The Witch's Journey

by Leigh Ann Edwards

  “What’ve you done?” Angelique said to Aine.

  “Maybe knowing of your betrayal, how easily you lay with another man, he’s finally gone to the beyond so he’ll not see you again.”

  “Let me go back in time to talk to him,” Angelique begged.

  “It won’t benefit you,” Aine disagreed.

  “Then I won’t benefit you.”

  “The Council of the Gods has voted. You’ll always put him first. That won’t be helpful in the battle.”

  “And the other three witches wouldn’t put their men first, too?”

  “Perhaps, but you’re unwilling to listen just like your mother,” Aine said.

  “You’re making me pay because you and my mother didn’t get along? This is personal then?”

  Aine avoided Angelique’s eyes.

  “Aine?” Danhoul asked. “Is that true?”

  “Who’s Grannus?” Angelique said when the name came to her.

  Aine’s eyes blazed with fury.

  “He’s your father,” Aine replied. “The Celtic god of healing waters.”

  “You were in love with him?” Angelique guessed.

  “That’s not relevant. I told you, the council voted.”

  “Perhaps I’ll find Odhran. Maybe his magic will permit me to have Faolan in my life. Maybe we’ll both fight with Odhran.”

  “Angie.” Danhoul shook his head.

  “I’m serious. I’ll take my chances with Odhran because the lines are really blurred between the good and bad guys here. I’m tired of trying to deal with this unfeeling bitch.”

  “You cannot go to Odhran,” Aine said.

  “Then make the Celtic gods see it my way. I’m sure I can summon a demon who’ll take me to Odhran. Unless someone helps me find Faolan so I can at least talk to him, I won’t cooperate,” Angelique said before snapping her fingers and disappearing.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  The note in Faolan’s perfect calligraphy handwriting was found in the floor below the attic, beneath the area Arianna singed with her hellfire. Luckily the date Angelique was supposed to meet Faolan was readable. She thought she’d be forced to use a dark spell to go back, but when she attempted to move though time, she was able. Obviously the Council of the Gods took Angelique’s threats seriously and permitted her to go back. Danhoul didn’t approve but likely knew he couldn’t talk her out of it.

  It was October 31, 1774. A year after she and Faolan met. Now she understood. The date was her phone passcode but Faolan had called it her secret code. Standing in gown and cloak in the shadow of the majestic great elm, she nervously waited, wondering if Faolan would come.

  “Hello, Angelique,” he said.

  She jumped, feeling her heart might stop.

  “Faolan!” She rushed to his arms.

  He held her, but with cool hesitance.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “I didn’t think you’d be here.”

  “I want to be with you forever,” she replied.

  “That’s a long time.” He sounded bitter.

  “You’re angry,” she said staring into his eyes. “You named your ship Angel’s Curse?”

  “It seemed appropriate when I was cursed to spend the rest of my life without you.”

  “This is the date we were to meet and yet now, you don’t seem happy to see me?”

  “Although it happened as a spirit in another time, I somehow hang on to those years of bitterness. I also well remember hearing Aine say you’d been with Danhoul. You…slept with him.”

  Angelique turned away not understanding how he’d remember, but feeling his furious jealousy.

  “How long?” he asked.

  “How long?” she questioned.

  “How long after we parted did you share his bed? Aine said it wasn’t long. Was it days? Weeks? Months? I don’t even know what time you journey from with time travel as it is. Did you marry Danhoul? Although you still wear my ring.” He glanced at her hand.

  “I haven’t remarried.”

  “But you have been with Danhoul?”

  Turning from his wounded eyes, she nodded. “He consoled me, I suppose.”

  “Do you love him?” Faolan asked.

  “No. I like him, but…”

  “Clearly, you must if you—let him console you so thoroughly. Was it tender lovemaking or primal coupling?”

  “I was devastated, Faolan. I grieved for you. I wanted to die. I…”

  “Eased your grief in his bed!”

  His rage was evident in both his tone and his eyes.

  “Coming here was obviously a mistake. I see and feel your anger and bitterness. The chance of us ever being happy is unlikely now. I’ll leave. Just don’t be on your ship in the next couple of weeks, for it will crash upon the rocks off the coast of New England.”

  He stared into her eyes, only making her sadder with everything so drastically changed between them.

  “Don’t spend your life being resentful, literally drinking your life away.”

  “You intend to just leave me then? Parting would be so easy for you?” he said.

  “For fuck’s sake, Faolan, nothing’s easy—not without you.”

  “Danhoul obviously capably fills a need for you.”

  His implication was clear.

  “Living over two centuries apart might actually be best,” she replied.

  “You believe I’ve no warrant to be displeased?” Faolan asked.

  “I’m not going to debate the difference of what’s morally acceptable for men and women. I didn’t expect to ever see you again and thought you had no memory of me. When I was with Danhoul you would’ve been dead for two centuries. Why did you even come here today if you’re so angry? What do you want?”

  “What do I want? Was that ever a consideration? I wanted a life with you.”

  “We would’ve both died on that ship if I hadn’t asked the gods to save you.”

  “You don’t recall me stabbing you with my sword?”

  “Apparently both our memories were affected.”

  “I remembered the charmed weapon only injured you when you were a child. I knew that was the only way out of it. After I placed you in the water, Clodaugh and the others disappeared.”

  She sighed.

  “Are you with Danhoul now?”

  “I’m not with anyone. The other witches and their guardians wait for the gods’ direction. Alainn’s father believes he’s close to locating Odhran.”

  Faolan’s blue eyes were so filled with pain, she turned away.

  “I have to leave,” she said.

  “Evidently the gods think I’m needed since apparently I’m the only one they know who’s seen Odhran and lived. I’m to go to your time as your guardian.”

  “That’d be an absolute blast when you can’t even look at me. How will you react when you see Danhoul?”

  Faolan’s body became rigid; his hand went to his sword.

  “That’s what I thought. If we truly have to fight together, maybe Aine will finally erase your memories. You can think of me only as a woman you’ve been tasked with guarding.”

  He grasped her hand and pulled her to him, stared down into her eyes. The attraction was still there, the passion, the emotion, but there was festering fury, too.

  “You’re not to make another decision for me. Do you remember tellin’ me that?”

  “I need to go back, Faolan. I hope the gods will change their minds so you can carry on with your life. Just don’t be on that ship next week.”

  “I signed the ship over to Fitzsimmons so I could stay and wait for you.”

  “Not Coates?”

  “After what he wanted to do to you? I killed the feckin’ bastard. The ship’s already sailed, so don’t fret; I won’t die in a shipwreck. Don’t bother wastin’ your bloody concern on me,” Faolan bitterly said.

  Angelique instantly transported herself back to her time.

  *

  Danhoul still lived with the others in the lar
gest apartment. Angelique preferred to be alone, but Tristan insisted on staying with her. He’d apparently been named one of her guardians, too. With all transcendent witches together, it was believed they may be in danger of Odhran and his demons finding them.

  Newt and Timothy moved in together in the lovely newly renovated attic apartment.

  Today everyone was meeting to speak on what they knew of recent demon activity. Alainn’s father, Tiege, was to arrive with the latest developments in the search for Odhran and the gods were to finally inform them where they’d spend time training. Apparently there was a lot to learn about killing demons and other evil beings.

  They were all together in the large apartment when Aine suddenly appeared. Angelique stiffened at seeing her again since it was Aine who’d told Faolan about her and Danhoul.

  “I have someone you must meet…although two of you already know him.”

  When Faolan magically appeared, Angelique’s heart pounded and she stared at Danhoul.

  “I didn’t know,” he mouthed as Aine spoke on.

  “Faolan Mahoney’s the only person we know who’s come face-to-face with Odhran and lived to speak of it without being taken to his malevolent realm. There’s much significance to that. We’ve learned his paternal grandfather was Fomorian.”

  “I thought Fomorians were hideous beasts of the underworld,” Ainsley said.

  “My own father, Cythrawl’s half Fomorian,” Arianna said.

  “Not all are hideous and not their offspring when paired with a human. We will need this guardian’s assistance.”

  All eyes went from Faolan to Angelique. The men shook Faolan’s hands as Aine introduced him to the others. Faolan didn’t appear uncomfortable, but wouldn’t look at her. He and Danhoul stayed on opposite ends of the room. Danhoul clearly sensed Faolan’s bitter animosity. This would be very difficult.

  Chapter Forty

  Faolan was staying in Mrs. Boyle’s apartment. Angelique knew the others were trying to make him feel welcome. She was glad about that. Under different circumstances they might have happily spent time as a couple getting to know everyone. Now it was undeniably awkward. Faolan attended some breakfasts and dinners with the others. She stayed away if she knew he’d be there. Danhoul did as well. She felt like a couple who’d suffered an especially messy divorce and were sharing friends.

  Often feeling more breathless, Angelique finally went for her usual tests with some very unusual, unexpected findings. Just back from getting the results, she was trying to process it all. She sat at the kitchen table, rested her head on her arms and wept. They all knew she’d gone to get test results—were likely aware she was back. Everyone living in the same house had its advantages especially since it was warded from evil, but there were disadvantages, too.

  She looked at her phone. Who was she gonna call? Not Ghostbusters, but that might be a more welcome call. The spirits of both of her mothers materialized. Angelique saw their deep empathy. They’d been hovering about a lot lately.

  “Can’t just sit here alone, Angie sweetheart,” Mom said.

  “You shouldn’t be alone, my dear Ailish,” Bronaugh agreed.

  “This is such an unbelievable freaking mess,” Angelique said wanting to cry endlessly or crawl into bed…forever.

  Someone knocked. She glanced up, relieved to see it was Cal. She waved him in.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hi, Grandpa.” She forced a smile.

  “I won’t even give you a hard time about calling me that,” Cal said. “So…everyone’s wondering. We’ve been worried about you. You’ve been pale and tired.”

  “Well, there’s a few reasons for that.”

  “Cardiac-related?” he asked. “I noticed your cold hands, blue fingernails and breathlessness.”

  “There are some heart issues. I’m also anemic, but I don’t have a clue how to explain the rest or tell anyone.”

  She passed Cal the many pages of test results. He might be the only one who’d understand without explanation.”

  He sat down after looking at them, his eyes disbelieving.

  “By God!” he said. “Do you know how bloody rare that is?”

  “Which part?” she asked.

  “Well…most of it, I suppose.”

  “I imagine, pretty freaking rare.”

  “Did you know?”

  “About the pregnancy, the unusual circumstance or the heart anomaly?”

  “Any of it.”

  “I apparently suffered trauma to the heart when I was very young that’s mostly remained unchanged. Maybe moving through time weakened it. The recent injury on Faolan’s ship probably compounded it. The pregnancy, I’ve maybe experienced a few symptoms, but I’ve had my period every month.”

  “That does happen sometimes,” Cal said.

  “Maybe my periods were a little lighter, but I haven’t even gained weight. Especially for being three months pregnant.”

  “With twins,” Cal said. “But apparently your womb’s inverted backward so you wouldn’t show as much. That can also cause complications.”

  “You’re not going to ask about the other?”

  “Why was that test even done?” Cal asked.

  “I requested it.”

  “May I ask who—besides Danhoul?”

  “Faolan,” she said.

  “But how?”

  “The usual way.”

  “I figured that, but you’ve been here for months and he was in his time.”

  “I went back. He didn’t remember me. He actually thought I was a whore, even paid me after we slept together.”

  “Christ!” Cal said.

  “I know; right? This just keeps getting better and better. I couldn’t make up this shit if I tried!”

  “Probably not. So what’re you going to do? You’ll have to tell them unless you don’t plan to keep the babies, which might be safest considering the heart irregularities.”

  “The cardiologist and cardiac surgeon already advised me of that, but no, I couldn’t, especially not when I’m this far along. I don’t like asking you to keep secrets from Ainsley, but could we hold off telling everyone for a while?”

  “Secrets inevitably cause more problems, Angelique.”

  She sighed.

  “Faolan probably shouldn’t be near Danhoul when he learns about this. He’s still angry, jealous and hurt. He’s used to dealing with anger with swords and beheadings.”

  “You think he’d hurt Danhoul.”

  “No—I don’t know. I hope not. They were actually becoming good friends before all this. But, Faolan’s father was a violent man. He killed his mother and Faolan witnessed it—and if Faolan does possess any Fomorian tendencies…”

  “By God. Maybe we should tell everyone now, so it only has to be explained one time.”

  “Not yet. That wouldn’t be fair to Faolan or Danhoul and like I said, Faolan doesn’t even know we were together. He wouldn’t believe there’d be any possibility of me carrying his baby.”

  Cal looked up. “You’ll have to tell him something, for your pirate’s at the door.”

  “I suppose I can’t hide the pregnancy for long, but please just a while longer and the other…and the heart issues, promise you’ll tell no one. I’ll just say I’m anemic, which isn’t a lie.”

  “I don’t know, Angelique.”

  “Please, doctor-patient confidentiality.”

  “I’m not your doctor,” Cal said.

  “No, but you’re my great-grandfather… I’m begging you, Cal; please tell no one.”

  “The other witches may intuitively suspect. Pregnancy and more time travel could further weaken your heart.”

  “I promise I’ll tell them later.”

  Angelique inhaled deeply and Cal let Faolan in.

  “Hey, Faolan,” he said.

  “Hello, Cal. May I speak with Angelique?”

  Cal nodded. Angelique couldn’t meet his eyes nor could she prevent her tears in seeing him and remembering their happy
times here.

  “I’ve been concerned. I’d like to know you’re well.”

  Faolan looked more intently at her then, worry etched on his handsome face.

  “Do your tears indicate you’ve had objectional news?”

  “I…well…” she stammered.

  Even before the knock came to the door, Angelique knew Danhoul was here.

  “I’ll tell him to wait,” Cal said looking at the door’s window.

  “If you’d inform me of the results of your recent tests, I’ll leave straightaway,” Faolan said but Danhoul stepped in, possibly worried by Faolan’s intense expression.

  “Could you not give Angelique and me a few bloody moments alone?” Faolan asked glaring at Danhoul.

  “As long as you don’t hurt her,” Danhoul replied.

  “You think me so unconscionable I’d harm a woman, especially Angelique?”

  “You look upset, Faolan. You’re accustomed to violence.”

  “Not with women!”

  “How do we know you didn’t inherit your father’s violent temper?”

  Angelique was shocked Danhoul knew about that, for she hadn’t mentioned it. Faolan stepped closer to Danhoul, fierceness in his eyes.

  “You told him of my father?” Faolan looked at Angelique as though he’d been betrayed.

  “I didn’t. I swear.”

  “She did not,” Danhoul affirmed. “I learned of it with my magic.”

  “You’d both better leave till you cool down,” Cal urged the men.

  “I’ll leave when I’m done speakin’ with Angelique, alone!” Faolan firmly stated.

  “You think I’d allow you to be alone with Angie when you have that murderous look in your eyes,” Danhoul said.

  “It’s not her I’d be apt to murder,” Faolan caustically replied.

  They each took another step closer. Angelique moved between them just as they both angrily struck out. She wasn’t sure whose fist she connected with but she was very roughly thrown to the floor. The wind was knocked out of her. Her eye was already swelling, her wrist possibly broken in taking the brunt of her fall. She whimpered, holding her good hand to her eye.

  Cal adeptly used impressive martial arts moves that sent Faolan and Danhoul noisily crashing against opposite walls. Cal went to Angelique. She saw the guilty looks Faolan and Danhoul wore.