Everyone finished eating. Tethani and Lini cleared the table.
Maya sighed. “It’s so nice here. It’s completely dark, but it’s still warm.” She leaned across Rann to speak to Jewel. “You’re so lucky.”
Jewel glanced at Rann, who stared at her challengingly. She looked away again. She needed to tell Maya about her plans.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something important.” Maya pushed herself to her feet. “I’m sorry, Rann. I know it’s rude, but this can’t wait. I have to talk to Jewel. Coven business.” She stepped round him and grabbed Jewel’s arm. “Come on. Let’s walk down to the beach.”
Jewel pushed her chair back, shrugging herself free from Maya’s grip. What on earth could be so urgent? She hadn’t seen Maya for over a year and there were things to catch up on, but her friend’s tone made her nervous. She’d never known Maya to give a fig about coven business.
As she passed him, Rann touched her arm. “Tomorrow we talk.”
Jewel shivered and followed Maya through the house and down to the beach. She would rather avoid that conversation.
The night would have been dark, but the full moon cast a pale light, and the sky sparkled with a silver foam of constellations. The dark mass of the sea merged into the darkness of the sky, where it met the horizon and surged forward restlessly at the pale sand of the moonlit beach. Maya tugged her high heels off and left them by the path to the house.
The two women made their way along the water’s edge to the low cliffs. Maya sank down onto the sand, pulling her knees into her chest. Jewel sat beside her, resting back against the rocky outcrop. The stillness of the night pressed down, until a rustling in the lush vegetation at the top of the cliff stirred her into speech.
“Maya . . .”
“Jewel . . .”
They both stopped.
“You go first, Maya. You’ve come all this way to bring your news. What’s going on? Is something wrong?” Jewel’s own problems would wait. She’d been on the island for nine years; another few weeks weren’t going to make any difference.
Maya huffed out a deep sigh. “It’s Kara.”
“My mother?”
“The coven asked me to come and talk to you. I don’t know why. They all know you and Kara haven’t spoken since you were seventeen.”
A familiar ache formed in Jewel’s stomach. She didn’t like to remember her London years. Her mother didn’t love her; she’d always known that, but at seventeen, she finally realised that Kara hated her. “She suggested executing me. For nothing. They all know that as well. Why would they think I’d care about anything to do with her?” She wondered if it was the right time to tell Maya she’d already decided to return.
Maya picked up a handful of sand and let it run through her fingers. “You know the coven. They’re all about duty to the bloodline, and you are Kara’s only child. I think they expect you to come back and take over the coven. Or at least sort out the problems with your mother.”
“What? They must be insane.”
“I know.” Maya shifted to face Jewel. “But your grandfather and your mother have headed it as long as anyone can remember. It’s a subconscious thing.”
“It’s not hereditary.” Jewel pulled her knees up and placed her head on them. “Anyway, I’d rather spend the rest of my life cleaning barnacles off a kraken.”
Maya laughed, a short, sharp gasp. Jewel lifted her head and smiled reluctantly.
“Well, no one’s going to make you,” Maya said. “And actually, I think Kara would put up a bit of a fight. That’s one of the problems.”
“Okay.” Jewel wrapped her arms round her knees. “Tell me what’s got them stirred up.”
“Well, the first thing is, Kara’s taken a lover.”
“She has?” Jewel couldn’t understand why that was an issue. Kara gave the impression of being a cold fish, but she must have had sex before. At least once.
“It wouldn’t be a problem, but he seems to have a lot of influence over her. And none of it good.” Maya paused. “We think he’s a renegade. I’m pretty sure he’s used some dubious magic. I can feel it round him.”
“Dubious?”
“Blood, death, final sacrifices. You know I can sort of see people’s auras? His is oily and the colour of tar.” Maya shuddered in an exaggerated manner. “The whole house is covered in it.”
“Has anyone tried to talk to Kara?”
“Loads of people. She won’t listen. She’s always done things her own way, and now the coven doesn’t know how to talk to her. And to add to the problem, she refuses to talk to them. There hasn’t been a proper meeting for nearly a year. They’re desperate.” Maya touched Jewel’s arm. “I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to come. It wasn’t my idea to ask you in the first place.”
“I can’t see that I’d be any use.” Jewel bit her lip. “You know she never had any time for me. I was going to tell you, though, I’d decided to come back anyway.”
“To London? To the coven?”
“Not permanently. But I need to see her. I need to cut the cord properly. Put it on a formal basis. I’m not staying long.”
“Then you’re coming back here?”
“No. I’m going to find a coven I like and apply to join it.”
“But why?” Maya’s voice held total incomprehension. “You love it here. It’s paradise. And where will I go for holidays?”
“It’s time I moved on,” Jewel explained. “Found a purpose. A new coven. A place where I can make a contribution. Be part of something. Somewhere with decent weather, though. You can come and visit.”
“This place suits you.”
“I know.” Jewel sighed heavily. “I don’t want to go, but I must do something. I’ve developed a crush on Rann.”
Maya snorted. “You’ve always had a crush on Rann. Why don’t you do something about it?”
“Not always. I used to be terrified of him.”
“For about two days.”
“Oh come on, Maya.” Jewel rested her head back on her knees. “He’s out of my league. His father was Poseidon. And he’s a demigod.”
“He’s approachable, though. You should make a move. It’s obvious he’s fond of you. Has he got a lover at the moment?”
Jewel thought. She wasn’t aware of anyone in particular, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. “You know Rann. He’s generous with his favours.”
“Yeah.” Maya sighed. “The first time I came here, he had a harem.”
“Not a harem,” Jewel protested. “Just—”
“A harem. Three sirens. That’s a harem. And what about you?” Maya persisted. “I haven’t seen you with a man since you came here. And you were never without one in London.”
A surge of rage swept through Jewel. She took a moment to crush it. Control mattered. She’d fought hard to conquer her temper. “You know why.”
Maya raised a taunting eyebrow.
“You know what I’m like. I know myself. That’s why there were so many men in London. They were just boys. I needed to feel someone cared about me.” Jewel waited, but Maya didn’t say anything. “I couldn’t share him. And it’s not in his nature to be exclusive.” She had thought hard about it. She knew she had a need to be loved, a thirst for affection. She even knew it originated in her childhood, in her mother’s distance from her. “I can’t afford to make a mistake. Not with Rann.”
“You’re thinking about Micael again, aren’t you?”
Micael, a rogue mage, was the mistake that had resulted in her banishment from the coven. He hadn’t had to work very hard to convince Jewel to fall in love with him. At least, she’d thought she loved him at seventeen, but now she realised that she would have loved practically anyone who showed an interest in her. He’d been a
criminal, but her own insecurities had allowed him to use her. He’d arranged for Maya to be kidnapped, and the fallout had resulted in Jewel’s banishment, as well as his own expulsion from the covens. Ever since then, she’d been careful with her trust, and the few relationships she’d had had never been important enough to affect her deeply. She’d never allowed them to.
“I think you should tell him.” Maya’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “He might surprise you. And you need to get over it. Micael happened nine years ago.”
Maya had much more courage than she did, but they were as different in character as they were in appearance. And it wasn’t just the debacle with Micael.
“I don’t know.” Jewel closed her eyes. “I love him. I couldn’t bear it if I never saw him again.”
“Have you told him you’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“But not why?”
Jewel shook her head. “No. Just that I need to make a life for myself.”
“What did he say?”
Jewel groaned. “He wants to talk to me tomorrow.” She cheered up. “But if I have to go back to deal with my mother, that’s a pretty good reason.”
“Jewel?” Maya’s voice was stern. “I hope you aren’t a coward.”
“You know I am.”
“I know you’re not.”
“I’ll think about it. How did we get on to the subject of my love life anyway?” Jewel changed the subject. “Did you really come all this way to tell me about Kara?”
“I thought you ought to know.” Maya’s voice dripped with frustration. “Things are pretty bad for the coven at the moment. Kara’s rogue mage has practically everyone spooked. There’ve been a couple of disappearances. And the council are useless. They’re a bunch of indecisive old biddies.”
“Mmm.” Jewel didn’t see what she could do about it, but the urge to see London again washed through her. She could revisit her favourite coffee shops, shop on Oxford Street, and go for drinks with old friends.
“And there’s the stench of bad magic round the Hampstead mansion. Your old home reeks of it. If it were up to me, I’d sort it out, but you know what the coven’s like.” Maya’s voice dropped, and a hint of unfamiliar pleading crept into it. “I don’t like it at all. I’d like you to be there.”
Jewel stared at Maya. Is she actually asking for help? Things in London must be bad. She pushed herself to her feet. “Come on.” She tugged on Maya’s arm. “I’ve got to pack.”
Rann watched Maya lead Jewel off down the beach and wondered why she’d come. Jewel’s oldest and closest friend visited every year, but never without warning. It was a long way to travel on the spur of the moment.
He pursed his lips thoughtfully. Maya had matured into a powerful witch with her own sphere of influence, but he sometimes found it difficult to forget the tempestuous, uncontrolled teenager he’d first met. This grown-up version of Maya wouldn’t come visiting without a good reason. He still couldn’t believe Jewel wanted to leave. She belonged in his home, and he would miss her. The unfamiliar feeling of frustration nagged at him. He stared out into the darkness and jumped as Tamsin touched his arm.
“Sorry, Sealord.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I wanted a word.”
She’d addressed him by his title, which suggested that what she had to say was important. He took her arm and led her to one of the stone seats, hoping she hadn’t had any more visions of death.
“How can I help you?”
Tamsin’s gaze focussed on the distant darkness where sea and sky met. “I’ve had a thought about the seawitch.”
Rann’s attention sharpened. “Yes?”
“She shouldn’t stay here.” Tamsin clutched his arm urgently. “She must leave.”
“Why?” Rann kept his voice low. Tamsin appeared to be seeing something he couldn’t, and he had a great respect for her talents as a seer.
“If she stays, there’ll be trouble.” Tamsin shivered. “Maybe for her, maybe for you, maybe for someone else, but whatever happens, she’ll die. Your island will be damaged.”
Rann leaned back against the warm stone of the bench and considered her words. There was no point in asking Tamsin what kind of trouble; if she knew, she would tell him. Seers saw flashes of what might happen, what the future might hold, but they had problems with placing their visions in the context of reality. Still, she seemed pretty sure that the seawitch shouldn’t stay with him. He thought back to her words on the beach. Death and connections.
“What do you suggest?” He wondered if prompting might stimulate her sight a little.
“Send her to London with Maya.” Tamsin’s eyes refocused. “There might be someone there who can help her. Someone in the covens must know how to fix her.”
“Will she take the trouble with her?” Rann wasn’t sure he wanted to pass bad fortune on to anyone else, and he was fond of Maya.
“There’s trouble already in the North London coven. I’ve seen it coming. My dreams this week have been all over the place.” Her fingers tightened on his arm. “Old crimes are coming back to haunt the witches. I don’t think the seawitch can make it worse.”
“Trouble?” Rann sat up straight. “Does Jewel know?”
“I don’t think so. Maya is probably telling her now.”
“So that isn’t why she wants to leave.” Rann shook his head, puzzled. “Do you know why? I always thought she was happy here.”
“You’ll have to ask her that.” Tamsin relaxed now that she had delivered her news. “I’ll be leaving as well.”
“I never expected you to stay so long,” Rann said. “I’m grateful you did. If there’s ever anything you need, please let me know.”
Tamsin nodded. “Your island is beautiful. I’d like to return some time.”
“You’d be welcome.”
She stood up. “Goodnight, Sealord.”
Rann placed his hand on her arm, stopping her. “Should I take the seawitch to London myself?” He respected Tamsin’s opinion.
She shook her head. “I think it doesn’t matter. As long as she doesn’t stay here.”
“And Jewel? Is it safe for her?”
“Her past is calling her. I think she has no choice.” Rubbing her arms as though chilled, she disappeared into the house, leaving Rann alone.
He sat back down on the bench and stared into the shadows. The warm night was sweet with the scent of the lush vegetation growing in the sheltered space, and he should have been relaxed.
He wasn’t.
Change was coming. Things outside his control threatened his peace of mind. Jewel and Tamsin had been with him for a while now, longer than any of his other guests. They’d outlasted friends and lovers, and even his daughter only occasionally visited the island nowadays. The seawitch worried him as well; his mother rarely showed an interest in anything outside her undersea home. He hoped she wasn’t going to change as well, demand a shopping trip to New York or something. He smiled at the unlikelihood of that happening and wandered back through the house and down to the beach.
Maya and Jewel strolled towards him—tall, voluptuous Maya with her fiery hair muted by the moonlight and small, slender Jewel, her head barely reaching her friend’s shoulder. The two women were deep in conversation. Rann leaned against the trunk of a coconut palm and waited for them.
They were worth watching. Maya’s short gold dress skimmed her curves and revealed her long legs and slender arms. Rann appreciated the view for a second before moving his eyes to Jewel. An ankle-length dress in some dark colour draped her body. Her arms were bare, and her hair swung down round her shoulders, pale against the fabric. She wasn’t as eye-catchingly dramatic as her friend, but Jewel held Rann’s gaze. She moved as gracefully as a cat, the silk of her dress skimming the lines of her
body, clinging to her legs as she walked.
He didn’t want her to go.
She looked up as she sensed his regard and stared at him, unsmiling, blue eyes gleaming in the darkness. Rann examined her as though she were a stranger, narrowing his eyes in concentration. Arousal stabbed him, unexpected and surprising. Something in his expression obviously unnerved her, because she dropped her gaze and missed a step.
He’d always regarded her as a child under his protection, vulnerable and needing care, but she’d grown up since he’d last looked. Those eyes didn’t belong to a child.
Chapter 5
Jewel shifted nervously under Rann’s inspection. His eyes held an interest she’d never seen in them before. She ducked her head and walked towards him.
Maya bent and picked up her discarded shoes. “Hi Rann.” She straightened, shoes clutched in one hand. “Sorry to drag Jewel off like that, but—”
Jewel nudged her. “I’m going to pack.” She edged round Rann.
“Pack?” He placed a warm hand on her shoulder, holding her in place.
“I’m leaving with Maya.” She squirmed in his grasp. “Tomorrow morning. I know it’s a bit abrupt, but . . .” She paused. “Maya will explain. Won’t you?”
“What do you want me to say?” Maya gave her an impatient look.
“Everything you told me.” Jewel risked a glance at Rann but couldn’t read his expression. “I’d better make a start.” She shrugged his hand off and hurried to her room where she collapsed onto the bed, letting her head sink into her hands.
Children of Poseidon: Rann Page 4
