When the kiss ended, all too soon, Salem whispered, “Go and plan. I will return soon, and do my very best to keep you all safe.”
He let her go and she walked back into Edelstone’s office with what she was sure was a goofy smile on her face.
“Ugh,” Caelum groaned. “Makes me sick just picturing someone in love with that creepy git.”
“Oh, shut up,” Daphne muttered as she took her seat.
“Yes, because there are more important things right now,” Edelstone agreed. “Salem still does not know his daughter exists, yes?”
Daphne’s blood ran cold. “How did you know?”
Edelstone chuckled. “I keep many ears to the ground, especially in regard to my Coven. Still, it was in your daughter’s best interest to keep him in the dark. The less he knows about her existence, the better.”
“Why?” Draven asked.
Edelstone looked sad for a moment before he answered. “Because Robert does not want Daphne dead. It is Harley he plans to kill.”
“What?” Daphne gasped, clutching at her throat. Fear and rage battled within her. She wanted to at once go and murder Robert, and also rush home to hold her daughter.
“Harley is who is standing in the way of Roger Ainsley fulfilling the prophecy,” Edelstone explained. “She was the first child born with mixed blood, before Roger. It is she who must die, in their eyes. And killing the rest of the family is merely a bonus for them.”
Her breath came short and she had to force herself to control it lest she passed out. She didn’t want to faint. She wanted to tear someone’s throat out. Not an entirely new feeling for her, but never had it been so strong.
“I’ll kill him,” she hissed.
Edelstone didn’t admonish her. Rather, he nodded. “I understand and do not blame you. And with any luck, they will be executed by the PID. But right now you are more needed at home than on the battlefield. Because if all our other lines of defence fail, you will be the only thing standing between your daughter and death.”
Daphne, Caelum, and Draven went back to Liverpool on two Peges, where the Smiths had moved in the past year, and Edelstone and Salem followed in the King’s chaise.
It was a mostly human neighbourhood, which made keeping Peges tricky, but with a combination of charms, they were secure.
“All right, Daphne. Go inside, explain all of this to Mike,” Caelum said. “We’ll take care of the wards.”
She nodded and went inside, wishing she could assist with the charms: she was far superior to all of them in that area except for, perhaps, the King. But she knew she was needed inside for the charms to work, so she didn’t protest.
“Daph?” Michael called. He was holding Nick on his hip. “What is happening? Why the bloody Hell are we allowing Salem Sinclair anywhere near our house?”
“Be quiet and listen for once,” Daphne snapped. “We are in danger. Especially Harley. The Company wants her dead!”
Michael stopped in his tracks. “They what? Are you sure, Daph? Is the King sure? What are they all doing out there?”
Daphne hastily explained everything, including Salem’s undercover work and why she couldn’t help with casting the warding spells. “Right now, everything hinges on protecting Harley. Edelstone is setting up a domino of protection. However, it is a domino: if one falls, the next may, too. Until all that is left is us against The Company.”
Michael held Nick a little tighter. “Bloody buggering… I thought Robert was our friend!”
“So did I,” Daphne admitted. “I feel as though it is my fault he got so close to us all. I am supposed to sense Darkness, and he hid his so well…”
Michael shook his head. “No. It’s not. Not really. It is all of ours for not realising that he was playing us for fools. We are better than that, and he hoodwinked the lot of us.”
She nodded, turning to watch the wards being put in place. The feeling of Light magic surrounded her, even from Salem and Caelum, who weren’t even close to being part of the Light.
In the middle of the living room, Harley sat, colouring. She preferred quiet, solitary activities, and since she was already exhibiting strong magical powers, they couldn’t send her to a human nursery school. Daphne watched as multiple crayons hovered in the air until Harley decided to pluck one, and then make the others keep hovering. She smiled, blissfully unaware of what was going on, that there was a target on her back.
“I know I can’t sense this stuff like you can, but she’s strong, isn’t she?” Michael asked. “Even for a toddler?”
Daphne nodded. “It’s part of why the Dark needs her dead. She has immense power within her, and even I can already tell she will never use it for evil.” She had always sensed something different with Harley, and now she knew why. Her mixed blood created a force in her that could possibly change the world as they knew it.
Chapter 26
Salem went back to the castle with the King, feeling utterly drained. It wasn’t often that someone from Clan Munro used so much Light magic at once. That, combined with seeing Daphne again, knowing she still loved him as much as he loved her, took a lot out of him. There was worry and relief and guilt all mingling inside, and he needed to calm himself.
“Go on home,” Edelstone suggested. “Spend a night outside of the Coven. You will feel better for it.”
Salem nodded. “I think you might be right. See you in the morning, sir.” He hopped onto a Pege and parked it at the PID, who had a stable concealed with magic on the top level of their location at Thames House.
As he crossed the river to get to his house, he heard a scuffle and a little shriek. Not sure if he really wanted to get involved, he turned the corner to see what was going on.
A person was on the ground, two people standing over them. He couldn’t tell who was on the ground, but he could see plainly who was the aggressor. Robert and Fiona.
“Oi, what’s happening?” Salem called in a hushed whisper.
Both blonds looked up and Robert smirked while his wife scowled.
“We have a traitor in our midst, Salem. Perhaps you’d like to join us?” he asked.
“Traitor? What do you mean?” Salem’s heart leapt to his throat, but he kept his voice level and his face blank.
Fiona kicked at the person on the ground. “I felt it: Light and warding magic went up around the Smith house earlier today. Alerting them if we come around.”
Salem was able to see the magician on the ground, it was a cousin of Pat Quigley. He didn’t know her name, but she had been the only one in the vast Quigley family to ever defect to The Company. They were known as Fraser associates since time out of mind.
“How do you know?” Salem asked. “Perhaps we should give her Liar’s Lament.” He didn’t want an inno
cent dying because of him. Then again, this woman wasn’t an innocent. Not if she believed killing an entire family, including a one year old baby, was a good plan.
“No, it has to be her,” Fiona said. “No one else has such known ties to the Light.”
“Salem,” the woman gasped. “Please, I knew you since you were a child.”
Salem was silent. What could he say? How could he stop this? He had already played his only card: get them to give her the potion that would reveal if she was telling the truth or not.
Now all he could do was either try and force them to stop, or tell them the truth: it was he who betrayed The Company. And if he did the former, they would see through him to his guilt. And he wasn’t so much of a hero that he would sacrifice himself for a woman he barely knew except in passing.
He knew it was wrong of him, but he never said he was a good person, he never claimed to be anything but himself: Dark, sarcastic, and not exactly brave. He was cold and calculating and knew that sacrifices were necessary for not just his, but Daphne’s survival as well.
If dying could keep her alive, he would gladly let Robert hex him to death.
“Please, I didn’t betray you!” Quigley screamed. “Stop! Salem, you have to know I’m telling the truth!”
I know, he thought. And it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference. I need to be alive to keep Daphne safe. You don’t.
“Want to at least confess first?” Fiona asked her. “You can go to Hell with a clean conscience then.”
Quigley spat at her boots. “Piss. Off. You are psychotic. So’s your husband. And your child will grow up the same way.”
“Have it your way, then.” Fiona was smiling as she held her hand out. A bright ball of purplish blue magic formed.
Salem wondered how she, born with Fraser blood, could harness energy like a Munro. Robert said he had taught her things, but never would he have guessed he’d taught her that.
She shot her magic at the woman and she screamed in pain. Salem could smell her hair and clothes burning. He swallowed hard, feeling bile rise up in his throat. Her whimpers were worse than her screams as she lay there, gasping and crying.