The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum

by Wendy Saunders

  So he’d given up, he’d come back to the only home he’d ever known, a place he loathed from the bottom of his wretched broken heart. He’d tried to revive the farm but by then it had been too late, too neglected. He couldn’t do it on his own and no one had wanted to help him. He was tarnished now, not only by Logan’s reputation but by his own. Everyone knew what they had done, the Beckett brothers, the blood they had spilled. So he was alone now. He managed to coax the land to grow just enough to get by and trade enough of the surplus for meat since all the livestock were long gone. None of the traders at market dealt with him fairly, they knew he had limited options and would be forced to take the ridiculous prices they offered.

  Still, he probably deserved their scorn and their derision. In fact, he probably deserved a hell of a lot worse. He sometimes wondered if it was worth it, if maybe he should leave Salem, start afresh somewhere else. Somewhere no one knew him or the Beckett name. Maybe he should change his name and sever the last link to the cold cruel man who’d sired him and then ruined him.

  But something kept him there, he wasn’t sure what exactly. Perhaps it was the dreams he had, or more specifically the woman in his dreams, so beautiful it almost hurt to look at her. She had long dark midnight colored hair which spilled down her back in deep waves. Her eyes were the color of a fine aged whiskey which could darken to a passion filled amber or burn a molten gold. He dreamed of her almost every night now. Her soft voice, breathing his name, burned through his veins like a wild untamable fire, leaving a devastating trail of lust and need in its wake. He could feel her fingertips grazing across his skin every time he closed his eyes. He knew her scent, it was dark and smoky, coiling around him binding him to her.

  He let out a sigh, if only she was real. If only he could find her. But she wasn’t real, she was most likely a figment of his imagination, a pale specter he had conjured to keep himself from going mad. Only the problem was she wasn’t pale, nor was she a specter. She was warm, her skin touched with a golden hue, her body pulsing with life and when she touched him she brought him back to life too. When he was with her, he was no longer the broken empty husk of a man who’d lost too much but a living breathing man whose heart beat in time to her siren’s call.

  He didn’t want to admit it, even to himself. But she was who he was waiting for, he dreamed of her, standing with him in this very house. So no matter how much he despised it, he would never leave it because he was waiting for her and he would continue to wait, even if it took him the rest of his life.

  He was almost at the barn door, his journal tucked carefully under one arm, when he suddenly froze. He felt a shiver of recognition skitter up his spine causing him to shudder even as he turned and looked behind him. For a second he’d felt her. Was she real? Or were his dreams finally giving way to delusions. He had to know, he had to know if he was losing his mind. He walked slowly towards the lean-to which covered the stack of firewood he’d chopped only the day before. His heart was racing and his palms were clammy. The closer he got the more he could feel her. His heart was pounding wildly now as he approached the wood pile, another few steps and he would know. He held his breath, his pulse pounded in his ears as he rounded the corner and looked down.

  Nothing, there was no one there.

  He almost laughed out loud as he scrubbed his hand over his face. He really must be losing his mind; did he really expect her to be hiding behind a wood pile in his yard? Disappointment warred with the absolute lunacy of his expectations. Shaking his head, he turned away and headed back towards the barn.

  ‘That was close,’ Olivia breathed from around the corner of the house, as they both stepped out of the shadows and watched the other Theo disappear into the barn and close the door behind him.

  Theo stood quietly staring, his brow creased into a frown.

  ‘What?’ Olivia asked in concern, ‘what is it?’

  ‘I don’t remember doing that,’ he replied. ‘He’s me and yet I don’t remember doing that, nor this farm.’

  He cast his eyes across the empty paddocks and overgrown fields.

  ‘I don’t remember it being so run down,’ he shook his head before turning his gaze back to Olivia. ‘Something has changed, something is different.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’m positive’ he replied. ‘I never lived on the farm alone, even after I returned from Salem. I employed three hands and got the farm back up and running again.’

  ‘We need to find James,’ Olivia took Theo’s hand.

  Nodding in agreement they started back across the overgrown fields, cutting through the tall grass the same way they had come before and hoping that James was home.

  The farmhouse looked much as it did when they’d left, the orchard was quiet and still. The breeze rippled through the trees rustling the leaves as it went and silently they crept up towards the house. There didn’t seem to be any of James’ workers about despite the fact that it was midday. It was the same as the Beckett farm, nothing felt the same. The atmosphere felt heavy and oppressive, almost as if the town itself had borne witness to the worst of humanity and was still reeling from the experience. Everything seemed to be sad and muted.

  As they approached the door Theo let go of Olivia’s hand and crept to the window, peeking through carefully. After all they had no idea how much time had passed or even if James was still there and not knowing what they were walking into just made them both that much warier.

  Cupping his hand against the glass as he looked in, Theo could see a man seated at the table with his back to him. The figure’s posture may have been hunched over but Theo would know that man anywhere.

  ‘James…’

  Glancing around the room to check he was indeed alone, Theo headed back towards the front door. Not bothering to knock he simply lifted the latch and walked into the room, with Olivia following behind.

  James spun around in his seat at the sound of someone entering his house uninvited. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open in shock.

  ‘Theo?’ he whispered as if he could not quite believe his eyes.

  He rose slowly from his seat, his gaze fixed on Theo. They stood for a moment, staring, locked in a silent communication and neither not quite knowing what to do. Then suddenly Theo strode across the room in a few quick strides and wrapped his arms around his father.

  ‘Theo,’ James’ voice broke as he fisted his hands against Theo’s back and held him tightly.

  Olivia’s eyes filled with tears as she watched the two men embrace. So much was left unsaid between them but they seemed to have reached some kind of mutual understanding and in that moment she knew Theo had finally accepted James as his father.

  James released Theo and turned his gaze on her.

  ‘Olivia,’ he croaked as she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

  He pulled back and cradled her face gently in his hands.

  ‘Are you alright?’ he frowned, glancing down at her filthy muddy clothes.

  ‘I’m fine’ she smiled, grasping the hand that held her cheek so tenderly.

  ‘Temperance?’ he turned to look at Theo, ‘did Sam get her out in time?’

  ‘We think so’ Theo nodded, ‘but we can’t know until we return home.’

  James let out a deep shuddering breath as he squeezed his eyes shut. ‘I’ve waited ten years to find out what happened to you all.’

  ‘The year is 1695?’ Olivia gripped his hand tightly.

  He nodded slowly and she let out a relieved breath.

  ‘What happened?’ James asked quietly, ‘I saw…’

  He shook his head, dropping his hands from Olivia’s face.

  Theo watched as he struggled to find the words. He could see the turbulent emotions playing across James’ face. Obviously restless and trying to organize his thoughts, James moved towards the fire and stared into the dancing flames.

  Theo frowned as he watched him move. He walked slowly and with
a very pronounced limp that he’d not had the last time he’d seen him. That was not the only thing that was different. He was thinner and his dark hair was much more liberally shot with grey but as he raked his hand through his hair in the signature gesture Theo had so often used himself, he saw a deep scar which ran from his temple down the side of his face and along his jaw to disappear into his collar.

  ‘What happened to you James?’ he asked softly.

  ‘So much,’ he shook his head, dark thoughts clouding his still handsome face. ‘So much I’ve seen, so much has happened.’

  Looking up from the soothing flames he looked his son directly in the eye.

  ‘Tell me what happened the night you went after Temperance.’

  ‘We made it to the farm’ Theo began. ‘Matthias was passed out drunk, he never even knew we were there. However, Mary was another matter. We found her with Temperance, there was no other way around it. Tempy was in a bad way and we had so little time. We tried to distract Mary but she walked in on us as Sam disappeared with Temperance. In her madness and panic she threw a lamp which lit up the whole room. We managed to knock Mary out and get everyone out of the house while Olivia stopped the fire from spreading. We thought we were safe, but as we made it outside…’

  ‘Nathaniel was waiting for you,’ James replied.

  ‘How do you know?’ Theo frowned.

  ‘Because I was there,’ James whispered. ‘I saw…I woke up on the floor and you were all gone.’

  He turned his piercing gaze on Olivia who had the grace to look guilty.

  ‘I am sorry about that’ she told him softly, ‘I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want Nathaniel or anyone else to have any reason to become overly interested in you.’

  ‘It didn’t make a difference in the end,’ James muttered.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Theo asked.

  ‘I mean Nathaniel followed you to the Beckett farm from here. He knew you were both connected to me somehow, so even if I hadn’t followed you the moment I came around he would have still come here looking for me.’

  ‘Is that what happened?’

  ‘Not at first,’ James blew out a tired breath. ‘I followed you to the Beckett farm when I woke. By the time I got there you were both out in front of the house with Nathaniel, but before I could come to your aid Theo cut Nathaniel’s arm off. I saw the severed limb fall to the ground and you both disappear in the blink of an eye. But what I saw next…’ he shook his head as if even after all these years he still couldn’t reconcile what he’d witnessed.

  ‘What did you see James?’ Olivia asked curiously.

  ‘His arm, it…’ he frowned, ‘it grew back, right before my eyes.’

  ‘Did he see you?’ Theo asked.

  James shook his head again. ‘No, I retrieved the horses and returned home.’

  ‘But he came looking for you?’

  ‘As I said, not right away.’ James returned to the table and took a seat.

  ‘For so long I looked over my shoulder waiting for him to confront me. I watched as he gained more and more influence in town. Until finally the first open accusations came. Samuel Parris’ daughter Betty and his niece Abigail, such foolishness. I don’t think they ever meant it to go as far as it did. But Nathaniel seized upon their accusations, whispering in the right ears until a full blown witch fever seized the town. It was madness, so many innocents hung but far more died in the jail. At one point Salem jail was filled to bursting, everyone seemed to seize upon the opportunity to settle every disagreement and petty squabble with an accusation of witchcraft. I kept to myself as much as I could, hoping it would pass and sanity would return but…’

  ‘But?’

  ‘I realized Nathaniel had not forgotten about me at all, he’d simply been biding his time waiting for the right moment. He came to my door late one night with Stephen and your brother and a warrant for my arrest.’

  ‘Logan?’ Theo’s gaze snapped up to meet his serious eyes, ‘came to arrest you?’

  James nodded.

  ‘What happened next?’ Theo asked, his eyes deeply troubled.

  ‘At first I was taken to Salem Jail but it was overrun and afforded little chance for the privacy he required to question me. He sent Logan and Stephen to search the house.’

  ‘Your house?’ Olivia’s eyes widened in panic, ‘Hester’s Grimoire? Emmaline’s journal?’

  ‘Both gone,’ he told her softly his voice filled with remorse. ‘I’m so sorry Olivia, I tried to hide it from them but…’

  ‘Nathaniel has them both?’ she asked fearfully.

  He nodded slowly, ‘the Grimoire for certain, he admitted it to me.’

  ‘No!’ Olivia’s head dropped into her hands as she shook it in denial.

  ‘Livy,’ Theo dropped down on his haunches in front of her, gently grasping her wrists and pulling them away from her face.

  ‘I should never have left it here,’ she swallowed hard. ‘It was my responsibility and I allowed it to fall into Nathaniel’s hands.’

  His heart clenched painfully at the expression of hopelessness and guilt on her face. He knew she’d never let the book out of her sight but at that moment she’d only thought of him and his sister. A testament to her love for him, it was also a debt he’d never be able to repay. Because of her his sister was still alive, he hoped.

  ‘What if Nathaniel figures out how to use Hester’s book?’

  ‘Livy love,’ he comforted her, ‘you know as well as I do, that Grimoire is protected by blood magic and some pretty potent other magic. No one but you have been able to read it, not even your mother. I’m willing to bet that he hasn’t been able to do much more than stare at the cover.’

  ‘God, I hope you’re right. It has been passed down my family for centuries, protected and treasured by generations of Wests. Hester’s Grimoire is part of my legacy and I just tossed it aside and forgot about it.’

  ‘No you didn’t,’ he told her firmly. ‘None of us could have predicted what would happen.’

  ‘He’s right Olivia,’ James interrupted, ‘none of this is your fault.’

  ‘We’ll get it back I swear,’ Theo promised her.

  She stroked his face gently, smiling gratefully as he turned back to James, waiting for him to continue with his story.

  ‘So what happened after that?’ she asked James.

  ‘When Nathaniel realized he wouldn’t be able to force any answers from me in the jail with so many witnesses he had me moved to his private residence,’ he continued. ‘He’d had a house built in town, specially commissioned, and I was unfortunate to experience why.’

  James glanced up noting their worried expressions.

  ‘The house has a room concealed below ground, a cellar of sorts where he likes to…question his guests.’

  ‘He tortured you?’ Olivia whispered in horror.

  James looked away, unable to stand the sympathy and concern in her honey colored eyes. Turning his haunted gaze towards the fireplace he reached down deep inside, forcing himself to finish telling them the truth, even if it meant disturbing memories he wanted to shut away forever.

  ‘I don’t know how long exactly I spent in Nathaniel’s cellar but I do know I didn’t break,’ he turned his gaze back to Theo. ‘I never said a word about you.’

  ‘James,’ Theo whispered painfully, ‘I never wanted you to get hurt because of us…because of me.’

  ‘Theo, I would suffer through the pain a thousand times gladly if it meant protecting you,’ he squeezed his eyes shut momentarily. ‘I failed you before, leaving you with Matthias. I was not going to fail you again.’

  ‘Is that why you walk with a limp now?’ Theo’s jaw tightened furiously, ‘did Nathaniel do that to you?’

  ‘He left me with many reminders of our time together,’ James replied grimly, ‘but I have learned to live with them.’

  ‘How did you escape him?’ Olivia asked suddenly. ‘I know Nathaniel, I can�
�t imagine he would’ve let you walk away especially without giving him the answers he wanted.’

  ‘That’s the strange thing,’ James frowned. ‘There were only three people who knew I was at Nathaniel’s house. Nathaniel himself, Stephen and Logan. I thought for sure I was going to die in that house. When Nathaniel couldn’t get what he wanted from me I honestly believed he’d kill me. I lost track of days, I have no idea how long I was there, and just when I thought the worst my friend Justin came for me with the watchmen.’

  ‘Justin?’ Olivia repeated.

  ‘You met him briefly before, Justin Gilbert. He was originally a merchant but well-liked and respected in the community with a reputation for being fair and just. As the trials began to wind down, a watch was established in Salem to restore order and Justin was appointed as constable. He picked several good men he trusted and made them watchmen. It was they who restored sanity to Salem, as much as the magistrates would have you believe differently.’

  ‘How did Justin know where to find you?’

  ‘That’s just it, I don’t know and we have never spoken of it again,’ James replied quietly. ‘I owe him my life.’

  ‘So he showed up and Nathaniel just handed you over?’ Theo asked in confusion.

  ‘Exactly and that’s the odd thing, Logan found the Grimoire and the journal in my house, in my possession and I know he handed them over to Nathaniel. He had more than enough evidence to go before the court and have me sentenced to hang for witchcraft.’

  ‘So why didn’t he?’ Theo wondered.

  ‘He wouldn’t have wanted to hand over the book’ Olivia replied. ‘Hester’s Grimoire is extremely powerful; it contains some pretty hefty magic. There’s no way he’d want to hand it over to the court as evidence and risk it being destroyed. He’s searching for the Wests and now he has a direct link to them. If he can figure out how to use the Grimoire, it will lead him back to Hester herself. Likewise, it served no purpose to kill James. He still had answers Nathaniel wanted and so he was worth more to him alive than dead. My guess is he’s waiting for everything to die down and people to forget then he’ll try to get to James again.’