A Late Summer Bloom

by Cherrie Mack

  “Yes. A certain race of witches believed to have been wiped out.”

  “Is that a good thing?”

  “Tell me, Colt, are there any others like you that you know of.”

  She watched him think for a moment. “No, ma’am. I always knew I was different. I never knew what was wrong with me. But, I learned to live with it, block it out, so to speak. The colors can be blinding, ya know?”

  “You should have been informed of your heritage, the importance of your gift. Have you no coven?”

  “Coven?”

  “Family.”

  “None to speak of, Miss Desiree.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-one. I was raised in an orphanage in Waco, Texas. Went there when I was four. The only thing I had on my person was my given name. Lady Sonia told me to keep it hush-hush, so I did. I was schooled there, learned proper manners and all. As soon as I left, I got me a job working a grill. Saved me some money and took the first bus to New Orleans. It’s always called to me, ma’am.”

  “I’m only a year older than you, Colt, so if you call me ma’am again, I’ll turn that gorgeous mane of hair, white.”

  He chuckled. “Yes ma—Miss Desiree.”

  “How can I say this? Your surname means watcher. It was one of the original names of your kind. Your mark means your blood is pure. You might think to be human, but the power you possess is supernatural. Can I ask what it is that you see?”

  “Auras. I can see the color of one’s soul. It can be pure or it can have a taint. It can be red or black as night. People are horrible, Miss Desiree. Truly despicable.”

  Apathy swelled her heart thinking of his struggle to understand, his years alone. She spoke softly, almost as if she didn‘t want to hear the answer to her next question. “And me? You saw the color of my aura?”

  “Yes. You have more than one. I assumed you were the woman in the tomb you cried over. I didn’t think you knew, so I followed you for days, wantin’ to tell you, to put you at ease, but I am not always well received. One night, I had one too many. I met a woman who informed me that if I didn’t help her, I’d be sorry. She said no one would get hurt. I should’ve known better, but when I drink, I block my sight.”

  “Well, there’s a lesson for you—”

  When Colt hung his head, Desiree sighed, her voice softer. “So by helping her, she meant capturing me?”

  “She told me it was just to question you. That’s all. That’s why I stayed with you. I wouldn’t leave a woman in the clutches of such evil. Miss Sonia raised me right.”

  “That she did. But your good manners is not gonna help you know. I’m afraid you doomed yourself. Who is she by the way?”

  “Selena.”

  “Selena? Colt, you must tell me everything. Don’t leave a thing out.”

  Desiree was so angry she could spit fire. Not only did Selena think Desiree was after Julien, she was about to feed her to a warlock. This was bad. Really bad. Yet, Desiree could only wish for one thing—to see Simon once more. She couldn’t explain it but her need for him grew stronger every waking moment.

  Chapter Thirty

  In the early morning hours, Giselle and Julien traveled southeast, deeper into the heart of Florida. A storm blackened the sky and rain pelted the ground like sheets of glass. Giselle felt a shift in the air, like static electricity. Her latest vision showed Desiree in danger. Because of that, Giselle found it hard to focus on anything but her friend. Allowing a brief stop at the nearest cave, she sought out the healing minerals and chanted a prayer. She felt weak as she tried on numerous occasions to tap into the veil. With each attempt, she failed. Since her visions came in their own time, trying to call on the sight at will was something she’d never done before.

  Julien put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. The slight pressure signaled his understanding of the insurmountable pressure she was feeling. She shrugged his hand off her shoulder and moved out of his grasp to seek a place of privacy. Not wanting to give any thought to the argument they had before her vision, she thought it better to deal with it later. The safety of her best friend was her utmost priority.

  Standing in an alcove that looked as though it had been carved out of porcelain marble, Giselle studied the smooth walls. The thick swirls of crimson reds and deep purple hues were abundant and archaic in design. The floor was more rigid, with sharp peaks in marble jutting up at different angles. The rocks had slippery flat surfaces which made sitting rather difficult. She stood and tried to concentrate. The stillness, disrupted by only her breath, would aid in her attempt to tap into the veil. It had to.

  With her arms extended, palms up, she found a spot on the wall. It was red, interwoven with shades of purple. She focused on it harder, meditating. When the splotch moved and stretched, she remained calm, centered. The wall covering shrunk in size, its movement making her dizzy. She recognized the one spot on the wall as a bruise marring the skin under a sea of bangle bracelets. A smile curved the upside of her mouth. Giselle tried desperately to hone in on her friend. Nothing worked. She was unsuccessful in getting her attention. Then, the man she was with noticed her. Giselle smiled wide as she focused in on the man.

  ****

  Julien paced outside the entrance of the cavern, waiting for Simon to arrive. The heavy rain would make it difficult for the traveler to fly, but shifting was the easiest and fastest way to reach them. A falcon could be seen flying overhead. Something about the creature piqued his curiosity. Watching it drop to the earth in a dive so fluid and fast that it seemed like a blur, he grinned.

  Observing the traveler shift was as amazing as it was liberating. When Simon shifted into his human form, Julien let out a sigh of relief, rubbing his brow.

  “Has the queen discovered any news of Desiree?”

  “She’s been trying to tap into the veil. Nothing so far.”

  Julien noticed the stress and worry lining the traveler’s expression. “Do you mind telling me what happened?”

  “In my entire existence, I’ve never failed an assignment. But Desiree … she brought me to the brink of my sanity. Night after night, I was made to relive the pain of my past. And I turned away from her, for just a little while.”

  The ashen color of his skin and the deep creases around his mouth told of his state of mind. Julien also noticed his eyes. The sparkle was gone, only to be replaced by what looked like defeat. There was no life in him, just a shell.

  “Your past?”

  “Desiree had been revisiting all the places I went with my eternal love. But, when she returned to the place where my beloved was viciously slaughtered by a warlock, I left her. You’d think I would’ve learned. I let the same thing happen at the very same place in the quarter almost a century ago. I must save her, Julien—even if I die doing it.”

  He placed his hand on Simon’s shoulder. “You will do no such thing. We will find her together. There is strength in numbers.”

  “Julien, your allegiance and protection must be on the queen at all times. If it comes down to it ... if I trade myself for her, you must kill the warlock who takes me immediately. Don’t let me wallow in the pit.”

  “Never. Come. You need to rest. Rejuvenate.”

  As they entered the cave, Simon professed his concern. “These warlocks are growing in number. Witches are falling victim to the dark side every day. Times are changing. It is no longer considered honorable to be a traveler. No disrespect, but those who volunteer are bent on revenge. If Giselle hones her powers and brings the families together at last, our race has a chance to become what we once were. Real witches are shrinking in number while warlocks take over. Giselle is our final hope. She must sit on the throne and rule the covens with intelligence, compassion and reasoning. The royals will listen and the tide will change, but only if she is willing to sacrifice the life she’d like to have for the life of a queen.”

  Stopping just shy of the cavern pools, Julien questioned Simon. “Sacrifice her life? How so?”

&nbs
p; “She will need to produce children to keep our race from weakening. We need the power only her offspring can create. It is said that she must marry a royal. It is the only way to sustain a pure bloodline.”

  “So what you’re saying is Giselle and I could never marry?”

  Simon looked surprised. “Is that what you want?”

  Julien shrugged his shoulders. This was something he didn’t see coming. For the first time in his life, love had rushed into his heart and now he must let it slip away. He not only had to sacrifice his love for Giselle, he had to make sure she did the same in return. He hardened his attitude. “What I want is to kill Judias.”

  Giselle startled them. “And nothing more?” she asked.

  He read the hurt in her eyes as she kept a watchful eye on him. Simon rushed to her side. “Do you have news? Were you successful?”

  Breaking her stare, she looked at Simon. “Yes, I was successful. Desiree is alive and in the woods near Cottonwood Landing. She is being held captive, along with a man.”

  Simon furrowed his brow. “A man? Who is this man?”

  “Not to worry, Simon. He will help us.”

  “Us? I can’t ask that of you. You are the queen. Your responsibility is to the covens.”

  “My responsibility is to myself. And I need to rescue my best friend from the clutches of a warlock. I won’t be told she is not important enough. Nor will I be told my life and needs will have to be put last. I suspect it is this type of allegiance that got our race in trouble in the first place. As a society, we haven’t moved with the times. Well, that’s about to change with my rule. So, let’s go get Desiree.”

  Julien smiled proudly at her statement.

  “What are we waiting for? Let’s go.” Simon announced.

  Giselle looked at Julien. “We’ll be along, Simon. Give us a minute.”

  Simon pursed his lips and bowed at the waist. ”Of course, My Queen.”

  Without breaking her stare, her eyes watered and it pulled at his heartstrings.

  He wanted to stay under her spell forever. He wanted to kiss away her fears. He wanted to profess his undying love. Mostly, he wanted to marry his little witch and have babies by the dozen. But he could think of nothing else than the fate of a race. That fate rested on Giselle’s shoulders and, although he loved her, he knew they could never commit to one another. She needed to have babies. Royal babies. The families will converge on her to marry another with a pure bloodline. Making her choose between him and her obligatory duty as the queen of the royals was not something he wanted for her. He would request she break their bond. When he cleared his throat to speak, Giselle spoke first.

  “I can assure you, Julien, the love in your heart is real.”

  “Even if that is so, my love for you can only complicate things. I told you from the beginning that I was not your knight in shining armor, Little Witch.”

  “Oh, but you are. You just don’t know it yet.”

  “I want to be everything you need. The fact remains, I am not of royal blood. When you defeat Natas, and you will, how can you expect to save the covens without procreating a pure bloodline?” He shook his head at the thought. “No, I’m sorry. I can’t think of you with anyone other than me. It would drive me insane. The more distance between us, the better.”

  He watched as she hardened her expression. There were no tears, just pure determination. “My allegiance is to my self-preservation and happiness. You are part of that equation. I feel it down to my toes and you will never convince me otherwise. I will rule the covens, but I will do it my way. And if you don’t want any part of it, well, that’s on you. Now, let’s go get Desiree. I’m tired of being scared. I want to start living my life.” She turned away from him and walked straight to the exit of the cavern. Her shoulders no longer slumped, her voice no longer shook and her confidence no longer waned. Julien watched, as his once scared little witch walked toward the fight of her life instead of running from it.

  Before following after her, he stood motionless. Could they be together? Was it possible? All he knew was that she wanted him. She loved him. And a witch to the tenth power can do whatever she wants. Can’t she? Oh how he hoped that was true. He interlocked his fingers, stretching his arms out in front of him. At first, it was a blur in his peripheral vision, but he took another look just the same. His ink blot was turning into a defined tattoo. The flower was not yet filled in with color, but the petals were vivid.

  How strange.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Desiree was powerless. She felt like a fly caught in a spider’s web. Colt had been quiet for some time now, so when he stirred, she noticed. He straightened. “Are there many others out there like me?”

  She looked away before meeting his eyes. “Not that I know of. And I’m afraid if there are, there aren’t many. If you want, I can tell you what I learned from my heritage and spiritual classes.”

  Colt’s eyes widened, obviously thirsty for knowledge. “Please.”

  She giggled at his reaction. “Okay. There was a time when witches and watchers mingled together in the most basic of communities. Much like the human race, witches and watchers are all born with free will. We can choose to be part of a just society or shun it.”

  “And what of the warlocks?”

  “They are supernatural beings who become enslaved to evil. They no longer possess a conscience or free will.”

  “Hmm. What happened to my people?”

  Desiree looked away and sucked in her bottom lip. After biting at it several times, she met his gaze. “Have you ever heard of a place called Visionaries Hollow?”

  “No. I don’t think so.”

  “When I was a little girl, my grandmamma used to sit me on her knee and tell me stories of the olden days. It was a time when the watchers and witches lived in harmony. Anyway, it was said that the town housed an abundance of witches and watchers. One day a beautiful young witch, named Rachel, fell in love with a traveler named Korian. Travelers are warriors who police the supernatural realm. They are the peacekeepers.”

  Without looking at her, Colt spoke. “It must be nice to belong somewhere.”

  He wasn’t saying it to her, just saying it aloud. Desiree scooted closer to him. “Anyway, this traveler had a best friend, Jonathon, who was a watcher. Korian asked Jonathon to protect Rachel when he was away fighting in battle. See where this is going?”

  Colt laughed. “While he was protecting her, she fell in love with him?”

  “Ha! Such a typical male point of view—but no, Jonathon fell in love with her. He went to great lengths to get Rachel to fall for him. Some say it was his undoing. In a split second of desperation, Jonathon sought help from the darkness, allowing the foulness of evil to invade the peace of Visionaries Hollow. It is said that’s when all hell broke loose. The watchers accused the witches of using their kind as mere servants and war broke out, leaving the town destroyed. Rachel was killed in the battle. Naturally, Korian became enraged and tried to kill Jonathon. It was after this war when the divide between the races occurred. It drove a wedge into our communities. Anyway, after this war in particular, the master decided the travelers could have free will and decide when they wish to return to witch status.”

  “Why would a traveler become a traveler in the first place and why become a witch again?”

  “As of late, most join to exact revenge of some kind. But, if they revert back, they can no longer join the ranks of the travelers. The pull to remain is great, though. The travelers have immortality and youth. They can shift and their powers exceed even the most royal of witches. Except for the tenth power.”

  “So I’m a watcher. And today? Do the witches get along with the watchers?”

  “For the most part. We need each other.”

  “And what of the travelers and the watchers?”

  Desiree smiled a devious smirk. “I heard it’s a little like the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s. But who knows what it can be today.”

  He offered her
a sad, knowing nod. Desiree put her hand out to him in a gesture of friendship. He looked at her hand and just before he touched it, a wind whirled through the darkened pit.

  Like a vacuum, it pulled them up toward the beam of light. They were being summoned from their prison and Desiree knew it wasn’t for anything good. As they were hurled up through the hole in the ground, a shrill echo bounced off the treetops. Her eyes stung from the sunlight. She squinted, looking cautiously around at her surroundings. It was then the warlock made his presence known.

  Desiree watched the warlock approach Colt. He was tall, almost pristine in his appearance, and quiet as he circled him. She watched Colt squeeze his eyes tight and then open them slowly, their signal for a black aura.

  The warlock noticed and whirled around to look at Desiree. He walked toward her. Without speaking, she heard him.

  Tell me your gift my dear?

  “I wouldn’t tell you even if I knew!”

  “Oh, you know. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have heard me inside your head.” He smiled and his teeth lengthened to points. “I will love devouring you, piece by piece. Since our friend over there is a watcher, he might prove to be useful to me. As for you, if you keep your gift hidden, I will have no choice but to destroy you. However, I will have someone else for my next feeding if you choose to play nice.”

  Desiree watched his teeth lengthen into fangs, her stomach churning with fright. She wouldn’t show her fear. Instead, she was defiant. “I don’t play games,” she snapped.

  “I can vouch for that. She doesn’t play games, especially Simon Says.” Simon Granvil stood a few feet behind the warlock, laughing. The warlock looked stunned when he spun around to find a traveler ready to do battle. Wasting no time, the warlock’s fingers stretched and his nails lengthened into sharp blades. Desiree stood frozen to her spot, concern for Simon weighing her down. The warlock shocked her by quickly and unexpectedly turning back to her, slashing at her throat. Desiree jumped back.

  Simon’s muscles rippled and his face contorted with anger as he pulled a long gleaming sword from behind his back. He spat at the warlock. “Just like a coward to go after a woman. You will keep your filthy claws off her.”