“Twins?” Michael asked in disbelief but with joy.
“Twins,” Sarina repeated, thrilled with the prospect.
Michael hugged his wife to him and gave her a kiss. They had married right after the completion of the spell. It was a small ceremony with family and close friends in attendance.
And of course a score of fairies highlighted the dusk ceremony.
It was a day Michael would never forget and he would never forget the sight of Tempest when she joined him in the ceremony circle that joined them together forever. He never imagined her looking more beautiful than she already was, but that day she took his breath away, walking toward him in pure white, a wreath of white wildflowers circling her head and a multitude of fairies fluttering behind her as they held her long, white veil.
Now Sarina predicted not just one child but two, and the thought thrilled him. He hugged Tempest closely to him. Life was good and he was grateful.
Sebastian looked to Michael. “At least you needn’t worry about your children being more skilled than you. Your powers are more than sufficient.”
Dagon attempted to further alleviate Sebastian’s fears. “It will be months before Jade can do any magical feats. You have nothing to worry about.”
Tempest didn’t wish to worry him, but she had the distinct feeling that Jade was much more powerful than anyone gave her credit for, and then there was Alexander. The children’s powers were definitely being underestimated.
“I don’t know,” Sebastian said with a shake of his head. “I have this strange feeling.”
Ali laughed at his worry. “Don’t be silly. Jade’s only three months old, she has no skills; and even if she did she wouldn’t know how to handle them.”
“Ali’s right,” Dagon assured him again. “The babies just wouldn’t know wh—”
He stopped dead and his eyes widened in shock.
Everyone followed his eyes and stared with amazement at the rattle that floated above Jade’s bassinet. Cooing and gurgling and what sounded distinctly like laughter joined the floating rattle as it spun and dipped and spun again directly over Jade.
“No, skills?” Sebastian asked, though watched his daughter’s magical antics with pride.
“Damn,” Dagon said. “I never would have believed it.”
“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Tempest warned and Michael smiled in understanding.
All eyes focused on the floating rattle and with a gurgle of laughter from Jade, the rattle was sent in a furious spin to Alexander’s bassinet.
Dagon raised a fast finger to deflect the projectile rattle when suddenly it was sent hurdling away from Alexander’s bassinet to land with a crash on the floor.
Jade laughed as only a young little girl could and a sigh could be heard from Alexander.
“History repeats itself,” Sydney said with a laugh, and all joined in.
“History can be changed,” Michael said and all eyes turned to him.
“Only if love is strong,” Sydney said, “as you well know.”
Hand in hand, Tempest and Michael walked over to Sydney.
“We have a special gift for you,” Tempest said, holding her hand out to her.
Sarina and Dagon took their son from the bassinet and Sebastian picked his daughter Jade from her bassinet and joined his wife who stood beside Dagon and Sarina. Beatrice flitted in front of the two couples, a wide smile spreading across her tiny face.
Sydney realized something was going on, something had been planned. She accepted Tempest’s hand with a brief hesitation.
“You have done much for many,” Tempest said.
“Not nearly as much as you have done,” Sydney argued.
“It matters not, your time is now,” Tempest said and walked her over near the row of windows. “Stay here.”
Tempest moved to Sydney’s one side and Michael stood on the other. Together they extended their hands toward the windows in a slow circular motion. A swirling mist began to appear, growing larger and larger and larger until it consumed the entire row of windows and wall.
Michael stepped in front of the swirling fog. “You offered me wise words that helped me to make a wise choice. And I wish to thank you for your help by offering you another chance at love.”
Sydney’s breath caught, her heart raced and for a moment she felt that time stood still. “What do you mean?”
Michael explained. “Tempest and I wish to send you back in time to the man you once loved and lost, so you have another chance to love again.”
Sydney was speechless.
“You do want to go, don’t you?” Michael asked with a teasing laugh as his hand went out to take hers.
Sydney nodded. “Yes, yes, I want to go.” And she grabbed for his offered hand.
“Say your good-byes,” he said with a kiss to her cheek.
Sydney hurried over to Dagon and Sarina and kissed each one, along with baby Alexander. Sebastian was next, and a tender peck to baby Jade’s cheek had her turning to Ali. They hugged each other fiercely as tears streamed down their cheeks.
“I will miss you,” Ali said, “but I wish you to find your love as I found mine.”
Sydney turned to Michael. “Will I be able to return?”
“Anything is possible,” he answered with a smile.
“Then I will see you again,” Sydney said and gave her one last hug, reluctant to leave her. “Take care of her,” she said to Sebastian and turned away with tear filled eyes to join Michael.
“It’s time,” Tempest said.
Sydney kissed her cheek. “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”
Tempest hugged her. “Love, Sydney, love with all your heart.”
“Wise advice,” Michael said, coming up beside her.
“You both should know,” Sydney said.
“Now it’s time for you to know,” Michael said and extended his hand to the swirling portal in time and winked. “We thought you might need a guide.”
Beatrice flew over to her flitting next to her cheek. “Mind the company?”
“I’d love the company,” she said truthfully and with relief of making this exciting journey with a friend.
“Time to go,” Tempest said.
With one last smile and a handful of kisses to those she loved Sydney, with Beatrice by her side, stepped into the portal.
The swirling mist swallowed her up and slowly disappeared.
Michael took Tempest into his arms, held her tight, kissed her gently and whispered, “It’s time to make new magical memories.”
ooo0ooo
Read on for an excerpt from book four in the Wyrrd Witch series, Remember the Magic
Remember the Magic
Chapter One
Silence surrounded Sydney. A strange buzzing sound resonated in her foggy mind and she was unable to focus on her surroundings. A whispered breeze caressed her face and she breathed deeply of the strong scent of pine, birch and berries.
She was home.
She stretched her hands out beside her, feeling the thick carpet of grass she lay upon. She eagerly splayed her fingers in the silky blades and allowed their energy to seep through her. Her vision began to clear and it wasn’t long before her eyes focused on the clear blue sky dotted with bright white puffs of clouds and a brilliant sun whose warmth kissed her face.
A glance from side to side brought a smile to her face.
The familiar woods completely embraced her. The tall trees sprouted fresh green leaves, the wildflowers had barely blossomed and the thick green grass was at its freshest.
Spring and Sydney had arrived in the Highlands together.
With one last splay of her fingers through the green grass she pushed herself up. Her vision was completely clear and so was her foggy mind.
“Are you all right?” the soft voice asked.
Sydney turned and her smile widened. The tiny fairy, who expressed concern for her, sat sprawled out on a large stone. Her head wreath sat askew, the tip of her one w
ing was bent and her soft blue gossamer dress was twisted around her plump little body.
Sydney immediately went to her aid. “I should be asking that of you, Beatrice.”
She helped untwist her dress but gave no thought to her bent wing or tilted wreath—both were common traits for Beatrice. The tiny fairy had watched over her and the Wyrrd family for as long as Sydney could remember, and that was a long time considering Sydney was over six hundred years old.
Beatrice brushed at her dress after Sydney helped her to stand and attempted to right her head wreath with no success. It remained tilted, resting just above one eye.
“We made it,” Beatrice said joyfully. “And I must say it is good to be home. I do not know why I enjoyed the 1500s so much. It held such turmoil, strife and bloodshed. Yet there was something about the land and the people that were remarkable.”
Sydney agreed with a nod. She had been barely two hundred years old in the 1500s. It was a time in her life that held such promise. There was so much to learn, knowledge to gain, life to be lived.
“Of course,” Beatrice added with a woeful look, “it was not a good time to be a witch.”
“Was it ever a good time to be a witch?” Sydney thought on her own question. Through the years she had learned it was best not to let people know of her true nature, her beliefs, and her knowledge. And while in the future witches were not persecuted the way they once had been they were also not accepted, as they rightfully should be.
Witches’ beliefs dated back to the dawn of time and if understood and practiced correctly the world would not be in the turmoil it had consistently been in through the ages. But that was not a debatable issue at this time. This was a time she would need to protect herself from the ignorance of common beliefs. Mainly, that witches were in league with the devil.
The answer was obvious and Beatrice gave no reply. She instead addressed their present and immediate issues. “At least Tempest and Michael sent you back dressed for the occasion and placed you not far from home.”
Sydney stood and laughed softly. Her dress was familiar though seasoned with her present taste. It was soft cotton in a pale apricot color. It flowed down and around her body, accenting her shape that had shifted over the years but at least had maintained a certain dignity. Her waist remain slim; her breasts, average in size, retained a modicum of firmness and her hips rounded nicely above long slim legs thanks to her five feet, six inch height She certainly was not a youthful two hundred years old but she held her age nicely.
Pale yellow embroidered Celtic knots trailed along the rounded neckline and down the middle of the long sleeves and then again around the hem. Soft leather sandals covered her feet and her glorious long dark hair lay in a braid to the center of her back.
“What now?” Beatrice asked, rising up to flit in front of Sydney.
Sydney lost no time in taking charge of the situation. “We go to the cottage and then we must discover the date of our return.”
Beatrice agreed with a quick nod and flew ahead of Sydney, on the lookout for any possible danger.
Sydney gave thought to her present situation and her reason for returning in time. Two powerful witches and friends—Tempest and Michael—had gifted her with a second chance at love. Tempest was an ancient witch born with the dawn of time. She was the Ancient One. Her powers were unsurpassed and she took on those students she chose to teach over the years.
Sydney had been lucky to be one of the chosen ones and Tempest had taught her well.
She had been pleased to be able to offer her own assistance when Tempest required help. A warlock Tempest had once loved and banished until a time he was given a second chance had returned to her and Sydney gave prudent and much needed advice to her. In appreciation for all she had done for the two powerful witches, together they had opened a portal in time and returned her to a time and place where she too would have a second chance at love.
Duncan.
Her heart beat with the thought of him. He had been a clan chieftain, a brave warrior and an honorable man. She had loved him with all her heart and he had loved her, but when he had discovered that she was a witch he had warned her not to use any spells on him. She had attempted to explain that any spell cast could only prove successful if it benefited the individual. No spell that caused harm could be cast.
Harm no one was the belief of the Craft. But then there were those who practiced the dark side and caused the burning times to descend upon the innocent.
She thought he had believed her, but something had gone terribly wrong and she had fled, feeling if she stayed she would only bring him harm. That had been almost five hundred years ago. Now she had returned to try again.
Beatrice flitted in her face, her full cheeks flushed and her smile wide. “The cottage is as it was. It waits for you.”
Sydney did not think that the sight of a small, one-room cottage could cause her excitement. But then it was more the memories the place held that made the return so pleasant than the actual cottage itself.
She made her way a few feet ahead through the dense woods to a small clearing and came upon the cottage. She stared in awe. It was made of stone and covered by a thatched roof. Windows occupied either side of the thick wooden door and a stout stone chimney stretched up from the thatched roof.
Several minutes passed before she moved and she purposely took slow steps. She had not expected to see this home again and she had not expected the onslaught of memories. A tear threatened to spill, but she took a deep breath and refused to give it reign. She had grown in power and knowledge in the last few hundred years and looking back she could understand her youthful mistakes, but then they were necessary. How would she have learned if she had never made mistakes?
And now she had a chance to correct a youthful mistake.
She smiled at the thought and grew eager, her steps hurrying her to the cottage door. Her hand hesitated only a moment on the metal handle and then she entered with a flourish.
Beatrice flew past her, flitting from corner to corner sprinkling the place with a protection of fairy dust. “It pays to be careful.” She flew under the narrow bed to toss a handful beneath and was expelled in a flash, her own hard sneeze sending her flying across the room to land in a small black cauldron.
Before Sydney reached her the little fairy stood up and braced her plump arms on the lip of the cauldron. Her crooked wing was a bit more crooked and her head wreath completely covered one eye. She pushed it up and out of her way, forcing it with a hard shove to rest on the back of her head. “Dusting confined places always does that to me.”
Sydney laughed. She was so very glad to have Beatrice with her on this sojourn. She did not feel so alone. She had a friend, a good, dear friend who would be there for her when needed.
“The place looks good,” Beatrice said and flew up and out of the cauldron.
“I agree.” Sydney gave the room a glance, noting that it looked as she remembered it. A single bed with a straw mattress sat tucked in one corner of the room. Wooden chests in various sizes were spread throughout, a fair-sized one sitting next to the bed with several candles in holders on top of it. A wooden table sat in front of the stone fireplace though there was enough room for a wooden rocker in between. Several barren tree branches rested on the overhead rafters and dried bunches of herbs tied solidly hung down from them. A narrow table to the left of the door held crocks of roots, bark, berries and more, and to the other side of the door closer to the bed hung pegs that held several garments.
Sydney laughed again. “My wardrobe certainly has improved over the years.”
Beatrice gave her a thoughtful smile. “Do you think you will have a problem with a limited wardrobe? I know how much pride you take in your appearance.”
“With a few extra adjustments of my own I think I will do just fine.”
Beatrice pushed at her tilted wreath. “Then Tempest and Michael returned you with your full powers intact?”
Sydney’s eyes rounded. “
I had not given that thought.”
She felt a brief moment of panic. What if she had returned with the limited powers of a young witch? She had, after all, been given a second chance to right her youthful mistake and wouldn’t that mean with the powers she had possessed at that time?
“Only one way to find out,” Beatrice said and flew over to plop down on the bed out of Sydney’s way. “Make magic.”
Sydney did not waste a moment. With a brief wave of her hand the fire was lit in the fireplace, the candles flickered brightly and water bubbled in the cauldron that hung from the hook in the fireplace.
Beatrice shook her head. “Amateur stuff.”
For a moment Sydney appeared deflated, but only a moment. She pushed up her sleeves, walked over to the crock of berries, scooped up a handful and marched out of the cottage.
Beatrice followed close behind, rubbing her two tiny hands together. “This should be good.”
Sydney stood a few feet from the cottage and extended her hands out. She turned in four directions and gave a respectful nod to the brilliant sun before she cast a spell that only a powerful and knowledgeable witch could successfully cast.
“Hear me forest; hear me call; to all those creatures large and small; come take from my hand so that you may know; 1 am friend and not foe; I will protect; I will provide; know that from me; you need never hide.”
Sydney waited for the animals to approach her. If they did not then her powers would be severely limited. She waited patiently, hoping, praying and then...
She smiled, for a rabbit peeked from behind a thick thatch of bushes. A bird swooped down, ignored the berries but tested her pledge of friendship and snatched a loose thread off her dress. A wide-eyed doe stood beside a tree for a moment, her two fawns tucked safely behind her and when she felt it was safe she and her fawns approached Sydney and fed from her hand. Other animals soon gathered around her and those who feed on berries ate from her hand, those who did not she offered water from the rain barrel beside the cottage.
Beatrice grew teary-eyed, for it took powerful magic to call the animals of the forest to you and offer them protection.
Magical Memories Page 34
