Storm Witch

by Alys West

  “What do you need for the spell?”

  Grace frowned. “For the one I’d usually use, I need incense, mistletoe and moonwort. I’ve got incense back at the B&B but I didn’t bring the herbs.”

  “And where are we going to get them in Orkney at this time on a Sunday evening?”

  “Well, there is that. Nina would have had them, of course, but all her herbs went in that awful break-in on the day she died.”

  “Then I’ll give this a shot.” Winston pressed his staff against the floor. “It’s got to be worth a try. You might want to move out the way. I’ve still got bruises from what happened last time I gave this a go.”

  He drew awen into his body and then placed one hand flat on the door’s surface. He felt the wood relax against his palm as it remembered it’d once lived. Paint slid off in long strips and fell to the floor. He moved his hand to concentrate the awen around the handle and stepped to the side. As if sighing out a long breath, a crack began in the centre of the door and expanded in both directions until it reached from hinge to handle. Winston drew more awen into him and directed it at the wood around the handle. A green shoot appeared above his palm. His eyebrows shot up. That’d never happened before. But he couldn’t stop now. The door creaked, screws flew across the room like bullets and the handle tilted forwards. He caught it before it hit the floor.

  He pushed his fingers into the hole where the handle had been and pulled. The door groaned slightly but it didn’t move. He tried again, using awen to strengthen his muscles. A loader groan but no movement. His hand slammed against the wood. “Fuck!”

  “It’s not the door’s fault,” Grace said. “It’s whoever sealed it. To withstand what you’ve thrown at it, I’d say whoever cast that spell is no amateur.”

  “What are you saying?” His hair was damp with sweat. Winston shoved it back from his face. “That Rachel didn’t do it?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Grace grasped her stick with both hands as another gust hit her. “Someone with a lot more power and experience than Rachel has sealed that door.”

  ***

  The wind whipped around Jenna’s body as soon as she stepped outside. It was getting darker, an early twilight, as the heavy clouds moved closer. The wind tugged at Zoe’s scarf, turning it into a snake of fabric that threatened to choke her. She took it off and wound it round her hand.

  There were about twenty guests outside, scattered over the decking and down the garden. Callum was among them playing tag with the little girl in sparkly shoes. Jenna darted from group to group, asking as calmly as she could, making a joke about the Orkney weather, telling them the party was finishing early. Most were already looking at the sky, pulling jackets and cardigans tighter and took little persuading. Reaching the bottom of the garden, she spoke to the last group which included Hal. She fell in step with him as they walked back up the slope. The first drops of rain hit. Huge and heavy, they splattered against her clothes, sank into her hair.

  A loud bang came from the house. She spun, searching for the source of the noise. One of the ground floor windows had a massive crack. Was that where Rachel was? As Jenna watched, Finn bolted out of the patio doors and raced around the side of the house. He peered through the cracked window before hammering on the door to the utility room.

  “What’s going on, Jenna?” Hal asked. “Is it because of what you said about Nethertown? Is that why Andrew’s ending the party early?”

  What excuse could she use? Hal wasn’t the only person listening. She’d already aired more of the family’s dirty linen in public than she felt comfortable with. Mentally she ran through the list of socially acceptable excuses and found they were pretty limited. Then remembering Angus’s decision to hide for the duration of the party, she smiled as reassuringly as she could manage. “Angus isn’t very well. One of those sickness bugs. Felicity didn’t want anyone else to catch it.”

  “Really?” Hal’s hand landed on her arm. A glance at his face revealed a look of obvious disbelief. She stopped, letting the rest of the group go on ahead.

  “No, not really. It’s just the best excuse I can think of to get everyone out of here.”

  “Then what is going on?”

  A sheet of rain was moving towards them, pounding the sea from the storm clouds above. Waves smacked against the shore, growing in size as she watched. The wind had strengthened in the five minutes she’d been out here. “There’s going to be a storm, a really bad storm. Worse than the one at Amy’s wedding.”

  His forehead creased. “How do you know that?”

  Wind buffeted them and Jenna struggled to keep her footing. “Can I explain later? The most important thing is that you and everyone else gets out of here before it gets any worse.”

  A shriek cut through the air. It sounded like a banshee was being tortured.

  “What the hell was that?” Hal said.

  She put her hand on his arm to try to make him move but he simply kept looking at her. “Rachel. Kenny’s ex. She’s kind of lost it.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “I don’t know exactly. I think Felicity spoke to her.” A rumble of thunder made her jump. Ahead, the patio doors were open and the guests were filing through. Winston had better have got Andrew on side. They didn’t need him exuding bonhomie and trying to pretend nothing was wrong.

  The rain was getting worse. Wet jeans clung to Jenna’s chilled legs. She shivered as cold water ran down her neck. Hal put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him. “You do know none of this makes sense,” he said as they crossed the decking.

  Jenna closed her eyes for a second. She couldn’t go on lying to him. She’d lost him once because of the secrets she kept. She could lose him again with the truth but she’d rather risk that.

  “Your engineering brain isn’t going to figure this out on your own so stop trying. Just promise me you’ll get your guitar and leave?”

  “Alright. So long as you’re going too?”

  She stepped inside and the rain ceased but the wind didn’t. Winston grabbed her hand and she held on as another gust hurtled against her. As it eased, she turned to see why the patio doors were open, why someone hadn’t shut the storm out but the doors were closed.

  Her gaze met Winston’s. “What the hell—?”

  His glance took in Hal beside her. “Little localised problem,” Winston said. “We’ll soon get it sorted.”

  She wasn’t sure she believed him but she let it go.

  “What on earth is happening?” Hal shouted over the noise of the wind. “Have they got every door and window in the house open?”

  “Must have.” Hal’s guitar and her fiddle were where they’d left them, although the music stand and the music on it had both disappeared. She picked up her fiddle and handed it to him. “Take care of this for me.”

  “Why?” Hal yelled. “Don’t tell me you’re staying! You can’t—”

  Another gust pounded against her, icy against her already chilled flesh. “I have to. I’ll explain tomorrow.”

  “You’d better.” Hal’s head dipped. She thought he was going to kiss her cheek but his lips landed on hers. The familiarity of it tore at her throat. Her hands moved to hold him at the exact moment he pulled away. Hal’s hand cradled her face for a second before he picked up his guitar case and strode towards the hall.

  Heat swept up Jenna’s cheeks despite her damp clothes and the stinging wind. How had that just happened?

  A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped. It was Winston, his face impossible to read. “You can go with him if you want?”

  “No.” As she shook her head, tears stung. She’d made her choice and, if it was the wrong one, she’d live with the consequences. “I’m not leaving.”

  “That’s the brave decision rather than the sensible one.” Winston’s hand was reassuringly warm against her chilled skin. “But I’m not going to argue with you.”

  Chapter 50

  “Where shall I put these?” Zoe
gestured at the row of unopened soft drinks.

  Debbie cast a harried glance over her shoulder and pointed to a large plastic crate. “In there, love. It’s good of you to help. I do appreciate it. Especially with Rachel…”

  Stacking bottles in the crate, Zoe responded to the unspoken words. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.” She wasn’t sure at all but she wanted to reassure Debbie. She liked her and not only because her accent reminded her of home. Debbie had a real warmth about her and she clearly cared about Rachel.

  “I’d feel better if I’d seen her, you know.” Debbie heaved a box of glasses onto the top of the makeshift bar. “It doesn’t feel right leaving without her.”

  Felicity had appeared five minutes ago and, after a murmured discussion with her husband, made it very clear that the party was at an end. Guests were collecting coats and bags and saying rather hurried farewells to their hosts.

  A gust of wind blew around the room, scattering photo frames on the sideboard, plucking at clothes. “I do wish they’d get those doors shut,” Debbie said. “There’s a howling gale through here.”

  “Yes, it’s most peculiar.”

  Unless you’d got a storm witch trapped in your house, of course. Grace was trying to get into the utility room to reach Rachel. Jenna was walking up the garden at the rear of a group of guests. The sky was dark behind her, huge black clouds massing over the sea. Rain was already pelting the windows. There was no sign of Finn. He’d dashed off to find a different way to access the utility room. She was pretty sure as soon as he returned, he’d insist she left and, now the storm was inside as well as out, she wasn’t going to argue. If it was easier for Finn if she wasn’t here, then she’d go and worry herself silly somewhere else.

  Wind rattled the windows on the outside at the same time as a blast of cold air rushed through from the kitchen. The guests who were still taking their leave were suddenly bent over against it or grabbing onto furniture to steady themselves.

  “What the hell?” Debbie said as the white tablecloth flapped like it’d sprouted wings and wanted to take off.

  The patio doors opened. The group from the garden filed through, their clothes dark with rain water, their hair disordered by the wind. The youngest boy, Callum, sprinted across the room and threw himself at his father. Andrew’s arms came round the boy, hugging him against his belly. There was a shared moment of relief at being indoors, before a blast of wind swept through the room. It was stronger this time, a glass vase fell from a side table and smashed against the floor, the weeping fig hit the floor spilling leaves and soil, the curtains swirled like Scottish dancers. Jenna and Hal were the last through the doors, her face also registered disbelief before Winston grabbed her arm and spoke to her.

  Zoe put a hand on Debbie’s arm and spoke louder to be heard over the wind and the exclamations of guests. “I’d leave the rest and come back for it tomorrow.”

  “If it’s still here tomorrow.” The look Debbie shot her said she seriously doubted it but she whipped off her white apron and reached under the table for a large purple handbag. “But I’m not going to argue, love. There’s something right weird going on here. Our Robbie’s not going to believe it.”

  “Just make sure you get home and tell him.” As Zoe followed Debbie around the makeshift bar, Felicity hurtled past them and up the stairs.

  “Next time you’re in Stromness, pop into The Commercial.” Debbie clasped her bag to her chest as if it would protect her. “I owe you a drink. And your lad, of course.” Debbie nodded towards the doors and Zoe turned to see Finn, staff in hand, battling to open them.

  “Thanks.” Zoe sent a swift smile over her shoulder as she dashed across the room. By the time she reached the door, Finn was inside and Winston was helping him close it.

  “It’s getting really bad out there.” A crash of thunder punctuated Finn’s words. Hail rattled against the windows like a round of machinegun fire.

  “It’s getting pretty bad in here.” An icy jet of wind blasted through the room as Winston spoke. Finn’s arm looped around Zoe’s waist and he pulled her against his body. Jenna gasped as the wind pushed her backwards. Winston wrapped one arm around his staff, grabbed her hand and held on.

  There were a couple of screams as ornaments were swept from furniture to smash against the floor. A vase of lilies toppled, spilling water and flowers. A picture fell, the glass shattering. The bookcase toppled with a crash that reverberated through the house.

  “I couldn’t get to her,” Finn said as the gust eased. “The door’s locked and short of breaking it down, there isn’t a way in from outside.”

  “Did you see her?” Winston said.

  “She’s curled up on the floor with her head on her knees,” Finn said. “She must be sitting in six inches of water but she didn’t move when I called to her.”

  “Can we get the door open?” Winston asked.

  “No, it’s uPVC. All the windows and external doors are. Grace might be able to.”

  “She’s trying to talk to Rachel.” Winston glanced over his shoulder towards the kitchen.

  “She can’t keep trying,” Jenna said. “She can barely stand up normally. Never mind…”

  “Will you go get her, Jenna?” Finn said. After Jenna darted off, Finn’s hand went to his jeans’ pocket and Zoe knew exactly what was coming next. “Zo’s leaving. She can take Grace with her.”

  “Okay, if she—” Zoe broke off as another blast hit them. It was freezing, like the worst January storm. She really wasn’t dressed for this. A shiver ran down her spine and rattled her teeth. “—she wants to come.”

  Finn put the car key in her hand. “I’ll come out with you.”

  “I am going to go. You don’t have to check up on me.”

  “I’m not. I need the secret weapon out of the car.”

  Finn exchanged a few quiet words with Winston and then, with his arm wrapped around Zoe’s waist, propelled her across the room. A couple of squally gusts slowed their stride. There was debris everywhere; broken china, shattered glass, trampled flowers. Feathers, from a torn cushion, settled like snow. As they reached the front door, Jenna called Zoe’s name and she turned to see her lurching towards them. “Grace won’t leave. She says you’ll need her.”

  “We might but I’d rather she was safe,” Finn said.

  “She’s sitting down in the boys’ play room.” Jenna wrapped her arms around her middle. “With the door closed it’s not as bad in there.”

  “What about you?” Finn asked. “Will you go with Zo?”

  “Not yet.” Jenna’s chin came up as she spoke. “There might be something I can do. I don’t feel any loyalty to Andrew but I love the boys and this is their house too.”

  “You’re sure?” Finn said. A squeal of twisting metal made them all turn. A radiator exploded from the wall, water shooting from the broken pipe behind it.

  “I’m sure.” Jenna touched Zoe on the arm. “Stay safe out there.”

  “I’ll be okay. Finn’s car’s built like a tank.”

  Finn wrenched the front door open and they stepped through. Hail hammered against Zoe’s skull. She raised her hands above her head and couldn’t bite back a yelp as it hit exposed skin. She ran as fast as she could for the car. She fumbled getting the door opened, couldn’t remember which button to press and then the lights flashed once and she dived inside. Tiny balls of ice came with her, tumbling onto the car seats. Hail pounded on the roof, water blurred the windows. There was an icy blast of air as Finn opened the boot. Seconds later, he slammed it shut. He walked around the car, visible only as a dark blur through the rain-streaked windows. As his face appeared at the driver’s window, she lowered it.

  His hair was soaked through. Water dripped from a curl plastered to his forehead and trailed down his face. He held an old square cake tin under his arm. “Go back to the B&B and wait for me there.”

  He leaned in, his lips were warm against hers but wet with rain. The kiss was deep and passionate but all too short.
“Be careful,” she whispered next to his lips. “Don’t die out there.”

  He rested his forehead against hers for a second. “Way too much to live for.” Then he pulled away and rapped his staff against the roof of the car. “Now go.”

  The vehicle rocked as another gust hit it. Zoe turned the key and the engine fired. Carefully she put it into reverse and spun the steering wheel. As she straightened up, she looked for Finn in the rear-view mirror. All she could see was a tall, blurred figure heading back into the house.

  ***

  Hail pounded against the patio doors and, despite the undoubtedly expensive double glazing, a freezing draft managed to find its way through. Winston wrapped his arms around his chest and, when that didn’t warm him, leaned his staff against the glass while he zipped up his jacket.

  The wind inside had eased to a brisk breeze. Outside the gale flattened the grass, tore leaves from shrubs and whipped white horses on waves which hurled themselves against the shore with alarming ferocity. Above his head, tiles rattled. The wind had already plucked a couple of slates from the roof, which lay smashed on the decking next to the smoking remains of the barbeque. At least the torrential downpour had extinguished the flames which had crept along the decking after the charcoal tumbled out.

  Pretty much everyone had left. Felicity and the boys had been among the last to go after a hurried conversation with Andrew. Winston didn’t know where Andrew had disappeared to after that and couldn’t honestly say he cared.

  Hearing sounds behind him, Winston turned. Finn was using his staff as a walking stick, the wooden tip striking the polished floorboards with a rhythmic tap. Under his arm he carried an old and extremely battered cake tin.

  “Zoe gone?” It was easier to talk now the wind inside wasn’t as strong. Bellowing at each other hadn’t been any fun. Especially when Hal had made his move on Jenna. What he’d wanted to say was ‘I told you he still loved you’ but it wasn’t the kind of comment that needed bellowing through a magical storm with half of Andrew’s guests within hearing.