“I’m the victim. You just don’t want me to give a statement, in case I get sympathy and turn the vote.”
Robert laughed again, and turned towards the coven. “On the contrary, my dear. I feel your testimony would do the opposite. It would turn whatever supporters you had onto Arthur’s side, because everyone would be reminded of what a terrible, sinister person you are. They’ll realise that they’ll be powerless to stop you once you regain your full powers.” He turned to Lillith again. “Is that what you want?”
Lillith was shaking with anger. Her chest hurt from breathing so heavily. He was saying exactly what Arthur had been saying. She turned and glared at Diane. How is this fairer? She thought forcefully. How is he being impartial?
Diane heard her thoughts loud and clear. She smiled sympathetically at her, then turned to Mavis. “I’m not sure this is helping,” she said. “We need to hear Lillith’s story, the same as we’ve heard everyone else’s.”
Mavis looked at Robert. “Have you finished? Can we get on with the trial now, please?”
Robert looked at Arthur, and grinned malevolently. The damage had been done. That remark, the one about the coven being powerless to stop Lillith when she regained her full powers, had been dropped, and would be eating into the mind of every coven member, right now. It was planted as justification for murder, which is exactly what Robert wanted.
Lillith was reminded of what she’d said to Tristan, Charlie and Riti after Sophie and Matthew had trapped her in a pentagram with the intention of killing her. What if she was an evil witch? If that was the case, Sophie and Matthew would be considered heroes, rather than monsters. The same applied here.
Lillith turned to Arthur, and glared at him. He looked old. His face was pale and covered in wrinkles. His yellow eyes still glowed, but maybe not so brightly, and there were dark circles under them. They were fixed on Robert, anticipating his next move. Lillith looked at the floor to hide her irritation. Arthur was going to get away with this. Lillith was still looking at the floor when Robert spoke.
“Yes, let’s get on with the trial. Lillith, you were about to tell us how you knew Arthur.”
Lillith looked up. “You all know my story,” she said, her tone filled with rage. “You’ve heard it before. You’ve all got your opinions on it. Hearing it again won’t change them.” She paused and looked around the room. Expressions of shock looked back at her. She stood up, fuelled by the adrenaline surging through her.
“What you don’t know is how I feel about it all.” She stabbed herself in the chest with her finger. “I get it. I’ve heard the stories. I was a monster.” Lillith felt emotion rise in her and she swallowed it down. “But that was a very long time ago, and for me, a whole different life ago. One that I can’t even remember, but one that I’m still being persecuted for. As far as I know, I’ve done nothing in this life to warrant your fear, yet I have it.” Lillith stopped to catch her breath. She felt her cheeks flush and tears try to fill her eyes, but she blinked them away.
“You were justified in what you did back then. You regressed Brody and I, and we’ve spent eighteen years being good people, without witchcraft. That was our sentence, and it worked. It rehabilitated us. We’re not the witches we were then. I don’t know what else I have to do to convince you of that.” Lillith stopped and looked at Arthur. Then looked at Robert. “You say Arthur was justified in his attempt to kill me, but is that really the rules you want to live by? Killing people just in case? If a murderer served twenty years in prison, came out and spent eighteen years being good, would you be justified in killing him just in case he did it again?” She let the question sink in, before continuing.
“And it wasn’t just the attempt on my life. He also put an innocent witch under a dangerous sleeping curse, and kidnapped him. He locked my mam and Cassandra up for no other reason than to flush me out. His supporters also fired lethal magic at Angela and Brody; an innocent, and someone who was supposed to be on his side. Was he justified in doing all of that, too? In pursuit of a girl that might turn dark, later in life?” She emphasised the word might. “It sounds to me like he’s a vigilante, and if he gets away with this, what else will he get away with?
“I hope none of you have done anything to him in the past, because maybe he’ll come for you, next.” Lillith was shaking, and her chest heaved as she breathed. She looked around the room. Everyone was silent, and some had their mouths open. Everyone was looking at her. Had they never considered it like this before? Surely they had. It was why Arthur had been locked up, and kept locked up for so long.
She swallowed. A tear broke through and rolled down her cheek. Uma was smiling at her as she walked back to her seat and sat down.
Mavis was the first to break the silence. “Thank you, Lillith. I think that gave us some much-needed perspective.” She looked at Robert as she said that. “Now, let’s hear the story from your point of view, please.”
Lillith looked up. They still wanted to hear her testimony? Well, that’s why she was here. She breathed in, and began from the first time she’d met Arthur.
Chapter 18: Back to York
Three days had passed since she’d given her testimony at Arthur’s trial. It was morning, and Lillith was lying in Tristan’s bed, with Tristan cuddling her.
“How much longer do you think they’ll take?” he asked.
Lillith shrugged. “The longer, the better. He’s still locked up, while they’re deciding.”
“True, but don’t you just want to know?”
“I just want it to be the right decision.”
“When I gave my testimony, it seemed like they were on Arthur’s side.”
Tristan had told Lillith that at the time. Cassandra was present for Tristan’s testimony, and she said they were just being thorough.
“I know,” Lillith said. “But that was in the first week. A lot happened after that.”
He shrugged.
“Anyway, there’s nothing we can do, now. We just have to wait.”
“I can’t believe you’re so calm about it,” he said.
Lillith laughed. “Maybe on the outside.”
Tristan squeezed her. “Even if he does get out, I won’t let him hurt you.”
She squeezed back. She knew he meant it, but she wasn’t convinced that he, or anyone, would be able to do anything. If Arthur got out, he’d find a way to kill her. Lillith fingered her amulet. It protected her last time. She hoped it would again.
“We should celebrate you finishing your exams,” Tristan said, changing the subject.
Lillith smiled. “That would be nice. Angela and Brody said the same thing. We could have a meal somewhere,” she suggested.
“Or we could go away for a couple of nights.”
“Good idea. Do you have anywhere in mind?”
“Yeah. We could go back to York?”
Lillith sat up, and looked into Tristan’s dark eyes, with a puzzled expression.
“Charlie texts nearly every week asking us to go back, and she says she has something to tell us.”
Lillith frowned. “Good or bad?”
“Good,” he said, chuckling at the question.
Lillith was relieved. She could do with some good news. “Okay, why not. It’ll be nice to get away from here.”
“Great, I’ll give her a ring, now.” He rolled over, and fished his mobile phone out of his jeans pocket.
“Now?” Lillith asked, pouting. “Could it not wait?” She stroked Tristan’s back, and kissed his bare shoulder. He paused, with the phone in his hand. She kissed his neck next, and then her hand slid around his torso and stroked down his stomach.
Tristan threw his phone onto the bedside table, and rolled over. “It can definitely wait,” he said, as he pulled Lillith into his arms and kissed her firmly on the lips.
Lillith looked in Tristan’s cupboards for something to eat. They’d missed breakfast, and she was starving. She could hear him in the bedroom, speaking to Charlie, and it made her smile. He
r last time in York held mixed memories, so it would be nice to go back and make some better ones.
Tristan wandered in, and smiled at Lillith. His phone was at his ear. “Okay, see you then. Bye.”
Lillith held up a can of beans and some bread. “Beans on toast?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Are we going to York, then?”
“Yep, tomorrow.”
Lillith looked at Tristan. He was serious.
“Why wait?” he said, turning the oven grill on. He took the grill pan out, and put fours slices of bread on it. “Charlie has some blow-up mattresses that Angela and Brody can sleep on.”
She opened the beans, and poured them into a pan. “Great, I’ll send them a text asking if they want to come.”
Tristan put the hob on, and placed the pan over the flame. “I love you,” he said.
Lillith’s heart skipped a beat. She looked into his eyes. “I love you, too.”
It was a warm June day. The four of them decided to go to York on the train. The ride was through picturesque countryside. It felt great to have finished school at last, and to be going to York for a planned visit and a holiday, rather than the rushed ‘let’s get out of here’ visit of last time.
Lillith stepped off the train onto a crowded platform. Summertime in York was even busier than the period in between Christmas and New Year had been. The gang wheeled their cases or lugged their backpacks along the riverside, and came to the block where Charlie lived.
“Overlooking the river. Very nice,” Angela commented.
Tristan looked up wistfully. “She even has a little balcony to sit on. It was too cold last time we were here, but it’ll be nice on there, today. I used to sit there a lot when I lived here.”
Lillith squeezed his hand. York was already stirring up memories for him; not all good. They approached the door, and Tristan punched in the code. There was a click and a buzz, and Tristan pulled the door open and waved everyone inside. They climbed two flights of stairs, and knocked on Charlie’s door.
Lillith’s stomach was fluttering. She was excited to be back, and also a little nervous. Last time she was in York, two of the under-grounders had nearly killed her. She hoped they wouldn’t bump into Sophie and Matthew on this visit.
Charlie answered the door, beaming. “Hi, come in,” she said, beckoning to Brody and Angela first. She hugged Lillith and Tristan before allowing them to enter. “It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to be back,” Lillith said, walking inside. “And under better circumstances, this time.”
Riti was inside, and Lillith was met with a wide smile. “Yeah, this time you’re here to party,” Riti said, opening up her arms for Lillith to hug her.
“I certainly hope so,” Lillith said, almost laughing as she embraced Riti.
“So do I,” Angela said.
Lillith pulled out of the hug with Riti, and smiled toward Angela.
“This is Riti,” she said. “And Charlie let us in.” She pointed in Charlie’s direction. “And this is Angela and Brody, my best friend and brother.”
Charlie and Riti both said hi at the same time.
“I’ll put the kettle on,” Charlie said, and disappeared into the kitchen, while the others arranged themselves on the furniture.
Lillith looked around the room, and noticed some new additions to the already eclectic décor and ornaments. Lots with an Indian vibe; Lillith presumed it was Riti’s influence. “Charlie has some new things, I see.”
“Well, they’re mine,” Riti said.
Lillith looked at Riti, who was smiling, smugly. “Do you live here, now?”
Riti nodded.
“Wow, congratulations,” Lillith said.
“Yeah, really great news,” Tristan agreed.
Charlie popped her head out of the kitchen. “You haven’t told them, have you? We were supposed to do it together.”
“No, not that,” Riti said. “Just that we’re living together.”
“Do you have more?” Tristan asked.
Charlie came into the room and looked at Riti. “Why wait?”
They both turned to everyone and held out their left hands. “We’re engaged,” they sang in unison.
On their fingers sat identical rings. Fairly discreet: yellow gold and a single solitaire diamond. Everyone reacted at once. She heard Angela squeal, and Tristan shout excitedly. They all jumped out of their seats, and hugged Charlie and Riti.
“That’s brilliant news!” Lillith said, as they all sat back down. “This weekend is now a double celebration.”
The gang had cups of tea and coffee, then got ready to go out. It was still afternoon when they left the flat, but they figured they had some celebrating to do. Before they hit any of the pubs, Charlie took them to the top of The Shambles, to a chocolatier. They had a small cup of melted chocolate each, which tasted divine. The cup itself was made of chocolate. It was an amazing way to start their celebrations.
Charlie took them to all the lively pubs afterwards – the ones that Lillith had looked longingly at as they passed the last time they were here. They went to an Italian place for dinner, then carried on their celebrations until the early hours of the morning. Everyone was in good spirits. They chatted, laughed, danced and sang the night away. Even Brody seemed better, here. The burdens of the last few months were behind them. Arthur was still in prison – for now, at least – their exams were over, Brody’s parents were alive and well, and the coven were beginning to accept that they were good witches after all. Life was good.
Chapter 19: Sophie, Matthew and Darren
The next morning, Lillith awoke with a bad head. She groaned, and turned over to cuddle Tristan, who looked surprisingly fresh. “Morning,” she squeaked, through a coated mouth.
“Morning,” Tristan said, pulling her towards him. “Sleep well?”
She nodded, and snuggled into his warm chest. She could feel his heart beating against her cheek.
“How’re you feeling this morning?”
Lillith let out a groan.
Tristan chuckled. “That good, eh?”
Lillith blew out. She was still a little bit drunk.
“A bacon sandwich will sort you out. I’ll go and see what Charlie has in.”
After bacon butties, the gang headed out to do some sightseeing. Lillith felt a little better; she’d had some headache tablets and plenty of water. It was a warm day. She’d plaited her dark hair so it was off her face, and put on shorts and a t-shirt. The sun shone brightly, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
They’d just crossed a road, heading for The Shambles, when Lillith saw three familiar figures up ahead. She groaned inwardly. It was Sophie and Matthew, the two witches who’d captured her in a Pentagram. They were the very witches Lillith had hoped to avoid. The third witch was Darren, the older and plump under-grounder, who’d been the last to tell his story at Christmas. She wondered if there was a way to get past them without them noticing, but it was too late. Sophie and Matthew had spotted them, and were waiting for them to approach. Charlie and Riti both stopped to say hello.
Lillith painted on a false smile. “Hi,” she said.
Lillith thought Sophie and Matthew looked nervous as they said hi back. They didn’t make eye contact with her. Did they actually feel guilty about what they’d done last time she was here? She hoped they did. They deserved to feel ashamed.
“You’ll never guess what we’ve been doing,” Sophie drawled.
“You’re right, we won’t,” Charlie said.
Sophie didn’t seem to notice the cynicism in Charlie’s voice, and carried on. “We’ve been flying on broomsticks.”
There was a stunned silence. Lillith recalled Angela telling her that witches couldn’t fly on broomsticks.
“That’s not possible,” Angela said.
Sophie smirked. “Just because it’s never been done, doesn’t mean it’s not possible.”
Angela folded her arms. “It’s not possible,” she
said, sterner this time. “We’re not light enough to push against gravity long enough to actually fly.”
“Speak for yourself,” Sophie said, looking Angela up and down.
Angela rolled her eyes. Sophie was slight, and probably was lighter than Angela, but not by much.
Sophie folded her arms, and mimicked Angela’s pose. She narrowed her eyes. “Have you ever tried it?”
“No,” Angela answered.
“Well, then how do you know it’s not possible?” Sophie asked.
Angela opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again.
Sophie grinned. “Want to see how it’s done?”
Lillith looked around at everyone’s faces. Shocked, but also curious. It was probably a trick, but everyone did want to see how it was done.
Sophie smiled gleefully. “Come on, then,” she said, spinning around and walking away. Everyone followed.
She led them to a small field. Lillith thought they’d be going somewhere more private. “Isn’t this a bit exposed for, well, for what you’re expecting to show us? People might see you.”
Sophie laughed. “It’s okay, we’ve cloaked it.”
Lillith turned to Tristan. “Doesn’t that mean that witches can’t sense us? I was talking about non-witches actually seeing us.”
Tristan smiled. “It can mean both. When we cloak an area from non-witches, they can still see it and see us, but their brain doesn’t register what they see, so it’s like we’re invisible.”
Lillith raised her eyebrows. “That’s clever,” she said. “I didn’t know that.”
“It also means they avoid the area, although they won’t know why,” Tristan continued. “It’s like we’re in a bubble.”
Lillith wanted to ask more, but was stopped by Sophie’s voice.
“Right,” Sophie shouted, so that everyone could hear. “Here’s my broomstick.” She held up an old-fashioned broom. “Now, you probably all know how to make this levitate.”
Lillith wasn’t sure that she did.
Ashes: Witches of Whitley Bay Book 2 Page 13
