Mated To The Mountain Lion

by Terra Wolf

  “Fire and ice do not mix well. Your mother knew that, it's why you haven't visited here in quite a while, isn't it?”

  I shook my head. “I don't think I understand. I came here to ask you about a book.”

  “A book? Your family's book?”

  “Sure.” She sounded like she knew she was talking about, I could go with that.

  “And how did you hear about this book?”

  I didn't want involve Ultan, I wasn't sure that he would appreciate me outing his rumors. “Gran mentioned it once. But she can't find it. Any idea where it might be?”

  She tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair making me feel as though she could tell I was lying. “Aine knows where the book is. She would never misplace such an important artifact. She does not however, know that you are going to find it.”

  I swallowed hard. “Beatrice is there something I should know?”

  She shook her head slowly back and forth. “There's nothing more I can tell you child. A family must take care of their own. Yours will choose when the time is right, but be wary Paige, they do not fear the danger among them. They may wait too long. Your protector knows that. It's why he's come for you. You should embrace him.”

  One person came to my mind. Ultan. “How will he protect me?”

  “Depends on his task. I see much work in his future. But he will try to break the laws. And laws cannot be broken.” She turned her head once more and tilted it as if she were listening. “You must go. Do not come here again, they are watching.”

  Fear and confusion had my feet glued to the ground and I was afraid to move scared I would fall over.

  The old woman stood up from her chair and stuck her hand up at me. It was only then that I noticed the pentagram tattoo etched into her palm. “GO!” She said it so forcefully for such a small soft-spoken woman that I immediately obeyed. I was outside and walking away from the shop without even realizing what had happened. Beatrice may have been a crazy old lady, but she saw something in Ultan that I hadn't. He was going to keep me safe from whatever she feared so much.

  I thought I could begin to ask Gran what was going on when I realized she had left for her weekly poker tournament, though she told everyone she was going to high tea. I felt a chill of loneliness in the large mansion. I really hadn’t explored it much since I’d arrived and all I kept thinking about was Ultan talking about a book that Gran had. Beatrice believed Gran knew where it was hidden, and the only place I could think of that Gran would trust would be her own home. So I decided to take her keys out of the side table in the foyer and do some digging around.

  I started upstairs, searching the bedrooms. I figured if anything of value was still left in the house it would be up there. I found my mother’s childhood bedroom first. With pink walls and delicate white furniture I knew it had to be a little girl’s room. But not much had changed in it since I was a child. I had stayed here many times when I was little, but thinking back on it, Beatrice had been right. I really hadn’t stayed at all as a teenager. I guess I was a bit wrapped up in my own world though, so perhaps I had avoided coming to visit. I shouldn’t have done that with Gran getting older. I was realizing that soon she wouldn’t be around anymore for me to spend time with. As I looked through my mother’s old things, a chest filled with dirty costumes and a closet full of toys, I began to feel sad about not visiting her enough. Not seeing any books lying around, I figured this wasn’t the one I was looking for, so I moved on.

  The next bedroom I found was a guestroom completely covered in dust, with sheets covering all of the furniture. The shutters were closed in this room, which I thought was kind of odd and I tried to feel around as the lights no longer worked. I had to assume Gran had some of the electric turned off so she wouldn’t have to pay such a high bill in this old house. No point heating the rooms that weren’t being used in the winter. I continued to feel around, noticing the beautiful dressing table and the delicate, ornate mirror. I lifted the dusty cover off of what looked like a stool and sat down on what was left of the plush seat, in front of the mirror to look at myself. The piece was beautiful and had been kept in immaculate condition. I had half a mind to ask Gran if I could put it in my room but then she would know that I’d been snooping around. As I looked at my reflection I noticed something behind me. I quickly turned around but nothing was there.

  “My eyes just playing tricks on me I guess,” I said aloud, hoping it would boost my confidence. I could have sworn I’d seen a blue light but perhaps I was just scared, letting my fear and confusion take over.

  I covered the vanity back up with the cloth and was on my way to leave the room when I heard a noise. It was coming from the same area that I had seen a flash of a shadow in the mirror. There was a bookcase still there with several books lying on it, but I had looked through all of them and none of them were the one I was looking for. That is, if I had any idea what I was looking for. I thought that when I found it, it would simply jump out at me, but perhaps it wouldn’t and this bookcase needed further investigation. I walked slowly over to the bookcase and ran my finger along each of the books one last time. It was then that I noticed one sticking out slightly. I pulled it out to look further at its pages when a miraculous thing happened. Behind the book was a small knob. It was an old one, maybe from the Victorian era and I thought that perhaps some of my answers may be behind the bookcase. These old homes held secret passageways for escaped slaves or hidden secrets. I was elated with my discovery, but realized quickly that whatever was behind there would probably be just as dark and scary as this bedroom was. I needed a flashlight.

  I ran downstairs to the kitchen to the junk drawer where I knew that Gran kept things like flashlights and batteries. The only flashlight I could find was hot pink and from 1985, but for some reason it still worked, so I dashed back upstairs to learn what was behind the door.

  I used the flashlight as a spotlight and reached to turn the knob. I heard a loud screeching noise as the door slowly swung open to reveal a set of stairs. I had to assume that they led to the attic and what I would find there, I didn’t know. I slowly ascended the dark stairs, each one creaking under my weight. Praying that I wouldn’t fall through them because in an old house like this you’d think you would go straight down to the basement. Of course there was no railing to hold onto. All that was left were brackets for one, so there had to have been one at some point, but it must’ve decayed and fallen apart from age. I arrived at the top of the stairs and shown my flashlight around the small room to determine what I could find up here. As I moved my light slowly, it fell upon so many different items that I didn’t know had existed.

  A grandfather clock stood in one corner of the room, while a headboard and matching footboard leaned against the wall on the other. The room only seemed small because of all the things that were in it. I decided the best way to look through everything was to start in one corner and make my way around. I moved towards the grandfather clock first, dust billowing up around me as I stepped on old carpets that had been piled on top of each other, covering the floor. There was an armoire next to the grandfather clock that I attempted to open but it was locked. None of the keys on the chain would fit in the small keyhole. I hoped what I was looking for wasn’t located in there because I was sure that the key had been long lost.

  As I continued to move through the room I stepped over old mirrors and picture frames scattered all over the floor. There were plenty of chests around, but all of them just seemed to contain old period clothes. Nothing of any value to me. With my light having such a limited view it took almost two hours just to get through half the room. I knew Gran would be coming home shortly and I wasn’t trying to get caught. I closed the third chest up I was looking through and decided I’d have to come up another day. On my way towards the stairs I noticed a small lamp sitting on one of the dressers. It was a pink ballerina lamp. I remembered it because it had been my mother’s. Gran had tried to give it to her when I was a little kid, but for some reason mom did
n’t want it. I remember things had been slightly strained in their relationship at that point. Most adults don’t realize how perceptive young kids can be and I had noticed how tense things had become. I would’ve really liked the lamp, though. I traced its dusty figure with my finger when I heard Gran calling up to me.

  “Paige, I’m home! Wait until you see how much money I’ve won! We’re going out to dinner tonight honey!” I smiled as her words carried up the stairs before I realized that if she caught me up here, I would have a lot of explaining to do. Forget about dinner tonight and probably for the rest the week. Gran was old-school, so that meant consequences were serious. I quickly ran down the stairs and slowly closed the bookcase door, carefully replacing the book so that she wouldn’t know I had come upon her secret place. Though, with the dust and the looks of things up there, she hadn’t been there in years, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I clicked the lock shut on the door as quietly as I could before realizing I still had the keys in my hand. Shit. She would totally catch me if she decided to come upstairs or if she realized that her keys were missing. There was nothing I could do but stash them, so I quickly tiptoed into my own bedroom where I laid them between the mattress and box spring, hoping that she would never find them. I walked down the hallway and down the stairs casually calling out to Gran, “That’s great! Where are we going?”

  She was so wrapped up in her win that she hadn’t noticed how long it had taken me to come greet her. She was unloading some groceries from a small bag onto the counter. “Well I don’t know dear, how about we try that new Hibachi place downtown?”

  Whoa, she must really be feeling good. “Sure, I’m in,” I said cheerfully. Don’t look guilty.

  She smiled back at me totally unaware of my indiscretion and said, “Let’s put on something nice for tonight shall we?”

  I continued my façade and took her arm in mine, “We shall.” I said it with such confidence and I meant it. Tonight would just be a carefree ladies night. Just what the doctor ordered for both Gran and I.

  6

  During dinner I maintained my innocence, not mentioning the secret attic or the book. But I didn't know how long I could keep it going. Something weird was definitely going on in Salem and I needed answers. I decided instead to mention my little visit with Beatrice to see if that rang any bells for Gran.

  “Guess who I went to see today?”

  “Who, dear?” she said between spoonfuls of ginger soup.

  “Your friend Beatrice, the one who comes to see you occasionally to watch your soaps.”

  She sputtered for a moment. “Where did you see her?”

  “Oh, I went to visit her in her shop.”

  She placed her spoon down and picked up her large fabric napkin to dab along the lines of her wrinkled mouth. “I don't remember telling you she owned a shop in town.”

  I took another sip of my own soup. “Oh that's because you didn't. Joy took me there yesterday to meet her. She needed some tea or something. She seems pretty edgy since she got back from her aunt’s house.”

  Gran looked perplexed. “I see. What did old Beatrice have to tell you?”

  “Well, Joy said she reads emotions or something. She kind of freaked me out a little bit, she said that I'm being watched. And that there might be somebody out to get me. Usually I wouldn't take any of this to heart but it scares me a little.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “You know, since that girl died.”

  Gran sighed deeply. “That does sound like a disturbing reading.”

  “So you really believe she's a psychic?”

  “Oh, of course I do. She used to be fairly famous, wrote a book and everything. But she's getting up there in age you know. She still knows herbal medicine very well, though. I’d go to her for any ailment.”

  “Interesting, good to know.” I watched as she began to dig into her meal once more, dismissing our conversation. But I had another question to ask.

  “Gran?”

  She stopped to look up at me. “Yes?”

  “There was one more thing she mentioned. She said that fire and ice don’t mix, and that Mom knew that. Do you think that has anything to do with why I didn’t come here much for the past few years?”

  She began to eat again, but with more caution than before. “Oh, I don’t know. I mean I assume it was your mother trying to protect you. You know teenage girls are very impressionable.”

  “Protect me from what? What was it that you would impress upon me that she didn't like?”

  Gran shrugged and began to eat a salad that was placed in front of her. “I don't know. I mean your mother never really explained why she didn't want you here. But it wasn't my place to ask either. You’re her daughter, not mine.”

  “But she's your daughter. I just think the whole situation is kind of strange.”

  “Our relationship is a bit strange then I suppose, but things have gotten a lot better. I mean you're here aren't you?”

  “Yeah, I guess. Why was it so strained?”

  She put her fork down to focus all of her attention on me. “I didn't exactly agree with your upbringing. She wasn't willing to teach you things that I would've liked for you to learn. It caused tension between us.”

  My surprise showed on my face. “I never knew that. What did you want me to learn about?” I couldn't think of anything that Gran would teach me that would upset Mom. It didn’t make any sense to me; my Gran was the sweetest and most respected person in town. What did she know that upset my mother so much?

  Gran smiled and continued to eat. “It’s not important.”

  “Gran, I’m not a child, tell me.”

  She sighed, “Fine. She didn’t want you to know about the coven and the ways of our people.”

  I laughed. “You've got to be joking, right? Your friend’s a psychic and now you’re telling me you’re what? A witch? I don’t believe this.”

  Her expression turned serious. “You would if you had grown up here. Or if your mother had allowed me to intervene in your teachings. But as such, I suspect you don't believe in any of it.” She lowered her voice and then added, “But if you were smart you would.”

  “What's that supposed to mean?”

  She avoided eye contact with me. “It means that the coven can protect you. They will keep you safe from any harm that seeks you. The harm that took that poor girl.”

  “So then you do think Beatrice is right. You think someone is out to get me.”

  Gran looked concerned. “I don’t know. I hope not. But covens protect from all evil. Whoever murdered that poor girl was evil, no question about that.”

  I pulled out my pentagram necklace from underneath the top of my dress and held it in my hand. “Did you know that girl was wearing a necklace just like this? This is the one you gave me when I was little. Were there a lot of them made?”

  Gran lightly took the star in her hand. “Only a few. They were given to the young girls in the coven.”

  I pulled back. “But I'm not in the coven!”

  “No, you're not, but you are my granddaughter. And because I am the leader, I chose whom to give the necklace to. No one would question me.”

  “The leader? You teach this stuff to other people?”

  She nodded solemnly. “To those who wish to learn the craft, I will teach.”

  I tried to breathe, but I felt like the room had gotten so stuffy in the past few minutes. I pressed on, hoping I would find more answers. “Was that girl one of your students?”

  Gran nodded solemnly. “I only realized it when they showed her picture on the news. It’s not your fault she’s gone Paige, but please understand that this does have something to do with you. Or rather with who you are.”

  I started breathing heavily, unsure of what to say. Finally I settled on, “What do you mean? What does she have to do with me?”

  “There are people who wish to destroy our coven. They want to take me out of power. And you’re next in line so you must be careful.” Her voice was only above a wh
isper but I could feel her seriousness.

  “You’re kidding me right? You want me to believe we’re what? Witches?” I saw the chef give me a concerned look as my voice grew louder.

  “Paige, I answered the question because you asked, but this is not the time to make a scene. We can discuss this when we get home.” She smiled a sweet old lady smile to the chef and he returned it before giving me a glare.

  The truth was, I didn’t want to discuss it at home. I tried to shake off the chills that this conversation was giving me, but for some reason it wasn't working. I quickly began eating again, just to avoid conversation. Gran seemed to catch on that I was giving up and finished her salad in record time. When we got home, she asked a few things about work and Joy, but there was no more mention of the coven, or the pentagram necklace. Which I was fine with, I'd been shaken up enough for one night.

  +++

  I tossed and turned for most of the night, nightmares had taken the place of the usually calm dreams. I felt the keys burning under my mattress and I knew I had to continue to look for the book. I needed answers now more than ever. Had this girl really been killed because of me? I couldn't decide if any of this sounded real, but I knew that if I found the book perhaps I could dispel these ideas and realize they were just simply my imagination. I crept out of bed slowly, unsure of how good my grandmother's hearing was downstairs. The last thing I needed was to wake her. I tiptoed back up to the attic, still clutching the flashlight I'd stolen that afternoon. Once arriving in the shadowy room, I realized that finding this book was going to be a lot harder than I had considered. I tried to start almost exactly where I'd left off, searching anywhere that a book could hide. There were shelves, dressers and side tables. There was even a bookcase but not a single book to be found.

  The sun was just beginning to come up and I decided to give up and go back to bed. I flicked off my flashlight and made my way back to the stairs before Gran would wake up. I shuffled so that I would remain quiet but I tripped over the corner of a dresser and fell face first into a pile of old clothes. I checked my body for any injuries, but I got lucky as I had become accustomed to. I slowly stood up to continue my way back down the stairs when I noticed a small chest in the corner of my eye that didn't look like any of the others. It had been under some of the clothes that broken my fall and it was very, very old. Much older than anything else that was up in the attic, and it had a pentagram on the top. It was clear now that Gran really did believe in witchcraft so perhaps there was something in the chest that could link me to the girl. Or it would sever that tie, which was what I hoped for. I wasn't going to condemn her for her beliefs, I was just curious to see what was in the chest. It was locked so I looked around for something to pry it open with, but nothing fit. I put my hand in my pocket as I tried to think of what to do when my fingers intertwined with the keys.