“How do we know he’s from the Council?” Izzy let her question carry through the crowd.
Several women gasped. In all honesty, Izzy was a little surprised at her audacity herself. She wasn’t the type to push or cause controversy. Worry drove her. Behind the falsehoods and glamours lay a truth she didn’t think the coven was ready to hear.
“Have you called someone and confirmed this?” Izzy persisted, trying to get the other’s to see his perfidy.
“Do you know something?” Cass whispered.
“Yes, he’s a fake,” Izzy whispered back. “Don’t let him con you.”
“How do you know that?”
“Later,” Izzy couldn’t talk about it now. She just hoped Cass trusted her.
“Later is starting to become a long, serious talk.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” It was all she could offer her friend for the moment.
Gideon didn’t answer her directly. Instead, he spoke over the women talking. “Ladies, don’t speak unkindly of her. Isadora is upset and rightly so from what I understand. Aren’t we at the heart of it, a community? Her mother is in prison, another close friend is dead. I believe we should gather around her and give her the support she so clearly needs.”
Isadora sensed the shift in the crowd. Could almost literally see the walls closing in around her. Several witches started walking towards her.
“Bring her to me,” Gideon shouted. His words held a touch of fervor. “She needs her family. We must help her.”
He was using some kind of black magic. Isadora was sure of it. There was a hint of desperation laced in his speech. It spurred the crowd to act, to please him with their actions.
Rowan reached her before she could react. Hands wrapped around her arms, twisting and tugging. Bruising in their zeal, Izzy dug her heels in her attempt to pull away from the others. Cass shouted and slapped but was quickly pressed out and away from her friend, powerless to help. Izzy fought valiantly but she was no match for his madness.
“The council has lost three…three council members!” He was shouting now. “Isadora can help us. Must help us!”
Isadora's feet slid and dragged against the grass, large clumps were left in their wake. Mere steps away from Gideon, she watched spittle fly through the air as he spewed his message to their members.
“Death is coming! We must prepare! Bond with me so I can save you. You have my oath that I will protect you at all costs.”
“How? How can I bond with you?” Maeve pushed Isadora out of the way, eager to be his servant. She wanted to be the first, and no other would get in her way.
Gideon’s eyes jerked from Isadora, his prize, to Maeve.
“Blood.” Hunger leaked into his voice. Izzy swore she spied a demon in his eyes. “Each of you needs to freely offer your blood to me. Bind with me, become mine.”
Evil. Isadora could feel it. Waves of malfeasance poured out from the man before her. His magic was like an infection, overtaking everything it touched. Isadora jerked her wrist out of one of the hands binding her. She took advantage of the moment, wrenching her other hand free. Run, was her only thought.
“Cass!” She called over her shoulder. “We need to go! Let’s go!”
“Right behind you!”
◆◆◆
Isadora and Cass raced from the crowd as others fought their way to Gideon. Their feet pounding on the gravel, they were less than twenty feet down the driveway when they encountered a car pulling up the drive and cutting off their path to freedom.
The car came to a stop, and Izzy watched as a passenger door opened. Agnes stepped out.
“What are you doing here?” Agnes asked the moment she spotted Izzy.
Izzy was at a loss. Surprise that Agnes wasn’t in jail. Was instead here at the Maeve’s. Confusion was clear across her face. “Why wouldn’t I be here? It’s a coven meeting.”
“A coven meeting? I don’t recall calling a meeting.”
Izzy recognized her folly. “Maeve called for one. She’s trying to take over the coven,” she clumsily explained.
“Maeve cannot call a meeting. She doesn’t have that power.” Agnes paused and looked at Izzy making her point. “Unless…you give it to her.”
Izzy had thought she was doing right. Now, she just felt stupid.
“I thought you of all people knew better. Well, what’s done is done.” Agnes turned as the driver of the car exited. Another man, someone else she didn’t know, Izzy thought.
Agnes looked to Izzy in expectation. “Child, have I taught you no deportment? Don’t stare, say hello.”
The gentleman in question was still several feet away. Izzy appreciated the view while he approached. His black hair was flecked with silver highlights, but that didn’t detract any from his handsome face. Roman nose and straight thin lips were accented by his piercing gray eyes which took stock of Izzy as she did the same of him. He was tall, lean like Gideon but not as gaunt. Dressed in dark slacks and a gray knit pullover to match his eyes, he pulled off debonair with ease. He made Gideon appear as nothing more than a cheap imitation. Izzy was a mite intimidated.
“Hello,” Isadora parroted on cue as he strode forward. Agnes and now his appearance had Izzy forgetting why she had been fleeing just moments before.
She looked back to the rest of the coven. “He’s calling for blood oaths,” Isadora explained to the man and Agnes. Izzy looked for Gideon so she could point him out but couldn’t find him in the mass of people.
“Where did he go?” she asked Cass.
Cass was up on her tiptoes canvassing the scene. “I don’t see him. It’s like he disappeared.”
Agnes’ escort spoke. The moment Izzy heard his voice, deep and familiar, she recognized it immediately.
“Where did who go?” he asked.
“Gideon,” Izzy explained. “Maeve wanted us to meet him. But he said he was you, well, not you but the Council President. Agnes told me that’s your title.” Her words were coming out as fast as her breath, rushing one over the other.
“That’s right. I’m Sebastian,” he looked directly into Isadora’s eyes, giving no quarter. “Breathe deep, let it in, let it out. That’s it.” He watched her closely then nodded. “That’s better. Now, tell me more about this man. Did I hear you right? He demanded a blood oath?”
Maeve walked briskly in their direction. “This is no longer your coven, Agnes. You need to leave.”
“If what I’ve heard is true, this is no longer a coven I want any part of, nor even a coven of the Council at all.” Agnes spat in return.
Sebastian interceded. “You gave blood oaths?” He questioned Maeve. “To a man, you know not who he is?” His gaze looked on with censure at the women now coming toward them.
“And who do you think you are?” Maeve spit at Sebastian’s feet regaining his attention.
“I am the President of the Southeastern Council of Witches, Sebastian St. Clair.” The sneer on his face was evident in his tone and played well with his British accent. “And if you would be so kind as to share your name?”
“I am Maeve Matheson. And you can’t be the president of the council. That’s impossible. Gideon is!”
“While Gideon Freestone is a lot of things, a member of the Council is not one,” Sebastian informed Maeve. “He was stripped of his powers by our very Council almost twenty-five years ago. The very night your friend Isadora here was found.”
“What?” Maeve stood looking at them in horror. “I don’t believe you.”
Sebastian gazed dispassionately at Maeve’s bloody wrist. “Your belief is not required. You said you gave your blood? I would have thought a woman who has practiced the Craft for as many years as you have would have known without question to never give your blood in oath.”
Sebastian looked out into the crowd, “How many more of you acted so foolishly this night?”
Winifred and Ava hung their heads in shame. Gwendolyn too had a bloody spot on her arm. Member after member stood gazing at them, arms and faces smeared with
blood. Sebastian eyed the evidence of their betrayal to the Goddess with disgust.
“Maybe I should ask, excepting Isadora and her young friend here, did any of you manage to keep your wits about you and not pledge an oath to that man?”
Wren, Lilly, Rowan, and Millicent held hands tightly toward the edge of the group. “His magic was strong. Hands linked together was the only way,” Wren explained.
Sebastian smiled. “Smart thinking my lovelies. With might combined, you enabled each other to resist his call. You should be proud of yourselves for your quick thinking.” He looked at the few women gathered around him, “I am sorry to say, you are all that is left of your coven.”
He turned to the others one last time. “I will pray that the goddess one day allows you to return to our fold. You were tricked, but that doesn’t change what you’ve done. I am sorry but for now, I cannot help you. You are now bound to one who gave his soul to the dark. Find a way to break the spell, and the goddess might let you feel her light once again.”
Maeve ignored his words, instead cursing him with her own, “He will beat you easily. Your powers are weak and laughable. Gideon can smite you with his pinkie alone. He is all-powerful. Soon, you will dance for his amusement. You will see. He is coming for you. Watch your back, Sebastian St. Clair!”
“Got it, I’ll keep my dancing shoes on,” he mocked Maeve. “Tell Gideon, he showed his cards too soon. He will never attain his goal now.”
“Ladies, I believe it is time for us to depart.” Sebastian looked around their small group. “Care to meet us back at Agnes’ house? We can talk more there.”
“I don’t know if I can drive just yet,” Rowan quivered after letting go of the others’ hands. “My nerves are shot. That man can unleash a whammy, I tell you.”
Millicent stood next to her, “Come with me. I’ll take you. I’m rattled myself and will probably be going slow, but I think I can get us home.”
Agnes held out her hand, “Give me your keys Rowan. I’ll drive your car home, so you don’t have to leave it here. I would rather you didn’t have to come back on your own later.”
“Good idea,” Rowan tried a tentative smile. “Thank you, Agnes.”
“You are my sister. I would do anything for you.”
“As you are mine. I’m sorry. I feel we let you down. We just abandoned you, left you alone in that jail cell, not even coming to visit.”
Agnes shook her head, “Absolutely not. I ordered you all to leave me there. Did I not?” She looked at each woman in turn. “You did not let me down. Don’t think that for a second.”
“Ladies,” Sebastian let the word draw out to remind them of where they were. “Can we talk about this later? At say, Agnes’ house?”
“Absolutely!” Lilly cried. “Let’s get out of here!”
Arm in arm, side by side, the women tromped down the graveled drive. Limbs twisted together in solidarity. Their actions speaking the words only their hearts knew. As one, they were united.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Izzy
Wine flowed amongst the women along with soft laughter, a few tears, and a deep well of love for one another. Their connection as sisters of their coven had been tested sorely that night. Many had failed that test and the woman mourned the loss of some of their sisterhood in her own way.
Wren sang songs to comfort. Agnes kept glasses filled with each person’s drink of choice and cared for her flock. Rowan, recovered from her earlier reaction, wrapped her arms tightly around Millicent and held her friend as she broke down sobbing. They all left Lilly to her preferred solitude. She didn’t want to be sequestered but wasn’t truly ready to join in either.
Cass and Izzy huddled together and discussed what had occurred.
“So, this dude,” Cass discreetly pointed toward Sebastian. He was pacing as he chatted on the phone with someone from the Council. Izzy could hear snippets of the conversation. He mentioned Gideon several times. She assumed he was discussing what should be done. “How did you know he was the President of the Council and not Gideon?”
Izzy returned her attention back to Cass. “Agnes told me the other day when I went to the police station,” she explained.
“You went there? After she forbade you?” Cass drew back and studied Izzy. “Do I even know you? You are Isadora Wilde, right?”
Izzy laughed, “You know I am.”
Loud voices pierced the calm of the night. Conversations quieted then stopped altogether as the women listened, trying to determine what was happening.
“You can’t expel me from the group! I was a member before you!”
“You expelled yourself with your stupidity, Ava!”
Agnes and Ava’s argument carried to the backyard where they all were gathered. Izzy rose to go to Agnes. Sebastian held his hand up to Izzy, briefly abandoning his phone conversation. “Relax. Let her handle it. She needs to do this.”
Izzy hesitated, assessing him then nodded and settled back onto the grass. She would give Agnes her space. But Izzy would listen and she definitely wouldn’t not be relaxing. The bitter words the old friends traded left a sour taste on her tongue. Izzy knew despite Agnes’ strong nature, her heart had to be breaking a little as well.
“Why am I listening to him? I should go, shouldn’t I?” she asked Wren and Cass.
Wren opened her mouth then shut it tightly. “I think you should do what you think is right. That being said, I think if you try to go to her, he’s strong enough of a wizard, he can sit your ass right back down again. So, there might be the pride factor to consider too.” Wren cast a side-eye to Sebastian. “I wouldn’t want to cross him.”
Finally, the argument on the other side of the house stopped just as abruptly as it started. Seconds later, they heard tires squeal. Izzy assumed Ava left. Agnes stepped through the sliding glass doors at the patio. She retrieved the bottle of wine from a nearby table and cast her eye around the room. With an open hand, palm inward, Agnes stroked down the bottle leaving a glitter of sparks in her wake. She nodded in satisfaction as everyone’s glasses were filled.
Sebastian disconnected from his call and went to Agnes. His head bent to hers, they spoke but the conversation was too hushed to be overheard. Both of them nodding in agreement about something. They appeared close friends, but Izzy had never met him nor even heard of him in all her years under Agnes’ roof.
At last, Agnes turned toward the coven. “Ladies,” she called out. She waited as they all quieted and turned their attention to her. “I don’t believe tonight is the last of Gideon or his plans,” Agnes elevated her voice so everyone assembled could hear. “We should remain vigilant and guarded. Never assume some place is safe. Pick a partner and use the buddy system when you go about town whenever possible.”
“Agnes and I have spoken. We both believe it is imperative that each of you works on your skills,” Sebastian interjected. “Choose a few days and times a week amongst you when we can all get together. Everyone should be able to protect themselves if caught alone. You don’t have to be the savviest of witches nor the one with the most sophisticated spells. However, every single one of you should know basic magical combat. How to shield and volley strikes on your opponent. You should be prepared to use anything and everything in your arsenal if necessary. But, in every instance, do not engage unless provoked. Your first and foremost goal should always be to retreat. Do not attempt to take Gideon on by yourself. Work as a team. And remember, come to me. I will endeavor to always be available.”
His words made Izzy think of the gnomes, ready for war. Was that what this was all about? Witches were now warring against their own? And why were the gnomes involved?
“Shouldn’t we try to talk to them first?”
“I know you heard Ava earlier,” Agnes regained their attention. “Did she sound like she wanted to talk?” She let that sink in. “Listen to Sebastian. He gives wise counsel.”
“You’re right,” Isadora conceded. “I know you’re right. It just feels wrong.�
�
“You always were the softest of us, Isadora. It’s time to thicken that skin some. We can’t always sing Kumbaya.”
The words chafed the skin Agnes told her to thicken, but Izzy just nodded and kept mum.
Afterward, the conversation moved back to the smaller groups. They spoke quietly, group to group, until when the best time to meet was agreed upon and settled. They would meet at Agnes’ three times a week - one morning for the early risers and two afternoons. All swore to try to attend as many meetings as possible.
“I’m kind of excited about this,” Cass murmured. “I always wanted to learn magical combat, but Mama said it’s dangerous to know, so I never learned.”
“Dangerous? How so?”
“I think it’s more you’re tempted to use it once you know it,” Cass explained. “Plus you know Mama’s Creole.”
“Yeah, you’ve mentioned it before. You don’t talk much about Louisiana though.”
“I never thought the members of the coven would be receptive to the voodoo they practice back home. The craft is different there. It’s still witchcraft. It’s how it is practiced I guess which makes it less approachable for some.”
Isadora saw a sad face peeking from a rock a few feet away. “Hello.”
Cass angled her head in the same direction. “What is it? What do you see?”
Izzy held her hand up for quiet. “It’s a gnome. He looks scared though.” She dropped her voice somewhat and squatted down to appear less threatening, “Hey little guy, everything okay?” Cass positioned herself to block everyone’s view. There was enough drama going on without the coven deciding Izzy was imagining things.
“War is coming. I’ve been sent to tell you. You must make haste. Return to your home. We have sentinels guarding it. The one called Gideon, he stalks and waits.”
Listen to the gnome, follow my wind, let’s get you home.
“What are they saying?”
“He told me to go home. The sylph did too,” Izzy turned to Cass. “Why don’t you spend the night tonight? You can sleep on the couch.”
Marked: Thoth's Legacy ~ Book One Page 10
