by Basia Pike
“Thank you.” I held my breath. I had to make sure I was silent.
“We’re searching for Elijah Abbott, Josephine’s husband. He’s our prime suspect. Have you seen him?”
“Elijah, a suspect? Are you certain? He loved Josephine.”
“That’s the thing with murderers. You never suspect them. So, have you seen him since his wife’s death?”
“Yes, he was here that night and stayed over. He left in the morning. Josephine’s mom also came over that morning.” The despair in her voice was clear.
“I see. We intend to question her tomorrow. It wouldn’t be appropriate of us to worry her today. Did he mention where he was going?” Captain Jordan pressed. There was silence for a moment.
“No, I guessed he was heading home. He has no family other than Josephine’s parents and relatives.”
“Okay, thank you for your time, Miss Manning. I’m sorry about the timing, but do you mind if I do a routine check upstairs?”
“Of course not,” Elise said. I acted as swiftly as I could. I shut my eyes and chanted under my breath, “Quaerum en abscondem.”
I heard Captain Jordan’s footsteps moving up the rickety wooden stairs and stop outside the room. The door swung open. Captain Jordan stood at the door. I continued chanting under my breath as the captain glanced around.
I exhaled as he shut the door and moved on, investigating the rest of the rooms.
Thank God that worked!
“I’m sorry, Miss Manning. I had to make certain he wasn’t hiding here.”
“No problem, Captain. You’re just doing your job. Do you really believe Elijah killed Josephine?”
“At the moment all evidence points to him. It’s actually overwhelming how much evidence there is that he murdered her.” It went quiet for a short while. “Right, I must be off. I’ll see you at the funeral.”
“See you later, Captain,” Elise said.
“Please, call me Mark.” I heard the door shut and jumped to my feet, waiting for the sound of his car pulling away. I ran down the stairs and into the living room.
“Elise! That was nerve-racking,” I said. She turned around and gave me a sad nod. I walked over to the sofa and sank into the seat next to her.
“I can’t believe this is happening. It feels like a terrible nightmare,” Elise said, shifting on the sofa so she was facing me.
“Neither can I. I have to get away from here.” Silence fell between us for a moment.
“What are you going to do? Where will you go?” I noticed her eyes narrow. Should I tell her the truth?
“I can’t forget what those witches have taken from me. I will find them and make them pay.”
Elise stared at her hands. “To be honest, if I was in your shoes, I would want revenge too. I want you to punish those bastards that stole her away from us.” She took my hand in hers. “But, promise me you will be careful,” Elise said, tears welling in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, I will be,” I said, despite knowing it was a promise I probably couldn’t keep. I wrapped my arms around her.
“I’ll miss you, Elijah. I can’t believe I’ll have lost two of my best friends in one week.” She sniffed and then released me. “I’m going to get ready. The others will be here soon.” She disappeared up the stairs leaving me sitting in the midst of the cluttered living room.
Every that knew Jo was assembled in the quaint little church where we’d gotten married. Jo’s casket was open at the far end by the altar.
I walked toward it with my fists clenched and shoulders stooped. I inhaled rapidly as tears pooled in my eyes. As I neared the casket I halted frozen in sorrow. The thought of seeing her there lifeless scared me. Elise’s arm wrapped around my back and she egged me to carry one.
It cut me to the core seeing her lying there looking so beautiful. There was a picture of her to one side on a large board, smiling and full of life.
The tears ran down my face. My friends stood by my side as I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
“Goodbye. I promise you I will get revenge for this,” I whispered. I tore myself away from her and without another glance walked to the pew assigned to Elise and the coven. I took a seat at the end. Josephine’s mother sat in front of me, sobbing. Elise was close behind and Avery signaled for her to join them.
“Elise, have you seen Elijah since Tuesday?” Avery asked.
“No, he left that morning after you. Why?”
“The police believe he is the murderer.”
Elise glanced towards me and I shook my head. I knew she would have to tell them the truth, but right now wasn’t the time. “I can’t imagine he would ever hurt her. There must be an explanation.”
“But, where is he Elise? I don’t understand what is happening. Elijah would never hurt her, but the police said they have irrefutable evidence.” Avery said.
“It doesn’t make sense. I think there is more to this than we think.” Elise clasped her hands around Avery’s and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before taking her seat next to me.
“I just don’t believe Elijah would do this,” Avery uttered through sobs to her husband, Rob, who was looking tearful but not yet letting the tears fall.
Rob’s hands clenched into balls. “If he isn’t guilty he would be here sat with us.” Rob placed a reassuring hand on hers. The tightness in my throat increased at hearing Rob say that. I knew how it looked.
He believed I killed her.
Elise gripped my hand. She had heard him, and looked at me.
“Will you tell them the truth for me once I’ve left?” I whispered, and she nodded. I was there to put her to rest and had to ignore everything else. I sighed and tried to focus on my wife’s coffin as happy memories of her flooded my mind. It seemed surreal to be in the same church only a year later with the same people who’d attended our wedding, but this time for such a miserable reason. Her smile on the day we married was burned into my mind.
We skipped the wake afterward and headed back to Elise’s house. Everyone stood in silence, their faces down. Elise plied everyone with bourbon, but I had to leave that evening; otherwise I risked being locked up for a murder I didn’t commit.
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait until morning?” she asked.
I pulled her into a tight hug. “I shouldn’t risk it. It’ll be hard for me to say goodbye anytime. There’s no time like the present.”
Kai looked at me with concern. “How will we keep in touch with you?”
Amara wiped her tears away. “Well, there’s always magic. We can send messages to you, can’t we?”
“Yes, and although I can never return to this place once I am settled somewhere, you can always come visit me,” I said, although I didn’t intend to settle anywhere soon. Not until every witch that had inflicted this pain on me had paid for it.
“I’ve brought my old car over. I wanted to sell it, but you need it,” Kai said, throwing me the keys to his 1948 Chevy Fleetmaster.
“Thanks, you can always pick it up once I get settled.” I felt guilty that I had no money to offer him for it.
Tears filled my eyes as I looked at my friends. “I guess it’s goodbye for now,” I said. One by one they came up to hug me, Elise was last.
“Take care of yourself, Elijah. I’ll miss you.” She pulled me into a final strong embrace. I couldn’t stop the tears rolling down my cheeks. We pulled apart and with a deep breath I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. I got into the car and with a swift wave drove away.
6
I made it to New Orleans in three days. I stopped only a handful of times and barely slept. To preserve the limited cash I had, I slept in the back of the car. Once I arrived, I sought a place to rent, and found a small rundown bedsit in the French Quarter. It wasn’t much, one room to sleep in and cook, and a bathroom. I couldn’t afford anything else.
I put my luggage case down after paying my new landlord in cash. I had no intention of resting despite driving for the last six hours straight. I roamed th
e curious avenues of New Orleans, searching for answers. I’d never been to a place so magical, with vivid colors and music. New Orleans buzzed with paranormal activity.
I’d read the tales about New Orleans, how you could feel the magic flowing through you as soon as you entered the city limits. The stories were true. I noticed vampires with their glowing red eyes, werewolves with their orange eyes and muscular figures; witch shops dotted the streets.
All species lived together in the city, but I had heard of the wars that raged between them. My first port of call drew me to an apothecary. I’d heard that it was run by one of the covens of New Orleans. I strode into the cramped and overfilled shop and a bell rang, sounding my arrival.
A short lady with mousy-brown hair walked out, and I knew she wasn’t one of the witches gathered that night in the vision. But, it didn’t mean she wasn’t involved in some way.
Her eyes tightened in distrust.“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I wondered if I could have a chat with you?” I asked.
“About what?”
My jaw clenched. “About the Serpentum coven.”
Fear flashed into her eyes and she turned to walk away.
“Don’t walk away from me!” I shouted, my hands balled into fists. “Clauditis,” I chanted, locking the door to the back of the shop. I clicked my fingers and the store sign reversed to closed and the blinds fell down on the windows.
The lady was shaking with fear. “W-what do you want from me?”
“I told you, I want to talk to you about the Serpentum coven.”
“What about them?”
“Are you in the coven?” I asked, my eyes narrowing.
“Yes. What do you want?”
I walked towards her and grabbed an old chair off to one side of the shop. “Have a seat.” I gestured.
She gave me a reluctant stare.
“Now please,” I ordered. I gripped the chair with all my strength, my nails digging into the rotting wood. When she still didn’t move, I used my powers to drag her across the room and into the chair. She chanted a curse at me.
“Restringere,” I said, and metal chains appeared and fixed her down to the chair.
Her eyes widened. “How are you immune to my powers?” she asked.
“I’m an immunis. It’s a gift I was born with.” Her mouth dropped open as I walked around the chair. Immunis were uncommon; I had never met another with the same gift.
“I didn’t believe they existed! What is it you want with me?”
My grip tightened on the arm of the chair. “Why did your coven murder my wife and then set me up for the murder?” I brought my face closer to hers.
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. We’re a peaceful coven.”
“What’s your name?”
“Josephine.”
I stepped back at hearing my wife’s name. “Is that some sick joke?”
“W-what?”
“That was my wife’s name.”
“Josephine is a popular name among witches. J-just look at my ID in my purse.” She nodded her head towards the purse on the store counter. I glared at her and then turned to get the purse. When I glanced at the ID, her name was Josephine Tully.
“Call the rest of your coven here,” I demanded. The woman gave me a defiant look. “I wouldn’t play games with me,” I warned, anger controlling my actions. “Dolore,” I said, and the woman screamed in pain. I broke the spell and she sobbed, a mix of disgust and fear in her green eyes.
“Covina sessionem,” she said through her sobs, and the room filled with white swirling smoke. A dozen witches appeared, all of them noticing Josephine in the middle of the shop chained up.
“Josephine, what happened to you?” a woman asked. She stopped in her tracks as the smoke cleared and she caught sight of me. I was surprised to find I recognized none of the women from the vision.
“Who are you?” asked the elder woman with dark graying hair and blue eyes.
“I don’t think you are the one asking the questions here. All of you, sit on the floor!” I said. They all stared at me in cool defiance. “Dolore,” I chanted again. Josephine screamed and writhed in the chair.
It was the first time I’d used that spell. It was dark magic, but I was determined to get answers. There were no spells I wouldn’t use.
“Stop!” The woman who had spoken earlier sat on the floor and the rest of the women followed.
“Now, I want to know why your coven murdered my wife and unborn child.”
“What are you talking about?” the same woman asked.
“What’s your name?” I asked, pointing at her.
“Lillian.”
“Are you the leader of this coven?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You must know about the murder your coven carried out on my wife last week.”
“We’re a peaceful coven. None of us have ever murdered anyone.”
“Dolore.” I waved my hands at Lillian, forcing her to writhe on the floor as the rest of the coven looked on. One brave witch stood.
“Prohibe,” she chanted, trying to stop me. I used the same spell on her and she went crashing backward, hitting the wall and falling unconscious.
“Stop it! She is telling the truth.” Another one of the witches stood and pleaded.
I stopped, the plea bringing me under some sort of control. “My coven and I performed a séance to find out what happened to her. A coven of witches flashed up with your sigil behind them. How do you explain that?” I asked, eyes narrowed as my attention was directed at this other woman.
“I don’t know…” Lillian said, she looked worse for wear; her face still writhed in agony from my spell.
I shook my head as a sudden sickening sensation crept over me at the sight of terrified faces.
What has happened to me?
“I’m sorry. My wife was killed by witches. She was due to give birth this week … to our first child.” The faces around me softened a little. “The coven that killed her framed me for her murder, and the only lead I had was that the Serpentum coven of New Orleans were behind it.”
“It’s clear this has been a misunderstanding,” said Josephine. “We’re sorry about what happened to your wife … but we had nothing to do with it.”
“Nolite restringere,” I said, and the chains holding her lifted. I observed as she tended to the wounds from the metal digging into her wrists. I placed my head in my hands and swung my back to the women.
“What’s your name?” Lillian asked, a mix of annoyance and pity on her face.
“Elijah,” I replied.
“Well, Elijah, how about you show us what you saw? Perhaps then we can lead you in the right direction.”
“Why would you do that for me after I tortured you?” I couldn’t believe she wanted to help.
“I can tell you’ve been through a lot. We won’t hold it against you.”
The rest of the coven created a circle. Lillian held out a hand, which I took. Josephine took my other hand, a less than impressed look on her face. After all, I had tortured her twice.
The images of my wife’s death flashed into the middle of the room. We watched in silence as it finished at the moment I left the room originally.
“That’s terrible,” one lady said.
“Disgusting, and to think they’re using our sigil in the background!”
Tears welled in my eyes again at having to relive it.
“Elijah, I’m sorry. I can’t speak for everyone, but I for one have seen none of those women before.” My stomach dipped, and as I looked around the room the other women were shaking their heads.
“I have.”
I turned to face Josephine. “One of those girls is my sister, Alexandra. I haven’t seen her in a few years now, but last time I heard she was in a travelling coven called the Tenebras coven. They have no roots, but last I heard she was in Georgia. It’s a dark coven. She always had an inclination towards the darkness.”
“Wh
at do you intend to do when you find the witches responsible?” Lillian asked, her brow furrowing a little. “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
“I require answers … why they did it.”
Her eyes thinned. “What good do you think it will do knowing why they did it?” she asked.
I clenched my fists. This woman was worse than my friends back home! “It will give me some closure,” I explained.
She shook her head. “I can’t tell you what to do. However, I can see you’re on a road to self-destruction and nothing else.”
I ignored her observations and shifted my attention to Josephine. “Thank you for your help. I will head to Georgia and try to locate your sister. I’m sorry for torturing you.”
I turned to leave the shop.
“You best be careful. She can be tricky,” Josephine warned. “She’s great at making others screw up.”
I didn’t acknowledge her warning and left the store. Perfect, I’d just paid my rent for the month here and now I was off to Georgia! I marched back towards the flat I had rented. I knew I was on a treacherous path. Although revenge was the right—no, the only option—I was losing myself. Never had I tortured someone.
I returned to the bedsit and threw myself on the single bed. It was a long drive back to Georgia and I was exhausted, but I couldn’t sleep. My mind was tormented with apprehension.
What kind of person am I becoming?
7
I rushed down the alleyway after my suspect. A woman with bright silver hair walked swiftly ahead of me and checked over her shoulder constantly.
I think she knew I was after her, but I didn’t care. Six months had passed since I’d left Ely, and finally I was close to finding those responsible.
Within a few feet of her, I held my hands up.
“Restringere,” I chanted. She screamed as metal chains wrapped around her arms, stopping her.
“Silentium.” I stopped her screaming quickly and rushed towards her. There was no one around. It was late and we were down a dodgy alley in New Orleans. The fear in her eyes was evident. I was certain this woman was in some way involved. She was part of the Tenebras coven.
