by Ron Vitale
I did not know what to expect, but certainly I did not think that fire would erupt from my hands and engulf the Southern. The magical fire covered him entirely, and the closer he came to me, the stronger my hatred and fear. I poured out my anger, and the fire grew strong and fierce. The surprise on his face comforted me as the fire engulfed him, and I cried out and thrust my hands forward. My fire ate at him, and he dropped his sword and rushed past me, running into a wall. He fell hard onto his side and tried to roll the fire out, but it simply spread. His screams were like a banshee that chased after a freshly dead soul, anguished and in need. He did not survive long, stopping his floundering and becoming silent.
More people rushed past us, but on seeing the fire behind us, they stopped and turned back to run across the stage using the opposite exit. I cried and then pulled myself together and stood up, dragging Denise across the back part of the stage. No one stopped to help me. Most of the audience had left from various exits. I reached the door to the outside and dragged Denise outside. The bitter cold nipped at me in my ripped dress. I had no coat, was covered in Denise’s blood and exhausted. Finally a woman took pity on me and came over to help.
I pushed her away but toward Denise. My friend’s face frightened me. Her skin was pale, and she did not wake. I feared her dead from the loss of blood and the wound. I rambled on to her about saving my friend, but I cannot remember all that happened. We were in the cold, freezing, and then we were carried to a nearby house. Separated, I don’t remember much of that time, but hours later I sat alone back in my room. My house lord stood over me, waiting for me to wake. When I did, he put his hand on my arm and asked, “How do you feel?”
“Is Denise okay?” I asked. I had no other concern.
His face went dark, and he did his best to hide emotion. “She is not well. I do not know if she will survive the night.”
I cried into my hands and just let the tears fall. My friend had done nothing to deserve her fate. She was a good person who worked hard, and now she might die.
“Can I go see her?” I tried to shift in bed, but could feel the cold from my stained dress. I smelled of urine and fear.
“In a bit. The doctor is treating her and sewing up her wound. Then she’ll need to rest a bit.” My house lord changed the subject and said, “Someone is here to see you. Would you like me to admit him?”
Thoughts of Charles came to me, and it brought some hope to me. “Yes, please let him in.” I wondered how he had made it here so quickly.
“Rest up tonight, and I’ll send your friend in. Later, when it is safe, you can go see your friend.” He put his hand on my arm and then left the room.
The lantern flickered on the table by my bedside, and I started to doze off to sleep. The excitement had ended, and my body felt drained and weak. My arms were sore, and I had bruises from where I had fallen on my side. I heard a rustling of a cloak against the ground and looked up expecting to see Charles, but it was Stephen. He had a beard now, black and full, and even with trying to hide his face with hair, his concern bubbled over.
“You’re alive!” He knelt by my bed and buried his face onto my lap. He picked his head up and glanced over to me. “You smell like pee.”
“One of the downsides of fighting off a Southern and surviving.” I smiled at him and shrugged.
He choked up and said, “Sabrina, I’m so sorry. I acted horribly and deserted you.” He took my hand in his and kissed me. “Please, forgive me.”
A wave of emotion washed over me, and I let myself cry. I pulled his hand close to my heart and kissed his hand. “I am so angry at you.” I laughed and cried, caught between two powerful emotions.
“I’m sorry. I truly am.” He smiled at me a bit and then became serious again. “What did you see tonight?”
“Denise and I were singing on stage at the festival, and out from the back a loud bang occurred that frightened people. The crowd rushed onto the stage, and I saw archers up in the balcony firing down at people. I tried to get help for Denise, but everyone ran by us. But I did pull her to the back, and a Southern came out to kill us, but I stopped him.” I froze and did not know what else to say.
“You stopped him?” Stephen glanced at me with a look of curiosity on his face.
I needed to trust him, and the only way I could begin was to tell the truth. “He was going to kill us. He had his sword raised, ready to cleave us in two, but I raised my hands and screamed at him.”
“And then what?” Stephen waited for me to say the words, but I kept quiet. “You didn’t just kill him with your good looks.”
I smiled and felt more at ease to continue. “I raised my hands at him, and fire came out from them and engulfed him. Magical fire.”
He lowered his voice and asked, “Did anyone see this?”
“No, Denise wasn’t awake, and no one was near us.”
Stephen tried to keep his voice low, but in his excitement it went up an octave. “You fucking killed a Southern with magic? I’m impressed.”
I let go of his hand and then stared at my own. “I just willed him to die and the fire came out, like a column that rushed at him and killed him.”
“How did you do it?” He looked at my hands in awe.
“I don’t know. I think it was in desperation that I cast the spell.”
“It was a spell in need. You truly are a natural.” He grabbed my hands in his and said, “When you told me about your powers last year, I thought you might have exaggerated. But I was wrong to not believe you.” He turned toward the door and added, “You better keep this a secret for now.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I pulled my hands away from him and scowled. “My house lord would turn me out onto the street if he knew I had magic in me.”
“But you can help stop this war. Maybe there’s another who can help you?” He floundered over what to call me.
“Another what?” I leaned close to him and said, “Witch. Is that what you meant to say?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to call it.” He chewed on his lip and looked away.
“It’s fine. I’m just tired. It’s been a long night.” I reached out to him, and he gave me back his hand. “What happened to the Southerns?”
He fidgeted in his seat and said, “A bunch of us came rushing in, and we killed them all.” He stopped and corrected himself. “Well, we did keep one of the archers alive so we could question him.”
“Wait a minute. Are you telling me that you were at our show watching us?” A big smile broke out on my face.
“Yes, okay. I admit it. I was there in the far back watching you and Denise sing. It’s not often that your closest friend gets an opportunity to perform for the city and gets to show off her great talent.” He became serious for a moment and squeezed my hand. “I had to be there for you. I just had to.”
I leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and he blushed and was at a loss for words.
“Thank you. I really appreciate your coming to see us there.” He tried to pull away, but I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight. “You didn’t have to do that. I’m so happy that you came.”
“Well, someone had to save your pretty little ass.” He gave me a light tap on my bottom.
“So you think my ass is pretty?” I kept my arms locked around his neck and kissed him again on his forehead. Even then his beard got in the way. I didn’t like it.
“For a girl’s ass, it is pretty fine.” He smiled and kissed me back on my cheek.
His kiss warmed me and felt right. I let him go and fell back into the pillows. I lay there watching him in the lantern light, and a range of emotions ran through me. I was so happy that he had come and that we had forgiven each other.
“Oh, I nearly forgot.” He reached down and pulled up a satchel and threw it at me. “For that pretty little ass of yours. One of the maids thought you’d need it since most of your clothes were being hung dry.”
I opened the satchel and clean clothes tumbl
ed out. “I really need this. Thank you!” I climbed out of bed and pulled my dress off and then slipped out of my undergarments. I stood naked before him, and he reached out to touch my side and hip.
“It’s all red and looks sore. Does it hurt?”
“Not too much. I’m feeling pretty bruised and banged up. I expect it’ll be black and blue tomorrow, but I made out better than some.” I stood there and held off getting dressed, looking for a basin.
Stephen kept his hand on my side and ran his fingers down it, and a shiver went through me. “Wait a minute. You can’t get dressed yet.” He walked across the room and brought back a basin with water and a few towels. He took the smaller washcloth and soaked it in the water and said, “Give me your hands.”
I hesitated and then glanced down. My hands were still covered in Denise’s blood. I had not even noticed. The crevices around my nails had turned a dark red, and the truth of what had happened hit me. I sat back on the bed, and my energy faded and a wave of sadness washed over me. Stephen sat next to me on the bed and turned me toward him. He put the basin of water on the bed as well and placed my hands in the water. A shock went through me as I touched the water, but he massaged my hands and I watched the blood come off and discolor the water.
“I don’t have any soap, but this will have to do.” He took my hands out of the water and dried them with a towel. “Lie down.”
I obeyed him, and he went to put the washcloth into the basin and stopped himself. Instead he went to the fire and poured some warm water from a kettle into a separate basin and carefully carried the clean water over to my bed. I went to put my hands in the basin, wanting to feel the warm water wash away my pain and sorrow, but he smacked my hands and shook his head.
“We’re going to clean that pretty little ass of yours.” He beamed his best smile at me and took the washcloth and soaked it in the basin and then, with a firm grip on my thigh, pulled my legs apart and wiped my legs clean. “Come on, turn onto your stomach.”
I followed his instruction and I lay there, closing my eyes, and listened to the water dripping from the washcloth as he rinsed it out to soak it with clean water. Stephen put his palm on the small of my back and ran the washcloth from the top of my buttocks down between the cheeks and wiped my inner thighs. The warm water soothed me and, for a moment, I forgot what I had been through, where I was, and just let myself trust in him and relax.
“Almost done.” He rinsed out the washcloth again and then ran it down my other leg, cleaning me. “Hold up a second.” He took a dry towel and patted me dry.
I sighed in response, but it came out closer to a cat purring.
“Roll back over.” He smacked my left butt cheek in jest, and I rolled over.
I watched him concentrate as he cleaned the washcloth one last time and then pulled my legs apart. I let him, and he saw all of me. He ran the washcloth down my inner thigh, crossed over and cleaned my other thigh. Then, with extra care, he slid the cloth down and covered my nether area. As quickly as he touched me with the warm water, he withdrew and then patted me dry with the towel.
“Thank you.” I knew not what else to say.
He dried his hands and looked over his work. “Okay, get dressed before you get cold.”
I climbed up out of bed again, and he handed me my undergarments, and I slipped into them and then pulled the nightgown over as well. Once back in bed, I went to pull the covers over me, but he stopped and pulled another gift from the satchel. Wool socks. “Come here.”
I gave him my left foot, and he put the sock on and warmth flooded through me. I didn’t know that my feet were so cold. He did the same for my right, and I smiled. “I’m now all nice and warm.”
He squeezed my feet and then pulled the covers up over me. I curled up under the blankets and yawned. “Get some sleep. I’ll be back in the morning.”
“Okay.” My choice of words were limited because of the great wave of fatigue that washed over me. The warm water had soothed me, and now all I wanted to do was rest.
He watched me as I fluttered my eyes and I heard him hum a song. I don’t know what it was, but I fell back into the pillows, closed my eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 7
I opened my eyes and held Alessia’s hand. She still had her eyes closed, and I watched her face. She trusted me completely, leaning toward me with her hair brushed back, and she wore a look of deep concentration. I pulled my hand away from hers, and she slowly opened her eyes.
“We’re back.” She looked around the room as though to search for Stephen and my younger self.
“Yes, we are.” I turned to look out my study window and saw that the snow had picked up again and came down hard and fast. The wind swirled it around, and I expected that in the morning the drifts would be higher than us, and we would have much digging to do.
“You showed me the first time that you truly controlled your magic.” Alessia watched me closely, and I could see that she had many questions. She pointed back to the library where I knew the Moonstone still glowed. “But what’s the connection between the two? I don’t understand.”
I folded my hands in my lap. “If I told you everything, then you wouldn’t be learning anything. That’s something that you will have to figure out on your own.”
She wrinkled her nose when she thought. “Hmm, I would guess that what you want me to see is that you called on your powers when in need.” She stopped, and then an idea came to her. “But your anger and fear fueled your magic. It was dark magic. You used dark magic that night!”
I leaned back and nodded. “Yes, I did. I didn’t know any better back then. I grabbed whatever magic I could, and dark magic came first to my aid.” I remembered the night as though it were yesterday. “And I sent that fire at the Southern to burn him. I wanted him to suffer and die.” I glanced up at her and let her see another side of me. “And he did, and I enjoyed it.”
“But you always teach us in class to not give in to that part of ourselves. That the hate and anger will fuel us with darkness, and it will consume us.” She stopped and listened to the howling wind outside. “Why did you let the darkness take you?”
“Because it’s the only thing I knew back then. I had no teacher or mentor to help me. I didn’t know anyone who practiced magic. My magic came to me that first time because those men nearly raped me, and the second time I almost died. I just dug deep inside, and the magic came out raw, wild and dark. It came from a place of fear and anger.” I unfolded my hands and placed them on my legs and looked up at her. “And I paid the price for that. It led me down a deep and dark path that I don’t ever talk about these days. There’s much about me that I’m ashamed of, but that is the past, and now I’m here in the present with you. But the question that you haven’t answered is …”
She glanced back to the library. “Why is the Moonstone calling to me as well?”
I closed myself off to her and shifted uncomfortably in my chair. I turned away from her, afraid.
“Do you not trust me to tell me? Please, I will help you. You have done so much to help me over the last few years. Without you, I would not be one of your students.” Alessia leaned close and touched my hand. “Please.”
There would be only one way, and I had to take the risk. I turned back to her and held her hand and looked directly at her and said, “I am your birth mother.”
Alessia pulled away from me. “I don’t understand. My mother died when I was young …”
“That is what the woman who you call aunt was paid to tell you. She and your cousin are of no relation to you.” I said it and hoped the truth would set me free. I expected the worst to happen now and deserved whatever came back at me.
A dark look of anger came over Alessia’s face. She remained silent for a while, and I could see her struggle against conflicting emotions. “But why? Why would you do this to me? I don’t understand. None of this is making sense.” Alessia stood up and started pacing past the window like a caged animal.
“I made a mistake …” I changed my words immediately to something else. “I didn’t know what else to do. I am not asking you to forgive me. What I have done is unforgivable. I have treated you horribly and have lied to you your entire life.”
“Yes, you are right. I will not forgive you.” She stopped pacing and pointed a finger in anger at me. “I will leave here, and you will never see me again. All this time I have listened to you with your advice for what I should do with John. What a joke this all is!” She stomped her foot on the floor. “You have taken me in and trained me as an initiate, but if I’m your daughter, why would you do this all to me? Why?”
I kept my head down and shook my head. “Once I started to lie, it became easier over the years, but I kept a watch over you from afar and learned that you also had magical talent. After I had established myself and this coven, when you were old enough, I decided to bring you back and, if you could pass the tests, I would let you in, but I would not treat you different than any other initiate.”
“Is that true? Do you have late fireside chats with all your other initiates, teaching them about your sexual conquests and sharing personal stories with them?” She walked passed me with both fists clenched in anger. “You are sick, demented, and diseased in the head. For you to carry on such a lie for so many years and then to bring me in under your fold is just wrong.” She was at a loss for words and gathered her anger and threw it back at me. “I hate you!”
She rushed to the door, and I watched my past and future fade with her. All the choices I had made that had scarred me and damned me now all came back. I could not outrun what I had done. “Please, before you go. I need to explain to you the danger that you are in.”
