Witchling (Curse of Kin)

by Ari Harper

  “Don’t you understand?” I cried, tears running down my face. I tried to explain to them what Jasper had told me. “If I fail to break the curse, I die. I die along with everyone in my family, and you are all in the same position for another generation.”

  The heat on my fingertips died out as my anger subsided. I dropped to the floor, distraught.

  Brie looked at me, her ashen face a mix of emotions before she knelt on the floor by my side. “Nera, I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “We didn’t think about it like that. I’m so sorry.”

  Sully sat on the couch, looking at us with wide eyes. “Don’t do it, Nera. Please don’t do it. We can all stay the way we are. I couldn’t bear it if we lost you,” he said.

  “Son, she has no choice. None of us do,” Jasper whispered. “None of us.”

  I sobbed on Brie’s shoulder until Sully picked me and carried me to the couch. “It’s okay,” he whispered into my hair, holding me close. “We can do this together, just like we always do. Don’t let it get to you. We didn’t mean it like that, honestly.”

  “Well, that was quite something,” Jasper said. I followed his gaze, looking around the room to make sure nothing was burning. “I think a cup of tea is in order and then we can regroup. Give me a hand, Bones. We will leave the young ones to themselves for a minute, okay.”

  “What brought all that on, Jasper?” he asked while they headed out of the library to make the tea. Their voices receded, and I tried to pull myself together.

  Things had calmed down when they returned to the library. We were sitting together on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Sully had his arm around me, and I had curled my feet up on the sofa gazing into the flames.

  “Here we are, then.” Jasper passed me a cup of tea as he tried to lighten the mood in a chipper voice.

  “I’m sorry I lost it,” I said. “I don’t know what happened.”

  “Nera, it’s okay,” Jasper said. “You have a lot to take on, and I think it’s just sunk in. It’s a natural reaction, child. Nothing to forgive.”

  “There is. I should never have attacked Brie like that. It was unforgivable.”

  “But you did, Nera,” Bones said, getting into the conversation, “and I’m glad that you did.”

  “Are you nuts?” I shot back. The guy was insane. “I could have hurt her.”

  “My point exactly. See what you are capable of when you get upset. Brie was fine. We were here to help. To get to the issue, Nera, you need to be able to harness that energy and use it. You have to be able to control yourself.”

  Even though I was offended he thought I had a lack of control, I started to go over what had happened without feeling horrified and ashamed. If I could do that again but with some sort of control, well, it was an interesting thought. “How do you suppose I do that?”

  “Use the same feelings you used when Brie pissed you off. You just need to hold onto them until you are ready—that’s going to be the hardest part. Then you just send them where you want them. Just like shooting an arrow,” he said. “Not a lot different from making the wind do your bidding. Fire is just a little more dangerous.”

  He watched me take it in and turn it over in my mind. Sounded easy. Get pissed off and shoot flames at someone. I looked at him with raised eyebrows.

  “Not, really. Not quite as easy as that, but that’s the general idea. You may or may not have noticed that the other ‘episodes’ occurred when you were emotional. I can explain it better later. Now, where is my cup of tea, Jasper?”

  ***

  After I had calmed down, Bones took me outside to explain the power of the flame and its process. “Use whatever emotion you need to, Nera. Just do it slowly to start with,” he instructed.

  He stood in front of me, his dark gaze intent on my face. I closed my eyes so that I could concentrate on the flame and not him. He still made me feel unnerved, and I didn’t want to have to think about it with him around.

  Breathing deeply, I let my mind go blank and started to feel the warmth of the fire building in my veins. It coursed through my body, the tiny spears if fire swelling and heating, creeping under every cell and skin surface as it awoke and formed into tiny tangible flames in the palm of my hands. I looked at them in wonder, terrified they would disappear in the blink of an eye. They were mine, and they thrilled me like nothing else ever had. I risked a quick glance at Bones. A smile lit up his whole face, mirroring the warm fuzzy feeling I had in my stomach.

  Dropping my gaze, I concentrated on my new power. The heat warmed my skin like a ray of summer sun but didn’t burn as I would have expected it to. I cupped my hands together joining the small flames to make one larger-sized ball. Tilting my head, I watched it roll from one hand to the other. I dipped my fingers into the edge of the fire and picked it up off my palm. I looked at the colors, fascinated by the hot flames licking my skin, and tossed it in the air. I couldn’t help but laugh when Bones took a step backward.

  “Careful. Nera, don’t get too carried away just yet.”

  “Not worried, are you, Bones?” I smiled and closed my hand over the ball. In my mind I saw it sizzle out. Holding my arms out, I opened my hands and showed him my empty palms.

  A wave of exhaustion washed over me, and I faltered. The last hour had drained me; I was lightheaded and tired. Bones grasped my arms and pulled me into his chest. I rested my head against him and closed my eyes, the need for sleep almost overwhelming. The smell of leather and soap filled my senses, and I shook my head, stepping back. “I’m fine, thanks.”

  “You need food. You can’t use energy like without looking after yourself and your body. Sit here and don’t move,” he said, guiding me to garden chair. “I’ll get you something to eat.”

  I watched him walk toward the kitchen, and my shoulders drooped. I knew that I needed time to bring my energy levels back up, but being told that made me feel like I was a child.

  “That looks so cool.” Brie rushed to sit beside me. “You look like you have the knack of it now.”

  “Oh God, I hope so,” I said. “I don’t think I could take much more of him today. He is so demanding and bossy.”

  Sully looked at me and smiled, keeping his thoughts to himself.

  ***

  Later that night, the three of us were snuggled down in our sleeping bags in front of the library fire. Hugo was asleep beside us as we talked over our day.

  “I never dreamed it would be so much fun to be able to try to do magic,” Brie said. “I wonder if we will be able to do anything at all.” Her longing gaze settled on me. “I wish I could use fire like you, Nera, but at least we can keep practicing. Let’s hope something shows up when the time comes.”

  “If you can just keep yourself safe, that will do it for me,” I said. “I don’t like the idea that they could attack you, so the protection spell is the one you need to keep trying. It makes sense they would try attacking you, though because then it would distract me from them.”

  “How will you know?” Sully asked.

  “I don’t know. Bones said I will sense them somehow before they arrive, but I’m not so sure. I got creepy feelings when I first saw him so that wasn’t much help.”

  “He’s not that bad, Nera,” Brie defended him. “I still think he’s nice in a funny kind of way.”

  “You think anyone is nice,” Sully retorted.

  “Well, most people are nice if you give them a chance,” she said. “Why don’t you try it sometime?”

  I gazed into the fire with my own thoughts racing through my head. It was a huge fireplace, big enough to stand in. It was made of large gray stone blocks, the same stone as most of the house, quarried from the surrounding hills. The flames sent light dancing around the high ceilings of the large room, throwing light upon the carvings adorning the walls. The hidden peepholes were impossible to see.

  I tossed and moaned in my sleep. Black clouds swarmed over the sky, and thunder and wind roared in my ears. Lightning struck the ground all around me, and rain st
ung my face. I was standing on the point overlooking the ocean, just up from Jasper’s house where a large flat stone was laid into the ground at the cliff’s edge. The waves pounded against the rocks below.

  The voice came to me slowly, building up with each crashing wave. “Die. You will die.”

  It was a voice I was starting to know. It was the voice from my dreams.

  “No,” I screamed. “Your time has come. It is I who will win, and I will crush you. You are nothing anymore. Do you hear me? Nothing.”

  I raised my arms in the air and tried to remember the words Bones taught me, that called upon Mari.

  Mother, hear me well,

  I am your child, named for your light,

  Heed my call upon you this night,

  For into battle I will go

  To end the rein of this evil foe

  From you I ask for your guiding hand

  As I will, so mote it be.

  I gathered all the power I could feel in me. As the energy built, it raced through my veins. The clouds came closer to me now, and I let them continue to build. As they rumbled around me, the anger and hatred spilled from them like a shower of dark, heavy rain. The voice continued to challenge me, but I held off.

  Hail and sleet fell over me, but I did not let that sway me. I focused on the task at hand. It wasn’t until the malevolent clouds started to descend, their cold fingers wrapping around my body, that I raised my arms and let the power surge out of my soul. I gathered the dark wind that surrounded me, whipping and clawing as it cut swiftly through the clouds. Once I had control of it, I sent it back . It twisted and turned in the wind before crashing to the waves below. I watched fascinated as it was pounded against the rocks, disappearing under the dark water.

  The sky was clear around me and eerily quiet.

  I stood on the point, breathing heavily. I felt light and heady, but nothing could displace the feeling of power still in my body. It was the first time I had used my magic deliberately to send something away, and it was a rush that thrilled me to my toes. As I watched the sky, another cluster of clouds came my way. They rumbled and bashed together, sending off sparks of lightning. Before I could react, there was an almighty rush of heat, and a huge bolt of lightning struck the ground at my feet.

  She stood in front of me. Her long red hair was swirling around her delicate face in the wind. I knew who it was before she could tell me: Mari, Queen of the Witches. She was dressed in white silk that floated gently around her tall, slim body.

  Jasper had told me of Mari and the power she held. He had a painting of her in the gallery. Even though Bones had told me his history, I had always thought of her as legend, not real.

  Oh my God, I don’t believe this.

  Her pale green eyes watched me as she spoke. “My child, you called upon me?” she asked.

  God, where do I start?

  “At the beginning, child,” Mari said.

  “How do you do that?” I asked.

  “The same way you do, Nera. I was once young and unprepared for my future. The same as you are,” she said. “But I had to learn much on my own. You are much more fortunate. You have teachers. More will follow.” Mari smiled at me before she continued. “You have much to learn and many battles ahead of you, Nera. Listen carefully to your protector. He is one of my chosen soldiers and will guide you well. You also wear my sister’s stone,” Mari added, looking at the amulet lying in the hollow of my throat. “Never take it off. It is your lifeline. It was not given recklessly.”

  “Why me?” I asked. “How come I am the lucky one to save the world? I’m just a normal kid. I don’t think I deserve this.”

  Mari laughed gently, shaking her head. “Nera, you have never been a normal child. I think you know this. Be that as it may. It was written that you would follow me on the path of righteousness, to carve a line of fire through the evil that haunts the earth. You are just learning and have a long way to travel. When the need arises, you may call upon me. You know how, and I will come if I feel you are in danger. In the meantime, try to be kind to Brian. He only has your welfare at heart. Take care; look deep inside of yourself and others who are close to you. Things are not always as they seem.”

  “What do you mean? What isn’t as it seems?” I was totally confused by the way she was talking.

  “You will know when the time is right,” Mari replied. “For now, I must leave you. Heed what I say, child. You have many battles to come. Prepare well.”

  The light turned dim. Mari started to fade away into the darkness of night, and the clouds slowly rumbled away to silence.

  I stood on the edge of the cliffs, not sure if I had dreamed the encounter or just had a conversation with the head of witchdom. I rubbed my eyes and yawned. My body was more tired than I had noticed before. If I could just go back to sleep, I could wake up and pretend that this was a dream and there was no curse. I closed my eyes. When I opened them seconds later, I was back in front of the fireplace with Hugo growling and sniffing around me.

  “Hugo, get out of it, leave me alone,” I pushed him away and stood up.

  Brie was snoring quietly beside me, but Sully’s sleeping bag was empty. I shivered as I looked around the library for him. I wonder where he went. I headed for the door to find him.

  I made my way to the kitchen with Hugo by my side. Finding no one there, I went upstairs toward Jasper’s war room. I could hear the men talking as I opened the secret door. They were huddled over the table; Sully listened intently to whatever Bones was saying.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “Oh, Nera. Don’t do that,” Jasper said. “Don’t creep up on me. It’s not good for my heart.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with your heart, Jasper.” I was shivering with cold.

  “You’re all wet,” Sully said coming to my side. “It’s not raining out, is it?”

  Bones came to me with a look on his face that was hard to read. “They got to you again, didn’t they?” He lifted my chin with his hand, looking into my eyes. “Are you hurt?”

  “No.” I pulled away from him.”I won this round.”

  “Whatever do you mean, Nera? Tell us,” Jasper said.

  I took a deep breath. “I was standing on the edge of the cliff at the point just past the house. You know where that big flat stone is laid into the hill. The clouds were rolling, and lightning was all around me…” I paused for another deep breath and shook slightly.

  “The clouds were talking to me. Well, it sounded like it was coming from the clouds, telling me I was going to die. I fought back and told them I would win this battle, not them. That was all. No big deal.”

  “Nera, this is a big deal. You went against them and forced them back. Don’t you realize what you did?” Bones turned to Jasper, arms in the air. “This is just great. She kicks butt, and it’s no big deal. I think that we go ahead with what we have been discussing, Jasper. If tonight is anything to go by, we can do this.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked. “Sully, what’s going on?”

  “Get some dry clothes on, girl dear.” Jasper turned me toward the door and gave me a gentle push. “Then we will tell you what we have in mind.”

  I walked out of the room in a slight huff and returned dry and warm a few minutes later.

  “Okay. What did you guys decided would be good idea while I was out fighting demons?” I gave them a sassy look, my head tilted to one side while I perched on the edge of Jasper’s chair. My mood was changing now that I was inside away from the bad weather.

  Bones looked at me, with his head turned to one side. He raised his eyebrows as if there was something just a little off kilter. “It’s just a thought your uncle had, Nera. We decided to go over the charts again and try to put it together to see what the options were,” Bones said.

  “Cut to the chase, Bones, what?”

  “Well, girl dear,” Jasper began. “I wondered what the chances of us were of getting in first so to speak. Attack them first, I
thought. What do you think?”

  I looked at them and was lost for words. I felt my stomach drop, and I felt nauseous and hot. “Are you crazy?” I shook my head before I spoke. “Sully, did you think that this was a good idea? Whatever were you all thinking? No, let me guess. None of you were thinking.”

  I stormed over to the door, intent on going back downstairs. As I pulled the door open, I looked back at them and then slammed it. I had changed my mind; I would give them something to think about first.

  “For a start,” I said, my hands on hips as I looked at Bones. “I still don’t know who I am up against, so how am I going to start a fight?”

  Bones returned my stare, his look cool and calm despite my reaction to their idea. “It’s quite simple if you would just calm down instead of getting worked up.” He pointed to his charts. “Come over and look at what we have been discussing.”

  I moved to the table, shooting daggers at Bones. If he noticed, he didn’t show it. Instead he stood and came to stand beside me as he explained what they had learned. “After each battle, I plotted what we did and what they did. How many there were. You can see that the numbers have been the same for the last few battles. They never seem to increase their small army.” He pointed at each event as he explained to me. “As I have already said, they probably don’t feel they need to because no one has been much of a challenge in the past. And you can see they don’t really change the way they fight. Until now, that is. Can you see why this is a possibility?”

  Sully moved over to my side and put his arm around my shoulders casually, giving Bones a sideways glance.

  “Yes, I can. Not that I actually like the idea, either, but I still don’t really know how many at the end of the day. You can say it will be the same, but how do you know?” I asked.

  “There won’t be that many, Nera.” Bones returned my cool stare.

  “How do you know?” Sully asked.

  “If you look at all the past battles, you can see why we lost. Look at how many they had on their side then. Even you commented on it, Sully,” he said looking at my friend. “Do you honestly think that they would have bolstered their numbers? They expect to win again and again.”