As London’s grey morning light infused her cells and readjusted them back to mundanity, she felt shame that she hadn’t thought of Aisha once in the dream. Aisha was still trapped in Murias – a flash of memory showed Faye the dungeon again, and Aisha’s starved and beaten countenance – and Lyr had offered her a way to rescue her. Yet, Lyr’s way was as cold as his seduction and abandonment of Moddie: Faye wouldn’t subject another woman to that, and especially not the innocent child that she’d be required to donate to faerie, to fight in a war, as a decoy, as meat, to be sacrificed for another more favoured child.
That was no fate for anyone.
Twenty-Four
It was a Saturday and the street market was full of people, jostling, laughing, tasting cheese and olives, artisan bread, cured meats and all manner of other delicacies.
‘This is amazing!’ Faye’s eyes were aglow, taking in the different stalls with their striped awnings, shining glass counters and cabinets groaning with colourful food and drink. Rav looked pleased at her reaction.
‘I’m so glad you like it. It’s one of my favourite places in London.’ He took her arm and guided her through the walkway between stalls that thronged with people. ‘What shall we look at first?’
‘Coffee first. Then I want to… hmm. Taste things. Cheese! Bread. Oh, look at that vegetable stall!’ Faye exclaimed, sighting row upon row of glossy purple aubergines, green courgettes and huge plump red tomatoes.
‘Okay, okay!’ Rav laughed. ‘First things first.’ He steered Faye towards an organic drinks stall and ordered two coffees, handing her one. ‘It’ll keep your hands warm.’ He smiled over the top of his paper cup as he took a sip.
‘Thanks.’ Faye blew on hers; it was a bright autumn day, but still chilly in the mornings. ‘I’m glad you made me get up so early now.’
‘Thank god. You’re not a morning person, can I just say.’ Rav rolled his eyes.
‘Shut up,’ Faye bantered back. ‘I came, didn’t I?’
‘Only because I bribed you.’
‘Speaking of that. I seem to recall cake was mentioned in said bribe.’ Faye raised an eyebrow, archly.
‘I thought you wanted to look at those vegetables first? Cheese?’
‘Yes, yes. All of that. Cake mustn’t be forgotten, though.’ Faye wagged her finger at Rav.
‘I wouldn’t dream of forgetting, Mistress,’ Rav tugged at an imaginary cap. ‘What cake dost thou desire?’
‘I’m accepting all suggestions.’ Faye shrugged. ‘As long as they’re big and have lots of icing or cream.’
‘Top five cakes of all time?’ Rav swapped his coffee to his other hand and linked his arm with hers.
‘Oh, gods, now you’ve asked… I mean, I’m going to have to give that some serious thought.’
‘Really? Surely everyone knows what their top five are.’ Rav pretended amazement. ‘I have to say, I’m staggered by the fact that you don’t know right away.’
‘Well, there’s no need to get so excited about it,’ Faye said with a grin. ‘I can definitely think of five!’
Rav sighed. ‘I’m not angry, Faye, I’m just disappointed.’
She laughed. ‘What’s yours then?’
‘Easy. Victoria sponge. Carrot cake. Chocolate fudge cake. Red velvet. Aaaaannd…’ he gave a dramatic pause ‘Black forest.’
‘Wow. Straight from the 80s.’
‘Nothing wrong with that. Chocolate, cherries and cream. Killer combination.’
They stopped at a stall selling French cheeses, and the stallholder offered them both a taste of a soft blue cheese that had an extraordinarily delicious sweet yet salty flavour.
‘Now that, I could eat all day long.’ Faye half-closed her eyes, an expression of sultry delight on her face. ‘Let’s get some.’
‘For that face,’ Rav shook his head ‘I would buy you all the cheese in France and possibly beyond.’
Faye reached for another piece and popped it in Rav’s mouth.
‘You mean…Belgium?’ She widened her eyes in mock amazement.
‘Let’s not go mad.’ Rav grinned and kissed her fingertip. ‘Anyway, isn’t Belgium famous for chocolate and beer, not cheese?’
‘That works for me too,’ Faye licked her fingers. ‘Come on. We haven’t bought any exotic breads yet. To go with this cheese.’
The lights from Greenwich’s bustling bars, restaurants and shops on the opposite side of the Thames river made a pattern of stars on its surface. After the market, they’d wandered down to the river and walked along, leaving the busy stalls behind them as the sun started to set. They were headed to a quiet restaurant Rav knew of, but though Faye was peckish – they’d eaten at the market, tasting and nibbling as they walked around – she wasn’t starving, and anyway, she was enjoying an autumn walk, holding hands with a handsome man that made her laugh.
‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’ Rav cuddled up against Faye as they stood at the river wall, looking out onto the river at night.
‘It really is,’ Faye agreed, watching a solitary boat make its way along the black water. Lights flashing, they could hear the music coming from on board.
‘Party boat.’ Rav rolled his eyes. ‘Can’t think of anything worse. Nowhere to go if you’re having a crappy time.’
‘You could swim for it if you were really desperate,’ Faye mused theatrically.
‘In the Thames? Not likely.’ Rav took her hand and they walked along the quiet river path. Faye peered over the chest-high wall and looked at the river water, scummy at the edges.
‘It’s not very clean, is it?’ she agreed. ‘Not really up to my standards.’
She stopped herself, thinking that she shouldn’t have mentioned Abercolme, but Rav just smiled.
‘I bet you miss it,’ he said softly. Surprised, Faye met his eyes.
‘Yes, I do. But…’ she looked out onto the Thames. ‘I like it here, too. With you.’ It wasn’t a lie; it had been a happy day.
‘I think… if you give it a chance, you can be happy here,’ Rav said quietly, not meeting her eyes. ‘This is how I want it to be, between us. Having fun, as a couple, free of… worries.’ She met his gaze and her throat caught at the hope in his expression. A normal, happy life was so little to want.
‘I want that too,’ she replied softly. And there, standing on the edge of the river with Rav, with his arms around her, she believed she could have it.
Twenty-Five
Faye looked up from her book about spirit possession to see Ruby closing the shop door of Fortune’s behind her.
‘Ruby! Hi!’ For a moment Faye wasn’t sure how to be around the other girl – she hadn’t seen her since the night of the Mabon ritual – but Ruby gave her a bright smile.
‘Faye, long time no see! We were beginning to think you’d disappeared into the faerie mists or something.’ Ruby dropped into the teal leather chair next to Faye’s worn black easy chair and put her feet up on a grubby leather footstool. Gabriel, standing on a small ladder, tutted from where he balanced, dusting books.
Faye had come back to the shop to research the faerie realms at Gabriel’s suggestion. They’d been texting back and forth, a mix of sending silly internet clips and a continuing conversation about how Faye could get back to Murias and find Aisha. Books is what I can offer, he’d texted. If you’ve got the time. Probably a solution to everything, somewhere in Fortune’s.
Faye had thought it was a pretty good idea. Gabriel was right: the shop was packed tight with arcane knowledge: there must be something useful here, if they could find it. She’d arrived just after Gabriel opened the shop at half past nine, and he’d directed her to some likely tomes while he tidied the shop. Faye had asked if she could help – she felt a little guilty, reading, when Gabriel was dusting, polishing and hoovering, but he’d refused, saying it did the shop good to have someone reading in it.
‘Make yourself at home, why don’t you?!’ Gabriel greeted Ruby.
‘I will, thanks. Cup of tea going?’
&
nbsp; Gabriel sighed theatrically and climbed down the steps, feather duster in hand.
‘As Madam demands.’ He flicked the switch on the white plastic kettle next to some mugs on the desk that held the old-fashioned shop till – Gabriel refused to buy a modern, computerised system – next to pots of pens and chewed pencils and receipts and paperwork strewn around the wooden surface of the desk, or speared on a metal hook that looked like a reshaped coat-hanger.
‘You could do with tidying that desk,’ Ruby observed as Gabriel opened a mini fridge under it, took out some milk and splashed it into three mugs.
‘It’s on my list.’ Gabriel tapped his temple and made the tea. ‘So, Faye. Any joy yet?’ he asked as he handed her and Ruby a mug each. Faye took hers with the sleeves of her cardigan wrapped around her hands to protect them from the heat.
‘Not yet.’ She didn’t want Ruby to know what she was researching, exactly: Gabriel was the only one that knew all the details about Aisha and Murias, and Faye wasn’t sure she was ready to tell anyone else. She glanced subtly at Gabriel and knew he understood, because he changed the subject.
‘So, what brings you here, Ruby? Always delighted to see you, of course.’ He sipped his tea, leaning against Faye’s chair. ‘Oh, I’ve got that book you wanted. Modern Witches.’ Gabriel rummaged in a deep drawer under the desk and pulled out a glossy, modern paperback. ‘Here you are.’ He handed it to her.
‘Great, thanks. Can I pay next week? I’m broke until payday.’ Ruby flicked through the pages: Faye could see it was a collection of photo portraits of modern witches, young and old, men and women from different cultures and traditions, accompanied by profiles.
‘I’ll put it on your tab.’ Gabriel sat on the edge of the counter.
Ruby passed the book to Faye. ‘Thought this would be useful for work. You know, they liked meeting you and everything, but that whole message about the reality of people’s lives as witches seems to be taking a while to sink in at Coven of Love. I’ll show them this as inspiration.’ Ruby sighed. ‘Still. Probably too late; the show’s airing, so it’s not like we can make any major artistic changes now. Styling’s done. Annie’s doomed to a life of corsets, I’m afraid. As am I, in the costume department. Unless I find a new show to work on.’
Faye took the book and leafed through it. ‘I’m sure she’ll cope.’ She smiled. ‘D’you think you’ll leave? Work on something else?’
Ruby shrugged.
‘Dunno. Maybe. We’ll see how it goes. It’s not a bad show.’
‘Right,’ Faye looked at the pages and pages of modern witches, wondering if any of them had experienced what she had. Or, maybe not exactly the same, but something similar. An encounter with an elemental being of some kind.
‘So, what’ve you been up to? We missed you at the coven. Thought you were going to come along on the regular.’ Ruby slurped her tea. ‘Gabriel, have you got any biscuits?’
Gabriel rolled his eyes and got up again to rummage in the capacious drawer under the desk; Faye wondered what he didn’t have in there.
‘Oh, you know. Settling in, getting used to London,’ Faye said, intentionally vague. Ruby raised her eyebrow.
‘Nothing else to say? We were all there at the ritual, Faye. It was weird. It’s not like that’s an everyday occurrence for anyone.’ She took a biscuit from the packet Gabriel offered.
‘No, no, it’s my pleasure,’ he grumbled, waving them under Faye’s nose. She took one, mostly to have something that meant she couldn’t respond too quickly to Ruby’s question.
‘Yes, that was odd,’ Faye agreed, and smiled. ‘Look, Ruby… it’s a complicated situation, okay? I kind of…’ She broke off, not knowing what to say. She wanted to confide in Ruby, but she was scared of letting anyone else in to her secret.
‘It’s okay, Faye. You can tell me. It won’t go any further.’ Ruby leaned forward, holding her tea. ‘If it makes you feel any better, before I joined this coven I saw some pretty weird shit. I was in this other group, and they were...’ Ruby shook her head, eyes wide. ‘I mean, they were crazy times. I left because that didn’t feel like magic to me, what they were doing. Not the kind of magic I wanted to do, anyway. So don’t feel like I’m not gonna believe you, babes. Believe me, after that experience, I believe anything’s possible.’ She shook her head again at the memory.
Faye sighed.
‘It’s complicated. But okay.’
‘You weren’t kidding.’ Ruby’s tea was cold by the time Faye had finished her story; Gabriel sat quietly, listening, as Faye talked. No-one had come into the shop whilst they’d been talking. Telling everything again felt strangely good, a relief: perhaps the more she talked about it, the more likely she’d be to find a solution.
‘No,’ Faye laughed, despite herself.
‘So, you’re…’ Ruby picked up the book Faye had been reading when she came in. ‘Researching? For…?’
‘Something to help me get back into Murias. I don’t know. Anything would be a help at this point,’ Faye sighed.
‘Well, we better get reading, then.’ Ruby started leafing through Modern Witches. ‘I’ll start with this one – you carry on with spirit possession, Gabriel can make a start on the medieval grimoires, and we’ll meet in Enlightenment sorcery. Deal?’
‘Deal.’ Gabriel hugged Ruby where she sat. ‘Thanks, Ruby. We could do with an extra pair of eyes.’
‘These extra eyes need tea,’ Ruby said, not looking up from the book.
‘Of course they do,’ Gabriel sighed theatrically.
Twenty-Six
Faye could hear the music from two streets away, and almost turned back more than once before reaching the club where the London covens were holding their annual Samhain party.
It was pronounced sow-in, the old Celtic name for what was now Halloween. In the old pagan days, it was the festival announcing the onset of winter, and traditionally the time when the division between the ordinary world and the otherworlds – the elemental lands of faerie, the spiritual origin of nature and the lands of the dead – was easiest to transgress. Samhain was the night witches remembered loved ones that were in spirit, and, traditionally, it was a night for divination and all kinds of mediumship, being that it was so much easier than usual to talk to the ones in the next world.
At home, Faye always set a place for Grandmother and Moddie at the dinner table, sharing stories and memories of them with Annie. Then they would usually read each other’s cards for the year ahead and walk down to Black Sands Beach to dance under the moon, perform a ritual they had planned out in advance, or just sit companionably and watch the waves.
Yet, tonight, as the city’s children dressed as ghouls and wizards and collected sweets door-to-door, Faye found herself standing outside the wide steel doors of a club on the south side of the river, uncomfortable in a pair of black stiletto-heeled boots and a short black dress that she was glad her coat hid. As it was Samhain, she’d made her makeup darker and more dramatic than usual, and curled her reddish auburn hair into long ringlets. Tonight, Rav was going to some work drinks again – he’d asked her if she wanted to come. It’s Halloween! Your thing, right? he’d asked, but she’d explained she had a Samhain celebration to attend. He’d looked disappointed, but not enough to persuade her not to go.
As she stood there, Faye gazed up at the stars. The night was dark, velvet, magical: the deep layers of the past spread out in black-gold layers; each star, each tree, each leaf a door to another life, another time. Samhain always gave her this special feeling; it was a time of magic, when anything could happen, when the otherworlds were close, and slippage could occur.
Faye was waiting for Annie and Susie. Annie had suggested they invite the cast of Coven of Love ‘for research’ but in actuality the guest list was too exclusive: only members of London covens or their approved friends and contacts were permitted, and no-one without one of the ornately foiled tickets got past the two tall, tattooed men on the door.
She tried not to stare at t
he people filing into the club, but in some cases it was hard not to look twice. Not everyone was hiding their eveningwear under a long coat, and, in fact, if anyone apart from Ruby at the Coven of Love set had attended, their preconceptions would only have been confirmed: tonight, there were plenty of floor-length gowns, velvet and otherwise. Faye was reminded of the faerie ball in Murias, as some attendees wore faerie wings and elaborate fae costumes with leather leaves and flower crowns; some wore gothic outfits that fitted the stereotype of the witch or wizard, with black cloaks and pentagrams hanging from their necks.
Yet, also, there were a number of other amazing looks and outfits, from prom dresses with delicate fascinators to a man with a pink Mohican who, Faye could see as he removed his jacket to enter, was stripped to the waist and wearing only a pair of sequinned shorts. The variety of London’s witches was staggering.
‘Wondered if I’d see you here.’ Faye felt a hand on the small of her back and turned to see Gabriel Black, who was dressed in his trademark black tailored suit and white shirt, but this evening with the addition of a black bowler hat and red pocket handkerchief. ‘May I escort you into the ball, Miss Morgan?’
‘Hi, Gabriel. Looking sharp.’ Faye gave him a shy kiss on the cheek.
‘Ah, well. One must do what one can,’ he demurred. ‘Are you waiting for someone?’
‘My friend Annie and her girlfriend. You can wait with me, though.’
‘I’d be delighted.’ He took the pocket handkerchief out, re-folded it and replaced it in its pocket. ‘How are you?’
‘Okay,’ she sighed. ‘You?’
‘I think we’ve gone past the social niceties by now,’ Gabriel replied, nodding and smiling at some people going in. ‘Customers,’ he said, by way of explanation. ‘How are you, really?’ Gabriel laid a gentle hand on her arm, and Faye held it in hers.
‘I’m okay. Just… frustrated that I… we…’ she smiled, acknowledging Gabriel and Ruby’s efforts on her behalf at the shop ‘That we didn’t find anything. Nothing that seemed like a way to get into Murias. And all the time, Aisha’s trapped there.’
Queen of Sea and Stars Page 15
