“I was curious how much you told her. She knew something. I was following her, when I stumbled into the elf and our…” Her eyes closed and she drew in a breath. “If they don’t kill her, I will have to. She’s murdered a witch, or at least been complicit in the crime.”
“That troubles you? It is best. The only way. She’s a threat to us both. Alice has no place in this world. We can’t begin to understand what our species create when combined.” With a graceful motion, he slipped into a chair, indicating the empty one for her to sit in. “Go on. I’ll leave you the space you crave.”
“Yes, it troubles me. She is my daughter. That may not mean something to you, but a witch passes all her power to her first daughter. She is the heir of all I have learned.” Davina sat across from him, careful not to look in his eyes.
“I’ve missed the way your skin feels against my skin.” His long fingers laced together. “Since you know more than you should, it’s best you not pass it on. I’ll take care of her, if they do not. Problem solved.”
“This place has changed you. You are a being of light and love. We are bad for each other.” She slowly got to her feet. “I should go.”
“No, stay. You are the only thing that has made this extended exile tolerable. Didn’t I give you happiness too? Indescribable peace? We are good for each other.” He stood and took one stride, standing beside her, and pulling her into an embrace. “Please, stay. What must I do, beg? We are above that.”
“You lighten my soul. That’s not good for a priestess. It weakens my mind. Look where that led. I darken your soul. It’s so dark you would relish in the murder of our daughter. We dim each other so that we are no longer what we really are.” Even though her words were protesting, her arms wrapped around his waist, one trailing up his lean back.
“That’s giving us too much credit. Your heart was already light and my soul already dark. It’s why I was drawn to you and you to me. Exterminating Alice is survival, dearest, nothing more.” He tilted his head, running his nose on her cheek. “Your burden feels weighty. Give it to me.”
“It’s not so simple. Things have fallen apart around me.” Davina nuzzled his ear, feeling her worries slip away. “Kheelan, I… wait, why were you meeting with Gretchen?”
He buried his fingers in her hair and pulled her into a kiss, before answering. “She came to me.”
“Were you planning to finish what we started with her?” Davina stepped back. “Did you work magic with her?” Static filled the air as her anger rose. “Had you planned to push her to the top as you did with me?”
“If you didn’t still love me, would that matter? Let me help you. At least let me make sure he didn’t leave your mind damaged.”
Davina studied him, while she considered everything. Her love for Kheelan would always cloud her judgment, especially standing in his presence. Even with her best efforts, his influence would win. “Answer my question first.”
“I considered it. Though I doubt she had it in her to cast like you. I’ve shared things with you no witches have known in centuries.” The blue of his eyes sharpened. “It’s irrelevant, Alice activated the last step. By accident, I suspect, and without having uttered a single word. More evidence she needed to be sent to her death.”
“She… how do you know she didn’t cast a spell?” Davina swallowed hard. The last part required their blood, both of them, and one complete recitation of the spell. “The words were needed. You said as much. You said we had to do it together.”
“Funny thing about supernatural beings, they don’t always follow the rules as we know them.” He shrugged. “If she is with them, they are all pinned in the cave. Stuck between his father’s barricade and our toxic haze, as planned. They will starve, turn on each other, and any that manage to get out alive, will be easy to pick off.”
“Alice.”
“Will be the first to die, I imagine. They won’t suffer a witch, not one he saw create the haze that started it all. That’s some of those worries eased.” He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. “Let me make sure your beautiful mind is unharmed.”
Davina felt him enter her mind. Positive energy wrapped every thought. Peace filled the empty places, and pushed against her unease. Love filled her with joy.
KHEELAN GAVE EVERY corner of her consciousness pleasure while he searched for remnants of the dark elf. Two small tears remained in her psyche. He kissed her, while he repaired them, strengthening his work until he was certain there would be no future snap at the weak spot.
Feeling her surrender to his will, he manipulated her cares for Alice, and replaced them with hate for the betrayal. Alice would need to die, and there was no reason Davina should suffer emotionally when she did.
You love me as I love you, was the last suggestion he left.
Tension left her and she let him cradle and caress her. “I love you.”
He kissed her forehead. “I love you, Rosabella.”
DAVINA CROSSED THE threshold of the coven house still in a haze. The sensation was familiar. It meant Kheelan altered her will. There would be no way to know how until enough time passed to let the effects wane. Depending on what he did, that could take a long time. On a few occasions, what it was never came to mind. “Damn him.”
She crept up the stairs and into her room without anyone noticing. Each time she looked around the room, it irritated her that her necklace was gone.
“Gretchen.” The name came out low and full of hate. If Alice hadn’t seen to it, she would have killed her for any number of offenses. Making a run for power while she was ill for less than a day, would be a good place to start. Attempting to woo away her love. Sending a witch to die would have justified it.
Her love? That felt wrong. Suggestions. Why did he always add that? What use would a light elf have for the love of a ruthless witch? Pushy creature. Only his power spared him. All she had to show for years of working with him was a book of spells that she needed him to open and a traitorous daughter who needed burned alive.
She tossed a few things around, still looking for her necklace. It occurred to her as she swept things off her nightstand that Gretchen might not have taken her necklace. There was another witch who needed to fear her. “Alice. You are lucky the elves have you. I would have made you suffer.”
Along with her new hatred for Alice, there was a pull to take the spell book to Kheelan. Some need to work a new spell with him. When she reached for her chest, as with her necklace, it was gone.
Uttering a prayer that it was Gretchen and not Alice, she left her room, locking it behind her. A few presences were milling about. Since it was early in the day, many of the witches were still in bed or starting to wake.
With each step she took toward Gretchen’s room, Davina felt a presence growing stronger. She could already tell who. Not who she would have expected. If anyone would be pilfering magical secrets, she would have suspected Samantha or Matilda, both were too ambitious for their own good.
“Chester.” Davina blocked the door. “I’m certain you have a very good reason for…” She stepped inside, gliding toward him, and looking down at what he was reading. “Nosing around in Gretchen’s journals.”
Chester swallowed audibly. “I do.”
“I assume you will share that with me, before I decide on your punishment.” Her face remained hard, eyes growing colder as they landed on her chest. The way it vibrated elf, she didn’t want to risk retrieving it in his company. It lightened her mood to think her necklace could be in the thief’s room as well.
Chester looked toward the door. “We should talk privately.”
His lack of fear set Davina on edge. “A walk?”
They stepped into the hall and Davina locked the door. Silence hung between them as they walked away from the coven house.
When Davina felt they were far enough, she stopped and turned toward him. “Get to the point. As you are aware, I have things to do.”
“I’m with the PPK.” Chester hummed with a
growing magic as if he expected her to fight.
She blinked, keeping her thoughts to herself, not ready to incriminate her or Kheelan. “Why has the PPK sent me an apprentice? As you have seen, I have several.”
“We have numerous problems.” He gestured with one hand to the woods around them. “Are you aware there is a light elf in the woods?”
She wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes. “Wonderful, as if I don’t have enough to deal with. Dark elves are attacking and killing witches. Are you here for that? No, or you would have said so. Do you intend to give me retribution for my fallen sister now?”
“Your fallen sister is responsible for something that could come down on your whole coven.” Chester paused a moment before he continued. “I have reason to believe she was working with the light elf to poison, kill, and instigate a war with dark elves.”
“Gretchen?” Davina looked appropriately shocked, though she wanted to laugh at the idea a witch with Gretchen’s limited cunning could accomplish what she had. “That does not surprise me. She did send a witch to her death and would have been burned for her actions. Does her death mean you are leaving now?”
“No. I need definitive answers for the elves, and I must find the light elf, so that they can remove a hex.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “You are aware light elves are only seen when they desire. With Gretchen gone, well, that makes locating him difficult. I can follow and have followed his vibrations, but the dwelling eludes me.”
“A hex? Light elves are disgusting things from what I understand. I’m sure since you belong to the nosy PPK, you are aware my niece is, well, I know you are aware. Dirty little thing attacked you.” Davina drummed her fingers together, eyes scanning the woods. Kheelan could be anywhere. In the daylight that penetrated the trees, he moved around much too fast for human eyes. “I will search Gretchen’s room, and find the evidence you need, so you might leave us.”
“Thank you. It would be best if only you know what I am. There could be other witches complicit who will slip up if they are unaware.”
“What you are…” Her cold eyes looked down her nose. “Is a witch who spies on witches for the PPK, and I might add you are here on the behalf of elves. My hospitality will only extend to you until this resolves. You are not welcome here.”
“I understand. My bias is with you. The treaty, if adjusted will be fair.” He frowned. “I understand your mistrust, but I’m on your side.”
“We shall see, elf spy.” Davina turned and walked away. “I will search her things. Do not let me catch you invading another witch’s privacy, even a dead witch.” After a few steps she stopped, realizing she didn’t ask about the hex, and not wanting to appear as if she knew. “What was the hex? Perhaps I can help expedite your departure.”
“It is a combined elf-witch charm on their water.” Chester’s posture relaxed. “I’m not sure we can undo it now that Gretchen is gone. If elves die, this can quickly escalate.”
“I don’t see why, the witch responsible is dead. Send the cave dwellers back to their main cave. Problem solved. This is my territory anyway. I only share because your organization forced the hands of my ancestors long ago.” She started walking again. “I want updated on any progress of contact you receive from the PPK regarding elves. That you kept something so important from me, will not go unreported. It must be a violation of some sort. You may well be responsible for any injuries, since you did not make me aware of Gretchen. Sloppy. I should expect better. Are you new?”
Chester followed a few steps behind. “I will keep you in the loop. Anything as a result of my work will not affect you or your bargaining position. I am a witch, Davina. I do respect you and our customs. The elves will not railroad you.”
“We shall see.” She picked up her pace, leaving Chester in the woods. The growing problems put a fresh weight on her, replacing the one Kheelan removed. The time for damage control was before the damage. They thought it was Gretchen, and it needed to stay that way.
Kheelan would have solutions. Over the years, he offered fast answers to every problem she encountered during her rise and rule.
First, the chest needed to disappear. Kheelan’s cabin would be the safest place. Why she demanded it stay with her was irrelevant in the face of the PPK destroying her coven. He loved her and wouldn’t let the wrath of the PPK come down on her.
Would he be willing to reverse their spell in order to help her? Not likely. On many long nights in his arms, he confessed his burden of vengeance. They both knew that was what darkened his soul enough for their love to blossom.
Could she turn him over to save herself? Yes. Maybe. Her rational mind said yes, but her soul wound around his in their painful dance, saying no. She lost their daughter and wasn’t sure her heart would bear losing him too.
Back at the house, she moved with soft footsteps, first to her room, to get a large enough bag, and second, to Gretchen’s room. Inside she glanced around, not finding her necklace laying out.
Before collecting the chest, she dumped out drawers and flipped the mattress. Rose quartz wasn’t hard to come by, but it was special to her. The last thing she had from her mother, aside from the family grimoire. Her last shred of family, now that Alice betrayed her.
Angry tears fell as she shoved the chest in her bag. Once the PPK left, if the coven was still standing, she would demolish the room, take out everything, and find her necklace.
Samantha stopped her in the hall. “Davina, there is chatter. About Alice.”
Davina’s jaw twitched, her lips pressed together. “Alice is dead. I’m going to confirm that now. As you are aware elves are dangerous. You and the rest of your sisters stay here. No one is to leave. Watch Chester closely. I still don’t trust that he didn’t let Alice slip away.”
Samantha agreed. “I’m so glad to have you leading us again. Can I do anything?”
“I told you what to do. Pretend like I know what’s best, and that you respect me.” Davina spun and continued on her way out.
Two trips to Kheelan in one day reflected how dire things were becoming.
PPK in the coven. Fantastic.
Chapter Fourteen
“BEFORE WE DO anything as drastic as soul mingling, why don’t we see what our spell is capable of with your latent power? The connection we will make is the kind that led elves to war.” He closed his eyes and rolled his neck. “It can’t be undone.”
Alice saw a deep concern etched into his features. “I wasn’t the one who said I needed to know my name. Give me the spell. You’ve read over it enough. It’s perfect.”
“Says she who has never written a spell. You realize one wrong word, even the right word in the wrong place and this ends in disaster. You could turn the water into something instantly fatal.” His eyes skimmed the words.
“Jasper! Time.” She stretched her arm with her hand open.
“Say these three words again.” He tapped the three she stumbled over the most.
Alice said them as if she had grown up with elves, and turned to him with pride in her eyes.
“Very good.” Jasper pulled the mask over his mouth and his gaze landed on the glowing vial of water they, up until right then, had refused to work with.
“I had a good teacher. Though not a patient one.” She smirked at him, hoping to ease some of his mounting tension. “Ready?”
The spell they wrote was to undo what her blood caused. Reverse the third step directly from the water, and free the cave entrance. She would still need to travel to the source, repeat the process on a grander scale, and undo the first two steps. He said he wasn’t happy with those spells yet. They were close.
Jasper backed toward the corner. “Ready when you are.”
Alice closed her eyes, drew in three cleansing breaths, and focused her intentions, pressing the power into the words. While she unscrewed the lid, her hand was steady, afraid to spill the liquid. She poured half into a transparent glass and closed the vial. If this spell didn’t wor
k, they would need the rest to try again.
Before starting the chant, she made sure the empty container, a black jar and its lid were in reach. She knew they were. They both checked the setup several times.
A wisp of smoke came from the glass with the water, reminding her Jasper could get ill if she didn’t get this right and fast.
The words came from her in a smooth flow as she laid the foundation and put her intentions to work.
The wisps turned to tendrils, spiraling around themselves.
Alice didn’t celebrate, that was only the beginning. She uttered another line of the spell, only watching long enough to see the light wrap itself around the growing spiral.
As Jasper warned her it might, the spell in the water fought to hold on to her blood and its effects. A trickle of blood dripped from her nose to her upper lip. Pain caused white streaks to mar her field of vision. She’d repeated the spell so many times, she didn’t need to read it.
She kept reciting, her body shaking as she struggled against the strength of the enchantment. As she uttered the last few words, there was a pop that shocked her. Her control of what she removed from the water didn’t waver as she stumbled back.
Alice felt Jasper’s hand on her back, urging her forward. She reached out and picked up the black jar.
Her concentration was solely on getting the light safely in the container. She didn’t notice her own body trembling.
Once she screwed the lid on and rested it on the table, her concentration ebbed, as did the adrenaline that was keeping her on her feet. She crumpled to the floor.
JASPER ROLLED OVER, balling up as the pain from being exposed to such intense pure light raced over him. His eyes cracked open and closed against his will. The room wasn’t as bright, though now his eyes burned from the soft glow of the rocks and the remaining water in the vial.
He pulled the mask off when he heaved, not sure if he ate enough to make sick in it or not. “Alice?”
There was no response, but he felt her. Weaker, but near. He tried to force his eyes open. They refused. He crawled toward her presence, bumping into her, and realizing she was on the floor too. “Damn it.”
Tainted Waters: A Dark Paranormal Fantasy Novel (Paranormal Peacekeepers Book 1) Page 14
