The elf waved a hand over the landscape allowing a fire roar to life with tree stumps springing up from the earth for seats in a half circle that waited for them. “Please sit. I will explain everything.” Her voice was light and soothing. Elizabeth sat opposite the elf, not saying a word. She knew elves possessed a great many gifts and this elf was no different. She felt her in her mind, so she knew she had already seen enough.
The wind started to rustle the leaves on the trees above them, causing a few to fall down in light showers. There were no other animals present, Elizabeth noticed, she also noticed the silence of the woods. At this time of night, few animals would still be seeking shelter, but the nocturnal animals would surely be active. None were.
“I am Celeste Pritchard, Guardian of House Roberts.” Her honey-colored eyes danced as she spoke, her voice full of pride for her position. Her raven black hair falling past her waist, rippled like waves in the ocean as the breeze whispered past them. She was young and to already be a guardian meant she was good at what she did, very good. Her body was tone, not smooth but lightly muscular showing she was not only mentally strong but physically as well. She surely made the House Pritchard proud with her position.
Looking around, Elizabeth replied, “I’ve asked my questions Celeste. I want answers.” Elizabeth drew in calming breaths, realizing this was not the time to lose her temper, even as it was begging to be released.
“You have a lot of anger young witch. You have not been in this world long and I’m going to assume no one has taken the time to explain everything to you.” Elizabeth sat with her elbows on her knees, picking at her nails as she watched the beautiful elf speak. She raised a brow as her only response, the elf taking that as an invitation to continue.
“The Others do not help witches and warlocks in their battles. Actually, we are told to leave by the covens and councils themselves.” Elizabeth sat up straight. No one had indeed said this before, “The House Roberts and the majority of the Others left because it was their duty. You know the story of Sorina and Prince Petre?” The elf leaned toward the fire, holding her hands out to feel the heat.
“Yes,” Elizabeth croaked out, not sure what to expect. She had been told so much since she arrived but was not completely surprised to know there was much she still needed to learn.
The elf stood, smoothing out her clothes as she began to pace. “This is not easy for me. As a guardian, I am not usually tasked with explanations. I’m sure you understand.” She spoke with her hands but didn’t wait for a response, “You will not hear from any of the Roberts until they return, in about three months or so.”
“I’m listening.” Elizabeth went rigid with this news.
“Right,” The elf sat back on her stump, “look, Wesley loves you, but he is not allowed to contact you or anyone else here. Not even his own house. Strict instructions were given to them, for their safety. I was tasked with reaching out to you.”
The young witch did not relax, her anger was growing with the knowledge that her mother’s coven had sent away her one connection to hope and had kept that from her. The heat from the fire fed the heat within her, “Why are you left behind? Why were you tasked with me?”
The elf could feel the anger building within the powerful young woman who sat across from her. Trying to give a calming smile she kept her tone soft, she replied gently, “I am a Guardian, staying behind is my duty. As for you, well that is a favor for Sire Wesley.” She blushed. Elizabeth knew how the other elves looked at Wesley, he was desired by many and apparently Celeste was no different. “He asked before he left that I see after you. You’ve seen me before, but I guess my call wasn’t strong enough then. I’ve actually tried several times. Once you looked but that was all. I wasn’t sure you even saw me. You didn’t come, not until tonight, of course.”
Elizabeth shook her head, she remembered the first time she saw the doe. “I thought it was the pendant. It’s like I was looking at a painting while it was being painted. You weren’t there, then you were. Of course, I didn’t know or understand what was happening. I hadn’t had the amulet long then.”
“It sort of is. Sorina had an elven guardian who was also a doe, so I drew from the amulets memory and knew the doe would pull at you stronger. You are her, but not.”
“You can choose what animal to shift to? Not many elves have that ability.” As Elizabeth spoke, Celeste’s words finally soaked in, she stood holding a hand out, “Whoa now. I am her?” She pointed at herself. “Her? Sorina? The original witch? I doubt that one bit. I haven’t been in this,” she waved her hands around, “world even a good year yet. How is that even possible?” Her brow furrowed, and she soon lost herself in the flames before her, she thought she heard her name calling from within them. When she recovered her thoughts, “You have us hidden?”
The elf nodded, “I took great care that no one could see us. Do you hear them calling for you?”
“Yes.” Her mother’s voice was getting closer and was almost upon them. Elizabeth wanted to know more but the worry in her mom’s voice broke her heart. “I need to go. Will I see you again?”
The smile the elf returned was reassuring, “It is my duty Elizabeth, but it would be more of a pleasure.”
Elizabeth smiled, “Good. I need to go now.” Her mom was just outside the space the elf had made for them, Elizabeth could nearly reach out and touch her mother now.
“She will not see me or this. She will only see you standing here in the dark, during the witching hour. What you tell her is up to you.” The elf started to walk away but turned back, “Oh, Elizabeth,” Elizabeth looked at her, “I am at the castle if ever in your dreams you need to find solace.” With that the elf disappeared right in front of her, blending into the forest. The space she was in disappeared simultaneously leaving Elizabeth standing among the trees with her mother not even five feet away.
The darkness engulfed Elizabeth leaving her nearly unseen as Sari nearly walked by her. With a soft whisper Elizabeth called out, “Mom.”
Sari jumped, turning to see her daughter standing in a space where she had just looked. Grabbing her daughters arms, pulling her into a tight protective hug, “Where have you been? We have been looking for you for over an hour! Oh, my goddess, Elizabeth, you had us all worried.”
Elizabeth smiled, “I told them I was safe. We can go back to the house now.” Sari stood there just looking at her daughter who seemed unfazed by her worry but decided to return home without making a conflict. Sari decided she would have to find out what her daughter was doing so far from their own property. Sari noted they were on elven land now and how her daughter seemed to appear from nowhere. Was this a new power her daughter had gained? Or was this a whole new problem rising up?
CHAPTER 6
The council met on schedule, although the typical members like Trevor didn’t show up. Sylvia was the first to arrive, knocking on the door with a small tap then let herself in. “Hello.” She called out. She could hear the sisters in the back and made her way to the room.
As soon as she crossed the threshold she was noticed, Sari was the first to greet her with a hug, “Thank you for coming.” She held her at arm's length looking her over and treasuring the great friendship they kept all these years.
She swatted at Sari, “Pish Posh. You knew good and well I wasn’t going to miss this.” She looked around then asked, “Where is she?” Both Raina and Reba glanced upward towards the upstairs. Sylvia only nodded, “Well, it's not like that one can’t listen in from anywhere she is anyway. We won’t bother her.”
In less than ten minutes, more council members had arrived with their families. Hannah with her two daughters, Stephanie came with her daughter and grandchildren, Rose brought her son, and Julia came with four of her relatives. Looking around at the gathering, Reba was quite pleased to see they numbered nearly twenty. She wasn’t sure if half that would show up, so this was the best scenario she could’ve hoped for.
Raina tapped her glass, “Let’s quiet d
own now. We have a lot to discuss and we need to make some decisions. Some you know about and others, well… we’ve put off long enough.”
Sari recounted the event at the college to them quickly. The murmurs told them all they needed to know, they were concerned. “Okay. So. What we need to know and do is find out what they are up to?”
“One more thing.” Reba interrupted. “Elizabeth was given Sorina’s amulet at graduation,” you could hear a few breaths being sucked in with this news, she waved them down, “and recently it was discovered that Devlon has Prince Petre’s.”
“What?” “How?” “Who in the world dug those up?” were among the questions thrown at the sisters.
Reba hushed them again, “We don’t know who did this. We can guess but it would only be a guess. My first suggestions are this. Strengthen your wards. Add to them. Whatever you must to be secure and safe. We have.”
“We noticed the extra wards when we drove up. You have them all the way to the road.” Interrupted Alex, Julia’s cousin.
“Yes, we did. As soon as we heard and just before we called on the council.” Sari reassured them. “We couldn’t call you here,” She looked at each person present, “and not make sure it was safe.”
“You said there was something ya needed to tell us, that ya’ve put off?” Bailey, Stephanie’s granddaughter, asked.
Sari swallowed hard and looked to Raina. Raina was the calmest of them all, “Yes. Well we have to dispel some members of our coven.”
Hannah’s face scrunched, “Your coven? But who?”
Sari put a hand on Raina’s shoulder to stop her from speaking, “Let me.” She whispered to her sister. “Nearly eighteen years ago, I had Jeremy and Elizabeth, within six months we knew the power Elizabeth held. Jeremy had yet to show any signs. We had already brought the children into the coven when Edom started to change. He wanted power.” She took a deep breath, “Y'all know that already. But his madness is what made me run with Elizabeth. Raina and Reba helped me leave.”
“Basically,” Reba interrupted, “without too much detail. Edom and Jeremy are still coven members. We need to dispel them. That will give us two more open spaces. So far, we have the four of us women in this house, Stephanie, Julia, and Rose. We need to fill the coven once more. We need to strengthen our numbers.”
The coven members stood and immediately began gathering the necessary items to remove the connection of the coven from Jeremy and Edom. All but Elizabeth participated in the spell, but Reba knew she was listening in and gave her blessing. Once the spell was cast and the words “smote it be” were said they immediately discussed who would be the next members in their coven. For four generations they had only had female witches in their coven, but now they considered a male or two.
“We have five spots we’d like to fill. After some discussion we've decided we’d like to bring in two males of age.” The men who had gathered in the back of the room since they didn’t think they had a chance all looked up in near unison at the mention of the males being admitted into the coven. There were only two who were of age, Alexander and Zachary. They walked forward and stood in front of the group. Reba smiled and nodded at them, “Yes. Perfect.”
“As for the other three spots, we went with the recommendations of your families. Olivia, Bailey, and Patricia please step forward.” The three young women who were barely the age of Elizabeth all stepped forward nervously. They had never considered they’d be a part of one of Virginia’s oldest covens. Hearts and thoughts raced wildly in consideration of such an honor.
“Please gather round,” Sari spoke softly but every person in the room heard. Those joining the coven stood in the circle, those who would stay on the council completed a larger circle around the coven. “Let us begin.”
One member at a time spoke the words to bind them.
From breath to blood
In peace or conflict
I do hereby pledge myself
By the sacred blessing
With honor and blood
My heart beats as one within
I swear to honor the agreement between the originals and the Seraphim.
Slicing their hands one by one, each new member made their pledges and offering of blood to become bound to the coven. It took nearly two hours to complete the covens circle. In the end, the coven was complete.
Nearing two in the morning, the house began to empty one by one until all members had returned home safely and started working on their own wards and other protective spells. They would meet again in one week to see if anything had been discovered until then, they were to work on becoming stronger.
Elizabeth didn’t leave her room for three days. Sari and the others knew she was struggling with the power building up in her and whatever the trip in the forest had brought with it. They also knew she listened in on the ceremonies they held earlier that week. Each morning they’d leave a tray outside her door and each night, it was placed back out in the hall emptied. At least she was eating, her mother thought.
“Reba, can’t you find anything out?” Sari pleaded with her sister. Reba nodded, she had tried and tried hard to send messages to Elizabeth, but she was being blocked. Sari worked in the greenhouse with her sisters to help keep her mind busy. The three sisters worked on building their supplies, what they needed they didn’t exactly know since they didn’t know what was coming so they collected everything they could think of.
The next Monday, Elizabeth found herself standing in the courtyard of the college just staring blankly at it when suddenly a student bumped into her. Elizabeth's books tumbled out of her hands and she dropped to one knee instantly to recover them.
“I’m so sorry. Oh, my goodness.” The young woman tried to help Elizabeth recover her things before the wind took them away.
When Elizabeth looked up she recognized the woman, “Sara?” She fumbled a bit but managed to get all her stuff into her bag.
Standing up in near unison, Sara gaped. “Oh Elizabeth. Goodness. It has been some time and this… I am sorry. I wasn’t paying attention-”
Elizabeth put a hand on Sara’s arm, “It's okay. They’re just books.” She replied calmly. “It’s great to see you. Come on, we’ll go in together.”
Sara beamed back at Elizabeth, linking arms they walked into the college comparing schedules and professors. It was curious how Elizabeth and Sara managed to have two herbology courses together and one English. Having a friend, or someone as close to a friend as she has, in class with her made Elizabeth less nervous and apparently it helped Sara as well.
Over the next few weeks the two women studied together, went to school together and grew close. Hope rose up in Elizabeth that maybe things would turn out better than they had started.
CHAPTER 7
Books strewn over the bed, Elizabeth goes from one to another to another as she sorts through all the information she must memorize for midterms next week. Sitting straight up, she attempts to stretch her back and ends up kicking off a book. “Damn it,” she swears quietly to herself. Leaning over she sees the book is from a botanical course she is taking. As she reaches down she sees the pages had turned to an herb she was slightly familiar with, foxglove, a deadly flower that is both beautiful and fragrant. Thinking hard to remember where it was she had seen this plant it clicked, in the greenhouse. Her aunts grew this flower on a regular basis.
Picking up the book, she dove in and read the whole section wanting to know everything she could. After about fifteen minutes of reading and note taking she had discovered that the deadly plant, if used correctly, could actually save a life. This fascinated her, driving her desire to learn more about holistic medicines. Exhaustion must have taken over because Elizabeth woke to laying over the bed with a book in her hand and many underneath her.
Looking at the time on her phone she realized it was 1:30 a.m., rubbing her eyes in a desperate attempt to wake up she slowly got up and began cleaning off her bed. Once all books were nicely tucked into her school bag, she pulle
d back the covers and crawled in. Now a bit too awake she laid staring at her ceiling, with nothing but time to think about everything going on. She skipped the council meeting but easily eavesdropped by listening in to everyone's thoughts. The revelation that not only did she already belong to the coven but that her father and brother still did shocked her. She had heard of the binding ceremonies and while she had never voiced it, was looking forward to participating.
Her thoughts jumped from the council to the others to Devlon and back again. Releasing a breath, she whispered to herself, “Just stay strong Elizabeth. You got this.” Rolling over she attempted to sleep again and this time it came.
Her mind still reeling from her chaotic thoughts made her dreams even wilder. Blinking, she found herself in front of the elven home. The forest was bright and busy with the sun shining down as if it were noon and the animals coming and going into the woods surrounding the home. Looking back over her shoulder, Elizabeth noticed a slight haze on everything. She wasn’t really here, it was her dream.
“Good afternoon.” A voice said from inside the gates.
Elizabeth turned toward the iron barrier to see the quiet Celeste standing there. “I didn’t realize I had come here.”
Celeste smiled and gave a slight nod that commanded the gates to open for their guest. “Come on in. I’m guessing you have a lot on your mind. We can have some tea and talk.”
Elizabeth slowly walked through the gates, looking up into the tower to see no one manned them. A quizzical look at Celeste earned her a smile and nothing more. “Tea would be nice,” replied Elizabeth when the look got her no explanation. Walking side by side with Celeste up to the home where the man who stole her heart lived brought back memories and dredged up emotions she had yet resolved.
A Moment of Darkness (The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn Book 3) Page 3