Collateral Damage: A Tethered Novel

by Wayne, Jessica

  It was refreshing and made Paislee desperate to understand how to control her own power. Perhaps she wasn’t a monster after all. Myria was a witch too, and she was kind.

  “So, you’ve told me about your past and how you learned of your magic. Tell me now, what is it you fear?”

  Paislee studied her face, had Myria read her thoughts? “What do you mean?”

  “Everyone fears something Paislee, especially when you are thrust into a world of magic with no prior knowledge. When I learned I was a witch, I nearly killed my brother with my power. I was afraid I was turning into something horrible.” She reached forward and gently touched Paislee’s hand. “What are you afraid of?”

  Paislee swallowed hard, it wasn’t easy for her to bare her soul for others to see, and voicing her deepest fears was not anything she had ever done, at least not out loud.

  Timothy had left, off to talk to Aengus she assumed, so it was only she and Myria. If anyone was going to understand, it was her.

  “Malcolm used to tell me I was inhuman. That it wasn’t kidnapping because I wasn’t actually a child. He said I was a monster and with each murder I committed, regardless of whether it was self-defense, more of my soul turned down a dark path. He told me that I would never come back from who I was and that it was safer for the world if I were locked up. I suppose I believed him, and I’m afraid that the more I learn about myself, the more of a monster I will become.”

  “Timothy said you had been looking into magic before, were you afraid then?”

  She shook her head. “I didn’t have as much to lose. It was only my life on the line.”

  “Paislee, you have been forced to do some terrible things. I won’t pacify you by denying that, but I will tell you that they were done out of self-defense. You are not to blame for trying to stay alive. You are not a monster, being a witch is a gift, not a curse.” She straightened. “Now, how about we have some fun?”

  Eager to learn, Paislee nodded.

  “Okay, magic works off your thoughts. You have to will your power to do something, and there is no room for error.” Myria held up her palm and said, “Light.” A ball of light appeared and began to float towards the ceiling before dissolving into a dozen more and eventually fading out.

  “That is amazing,” Paislee whispered, astounded.

  “Now you try.”

  “With light?”

  Myria shook her head. “I want you to try with fire.”

  “Fire? That seems dangerous.”

  “Just concentrate Paislee.”

  Paislee closed her eyes and pictured a flame dancing in her palm. “Fire,” she said with conviction. The fire shot up from her hand and into the curtains. They burst into flames, and without moving, Myria conjured up water to put it out.

  “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

  “Please Paislee.” She smiled. “That’s not the first time those drapes have caught fire, and it probably won’t be the last. When I was first getting started, I nearly brought down the house.” She looked over at the still smoldering curtains. “Still maybe we should go outside just in case.”

  * * *

  At the end of the day, Paislee had learned how to conjure orbs of light, as well as to project memories inside. It had been fascinating to watch a much younger Timothy inside from one of Myria’s childhood memories.

  He had been so different then, Paislee could see the lightness of his heart and wondered just what it was over the years that had darkened him. Had it been the loss of his wife? His mortality? Or things he had witnessed during his two hundred years alone?

  Myria gave her a magic text to read that contained actual incantations. Paislee was practically buzzing with excitement over it.

  She was walking up the stairs to her room when she nearly ran face first into Timothy as he rounded the corner from the hall.

  “Hey! I’ve got homework,” she said with a slight smile.

  He nodded. “Can I take you somewhere?”

  His curt response had her concerned. “Yeah, let me put this down.”

  “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  She set her book down and headed back for the stairs. Anticipation for what Timothy wanted to show her, had her walking so fast she slipped and fell down the last four stairs on her butt.

  Face red, she looked up, thankful that no one seemed to see her fall. Timothy stood just outside, hands in his pockets, staring out at the trees.

  “Ready!” Paislee announced, and he turned to her.

  “Right then. Let’s go.” He opened the door to their car for her and then walked around to climb into the driver’s side.

  She could see that he was tense in the way his fingers gripped the steering wheel, and his eyes stayed focused on the road. He didn’t say a word the entire time they were in the car, and when he pulled into a cemetery, Paislee’s heart stammered. Why were they here?

  She climbed out of the car and Timothy walked silently across the grass. They passed new stones of loved ones who were recently departed, but Timothy kept moving until they reached a short wall.

  He stopped, just outside of the little iron gate, and took a deep breath. Then he pushed it open and stepped into the part of the cemetery that housed those who had long since passed.

  He stopped in front of a stone that had worn down due to the elements and years. Moss grew up the sides, and she knelt to get a closer look at the fading inscription.

  Cait Elizabeth McGinley

  Born: February 7th, 1799

  Died: April 21st, 1849

  Paislee covered her mouth with her hands and looked up to see Timothy staring down at the stone as if it might come to life right before his eyes. A tear rolled down his cheek, and Paislee was so stunned she didn’t notice the ones falling from her eyes onto the grass.

  “This is your wife.”

  He nodded but still didn’t say anything.

  Paislee got to her feet and then lightly pressed a hand to the stone.

  The scenery around them changed before her eyes, and soon she was standing not in a cemetery, but in a bustling village in what Paislee guessed was the early eighteen hundreds.

  She would have been shocked, had her eyes not locked on young Timothy standing only a few feet away from her.

  He was watching her, and as he took a step towards her, she stepped back. What was happening?

  “Cait?” He was nervous. “May I have a word?”

  She nodded, unsure of what exactly was happening. Had she bumped her head when she’d fallen down the stairs?

  He grinned at her, and it was completely unencumbered by the pain she’d seen in his eyes since the moment she’d met him in that alley.

  “Come.” He held his arm out, and she looped hers through it. “I went to see your father today.”

  “Did you now?” The words came out easily, as if they’d been scripted, and while it was her voice- the words were not hers.

  “I went to see him to ask for your hand, Cait.” He stopped and turned her. “I wish to marry you, please say yes.”

  “Yes!” she said loudly, and he swept her into his arms.

  “You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me. I promise I will love you until the day I die, and then I will love you still.” He kissed her cheek. “Shall we go see your parents?”

  The scenery changed again, and she was standing back in the cemetery, only the gravestone in front of her was fresh.

  Timothy stared down at it with a look that could only signify absolute and complete heartbreak.

  Tears streamed down his cheeks, and his jaw was hard. Was this the moment? She wondered when he had lost who he was?

  She couldn’t help it, she reached for him just as a breeze fluttered across the cemetery and lifted a strand of hair from his face. He turned and began walking away from her.

  Within moments, she was back in her time, and Timothy stood staring at her.

  “Where did you go?”

  She shook her head “I don’t know, I just touch
ed the stone, and I was there.” She looked back down and carefully lifted her hand.

  “Did you cast a spell?”

  She looked back at him and saw that he was angry, what the hell did he have to be angry about? It’s not like she purposely sent herself two centuries into the past!

  “No, I don’t know what happened. I touched the stone, and then I was somewhere else. Or rather, some-when else.”

  “What did you see?”

  “You. I saw you propose to Cait.”

  “Did you get a good show?”

  “Timothy, I didn’t do it on purpose-” She stepped towards him, but he moved away.

  “I brought you here to share a part of myself with you. A part that I haven’t let anyone see, and instead of letting me explain it to you in my own time, you stole it.” He turned and headed back towards the car. Paislee ran for him, but when she grabbed his arm, he yanked it away.

  “Timothy, I didn’t do it on purpose! I swear!”

  “You witches never do anything on purpose, do you? Nothing is ever your fault!” He threw the keys at her. “Take yourself back,” he growled and walked the other way.

  “This is bullshit.” She stomped her foot and headed back towards the stone. He wanted to accuse her of something, fine. But she was damn well going to get more out of it than two memories.

  She fell to the ground in front of the stone, and pressed both hands to the inscription, “You want to talk Cait?” she murmured and imagined herself stepping into the life of Timothy’s wife.

  “I do not think I can bear a child, Timothy.” She felt the pain and heartbreak as she stared up at Timothy, once again viewing the scene from Cait’s point of view. A tear slipped down her cheek and onto her hand, and Timothy knelt before her.

  He lifted her hands and kissed them gently. “My love, I will love you whether we have children or not, you are enough for me.”

  Paislee felt Cait’s lip quiver as Timothy wrapped his arms around her. She leaned against him and then suddenly he was gone. She opened her eyes to see him pacing in front of her.

  “Timothy, calm yourself. I am sure there is an explanation.”

  “I know there’s an explanation Cait, I was cursed! Myria cursed me just as she did herself and Aengus!”

  “Perhaps but getting angry won’t solve it.”

  “What do you expect me to do? Do you understand what this means?”

  She laughed lightly. “That one day you’ll be married to an old woman.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  “My dear Timothy.” She stood and walked to him. “Everything will be fine.”

  “I won’t get to grow old with you, and I cannot fathom a life without you in it.”

  “We will figure it out, there has to be a way.” She lifted to her toes and kissed his cheek. “We will find a way.”

  The memory faded, and Paislee found herself lying in a bed staring up at Timothy who cried over her.

  “You cannot leave, me my love. I’m not ready to be alone.”

  “You will never be alone.” Her voice was old, shaky, and Paislee barely had the strength to lift her hand to Timothy’s cheek.

  “You will not be here, that means I will be alone.”

  “You have to promise me your life is not over Timothy. Promise me you will find another and love her as you did me, that you will have the children I was not able to give you.”

  “Cait-”

  Paislee’s vision began to fade as a feeling of peace filled her. She opened her eyes, and she was kneeling back in front of the gravestone, only she wasn’t alone.

  “What the?” She shot to her feet, and Cait smiled at her.

  “I see why he loves you,” she said gently.

  “Excuse me?”

  “He may not understand just yet, but one day he will. He’s always been stubborn.”

  “What? How? Why?”

  “Easy Paislee, I am glad you came.”

  “Timothy brought me.”

  “I had hoped he would. It was the only way I could speak with you.”

  It amazed Paislee, just how real Cait appeared. She had always believed a ghost would be transparent and look dead. But the woman before her appeared very much alive. She wore a green dress, her red hair braided down her back, her eyes were a bright green. It shocked her to see the woman in the painting come to life before her eyes. She could see the similarities between them, but Cait had a beauty that Paislee knew she wouldn’t have been able to achieve regardless of makeup. It wasn’t that she didn’t consider herself pretty, she actually had a very healthy opinion of herself, Cait was just more graceful.

  “How are we talking?”

  She smiled. “I’ve been waiting to move on, I needed to be sure he would be okay.”

  “Is that what you wanted to speak to me about?”

  Cait sighed,.“I love him Paislee, I always have loved him, but I need him to be okay.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Love him.”

  “Listen, Timothy is a stubborn ass, and I’m fairly certain he wants nothing to do with me.”

  “Oh Paislee, you couldn’t be more wrong. Timothy may be a stubborn ass, as you say, but he is the most wonderful, caring, loving man you will ever know if only you’ll give him a chance.”

  “Did you not see the way he walked away from me just now?”

  “He’s hurting, he hasn’t been back here since the day after I died.” Her eyes filled and Paislee wondered if ghosts actually cried. “He’s coming.”

  Paislee looked behind her to see Timothy walking back towards them, and then looked back to Cait who was watching him with longing.

  “Love him, Paislee.” She faded away, and Paislee turned around just as Timothy reached her.

  “Look, I’m sorry.”

  She grinned. “Thanks for not making me walk, which I would have since I have never actually driven a car.”

  To her surprise, he smiled back. “Hadn’t considered that. I suppose it’s a good thing I came back.”

  Chapter 18

  “Good, you guys are back,” Myria greeted them from inside the door. “I found something on that necklace you told me about.” From the look on her face, Timothy could see that whatever it was she’d discovered, was not good. Then again, how could there be anything good about an item that drains witches not only of their magic but their existence as well?

  They followed her into the living area where Aengus sat.

  “What is it?” Paislee asked as she took a seat on the large couch. Her hands were white from squeezing them out of fear, so Timothy reached over and grabbed one. It was meant to be a simple gesture, a way for him to make her feel better. But as soon as his fingers interlaced with hers, he felt a charge go through his body. Something that whispered there she is.

  Myria turned the book in her hands around to show them a drawing. “Is this the necklace?”

  “Yes,” Timothy responded since the very sight of it had Paislee turning pale.

  “The mortem auguratricis is one of the most sought-after magical items because it grants its wearer limitless magical capabilities. Once the gemstone has connected with a magical creature, the connection remains until said creature loses all magical abilities.”

  Paislee leaned forward, and Timothy squeezed her hand. “What does that mean?”

  “It means that the necklace knows Paislee now. It will actively search for her magic, and as soon as she is in range, it’s going to start pulling from her. The first time it has to be triggered by an incantation.”

  “What is considered its range?” Aengus wondered.

  Myria shrugged. “I wish I knew. It could be a few feet or a few miles.”

  “When he had me before,” Paislee’s voice was shaky, and she took a deep breath to steady it. “I was behind the iron bars, so they pulled my hand on the other side. I wasn’t touching it, but I was close enough to have grabbed it if I wanted.”

  “So that may mean that you have to be v
ery close to it for it to harm you.”

  “But you don’t know for sure.” It wasn’t a question, and Timothy was not about taking risks. Especially not when it came to Paislee.

  “No. The only other thing the text says is that in order for the connection to be broken, the necklace has to be destroyed. But in destroying it, you may destroy the person connected as well.”

  Timothy released Paislee’s hand and began to pace. “So, it’s possible that the second we step back in Boston, Malcolm will be able to start draining Paislee, and in order to break this connection and make it so she’s safe, we have to destroy the necklace that may very well kill her?”

  Myria closed the book. “Sounds like a win-win doesn’t it?” she said sarcastically.

  “I will come back with you,” Aengus spoke again. “I can help you with Malcolm.”

  Timothy shook his head. “I’m not risking bringing you back with me. If he gets wind of you, he will dig, and if he does that, it won’t be long before he finds your family.”

  “I cannot just leave you to fend for yourself. You helped me when Aine was taken.”

  “Aengus,” Timothy said gently. “Aine was family to me too, and that was different.”

  “How so?”

  “Caipre was an enemy we knew. We understood what he was after. I have no idea what it is Malcolm Gentry wants. I cannot risk you or your family.”

  “This is bull shit,” Aengus said angrily and stormed out.

  “He will be fine,” Myria added. “What do you know of Malcolm?” she asked Paislee, whose color had returned.

  “Other than the fact that he’s a psycho? I know that he’s been trying to collect magical items for years now. I just never actually thought any existed.”

  “So, he’s had that necklace for years, why only now use it on you?”

  Timothy considered that for a moment, the thought had crossed his mind as well. Malcolm had been in possession of it since the day he’d kidnapped her, so why not use it then? “I believe it was because he was trying to build her power. He needed her to be strong enough to not die the first time he drained her. After all, what good would that do if his power source died?”