“Don’t you say a word!” Devlon sneered. By this time Elizabeth had stood and was watching the whole scene play out. Sari glanced at her just enough Devlon didn’t notice but Jasmine did, and she paled. Elizabeth patted the air in a calming manner towards Jasmine, then put a finger to her mouth to stay silent. Jasmine nodded. Devlon stepped over the pile of things he had gathered in the yard and started towards Sari, “You say one word b-”
“And you’ll what?” Elizabeth calmly said standing so close to him she could have reached out and touched him, he jumped at the sound of her voice. “What exactly will you do Devlon? Run like you did when my father meant to kill me and steal my powers?” Jasmine's hand flew to her mouth and her eyes went wide, “Yeah, he probably didn’t tell you that part.” She leaned her head over to see Jasmine then eyed Devlon, “did you, darlin?”
CHAPTER 22
His whole demeanor changed when he saw Elizabeth. He was scared, and his mind worked in overdrive to find a way out of this. He dropped to his knees, covered his eyes and seemed to weep. Elizabeth looked at him with a look of disbelief and then to her mother. Sari shrugged. “Please don’t hurt me. I’m sorry. I. I. I just-”
Interrupting him, Elizabeth finished his statement, “You just want to get up and get out of my yard and never come back again.” She stepped towards him, “You told me you loved me. You told me you wanted the best thing for our people.” She was now in his face and poked his chest with two fingers as she spoke, “You are a liar. You are weak and useless.” She looked down at his pendant, grabbing it and ripping it from his neck, “You don’t deserve this. You never did! Where are the wand and grimoire?” Elizabeth’s words were angry and vindictive, and he was frightened but he refused to tell her. His body was visibly shaking, and she waited for him to cave but he didn’t. Even though he feared her he was determined to follow out with Edom’s plans.
The winds picked up some more and a light fog began rising up over the yard, looking over to the porch she could see Raina working her magic alongside her mother. Jasmine called over to her, “Elizabeth. I know where they are!” Shocked by Jasmine’s new-found loyalty, Elizabeth nodded. “They are in his car, down the road.” Elizabeth looked to her mother and aunts and nodded towards the road.
“Well, we’ll stay right here, where it’s safe until they get back.” Reba took off running through the house, out the front door and down the road to where Devlon had parked his car. The door was unlocked causing Reba to nearly tear the door handle off when she yanked on it. Rummaging through the mess on the back seat, Reba found the grimoire with the wand inside it. Sending a message to Elizabeth, ‘found it, be right there,’ slamming the door shut she set off back to her home.
Out of breath from running and pure excitement, Reba came out the back door onto the porch and jogged up to Elizabeth. Holding out the items, Elizabeth smiled and took them. One touch told her they were the real deal and that she now possessed all the items tied to the first two of her kind. Looking to Jasmine, Elizabeth patted her on the shoulder, “Thank you. This really means a lot and it helps even more.”
Beaming from pure pride that she had made the right choice, Jasmine turned to Devlon and slapped him, “I can’t believe you lied to me. You told me you loved me and only me.” Elizabeth snorted with laughter as the handprint grew red on Devlon's cheek.
“Looks like you have some thinking to do, future plans and all that.” Elizabeth walked away from Devlon smiling and laughing. She heard him grumble but couldn’t make out what he said, it ran a chill up her spine. Stopping cold, she cut him a look over her shoulder, “I took Edom and Jeremy’s magic don’t make me regret leaving you with yours, it wouldn’t be pretty…” She let the words trail off to let his imagination fill in the blanks then looked to Jasmine, “Its nearly dinner time, want to join us?”
Eyes wide in shock, Jasmine nodded and followed the women into the house and shut the door behind her leaving Devlon to brood in his own misery as he left their property. His mind reeling at the fact that he was able to walk away unscathed even though he lost his connections to Prince Petre.
Back inside the house, Elizabeth and the other women were in the kitchen starting to prep dinner as if nothing had just happened. Jasmine piped up, “If you two,” she waved to the twin aunts, “were home, why didn’t you come out to stop him, us?”
Raina was rinsing vegetables and took the pleasure of responding, “After what happened two weeks ago and what was taking place at the hospital today… well, we weren’t sure who we were dealing with and knew those two were almost home. While I can do a great many things with my gifts, as well as Reba, we were taken by surprise and were not battle ready by any means.” She thought a bit, “If we have notice we can set plans in motion but alone we are more a menace than,” she nodded towards Elizabeth, “her. She can battle all by herself, we are more like sidekicks that give that extra little punch.” All the women laughed and enjoyed the rest of their evening.
Glad to be home and things surely to settle down, Elizabeth thought this was the best time for another dream walk with Sorina. Cleansing her room with sage and putting patchouli in her infuser, Elizabeth wanted the best conditions to meet with her ancestor. The last time they met it was hurried and a bit painful as the dream seemed like it was trying to suffocate her. Lighting a few candles, Elizabeth asked the goddesses blessing and laid on her bed, closing her eyes she thought of the first witch.
“Well, you figured out how to reach me without endangering yourself I see,” Elizabeth stood in a grassy field that was littered with white flowers. Turning around in a circle, she could not see where the voice came from, but she recognized the soft whisper like voice as that of Sorina.
“Will you come out and walk with me?” Elizabeth called out. The crickets started to chirp, and the set seemed to lower itself causing the sky to turn from blue to shades of orange. Hearing a rustling behind her at the tree line, Elizabeth moved to see what it was.
Smiling, a beautiful woman with milky white skin and wild red hair slowly glided over the grass. Dressed in a deep red gown that was covered in fancy stitching that rippled in the wind, Sorina’s eyes seem to sparkle when she looked at Elizabeth. “I am here. I am glad to see you have grown in strength and mind to know how to reach me without causing yourself harm.”
“I,” she twisted her fingers in her hand nervously, “Well, a lot has happened, and I learned a lot in a very short time.”
“Oh, I know what is going on,” she tapped her heart, “I connected with you the moment you were given my pendant. I know what you know and one day you will know all that I do.” Placing an arm around the younger witch, Sorina gave a small squeeze, “Let’s walk and talk about your future and the future of our people.”
Smiling up at the older woman Elizabeth responded solemnly, “I would like that very much.”
They walked along the edge of the tree line until they came to a small stream dotted with large boulders. “Where is this place? I’ve never seen it.” Elizabeth asked.
Looking around proudly Sorina responded, “This is where I grew up.” Pointing to the right of the stream, “Over there is where Petre and I lived before we,” she swallowed, “before we made the bond with the Seraphim.”
Curious Elizabeth turned to her, “Do you ever regret that decision?”
Her head lowered and thought for a long while before responding, “That is a hard question to answer, Elizabeth. I would have liked to have had more power over who got what gifts. Made sure they were good people to get them. Not all my children were.” A single tear escaped and rolled down her cheek, “but the power overall has been great and used in such a good way over time. No, I do not regret the decision.”
Staring straight ahead over the stream, Elizabeth watched a small bird that was perched on a boulder watching her. “My life surely would’ve been a lot different, but in a way I’m glad I have this power,” turning her eyes to her hands she continued, “without it I wouldn’t have known
all my family. But then again without it my life would’ve never been so adventurous.”
“The choices Petre and I made all that time ago, we did it for vain purposes. But we ended up loving the others as we got to know them. Things were surely different then than now, much simpler. Without that power,” she placed a hand softly on Elizabeth’s knee, “I would’ve never been able to sit and talk with you here.” Leaning her head towards Elizabeth she smiled, and Elizabeth leaned into her returning the gesture.
Suddenly thunder clapped above them and the skies darkened, the two women jumped up searching for its source. Grabbing Elizabeth’s arm, she faced her and looked hard at her, “You must go!” Her voice panicked. “They can’t find you here! Leave and never return.”
“What? Who?”
“Go. I will find a way to come to you!” Sorina's voice cracked and her face already milky white paled as fear fell over her. Pushing Elizabeth to leave, Sorina turned and ran towards the woods. Her figure slowly disappeared as she went. Elizabeth was left standing at the stream confused and fearful. The thunder rumbled harder and longer, setting Elizabeth’s feet in motion as she took off for the field.
CHAPTER 23
Bam! Bam! Bam! Elizabeth shot up in the bed to the knocking on her door. Her chest heaved as she attempted to catch her breath and clear her mind. “What!” She yelled out.
“Open the door! Are you alright?” Sari yelled from the other side of the wooden barrier.
Rubbing her eyes, Elizabeth noted the sun was out shining brightly through the shades and the candles had melted nearly to nubs. Climbing out of bed, Elizabeth made her way to the door. Slowly turning the handle, it felt ice cold, and only then did she notice her breath hanging in the air. Opening the door, Elizabeth was pushed aside, and Sari, Reba, and Raina searched her room. “What are you doing? What is going on?”
Sari turns to her daughter wide-eyed, “What did you do? Where did you go?”
“I went to bed. What are you talking about?” Elizabeth tried to lose herself from Sari’s grasp.
Reba and Raina now stood on either side of their sister, staring at their niece as if she were alien but said nothing. Sari cupped Elizabeth’s face, “You have been out two days! Two days! Then all of a suddenly we heard you screaming like someone was trying to skin you alive up here.” Elizabeth’s eyes went wide. “About halfway up the stairs the house went cold. I mean no heat on in the middle of winter for weeks kind of cold,” her mother finished but all the while checking her over.
“Two days?”
Raina whispered, “Yes. The first day we could come in and check on you. Reba said you were in a dream walk and not to disturb you. You were peaceful.”
“And then?”
“We’ve been banging on the door for thirty minutes!” Reba snipped. “That dream walk was going good, what happened?”
Elizabeth made her way to her bed and sat on the edge, the women followed her and sat around her. “I don’t know really. Everything was fine then there was thunder and skies went dark and gray. Sorina panicked and told me to leave.” She looked to her mother, “I tried to leave. I went to the field where I came in at, but I seemed to run and run and never find a way out. At first, I thought I was just messing up the closing spell but then I started to get scared. I couldn’t get home.” Sari wrapped an arm around her daughter who begun to shake.
Reba placed a hand on her shoulder, “How’d you get out?”
“I was surrounded by what looked like five black floating figures. I tried to use my powers, but my fire wouldn’t come for me. They told me that wouldn’t work there. So, I figured they would be affected by the cold. Then I woke up to you guys beating my door down.”
Raina covered her mouth as a small gasp escaped. “Can’t be.” Her eyes fell to the bed and she considered what Elizabeth told her. “I have to go downstairs.” Turning to Elizabeth she pointed and said, “Get dressed and meet us down in the green room.” They were to the door when the quiet woman turned back to her, “Oh, don’t forget your wand and amulet. His too.”
Ten minutes later, Elizabeth came into the green room with both her and Devlon’s grimoires, wands and amulets. Setting them on the table, she looked to the woman, “What’s this about?”
There were stacks of books Raina was still thumbing through when suddenly she screamed out, “I knew it. Damn it all. Here!” She moved the book to the center of the table and tapped the entry she had discovered, “this will explain everything.”
Reading upside down Elizabeth whispered the words aloud as she read, “The five wraiths will come for the one who holds all the power. The one is able to defeat the wraiths but only but uniting the powers of the two. The gift to defeat the wraiths will not be the natural gift born to the user, but a gift bestowed on them as a unification of powers. The three items must be given to another in order to restore the ancestor's peace.”
Looking up at her mom and aunts, they all looked back at her. Eyes wide and obviously confused, Reba tried to explain it. “This book is from a seer who wrote prophecies some hundred years or so ago. She is the one who wrote about you as well.” Tapping the book, “This, this here is about you having control over all these.” She made a circling motion over the grimoires, wands, and amulets.
Elizabeth sat back on her stool, her face drained of color. She had to take them from Devlon but now there are wraiths after the ancestors. Chewing on her lip, she finally spoke, “I can’t give them back to Devlon. He obviously can’t have them, so who?”
Raina sighed, “That is now up to you or the ancestors, whichever happens first?”
Starting to pace, Elizabeth realized the wraiths had come for her and she put Sorina in the path of trouble, maybe even death. Reba listened in and spoke aloud, “You can’t think like that. You didn’t know this would happen. Had we known you were going to dream walk we would have stopped you.”
Elizabeth looked to her mom, “Mom, who could we possibly give these too? I mean they have to go a male, right?” Elizabeth searched their eyes for answers.
“I’ve never heard of anyone other than a male having Prince Petre’s things.” Sari answered her daughter.
Elizabeth nodded but it was Reba who spoke first, “As long as you have these, you can’t dream walk again. AT all.” She walked to the table and started to go through the books again.
“What are you looking for now?” Elizabeth asked, “I can’t take any more doom and gloom.”
Reba kept turning pages as she responded, “You have to know this is not your fault.” She tapped her temple, “Remember I can hear you." Grunting in frustration, Reba just chuckled.
“Mom. What do I do?” Elizabeth laid her head on her mother’s shoulder, the same way she would do when she was younger and needed her mother’s sage advice.
Her mother patted her face, kissed her forehead, then spoke, “Well, it looks like we need to find the book that tells how to choose the next keeper of Petre’s items. Come on, let’s get busy.”
“Shouldn’t this be easier, like some location spell or something?” Elizabeth whined causing her mother to laugh.
“Don’t quite work that way darlin,” Raina responded by handing her a stack of books, “start with these.”
For three hours the four women searched each book, line by line, word by word and they were down to the last four stacks when Elizabeth stretched and yawned. “I’d be nice if the guy just walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. Take care of all my woes.” She laughed causing the other women chuckle until the doorbell buzzed through the house.
They all scrunched their faces and looked astonished. Sari spoke at nearly a whisper, “It couldn’t really be that easy.” Her words were thick with doubt.
Raina stood, “We’ll let me go see who the next keeper should be.” She chuckled as she left the room.
The other women continued to look through the books as they heard soft voices at the door. Whoever was at the door was having a full-blown conversation with Raina.
Their voices grew as they reached the green room. All three women looked up at Raina and their guest. Raina patted the young man on the shoulder saying, “Look who has arrived to be the next keeper.”
All their mouths gaped, but Elizabeth was the only one to speak his name, “Wesley?"
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cheryllynn’s vivid imagination comes through in all she does in life. Her writing started in junior high and although she never truly shared her work until the mid 2000's she kept them hidden away in an old tattered orange folder. Original works she wrote from 1984 still holding ink on the pages may one day be shared, but for now she shares her newer creations. Science Fiction and Fantasy are her favorite genres with mystery and thrillers in close running.
Born in Northwest Florida and raised in Southeast Georgia she gained a love for nature and the outdoors. Her experiences outdoors allows her to create universes with vivid detail. After a detour of almost twenty years in the health care industry and obtaining her Bachelors of Science in Healthcare Administration/Healthcare Information Systems she has returned to her love of writing.
Currently living in Central Texas with her family, she has begun a new chapter in her life that has opened her heart and soul to many great adventures.
More From This Author
List of works published at the time this book came out:
The Jein's Journey Series
Calastan (Book One)
Resolution (Book Two)
Kyluna (Book Three)
The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn
A Witch's Dream World (Book One)
A Witch's Reality (Book Two)
Born of The Veil
A Moment of Darkness (The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn Book 3) Page 11