“Elizabeth, come help,” Ligeia said. She smiled at me. “We’re feasting tonight, did Monica tell you? You’re more than welcome to stay,” she added. “We’re always so pleased to see one of our own.”
“I think she has to go,” Monica said quickly. She shot me a nervous look. “Don’t you, Elizabeth? You were just talking about how you have to get back home, to Steven,” she added. “Remember?”
I blinked. “Um, I guess,” I said nervously.
Ligeia cocked her head to the side and gave me a funny look. “Monica, why not go and help the others,” she said. I could tell her tone was more a command than a suggestion. “Elizabeth and I have some things to discuss.”
“I was just leaving,” I said, getting to my feet and shoving my hands in my pockets. My jeans were damp from sleeping in Ligeia’s hut and I was chilled the bone. But I knew, deep down, that my true reason for discomfort had nothing to do with the temperature or my messy state.
Something was going on, and as usual, I was going to be the last to know.
“Elizabeth, don’t go, not just yet,” Monica said. She gave me a pleading glance behind Ligeia’s back. “At least, not right now – we have some things to discuss. Remember?”
“I need some time,” I said. I shook my head, biting my lip and keeping my eyes away from Monica. It felt too much like looking at a ghost, even though I knew full well that she was alive.
“Come, Elizabeth,” Ligeia said.
“No,” Monica said. She glared at me and crossed her arms over her chest. “Elizabeth, wait. Don’t go,” she added sharply.
I looked at her, feeling helpless. The worst the memories – an image of Monica stabbing a teenaged Andrea in the chest with her athame – was plaguing my mind, and I couldn’t bear to look at her. If you hadn’t done that, where would we be now, I wondered sadly. Would we actually have normal lives?
“Elizabeth, please don’t go,” Monica said. She looked at me, pleading with her brown eyes.
“Monica, do as I’ve said,” Ligeia said curtly. “Leave us.”
Monica gave me one last look – a strange blend of scorn, pity, and helplessness – before striding out of the hut, her hands balled into fists at her sides.
“What was that about?” I turned to Ligeia. “What is she talking about?”
Ligeia gave a small shrug. “You know Monica,” she said. “Always going on about something or another.”
I bit my lip. “She said she had to talk to me.”
“Pay her no mind,” Ligeia said. “Come, child.”
“I’m twenty-two,” I said crossly. “I’m not a child.”
Ligeia laughed – it was a pleasant sound, even if I knew she was mocking me.
“Compared to me, almost everyone is a child,” Ligeia said. She took her walking stick and guided me out of the hut, setting a brisk pace across the grassy meadow. As always, the perpetual spring weather of the coven enchanted me. It felt like forever since I’d seen a blue sky, and I craned my neck as we walked across the clearing.
“So, you have regained your friend,” Ligeia said. “And now there is the matter of repaying the coven, Elizabeth. Have you already forgotten the promises you made?”
“No, I haven’t,” I said stiffly. “But I can’t do anything right now. I have to go home, Ligeia.”
“Excuse me?” Ligeia gave me a haughty look. “You mustn’t think of refusing me, Elizabeth. I am your elder.”
“I’ll come back,” I said quickly. “But there are some…well, I have to do some stuff at home first. I don’t know how long I’m going to be here, and I can’t just leave at the moment.”
Breaking from Ligeia’s side, I burst into a run and ran until my sides ached. A strange female voice echoed in my ears – a blend of Monica’s cheerful bitterness and Ligeia’s aged tones. Closing my eyes, I pushed myself harder and harder, my feet slapping the earth.
“You cannot run from me,” Ligeia called. “You forget, Elizabeth,” she said. “You cannot leave me so quickly.”
“No,” I called over my shoulder. “I told you – I have to go back. Things…things aren’t right, at least, not now. Just give me some time, and then I’ll come back, I promise.”
Ligeia appeared in front of me, floating in the air. Her ivory robes whipped around her wizened flesh and her blue eyes burned brighter than ever before.
“Elizabeth,” Ligeia said. “This is a warning. If you leave, we cannot assure you of anything. And your betrayal will not be so easily forgotten.”
“I’m not leaving forever,” I said quickly. “I told you – I just have some things that I have to take care of, that’s all. I’ll be back. I promise.”
“This is what you wanted, remember?” Ligeia glared. “You wanted your best friend, your Monica. And now she has returned, and yet you are still not happy. Why, Elizabeth?”
“Because,” I growled through gritted teeth. “She’s not the same.”
“Isn’t she?” Ligeia clicked her tongue against her teeth and shook her head. “Or have you just remembered things which you’d rather have forgotten?”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. Dropping to my knees, I closed my eyes and surrendered to my own emotions. Tears came to my lids and I blinked them back hotly, covering my face with my hands.
“I just don’t know why I was able to forget everything that happened,” I moaned, sniffling. “I don’t know why I forgot! And now, I can’t un-see the past. I can’t…” I trailed off, biting my lip and sighing. “I can’t forget about her stabbing Andrea.”
Ligeia gave me a cold look. “You are weak, child,” she said. “Take time – return home, regain your strength.”
Relief washed over me.
“But then you will return,” Ligeia said harshly. “You will return, and serve me, for as long as I please.” She held her chin high in the air.
As I ran from the coven, I wondered just what exactly Ligeia had in mind.
Chapter One
Elizabeth – Seven Years Ago
The image of Monica and David entwined was burned onto my brain. Between that and Steven’s sudden need for me, I felt sick. I ran into the woods, pushing and plunging through the green leafy darkness. By now, my feet seemed to know the way, even if my mind didn’t. Branches and twigs lashed at my face and arms and after a few minutes of silence, my face was wet with perspiration.
It’s not fair, I thought as I plunged on, in search of the coven. We’re both witches – why is she the one with all the power?
For once, the woods were sympathetic to my plight. I hadn’t been running for long when the trees began thin. Leaves and buds and flowers appeared, and the cold weather turned into a pleasant spring day. Soon, I was in the middle of the clearing.
Several witches were seated in a circle, giggling and whispering. When they saw me, all chatter stopped. One of them looked up, made eye contact, then blushed and dipped her head as the others laughed.
”What’s your problem,” I muttered under my breath as I stalked across the thick grass, towards Ligeia’s hut.
Ligeia turned from the hearth and wiped her hands on her apron.
“Why, Elizabeth, what a pleasant surprise,” Ligeia said. She smiled and held a pitcher of water towards me. “Water?”
I grabbed the jug from her and sat down in a huff, drinking from the lip of the container until cold water trickled down my chin and soaked the front of my shirt.
“Enough, child,” Ligeia said. She took the pitcher from me and frowned, wiping the edge where I’d drank with a cloth.
“She’s doing it again,” I said hotly, crossing my arms over my chest. “She’s manipulating them.”
“Who, child?”
I glared at her. “You know what I mean,” I said sharply. “You know how strong she is – you know what she’s capable of.”
Ligeia nodded. “Monica is intelligent,” she said. “I’m sure she’s doing what she thinks is best.”
“Well, she could’ve asked me!” I yelled hotly. “She could’ve at least said something, you know? How is this fair,” I added, shaking my head in disgust. “She’s ruined everything.”
Ligeia shook her head. “The spirit of Prudence will no longer be a problem,” she said, raising her hands in the air. “Are you going to tell me that your social needs are somehow more important than the needs of the coven? Of your community? Elizabeth, I’m disappointed in you.”
I squinted and frowned. “I’m confused,” I said slowly. “How does the spirit of Prudence have anything to do with Monica’s lies?”
Ligeia sighed. “Trust me, child, it is all for the best,” she said. “Now, things are slowly returning to normal for you, isn’t that true? So perhaps you should go home and enjoy it,” she added.
I blinked. “What?”
“Child, we have no use for you right now,” Ligeia said. “I know you’re feeling uncomfortable, but really, this will pass. Trust me,” she said softly. “I promise – I know what is best for you.”
Before I could respond, Ligeia clapped her hands together and a thick cloud of smoke billowed through the air. I coughed and heaved, covering my mouth and nose with both hands and keeping my eyelids tightly shut. I felt my body whirling and soaring through the air.
Coward, I thought as I crashed down to the ground, landing painfully on my hands and knees. She couldn’t even be bothered to argue with me!
After a few seconds, the smoke cleared and I sniffled, glancing around my room with disinterest. Ligeia had never done that before – spirited me away before I could even protest. It made me angry. I knew I had no right to feel so burned. Ligeia was the most powerful witch in the coven, but still. She’d never been so impatient with me before.
I rolled my eyes and flopped down on my bed just as the door swung open. Mom was standing there, her head cocked to the side.
“Hi, honey,” Mom said. “Were you out? I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Yeah,” I lied. “I was with Monica. What’s up?”
“Well, the weather is so nice today – Aidan and I were thinking of going down to the lake and having lunch. Want to come along?”
I frowned.
“Honey, what’s the matter?” Mom stepped into the room and laughed, looking slightly guilty. “I hope you’re not getting too depressed about having to go back to school again.”
“Actually, I completely forgot about that,” I said. I bit my lip.
Mom laughed. “I’m not surprised,” she said. She sighed. “I hope you kids won’t have to repeat the year.”
I groaned. “Me, neither,” I said.
“Still, you should try getting back into the swing of things, honey,” Mom added. “I know it’s hard – things were pretty scary for a while.” She smiled sympathetically. “But it’s all over now, and I’m sure everything will be fine.”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m sure you’re right.”
“So, what’ll it be? Are you coming?”
“I think I’m going to take a walk,” I said. I rolled off my bed and pulled on a pair of loafers. “Maybe go see Monica.”
“Weren’t you just with her?” Mom narrowed her eyes. “You girls aren’t getting into anything untoward, are you?”
I laughed nervously. “No, I meant Steven,” I added, looking down so Mom wouldn’t see that I was blushing. “We’re fine. You know – just drama with her boyfriend, that’s all.”
“Oh,” Mom said. “Well, you girls are at that age.” She sighed. “Given any thought to college?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Mom, that’s like, years away. Why?”
Mom looked guilty. “Well, now that you mention Steven – he dropped some things off at the house for you.”
“Like what?”
Mom handed me a few colorful, glossy pamphlets. They were all for local schools – Monadnock U, a couple of places in Vermont.
“Why did he leave these here?”
Mom smiled. “I guess he likes you, and he’s getting ready to graduate,” she said. She shrugged. “Maybe he’s hoping you’ll pick the same school.”
I blushed uncomfortably. “Okay,” I said. “Thanks.”
“You don’t…want to talk about this, do you?” Mom stepped closer. “You know, Elizabeth, you can always come to me. I want to know how you’re feeling.”
“No,” I said quickly. “I mean, I’m fine. Thanks, Mom.”
Mom nodded. I could tell she was uncomfortable – heck, probably almost as uncomfortable as I was feeling. She set the brochures down on my bedside table, patted me awkwardly on the head, and then walked out of my room.
I stared at the pamphlets for a few seconds before grabbing them and flipping through. Steven hadn’t left a note, or anything like that but I was hesitant to call him – was he always going to be this eager? How long would it take for Monica’s spell to wear off?
God, why did she do that, I thought angrily, crumpling the glossy papers into a ball and throwing them into the trash.
Curling up into a ball, I pulled the covers over my head and went to sleep.
When I woke up, it was getting dark outside. I could hear from the chatter and bangs downstairs that Mom and Aidan were back – likely getting dinner ready. Even though I’d been asleep for hours, I still felt tired and achy. Maybe I’m getting sick, I thought, wrinkling my nose as I climbed out of bed and pulled on a sweater. Great. That’s the last thing I need right now.
Downstairs, Mom was banging around the kitchen while Aidan sat at the table, a thick booklet laid out in front of him. Mom beamed when she saw me.
“Hi, honey, you missed a great time at the lake – lots of people were there, we had so much fun. Didn’t we, Aidan?”
“Yeah,” Aidan grunted. He didn’t look up. “This isn’t fair, Mom,” he whined. “It’s not fair! I didn’t miss so much school on purpose!”
Mom gave me a guilty grin. “Honey, the schools all sent over these books, for catching up,” she said. “Yours is in the hall.”
My heart sank as I walked into the foyer and saw a book, probably twice as thick as Aidan’s, perched on the hall table. I grabbed it and feigned a grunt of pain as I lugged it into the kitchen.
“Think of how nice this will be,” Mom chirped. “They’re not going to make you go through the summer sessions after all!”
I rolled my eyes as I flipped through my book. There was a huge section on geometry, which I hadn’t even taken yet, as well as three hundred pages of reading on modern European history.
“They probably just don’t want to pay the teachers through the summer,” I snapped, flipping through the pages. “Aidan’s right. We shouldn’t have to do this crap.”
“Language, Elizabeth!” Mom put her hands on her hips. “And I know, it’s not exactly fun. But honey, life isn’t fair. Besides, wouldn’t you rather go back to school than deal with that awful curfew?”
I frowned. “Neither sounds particularly appealing,” I said. “Besides, how the heck am I supposed to get all of this done before school starts?”
“They probably won’t care if you don’t,” Aidan said moodily. “There’s no way the teachers are going to have time to grade all of these. They’re just covering their asses.”
“Aidan! Language!”
“Sorry, Mom,” Aidan said glumly. He heaved a huge sigh.
I stared at my younger brother, wondering if it would ever be possible to have a “normal” relationship with him. Aidan was only two years younger, but now that we were both teenagers, those two years felt like a wide gulf. And honestly, when I looked at him, it was hard to fathom that Andrea was only one year older. She and Aidan were about as different as two human beings could be.
Looking at Aidan also reminded me of Andrea and Steven. I shuddered, wondering how it feel to be attracted to your own sibling.
“Elizabeth?” Mom was staring at me. “You okay? You’re spacing out again,” she added.
�
�I’m fine,” I lied. “I’m going to take this over to Steven’s, I wonder if he got one, too.”
Mom nodded. “Maybe you can talk about college,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
I flushed. “Maybe.”
I had no intention of even bringing up those stupid brochures, but I had to admit that I was kind of curious. Running upstairs, I changed into a nicer pair of jeans and brushed my hair before sticking my giant workbook in my backpack and leaving. Mom was right – it was nice outside, I could actually tell that spring was on the way.
It felt strange to be outside, alone and unaccompanied, as I walked to the D’Amicos house. Maybe Mom was right about that, too, I thought, skipping to the side to avoid a puddle. Maybe I just got used to living in a police state – maybe things really are going to be better.
But somehow, knowing that Monica’s magic was behind all of this just made me feel weird. It was like looking at a model home, or a fake little village in a train set – something about it was almost creepily off from the real world. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself, walking faster until I was almost panting.
I was walking up the driveway when Steven opened the door. He saw me and grinned, his cheeks going red.
“Hey,” Steven said. “I had a feeling you were coming over. What’s up?”
“Did my mom call or something?” I rolled my eyes. “I just decided to leave now.”
Steven shook his head. “No,” he said, still grinning. “I just knew. We’re meant to be, Elizabeth.”
Ugh, I thought as I trudged up the driveway and onto the front porch. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
Mrs. D’Amico was bustling around in the kitchen. As usual, she barely looked my way as Steven led me inside.
“Mom, can Elizabeth stay for dinner?”
“Oh, I don’t need to,” I said quickly. “I’m sure my mom expects me.”
To my shock, Mrs. D’Amico turned towards me and smiled. It was so strange – I’d never seen her look at me with anything other than complete disdain.
“That would be nice, Elizabeth. Steven talks about you so often! Don’t you go breaking my little boy’s heart,” she added, wagging a finger in the air.
Touch of Fire (Into the Darkness Book 1) Page 49
