A Moment of Darkness (The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn Book 3)

by Cheryllynn Dyess

  Sari’s eyes glistened, “Beautiful as always honey. Be safe.” Elizabeth waved as she left the house.

  Elizabeth had never been to Devlon’s house, so she pulled up the GPS app on her phone, typed in the address, and chose the easiest route. The phone spoke out, “Turn right on Jonson Street.” She chuckled and thought, great a road I've been down a hundred times, I should know where I'm going.

  When she pulled up twenty-eight minutes later, Elizabeth found herself looking at a Tudor style home with a decent sized front yard with a circle driveway and a large weeping willow in the center. The dark red brick home was starting to be covered with wild ivy, giving the house even more personality. Elizabeth parked at the edge of the drive for a quick retreat, just in case, locking her car she walked up to the door. Grabbing the gargoyle door knocker, the young witch felt the tingle of power held inside it. Giving three knocks, Elizabeth stepped back and waited. She could hear voices inside and music playing in the background. Looking back at the driveway, she noticed only one other car, a red Jeep, not a familiar vehicle to her. Where were all the other cars? She mentally asked herself.

  When the door finally opened it was her brother Jeremy who stood in front of her. Smiling he wore black pants with a black jacket and underneath a crimson colored shirt. He chuckled, “Looks like we planned this. I guess great minds do think alike.”

  She had to smile because they did match, and her brother did look nice, “Evening Jeremy.” He motioned her in.

  “Come on in and join the festivities.” She looked back at him with a quizzical expression, “We thought for your first time over, you might feel more comfortable with a house full of people. We have many others here as well, just to show our sincerity.”

  She could hear Edom and Devlon’s voices coming from the back of the house and headed in that direction when she noticed Jewel in the side room. Stopping instantly, she turned to go in and greet her friend. As she walked up, Jewel looked shocked to see her. “Well, hello.” She called out and gave Elizabeth a quick hug whispering to her, “be careful. They are tricky.”

  Pulling back Elizabeth smiled at the beautiful fairy noticing her streaks of purple have been replaced with white. “Good to see you.” She gave the girl a wink and turned to leave.

  “Elizabeth,” Jewel called out causing Elizabeth to look back, “it’s good to see you too.” The young witch smiled and headed down the hall.

  “Look who made it. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show.” Edom called out to his daughter. On edge, Elizabeth smiled but didn’t move to greet him. Jeremy nudged her a bit and nodded for her to go ahead. She gave a shy grin before allowing Edom to hug her. Her eyes were darting in every direction. There were so many people here, so many she didn’t know and didn’t trust. While she didn't hug him back, Elizabeth allowed Edom's attempt at being close.

  Just then an arm reached around her waist and pulled her back into a warm embrace. Looking up she could see it was Devlon, a small smile escaped but her eyes expressed her concern. Leaning in he whispered, “Why not escape to the kitchen with me? I could use some help and it wouldn’t be so overwhelming.” Nodding, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the kitchen. He knew she wasn't comfortable and even less so with Edom so close.

  A very contemporary looking kitchen looked back at Elizabeth as she stood in the doorway, a big contrast to the rest of the house. “Just finished the renovations last week. Whatcha think?” He motioned around the room.

  Taking it all in, she gave a quick nod, “Nice. I actually like the Tudor style, so this is very different. Sort of like that invitation to a dinner with three others only to discover a houseful.” Her voice turned bitter.

  He shrugged, “That was Jeremy’s idea. Thought you’d be comfier with more people around. I wasn’t so sure.” He spoke as he moved around the kitchen methodically putting finishing touches on dishes and mixers. He stopped suddenly, “Is that what has you on edge?” Taking a moment, he looked really saw how uncomfortable she was. Going over to her he rubbed her arms then pulled her in a hug, “I’m sorry.” He gave a quick peck on her forehead. “I didn’t think you’d mind that much. Actually thought it was that fatherly embrace that bothered you more.”

  Her eyes widened, surprised by both her irritation of the situation but how much she enjoyed his embrace. “Yeah, well. Put me to work. Looks like you have a lot going on.”

  Chuckling he swished a towel onto his shoulder, he dropped his head in a quick bow, “As you command,” he was trying to lighten the mood with humor, “I’d love some help. Come on.”

  Jeremy watched his sister with Devlon. He noticed how smooth each played their part and how well they looked together. While impressed that Devlon seemed to be gaining the trust of his feisty sister, he was skeptical all the same. Edom came up behind him watching as well, “What do you think son? Is she a keeper?”

  Leaning his head to the side to look at his dad, “Possibly. I just hope this isn’t a show, on either part. If Devlon messes up, she’ll explode.”

  “And if she is playing a part, what then?” The curious father watched his son considering his answer.

  Swallowing, “Well, then we may have to rethink our options.”

  The formal dining room had two large dining tables set up allowing everyone ample place to sit and devour the feast before them. Before the last dish was placed on the tables Edom stood and tapped a fork on his glass. “I’d like to give thanks for this feast Devlon and Elizabeth put together. It’s a great blessing to have my two children together for a holiday meal for the first time in over seventeen years.” He raised his glass towards them both. Jeremy and Elizabeth blushed equally. “I’d also like to give thanks for the new direction we are going. Peace and prosperity to you all. Enjoy.”

  “Cheers,” everyone called back and took large drinks to start their meal. Jewel sat across from Elizabeth and watched her closely. Noticing the pendants, they wore, she knew immediately the bond that was forming and how dangerous that was.

  “I hear you're taking classes at the college. What’s your major?” Jewel asked between bites.

  Looking up Elizabeth saw she was the target of the question and quickly wiped her mouth, “Oh. Yes. Herbology. I want to open a shop in town where those who don’t grow their own can get fresh herbs and herbs that have been dried.”

  “Definitely a market for that here. Not many of us in the younger generations are big on gardening. I’ll have a list for you!” She raised her glass towards her friend, Elizabeth returned the gesture and smiled.

  Dark haired and wiry, the young man named Oscar watched the pair when out of nowhere he saw the pendants shimmer. “Whoa dude. Y’all have some serious magic happening there.” He pointed to the amulets.

  Both Devlon and Elizabeth looked down. The amulets were shimmering and pulsating. Looking at each other, then at the guy, “Yeah. Seems so.” Devlon scrunched his brows as he began to notice that the amulet was more active the closer they got. He kept moving his closer to Elizabeth’s then would pull back. She looked up at him questioningly. He shrugged.

  The rest of dinner went off without a hitch and Elizabeth considered the night a success. There was no drama, no fights, and she got to see a familiar face she trusted. The amulets however had her concerned. Her amulet only ever did those things when Celeste called to her or when she drew power from it. Knowing that Devlon's amulet called to her so strongly concerned her greatly all the while it made her feel good. Her biggest concern was that he could feel how she felt but she couldn't feel him.

  “Let me walk you out,” Jeremy looked down into her eyes. She smiled and nodded. The night air cooled and the grass was covered in early crisp dew. At her car Elizabeth turned to say something to him but he cupped her cheek in one hand and pulled her by the waist with the other hand and kissed her deeply. At first, she wanted to fight and pull back, but she didn’t. She gave into him and kissed him back. She enjoyed his touch. It seemed to warm her soul and gave her
body tingles all over. When he broke the kiss, she blushed and breathed heavily. He smiled and opened her door. “Text me when you get home. Let me know you made it safely. I’ll call you tomorrow. Okay.”

  She never said a word, only nodded. As she got in her car she noticed the curtains move in the house. Edom and Jeremy were watching. They saw her give in. They’d trust her now, but could she trust herself.

  CHAPTER 15

  Christmas morning Elizabeth was awakened to the scent of hot chocolate and apple pie. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she grabbed her robe on her way downstairs. She didn’t remember anyone working on any pies when came home last night, but then again, she was mentally distracted.

  Rounding the corner, Elizabeth saw her mother and both aunts sitting at the table with steaming mugs. “Merry Christmas.” She called to each one as she made her way from one to the next giving hugs and kisses on the forehead. “Merry Christmas,” they replied in unison.

  Looking around Elizabeth saw an empty mug by the stove and went to make her hot chocolate. “How’d everyone sleep?”

  “Looks like you slept better than any of us?” Raina grinned from behind her Santa mug. Blushing Elizabeth could only smile back. “So, how was dinner?” She questioned.

  Mixing her chocolate, Elizabeth responded casually, “Surprisingly well. There was a house full.” Her mother looked at Reba questioningly. “Nothing to worry about, mom. I didn’t know many of the people there, but Jewel was there, so that made me feel better.”

  Sari patted the seat next to her for her daughter to sit near her as Raina replied, “I’m glad things went well. With the stuff happening recently I was really worried about that.”

  Taking a deep inhale of her mugs content, Elizabeth looked over at her aunt. “Thank you. I’m not sure where things stand in any direction, but it felt good to have a meal and not have any drama or scheming going on. It felt more normal than any meal has in quite some time.”

  Reba choked on her drink, “Well. How about we open some gifts?” Getting up she headed towards the sitting room with the largest tree. “Y’all coming?” She called out behind her. All three women stood and followed Reba.

  Once in the room, Reba looked at Elizabeth over her shoulder, “Candles? Fireplace?”

  “Really?” Elizabeth twisted her face.

  “Of course,” Raina replied as she moved the gifts around, “any year there is a fire-wielding witch in the home, it is her duty to light the fires. The air user keeps it cool, the earth mover keeps the tree alive and the water user keeps the wood moist.”

  A hand laid on her shoulder, Elizabeth turned to see her mother standing there, “Each year this was our tradition.” Her smile was sweet and encouraging, “I’m sorry you missed all this, but now…you’re here and we can start enjoying the holiday traditions together, as it should be.”

  Elizabeth looked at both her aunts then surveyed the room. Slowing raising her fingers to her lips, she puckered and blew a fake kiss with an outstretched of her hand in a waving motion the candles came to life and the fireplace roared in response.

  Raina giggled with joy, “Good show, Elizabeth.”

  “Come let’s open our gifts,” Sari patted the seat next to her. Elizabeth sauntered over a little nervous and excited for her gifts. Sari reached into the pile and began passing out gifts, “Reba, here is one for you.” She handed her sister the gift and went back to the pile, “Oh this is Reba’s too. It’ll wait.” Rummaging around she pulled out a silver wrapped, small round present with a tag that read, Raina, "this is yours, sister," as she leaned forward handing Raina her gift. "Geez it's heavy!” Raina grabbed the present greedily. Going in a third time she pulled the next two gifts out, “This is for you and this is mine.” She handed Elizabeth a long rectangular box wrapped in old newspapers and twine.

  Elizabeth noticed no one had started to open their boxes, so she asked, “We wait?”

  Raina smiled, “We all must have a gift to open at the same time. It always made things fair. Everyone gets the same number of gifts. That way no one ever feels left out.” Elizabeth made the ‘Oh’ expression and patted her gift. Her aunt continued, “Now, we can start.”

  The three older women tore into their gifts. Sari received a silk azure colored scarf with stitched designs along the edges along with a matching winter hat. Reba got a leather-bound journal with her name embossed into it. Raina slowly unwrapped her gift revealing a stunning crystal ball with a wooden base.

  Everyone turned to Elizabeth to watch her meticulously untie the twine and unfold the paper covering her gift. The box itself was plain brown cardboard. Reba, Raina, and Sari looked between them trying to figure out who gave her this present. There was no label other than Elizabeth’s name. Each shook their head confirming it was not them. Elizabeth felt how nervous the others had become and was starting to wonder if she should even open the box the rest of the way. Her mother nodded for her to continue. Pulling the top of the box back, Elizabeth discovered an oddly shaped stick inside. Picking up the box she looked at it from all angles.

  The stick inside looked nearly fossilized. Dark redwood, with knots and crevices shaped the stick into something Elizabeth had never seen. “Pick it up,” Reba demanded.

  Nervous Elizabeth licked her lips, put her hand on the stick and pulled it out. The stick began to glow, and Elizabeth felt a surge of power go between it and her. “What is this? A wand?”

  Sari nodded, “I didn’t get mine till I was twenty. Most times we get them from those who passed on before us, but I don’t recognize this one? Do you sisters?”

  There were etchings that had worn down, indentions from its previous user's hand, and it fit Elizabeth perfectly. Raina got up and went into the library, coming back in she was thumbing through pages of an even older book. Tapping a page, she looked over at the wand. Elizabeth held it out, so she could get a better look. She shook her head and mumbled to herself.

  “Speak aloud. Not all of us can hear thoughts!” Sari grumbled.

  Her sister froze as she came upon an entry in the book. The color escaped her complexion and her mouth sat open. “It can’t be.” Her voice was shaky. She laid the book on the table and tapped at the entry with the hand-drawn photo, “There. There is your wand and who it belonged to.”

  Everyone leaned in close except Raina. Each reading the entry out loud but at whispers level and all went silent as they came upon the owner of the wands name, Sorina.

  Elizabeth dropped the wand in the book and fell back in her chair. How could this be? A second item of Sorina’s gifted to her? She thought the prophecy had already been fulfilled but if so then she wouldn’t need another item, another inheritance of such magnitude.

  “Who gave that to you?” Reba inquired.

  “There was no name. I didn’t recognize the writing on the tag either.” Elizabeth held it up for her to see. She sighed because she didn’t either.

  Just then all four women jumped when a knock came at the door. “Oh. Goodness. Okay, well I’ll get that.” Sari said to no one in particular. All four women had so much on their minds that they never thought to consider who might be coming over so when she opened the door, Sari let out a small yip.

  “Mom?” Elizabeth called out.

  They heard the door close and some voices softly speaking. “Fine. Go in, you know the way.” They heard her say.

  At that moment, Edom and Devlon came through the doorway. Elizabeth smiled but out of precaution grabbed her wand, not that she knew how to use it or anything, but it felt like the right thing to do. Edom chuckled, “I see you got a similar gift.” He motioned for Devlon to reveal what was in the bag he carried.

  Slowly pulling out an identical box to Elizabeth’s he revealed a blackened duplicate of her own wand. “I don’t understand.” She said.

  Devlon swallowed, “Well, it would seem someone gifted us the wands that the owners of our pendants once valued and trusted.”

  “But who?”

  “That is someth
ing we came to ask you?”

  Reba stood, “How the hell should we know! We don’t even know how the amulets came to be!” Her voice laced with distrust.

  Edom held his hands up in surrender, “We’re not here for trouble. Just wanted to see if she got a similar item and it would seem so.” His actions said he didn’t know but the gleam in his eye said otherwise, Sari noticed because she knew him best.

  As they left, Devlon looked to Edom, “It's coming together perfectly.”

  Edom just smiled at Devlon, “Yes, it is. She will be on our side soon enough.” Sari overheard the two speak and her concern for Elizabeth grew. Knowing she had no way to dissuade her daughter, she could only hope she would see through his facade.

  CHAPTER 16

  Winter was waking up as the temperatures dropped nearly to freezing and the ground was quickly blanketed with soft snow. Frost crawled up on the windows and the fireplace roared with fires all day long. Raina and Reba loved the smell and sound of fires crackling and rarely used the electric heat; this year would be no different. Elizabeth sat in the overstuffed chair in the den watching the flames and lost in thought. Raina stood at the doorway watching her niece as she held her pendant in her hand staring at the fire. She noticed Elizabeth was doing this more and more. Christmas day really put everyone in a shock when Devlon was given the matching set of items to those Elizabeth received. The power would draw them together and the woman worried what that could mean for her coven.

  Elizabeth jumped when her phone started buzzing in her pocket. Quickly grabbing it she opens up the message, read it, laid the phone in her lap and looked in the fire, then read the message again. Getting up after reading it the second time she went upstairs to her room and locked the door. Opening the message again she read it softly aloud, ‘I’d like to take you somewhere where we can work on the spells in our new grimoires. It's obvious no one is telling us everything and if we can master these then we can take care of our people, D.’