by April Wood
“Good. Use that,” mother said.
“I will,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Protect Carolyn, Tomlin. They will try to take her,” mother commanded.
“To my last breath,” he replied.
“Tá grá agam duit,” I said.
“I gcónaí,” he replied.
The men coming over the hill had torches. Their plan was more than obvious. They were stunned when they finally clapped eyes on us. I wasn’t sure what they were expecting, but I was certain it wasn’t four armor clad people. A few of them actually turned around and ran away. Good. Less people to kill.
“Deheune,” father said. He approached and dismounted deliberately slowly.
“Edward,” she replied. She didn’t move a muscle that wasn’t necessary. Currently only her eyes and mouth moved. She appeared to be a speaking statue. I couldn’t wait to have that kind of control over my body.
“These fine gentleman have come to rid you from our world.” He said it like it was just a matter of fact. He didn’t even stammer over the words.
“Really?”
“Witches are not to be tolerated in the new world, Deheune. You should have never come,” he replied. He stood next to his horse. He was petting it as if this were a normal conversation. Nothing about this was normal. The men behind him had not gotten off their horses. Aidan was staring Carolyn down. No doubt he was surprised she was able to stand, let alone hold on to all of her weapons. To her credited she only gave him a smirk. It almost made me laugh. It made him boil over with anger.
“So it is your intention to put your daughter and your grandchild to death?” mother asked. She was radiating her disgust for him. I felt it as well.
“Certain things have to be done to safe guard my people.”
“That’s a good one. These are not your people, Edward.”
“Maybe not years ago, but they are now. Your kind shouldn’t be allowed to live,” he replied.
“Is that how you felt when you were between my legs?” Her boldness caught the men unaware. They all knew him as Agnes’s husband. They weren’t aware until then I was his and Deheune’s daughter. Even Aidan seemed shocked by this revelation.
“I will have justice even if it does cost our daughter’s life,” Edward growled. He was clearly shaken by her words. She was less effected by his.
“You will try. Most of the men behind you will die in the process. I will protect my family in spite of you.”
“That is my family, witch. Not yours!”
“Come take them if you will,” she said with a deep bow. He must have thought this was his opportunity. He grabbed the gun from his horses holster and fired without much thought. It bounced off of the circle around the cabin and killed a man in the back. The shock on his face was priceless.
“See, I told she was a witch. Aidan, find the circle and destroy it,” Edward screamed. Another two of his men took off. Now we were down to fifteen in front of us.
Aidan jumped off of his horse and searched frantically for the circle. He dug in the soil and kicked the dirt around. I struggled to keep the laughter in. He looked ridiculous. Finally he found the right area. Mother nodded to us all and we drew our wands out. This wasn’t going to be as easy as we all had hoped it would be.
“Now Deheune, do you really want to reveal your true nature to all these people,” Edward said.
“You’ve already told them what I am. Have you told them what you are?” mother replied.
“What is she talking about, Edward?” A man in the back of the group asked. He was sitting up tall on his saddle. His face was shadowed by his hat, but I could see he was the local butcher. I didn’t know his name but he was familiar with my family.
“Nothing, Marcus. She is just trying to spare herself,” Edward replied.
“How fast you forget your own kind.” Mother was smiling broadly. I wasn’t sure where she was headed with this. The game between the two of them didn’t make sense to me.
“Your kind you mean.” He was starting to get snappy.
“All the time you spent training was for nothing then? You don’t use your skills even now? I find it hard to believe there has been nothing that would tempt you. How is it I couldn’t find our daughter for so long? You may have used her powers to bump yours but it was you that cloaked her for all these years. You may lie to these people but you will not lie to our offspring. You are one of us, or at least you were.”
“All lies,” he said with a smirk.
Deheune sent a spark at him and instinctively he deflected it with his own wand. The men were confused. They looked at him and the wand in his hand. They debated for a moment staying, but then they turned tail and ran. The only one left was Aidan. He was not surprised by his father’s response. Then I noticed why. He had his own wand. Great. This was going to be a full on battle with just the two of them.
“You got your wish. It’s just us.” Edward glared at mother. I wondered where his hate came from. I would have to ask her later.
“You shouldn’t have involved them, Edward. You’ve left your wife and other children completely vulnerable. They will put it together and go after them.”
“You are trying to distract me.”
“To a degree, but you know I am right. What will you gain by attacking us today?” Mother relaxed her body slightly.
“Respect.”
“From your children? The people will not respect you now. They only see you as a witch that lied to them. It won’t take them long to plan your death.”
He stood there for a moment pondering what she had said. For just the few fleeting seconds that passed I had hope we would not have to fight. It wasn’t to be. Agnes and the three other children came up behind Edward and Aidan. Great.
“I guess you had me fooled,” mother huffed. She wasn’t fooled but she would let him think so.
“Now whose numbers are greater?” The smile on his face was too much. I grabbed my bow off of my back and lined my brother in my sights. Arden was not as big as Aidan, but his loss would hurt that family. He looked at me as I leveled him in my sights.
At first he was the same old Arden. Then something snapped and he started looking at me like Edward and Aidan were. That was the final straw for me. Before anyone could say anything else my arrow was flying through the air. It made impact directly in Arden’s chest. He fell to the ground dead seconds later. Little did I know that was just the thing they were waiting for. They all broke out there wands and leveled them at us. How did this family keep this from me for so long?
Deheune waved her wand quickly and the wind moved the air. The next thing I knew we were standing on the beach. The water was rushing in and making my toes wet.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
“Living to fight another day. I can’t believe you did that,” mother replied.
“What? He looked at me like I was the devil.”
“As far as they are concerned you are the daughter of the devil.”
“One of these days you will have to explain it to me. I didn’t really mean to kill him.”
“I know,” she said, pulling me into a tight embrace. She stroked my hair for a moment. Then Carolyn and Tomlin joined in the hug. It was warming. It felt like I was floating on a cloud of love. Then I noticed my feet weren’t wet anymore. I tried to pick my head up off of her shoulder, but she held it tight.
“Now is not the time to be curious. Close your eyes,” she cooed. I did as instructed. A few minutes later my feet felt the cool dew of grass. She loosened her grip and everyone stepped away from me. I knew instinctively we were in Ireland. It was the place of my birth. I would know it anywhere.
“How did we get here?” I asked.
“Magic,” mother laughed.
I looked around. The Isle was more impressive than my imagination had thought of. The grass seemed greener. I knew it wasn’t, but it seemed that way to me. We landed near some stones. It was set in a circle. I turned to see everyone was sm
iling at me.
“Is it all you dreamed, Grá geal?” Tomlin walked over and took my hand. He pulled me in tightly. He felt so at home. His peace washed over me.
“And more.”
“Good.”
“What’s next, Deheune?” Carolyn asked.
“First you and I are going to see the council. Then we will go from there. Edward and his clan will not take this lying down. They will find a way back here.”
“What do we do?” I asked. They all laughed.
“What married people do,” mother laughed.
“How? We have no home here,” I added. Their laughter angered me.
“We do my love. Come.” He took my hand and led me down the valley. Nestled in front of a lake was a quaint log cabin not unlike the one we left. I smiled widely the closer we got. It was exactly the same, right down to the porch. He scooped me up and carried me into our home. He set me down on the bed and closed the door so we could begin our new life together in this new land.
About April Wood
I began writing at the tender age of 12. It started with just poetry and then in 2008 I wrote my first full length manuscript. Ever since I have been writing as often as I can. Living in Maine with my wonderful husband and three kids affords me some much needed time to keep the characters coming. I am also a disabled veteran.
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Other books by this author
(The Mist Series)
Outside the Mists of Time
Beyond the Mists of Time
*
(Enticing Series)
Enticing
Endless
Tempestuous
(The Cast Series)
Blood Cast
Wind Cast
Stone Cast
Fire Cast
*
(Dale Series)
Bound in Mirendale
Grown in Gorendale (March 2015)
The Air in Evondale (Dec 2015)
*
(Changes Series)
A Vampire’s Eyes
Vampire’s Breath
Vampire’s Blood
Vampire’s Love
Vampire’s Strength
(Co-Author works) w/Elizabeth St.John
Tempted by Fairies
Washed up, A Merman’s Tale
Country Strong
Lover’s Bound
Contact this author
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apejaywood
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoraprilwood
Web page: http://www.aprilwoodauthor.com
