“Please Alice, fetch me the cards.” Alice knew that she had said far too much and disappeared before returning with the tarot deck. They looked ancient and well used and as soon as Blaise touched them, she felt her fingers tingle. As she removed the cards from the pack it was if fireworks had been lit within her mind’s eye and her entire body felt enlivened and inspired. Alice offered no guidance but stood by in case Blaise should require any instruction. She shuffled the cards and laid them out in a straight line of six. “I will use these to represent a six-month cycle.” When they were flat on the table Blaise went into a self-induced trance and breathed deeply. She studied the lineup and nodded as if she was hearing voices acknowledging the information she was being fed.
She pulled a few more cards from the deck and laid them on top of some of the others. Alice realized that she needed more cards to qualify the original ones. Finally, she looked up at Alice and said, “See, the cards tell me I am right. You can see that too can’t you Alice.”
Alice nodded, resigned. “I see it. And there’s the Justice card and the victory and the Empress. But I feel the same as you do too. Do you still want to find Agatha?”
“No, I don’t need to. She came to me last night. She’s as happy as she expected to be. I don’t think she would like to be ripped from her new world. She has been too well controlled and shaped by her upbringing. There’s no going back for Agatha. But I am blessed to be the woman she shaped me into. And you, you shaped me too Alice.”
Blaise touched the cards and studied some more of them. “These are so beautiful Alice.”
“They are yours now. Your first lesson is over. But it wasn’t actually a lesson was it? You didn’t need any tutoring. You’re a natural and capable of great things. I know that you will always do the right thing. Just be careful around Jacques. You may think you will be able to vanquish him, but he is as wise as any being that has ever lived.”
“But he keeps us all prisoners.”
“That’s what his duty requires him to do. He has no choice. He is a prisoner too. But his heart is fragile. He is lonely because he must always be alone. Like a priest. He must focus on the task of rule and give no thought to self-gratification.”
“Then why am I being invited to dinner and horse-riding?”
“Because his relationships are fleeting. He knows they finite and the choice he has to make is written in stone. He has no choice either. His heart can never fully commit.”
“No, because then he might be like the rest of the world.”
“Human? He can never be that, can he?”
Blaise felt that the discussion had just brought up more questions for her. She felt that the more she got to know, the more she realized how little she knew. It left her feeling unsettled and restless, unsure of what to do. She had never been religious but inside her head she asked her mother for guidance. What should she do? But no answer was immediately forthcoming.
Jacques arrived at 2 o’clock as he’d promised. The black Jaguar was sleek and refined and Blaise thought how well it suited its driver. It didn’t take long to cover the five miles or so to his house. She was used to luxury herself, but this made her feel as if she was entering palace gates. The drive wound through trees and when they broke onto green pastureland, the most magnificent house Blaise thought she had ever seen greeted her.
“You’ve come dressed for business I see. Do you want to get straight onto the ride and we can have a drink afterwards?”
“Yes, that would be good. Whilst the weather is fine. It gets dark so early at the moment doesn’t it? Lead the way. I’m looking forward to it.”
To say that Blaise found the ride exhilarating was the understatement of the year. Her mount was a chestnut mare with a black mane and Blaise thought that the animal was noble and regal. Horse-riding came back to her as if she’d been doing it all her life, even though it had been some considerable time since she’d ridden.
“You’re an expert I think,” Jacques said, catching up with her.
She laughed delightedly and said, “Far from it. But thanks for the compliment.” They strolled on at a slower pace, side by side, which allowed them to chat.
“Do you ride often?” she asked him.
“Not half so often as I’d like. And it’s much more fun riding with someone else. Especially someone who is so full of life. Like you.”
“Are you lonely Jacques?” He looked at her in surprise, unused to personal questions.
“Where did that come from?”
“I’ve been giving it some thought over the last few days. Do you have anyone living with you? A housekeeper?”
“Not living in. It wouldn’t work. Someone comes in to do the housework and cooking, but they live in the village. I’m not allowed to get lonely. A solitary life comes with the territory.”
“Tell me, where did the French name come from? You don’t have an accent.”
“I did. I’ve lived here for – well, for a very long time. It gave me time to sound like a native. My family were originally French but that was long ago. I can’t even remember them.”
“It all sounds very lonely Jacques.”
“I suppose it is.” They walked on in silence, the only sound the tapping of the horses’ hooves on the earth. “I read the book by the way.”
“The book?”
“Great Expectations.”
“I see.”
“Do you really want Estella to grow up detesting men? Treating everyone she meets with contempt?”
“I did. I guess I was grieving. No, I don’t. I want her to be as happy as is possible.”
“It’s not too late to change the name at least. As well as your mind.”
“Any suggestions?”
“What about Faith? I’d like you to have Faith in me, Blaise.”
“That might be stretching things a little far just now.”
“I suppose so. Well, at least consider changing her name.”
“You’ve got it!” and she clicked her heels on the horse’s sides and it starting to gallop. It only took Jacques seconds to follow suit.
Chapter Seven – Shifting Sand
Blaise’s life seemed to have moved onto shifting sand in just a few short weeks. Within that time, she had lost her own mother and become a mother herself. The person she had wanted to blame for it and hate too was beginning to find a place in her affections and she knew that he was fond of her. In different circumstances, she could have imagined herself with him long-term. But for Jacques, she knew exactly what that would mean. Removal from her own life within 18 years and a total erasure of all that had gone before, her own child having to repeat the process.
However, much Blaise tried to come to terms with things, she could not escape the fact that there was never going to be a time when she could quietly acquiesce to that and she knew that she would fight for her own and her daughter’s freedom. The women of her clan might be led to believe that they were free, but they were prisoners just as much as if they were secured behind lock and key.
Alice seemed to appreciate the news that Estella was not Faith and liked the reasons behind the change. She detected a slight change in Blaise, which she was unwilling to verbalize yet. Alice waited patiently hoping that Blaise would mellow given time and adopt the rules of the clan. The internal fight that Blaise tussled with found no respite and as the days passed no solution presented itself.
Cerberus didn’t seem to be getting any better on recall and always needed lots of exercise. Blaise welcomed this because it meant it got her into nature which she adored, regardless of the weather. He was growing big though and Blaise knew that the sooner he was trained, the better. She found Lance’s number and he answered on the third ring.
“Hi Lance, this is Blaise Winters. I don’t know if you remember me but – “
“Oh, I certainly do remember you. Cerberus, right? I was hoping you’d call.”
“You were?” and Blaise smiled to herself. She was pleased that she had made an impression on this
particular young man.
“I was wondering if you were free sometime this week to come and give Cerberus his first lesson.”
“I could come alone tomorrow at around 10 if you give me your address.”
She could hear his pen scribbling down her details and they agreed they would see each other tomorrow. For Lance, it couldn’t come quickly enough.
Blaise had made it part of her daily routine to read the cards and to do meditation. She was finding that meditation provoked more premonitions and she knew she was honing her psychic abilities, where were all part of the territory of being a witch. She briefly wondered how her new friend Lance would take the news of her being a witch and thought it might perhaps be best not to divulge anything too contentious too quickly. If at all. He was only the dog trainer after all so there was no need for him to know anything about her at all.
And yet….. She already sensed that they would be much more significant to each other before too long. She didn’t want to allow herself to think about how things would progress. Was she being naïve hoping that Jacques would slacken the rules and allow her to have a normal relationship? But then she would realize that the whole regime had to change, and she would lament the sacrifices, which may have to take place to achieve it. Round and round her thoughts chased each other never arriving at a sensible place.
When Lance arrived, it was in a very old van, which surprised Blaise was still actually moving. “This place is pretty impressive Miss Winters. You could have warned me. I’d have doubled the price!” His joke fell flat because Blaise was speechless and wasn’t sure how to proceed.
“I’m joking! About the price, not about this place. I had no idea.”
“What exactly are you saying?” Blaise said flirtatiously. “That I’m not good enough to live here.”
“No of course not! I erm I ….” But when he looked at Blaise she was smiling.
“Better stop now whilst you’re ahead, huh?”
“I think so. Where is the little fellow anyway?”
“Getting bigger as we speak, I think. Come in, I’ll get him.”
He followed her into a palatial hallway and had to stop himself from saying wow! Blaise soon arrived with Cerberus on a leash.
“Won’t you be cold Blaise?”
“What do you mean? It’s Cerberus you’re training. Why do I need to come?”
“Erm, I don’t know how to break this to you, but the dog follows its master’s – or mistress’s instructions. It’s you who must learn how to give them. This might need more lessons than I thought.”
“Hey, don’t get cheeky mister!” and she punched him playfully on the arm.
“I wouldn’t dare.” He smiled at her sincerely and they had to break their gaze from each other which seemed to have held them both for at least ten seconds.
“I’ll get my coat,” Blaise said at last.
“I’ll be outside. This guy is raring to go.”
The cold air nipped at her face as soon as she stepped out of the door. It was so much colder than the day before. Nonetheless, she welcomed it. It was refreshing after the stuffiness of the house. The next hour should have been exhausting but she couldn’t remember a time when she had felt so alive. Lance’s and her personality seemed to click magically, and she didn’t want the session to end. Cerberus had a ball too and already he was beginning to respond to her call, which was a miracle in itself.
“Fancy a hot chocolate?” Blaise offered when Lance said the session was at an end.
“That sounds good. Thanks, I’d love one.”
Alice offered to make the hot chocolate as they warmed up in front of the fire in the family room. Cerberus flopped down worn out in front of it too. It wasn’t too long before Alice re-entered carrying Faith in her carry chair. “I thought you might like to see this little lady. I think she’s been missing you.”
“Thanks Alice. I’ll bring the chocolate through now. Are you chilling out?” she said to Lance. “How’s Cerberus doing?”
“He’s doing great. But Blaise still needs a lot of training.”
“Hey!” and she threw a cushion at him playfully.
“I’ll leave you two – three – to it. And Cerberus as well of course!” The dog looked up at her and then dropped his head just as sleepily and they all giggled.
“I know how you feel boy,” and she left the alone.
“I think she’s looking after your best interests there, Lance.”
“How do you mean?”
“Alice is making sure you know I’m a single mum?”
“Do you three live here alone?”
“Yes. My mom died recently.” It was easier to keep the story simple.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“There’s no reason why you should. And, um, how do you feel about me being a single mom?”
“Err, lots of my clients are single and some even have children.”
“How would you feel about having a girlfriend who was a single mom?”
“Are you propositioning me?”
“Guess so.”
“I might have to try it and see. If that’s okay with you.”
“Yes, it is. Would you like to stay for dinner?”
And it was as simple as that. A relationship began, and Blaise felt as if she’d jumped off the edge of a cliff. And she was in free fall.
Alice did not try and discourage the relationship because she saw it as a way of Blaise finding a route away from Jacques. Jacques was aware that Blaise had developed a new romantic friendship, but he still visited often and lavished affection and gifts on both Blaise and Faith. Blaise couldn’t help but notice that he gave Faith a wide berth, as if he was reticent to establish any closeness with the child. She supposed it came with the territory. He couldn’t allow himself to become fond of the people he had to rule and instigate rigid rules upon. But with Blaise herself, he lost his own will. Alice knew that he had tried to stay away but Blaise drew him like a moth to a flame and there was nothing he could do to fight his natural impulses. She literally had him under her spell and she had achieved it effortlessly.
There was no doubt that Blaise had grown into a vibrant, beautiful and accomplished woman, and witch. Alice observed her practicing and honing her skills as a witch and instinctively she could feel Blaise’s power growing day by day. Her healing powers were phenomenal. A bird had flown into the window where she sat and had broken its wing, which was literally almost bent over. Blaise went out to tend it and unable to move it let her stroke its damaged wing. Within moments, the bird relaxed and seemed to be enjoying Blaise’s touch. After several minutes, Blaise released the bird and it hopped onto the windowsill beside her. It regarded her for several seconds before tweeting and flying off. She seemed to attract animals, pets and wild ones. A fox had once followed her home from the park and now it visited every day to be fed. Cerberus obeyed her and never left her side but adored Lance too, which Blaise told the dog was a good enough recommendation for her to like him too.
Alice would have liked to believe that Blaise had forgotten her plans to rebel against the clan, but she knew that she never would. Blaise was a modern woman of her time and Alice knew that she would never acquiesce and agree to what was expected of her by the clan. She feared for Alice’s safety, but she also feared for the future of the clan. Was Jacques strong enough to resist Blaise? She knew that he didn’t underestimate Blaise and recognized that she was an old soul, matured over millennia. But what good could come of changing the way things had worked for so long? She decided that a visit to Jacques was in order. He probably wouldn’t discuss matters with her, a mere woman, but she could try at least.
That afternoon, when Blaise had taken Faith and Cerberus to meet Lance in the park, Alice drove over to Jacques’ house and knocked on the door with more confidence that she felt. It was only seconds before Jacques appeared at the door looking panicked.
“What’s wrong Alice? Has something happened to Blaise?”
�
�No, no, she is fine. But it is Blaise that I need to talk to you about. Can I come in?” He stood aside and indicated that she should.
“Do you know why I’m here Jacques? I’m sure you do.”
“Yes, you’ve come to warn me about Blaise. Do you think so little of me?”
“I would never underestimate you. But it is a long time since I have seen you react to anyone as you do to Blaise in – well, for as long as I can remember.” Jacques made no response and she saw no emotion in his face, so she continued. “You realize that Blaise intends to persuade you to overthrow the old regime, don’t you? Are you going to let her succeed? What will replace it?”
“Would it be so bad if we allowed women the same rights as men do you think Alice?”
“Why change what has worked for thousands of years? Since time began? If you start changing things then we’ll end up living as the mortals do, relinquishing our powers and scrabbling around in the dirt to make a living. This way is no so bad is it?”
“How do you think that Blaise will take the news that she’s now infertile Alice? I’ve seen her with her young man. They look at each other adoringly. Soon he’ll want to marry her and have children of his own, but she’s never been told that wouldn’t be possible, has she? And so, she will blame me. Again. I feel so old Alice. This burden is so heavy and I’m not sure I can carry it for much longer.”
“You love Blaise, don’t you?” Alice asked bluntly. He just looked her in the eyes because the question didn’t need an answer. They both knew it.
“I couldn’t help it. It was as if it was fate, my destiny. I had no power to fight it. It’s like I’m on shifting sand and I’m on foreign territory, completely lost.”
Alice was shocked to see his face crumble and she went over to sit with him on the sofa, putting her arms around him. “Perhaps it is a sign. Perhaps it is time for us all to change.”
“I have questioned the runes, the cards, and searched my soul. That is the answer I keep receiving from all sources. But I have no point of reference. I don’t know how to handle this.”
“Why don’t you speak to Blaise about it? If she is the harbinger of this new world, she will have the answers. You said that you were tired. Perhaps it’s the way forward, after all.”
Witchy Secrets Page 5