The Responsible Witch (The Ward Witches)

by Lauren McMinn

  “Sure. I'm pretty tired from the plane flight, but I'll do all I can this evening.”

  “You'll probably just give my brother food for thought today, and he'll come back with questions and clarifications tomorrow. I know he's been working hard on piecing things together, and he mentioned that having you here would be like having the cheat code for a video game.”

  “I hope I live up to that. But, on another topic, I'd like to know more about you, Dymphna. What can you tell me about yourself?”

  They talked pleasantly for the rest of the trip, the topic not moving back to the Dark Order at all. Dymphna was grateful for that.

  Later that evening, the entire Ward family assembled at the Manor. Skylar told them there would be no business conversation until after they ate, which made Justin nearly inhale his food. Luckily for him, though, he didn't argue with the pregnant woman. Dymphna knew who would win that argument.

  When Dymphna cleared the table, Denise brought out a portfolio of information. She had names and dates attached to pictures, she had addresses of former Order members, she had copies of the sigils they used in their rites, and more.

  “Back in my time, the Order was based in Washington D.C. The Virginia area is very magically strong, which is why it spawned the Order. Most of the members lived in the area, and I've periodically checked to see if they were still at their old addresses. None of them are, but I included the addresses anyway. Using a farm location, like what Gage told me you found, is new. Our rites used to be held in someone's basement, and as Redman gained power, they all started to be in his house.

  “When we married, some of his supporters took off for other parts of the States. I don't know even what area they went to, unfortunately. We couldn't bond like elemental witches do because of the blood magic in our systems, but there are certain ceremonies that can imitate the bond enough for a relationship and an ability to have children. By that time, I was engrossed in the organization, and utterly entranced by Redman. I can't defend my behavior because it was truly wrong.

  “But when I had Gage, my paradigm started to shift. Then, without consulting me, my husband took Gage and experimented on him, giving him the powers of witches he sacrificed. I was horrified, and I objected. Redman said I would go along with it or he'd kill our son. Redman's mind tricks were stronger than my defenses ever were, so I knew that if I ran, he could and would find me. And then he'd kill both of us.

  “It was wrong of me, but I killed him in an unguarded moment. Then I took advantage of the chaos and escaped with my son. He's probably told you about how I've been using blood magic on him without his knowledge for his whole life. I hope you don't judge him too harshly for what I did. I can't thank you all enough for finally being able to break the hold that evil magic had on him.

  “Over the past few years, I've been putting together all the information I could remember on the Dark Order. I had the feeling Gage would need it, and I've always listened to those feelings because they can be influenced by my magic, or at least what I still have from existing on cow blood. I don't know much about the reformation of the Order, but I can answer any questions you have on the old structure or people involved.”

  Denise stopped, looking drained and resigned. It was as if telling her story had taken a weight off her shoulders but left her empty. Gage wrapped an arm over his mother's shoulders.

  “You did great. Thanks for the help.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Justin said, flipping through the pages. “This is a lot more than I had, and it'll give us more to extrapolate into a plan.” He stopped, marking his place with a finger. “One thing we'll need to keep in mind is that the police were not happy with our rescue efforts for Melanie and Fiona. In fact, they've threatened to bring the law against us if we do something like that in the future.”

  “So where does that leave us?” Fiona asked. “We can point the police in the right direction, but it would be downright dangerous to send them in after blood witches.”

  “I've been thinking about it,” Justin continued. “We need to find a way to bring them to us. If Eric Redman happens to show up on our turf and threaten our safety, we'd be justified in fighting back. The police won't like it, but as long as they can't prove we brought the Order to us, there's nothing they can do. It would be self-defense and all that. But the tricky part is that we'd need to get as many of them to the Coven House as possible, especially including Eric Redman.”

  “That's a big risk for the Coven House,” Melanie said. “We'd need to make extra sure they get stopped in the front so that we can protect the children and non-combatants who would be inside.”

  “There is that, too,” Justin conceded to his wife.

  “You'll never get them to go to the Coven House,” Dymphna argued. “It's been made clear that the Coven House has anti-blood magic protection. You found five sleeper Order witches with it, and you know they reported back. I think we'd have to get them to attack here at the Manor.”

  Everyone was silent, absorbing the idea. Skylar spoke first. “She's right. I don't like the idea of a fight at my home, but if we can bring them here and stop them, it would be worth it. This location would also mean that the non-combatants could stay at the Coven House where they would be safer.”

  Leo nodded. “We can contribute to the Coven by potentially sacrificing the safety of our home. It's for the good of everyone, and we'll do it.”

  “Then the question becomes how we get them to come here with a fight on their minds,” Seb pointed out. “And we have to make it a way that the police can't trace so they can't prove that we aggravated and goaded them to come out here. We don't want to finish the war with the Order only to go to jail.”

  Dymphna saw Gage's eyes flick to his mother. She knew he didn't like the idea of her going to jail, but he did respect her and her right to turn herself in if she thought it was necessary.

  “I've got it,” Gage said. “I've heard about how Redman contacted Seb and Fiona through their minds at a great distance. But the key that led him to contact them was knowing where they were. He clearly wants me or he wouldn't have kidnapped me. What we need to do, and let me know if you think we can do it, is to contact him.

  “We need two avenues of attack. One, we tell him via the media where I am. Two, we reach into his mind without his knowledge and subtly mold his thoughts in the way we want him to go. We would draw on his desire to bring me into the Order and push him subconsciously to believe he needs to come get me himself because his lackeys aren't capable of doing it. Then, when he finds out where I am, he'll contact me. I'll play on the subconscious thoughts we've already given him to inflame him enough to push him into action.

  “If it all works perfectly, he'll come and attack us with his most elite witches, and we'll be waiting for him. Since we did it all with magic and subtle media use, the police can't find us at fault. We, and a number of other witches who just 'happened' to be at Ward Manor at the time, will defend ourselves and our property. Someone will call the police, panicked, to tell them we're being attacked, and ideally, they'll pull up just in time to take the Order witches away.”

  “I want him dead,” Fiona hissed. “He killed the only parents I've ever known, and I want him to pay.”

  Seb put his hand over hers. “No, honey. If you take revenge like that, you'll be more like him than you ever wanted to be. Think about it this way: if he lives and the police take him away, he won't be able to practice the kind of blood magic he needs to thrive. He will wither in prison, and if he's able to do some kind of rite on food like Denise did, he will be able to survive for a long time as a weakling. And the other prisoners won't be nice to him just because he's addicted to human sacrifices. In fact, I think it would go in just the opposite direction. We won't give him a quick death when we can make him suffer.”

  “That's bloodthirsty,” Skylar commented. “And it's exactly what he deserves. Do you agree, Fiona?”

  “I don't want to, but you are right. Let that miserable son of
a bitch rot in prison hell.”

  “But do you think the plan would work?” Gage asked.

  “I think it can be done,” Melanie said, nodding. “It'll be tricky, but it can be done. What do you think, Seb and Leo, as the other practiced air witches?”

  “I think it can,” Seb agreed.

  “I agree,” Leo concurred. “But I think it's going to have to be Gage who does it.”

  Dymphna looked back and forth at the three air witches who were all nodding. “What the hell? Why him?”

  “He has the same father as Eric Redman, therefore, they share blood, as unfortunate as that is for him. That blood connection will make it much more likely that he can influence Redman's mind without being detected as an intruder. Plus, then Redman will contact Gage as per the plan, and he'll have to rile him up with some of the same subconscious triggers that he already used,” Leo explained. “Plus Redman won't be expecting it.”

  “Are you OK with that, Gage?” Dymphna asked. “You don't even have control of your magic yet.”

  “I'm going to have to take a crash course then. This is something I need to do, and I'm the only one who can do it. It's dangerous, and for that I'm sorry, D.”

  She nodded slowly. “I understand. I don't like it, but I understand.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So part of the plan is that we'll need Coven witches to be here when Eric attacks here,” Seb said, turning their attention back to the problem at hand. “I have a feeling they'll need to be here for a while, waiting for Redman, so we need to set up somewhere for them to sleep. I know you don't have any spare beds, but you have bedrooms. We should set up inflatable mattresses, I'm thinking, in the spare rooms.”

  “That sounds good,” Skylar agreed. “I'll also stock the kitchen with enough food to feed everyone.”

  “It'll still be a few days, yet, Skylar. Unfortunately, the plan requires Gage to have more control over his air magic before he can contact Redman. And then we'll need time to let him know where Gage is. I wish we could go through with it now, but if we want a good result, we have to wait.”

  “Are you going to post protection at the Coven House too?” Melanie asked. “I know the plan is for them to attack here, but they might not go where we point them.”

  “Yes, we'll split Coven Protection between the two houses,” Justin replied. “And we'll ask our witches for extra volunteer support for both locations. We need as many witches as we can get, but I'm not going to force anyone to take this kind of risk if they don't want to.”

  “Wouldn't Gage need to know where Redman is to contact him?” Skylar asked. “That's what allowed him to contact Fiona and Seb, right?”

  “It'll be difficult, but I think we can manage it by virtue of blood ties from their father,” Leo explained.

  “Wait, I just had a thought,” Denise exclaimed, shifting through her papers quickly. “Their father left a will, and maybe Eric collected on it. Aha, here it is,” she paused to read. “The property in Plymouth he left to Gage, which we sold. And there's a secondary property listed in Washington D.C. that he left to Eric. The old Order was based out of that house. Perhaps he's there.”

  “You're a genius!” Fiona exclaimed. “Plus, Washington D.C. is where he lured me to kidnap me. It would make sense that he would do so near where he lived. I remember waking up once in a nice room that could have been his home before I was taken to the farmhouse. That would fit.”

  “I knew having her here would help,” Justin said. “If this lead pans out, you may have just given us a crucial piece of information. Thank you.”

  Denise blushed. “It's the least I can do.”

  “I think I figured out how I got here,” Gage announced, surprising even Dymphna.

  “What do you think happened?” she asked.

  “The more I've been using the air magic, the more I feel that this explanation is right. I think that I accidentally cast a spell that transported me here. My memory of then is still a bit fuzzy, but I remember a strong wish to get myself somewhere safe immediately. The spells I've been doing, and the air magic and levitation in particular, feel very similar to the form and the result of the teleportation wish. I think that all of my magic was stronger in a way that only blood magic can make it. I didn't use the blood magic, but it was clearly running through me since it had been used on me without my permission. Somehow I was able to channel my power and that extra power boost into teleporting me to the place I would be safe.”

  Everyone was quiet for a while. Fiona replied first.

  “I believe it. He has so much raw magic that I could almost believe he did it with just his natural ability. With the added amp up of the blood magic, I do believe just such a feat would be possible. It's incredible, and when we come out on the other end of this thing, I'd like to look into replicating that. Your unique power, no matter how you got it, might be able to revolutionize the way we do some magic.”

  “Well thank you. I look forward to learning more about what magic can do, both for me and for others.”

  “I know we're all excited about this, but it's getting late, and I know Denise must be tired, so let's adjourn for now,” Melanie said.

  “I'll look through all of this tomorrow and come back to you with any questions,” Justin promised.

  When the rest of the family left, Dymphna gave Skylar her infusion, and she went to bed. Since it was Friday and he didn't have anything scheduled for Saturday, Leo stayed downstairs with Dymphna, Gage, and Denise. Leo got to choose the movie, and he selected the Bruce Lee classic Enter the Dragon.

  Dymphna was thankful for the chance to relax in a casual setting with Denise. She was figuring out that the other woman liked her already just for being Gage's wife, but she still wanted her approval. Gage's mother obviously meant a lot to him, so she should mean a lot to Dymphna as well.

  Before they went to sleep, Gage practiced reading Dymphna over and over again, trying to connect to her mind and ascertain her feelings as quickly as possible. He finally let up when he started sensing that Dymphna was getting tired. He had other activities in mind to do before she fell asleep on him.

  187

  CHAPTER TEN

  The next morning, Dymphna dropped Gage off with Melanie early so he could get in a full day of practice. Melanie was going to work on his levitation for half the day, then work on speaking in someone's mind for the other half. Dymphna was glad she was through with the basics of her training because she remembered how difficult and tiring it could be. But Gage was holding up well so far.

  After that, she went to the mall with Denise. She had been right that she didn't pack clothes warm enough for winter in Boston, and Dymphna was looking forward to spending some time with her mother-in-law in a casual setting.

  “So I've been wanting to ask you, how did you find Gage? He explained how he got here from his detainment, but what happened after that?”

  “I didn't know what was going on at first. What I know is that my magic alerted me to something wrong in the house. When Skylar and I searched, we found him on the front porch. He was badly hurt and in rags with no memory. I don't honestly know how he survived and didn't even get frostbite, but it might have been some part of his fire magic protecting him. We immediately brought him in and started healing him.”

  “You did a great job. I don't see any sign of him being injured at all.”

  “I'm one of the few water witches who force-heals people rather than accelerating the body's natural healing abilities. He was lucky I was there, but I think he may have been called to me because our magic was attuned. It took multiple days to heal him because he was in such bad condition. Then Fiona worked a spell to cleanse the blood magic from him, but the consequences of the spell were that he retreated into his own mind. If there wasn't a second part to the spell, he would have been cleansed, but never regain consciousness.”

  “How did you do that?”

  “Fiona has powerful earth magic that she put into the sigils and ceremony of r
emoving the taint. Then she used a different set of sigils to send my consciousness into his mind. Between her spell, my water magic, and the bond we had formed between us, I was able not only to bring him back but to unlock his memories as well. But even with that, it took time for him to remember his escape, and as far as I know, he still doesn't remember his capture.”

  “That's some impressive magic,” Denise said with a low whistle. “I'm glad he found people who could pull off something like that.”

  “It was very lucky for everyone involved. But I consider myself the luckiest because I found and fell in love with Gage, and he's changed my whole outlook on life. I'm a different person, and I like the person I'm becoming.”

  "That's good. He clearly loves you too. I'll be honest with you. He's had girlfriends, but he never kept one for very long. I knew he had a bond-mate out there somewhere, but I was starting to be afraid he would ever meet you. I had worried that my own activity with blood magic would prevent him from being able to make a bond like that."

  "I was pretty confident I'd never find mine, and I put everything into my career instead. Now, though, I've been having an internal debate between keeping up the level of work I always have and taking time to be a wife. The best I can do is assure myself that I can cut back some and still fill both positions. I am certainly glad that his elemental magic overcame any difficulty your magic had put in his way. But that's not even a good thought to linger on. So what was Gage like as a child?"

  The morning passed quickly, and they got Denise enough clothes to last a while in the cold weather. Unspoken was the knowledge that she wouldn't need them once she turned herself in. There were plenty of charities they could donate them to after that point.

  The two of them convinced Skylar to take an afternoon off her writing, and they chatted while playing a game of Uno. It was the only game Dymphna could find, and it worked well enough. Besides, they did more talking than playing anyway.