Aryana Sigmis hadn’t been the same since their mother died. She hadn’t spoken since the day she’d found their mother lying dead on the floor of their house. The same house she’d been forced to live in since. With her auburn hair and hazel eyes, Ary looked most like Leila. Bellatrix mostly resembled the father that hated all of his children. Though, Bellatrix teased how Silas was his favorite. The only one who could get in bed with the enemy.
Silas looked more like his father, but when he looked in the mirror, he saw his mother’s eyes. Her love and Gwen’s is what gave him the strength to get out, cure himself of the curse, and love in return. He was afraid of what walking in that house would do to him.
Chapter XVII
The first of the month in June meant wet and rainy in Indiana. The winter left the ground barren, full of dirt patches instead of grass. This, of course, resulted in lawns full of mud swamps for weeks after the thaw.
Gwen was good on her word. They had taken the other eight of their coven leaders. Ophelia took some convincing, but with Gwen along for the visit, she was sure Sigmis wouldn’t do anything to harm any of them, lest he’d harm his grandchild. Though she didn’t take into consideration his ability to hurt anyone else. Likely one of the many guards he had, and mostly due to the fact they were all able to make it into the house undetected.
“I see I have visitors. Had my staff alerted me of that I would have made myself presentable.” He was angrier for having been invaded while he still wore his night robe and slippers. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Gwen’s first image of her father-in-law was sure to keep him forever in her mind that way. She took the chance to look around at Silas’ family home. The house he grew up in. The parlor was decorated in deep mahogany, brown, and gold. There was no light in the furnishings, even if there had been a few rays which made it in the room through the dark brown velvet drapes. The antiques in the room looked as if they’d been inherited from the 1800s. Nothing screamed family home. It screamed dungeon. Gwen was beginning to wish she’d thought the visit through a bit more. Her pulse quickened when Sigmis descended the stairs once again. The long banister seemed to tremble with his touch. Chester laid a hand on her shoulder from behind and she calmed instantly. She turned to thank him and saw Silas had as well. He must have known she was anxious and told Chester to help her.
“So, what brings my son and his large group of friends to my home?” Sigmis asked as if he had no idea who they were.
He returned wearing a pair of dress slacks, a white shirt covered by a black silk smoking jacket and his slippers still covered his feet. He was graying at the temples, his mustache lightly covered his upper lip, and his eyes were blue as the sky outside. When she realized she was comparing him to Silas, she turned a blind eye to his appearance, only paying attention to the thoughts and emotions she could get from him.
Gwen did not intend to allow the man to play coy. She stepped forward, giving Silas a reassuring look.
“You know very well who we are. Me especially.”
“Yes, I am sorry, priestess. My lady.” He bowed his head as was customary for all the coven members to do. Even if he were still the priest of his coven, which of course, he was not.
“I have a simple question for you, then we shall leave.”
“Leave, oh no, you just arrived. How would it look if I turned out the mother of my grandchild so soon?”
“Frankly, I don’t care how it looks. Answer me this. Did you or will you send anyone to kill me or your son?”
“Jump right in then.” He sat in an ornate wooden arm chair. The seat gave a little as he distributed his weight into it. “No, Gwendolyn. I have not, nor will I ever attempt to harm you, my son, or my…grandson?”
“Granddaughter,” she answered though she vowed not to give him any further information.
“Well then. I have a granddaughter. Magnificent. When are you due?”
“We are not here for pleasantries. As far as I’m concerned you will have nothing to do with her. You only wish for a grandson to bring you the powers of my family. So, I ask you again? What is your plan against us?” She waited for him to feel anything, to betray what it was he’d intended.
“I have no plans. My son has left his family to find love. I have other children to care for. I don’t have time to consider what I may or may not be doing to hurt your little family. Which I might add, is now my family. The plan was never to injure or kill any of you. Only to bring you here to live with us. To expand this family.
“Have you stopped to consider that I too may have had a vision? I knew the two of you were meant to be. Just as I know your child will live long and become very powerful.”
“Her powers are not your concern. She will never align herself with darkness. Just like I will never align myself with you.”
“I have no doubts. I can tell that now. I respect you for coming here and facing me. However, you must know I am not your enemy, but that you do have them. There are wolves within your walls.”
“Who?” Silas stepped forward then. “Who are they? If you truly mean us no harm, you’ll tell us.”
“If I knew, I would tell you. I just know they are close to you. You should be wary of who you tell your secrets to.” He crossed his legs at the knee and shifted in his seat studying Gwen. He didn’t look at anyone else in the room. “I could take you with a thought. You came into my home. If I wanted you dead I could kill you now. One thought would do it.”
Gwen snapped. The darkness threatening to take over for weeks took hold of her for one split second and she had him by the cords of his mind. “I could snap your neck with less than a thought.” She made him stand. “I don’t even have to be close to you to do it. This child, she’s more powerful than you could even imagine. While she’s in me, her gifts are mine. I could use them now. Tell me why I shouldn’t.”
He sighed, her hold on him meant little, she could feel that. However, he opened his mind to her anyway. The man was an empty shell.
“Just don’t tell anyone, other than those closest to you. Silas of course,” he whispered to her.
She took control of her senses once more. Ashamed she had let the darkness in. She released the man, letting him sit back in his chair. “Fine, but if you send anyone after me and mine, I will end you.” She looked to Silas, took his hand and let Chester lean in against her shoulder as they walked out of the overly decorated home.
She realized the man was empty of anything. Not just because he was a death watcher and not accessible, but because he’d lost all his powers. He couldn’t so much as move a pebble, let alone end her with a thought. The only thing his thoughts could do was make him an ornery old man.
“Really.” Silas and Gwen rode home alone to talk. He was having a hard time believing his father had no more cards to play. “We still can’t trust him,” he said as he turned the wheel of the car.
“I don’t intend to.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” Her head snapped up to meet his eyes. They were stopped at a traffic light.
Silas took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “Don’t beat yourself up for doing that to him. He’s done so much worse to others, to me. He doesn’t deserve a second thought.”
She put her head back down and rubbed her protruding belly with her free hand.
“Besides,” he let her hand go to move the car through the traffic light, “we got what we needed. Sure, he has an army at his side, but he can’t come after us magically. That is a plus.”
“Why?”
“Gwen, darling. You’ve not experienced the dark ways of my family. Not even in the small thoughts, you have had. I’ve seen him turn men inside out. You have no idea how comforting it is to know he can’t do that anymore."
“That power. That power is in you now,” she reminded him.
He looked like he was considering it, but in a flash, the look was gone. He only nodded in response, which made Gwen’s blood go cold. How could he battle a pow
er like that, one he had been afraid of his entire life? She looked out the window to the rolling hills along the road. The green slopes reminded her of a brochure of Ireland she once saw.
The air grew chilly, and rain threatened to break free of the ominous clouds once they were home. For most of the day, Gwen stayed in her room. She curled up on the chaise lounge with a book and her favorite afghan.
She tried to focus on the words of her favorite author, Jane Austin, but instead kept replaying the words from her father-in-law. He may not have wanted to harm them, but she knew, given the chance he would. She had to keep her guard up more now than ever.
Her doctor’s appointment the next day proved them all right. They didn’t need the sonogram to convince them, but as they had found a human doctor for the pregnancy, they had to appear to be as excited to find out the sex of their child just as anyone else had. When the woman in the white lab coat exclaimed, “It’s a girl!” Gwen didn’t have to pretend. Her eyes welled up and at last, she allowed the tears to fall.
Her belly moved and she felt flutters from within. Gwen grabbed Silas’ hand and placed it on her bare abdomen. Her stomach moved once more allowing her husband to experience the first real kick. She finally admitted to Silas that paying too much attention to their demise was making her miss out on all the things she needed to truly focus on. Her daughter and her marriage. Somehow, she knew everything would work out, and one day her child would know love as well.
Chapter XVIII
The earth moaned, and pulsed. The ground vibrated against his bare feet. The trees beckoned to him for his strength and his power. Black seeped from between the bark, running down the trunks to pool on the ground. The branches darkened and dried, while the leaves all withered and fell; dust to the ground. Red orbs looked out from beyond the forest. Silas couldn’t tell if they were the eyes of a witch or beast. The almond shape suggested they could be either, but they were feral looking just the same.
The scene in front of him started to hum. His hands shot up, but nothing happened. His power was gone. It left him unprotected against the night, against the evil and the rot that would take him.
He sat straight up in bed. Gwen lay breathing softly beside him. Her back to him as she had been when they laid down for the night. He moved as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb her, and tip toed into the bathroom. He grabbed hold of both sides of the sink and let his head hang. Looking up, he expected to see those red eyes protruding from his own face. Instead of looking he turned the faucet on and splashed himself with cold water, then wiped it away with his hands.
He lifted his face to the mirror, his eyes closed at first. When he opened them, they were the same brown eyes rimmed with gold he’d looked at all his life. He grabbed the towel from the rack next to the sink that had never been there before Gwen made the place their home.
Looking back toward the bed he watched his wife’s breaths. What would become of them? Would the fire consume them? Or would they be able to witness the future he’d shown Gwen? The one of their child’s own binding. He grimaced at the thoughts that ran through his mind. He couldn’t think that way. Instead, he went back to bed, to allow sleep to take him once more. Hoping the darkness stayed away.
The next day was bright and warm, making it feel like the first real day of summer. The heat reached record levels and Silas spent the day working on their exit plan. Gwen managed to get him to leave the house once he was satisfied the route was ready. They had but a few more months before the vision would come to pass. Everything had to be in line and ready for their escape. They already decided, they would be faking their deaths. Ready to raise their daughter on their own terms away from the entire magic community. The house in Dublin was the perfect place. Other than the first attack on them, they hadn’t had any indication that anyone would be returning.
Ophelia spent most of her days readying it for them to move in. They converted the small area at the front of the house into a little Wiccan shop, selling trinkets and books on all things magic would serve as their way of an income. Also, the spells warding the home would ensure only those of their coven could find them there. Other than them, only mortals would be able to find their way to the small shop, which they named Spirit.
Stepping onto the property of the Crawford estate always gave Silas a troubling feeling. When he saw the many cars parked on the property he gave Gwen a warning look.
“We shouldn’t be here.”
“Why? What do you feel?”
“Hate. Anger. I don’t know who these people are here, but they don’t belong.”
“My family is here. I can’t just turn away.”
“We have more important things to worry about.”
“Nothing as bad as what is to come will hurt us here.”
She pulled on his hand, making him move with her to the back of the house. As he suspected he did not recognize a single face in the horde of witches that surrounded the back of the Crawford house. Gwen’s parents were also not in attendance.
On further inspection, Silas noticed the ages of those that gathered. None of them even looked like they were old enough to drive. School aged witches all swarmed around the yard, and right in the middle of the throng was Sabina Crawford.
Sabina saw them before Gwen noticed her walking their way. Silas pointed to her as she exited the patio.
“Sister, what a lovely surprise. How is my niece doing?” She made her way to pat a hand on Gwen’s belly, but Gwen swatted her away.
“What’s going on here? Where are Mom and Dad?”
“They’re at another doctor’s appointment I believe.”
“Barnaby and Cinn?”
“Out.” She examined her bright red nails as if her sister's concern was lost on her.
“Sabina. Who are these witches?”
She turned, waving a hand dismissively. “Them? Nobody noteworthy. Just friends of mine.”
“What are they doing here?” Silas spoke up, tiring of his sister-in-law’s insolence.
“They are visiting me. Since I am the one who invited them here. Don’t worry though, sis, we were just leaving.” She snapped her fingers and the crowd behind her gathered around them, gave Gwen a passive look and moved to the cars parked in the front of the house.
Sabina moved to her sister’s side and tried to walk away, but Gwen lashed out grabbing her by the arm, holding her close to her. “Do not bring them back here again.”
“Yes, priestess. Whatever you say.” Sabina broke free of her sister and let out a haunting laugh.
“I don’t get it. What’s with her?” Silas wrapped his arm around Gwen’s shoulder.
“I have no idea.”
“Well, I guess that’s something to worry about for another day. For right now I want to take you somewhere.”
“Oh really?”
Silas held out his hand and waited for her to entwine her fingers in his. When she did, he led her to the back of the property. The cave sat silent and empty. When they entered, they saw the blankets still covered the floor all around. Pillows had been added for the comfort of sitting for hours reading the journals. The air outside was hot and sticky, but inside the cave, it was cool and smelled sweet. The books had long been moved to the house in Dublin, and the lantern sat empty of oil.
For what he had in mind he wouldn’t need light. He could still see her heart shaped face. Her blue eyes rimmed in gold, just as his did. A sign of the powers that rested within them. He cupped her face with his hands and move close enough to her that she could feel his breath on her as he spoke.
“I just wanted to get you alone, and away from everything.” He knew she would understand. The constant fear of what would happen to them in their own home. The endless need to prepare. The strain and stress were playing havoc with their lives, their relationship, and their child. All of which he wished to forget in one fluid motion as his lips met hers. His hand moved to her sides and brought her forward meeting hips to hips.
Gwen let a s
ingle moan escape her lips and Silas pulled her closer. He felt himself press into her and reveled in her response. She moved her arms around his neck, and he felt her body move up when she lifted to the tips of her toes. His hands found the height of her hips. Her belly pushed into him and he pulled away from her. Lowered to his knees. He lifted the hem of her sundress and rubbed his hands over her stomach like it was a magic ball.
“I love you, little one. You and your mom are my whole world. I’m never letting either of you go.” He looked up at her from his crouched position and she lowered down to him, sitting on the blanket.
Gwen moved her hand to the back of his neck and moved her fingers into his hair. She tugged on it playfully and drew him to her. One, two, three quick kissed on his lips, his cheek and his jaw, then she looked at him. “We’re never letting you go.” She moved her hands so that she could lightly pull on his earlobes. He covered her hands with his own and removed them, pulling them to his mouth he kissed them both.
They stared at each other, their eyes fully gold. Without warning Silas grabbed her by the back of the head with both hands and crushed down on her mouth, devouring her. Her hands shot out to his shoulders, then the middle of his back. She let her nails pull at the fabric on his back and then moved to the hem, pulling it up.
Silas pulled back long enough for Gwen to lift the shirt over his head. Her finger kneading the tight muscles of his biceps, shoulders, and back. He laid her down slowly, careful to protect her midsection. He let his hand travel the length of her legs. Wandering from her calf to her thigh and then inward.
Silas knew the stress she felt. He also knew pregnancy gave her an insatiable lust. He needed to let her feed that emotion as much as any other she had. He made sure to concentrate his touch to the places that made her moan and sigh. The warmth of his hand surged across her cool skin. He removed the light sundress she wore. By the time their naked bodies pressed against each other Gwen was pouting at him. She was needy and he knew what to do to help her. To release the stress and give her pleasure all at the same time. He lowered himself over her and they lost themselves.
Turning the Stone (The Blood Rites Trilogy Book 2) Page 11
