by L. T. Kelly
“Enough now!” he yelled, his glance sweeping over the myriad of expressions around the room.
“It’s all bullshit. I saw him with my own eyes. He was enjoying himself. Perhaps the girl with Bartholomew was placed under some sort of spell, but not him.” My throat swelled. I never had to be spellbound for me to want him, yet he chose that over me? My chest ached again and this “trial by Teagan’s living room” begun to grate on my nerves.
“This is your problem, Teagan. You only ever think about yourself. That’s why you’re alone!” Alex barked, his face pulled into a snarl.
I leaped from my sitting position, my shoulders held back. “Huh… That’s rich coming from you.” I jabbed him in the shoulder with a finger beside Rose’s precious fucking head.
Ryan stepped forward, straightening his spine so he towered above me. I cackled into his face. Another person I thought knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t be intimidated by his stance.
“You haven’t given two fucks about our relationship ever since you found out this little bitch is your maker.” My throat was hoarse from screeching at him, and my body shook with adrenaline. I fought so hard to keep my anger over his dismissal of me at bay, but tonight, he prodded and poked at me, as though stabbing a stick into a wicker basket holding a venomous snake until the snake had no form of defence left except for attack. “And it would pay you to be reminded she left you for dead, then spent seventy or eighty years lying through her fucking teeth to you.”
I wanted to continue, to tell Rose right there and then all the times Alex complained to me about her not informing him she was his maker. He topped each grumble with how happy it made him she was and he was able to tolerate the years of lies because he now felt he belonged. He did this excessive talking just after I lost Thomas, yet Alex expected me to respond sympathetically to every last thought, idea or comment spewing from his pouty little mouth
“You’re all going to have to work a little harder.” Charmion spoke quietly, then sipped her blood. “Of course, we’ll show you it is possible,” she whispered, as though thinking out loud.
She snatched her cell from the pocket of her chiffon robe and tapped at it. Charmion spoke in Arabic, and I quickly glanced around the room to establish if anyone understood the language. The blank expressions told me they had no clue what she said.
“The jet will be ready in the morning.” She all but clapped her hands with glee. “I’m so excited to return to the Ancrum camp. I heard they’ve made some magnificent changes to the place.”
I attempted to keep my expression blank, which was more difficult than wading through a sea of treacle on fire.
“What’s the matter?” Charmion asked.
Fuck, I wished I’d practiced harder with my facial expressions.
“Pearl and I paid a visit to Ancrum. We followed her.” I pointed at Rose, resisting the urge to poke my finger into her. “Let’s just say Freya isn’t exactly our number one fan. Besides, she knows absolutely nothing, other than Bartholomew left there to follow Rose to Dublin.”
Charmion offered me a simpering smile. “Oh, Teagan, we’re not going to Ancrum for Bartholomew. We’re going there for you.”
Sixteen
China in Your Hand
Charmion requested Rose, Alex and Ryan leave, telling them to return at sundown the next evening. For some strange reason, she thought their attendance was pertinent in Ancrum.
“I’m sorry, Charmion. I don’t understand what the witches will tell us they didn’t before,” Pearl said, perching on the sofa beside me after showing the others out. I listened to Pearl telling the others before they left that I’d be calmer tomorrow. I wanted to chastise her for lying, but I couldn’t afford to lose any more allies.
“Pearl has a point. I’m not sure how all this concerns me.” I shrugged. I didn’t want to return to Ancrum, but morbid curiosity drove me to consider going.
“Didn’t you see the differences of the clans?” Charmion peered between Pearl and I.
I had, but I failed to establish the significance.
“One clan looked as though they couldn’t abide living near the humans. Intolerant even, considering how far away they are from everyone,” Pearl speculated. “But the Irish witches are thriving in the city, from what I could tell of the club. I only met Catherine briefly.”
Charmion studied me as she got comfortable, tucking her legs beneath her on my chair. “Forgive me if you think I’m being rude, but is it fair to say your prior knowledge of witches is poor?”
I nodded and smirked. “Strange, considering my mother was one and I had no fucking clue.”
The faltering of Charmion’s smile didn’t escape me after I raised the newly learned fact.
“Pearl, didn’t you think it strange to see witches residing in such a built-up area?”
Pearl nodded eagerly, like a student with the answers to all the questions. “Absolutely. I said so, didn’t I?” Pearl turned to me for affirmation, and I nodded.
“It’s because their magic has evolved. They are no longer at one with the earth. Their food comes from human hands, as does their clothing and homes. They need to be something more. Something impressive to establish greatness within society. Pearl, have you ever seen a witch clan like this before?”
“No.”
Charmion beamed at her. “That’s because there aren’t any. Our kind wiped them out before they became too strong. What your mother did with the amulet, passing the jewel on to her sister, was never meant to occur. Bartholomew chose your mother for a reason. She was a lone witch, apart from her clan and highly unlikely to reunite with them. Bartholomew hoped she would die alone.” Charmion bumped her lips together and paused, as though aware of how I may take offence.
Instead, I finally understood what Bartholomew’s intention had been when he gave it to her. For the amulet to be lost forever. A secret against those who hoped to use it for unnatural means, just like Rose did.
“When I was with Catherine…” I paused, yet to divulge what I saw in my head beneath her fingertips. I’d been too wrapped up on what happened after she showed me the vision of my mother outside her back door when Bartholomew threatened my life if she chose not to keep the amulet safe for him. “She showed me a vision.”
Charmion drew in a deep breath. “You were extremely lucky to leave unscathed and free to go. You let her put her hands on you?” Charmion leaned forward, her eyes enlarged.
“I didn’t know there was any danger,” I whined, wishing people would cease questioning my actions continually. Charmion lowered her head for me to continue. “She showed me Bartholomew threatening my life if my mother refused to comply with his request to keep the amulet safe for him.”
I stared at her, awaiting a reaction. I pursed my lips. She either didn’t have an opinion on the matter or didn’t possess the facts surrounding the event.
“I’m not aware of every last thing that happened back then.” Charmion flitted her glance elsewhere. She sure as shit acted like she did, so I took the image to be a true reflection of the events.
I sighed heavily, figuring none of that mattered now. Bartholomew and I were over. Too many secrets and lies transpired. Our relationship lay cold and empty, like a derelict building with little hope of renovation.
“I’m going to bed. Are you both staying overnight?”
The two women agreed they were and assured me they’d take care of themselves. I told them goodnight and left to go to my bedroom, exhausted.
I had an inkling that when I awoke, I’d still be drowning in fatigue with the thought of continuing something I no longer could establish my role in. I wasn’t a member of The Assembly, and no longer in a relationship with its leader. My friendship with Rose, Alex and Ryan teetered on the brink of despair, and I possessed no desire to attempt to repair the bond between any of us. Sure, Pearl’s friendship was still present, but my weary brain had no energy to consider making an effort with it. I gave up on everything, despondency ingrained wi
thin me, and I didn’t have the first idea of how to shake it off.
*****
I boarded Charmion’s private jet. When the others failed to show that evening, I held on to a slither of hope they’d decided Rose had been through enough and made the decision to remain at home.
I’d been misguided. All three of them sat at the end of the small airplane closest to the cockpit wearing matching glum expressions. My mouth twisted into a scowl as I took the seat as far away from the trio as possible. I behaved like a petulant child, but I was past caring. Charmion breezed down the aisle of the airplane, her chiffon gown floating along. She took a seat in the middle of the plane. Pearl loyally occupied the seat beside me.
Once airborne, I couldn’t shake Rose’s insistent stare. I shifted uncomfortably, trying not to peek back. The notion of entering into conversation with her made my stomach churn. My distain for her grew with each passing moment.
“What?” I eventually barked at her, throwing my hands up.
“You blame me for everything.” Her voice caught in her throat as she spoke, her full bottom lip protruding when she finished her sentence. “It was never my intention to hurt you, Teagan. The same as it wasn’t for me to get hurt, either.” Her blue eyes dulled with pain.
It occurred to me none of us had seen or heard from Geo, and I kicked myself for not having checked with Grace or Gabriella prior to leaving for Ancrum. “Where’s Geo?” I jutted my chin toward her.
She shook her head slowly and stared down to her hands wringing in her lap. “I have no idea,” she muttered. “He’s vanished.”
“Have you even tried to find him?” I bit back.
She raised her head, the air of innocence vanished. She flew across the space and wrapped her fingers firmly around my throat before I had the chance to consider moving. Alex and Ryan took an arm each and tried to pull her away, to no avail. Her face filled my vision. Funny, I didn’t care. Relief washed through me and I relaxed, despite the throb in my throat. I smiled. Perfect Rose had flipped.
My smile forced a snarl from her lips, spittle dampening my cheeks. “How fucking dare you. I love my husband. He’s missing, and I’m fucking broken. I’ve never needed him as much as I do now.”
“I’m. Not. Smiling. At. That.” I managed. Her grip loosened enough for me to rush out my next sentence. “Please, let go. We can talk.” She released me and stood up straight, her eyes still flashing. I rubbed my neck. “I became tired of sweet innocent little Rose. That’s what I needed to see before we could talk again.”
Alex and Ryan stepped back toward their seats, and Pearl got up and followed them. I glanced at the empty seat beside me and gestured for her to sit.
“Geo told me about the amulet and your plans to take it.” I sighed, looking away from her. “I didn’t think you’d find such a thing. Didn’t really believe it existed.”
“Once I set my mind to something…” She paused, her eyes back on her wringing hands. “If there is any one of us who didn’t want or expect any of this to happen, it’s me.”
I dipped my head, Rose clearly suffered at the hands of Catherine and her clan far more than she deserved. “What did you do to Catherine for her to inflict such hell upon you?”
“I’m not sure.” She pursed her lips. “God, she’s the spitting image of you, Teagan. I’m struggling to meet your eye.” I snaked an arm around her shoulders, though I cringed a little having done it. It felt insincere, fake. I’d thought long and hard until I fell asleep that morning. About all the bridges I’d burned and what could be next from Catherine and her clan. Could I deal with this alone? Hell, did I really want to be on my own for eternity?
I pondered on the nights out with Rose, how I most likely disliked her because everyone else loved her so much. In truth, I wanted to be like her and realised a build-up of envy led me to fly off the handle so easily. Not only had my jealousy been because of her social butterfly skills, she had what I once craved. A relationship with a wolf. I analysed the spark of glee igniting in the pit of my stomach when Geo confessed their marriage was going to the dogs and shame washed over me. Of course, I awoke that evening having pushed all these thoughts to the back of my mind. Her downtrodden expression when I stepped onto the plane had been like fanning a flame.
“But I’m not her. Nothing like her,” I assured Rose. I got enough of the evil, insincere vibe from Catherine to be able to say as much.
“I went in there and politely asked to borrow the amulet for a while.”
My eyes widened and I stifled a laugh. That was Rose’s character all over. “Shit! You’re mental.”
“I know. Stupid, huh?”
I pulled her closer. “Misguided perhaps.” I wondered what it was about the stupid piece of jewellery that sent everyone so dippy.
“Can I tell you something?” I tensed, wondering how much to inform her. Rose dipped her head. “Geo didn’t want a baby.”
She pulled away from me and studied my face. “The worst thing is I think I already knew. I clutched at straws, so desperate not to lose him. I watch him ageing before my eyes, and I’m so terrified.” Her chest heaved, and my heart ached for her because I understood. If I felt those emotions when I looked at Geo, then she must have experienced them thrice-fold.
“I don’t think I can live without him. And seeing how you’ve reacted to Bartholomew, I wonder if he’ll still want me anyway after what’s happened.” She squeezed her eyes tight shut.
“Rose, you were raped. I know Geo well enough to be certain if he knew what you went through, he’d tear the clan limb from limb.”
“You think?” Her eyes bored into mine, filled with hope.
“I know. As soon as we’ve got to the bottom of what Charmion thinks we can gain out of travelling to Ancrum, we’re going to make Catherine and her cronies pay for what they’ve put you through.”
“What about Geo?”
I rubbed my fingers across my lips. “We’ll find him no matter what. I promise.”
Alex beamed at me from the other end of the plane. I looked away from him. I hadn’t said anything for anyone else’s benefit. I’d been sincere, but I needed to rectify my behaviour. I clung to rage as my go-to emotion. I’d begun to feel wrong in my own skin. That had to change. This wasn’t me.
Luckily, the flight to Scotland only took an hour, and in no time, we filed off the plane into a waiting SUV that could carry all of us to the destination. The vehicle appeared sturdy enough to take us over the desolate moorlands Pearl, Grace and I trudged across. Charmion appeared to have an enviable list of contacts no matter where in the world she visited, even the deepest pits of Scotland.
“Are we expected?” Pearl asked, directing her question at Charmion, who busily gazed out of the windows at the gnarled, leafless hedgerows in contrast to the green grass below them that served as a guide to where the road led.
“I find the element of surprise works much better in these types of situations.”
Pearl grimaced, and I joined her. I hoped Freya didn’t get too handy with her magic hands before Charmion revealed her identity, if that would even make a difference to her reaction.
“Have you met Freya before?” My voice lilted with uncertainty.
“No, but I once resided with the clan. I’m sure I’ll be welcomed with open arms,” she said, sounding bored with what must seem like a barrage of questions.
“Or open hands,” I muttered glumly.
Seventeen
The Wonder of You
My stomach clenched as we left the road and ventured over grassy moors. The SUV jolted us around, and we all clung to a surface. I considered that we looked like soldiers must when heading into battle, all jumbling around in the back of a vehicle with breaths tightly held in contemplation of whether they’d make the return journey. Funny, because I guessed that was exactly what we were doing.
It wasn’t that Pearl and I left things badly with Freya, but she warned us that she never wanted to see our faces in her camp ever again unle
ss she issued an invitation.
My breath caught in my throat as we rolled to a stop outside of the bank of trees that led into the camp.
Charmion marched forward, but Alex, Rose and Ryan caught Pearl and I exchanging meaningful glances and had the sense to hang back with us.
Screams peeled out ahead, and I rushed forward. After all, we’d be utterly fucked if Charmion was killed now, and I would never receive any assistance from Cleopatra again.
“You!” Freya pointed at me and turned her wrist to show me her deadly palm.
“Please, Freya. You don’t know who this is.” I clutched Charmion’s arm, propelling her forward.
“My darling!” Charmion shrugged me off and stepped forward, her arms open. “You look just like each of those before you. My eyes have missed that face.” Charmion’s hand flew to her chest. Her words, coupled with her reaction, appeared to stop Freya dead in her tracks. She tipped her head and squinted at Charmion, as though it may assist her recognition of the chiffon-clad ancient vampire.
“I’m Charmion,” she continued until she held the underwear-adverse witch in a firm embrace, pulling back to inspect her face and tenderly running her palm over Freya’s cheek. “So beautiful.”
It felt almost voyeuristic to watch the pair. Freya’s face softened like melted butter, her eyes sparkling with apert admiration. My breath held tightly as Charmion lowered her face to Freya’s, her lips pressed firmly to her mouth. Freya’s arms raised and she pressed her fingertips to the small of Charmion’s back, pulling her closer. Her lips parted, and the kiss deepened to the audience’s uncomfortable level. After what seemed like a lifetime, their heads drew back.
“Charmion,” Freya said in wonderment. “Please, come inside and tell me how I may serve you.”
