The Elder Witches

by R.E. Packer

  Chapter 10

  Later that evening, there was a car waiting in the driveway when we pulled in. Three men and a woman exited a sedan with tinted windows as we parked.

  Maeve seemed to know the newcomers and was actually cordial as she greeted a tall man with shoulder length blond hair and a solid square chin. His nostrils flared a few times as he inhaled, then he turned to Maeve. “Good evening Mauve, you look as lovely as always my dear,” taking her hand in his and kissing it.

  “I take it we are forgiven for our previous leader’s transgressions?”

  “You mean when you tried to slowly kill our mother for your own selfish desires, then killed her faster than you planned to? ” Maeve said stiffening as she stood up a bit straighter.

  The man, Raphael, hung his head for a moment, then met Maeve’s eyes, “I am sorry. You know how I feel how I felt about that, I had no choice but to go along.”

  He then introduced a short thin man as Chester, who wore a pure white Colonel Sanders mustache and beard, with matching white seersucker suit. A couple, both in casual wear stood further back with a look of practiced disinterest. The woman’s bright red hair contrasted the pale shaved head of the man next to her. When Raphael introduced them, they both moved their eyes as one to Maeve, then to me. It was tough to tell at first, since they were mostly standing still, but they were both moving in perfect unison. Each little shift in body position and angle being perfectly timed and mimicked by the other.

  After the introductions were made and I was the only unknown, I could see a few curious glances cast my way.

  “Everybody, come inside while we wait for the others to arrive,” Gwen said to the group. Then turning to Maeve, “Could you show Gordon and Rutger the back yard, dear?”

  “Of course. Come on Gordo, walk with me.”

  I followed Maeve around back, through the gate. She was wearing tight black leather pants a white button down shirt with a jacket. She really was cute, except for her snarky abrasiveness.

  Maeve snorted, “Watch it bub.”

  “Don’t you ever get tired of traipsing around in my head?”

  Large oak and maple trees dotted the landscape of the backyard, giving a more woodsy feel than you’d usually find in the city limits. There was a small cottage at the back of the property with a single figure sitting on the porch smoking a pipe.

  Catching up to her I tried to lower my voice to not be overheard, “I thought vampires got burned by the sun?”

  “No, that’s pure fiction. They don’t like the daylight because it makes them drowsy, the younger ones are affected more.”

  I thought back to the endless used books on the supernatural that lined my homemade cinderblock shelves when I was a kid. I never stopped believing in the characters in those books, but for me to actually meet them was surreal.

  About every 10 steps Maeve would use a Sharpie to draw a few small runes on the fence or a tree. She’d murmur a few words quietly, then moved on.

  Rutger did his best to mark the property in his own way almost as often.

  I need to protect the property,” she said, “Use your Sight, like viewing aura, while I do it. Try to see the flow of the magic.”

  I concentrated on seeing her aura. It showed up bright green in the evening gloom.

  She closed her eyes, spoke a few words very quietly, then turned 45 degrees and repeated the action. After completing the circle, a bright green ring exploded out from her at the ground. The green wave of magic rolled out toward each rune on the fence and trees where there was a bright flash.

  “There now we can take Rutger back the way we came for a nice walk, and to make sure we don’t get have uninvited guests trying to eavesdrop on us. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”

  “What was that you did back there?”

  “I was checking to make sure nobody had any magical traps waiting for us. Anything that could harm us or more likely spy on us. The pulse of aura that I sent out through the Earth— we’re all bound to the Earth— cleanses and destroys any mischievous magic that might be hiding there. It also sets my own traps. If anybody sends any magic toward us this evening I’ll know before they can do anything.”

  I paused for a few seconds. “Why wouldn’t somebody just use a sound amplifier for audio surveillance? As far as that goes, why wouldn’t a team just bug the house?”

  “One of the side effects of using a strong blast of aura or magic is that electronics don’t hold up too well. Marianna will do the same in the house. Don’t worry I directed it toward the ground, your cell phone should be fine.”

  “What’s the goal of this meeting?”

  “Mostly it’s to discuss what Reynolds told you earlier. The vampires are susceptible to the same things that would harm us. But… I think that Gwen might have a special chat with Reynolds about how he contacted you. It’s considered very impolite to invade somebody’s mind,” she said.

  I didn’t point out that she invades my mind every chance she gets.

  “He’s coming here tonight?” I asked.

  “He’s the head of the local Green Vampire Conclave,” she said as if that should be obvious. “Along with the representatives of the local coven.”

  We took a slight detour to the cottage where we’d seen James earlier. He still sat on the porch taking in the evening air, with a pipe in one hand, and a coffee mug. Gently rocking in his chair, he looked out over the yard, he had slightly amused look on his face as we walked up.

  “Big meeting tonight?” James asked.

  “The Green Conclave, and the local witches coven,” I said.

  “Actually the coven has a wizard also. Males with magic are much more rare, so many covens really are only witches,” Maeve said.

  “Well, it’s a good think you’ve got Gordon here working overtime,” James said. “I’ll be around in a few hours to take over.”

  Suddenly remembering the cat I saw this morning I said, “Do either of you know anything about a cat coming around here? I saw one this morning. It was in the house.”

  “We better be going, Gwen will be looking for us— talk to you later James.” Maeve grabbed my arm, pulling me after her.

  Back at the house I found Gwen and made my way over to her with Rutger. She gave Rutger some attention and coddled him a bit taking my hand at the same time. Everything else faded to the background as I looked at her hand holding mine. She must not be mad any longer. Women…

  We stood there holding hands until another group showed up. Marianna paused with her hand in front of the door as she said a few words too quiet to be heard, then opened the door to let in a group of about 10 people.

  Gwen turned and whispered in my ear, “She had to disable the wards we have on the door. They protect us from anybody entering.” Nodding toward the door she she said, “The local witches coven has arrived.”

  Before the door was closed a man that I recognized came through the egress. He hadn’t taken more than 2 steps when Gwen let go of my hand and darted forward. Holding her hand out, a blue light flashed forward. Reynolds was thrown 5 yards into the wall in the next room.

  Blue bands of what looked like light held his wrists and neck firmly in place.

  He didn’t struggle as Gwen walked calmly through the room, everybody giving her a wide berth.

  “You have to believe me, I only meant to contact you, not to invade your territory,” Reynolds said.

  “Did you invade our family’s mind for weeks before today?” Gwen asked.

  “Yes, but only to protect us all!” Another vampire, the one dressed in the Colonel Sanders getup, saw what was going on, and rushed toward Gwen. He was a blur of white to the human eye.

  Reynolds saw it before Gwen. “No— don’!t,” he said to the already advancing vampire.

  Gwen saw him when he was within a few feet of her, crouching as she threw her hand up, going to one knee. A blue light shot out like a lariat. It grabbed the rushing vampire by the neck and she pulled him toward her. At th
e same time she pushed out with her other hand and an invisible force pushed the vampire a few feet wide of her so they didn’t collide.

  Yanking on the on the lariat as he rushed past her, she pulling him off of his feet with a violent motion. His entire body spun parallel to the floor before crashing down. The blue light that encircled his neck turned to ice. It made a crackling noise as the ice spread to his head and shoulders and finally his entire upper body. A pair of wide open eyes stared out of the ice at the ceiling.

  Gwen turned back to Reynolds, the entire room went library quiet. “I will give you this one warning, if you ever come near him or any other member of my coven again. I will take you all apart,”

  By now I had my .45 1911 in my hands in the low ready position with the safety off. Supernatural or not, try thinking with a 185 grain hollow point in your head.

  The coven members had gotten as far back as they could from the action. Some were physically pressed against the wall with wide eyes. Others had a more interested look about them. Nobody dared to interfere or even speak. But a man with slicked back hair and beady eyes stood watching it all, even taking a step closer to get a better look.

  I glanced at Maeve who still stood with the blond vampire, the other three vampires stood nearby. Her eyes glowing green, a puddle of green light oozed around the vampire’s feet when I looked with my Sight. She was holding them in place so they couldn’t join the fight. She turn to me glancing at my .45 in my hands and nodded approval.

  “Relax fellas, we don’t need any more bloodshed tonight and you seem to have gotten on my sister’s bad side already,” she said. “Honestly I think that’s a record. She’s the nice one.”

  Gwen stood up, releasing Reynolds from the blue bindings that held him with a wave or her hand. With another flick of her hand, the ice that covered the vampire on the floor turned to mist and dissipated.

  “Give me your attention, please,” Gwen said addressing the room. “We did not call you to fight. For now our differences are resolved,” she looked pointedly at Reynolds as she said this.

  He withered under her glare but nodded.

  “We have very important matters to discuss tonight. But first I have someone that I would like to introduce.” She walked back over to where I was still standing, with Rutger. He had become more cautious in the last minute of action. But when Gwen came to us his hackles went down and his tail thumping the floor wildly.

  Wow, I wonder if she has that same effect on all dogs. Or if it’s just Rutger and me.

  “This is Gordon Hopewell. He is very dear to us. I will consider it a personal attack on my family if he should be harmed in any way.” She slowly scanned the room making eye contact with every person in the room. Nobody spoke.

  “Mr. Hopewell, please let me apologize for the way I introduced myself to you.” Reynolds said. “But first, if you will excuse me…” Looking toward the vampire that tried to attack Gwen he said, “You may leave, now.” He didn’t explain further, the vampire turned and headed for the door.

  Then Reynolds turned back to me. “As I was saying sir, it’s an honor to meet you and I greatly apologize for any aggravation we may have caused in our haste. I do have very important news. It could be of the utmost importance to you as well as the rest of us.”

  Marianna, who had been casually observing everything thus far, stepped forward “Reynolds, what is it that has you so terror-stricken?”

  She already knew what I had told her, so I had to think this was a calculating way to make sure the details would still match.

  Reynolds ran through the story again about the government and the witch on their payroll.

  “We just got reports in today saying that they are trying to create a cure,” he said. “For us, or whatever it is that makes us— us. My sources tell me that the goal is to basically undo the chemical and physiological changes that we undergo when we are created. There are obviously great differences between the Green Conclave and the Elder Witches. However we are a product of your blood line, even if we are only the bastard children. If they created a cure for us. What will it do to you?”

  “Do you really think this is possible?” Marianna asked. “Every member of the coven, whether with our special gifts or not, are born to the craft.”

  “True, but does your craft protect your longevity?” He suggested. “I don’t think that it does, at least not only your magic that does. You have a much longer life span than a human, but a witches life span is typically much shorter than you have already lived. Which is what makes you so unique amongst your kind. Surely even your apothecary skills are not enough to support your health at your age.”

  “Whoa Whoa Whoa.” Maeve said striding over. “Are you saying this one witch was able to create something that would completely undo any Green Conclave vampire as well as any witch living beyond their normal years? How is that possible?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I believe it is so. The government has almost unlimited funding and personnel they can throw at it. Additionally, she is a vampire now too. We believe she has been letting them experiment on her. Also, she is becoming more… unstable. And we have no proof we think she has become more powerful.”

  “How could she become more powerful?” I asked.

  “That was something I wanted to ask you about,” Reynolds said.

  A young man with a beard and an tweed ivy cap spoke up. “Begging your pardon, but how does this be concerning us regular witches and wizards do you think?” he said in a thick brogue.

  A small murmur followed from the other coven gathered near him.

  The man with the beady eyes had been focusing intently on Gwen, Marianna and Maeve.

  “A better question is why should we care what they do to you? If you’re looking for our help, you have some nerve.”

  Reynolds walked from the other room where Gwen had thrown him, back into the main dining room with the coven.

  “We don’t know for sure what they are working on. But they see supernaturals as a threat.” Spreading his arms slowly like a minister preaching to his flock “It’s possible that once the government learns of your existence you will go about leading your lives totally undisturbed.”

  When I snorted at that, Reynolds gave a sad smile and nodded. “I have never in all my years cared much for politics but one thing has remained a constant in every government. Anything they view as a threat must be eliminated if it cannot be assimilated.”

  “Or dissected and studied,” Maeve said frowning.

  “My point precisely,” Reynolds said. “The government with all their spending power has a vast interest in research, especially if they think they can create a new weapon out of it.”

  Rutger and I headed to the kitchen to get out of the debate. Finding a Samuel Adams and a tray of lunch meat and cheese, I popped the top and took a big gulp. I sat near the glass door leading to the patio and dutifully doled out slices of meat and cheese to Rutger and myself. I was hoping Rutger and I could slip outside again soon when I heard a commotion in the other room.

  I looked over my shoulder at the raised voice of what sounded like beady eyes still throwing his tantrum. He held his hands out, palms facing each other as a red ball of crackling energy hovered, growing larger by the second.

  “What makes you think we need your help? If we channel our energy we can be just as strong or stronger than you,” he said giving a high pitched laugh.

  Using my Sight showed a stream of energy flowing from the other members of the coven into the male witch. Some of them didn’t look like willing participants. I could see black sooty boots pinning their feet in place, while he siphoned power from them.

  “Maybe we should see how strong your newest member is,” he said. He smiled but it wasn’t a happy look. Pivoting on one foot to face me he pushed out with both hands sending the orb hurtling straight at my chest. It looked like he’d just passed a basketball, I thought to myself.

  I meant to dive out of the way, but it happened so
fast my feet were still firmly planted when it got to me. I raised my hands up reflexively. The orb hit my hands which sank into it up to my forearms, my fear growing to panic levels at what was going to happen. I felt the power of it coursing through me immediately, every nerve ending sang as the magical energy soaked into me. It was then that I realized that the orb was shrinking in size. Somehow the orb was being absorbed into me. I hummed with the extra power, but I knew I didn’t have the capacity to hold it all, I already felt overflowing with the energy.

  A second later, a vision of a doorway came unbidden in my head. A voice spoke quietly with a set of instructions. I had no idea where the voice was coming from but it sounded male. I focused on the image of the doorway, pushing my magic out to form the doorway. When it was the height of a man, the opacity of it because solid.

  I could see a road stretching through the rolling hills with blue skies beyond the archway. Following my instincts I stepped through the door with what was left of the orb.

  I could dimly hear voices behind me shouting as I stepped through, my foot sending a small puff of dust up from the dirt road on the other side. Then all noise from the house ceased. When I looked back, all I could see was a road winding into the countryside. Then the doorway was gone.