The Seduced

by Cheyenne McCray

  Copper rubbed her forehead with her fingertips, her elbows on the table. “We have to take this one step at a time. Somehow we must figure out where Darkwolf took Silver and how we will get her back.”

  “Something’s been blocking us every step of the way.” Rhiannon slipped into a chair and scooted up to the large, rectangular Formica table.

  The white and brown flecked table was scarred and gouged, but it served its purpose. Rhiannon slid her finger along one cut in the Formica. “With all of our divination talents, with the D’Danann, and the PSF—we should have been able to find the Fomorii and the Balorites by now.”

  The remaining witches took their chairs like Knights of the Round Table. Only it isn’t round, Copper thought and then wondered why her thoughts were straying when something much more important needed attention.

  Copper studied each witch’s face.

  A vivacious beauty, Rhiannon had auburn hair that swung forward as she braced her arms on the table, her fiery green eyes flashing.

  Petite, blonde, blue-eyed Mackenzie worried her lower lip with her teeth.

  The gorgeous raven-haired and lavender-eyed Sydney thoughtfully adjusted her chic glasses.

  Alyssa, with her soft light-brown curls, had her brown eyes focused intently on Copper.

  Hannah had dark brown hair that hung straight to her shoulders and beautiful chocolate-brown eyes. A single chunk of blonde hair swept over her brows to frame the other side of her face. Hannah was the only one who looked accusingly at Copper.

  Then there was turquoise-eyed, blonde Cassia, with her ethereal Elvin beauty, who had no judgment in her gaze whatsoever.

  “No one could possibly feel worse than I do about Silver’s capture. She’s my sister.” It was all Copper could do to hold back more tears. “I should have been able to protect her from Darkwolf, but he was too fast, and we were caught off-guard.”

  Cassia placed her hand over Copper’s and squeezed. Something about Cassia’s Elvin touch calmed Copper and she was able to continue.

  “Of course, we each have divination skills.” Copper pulled off the black stocking cap that she’d been wearing at the pier. Static electricity made wisps of her hair rise as her braid fell down her back. She stuffed the cap into the back pocket of her black jeans. “We can use those gifts to give us clues to answer some questions.”

  She listed each using the fingers of her hand. “One: where is Silver and how can we rescue her? Two: who or what has been blocking our powers? Three: why were Silver and I given visions that ended up in disaster, rather than helping us?” She took a deep breath before adding, “Unfortunately, my only divination talent lies in dream-visions, but I don’t think I’ll be taking a nap right now.”

  Hannah, a computer software engineer, looked coolly down her nose at Copper, no warmth in her eyes. “We’ve combined our talents before and our clues have been minimal. We’ve barely been able to keep the Fomorii and Balorites on the run. And even then we had Silver and her scrying cauldron.”

  Zephyr gave a buzz of annoyance in Copper’s ear at the tone of Hannah’s voice. “Maybe we just need to ask the right questions.” Copper held Hannah’s stare. “Maybe something is blocking us, and if we work together to get past that block, our talents will aid us better.”

  Mackenzie glanced around. “Who should start?”

  “I’ll go last.” Rhiannon tucked her hair behind her ear as her familiar, a large cat named Spirit, jumped into her lap. “Hearing what you all come up with may help make my vision stronger.”

  “Hot tea would do us all good.” Cassia scooted away from the table and made her way to the other end of the kitchen. She brought out a huge copper kettle and filled it with water. Within moments it whistled, obviously heated by Cassia’s magic. Copper wondered just how powerful the Elvin witch was.

  Sydney’s chair legs squeaked against the linoleum as she pushed her chair from the table. “I need to gather candles.” She gracefully stood and slipped away from the table. Sydney was the CEO of an advertising agency on Market Street in downtown San Francisco.

  “I need one, too,” Alyssa said as she got up and then disappeared through the swinging door and into the darkened shop behind Sydney.

  Mackenzie went to her backpack that hung from a hook on the wall and brought out a scarf-wrapped bundle. When she returned to the table, she reverently unwrapped the scarf to reveal her well-used deck of tarot cards. She laid the iridescent scarf in her lap and began shuffling the cards.

  Hannah went to the cabinet and withdrew sea salt crystals. She dug her scrying mirror out of her briefcase, which hung on another wall hook.

  When everyone sat at the table again with the tools of their divination skills, Alyssa lit a purple stick of incense at the center of the table. She had chosen a pewter Faerie holder with the Faerie clasping the incense stick in her little hands. Gradually the lilac-scented smoke drifted Copper’s way—purple and lilacs were used for psychic work and clairvoyance.

  At the same time, Cassia poured hot water over homemade tea bags in an odd variety of porcelain cups. The women passed the filled teacups around the table and the scent of citrus and cloves rose up with the steam.

  After everyone had their cup of tea, Copper turned to Cassia, who sat next to her. “Want to start?”

  Cassia answered by reaching into the pocket of her flowing skirt and bringing out a black velvet bag. She closed her eyes and fingered the rune stones through the cloth, projecting her Elvin magic. When she opened her eyes, she drew apart the bag’s drawstring and let the stones tumble onto the table. They were black with golden runes etched upon them.

  For a long moment Cassia studied them. Copper wanted to take a sip of tea, but found her hand shook too much to bring the cup to her lips.

  Finally, Cassia said, “I see communication—I believe Silver will find a way to get word to us, although I don’t see it freeing her. She has protection, which I read as her magic, and that will help her hold evil at bay. Family will be involved.”

  At that she glanced at Copper, then back to the stones. “The situation is unpredictable and deals with more than simply saving her from Darkwolf and the Fomorii. Other threats exist.” With that, she gathered her stones into her velvet bag, tied the drawstring, and slipped it back into the pocket of her skirt.

  Copper swallowed and looked to Alyssa, who sat on the other side of Cassia. Alyssa nodded, her soft brown curls bobbing with the movement, as she struck a match and raised it to the silver candle before her. A serpent candleholder held the taper, the base of the candle gripped taut in the snake’s jaws.

  The smell of sulfur, then burning wood of the matchstick met Copper’s nose, followed by the lily scent of the candle. Or was that her imagination—that she caught Silver’s perfume?

  “Obviously I chose the serpent since it’s Silver’s totem,” Alyssa said in her quiet voice. “And I chose a silver candle to represent her.”

  Alyssa placed her palms flat on the table and stared unblinking at the candle flame. Her eyes unfocused and glazed over. The soft sound of the other witches’ breathing seemed magnified in the silence, as did the ticking of the clock over the stove, and the drip of water from the sink’s faucet.

  It seemed to take forever, but it was mere moments before Alyssa pulled herself out of her trance. She blinked several times before blowing out the candle, leaving only a thin trail of smoke rising to the kitchen ceiling.

  While she waited, Copper managed to get her cup to her lips before she heard what Alyssa had to say. The citrus-clove flavor of the tea was both sweet and tangy. Her teacup rattled on its saucer when she set it down.

  Alyssa frowned at the now unlit candle, her eyebrows pinched together in concentration. “Silver’s pissed more than anything. She does know she won’t be harmed because Darkwolf doesn’t plan to hurt her. He has other intentions for her, which I couldn’t get a grasp on. I believe she’s somewhere on the other side of the city, possibly close to the pier, but she’s not certain where
she is.”

  Alyssa turned to Hannah, whose mirror lay face-up on the tabletop. The mirror had an ornate frame of two dragons, each biting the tail of the other so that they formed a never-ending circle. The mirror itself was black and cast no reflection to anyone but Hannah.

  She didn’t bother to look at anyone. Instead she poured rock crystals into her palm from a clear jar and set the jar back down. She let the salt crystals tinkle and bounce onto the mirror. Not a single crystal fell off its surface, even onto the frame.

  Hannah had her answers within seconds. She looked directly at Copper. “Darkwolf doesn’t want Silver hurt. Like Alyssa said, he wants her for reasons that are unclear. But she’s in danger, and even he doesn’t realize the jeopardy he will put her in. She will be used in a way that could mean her death.”

  Chills rolled over Copper and goose bumps pricked her skin. “You don’t see us finding her soon?”

  Hannah shook her head, her single lock of blonde a stark contrast against the darkness of her brown hair. “I don’t see it. But then, nothing is set. The future is always in question.”

  Copper’s neck was stiff as she gave a single nod and turned her attention to Sydney, whose lavender eyes were focused thoughtfully on the fat pillar candles she had chosen for her divination. In front of her was a medium-sized, engraved silver bowl filled with consecrated water. The three short pillar candles positioned beside the bowl were silver, black, and green.

  “Like Alyssa, I chose a silver candle to represent our Coven sister.” Sydney struck a match and lit each candle. The tang of sulfur was stronger this time. “The silver candle also represents the goddess, mysteries, the moon, and intuition. In addition, I chose a black candle for protection and removing bad luck, and green to invoke the goddess.”

  As all of the witches watched Sydney, she raised the silver candle and let the wax begin to drip into the bowl of consecrated water. The silver wax looked like blobs of mercury at first before they chilled into patterns in the water. Again Copper caught the perfume of lilies.

  Sydney frowned, and Copper’s stomach clenched. The witch selected the black candle next and tilted it so that its wax slowly dripped into the bowl, on and around the silver wax. The scent of patchouli was strong.

  This time Sydney didn’t pause after she set the black candle down. She immediately picked up the green candle and tilted it to allow its wax to dribble into the bowl, too. This candle smelled of pine.

  When Sydney had set the green candle on the table, she let them continue to flicker in the still air of the kitchen as she studied the wax patterns in the bowl.

  She finally raised her head. “The goddess had nothing to do with your dream-vision that told you to go to the wharf, Copper.” Flickering candlelight reflected in Sydney’s eyes as she spoke. “Anu also had nothing at all to do with your vision of the wharf. A dark force was involved, and I believe it was Balor.”

  “Balor?” Rhiannon said, her face flushed and her jaw taut.

  Sydney nodded in response, but continued to speak to Copper. “However, the goddess did protect and provide for you in Otherworld. When Darkwolf would have taken you, she sent you to Otherworld to learn something that will aid us in our task.”

  “Garran of course.” Copper’s mind raced as she wondered if anything else concerning her exile could be related to these events.

  Sydney brought her attention back to the present when she said, “Silver’s captivity will somehow be to our benefit, as well.”

  “How can you say that?” Rhiannon snapped, nearly upsetting her teacup as she placed her fists on the tabletop. The cat, Spirit, hissed from her lap. “She’s been kidnapped by that bastard Darkwolf and is in the clutches of the Fomorii.”

  Sydney simply looked at Rhiannon and said, “I am only telling you what the goddess and Ancestors have shown me.”

  Rhiannon clenched her jaw and sat back in her seat with her arms folded across her chest. “I’m not liking what I’m hearing.”

  “I don’t think any of us are.” Copper’s voice shook. “Only two of you are left. Mackenzie, you’re next.”

  Mackenzie’s knuckles had grown white from clutching her tarot deck so tightly. She looked at Copper, quickly shuffled them again, and began to lay the cards out in the Celtic-cross spread, which consisted of ten cards.

  “Copper, this spread is for both you and Silver.” Mackenzie took a deep breath before she began. “The first card—Queen of Swords. It means that you will be rational and logical in this situation.”

  She frowned. “It’s crossed by the Emperor reversed, which tells us that more powerful people or beings are in control of your and your sister’s destinies.” She moved on to the next one. “The third card is for strength and this means that you could triumph over the enemy and will fight on others’ behalf.”

  Unlike how she’d appeared when she’d been white-knuckling the tarot deck, Mackenzie’s voice now held no hint of hesitation. “Next is the Moon reversed, meaning you both are dealing with insincere people and may find it hard to distinguish between fantasy and reality.”

  She touched another card. “Five of Pentacles reversed. You both need to work hard, but your faith and confidence will grow.”

  Throughout Mackenzie’s tarot reading, Copper’s palms sweated and her scalp itched. Everything she heard was confusing, frustrating, and not what she wanted to hear. She wanted to know exactly where Silver was and that they would rescue her, and now.

  “Future events,” Mackenzie continued. “Your hard work may be well rewarded, bringing new friends. The seventh card is the Five of Cups reversed. This means an unhappy time could come to an end, but pain and struggle will have left their mark. The card also represents happiness coming back to you both in the shape of a friend or lover returning. New opportunities will allow you to make up your differences and restore a relationship.”

  Copper blinked. What could that mean?

  “Six of Swords reversed.” Mackenzie tapped the card. “Continuing difficulties are of a temporary nature. Battles must be fought. Courage and strength are required now.”

  She moved on to the next card. “Nine of Wands. I see your efforts may pay off, and problems may be overcome. However, one last challenge lies beyond that and you’ll both need significant strength to overcome it.”

  Mackenzie took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with the movement. “And last, the tenth card—the Wheel of Fortune. You both are approaching moments in your lives when fate takes a hand in your affairs. If fate deems it, the wheel may turn in your favor and a new cycle may begin.”

  She went on, “Although the problem may be difficult to live through, when the dust settles, you will discover a whole new set of friends.”

  Everyone at the table remained quiet as they looked to one another. Copper tried to digest everything she’d heard tonight, and had difficulty wrapping it into a neat, understandable package she could use to take action. Zephyr buzzed his confusion in her ear, too.

  So far she’d heard that she and Silver had battles to fight. Their cause might be the same, but they might not be fighting them together.

  Did that mean they wouldn’t find Silver yet?

  Finally, Sydney said, “It’s up to you now, Rhiannon.”

  Sparks lit the fiery witch’s eyes. Rhiannon sat next to Copper and grasped her arm. She wasn’t surprised, as Rhiannon normally needed something to channel her energy.

  Spirit, the cat familiar, rose in Rhiannon’s lap and rubbed his head against her chest in a show of support and probably to lend his magic.

  Rhiannon closed her eyes. Her chest rose and fell as she took a deep breath. For a very long moment she was so quiet that Copper began to feel dazed and light-headed.

  “I see Silver and she looks uninjured, just angry,” Rhiannon said slowly when she finally began to speak. “She’s in a room like an office, but she’s caged in one corner by Darkwolf’s magic shield. It looks like she’s checking to see if the guards are paying attention. S
he’s reaching into her pocket. She’s pulled out her cell phone—”

  The ringing of the telephone cut through the air and everyone looked up in shock. Copper was the first out of her chair and dived for the kitchen phone. “Silver?”

  “How’d you—never mind.” Silver’s voice was low and breathless. “Darkwolf is looking for the door and he wants to release Balor’s physical body. They think they can do it tomorrow.” Silver’s voice held fear and concern. “I tricked Darkwolf into mentioning his allies. They are the Dark Elves, the Drow.”

  “I know.” Copper rushed to interrupt her sister. “Where are you?”

  Silver hesitated. “I don’t know, but I think I’m safe for now. I—”

  The connection went dead.

  “No!” Copper shouted into the phone even as the dial tone rang in her ear. She slammed the phone down on the countertop and whirled to look at her friends. She rubbed her forehead with the heel of her palm.

  “It was Silver. She doesn’t know where she is, but she confirmed everything we’ve suspected.” Copper eyed her sister witches. “She believes the Balorites and Fomorii are going to be able to open the door tomorrow night with the Dark Elves.”

  “The Dark Elves?” Cassia moved closer to Copper. “It would have taken them a while, but yes, they could have tunneled to some kind of cavern deep below the surface where a door to Underworld would be. They’ve tunneled deeper than they should have.”

  She shook her head. “Once they tunneled so deeply they released the earth giants. It would not take much time to tunnel even deeper than that.”

  “I know the Drow king who leads the Dark Elves who are working with Darkwolf.” Copper met the other witches’ gazes. “His name is Garran and he was trapped in Otherworld like I was, except below ground.”

  Copper gritted her teeth before relaxing her jaw. “Rather, I thought he was trapped. Apparently, all this time he’s been able to travel between worlds while he left the rest of us to live in a prison.”