Taking a deep breath, I moved to the water’s edge and released the yew twig upon it. Just as the others had, it floated until a hand appeared as though covered in darkness, reaching from beneath the depths of the pool and dragging it down.
The pool lit up with the face of the moon, but it was unlike the others. Instead it was crowded by trees, and then the point of view… changed.
No longer was I staring at the moon but my mother’s terrified face. Ashen, she appeared to be racing away from something. Her black hair whipped around, purple robe billowing at her feet. And in the moonlit sky, I saw it—a dragon soared behind her.
An audible round of gasps rent the room, but I continued to watch.
Fear caressed me as I inched closer. I could feel what she felt—my heart raced seeing my poor mother’s final moments. She glanced over her shoulder, and the trees that once seemed so friendly, appeared ominous. In the middle of a towering oak, I thought I saw a glowing gryphon carved within its bark, which quickly disappeared. Shadows began to descend all around her—they obscured the moon’s rays. Not only one shadow, but many. In the midst of the shadows, my mother’s fearful face appeared once more as land wights from the grove came to her aid, but by then, it seemed to be too late.
Wait. Was that…magic? But whose? And where was it coming from?
A piercing scream resounded.
Mother fell as did I, hard, to my knees. An unbearable pain gripped my chest, what felt like the claws of death tearing at my soul, my magic—Mother’s magic fading, and I could hear nothing more. Then, a golden chalice flashed for a moment, and Mother’s final words were much like a song: “I hear the bells ringing.”
Unprompted, the temple’s bells began to indeed ring.
“Dragons?” I questioned.
No longer was it a question, for all had seen what the goddess had revealed. “A dragon killed the high priestess!”
But what of the shadows? The magic? What did it mean?
Chapter 4
“Nova!” Aurora ran to my side and clutched my arms. “Dear, are you all right?” She searched my face, caressed my hair, and pulled up my chin, turning it from side to side.
My breathing was shallow. No, I was not all right. I’d just witnessed my mother’s murder, and nothing made sense. The elders were running around screaming, “dragons,” just as they had when she’d died, and according to them, this all but confirmed it. It did nothing of the sort as far as I was concerned. She hadn’t died on a damned Blood Moon, which was the only time they were said to feed on our kind (if that tale was even true), just as I’d protested before, and, of course I had been ignored. I was so confused, my heart shattered to pieces, I’d relived my mother’s death and felt as she’d drawn her last breath.
I didn’t give a damn about the temple bells sounding. I wanted—no, I needed to know what truly happened. I was given only a glimpse. The land wights had come (tiny fairy-like creatures who protected the grove and my mother as High Priestess), and magic—not my mother’s, and certainly not that of a dragon was present as she had spoken her final words.
“Nova, can you hear me?” Aurora’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I peered into her worried gaze. “Yes. But I’m not yet myself.” I lowered my voice just above a whisper. “I could feel it, Aurora, everything.” Tears streamed down my face as I thought of the terror my mother had experienced during her final moments… the pain… the shadows. Wait. The bells. Father. The land wights. The golden chalice. This was something I could never reveal to Aurora, even if she was my mother’s closest friend and maiden. No, it was something I would have to work out on my own. I wiped my tears from my face and stood. “I need to lie down.”
Sister Cloris grabbed my wrist, interrupting my conversation with Aurora. “It is because of you this ceremony—”
“Unhand me, now.” I cut her off and yanked my arm from her grasp. “You may be an elder, but I am High Priestess, and I just watched the scene unfold as my mother died. Do not mistake my youth for weakness, Sister. That will be your final mistake.”
She opened and closed her mouth several times as if to respond, but I assumed my words had silenced her, at least for now. I may have overstepped, but I honestly didn’t give a shit.
Aurora wrapped her thin arm around Sister Cloris’s shoulder. “Come along, dear. The celebration awaits.”
I nodded my thanks and gave Cloris a sideways glance. I would not be pushed around by those old hags who assumed my age meant I was without wisdom. Yes, I held my doubts, but one thing I’d learned from my mother was to never show weakness in the face of adversity. And right now, I was determined to learn the truth of what happened to her.
I stormed out of the temple doors and headed toward the main path. I wanted to speak with Sadie right away. If anyone could understand, it would be her. I needed her beautiful and kind spirit to ground me as she always did. Because at that very moment, I was indeed angry and heartbroken, and neither of those things would bode well if my magic decided to run amok and blow shit up.
I passed through the celebration and searched for Sadie’s blonde head and blue ceremonial robes of her caste. I searched her line, but she was nowhere to be found. Perhaps she’d been upset and gone to her chambers. I turned toward the keep but was stopped by Janus and Aurora.
Janus touched my arm. “Are you all right?”
No. I was mad as hell. “I’ll be fine, I’m looking for Sadie. Have you seen her? I thought she would be celebrating.”
“She was only here but a moment ago.” Aurora shrugged and grabbed a lock of my hair, twirling it between her fingers. “Are you certain you don’t want to join the festivities? It may lighten your spirits, hmm?” She then placed her hand on my cheek as Mother always did when she was concerned, and I briefly leaned into her touch.
“No, I’d rather not, but thank you. I believe Sadie may have gone to her chambers. I’ll check there, but if you see her, will you tell her to find me? I need to speak to her.”
“Sure, sure, dear. Whatever you like.” Aurora glanced at Janus and nodded, effectively dismissing her. “I must caution you, Nova. Although Sister Cloris is rather nasty, she is still an elder, and what you did—”
“Was necessary.” I cut her off. “No one, not even an elder has the right to lay a hand on me. I don’t care if she was the goddess herself. I will not tolerate such treatment.”
She bowed her head, although she towered me in height. “High Priestess. It is wrong of me to question your judgment. I only want what’s best for you.”
“I know you do, and I love you for it.” I linked my arm through hers. “I only need some time. What I saw… it was… I fear all is not as it appears.”
“Whatever do you mean?” She rose a dark brow in question.
“I cannot say anymore, but I do need to find Sadie. We can speak another time.” I patted her arm. “Go. Enjoy the celebration.”
Aurora smiled. “Rest. All will be right in the morn.”
I searched the grounds one last time before entering the keep and heading toward my chamber and decided I would find Sadie afterward. I had something important to do. I opened my door and sighed. Where most of the keep was bland in design, my room was not. It was ripe with color: red, blue, gold, and even silver touched the space, between the rugs that lay on the marble floor, to the bedding, pillows, and chairs.
Walking toward the old mahogany chest that once belonged to my mother, I knelt before it, raised the lid, and pulled out the small rune-covered box where I kept my most precious possessions. After what I’d seen tonight, I no longer felt as though I could wear Mother’s moonstone necklace. I wasn’t worthy—no, I couldn’t be worthy until I learned the truth of what happened to her. But I would keep her fox totem with me as a reminder. I unlinked the talisman from the necklace and placed it on a delicate silver chain, and then hung it around my neck.
“With this, Mother, I give you my solemn vow. Goddess, hear me.” I then removed Mother’s neckl
ace and kissed each stone and waved my glowing palm over it. “Conceal until all is revealed.” Placing the necklace inside the small wooden box, I closed the lid. A lone tear escaped my eye, but I knew I was making the right decision.
I rose to my feet and latched the chest. It was time to find Sadie. I needed to tell her what had transpired. She would be my greatest ally in this quest for truth.
As I walked down the long stone corridor toward her chambers, I felt an eerie chill, a sense of foreboding washed over me. I began to run, my heart thundering in my chest. I rounded the corner, and the large wooden door to Sadie’s room had been left ajar.
Pushing the door open, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Her chambers… her bedding—there was blood and signs of a struggle. I tore through her room searching for her and calling out her name, but she was nowhere to be found. Blood pooled on the floor near the bed, and her red sheets were stained black with what could only be… I couldn’t think of what she may have endured. I screamed her name once more, but only silence answered me.
Sadie was gone.
And she was injured.
Oh, dear goddess. I fell to my knees once more.
Who could have taken her from our sacred keep?
Chapter 5
I balled my fists and continued screaming until my throat was raw, until I could hardly breathe. Sadie had been taken while under my care. As High Priestess, I was responsible, and this… her life fell to me and me alone. I was certain the elders would place the blame squarely upon my shoulders, and they would be right in doing so. I hadn’t done enough, learned enough to protect my coven.
Goddess, give me strength.
I rose from the floor and wiped my tears. I had to gather the coven and interrupt the night’s celebration. Casting one last glance toward Sadie’s chamber, I dashed through the corridors and out of the keep. My heart… I wasn’t certain it would ever heal from such despair, but I had to remain strong. Especially now. For both Sadie and my mother’s legacy.
My purple robes bustled like dark clouds around me as I skidded to a halt in front of Aurora as she was speaking to—dammit—Sister Cloris. “Aurora.” I interrupted and received a scathing glance from Sister Crotchety, but I didn’t care. “Sadie’s gone. We need to gather the coven right away.” I was nearly out of breath.
“What do you mean, gone?” Sister Cloris seized my arm, and I looked at her hand, my magic surging forth.
Removing my arm from her gnarled grip, I addressed Sadie’s mother. “She has been taken. I inspected her chamber, and there was… blood. We must—”
“I told you she was unfit to be High Priestess.” The witch cut me off again. “Her blood is tainted, and dragons have now invaded our sacred keep!”
I glared and turned on her. “How dare you?” I knew she would cast blame upon me, but dragons? Our coven’s keep was warded against them and had been so for as long as I could remember.
This time, it was Aurora who interjected and stepped in front of me. “Now, Sister Cloris, let’s not be hasty and say things we do not mean. I am certain Sadie is around here somewhere. We shall gather a few witches and search for ourselves.” She clasped the elder’s hands in her own. “Go and have yourself a drink. We will handle this, dear.”
“You needn’t bother.” She moved around Aurora and pointed toward me. “We know who is responsible. I shall inform the elders of this travesty. May the goddess bless dear Sadie’s soul.” With that, she hurried away, silver-metallic robe billowing in her wake, and she disappeared in a gust of white mist.
Then, suddenly, blue-and-silver magic burst from my fingertips and encased my body in a layer of protection. I’d become enchanted by the moon’s rays. The goddess must have heard my plea.
“I don’t have time for this.” The celebration had ceased as they had overheard Sister Cloris’s accusations and could now see me radiating as brightly as the Fertility Moon. “Aurora, there were signs of struggle, yes, but not from a dragon. Of that, I’m certain.” I was attempting to keep my temper at bay while my magic surged in and around me. I felt as though I was losing control.
“You must calm down, Nova.” She gestured toward my still-growing magic—the protection enchantment had begun to spread throughout the courtyard. “We will find Sadie. You know how she is. She undoubtedly fell and took a hit to the head, that is all. I’m certain it is nothing to worry yourself about.”
Had she gone mad? Her daughter was missing, and she was talking about her as though she’d only taken a fall? I tempered my breathing before I spoke. “I want no less than twelve coven members assembled in ten minutes, and the chosen sent on their way with two elders to escort them into the village for protection. After they’ve had time to gather their belongings, of course. We will take this seriously and meet in the corridor of Sadie’s chambers.”
Aurora took a step back and nodded, wrapping her arms around her middle. “As you wish, High Priestess.”
I grasped her hand as she turned to walk away. “Aurora, I hope you know I love you just as Mother did.”
She embraced my shoulders. “Of course, dearest Nova. As I do you.” With an odd expression, she cupped my cheek and then turned to assemble the coven.
I had no idea what was happening inside her mind. Perhaps it was shock, but there was no possible way I could allow this to stand. I didn’t care what the elders believed. I would do as I was chosen to do and care for my people. Which meant standing against the fold as my mother had done many years ago, only under different circumstances.
I would not cower.
Tainted blood, my ass.
I headed back inside the keep toward Sadie’s chambers, but stopped in the main hall and grasped my mother’s fox-shaped totem. “Mother, if you can hear me, please send your guidance.” Her talisman began to grow hot in my hand and then miraculous moonlight radiated from the center, as though the white fox had come alive.
I stopped dead in my tracks and gasped. Bright white light shone from the rafters above, illuminating the entire space. I glanced around in awe. Had she heard me, or was this a blessing from the goddess?
Just as those thoughts left my mind, my feet began to ascend from the floor, my body hovering in midair, the light of the moon intermingling with my magic and coursing throughout my entire being.
“My dearest Nova”—I could see Celeste, my mother, her ethereal presence within the moon’s rays—“follow your heart and listen to internal warnings. The goddess has blessed you with unimaginable power, but it is up to you to unlock the gifts she has bestowed. Time is of the essence and do not allow your heart to be deceived, as there is treachery in your midst.”
Tears spilled down my face. I wanted to embrace her one last time. “Mother, I… I love you.” That was all I could say.
“As I love you, dearest daughter. You are High Priestess, let there be no doubt in your mind. You were made to lead our coven.” Her form faded in and out. “I must go, but when you need me, I am always with you.”
“Please—”
“We are no longer alone. Go. Now. You must leave and tell no one you spoke to me.” And then, she was gone as quickly as she had appeared. My body descended and my feet touched the floor.
My heart thudded in my chest. I’d just spoken to my mother, and she had warned me… Treachery. She must have been speaking of the elders, of that, I had no doubt… not after tonight’s treatment during the ceremony and afterward. Sister Cloris was proof of it. She would soon turn the entire council of elders against me.
I looked to the heavens as I continued rushing through the corridors leading toward Sadie’s chamber. “Thank you, most blessed goddess… I’ll do what I must. And—”
“Who are you talking to?” Janus’s voice startled me. I hadn’t heard her footsteps along the corridor.
I stopped and turned to her. “I was praying. Come, I’ll show you to Sadie’s chambers.”
“All right. Sister Aurora and the others shall be here momentarily.”
“Very
well.” I continued through the corridor, moonstones lighting our path, and came upon Sadie’s room. There, I would wait until everyone arrived.
Janus inched toward the door, but I prevented her from entering. “Wait. I want Aurora to be present, as I wish for us to do a location spell with Sadie’s blood.”
“Blood magic?” Janus’s crystal-blue eyes widened in what appeared to be shock.
“Yes. It’s the only way to track her. She is nowhere within the coven’s keep or the grounds. She’s missing, Janus. Someone kidnapped her from her very own chamber and from within our sacred halls. My blood mixed with Sadie’s will imbue the spell. It is necessary.” It wasn’t as though blood magic was unnatural or forbidden.
“No, no, I understand. I cannot bear the sight of blood, not even my own. I do hope I won’t hinder the spell.” She seemed terrified. A witch afraid of a bit of blood? I supposed it happened, but typically with young witchlings.
“If you wish to stand aside for the spell, I understand. I wouldn’t want you to fall ill. We have enough to worry ourselves with.”
“I do apologize, High Priestess. Is there any other way I can be of service?”
“Please see what’s keeping the others. They should be here by now. Thank you, Janus.”
She bowed before me and turned to rush down the corridor.
I swallowed as I took a step inside the entryway of Sadie’s chamber once more. I could feel her bright blue aura fading from the room. Her blood was still fresh, and its coppery scent wafted in the air. The mere thought of seeing the crimson pool—hers, my Sadie’s blood—again turned my stomach, but I had to do what was necessary and prove to the damn elders she was not taken by dragons, but someone or something else. This gave me pause. I wondered what, if any creature would have been able to break through our most sacred wards. There was no one in the kingdom with magic as strong as ours.
We would have to follow the blood.
Queens of Wings & Storms Page 3
