by Alicia Fabel
“There are unnaturals on Earth,” answered Kale.
“For how long?”
“Weeks at least. I’ve only just discovered them,” Kale said.
Lie.
“Tracking them is proving more complicated than I’d anticipated. They are using portals.” Kale offered up the shard of evidence on an open palm. Maiden took the glass into her hand and closed her fingers around it. Both Maiden and Kale wore dark expressions.
“You are suggesting a Summartir witch is responsible for creating a Siphon Master?” Maiden’s voice was even but had a sharpness to it.
“An unnatural portaled into the boundary forest.”
At those words, Maiden deflated. “Then it is definitely someone from the Coven, a threadbearer.”
“How do you know?” asked Vera.
“The symbol you asked about earlier is not a sun. It represents the meadow and the fourteen strands of magic that now hold the world together. When the world unraveled, the founding witches came forward to save the fourteen kingdoms. Each witch used their magic to tie one of the kingdoms to the meadow. There are only two ways to find the meadow. First, is to cross through one of the world-gates Kalesius guards. No creature from Earth can do this because the Earth gate is sealed.”
Vera stilled, hoping her guilt was not obvious.
Maiden continued, seemingly oblivious to Vera’s sudden discomfort. “The other way is to follow a thread from one of the threadbearers to the place where their magic binds realm and meadow together—the boundary forest. Only a threadbearer can do that. Which means one of the threadbearers had to have directed the unnatural to the meadow.”
“So, one of fourteen possible witches?” asked Vera.
“To protect the threads, the identities of the threadbearers are known only to them. It is possible that a threadbearer doesn’t even know what they are, although all witches teach their daughters about the world threads. In theory, the betrayer could be any witch. However, they will be among the most powerful in Summartir and most likely a member of one of the triads.”
“High Mother and High Crone are not living at the moment and your hands are clean. That leaves thirty-nine triad Witches,” Kale said.
“How could a witch not know they are a threadbearer?” Vera asked.
“Witch magic is tied to a witch’s spirit. When a witch dies, what magic they have stays with their spirit and is reborn with them in their next life. But a witch has no memories of past lives. So, no way to know that they are a threadbearer unless they discover the thread inside them and follow it.”
“If a witch is dead, how does their thread not come loose?” questioned Vera.
“Oh, it does. That is why we put in a second layer of stitches. The Mother, the Crone, and I hold the sure-stitches. The first layer of stitches, held by the threadbearers, ties the fabric of the world together. But as you guessed, it falters when a threadbearer is not living. That is why members of the High Triad cannot die and move on to another life. We have to ensure the threads never come undone. When a threadbearer is between lives, we strengthen our own threads in that part of the world.”
“What if someone tried to kill you?” asked Vera.
“They could try, but they would fail. All I would need to do is call on the magic of the Mother and Crone. Combined, we are stronger than any being in the world. Even on my own, few could beat me.”
“Well, that’s good,” Vera concluded. “Whoever’s making unnaturals can’t just drop a realm off the face of the world. Would a realm float away or something if that happened?”
“It would crash. Like a kite with its string cut,” explained Maiden.
Then it was very good that couldn’t happen. Vera had a suspicion that Earth would be the most likely target. Although, at this rate, the unnaturals were probably going to decimate Earth anyway.
“Anyone who helps create unnaturals could attempt anything, though,” admitted Maiden, turning to Kale. “They must be found and stopped. However, I ask you to proceed delicately. Our traditions are important, and I’d like to see this festival proceed without a bloodbath. You both have my invitation to attend the Passage and the banquet following it tomorrow evening. With any luck, the betrayer will give themselves away when they see you there.”
“Thank you. We accept your offer,” replied Kale.
Vera wondered what the man had just gotten them into. Maiden’s fingers moved at her side as though she were typing on an invisible typewriter. Blue mist, the same pale color as Maiden’s gown drifted from her fingertips. The girl from before came into the room.
“Are our guests’ accommodations ready, Margory?” asked Maiden.
“Yes, Maiden. I’ll show them the way.”
“I apologize you did not get refreshments, after all, Vera,” said Maiden, “I got caught up with the news and was not a very good host. I will have something sent to your rooms.”
Just like that, they were dismissed. Kale ushered Vera out the door to follow Margory. Something caught Vera’s attention. The little blue lizard scurried across the floor and disappeared into the pool. From this angle, Vera noticed rivulets of blood seeping through Maidens fingers as she clenched the glass in her fist, marking the side of her gown with crimson streaks. One drop fell to the floor before Maiden caught the direction of Vera’s stare and shifted her hand out of sight.
“Rest well, Vera. Merry meet.” Maiden’s smile did not reach her eyes.
9
Kale bit back a groan when he saw Cassie waiting inside the room.
“I’ll make sure our guests are settled in, Margory,” said Cassie, dismissing the young witch.
Margory opened her mouth to argue, reconsidered, and closed it. She abandoned Vera and Kale without a peep. Smart girl. Kale envied her escape.
“There are gowns for you in the closet through those doors,” Cassie told Vera. “And a washroom through the second set of doors. The cook will send your evening meal to your room. I do not suggest you go wandering around. You wouldn’t want to get lost.”
“No worries, wasn’t planning on it,” Vera replied absently, surveying the room.
It was a spacious room, but nothing like the High Maiden’s apartment. Simple wood floors and walls, a bed with silver and white linens, and silver curtains. There was also a small table with two chairs and a vase of fresh daisies in one corner. The tea that Maiden had promised was already waiting. Cassie must have brought it. Vera eyed the wide bed, fidgeting. She had to be exhausted.
“Is Kale’s room next door?” asked Vera.
“No,” Cassie said as though the idea was absurd.
“Where will he sleep then?” Vera asked, her voice laced with worry.
Kale coughed to hide his laugh, suddenly realizing what was bothering Vera. Does she think we’ll be expected to share a bed?
“There are no other available rooms in this hall, I’m afraid. Tomorrow is the start of the festival. All the triads are staying here,” Cassie said. “There is a spare cot for the Guardian in the loft over the coop. He’ll sleep with the liverymen.”
Generally, that’s where Kale would have preferred to stay—away from the maze-like castle full of witches. If only he were on his own. With Vera here, that was unacceptable.
“I will sleep on the closet floor,” Kale said.
“That would be completely indecent,” spluttered Cassie. “Do you believe your charge is in danger in the palace?”
Kale bit his tongue. The witch was fishing.
“If it would help, I could just sleep in the loft too,” Vera offered.
“It would not,” Cassie said firmly. “The Maiden said to ensure your absolute comfort.”
“Well, the only way I’ll be comfortable is to be close to my guardian.” Vera folded her arms. “So, unless you have another room to spare nearby in this massive castle?”
Vera had given Kale that look plenty in the past week. His charge was losing her temper. Based on Cassie’s pinched lips, the witch recognized it too
.
“We’re good with the closet arrangement then?” Kale asked Cassie unnecessarily, to ruffle the witch some more. She’d earned it.
“I’m a lot smaller than you,” began Vera. “I’d fit better if you want—”
“Absolutely not!” said Cassie shrilly.
“It’s okay,” Kale assured Vera, touched by her offer. “I like sleeping on the floor. It reminds me of when I was a boy.”
“Naturally.” Cassie snorted under her breath.
“You may leave,” Kale said, making sure the warning was clear.
Cassie wisely stepped back, ducking her head. Surprisingly, the witch stayed, though, her hands fisted by her sides. Kale grew wary.
Finally, Cassie said to Vera, “As long as you’re sure you’re all right with him staying in your room.”
Kale’s jaw would’ve hit the floor, if that were possible. He hadn’t imagined Cassie capable of being so bold. The witch had just earned a smidgen of his respect. The world might really be going off-tilt.
“Thank you,” said Vera, softening. “I’m sure. Kale’s not so bad.”
Cassie didn’t look convinced, but she turned to leave, having fulfilled her perceived duty. Kale stepped aside, giving a slight nod when the witch glanced at him from the corner of her eye. The witch’s steps sped up, but her head did raise a few degrees too. After Cassie’s exit, things became awkward. To have something to do, Kale moved to the table, poured two cups of tea, and offered one to Vera. Vera took a sip of hers, shifting uncomfortably.
“Your head still hurting?” asked Kale.
“What? Oh, no. I have got to pee, though.”
“Have you forgotten how or something?” Kale smirked.
“Oh, shut up.”
Vera practically threw her cup back at him before heading for the second set of doors. Kale swallowed a mouthful of the liquid from his cup and grimaced. How Vera drank the stuff with a straight face was a mystery. It was disgusting. He set the cups aside and moved on to inspect his sleeping quarters. It was worse than he’d hoped for but not as bad as it could be. If Kale angled himself just right, he might be able to stretch out all the way. As Kale reached above his head to grab some extra linens from the shelf, the walls flexed, and the floor heaved. Kale grabbed the doorframe to steady himself. Something was wrong.
Vera.
The water in the bathroom had stopped. Kale couldn’t hear her moving around anymore. He raced from the closet and stopped dead in his tracks. The cursed enchantress was waiting for him. Her seductive smile and red hair awoke memories he’d worked hard to forget. She was supposed to be rotting in Dubnos with the Fomori demons. Kale had made sure of it.
“What have you done with her?” Kale demanded, scanning the room for Vera’s body.
“With who?” asked Talia with fake innocence.
Kale charged the woman and threw her against the wall, shoving his forearm against her throat. Talia struggled unsuccessfully. She was weaker than Kale remembered.
“If you hurt her, I will rip your arms from your body before you die.”
“Kale,” Talia gasped. “Stop. Please. I didn’t hurt anyone.”
“Tell me where she is. Tell me where Vera is.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” rasped Talia.
Except it didn’t sound like Talia. While Kale was trying to puzzle this out, Talia stabbed him in the arm. He hadn’t seen her reach for the blade. As fire sliced across Kale’s skin, Talia flickered and became Vera.
“Vera?”
“Obviously, you freaking maniac.” Vera shoved against him until Kale released her and backed away.
“I don’t know how… Did I hurt you?” Kale lurched forward, searching for injuries on her, but Vera swiped out with the blade. “You brought my kitchen knife?”
“I swear if you take another step, I will stab you again.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you. I thought you were…someone else.”
Vera didn’t lower the knife. Her hair flickered red. Kale put his hands on either side of his head. What is happening to me? It’s like I’ve been drugged.
“I think I’ve been poisoned,” Kale said with a hollow laugh.
“How?”
“Something had to have been in the tea. It’s the only thing it could’ve been.”
“I drank the tea too. I’m fine,” Vera said.
“I know. I can’t figure that out right now. My head is not… It must be something about you. You’re special,” Kale slurred.
“Dude, you’re freaking me out right now.”
“Lock yourself in the bathroom. Don’t come out until it is safe.”
“Done.” Red-headed Vera was already on the move.
Kale staggered across the room to the door. Using the last of his mental acuity, he engaged the door’s magical lock. It wouldn’t let anyone in or out until he unlocked it. He would only be capable of that after his body got rid of the poison. Kale collapsed once the lock was in place.
In the dreams that followed, Vera fought Talia. Kale tried to stop the human girl, tried to pull her away. He had to keep her safe. But Vera wouldn’t listen to him. She stabbed him. Over and over. He kept trying, but she punched like a demon until she slipped free. Vera wouldn’t let him save her. There was so much blood. Vera and blood. Kale’s stomach heaved. Vera stopped fighting long enough to place a hand on his brow. She wiped away the sweat there. Then she was gone again. Kale couldn’t catch her. He tried so hard, but he couldn’t. Finally, he called out to Vera, begged her to come back to him. This time, she listened.
“I’m here,” Vera said.
Kale rested.
He woke choking. Twisting, trying to force air down his throat, he fell, landing hard on hands and knees beside the bed. Sheets wrapped around his legs and torso. He’d pulled them with him when he’d fallen. Vera stood in the center of the room, feet planted shoulder-width apart.
“Why aren’t you in the bathroom?” Kale wheezed. “Did you just punch me in the throat?”
“Yep. Punching you in the arm wasn’t working.”
Kale pushed himself into sitting position, propped up against the side of the bed.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
“Just my hand from hitting you. It’ll be fine.”
“I told you to stay in the bathroom. I could have killed you.”
“You were really sick.”
“Which is why I said to stay in the bathroom,” Kale said.
“You said to stay in there until it was safe to come out.” Vera shrugged one shoulder. “I decided it was safe.”
“How long did it take for you to make that decision?” he asked with a hard look.
Vera didn’t respond. She pressed her bottom jaw forward stubbornly.
“Do you have a death wish? Or are you really that stupid?” he asked.
“You’re right. I should’ve let you drown in your own puke.”
“I can’t die, Vera!” Kale ran a hand through his sweaty hair. “But you can.”
“I didn’t know that. Well, I knew I could die. The whole you-not-being-killable thing is news to me, though.” She hesitated. “I did figure out you heal fast, though.”
“And how’d you figure that out?”
“I had to stab you a couple times.” She scrunched her face up. “Maybe more than that. But it was getting everything bloody, so I stopped.”
Kale let his head fall back against the bed in exasperation. “So all the blood was real.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. I guess I’m glad you snuck a knife into Summartir since it kept me from killing you, but don’t go waving it around and upsetting our hosts. A knife won’t do much good in a witch fight.” He tipped his head to look at her. “I should’ve told you the poison couldn’t hurt me.”
Vera frowned at him, and then pulled her shoulders back. “I still would’ve helped you. You needed help.”
“You’re impossible.” Kale rubbed his temples, trying to massage the
lingering throb away. “How did I get into the bed?”
“I’ve manhandled plenty of drunks into cabs. It wasn’t so different. Although I did have to give you that.” Vera pointed at Kale’s face then indicated her eyebrow.
Kale lifted a hand and felt the cut on his brow. “Is your hand really okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. I didn’t do that with my hand. The vase from the table didn’t survive, though. How angry will Maiden be that I broke it?”
Kale couldn’t help it, he laughed. A laugh that would have taken him to his knees if he hadn’t already been sitting. The girl was unbelievable. Standing there after fighting him off for half the night and she was worried about upsetting a witch over a vase. Vera started then smiled too. Her shoulders relaxed.
“I’m sure she’ll forgive you when she finds out why you had to sacrifice her vase.” Kale sobered. “How long was I out of it?”
“I’m not sure. Someone brought our dinner. You tried to get out the door to go after them but it’s locked. Pretty sure they ran away as fast as they could. That was a few hours ago. Right about the time when the candles lit by themselves.”
“Well that’s good. I’d have guessed it would take all night for my system to kick that stuff.”
“The candles are magical, right? They can’t burn down this castle made almost entirely of wood while I sleep? Because I don’t want to asphyxiate in my sleep in a couple of hours.”
“You’re worried about dying by candle accident after what you risked tonight?”
“You were trying to protect me from your hallucinations, not hurt me. Whenever you forgot who I was, I just had to remind you.”
“By stabbing me.”
“Once I realized how fast you healed, I didn’t even feel bad about it.” Vera’s stomach rumbled.
“You’re hungry,” Kale observed.
“Starving. I’ll live, though. Don’t we need to, I don’t know, alert Maiden that someone poisoned you? Do you think it was Cassie? I don’t want it to be her. I don’t think she’s so bad. But she was here when we got here, and—”
“Breathe.” Kale wondered if the girl had smuggled caffeine into Summartir along with the knife. “Cassie is the most likely suspect. If it was her, she could be the one working with the Siphon Master. I’ll talk to the Maiden, and we’ll watch Cassie closer. For now, would you like to go raid the kitchen for food that no one’s touched and won't be poisoned?”
