Dark Magicks

by Candace Osmond

  “Is Faith inside?” Cian asked.

  “Yeah, she’s making us tea,” Masilda told him and then she brightened. “Are you guys staying?”

  Ashlynn pursed her lips and hauled on the screen door with purpose. “For as long as it takes.”

  She entered the cozy cabin filled with bookshelves and firelight. The smell of chai tea brewing filled the air. Cian and Masilda filed in behind as her eyes searched for Faith. Ashlynn found her standing at a small, yellow kitchen cart, tipping a steaming tea pot as it poured into two mugs. She glanced up and smiled at the arrival of her two friends, but the happy look quickly washed away when she saw Ashlynn’s face.

  “Cian, Ashlynn,” Faith addressed. “What are you doing here?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Ashlynn demanded, sounding more hurt than angry, and crossed her arms.

  The Seer’s eyes flickered to Cian. “I take it you told her?”

  “Yeah,” Cian replied and rubbed the back of his head. “It kind of came up.”

  “The soul of the man I love is dying. You can’t find the cure, and you’ve yet to tell me?” Ashlynn accused. “Faith, I thought we were friends.”

  “We are.” Faith quickly assured and then stepped around to the front of the tiny kitchen cart. “I wanted to tell you. But…” she heaved a sigh and glanced at Cian over Ashlynn’s shoulder. He gave a slight nod. “Cian made me swear not to.”

  Ashlynn spun around but Cian spoke before she could chastise him. “Look, Ash, listen,” he began and took her trembling hands in his. “I was going to tell you. When I found the counter spell. I didn’t want to dump this news on you without some kind of hope that we could fix it.”

  Her eyes widened in disbelief as she snatched her hands from his grip. “And what if you never found it? What did you expect me to do when you just dropped down and died one day? Or whatever it is that happens when one’s soul dies.” She looked to Faith for confirmation.

  “It’s not supposed to kill you,” Faith told them. “But the pain…” she searched for words, “it could very well end your life. And, if it doesn’t, you’ll wish he were dead anyway.”

  “What do you mean?” Ashlynn balked.

  “We’re not meant to live without our souls,” Faith explained. “It’s what ties us to this world, fuels our magic. It’s our tether in every way.” She took a few quick strides over to a bookshelf and searched with a finger before plucking a leather-bound book from the collection. She flipped to a page and turned the text around to face then. “Without a soul, we are nothing more than a vessel for dark magics.”

  Ashlynn’s heart pounded in her chest, hot and violent as she stared in disgusted fear at the image Faith was showing them. An old drawing of a human form, completely black in color, like a shadow. Darkness seeped from its shape and the world around them withered. A gasp escaped her throat as she covered her mouth with a hand before turning to Cian and burying her face in his chest. All anger fled from her body. She now only feared for the life of the man she loved.

  Her tether to this world.

  “How have you been feeling?” Faith asked Cian and handed Masilda a cup of tea before ushering her to the faded floral sofa.

  “Fine,” he replied, half joking. “Aside from the debilitating pain that this caused.” Keeping Ashlynn tightly wrapped to his side with one arm, he lifted his shirt to reveal the black spiderweb that veined across his chest.

  It had spread.

  Faith’s eyes bulged as she whispered, “Gods. What has Serena done?”

  “I know the grimoire is missing,” Ashlynn said to Faith, ignoring her question. “But what about the grimoires before that? The power of the Seer, isn’t it passed to the next as well as the knowledge and memories? You said once, you are every Seer before you as you’ll be within the Seers after you. Isn’t there anything you remember?”

  Faith’s eyes glossed over as she looked to her friend with pity. “We already thought of that. I’ve been combing every text I could possibly think of to find mention of the cure, but there’s nothing. And it’s been too long since a Seer dabbled in dark magicks that I can’t recall the birth of the original curse. Not completely, anyway.”

  Ashlynn chewed at her lip as her mind raked over thoughts for another answer. Dark magicks. Feldham had once told her that magic is neither black or white, but full of purpose and it was all about how you used it. But that wasn’t true, was it? Dark magicks clearly existed, the man in her arms proved that much. And the ritual Feldham performed to create Ashlynn’s trinity stone was unlike anything she’d ever seen. Her first glimpse at darker magicks. No wonder she hid away in the woods. Then a thought entered her mind and a sinking feeling followed close behind.

  “The missing grimoire,” Ashlynn said. “It’s Feldham’s, isn’t it?”

  Faith’s eyebrow quirked as she lowered her mug from her lips. “Yes. How did you know?”

  “I always thought the ritual she used to create my stone was unusual,” she told them. “The Seer from my time, she wasn’t as accepted into the magical world as you are. You’re an integral part of the Traveller’s existence. Part of their history. Feldham…” Ashlynn shook her head, “she was a loner. Tucked away where no one could find her.”

  “But you found her,” Cian added.

  “Only because she let me,” she replied. “She came to me as a child. Gave me an enchanted flower that would lead me to her when I was ready.” Ashlynn saw her past differently now. “As if…as if she knew I’d come looking for help one day.”

  Faith came closer then and set her mug down. “Do you remember anything else about her?”

  Ashlynn shrugged. “Nothing more than you would already know.”

  “You’d be surprised,” she said. “Hundreds of years of magical knowledge. Some things, infrequently used things such as Feldham’s memories get buried pretty fast. I’ve tried to access them, but without her grimoire, it’s like searching the ocean for a single feather.”

  Cian squeezed her tightly and kissed the top of her head. “So, what then? That’s it? We don’t have the book so there’s no hope?”

  Ashlynn’s eyes swelled with wetness and hot tears spill down her cheeks. Soundlessly, Masilda appeared by her side and five tiny fingers slipped into hers. The touch of the child’s skin, warm from the hum of concentrated magic that flowed through her little body, fizzled across Ashlynn’s skin and she felt that connection once again. That unexplainable pull she couldn’t ignore that tugged her toward Masilda. A stranger in every sense. Yet, Ashlynn felt as though she knew the child her entire life. A smile unexpectedly spread across her lips as she beamed down at her through the tears.

  “We need to buy some time,” Masilda said matter-of-factly. “The curse is spreading, but if we could somehow slow it down, we’d have some time to find Serena and get back the grimoire.”

  Faith’s proud eyes fell on the child. “That’s correct.” She turned her attention to Ashlynn. “That’s what I’ve been doing. What we’ve all been doing. Searching for a way to stunt the curse for now until Serena slips up and lets down the cloaking spell she has protecting her location. I promise, we’re doing everything we can.”

  “And I’m helping,” Masilda spoke and squeezed Ashlynn’s hand.

  She glanced down at the small, soft fingers that wrapped around hers and Ashlynn’s heart swelled. Then she felt the weight of an object tickle the finger of her other hand and Ashlynn remembered what had brought them to Faith’s in the first place.

  “This ring,” she told Faith and stepped forward to show her, “Cian made it earlier and the stone is starting to turn black. Does that tell us anything?”

  The Seer inhaled long and deep through her pierced nose as she stared at the piece of enchanted jewelry around her friend’s finger. “You made this recently?”

  Cian nodded. “Yes, earlier today. Why? What’s it mean?”

  Faith’s tattooed hands rubbed at her face as she blew out a deep breath and paced the floor in fro
nt of them. “We, uh, we need to hurry and find a way to stop the curse.”

  “What do you mean? Isn’t that what we’re all doing?” Cian replied.

  Faith nodded. “Yes, but if the state of that ring and the veins on your chest are any indication as to how fast the curse is spreading, then we’ve got less time than I first thought.”

  “What?” Cian said as Ashlynn gasped. “How much time are we talking about here?”

  Faith pursed her lips solemnly.

  “Faith!” Ashlynn urged.

  The Seer shrugged and shook her head helplessly. “I’m so sorry, Ash.” Her glossy eyes flickered to the ring again and she visibly cringed. “Days. We have mere days before this curse takes effect and Cian’s soul is gone...forever.”

  Chapter Eight

  “I need to do this,” Cian murmured against Ashlynn’s thick hair. “They may know something, even if they don’t realize it.”

  Ashlynn tilted her head to look up at him and swallowed hard. “I know,” she whispered, “but it terrifies me to let you out of my sight. What if the curse spreads and you’re all alone?” She choked up, unable to continue, and buried her face in his chest. Her arms wrapped around his waist as she held him tightly.

  Cian sighed and rested his cheek atop her head. She wasn’t wrong. He couldn’t even pretend to assure her that he’d be fine. There was no way of knowing if that were true. This could very well be the last time he was ever himself. But it was a risk worth taking.

  “I love you,” he whispered, knowing that, at least, was true. Cian reluctantly pulled away, immediately feeling the loss of her, and grabbed his car keys from Faith’s table. “I’ll call you every hour,” he promised. “That way you won’t have long to wonder if I’m a goner.”

  Ashlynn smacked him lightly on the chest then rubbed the spot over his heart. “You’re still in there.” She pressed her lips there. “Come back to me soon.”

  Cian nodded as his throat filled with emotion and forced himself to walk away. If he gave into the overwhelming sense of dread and panic that filled his body, he’d never be able to fight back and search for something to save him, to save their future together.

  Outside, Masilda sat on the porch swing, kicking her tiny feet and staring off into the distance. She glanced up when he closed the door and blinked at him with the longest red eyelashes he’d ever seen.

  “Don’t worry,” she said, sounding so much like an adult it made him smile. “I’ll keep her safe.”

  Cian breathed in the scent of the little girl and wished he could hug her. She was so young and innocent yet tested by a fickle fate, and she was offering to protect Ashlynn.

  He nodded his head as he would to a regent and replied, “Thank you.”

  She returned his nod as if she were born to the highest household then slipped from the swing and disappeared into the little house. Cian took a deep breath and stroke away as fast as his feet could carry him.

  It didn’t take him long to get to Serena’s parents’ home. It was closer to the countryside than his parents’ manor and stood atop a sloping hill that looked down on acres and acres of land. They raised horses on the back acreage, beautiful stallions that were coveted in the racing world and used to bring Serena joy as a child. It had been a long time since he’d witnessed joy in that woman.

  He’d spent a lot of time on that land, with the horses and with the family. Serena had been an only child, or the only one of her parents’ children that had survived. Her mother, Vivian, had been devastated by each lost pregnancy and had poured all her love and attention into Serena who’d been given everything she could possibly want.

  Unlike some spoiled children who were given things instead of love, Serena had been given it all. Vivian had played dollies and taught Serena how to summon the wind and the rain. She’d planned and hosted every single birthday party and had made holidays magical, quite literally. So, when Serena had turned cold as a teenager, they’d dismissed her behavior as typical hormonal adjustment.

  He knew the difference now. They all did.

  Cian turned the engine off and stepped out in the long driveway that lead up to the grand manor house. Despite the darkness that lay over his every thought, he couldn’t stop the reminiscent smile that tugged at his lips. He’d never really noticed the grandeur as a child, simply taking it for granted. His life had been charmed, that’s for sure.

  The double doors opened before he could move to touch the handle. The Cineal’s long-time butler, Charles, stood there dressed in his usual black and white, with a pained look on his wrinkled face. He gestured Cian inside.

  “Mr. Boswells,” the man’s voice cracked. He’d been with the Cineals since before Cian had been born and had been there, always supportive, always watching for danger, for as long as Cian could remember. His hands fisted now as he stood and tried to speak. “Mr. and Mrs. Cineal are waiting for you in the tower”

  Cian wanted to say something, to acknowledge what they all knew was happening, but he could see Charles was barely holding it together as it was. One word and he’d crumble. So, he nodded his thanks instead, and patted the older man on the arm as he walked past.

  He climbed the winding staircase that lead to what had been his favorite room in the house as a child.

  James and Vivian were sitting on the stone floor opposite one another with a large map of Ireland spread out between them. Their eyes were squeezed shut with determination and focus and in their hands they each gripped something precious to their daughter. James held Serena’s favorite childhood stuffie, Mr. Wags, a worn dog she’d gotten for solstice when she’d been four while Vivian held a gold chain and locket Serena had received on her tenth birthday. She’d worn it every day for six years, then she’d worn it no more.

  That’s when everything had changed, it seemed. Serena had turned sixteen and had lost all traces of what had once made her bearable. She hadn’t been a fun child for the most part, she’d been selfish and demanding for the majority of her life, but he hadn’t really despised her until she’d turned that corner.

  They glanced up when he walked in and Cian noticed the fine lines that edged both of their eyes and mouths. Those hadn’t been there before. They’d aged, in just a few short months, they’d aged and it was all Serena’s fault.

  Anger dug its way out of the depths he kept pushing it down into and flushed his cheeks. Serena needed to be found and made to pay for everything she was doing. He gritted his teeth and focused his attention on what he saw.

  The sand covered the map, spread out over it’s topography. It wasn’t localized to one area, which meant that the tracking spell they were using wasn’t working. His anger flared as his hope plummeted. If they couldn’t track Serena using the items that had meant the most of her as a child, there was no chance he’d stumble upon something that was important to her now.

  “Nothing?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

  Vivian shook her head and dropped her hands to her lap. The gold necklace clattered to the floor. “We can’t find her.” She took a deep breath and raised her tired eyes to Cian. “It’s like the part of her that used to love these things never existed.”

  “It existed,” James said, insistently, reaching for his wife’s hand. “The daughter we raised existed.” He shook his head sadly. “I just don’t know what happened to her.”

  Vivian’s quiet tears broke Cian’s heart.

  The Cineals had always seemed so strong to him. He’d never even been able to use their first names, not until recently. Now, he only felt sorrow for them.

  Cian looked around the tower room at the discarded items from Serena’s life, none of which had been enough to help them locate her, and let his shoulders drop. There was nothing here, he’d be better off searching for clues in Hell.

  His head popped up. That was it. They’d never be able to track her with this stuff because she’d walked away from her old life. Her focus now was power and anarchy, which meant any path that could lead to her would
be shrouded in the darkness she’d inflicted on him.

  He was the key to finding Serena.

  Cian shifted, anxious to leave so he could find the spell necessary to track Serena down. Ideas spilled through his mind chaotically, memories of spells he’d read about. Surely, Faith would have ideas. But, in the meantime, he wanted to keep it a secret. Just in case it didn’t work. There was no need to rouse anyone’s hopes.

  “I’ll leave you, then,” he said, nodding his head in acknowledgement of their positions, though neither looked like the sorcerers they were at the moment. Cian paused, waiting for a response, then slipped out the door when he realized they were beyond niceties.

  His feet couldn’t carry him fast enough. Cian raced down the stairs and out to his car, determined to find the spell he’d need to force Serena to him. He’d have to find a way to bind her, to use the dark magic she’d fused with his body against her. This would be their one chance; they wouldn’t get another. He rubbed the spider web on his chest and prayed time wouldn’t run out.

  He was zipping toward the country road that lead to Faith’s and Ashlynn, going much too fast considering the accident he’d just recently had, when his car began to sputter and slowed to a crawl. He had just enough time to steer it off the road before it died. Cian gaped at the dashboard, utterly confused. He touched the remote start button several times, cursing at his bad luck, and reached for his cell to call for help.

  That’s when he saw her, standing about ten feet ahead of where he was stranded on the side of the road.

  Serena.

  Cian’s skin crawled with disgust as his heart burst into action. His lips curled back, and he gripped the steering wheel as anger pushed through him, edging out sanity and logic. He recognized this and pushed back, refusing to give up his mind to the curse, to Serena’s darkness. He climbed out of the car and stood with the door open, as if it could protect him against her in some way.