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

by Cheryllynn Dyess

  Immediately Elizabeth closed off her mind to everyone, blocking her thoughts were imperative if she was to have this kind of conversation with Devlon, or anyone really. ‘Where would we go?’ Elizabeth typed in her reply quickly. Considering his words, she also felt she needed to learn more and grow as a witch. Her current thinking led her to believe that Devlon was the perfect person to do this with, he did have the matching items.

  ‘I have a cabin off in the woods. Its stocked with a month’s worth of supplies. My folks were doomsday preppers and always kept it stocked. They never go there in the winter, so it’s ours, if you want.’ The reply came quickly. 'You can drive my car to school so you don't miss any classes when they start back up.'

  ‘When?’

  ‘Now.’

  ‘I have to tell my mom!’

  ‘Not till your gone’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘I’ll make sure to do it for you. I’d rather her be mad at me.’ Elizabeth thought that was actually sound reasoning and started to pack a bag. A minute passed by and another message came through, ‘I’ll meet you at the wood line behind your house. Go out the window, no one needs to know you’re leaving, they’ll try to stop you. Leave your phone and pack a bag. See in 30!’

  Staring at her phone, then looking around her room she hoped she was doing the right thing. Leaving without telling anyone would definitely be cause for alarm but the lure of accepting this pull with the magic outweighed even the most logical thought and worry. Turning her phone off, she laid it on the dresser. Her room perfectly cleaned, and her door unlocked she turned to the window. Opening it silently, Elizabeth crawled out on to the roof then closed it just as quietly. Walking over the to the trellis, the young witch shimmied down without a problem and made her way to the woods where Devlon took her in a warm embrace and they made their way to the cabin.

  “Where are they damn it?” Demanded Sari of Edom. She wanted to throw her phone through the house and smash it to bits. Elizabeth had been missing for two weeks. The day after Christmas they discovered her room empty and her phone on the dresser. A small amount of clothes were missing so they knew she wasn’t taken but had planned to leave. Once her room was searched they discovered the wand and her spell books missing as well. Sari’s heart ached with worry. Reba couldn’t reach her, and Raina did all she could to keep them all calm, which was quickly failing. They even called in the coven to help with the search, but nothing had come up. Elizabeth had been cloaked and was not wanting to be found. Sari knew Edom had something to do with this.

  Edom held the phone out from his ear, once the yelling subsided he responded, “Sari, my love, I don’t know. I haven’t seen either of them in two weeks neither. School’s out so they’re not there. I checked. It’s not like Devlon to go off and not tell anyone. Devlon’s belongings are missing but he left his phone, sound familiar?”

  “Did he take his wand and spell books?”

  “Yes,” Edom sighed realizing the two were definitely together, although he sighed in relief. Devlon said he’d get close to her, that he’d win her over. Edom could only guess this was part of the plan, he just wish he’d been included so he wouldn’t have been sideswiped by his wife.

  Sari went in the backyard and let loose on the metal men originally set up for Elizabeth’s training. Bursts of wind tore out over the metal subjects tearing them from their rooted spaces and throwing them several yards back. Looking back at the phone she held it up and calmly spoke, “I swear to you Edom if my daughter is hurt, you will pay!” Then she ended the call with a satisfying tap on the phone then thought how much more satisfying it was to actually hang up on a regular phone where you could slam down the receiver.

  Looking out at the woods, she noticed a doe by the edge. It stared at her and bowed. Curious about such an odd thing for an animal to do, Sari called her sisters out and they went to the doe. Standing face to face with such a peaceful animal, Sari knew it had something to say. “Show me your secrets,” she requested of the brown beast with the white tail. The doe turned and walked into the woods. Sari looked around about an hour into the walk, “This isn’t the way to the Roberts land, where are you taking us.” The doe stopped and turned back to her. The air rippled and a soft light came over it. Standing in the animals place was Celeste.

  “I am taking you to Elizabeth. I found her last night. She doesn’t know she was discovered, and she isn’t alone.”

  Raina pulled back on Celeste’s shoulder, “Does Lady Doreen know you’re here…helping us?” Celeste nodded negatively. “Okay, show us please.” Raina’s voice was soft and comforting, letting Celeste knew that her secret was safe with them. The elven house had strict rules about interfering, as did many of the others, so Celeste going out of range of her normal security perimeter and then coming to them about it spoke volumes to the witches, volumes they listened too.

  Sari stopped and had the women turn inwardly in a circle, “We need to go in silently. I can do that for us all.” She blew a soft breath and the wind quietly picked up, rusting the leaves and then slowly levitating them all. The wind died down enough to not move the leaves but to continue moving the women in the direction of their destination.

  Before they moved Reba tapped her temple, suggesting they open up to her, so she could talk to them and them to her. Silence was key, and the women had to use every gift possible to make it so. Looking at her sister, she glanced up at the sky and Raina smiled knowingly.

  Tilting her head skyward and closing her eyes, Raina began to chant. Her arms outstretched and palms up. Soon a light mist began to fall creating a fog for them to hide in. Bringing her head back up, she opened her eyes and gave a sly smile then nodded that she was ready to go.

  Moving quickly through the woods without noise to give them away was a definite plus but to have themselves hidden in the fog was the icing on the cake. The woods began to thin, and Celeste held up a hand. Looking at Reba, she mentally spoke ‘There, you will find them just past that row of trees on the other side of the break.’

  ‘Thank you. We’ll take it from here.’ Reba replied, relaying the message to everyone.

  Celeste moved back over the woods silently until her feet slowly felt the ground beneath her. As soon as her feet touched the ground she only looked back once, sending one last message of luck and hope then took off running back to her own woods. Reba made a mental note to find out later why she was out here to begin with.

  Looking back at the break and row of trees that was now their destination, Raina chanted harder. Mist was no longer falling but a light drizzle had begun, this would distract the young witches while the three moved in closer.

  As they approached the opening, the three witches found themselves looking at a small cabin. Sari released her spell that let them gain their footing while Raina slowed the rain back down to a mist, allowing the fog to remain. Looking to Reba, Sari thought ‘Are they in there?’

  Reba nodded, ‘They are alone.’

  Raina stepped towards the cabin but quickly grabbed by Reba. She nodded, ‘They are doing spells. Prince Petre’s and Sorina’s spells.’

  Sari covered her mouth barely silencing a gasp, ‘The early ones or the later?’

  Reba looked downward as she listened in, ‘Later.’ Her eyes displayed the horror and hurt of the thought Elizabeth was dabbling in dark magic then she held up a hand and turned her ear toward the cabin.

  ‘Are you sure this is the right spell? It seems off.’ She heard Elizabeth question Devlon

  ‘Of course. What do you mean off? It’s in the book surely it’s okay.’ He tried to convince the beautiful redhead across the table from him.

  Reba noticed Elizabeth’s hesitation, ‘It feels wrong. They weren’t always good, you know that they turned very dark in their later years.’

  ‘We’ve been here for two weeks. We’ve bonded and grown close. I thought you’ve grown to trust me.’

  ‘We didn't bond but I am trusting you. It just feels like this spell seem
s dangerous.’

  ‘A little. But, we need it for protection against that witch trying to take over the coven we are trying to create.’

  ‘Ok.’

  Reba could feel her nieces mind being pulled back and forth. She smiled and looked at her sisters, ‘She is doing dark magic but questioning it. She is being influenced by Devlon.’

  The door to the cabin slammed open, “I know you’re out there. Come out, come out or make me come find you.” Devlon yelled out the front door. Tapping his temple, “I can feel you in here. Get out!” He screamed. Soon Elizabeth was at his side. He looked over at her, “Do you see now? They invade our privacy, your privacy! They don’t trust you! They spy on you and want to keep you under their control.”

  Her eyes lit up with fire. Devlon had been working on influencing her and making her think that her family was holding her back, this all came forward at this moment. She stepped out into the yard in front of the cabin, raised her hands out. Her mom and aunts looked to each other in fear. They knew what she could do and if she was truly being manipulated then they were in danger.

  Raina stepped in front of them both just as the fire was released in their direction. Raina called on the rain to fall harder. Sari threw her arms out cause the wind to divert the fire while Reba tried to mentally reach Elizabeth.

  ‘Please. We aren’t here for trouble. We were worried. We didn’t know where you were.’

  Elizabeth lowered her arms and looked to Devlon, “I thought you said you told them where we were?”

  “Of course, I did, they are lying.” He tried to cup her face and move in close, but she pulled back just a bit.

  “Are you sure? I -”

  ‘He didn’t tell us. Neither did you! We woke up to you missing! Two weeks!’ Reba mentally yelled at her.

  Devlon pulled her shoulder to get her to face him, “I haven’t lied to you once since we’ve met. It was me,” he pointed at his chest, “who has worked tirelessly with you for two weeks to help you master your craft. They,” he pointed towards the woods, “held you back. Lied. Kept secrets from you. I have never.”

  Elizabeth looked back over at the woods, she knew the women were there but couldn’t see them. She sent a message to her aunt, ‘Leave us.’

  CHAPTER 17

  “It’s been four weeks. I need to go see them and get this straightened out. They need to know that I’m okay and I need to apologize for missing New Years with my mom.” Elizabeth explained to Jeremy as they sat around the table eating breakfast.

  With his mouth half full, “I don’t see the big deal. Really. We have things to do.”

  With a look of disgust, Elizabeth glares, “You’d know the big deal if you got to know our mother. New Years is always special.” Her voice lowered as tears threatened to spill over, “she has to be so disappointed.”

  Edom sat silently across from his two children. He’s enjoyed having them together, watching their power grow as they practiced magic together. Never wanting Elizabeth to leave he’s managed to manipulate each day to keep her there, but he was running out of ploys and had to think hard on what next was to come. “You two finish up then clean up the kitchen. I have an errand to run.” Both Jeremy and Elizabeth looked to their father and then each other shrugging. Pulling out her phone, she intended to send a message to her mom, but Jeremy knew that a distraction was in order and decided to toss his napkin at her which caused a bit of a battle and her phone was left sitting on the table.

  Hours later, Edom rushed into the house calling for his kids, “Jeremy, Elizabeth come quickly.”

  Both rushed into the living room where Edom was breathless and hunched over. “What’s wrong?” Jeremy asked.

  Holding a hand out motioning to give him a moment, Edom said between breaths, “There’s a coven across the border.” He glanced up at Jeremy then to Elizabeth, “they are planning an attack on your coven Elizabeth.”

  She raised a brow in distrust, “Who?” Elizabeth was immediately on the defense knowing that Edom wasn’t fully trustworthy even though they’d grown close over the last month.

  Devlon came down the stairs, “Across the border? You aren’t talking about the coven in the cove, are you? The one headed by Raquel?” He came up next to Elizabeth, intertwining his fingers with hers.

  Standing to his full height now, his demeanor calm as he looked at Devlon, “The very one.” Devlon nodded knowingly.

  “Why would this Raquel want to challenge my mother?”

  “It’s not about just your mother. The surrounding covens are scared of the power the coven now holds,” Edom added fuel to the fire burning within his daughter. He could see her anger building, her worry swelling up within her.

  “We have to contact the Haven Council and my coven. I have to let them know.” She turned to go get her phone that was laying on the table from earlier.

  Jeremy interrupted, “No. You shouldn’t involve the council.”

  Stunned Elizabeth turned to him, “And what pray tell would you have me do? Isn’t that what they are for? Shouldn’t my coven know if they are in danger?”

  Walking up to his sister, he held both her shoulders gently, “Take care of this yourself. You’ve gotten the warning, why not squash it.” He turned away and walked to the window. Staring out he continued, “unless you don’t think you can of course.”

  Elizabeth took the bait, “Do you think I’m weak? You saw what I did before to Jeremy. I can do that and so much more now that I’ve been training and learning.”

  Turning on his heels, “Then we should take a little trip, you and I. Together,” he moved in close to her, “we can take put out the trash before it starts to stink.”

  “You and your dumb sayings just come on.” She grabbed the car keys and was out the door before Jeremy could get a nod off to his father.

  Devlon watched the siblings leave then turned to Edom, “Raquel’s coven is in the area you want to take over isn’t it.”

  “We’ve discussed this all before. Raquel and her bunch need to leave and if they won’t… well, a twisted tale to an emotional young woman will surely give them the push they need.” Edom patted Devlon on the shoulder as we walked past, “Come, we can’t miss the show.” Edom watched Devlon closely since he seemed nervous. "You did bond with her, right?"

  Devlon wouldn't look him in the eyes but responded, "Everything is ready, no need to worry!"

  Walking up the drive, Elizabeth noted the large RT wrought iron symbol on the fence. “Raquel Thompson,” Jeremy pointed out. His sister nodded. They were at the right home, now to get the witches attention. Elizabeth considered what move she should make and remembered her aunts and mother always said honey gathered the bees, vinegar ran them away. So, she started up the stairs, Jeremy grabbed her shoulder, “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to introduce myself,” her smile wicked with flames flickering in her eyes.

  Knock. Knock. Knock. Elizabeth rapped on the door. Inside she heard footsteps before the handle twisted. The door slid open and a woman about her mother’s age with white hair and ice blue eyes stared back at her, “Can I help you?”

  “It’s possible. I’m Elizabeth Fairbairn and I was told you plan a hostile takeover.” Elizabeth’s tone was even and calm.

  The woman panicked. She had just that morning battled with an earth mover who nearly destroyed her barn trying to kill her. Slamming the door shut, Raquel started a spell to secure the home from intruders, but she wasn’t fast enough. Elizabeth took her reaction as guilt and quickly countered the spell throwing the door open. Standing in the foyer, Raquel could see the flames in the young witches eyes. “I don’t know who you are or what you’ve been told but-”

  The young witch let loose her power, flames covering her body but not burning her or her clothes. Raquel gasped and ran. Elizabeth let the flames go in every direction. Jeremy had backed off the porch when the door flew open, he’d seen his sisters rage before and had no desire to be in its path again, at least not when he
is alone. The house began to catch fire… first the small things like furniture and curtains burst into flames, then it crawled up the walls and into the floors and ceilings. Knowing the porch would soon collapse Elizabeth walked backwards into the yard.

  Closing her eyes, she searched for the witch who was her target and was unable to locate her. Her eyes slammed open in a blind rage. Remembering the connection with the animal spirits, she had learned to talk to, Elizabeth called out to the birds. She needed to know where Raquel went and what was her fate. Holding her arms out to her sides, closing her eyes she began to chant. Calling to each bird soul within one mile of where she stood. Soon birds flocked to her, closing in and surrounding the young woman and the home as they both burned. Calming the flames, Elizabeth lowered her head and arms, calmly looking around at the blackened ground, embers of a once beautiful home and spoke to the birds. Find her. Show me where she is. Raquel, however, was a clever witch and had cloaked herself, even from the birds. She had to find safety and soon.

  Jeremy had continued his retreat all the way to the car. Standing in the door of the car, he watched his sisters work in awe. She was so very powerful and one day that power would be his. He watched as birds one at a time made their way to her side and did as she commanded. All at once the birds took to the sky squawking and flying in every direction. The only sounds that could be heard was the fire engulfing the house and the flapping and squawking of the birds. Looking over his shoulder towards the road, he saw Devlon and his father pull up just in time to see the birds leaving. He smiled, relieved that he was no longer alone with his very powerful and very angry sister.

  “Did she just command all those birds?” Devlon said in disbelief that the woman he had fallen in love with last year was so powerful and his.

  Edom just chuckled, “The land is ours now.” He and Devlon shared a quick glance, “she can never know the truth. If she were to find out…”