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No, some things are better left unsaid.
She drifted through the layers of her unconsciousness, and into her own body. Slowly she opened her eyes, and focussed on the face before her. In sleep, Sinya looked young and darkly, almost boyishly, innocent. In a devil-may-care way. Beulah smiled. Reaching out, she gently traced her thumb along his jaw line.
He came awake almost instantly, staring up at the ceiling above them. Then slowly he turned his head, his gaze, hopeful and loving, fixing upon her.
"Beulah, my love," he whispered, and rolled towards her.
As she moved into his embrace, and saw the love in his eyes, Beulah knew she’d made the right decision.
"Soul mate," she whispered.
"Soul mate," he agreed, and pressed his lips to hers.
Fifteen
Sitting on the verandah of the hut, Learta and Beulah watched the activity going on around the pirate ship.
"So, Sinya has decided to stay here with you." Learta took a sip of cool berry juice.
"It was his decision." Beulah smiled. "One I am glad he made."
"Was there any other choice?"
"Not once he realized that this is where I belong." Beulah patted Petras, who was draped over her shoulder. "Even Petras doesn’t want him to leave, do you, my darling?"
"The pirate brought you back to me." Petras snuggled closer, the nothingness of its tentacles stroking down Beulah’s cheek. "I will tolerate his presence here."
Learta didn’t take her gaze from the men talking around the ramp of the ship. "You didn’t tell him what you were."
"No."
"Does he know anything about your history?"
"He knows the Accelis found me here in the valley as a newborn babe, and cared for me until I came of age to live here by myself."
"As a child."
"Petras was my constant companion. It will always be my little familiar, won’t you, Petras?"
"Mmmm." Blissfully, Petras slid down her throat and into her lap, winding itself around her wrist. "Even when I am sent to keep Wes company, while you and Sinya make..." Petras giggled.
The women laughed, then Beulah continued, "I was always protected, Learta."
"I know." Learta took a deep breath. "Do you regret giving up... what you could have been?"
"Both sides of what I am are still me. That will never change. But in this lifetime, in this form, I am Beulah, soul mate of Sinya, and teacher of Wes."
"And when your life here is over?"
"What will be, will be." Beulah leaned back in her chair with a small smile. "There are some things even a witch cannot see, Learta."
"Hmm." Learta glanced sideways at her. "But you are not just a witch, are you?"
Beulah smiled and pointed. "Look, Wes is teasing Drake."
"You’re not going to answer that, are you?"
Beulah turned to look at Learta, and she knew, when the other woman inclined her head gravely, that every part of her eyes had turned black and a sparkle of stars shone within them. It happened fast, but she knew the other woman had to see it, and would understand. "No, I choose not to answer that question."
"You honour me." Learta smiled, friendship and kinship in her gaze. "Sometimes, we have need to keep secrets from even those we love." Turning back, she laughed. "Drake is trying to appear unconcerned, but look at the salt shaker sticking out of his pocket."
They both laughed as the pale pirate scattered salt around himself when Wes’s soul, in the shape of a golden ball, danced around Ephim’s head. Ephim grinned and playfully batted at Wes, who skipped out of reach.
"How are Wes’s lesson going?"
"He is doing well."
"He has recovered from you banishing Aria from his spirit plane?"
"Yes." Beulah’s smile faded. "Aria left easily. She is strong in her power, but not strong enough to save herself. She slipped away before I could get her."
"To capture the soul of one who carries death, is not something for one such as yourself." Learta sighed. "You don’t know where she went?"
"She is truly a lost soul," Beulah replied softly. "Her only physical home is gone, and where her body went, was probably down with the fortress. She wanders somewhere now, but I don’t know where. No one knows."
"The spirits don’t say?"
"It is not their concern."
Nodding, Learta watched Wes settle on Sinya’s shoulder. "He is still not able to control his emotions enough to regain his physical body?"
"He is getting better. His protective light is stronger, and yesterday he managed three hours in his body before his empathic powers became too much. In this state, I can help him control his powers, and he is free to enjoy life in-between lessons." Beulah smiled. "He is a good boy."
"And a powerful empathic."
"Yes." And something more. But Beulah didn’t say it aloud.
Her gaze fell on Sinya, and love flooded through her. He hadn’t been certain about Wes eventually going to live with the Acceli healers, but he’d seen enough to know that they would take care of his brother. He also knew that his brother needed more help than what he or Beulah could give him. Once Wes was able to control his more destructive powers, which his fear and inexperience produced, then he would be passed into the knowledgeable hands of the Accelis, and taught to control every part of his empathy and other gifts.
Sinya laughed at something Ralfis said, then turned and came across to the hut. Pausing at the bottom of the steps, he grinned up at Beulah. "Sitting on your delicious bottom while we men do the work, sweet?"
"Someone has to supervise," she returned.
Bounding up the steps, he leaned over, kissed her brow, then plucked the glass from her fingers and took a deep swallow. "Ah, I can still taste your lips on the glass!"
"God save me from over-zealous, sex-mad pirates," Cormac said sourly, following him up onto the verandah.
"Oh, none could accuse you of being romantic." Learta winked at him.
"I take what I want, no quarter given." Cormac stomped around to squat by her chair. "No fancy-pants ways with me, and well you know it."
Running her fingers through his hair, amusement danced in her eyes. "I like the roses you left on my pillow last night."
Cormac’s cheeks flushed.
"I recall the petals fell after you decided to show me some intriguing uses for them--" Her words were stopped by Cormac giving her a resounding and thorough kiss.
Wolf whistles greeted his actions, a yell of support, and several bawdy suggestions from the watching pirates. This was greeted by Cormac releasing a laughing Learta, and sending the pirates a crude gesture.
The afternoon passed in merriment, but also a touch of sadness, as the pirates made the ship ready to leave--without their captain. It would be the first time since Sinya took control of the pirate spaceship, that the pirates would be parted from him and Wes.
~ * ~
Late that night, Beulah stood on the verandah, looking out over the silent valley. Night flyers chirped in the trees, and a gentle breeze blew.
"Okay?" Sinya came up behind her, pressing his back to hers, and leaning his hands on the railing beside her own.
"Mmm." She leaned back against him. "Are you certain you will be happy here, Sinya?"
"I have no doubt."
"It will be quiet for you, after all the pirating you’ve done."
His teeth flashed white in the dark shelter of the verandah. "About every two months, Drake is going to fly past here and see if I want a spin through space, for a touch of excitement." He bent his head down to look seriously at her. "There may be times I’ll go for a fly through space with them, but never for more than a day. My place is here with you, Beulah." Taking her shoulders, he turned her around to face him. "When I thought I’d lost you, I knew I couldn’t live life without you. I never want to be apart from you."
"Life gets quiet here."
"Then I’ll be quiet with you. Though somehow I doubt it’ll ever be boring." He dropped his fore
head forward to rest against hers. "People come here to seek your help, and I want to be by your side to assist you. My thirst for excitement will be quenched by my old crew coming through and taking me for a spin for old time’s sake, but my life, my heart, and my soul, is here with you. In this little valley, where people come to see Beulah the witch-woman, this is where I want to be, where I belong. By your side."
Gently she pressed her lips to his. "I love you, Sinya."
"You could never love me more than I do you." He kissed her back, a touch of fire in his veins, then gathered her close and hugged her tight.
Over his shoulder, Beulah looked up at the stars winking in heaven. For a fleeting instant, her eyes went pure black, and answering stars blazed in their depths. Then she blinked, and the stars vanished, the blackness giving way to her normal black irises and pupils. She smiled.
The soul of a witch would never be vanquished, and would always be there in some guise. And when a witch had her soul mate, then everything was complete, and all was well with the world, and nature.
And all was as it should be.
Meet Angela Verdenius
Born in Victoria, Australia, my childhood was spent in a variety of places, both in towns and the outback. Now settled in Western Australia, I work as a nurse. A love of animals has me involved in animal welfare, and certainly explains why the cats hog my bed and hot water bottle!
Reading has always been my escape, writing my dream. Horror, myths, legends, fantasy and history--there are no limits to the wonders to be found. And romance? Well, that adds the spice, hope and happiness ever after.
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