A Witch In Winter

by Ruth Warburton

  ‘And of course the police want to talk to you both,’ she added.

  That wiped the smile off Seth’s face. For myself, I couldn’t have cared less about a police interview. Our story would probably sound fairly convincing – well, on one level it was the truth. Any evidence to the contrary lay fifty feet down in stormy salt water, being quickly battered into so much scrap metal. No, I was worried about a quite different interview, the one with Mr Brereton when I got back to school.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The police turned out to be politely sceptical that both brakes on the truck could fail at the same time, and it definitely didn’t help that Seth was already known to them. They never came right out and said it, but I knew what they thought – that either Seth had been driving too fast and had taken the bend recklessly, or that we’d had an argument and he’d deliberately driven off in some bizarre double suicide/murder pact.

  Their disbelief made me furious – but all I could do was keep stubbornly repeating the story we’d given to our parents and hope that Seth – being interviewed in a separate cell – was doing the same. After all, the evidence was on our side. The tyre marks on the cliff-top showed that the truck had been doing five miles per hour, not fifty, when it went over.

  At last, plainly dissatisfied but unable to shake my story, they let me go. I waited outside for Seth, who emerged pale and cross. He made a face as he saw me.

  ‘That was vile, were you OK?’

  ‘Fine – were they horrible to you? They kept trying to make me say that you were driving too fast.’

  ‘It was fairly unpleasant. They found skid marks on the road.’

  ‘Skid marks? But you were stationary.’

  ‘Where you grabbed the handbrake.’

  ‘Oh crap.’ More guilt. ‘What did they say?’

  ‘That they could tell there’d been a skid earlier up the road, as if we’d jackknifed across the road – and what was that all about?’

  ‘Oh.’ Some of their questions suddenly made sense. ‘That was why they kept going on about whether you’d been driving erratically, and had there been any skids prior to the “incident”. What did you say? Did you tell them it was me?’

  ‘No! Of course not. I said that the brakes had suddenly come on all by themselves. I thought that’d add to the story of the brakes being dodgy. And I said that was why we’d decided to stop the truck, because I was worried about the brakes.’

  ‘Ooh, clever! I wish we’d thought of that for our parents.’

  ‘I was worried though, saying it, in case it contradicted what you told them. Does it?’

  I tried to think back.

  ‘N-no … I don’t think so. I just said that you stopped the truck, and they asked me why, so I said I couldn’t remember. I thought that a bit of confusion might be understandable, considering what happened after.’

  ‘Thank goodness, well done.’ He squeezed my hand. ‘Well it looks like we’re in the clear …’

  ‘Ugh, I’m so sorry, Seth. I never thought they’d blame you.’

  He shrugged and kissed the back of my hand, on the mark where my veins were still bruised from the IV.

  ‘Well, you can’t blame them. It wouldn’t be the first time some teenager with a big car got carried away. And my history doesn’t help. I think they were pretty pissed off they didn’t manage to convict me over the fight, so this probably seemed like a second chance to lock up a menace to society.’

  I shuddered.

  ‘I would never, never let that happen.’

  ‘I can take care of myself,’ he said softly. But I knew that wasn’t true.

  ‘Only Mr Brereton now,’ I said, half under my breath.

  ‘What?’ Seth looked amused. ‘Are you worrying about our History project?’

  If only.

  ‘Look, there’s something you need to know about Mr Brereton …’ I began.

  ‘Oh. My. God.’ The girl came up to us as we were walking to History. ‘I heard the news. That is just so amazing. Like something off Casualty. Did you see a tunnel and a white light and all that? Everyone thinks you two are so cool, it’s unreal.’

  I was thoroughly fed up of gawping students who wanted to congratulate Seth and me on our near-death experience and tell us how amaaaaazing we were. This one I didn’t even know.

  ‘You ought to get some kind of medal or something,’ she continued. ‘It’s just, like, so cool!’

  Seth’s temper snapped.

  ‘Yes, really bloody cool. Anna almost died in my truck. We were hospitalized. So please, just shut the hell up and leave us alone.’

  ‘Sorry, sorry!’ The girl backed off, her eyes wide, and I heard her start telling her friends about how the whole business seemed to have pushed Seth Waters, like, off the edge or something.

  ‘I can’t bear this.’ Seth slumped at his desk, his head in his hands. I knew he didn’t only mean the girl. It was the whole thing. The suspense. The goldfish bowl feeling. The wait.

  I was a wreck myself. As Mr Brereton entered and began the lesson, Seth noticed my hand trembling and took it gently in his. It was only his calm grip that stopped me from turning tail and running.

  ‘I can’t do this, Seth,’ I said, under my breath. ‘I don’t think I can stand it.’

  ‘You can do it.’ He squeezed my hand under the desk. I looked up at the clock.

  Only another half hour. Quarter of an hour. Ten minutes. Five … and then the bell was ringing with a cacophony that set my pent-up nerves jangling.

  ‘Thank you everyone,’ Mr Brereton called, over the scraping of chairs and general chatter. ‘Until Monday then. Don’t forget the homework.’

  Then, as if as an afterthought: ‘Ah, Anna. Yes, we had something to discuss, didn’t we? You may go, Seth.’

  ‘I’ll wait outside.’

  ‘Please don’t,’ Mr Brereton said dismissively. ‘Anna may be some time and I’d hate to make you late for your next class.’

  ‘I’ll wait.’ Seth’s tone was implacable. Mr Brereton wavered for a moment, and then shrugged as if to say: What does it matter anyway? He waited until Seth had left and then turned to me.

  ‘So, Anna, my dear, none the worse for your accident?’

  0000">Suddenly I hated him. I hated his bullshit chit-chat, his false concern for me, his horrible tweedy jacket and everything else about him. I felt burning anger at the Ealdwitan – not just for what they were doing to me, but for their callousness towards Dad, towards Seth – using the people I loved as human pawns in their pathetic little game.

  ‘Let’s cut to the point.’

  He blinked, as if taken aback, and said mildly, ‘If you wish. What point would you like to make, my dear?’

  ‘What’s going to happen?’

  He sighed. ‘Well, I won’t pretend that my friends weren’t surprised and disappointed at finding that you broke your word so quickly.’

  ‘Surprised!’ I spat. ‘Surprised? You know very well they made me break my word.’

  ‘I have not the least idea what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Oh please! My dad has a near fatal choking accident and then barely an hour later, Seth’s truck plunges off a cliff? You’re telling me that was coincidence?’

  ‘I’m telling you nothing, my dear. But I am morally certain my friends had nothing to do with these distressing incidents. Perhaps there are others who wish to cause you harm?’

  ‘Rubbish! Who?’

  ‘Well, you have,’ he coughed, ‘contacts, shall we say, who are less than desirable. Friends who have their own reasons for disliking my colleagues, and who may have their own reasons for turning you against us.’

  It was so staggeringly audacious I nearly gasped out loud. Was he really pretending that the Pellers were behind all this?

  I struggled to regain control of my temper, then said coldly, ‘I won’t dignify that suggestion with a reply. All I want to know is, what do the Ealdwitan propose to do now?’

  ‘Do? Well, the fact that it t
ook less than twenty-four hours to break your word has certainly strengthened them in their opinion that you need a guiding hand.’

  ‘You know very well, I had no choice,’ I said bitterly. ‘If it were up to me I’d never practise magic again.’

  ‘We always have a choice,’ he said coldly, and there was something reptilian in his hooded eyes. ‘No single life is more important than the safety of our entire community. Your actions jeopardized that safety, Miss Winterson. Your little trick with the car was seen, by a walker. It was extremely fortunate he happened to be one of our community. You may not be so lucky next time. And then there may be blood shed.’

  ‘Whose blood?’ I gasped.

  ght less

  He shrugged.

  ‘It is sometimes necessary, in order to maintain our safety. Members of the outwith are sometimes unfortunate collateral damage, if there is no other way. But,’ he leaned forward and spoke emphatically, ‘but we never spill a drop of blood – our own or that of others – willingly or without reason. And that is why it is so very, very important that you are not permitted to continue to put lives at risk.’

  ‘I put lives at risk? I put lives at risk?’ I was so angry now that I could barely speak. I felt the power and rage rise inside me, threatening to spill out, annihilate this dry little man with his cold, reptilian eyes and soft voice. I forced it down and spoke quietly. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Brereton. I will do my utmost to never endanger another person – outwith or witch,’ he flinched at the word, but I carried on, ‘but I don’t intend to be blackmailed.’

  ‘Blackmail!’ He gave a gentle little laugh. ‘That’s a very strong word. Anna, my dear, there is no suggestion of blackmail. But you are young – gifted. Please, won’t you join us? You could be great, Anna, with our help. We would show you wonders, reveal undreamed of secrets, give you powers beyond imagination. We only want to help, to guide, to lift the burden of your magic from your shoulders and turn it into the greatest gift you have ever had … Anna, please, won’t you let us help you? Won’t you join us? You would find yourself among friends.’

  His voice was honeyed, persuasive, and for a moment I felt myself waver. Would it be so bad? Was it really worth endangering Seth and Dad’s lives, when all the Ealdwitan seemed to want to do was help me?

  Then I realized there was magic in his tones, some kind of subtle music running beneath the words designed to bind me and shape me to his will. I shuddered and struggled under the haze and said, thickly, ‘N-never …’

  Then my powers flexed and I thrust off the stupor, and said more strongly, ‘Never! I don’t know what you or your “friends” want with me, but they chose the wrong way to persuade me. I might have considered it until you started picking on innocent people – but having seen how you treated my dad and Seth, I’d rather – I’d rather die than join you.’

  He looked at me for a long moment as if considering, then sighed.

  ‘Is this the answer you wish me to convey to my friends?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘For all our sakes, Anna, I beg you to reconsider.’

  ‘That is my answer.’

  ‘Then I am sorry for you, my dear.’ He stood, his small hooded eyes unreadable, ancient and dark. ‘And your friends.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  At the sight of Seth and me, Maya turned the shop sign to ‘closed’ without a word. Then she ushered us upstairs and turned on the kettle.

  ‘You must be Seth.’ Even in the midst of all this she managed a smile. ‘I’m very pleased to meet you at last.’ Then she turned to me. ‘Bad news, Anna?’

  ‘Very bad.’ I gulped. ‘I think this is probably war. And they know about my friendship with you and Emmaline.’

  She paled, but only said, ‘I see. Why don’t you tell me what happened.’

  I related the conversation and she grew whiter still, but stayed composed. At last, when I’d finished, she folded her hands and said, ‘Well, it doesn’t sound good, I admit, but I think there’s little we can do but wait for them to make the first move.’

  With that, there was a sudden banging at the door below. I jumped convulsively but Maya shook her head reassuringly. There was a yell from below.

  ‘Ma, Ma, it’s us.’ Sienna and Simon came running up the stairs. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Sienna saw something,’ Simon said, breathlessly, as they came up to the landing. Then he saw Seth and did a double-take. ‘Who’s this?’

  ‘Anna’s Seth,’ Maya said, wearily. ‘Don’t worry. He knows most of what there is to know.’

  ‘Is that wise?’

  ‘It’s fine,’ Seth said, with slight acidity. ‘I’m not about to go to the Witchfinder General, if that’s what you’re worried about.’

  ‘Stop bickering, you two,’ Maya said. ‘What did you see, Sienna?’

  ‘Trouble,’ Sienna said soberly, but before she had time to say more there was another slam from below and I heard Emmaline’s voice calling up.

  ‘Is Anna here?’ She burst into the flat. ‘Thank goodness. You weren’t in English and I thought … Was it bad?’

  I nodded and gave all of them the gist of the conversation.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ I finished. ‘I never meant to drag you all into this. I never thought …’

  Maya patted my hand. Her fierce expression sat oddly on her kind, maternal face. ‘Don’t worry, Anna. We set our course with the Ealdwitan long ago, I think. It was bound to come to grief sooner or later.’

  Just then, Emmaline’s face changed as if she’d received an electric shock. Her eyes went blank, focussing on something I could not see. Then, just as suddenly, asoloshe was back.

  ‘Someone’s coming. One of them.’

  The pounding on the stairs made us all jump. Sienna moaned, grabbing for Simon’s hand.

  ‘Is it one of them? Can anyone see?’ Simon asked frantically, but before anyone had time to respond the door slammed open again and Abe stumbled in, gasping for breath as if he’d been running.

  ‘What’s happened?’ he said hoarsely. ‘What’s going on?’ And then, ‘What the hell’s he doing here?’ He pointed at Seth.

  ‘Abe, I don’t think Seth’s the problem,’ Emmaline said.

  ‘What do you mean? The way I see it, he’s the root of the whole bloody thing. Whatever’s happened, I’m not discussing this in front of an outsider.’

  ‘He knows what’s going on.’

  ‘I don’t care if he knows my mother’s maiden name and pin number. You,’ he pointed at Seth, ‘out.’

  Seth picked up his bag and shot me a questioning look, but I shook my head vehemently.

  ‘No! Seth’s staying, this concerns him as much as you, Abe.’

  ‘It doesn’t concern him in the least. He’s not one of us. He’s an outsider and he can’t be trusted.’

  ‘I’m an outsider too,’ I said hotly. ‘Do you trust me?’

  Abe laughed bitterly. ‘You’re one of us, Anna, as well you know. Or is that a fib for the benefit of your boyfriend here?’

  ‘Seth knows what I am.’ I was shaking with anger. ‘If he goes, I go.’

  ‘Then go,’ Abe snarled.

  ‘Stop it, both of you!’ Maya broke in. ‘This is pointless and it’s not getting us anywhere. Abe, this is my house, and as far as I’m concerned, Seth can stay. He’s in as much danger as any of us, if not more. The question is, what’s going to happen? Can anyone tell who’s coming and when?’

  There was a sudden silence – all eyes turned to Emmaline and Sienna. Emmaline shook her head.

  ‘I don’t know. I just got a glimpse, a dark car with blacked-out windows. I don’t know where it was.’

  Sienna’s eyes glazed and I knew she was searching, frantically looking for answers. Simon held her hand as if willing her on, but when at last she trembled and turned her gaze back to the room she shook her head.

  ‘Nothing. Whatever Emmaline saw, I can’t get a fix on it.’

  ‘Try the bones,’ Simon suggested, and Sienna nodded
. She took a small bag out of her pocket and shook some small objects, like dull irregular white pebbles, into her hand, chafing them with her palms. Then she whispered something to her closed hands and flung them on to the table. Everyone craned to look – but her face crumpled in fear.

  ‘They’re only showing darkness and water. They’re telling us to be afraid. Oh God, what shall we do?’

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ I whispered. ‘What can I do? Should I go? I could leave – go somewhere else … Maybe I should just give in to them. Give them what they want.’ I put my head in my hands.

  ‘No!’ Emmaline yelped. She banged the table, making the bones jump and skitter. ‘You most certainly can’t give in, Anna! Where’s your spine?’

  ‘Do you want to join them?’ Seth asked.

  ‘I don’t know.’ I stared into his wide grey eyes, calm in spite of this madness. ‘I don’t know any more. How can I tell what I should do? I could never live with myself if they hurt you … Dad … any of you.’ I looked round the room at the faces of all my friends, the faces of all the people in danger because of me. Seth took my hands, enclosing them gently in his larger ones, and I realized my fingers were shaking.

  ‘Look, ignore the threats,’ he said quietly. ‘If it were just you – just you here now – what would you do? Would you join them?’

  ‘No.’ Suddenly I knew that for sure. ‘No. Never. But I can’t ask everyone else to bear this for me – this is my problem. I’ll – I’ll go away.’

  ‘No,’ Maya’s voice was firm. ‘We will fight this out beside you, Anna. This isn’t just your problem. If we let them get away with this, who knows what’ll be next? Whatever their motives, the Ealdwitan have gone too far this time; we must stand up to them. Everyone,’ she turned to the others, ‘I suggest you contact whoever can be trusted and give them the facts. There must be people out there unwilling to let the Ealdwitan ride roughshod this way.’

  ‘I know at least a dozen people who would be quite glad to see the Ealdwitan get their comeuppance,’ Abe said, and there was a cruel smile on his mouth that I didn’t quite like.