Anice: The Cursed Clan

by Schroeder, Melissa

  “Mommy. You said that wasn’t a good thing to say,” Jack said.

  “Sorry, my sweet boy,” she said, walking over to him. “It’s kind of a bad thing, and this is a bad situation.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” Brody said.

  “Knowing Phoebe, she’s already found something that tells us everything,” Anice said. “She was just saying that passages about the quests appear or are easier to translate when their time comes.”

  “Like my ancestors set it up that way? I doona doubt it. She’s right. They are a bunch of barmy witches,” Maggie said, sitting down next to her son.

  Callum stepped into the room and came up short. “Was there a family meeting called?”

  “No. And I have no idea where Meghan and Logan are,” Fletcher said.

  “Or Angus. Where is he?”

  “He went into the office today. He thought it was important to get some things done before we started planning for the party.”

  “It’s odd that he’s having the party on Sunday, doona you think?”

  “There has to be some kind of significance.”

  “There is,” Phoebe said from the doorway. She was still wearing her robe, and her hair was all over the place.

  “Love, you said you would rest,” Callum said, rushing to her side. “You didn’t sleep well last night.”

  “No. I didn’t. I kept having strange dreams. Odd ones that seemed to make no sense. There was a lot of wind, and it was up in the highlands.”

  He led her to her chair. “Do you want some tea?”

  Belvidore was there with the teapot and a cup before Callum could get an answer the question.

  “So, this dream...” Anice asked, feeling a little guilty. Phoebe wasn’t doing well, she knew that. Her skin was pale and there were dark circles under her eyes. She knew that it was important that they do something to end this quest.

  “You need to eat.”

  Again, Belvidore appeared. This time with a bowl full of oatmeal that she knew Phoebe loved and some fruit.

  “Oh, thank you, Belvidore.”

  “Of course, my lady.”

  “You didn’t get me anything,” Callum commented.

  “You’re not carrying the heir,” Belvidore said as he walked out the door.

  Anice giggled.

  “One word, and I will have you thrown out of the Clan.”

  “Get over yourself,” Phoebe said with a smile. “Get something to eat while I talk about the dream and the passage I just revealed.”

  He said nothing else and did as she ordered.

  “Now. The dream. I was walking in this area. It reminded me of Balmoral.”

  “You’ve been there?” Cayden asked.

  “Yes. My first husband was related to the royal family. Very distantly. Anyway, it was definitely the highlands, but it wasn’t Balmoral. It was surrounded by some forests and then there was a pond not too far from this massive keep. Almost like a castle, but not really.”

  Anice’s skin prickled. Her brother looked over at her.

  “What?” Phoebe asked.

  “What else did you see, love?” Callum asked as he sat down next to her.

  “I saw this path that went into the dark forest, I was scared to go, but also I wanted to go. I could smell heather in the air. As I walked along the path, I came to a house. A little cottage with smoke coming out of the chimney and a cute herb garden out front.”

  “Bloody hell,” Callum muttered.

  “What?”

  When no one said anything, Anice answered. “You just described the witch’s cottage and our old keep. It always smelled like heather.”

  “Well. That’s kind of weird.”

  “What happened when you went to the cottage?” she asked.

  “I walked closer and I could hear the witch...I just assumed it was a normal woman in my dream...but I could hear her saying that day of the year is always important. Just as I got close enough to peek inside, I woke up. Irritated me to no end.”

  “Eat,” Callum ordered.

  “Oh, yeah,” she said picking up the spoon and nibbling on her oats. “I got up and found my diary open on my beside table. I know it was closed when I went to sleep last night. Oh no! I left it upstairs.”

  “I have it here, my lady.”

  Callum frowned again, and there were a few more giggles around the table. Callum tossed an aggravated look at them all, which just made them laugh even more.

  “So, here is the passage it was opened up to. ‘The protector with two souls and the Key will find the final jewel amongst the memories of the past. There, in the shadows, they will discover the jewel. But heed the warning, if you do not truly believe, in fate and destiny, then you will lose everything. Past transgressions have no place in this new era’.”

  There was a long silence after she spoke the words.

  “Do you know what that means?” Phoebe asked.

  “I kind of understand it,” Anice said when no one else answered.

  “So, problem solved.” She set the diary down and started eating her breakfast in earnest. The entire table stared at her.

  “Love?”

  “Yes?” she said between bites.

  “We doona completely understand.”

  She had the spoon in her mouth, as she looked up around the table. She finished swallowing her oats. “Oh, sorry. I was just so hungry.”

  “That seems to be going around this morning,” Fletcher said, tossing a look in Anice’s direction.

  “Drop it,” she said.

  “Is there a problem?” Callum asked.

  Fletcher opened his mouth to answer, but Rena saved them all from a horrible fight.

  “No. Fletcher needs to grow up. Phoebe?”

  She looked between Fletcher and Anice, then looked at Brody. “Hmm, okay. My interpretation, since you said that it was your home, is that the amethyst is back at the witch’s cottage. I know it doesn’t make sense, as I know it doesn’t make sense since the amethyst is here according to Maggie.”

  “But it isn’t here,” Maggie said.

  “What?” Callum asked.

  “I found out this morning that it was moved for security reasons,” she said using air quotes when she said the word security.

  “Do you think that maybe there’s a reason for this?” Callum asked.

  “Sure. He wants us to try and steal the jewel and then he can have us arrested.”

  “But do we know where it is? I mean, we know that it is somewhere on your land. But the cottage is probably gone, so we would have to figure that out.”

  “I just know that both you and Anice need to be on your way today. It is that urgent.”

  “What about the party?”

  “There has to be some reason he wants to have the party on a Sunday night.”

  “It’s a full moon,” Esme said from the doorway. Anice didna know how long she had been standing there. “Power, good and bad, are at their height that night. Full moons are an amazing night. Plus, this one will be considered a harvest moon. Closer than the rest of the year, and bigger and brighter.”

  “There’s another thing we have to consider. He wants to split us up. The more places we have to cover, then the harder it will be to fight what comes after us,” Maggie commented.

  “I have to agree with that. He’s a slimy bastard. One who should—”

  “Doona say it.”

  Esme continued as if he hadn’t said anything. “Have his bits and pieces cut off.”

  “I said doona say it.”

  She shrugged and walked over to get herself some coffee.

  “Brody and I need to go to our land,” Anice said.

  “You still own it?”

  She nodded. “We doona live there because...”

  “You can’t?”

  “Not in a physical way. It’s hard on all of us to be there.”

  “But you will do it.”

  “Anything. We will have to get packing.”

  “I think
I should go with you,” Esme said.

  “What?”

  “You need a magickal person with you. At least one. I should go.”

  “I agree,” Maggie said. “With Archie here, we should be good in that department.”

  “Archie’s here?” Brody asked.

  “He’s out for a run,” Cayden said.

  “Well, that’s rude. He didna even come get me.”

  “No. He did. He said that you didna answer your door,” Cayden said.

  Brody’s cheeks turned ruddy.

  “I thought I heard my name,” a man said from the doorway. There was no doubting this was one of the Stewart brothers. He had the same shade of dark hair, same blue eyes, but there was a mischievous air about him. There was no Clan business weighing heavy on him as with Cayden.

  “Archie,” Brody said, rising from his chair. As soon as he did, Esme took it.

  “They haven’t seen each other in a few months,” she said.

  Anice nodded.

  “Are you okay?” Esme asked.

  “Yes. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason. Here, take his bacon. He doesn’t really need it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it will irritate him and that’s my job.”

  Anice laughed as Esme took a couple pieces for herself, then dumped the remaining three on Anice’s plate.

  “Get out of my seat, you degenerate witch.”

  She stood. “Remember. I’m going to be protecting you.”

  Then she flounced off. He looked down at his plate. “Dammit, she stole my bacon again. Have you eaten, Archie?”

  “Yes, but I could eat more. Runs make me hungry, but you know that. You must be Anice,” he said, taking her hand and raising it to his lips. “So wonderful to meet the woman who put my brother in his place.”

  “Hands off.” Brody growled.

  Archie leaned closer and winked at her. “I’m the best looking as man and wolf. You should know that.”

  “Sod off,” Brody said, pushing his brother away.

  “Fine way to treat the baby of the family,” he said.

  “You aren’t the baby.”

  “The baby boy, then.”

  “Boys…the right term.”

  “Enough,” Cayden said. “Bloody hell, you two give me a headache.”

  Archie grabbed what Anice was sure was his second plate. “So, what’s going on? Cayden explained some of it, but I have a feeling there is more to it than I’ve heard.”

  “Gavin moved the stone.”

  “I always hated that wanker,” Archie said.

  “As a result, we need to go up there and get the jewel.”

  “I’m assuming it’s up there on your land,” Phoebe said.

  “Your instincts are never wrong, love,” Callum said. “And while it might not be at the witch’s cottage, that might have been shown to establish that it is on our land.”

  She nodded.

  “I guess we’ll need to start on our way. If Gavin has already moved it, then he’s staying here, thinking that we will be distracted,” Brody said.

  Why was panic rolling through her blood all of the sudden? Was it because she knew that the end was near or that once they got the jewel, she would walk away from Brody? That was what she was planning, right? Just a fling. A little fun.

  “Wait. Does anyone think we are rushing this?” Anice asked.

  “It seems that way,” Phoebe said. “But I will do a little more reading and thinking, even after you leave. You know I often find things out after we know where the jewel is.”

  “Meanwhile, we’ll keep an eye on Gavin,” Maggie said. “And we will go to his stupid thing tonight. We won’t rescind your RSVP until you get up country, just in case,” she said to Anice. “Better that he thinks he fooled us.”

  Anice nodded. “I guess I better pack my warmest clothes, she said with a laugh.

  “Wait? Where are your lands?” Esme asked.

  “Up near Ratagan,” Brody answered. Anice looked at him. So many people had no idea that their lands were up in the Scottish Highlands. He shrugged. “I researched.”

  “What now? You mean up there?” Esme asked pointing to the ceiling. “It’s cold up there.”

  “You’re Scottish,” Cayden said, disdain dripping from every word.

  “It’s cold. Like, really bloody cold.”

  Brody winked at Anice. “I’m sure a better witch would be able to come up with some kind of spell to keep herself warm.”

  That earned him a slap to the back of the head. “You know I can.”

  “Since I am not a witch, I will get to packing. I guess we can take one of the SUVs?” she asked Callum, who nodded. “Nice to meet you, Archie.”

  She picked up her mug and went to gather up her plate—they didn’t expect to be waited on—but Brody grabbed it and stacked it on his plate.

  “I can get that.”

  “Yes, but you have more planning to do.”

  “Is that because I’m a woman?”

  “No. It’s because I know you need to plan the trip, plan your packing, and then start packing—even though I know we probably won’t stay overnight.”

  He gave her a cocky smile, then carried the plates out of the dining room. The entire room had gone silent. She glanced around.

  “What?”

  “I hate to say it, but that wolf sure knows you,” Angus said with a chuckle.

  “Oh, sod off,” she said and stomped out of the room. It didn’t matter how well he knew her, he would never truly understand her heart. For that, she needed someone who could be honest with her, and that was something Brody had failed at several times already.

  If there was one thing that could be said about Anice McLennan, it was that she didn’t suffer liars.

  Chapter Sixteen

  They were two hours into their trip when Brody decided that something was definitely off. Anice was barely speaking to him and Esme was deep in thought. He didn’t need too much conversation, but both women seemed to be somewhere else. “How much do you remember about your land?” Brody asked.

  She shrugged. “A little. My favorite part was the fields.”

  “The fields?”

  He glanced over and saw the small smile curving her lips.

  “What?”

  “I would steal out at night. Not that often, and I would always remain on our land.”

  “So rebellious.”

  She laughed. “My brother and cousins were always running around, more than likely sniffing around women, but I had to stay close to home. The lone female stuck in the keep. So, to get away, I would wait for everyone to go to bed, then I would sneak out. I loved the freedom the night gave me.”

  “Why particularly the night?” Esme asked from the backseat.

  “I’m not sure. I was always drawn outside at night. I loved the scents, the animals, and the stars. Especially during a full moon.”

  “Hmm,” Esme said.

  Anice turned to look at her. “Do you think that is significant?”

  “Maybe. I mean, you are involved with a family of wolves now. And while we doona shift simply because there is a full moon, it does call to us. Both sides of the family.”

  “Well...”

  She said nothing for a moment or two, as if lost in thought or a memory.

  “What?” he asked, wanting to know everything about her. He was greedy for any tidbit about her.

  “There was one night that the witch found me in a field. She was clearly interested in my nocturnal habits.”

  “Another link,” Esme said.

  “I bet if I sat down with my cousins, we could come up with a 500-page book listing all the weird happenings that turned out to have something to do with the curse.”

  “So, you didn’t stay in Scotland, from what I gather. Where did you go?” Esme asked. He glanced at his cousin in the rearview mirror and saw her understanding smile. She knew he wanted to know more about Anice, but if he prodded her, there was a good cha
nce she would shut down.

  “We went to the continent. I wanted to go to America, but the stupid boys I live with decided that would be a bad idea. So, we were in Europe for a hundred years or so.” She chuckled. “I never say things like that out loud.”

  “I can’t imagine what it was like to live with a bunch of boys like that. No other women around.”

  “It wasn’t easy. They were always a little overprotective.”

  “They just wanted to make sure you were safe.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  “Back then, it was different.”

  “Remind me to smack you when we stop to eat. By the way, are we going to do that soon?” Esme asked.

  “I think we can grab a bite to eat in the next town,” Anice said. “Better we doona eat in the area around our land.”

  “Why?” Esme asked.

  “We would be conspicuous,” he said. Three strangers show up, one having a remarkable resemblance to the former young lady who once roamed the lands at night, and we’ll draw attention to us.”

  “As it is, we will be there after dark anyhow, but I think it best to make sure to get there with as little notice as possible.”

  * * *

  Maggie felt the shift of air the moment they stepped into the McWalton home. Mansion was more like it, but not the wonderful house she lived in now. No, this was decadent. Gold was splashed everywhere, the best of everything. And, as she noted, the air. It was almost as if there was an illness in the air. Like a sickroom that needed to be aired out. Normal folks would merely feel it but not understand it. She knew what it meant though.

  Evil lived here.

  “Are you all right, love?” Angus asked.

  She turned toward her husband and smiled. She hated dressing up. The heels were starting to get to her already, and she wanted tonight to be over. Still, she loved seeing the most handsome man in the world in a tux. She couldn’t wait until this was all over and she could get him in that kilt. He was so damned sexy in it, but they didn’t wear the McLennan plaid outside of family gatherings and weddings.

  “Just...something’s not right here.”

  He nodded. “I feel it.”

  They walked around the room and chatted with people they knew. Since she had gotten involved with the McLennans, she had become more adept at handling these situations, but still, there was an icy finger tracing her spine. Was it the dark magick Gavin had been playing with, or was it something even worse? Was there anything worse?