The Witching Hour: 11 Enchanting Novels Featuring Witches, Wizards, Vampires, Shifters, Ghosts, Fae, and More!, page 124
We turned a corner and came to a poorer part of town. Laundry hung drying overhead. Many people wore clothing that was dirty and ripped. Farm animals mingled on the streets with the people.
“Our village isn’t far,” she said. “Do you remember?”
“Vaguely. It’s been a long time.”
“It’s too dangerous to practice our… arts in town.”
“Nora,” came a strong male voice from behind. It was enough to stop me in my tracks.
My mother turned around and straightened her back. “Magistrate. What are you doing in this part of town?”
“I thought I saw you, and wanted to speak with you.”
Mother’s hand trembled, but she pulled it into a pocket. “What can I help you with?”
He turned to me. “Who is this?”
“She’s a traveler,” Mother answered for me. “I’m showing her around.”
The magistrate looked me over. He rubbed his gray beard and his wrinkled eyes ogled my curves. “You’re very pretty. Who is your husband? Maybe I know him.”
My heart skipped a beat. In those days, women without a husband were in grave danger, being considered little more than property.
Mother’s eyes widened, silently begging me to say something to protect myself.
I turned back to the magistrate. “His name is Killian.”
“Is he from the colonies? I don’t recognize the name.”
“He’s from Iceland.”
“Iceland?” exclaimed the magistrate. “I know I would have remembered that.”
“We’ve just arrived.”
“There hasn’t been a ship in weeks.” He stepped closer, holding my gaze.
My mouth went dry. “Yes, that’s right. We’ve been here for some weeks now. Is there a problem, good sir?”
One side of his mouth curved down and his brows came together. “Tell me more about your husband.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the terror on my mother’s face. I turned to the magistrate and faked a look of confidence. “Oh, surely. What would you like to hear?”
“Anything. I’d like to recognize him when I see him. It would be fascinating to hear what’s going on in Iceland these days. We only ever hear about England. It’s so rare to hear about other places.”
“I can tell you plenty. The—”
“No, I want to hear it from your husband. What did you say your name was?”
“Gessilyn.”
Surprise covered his face. He turned to my mother. “Just like your daughter.”
She stood taller. “Yes, my Gessilyn is named after her. It’s a family name.”
The magistrate snapped his attention toward me. “Tell me all about Killian. I so want to meet him.” A smile slid across his face that sent chills to my core.
“Yes, Killian. You couldn’t miss him. He’s tall and handsome. Witty and strong—he could take on several men twice his size.”
“Sounds like a fable. What does he look like? Dark hair? Pointed nose? Tell me.” He stepped closer.
I held my head higher. “I assure you, he’s no myth, Magistrate. Tall and muscular with dark hair to his shoulders and piercing blue eyes.”
He stepped even closer. I could smell soap on him. “What is his profession?”
My mind raced. Neither witch nor janitor would be a good answer. “A soldier.”
“In Iceland?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir. Every country must be ready for attack. You’re aware of how dangerous this world of ours is.”
He stared me down. “Where is your husband now? I shall like to meet him.”
“Training. I likely won’t see him for days. Weeks, even.”
The magistrate turned to my mother. “And you still have no husband? Just the daughter?” Disgust covered his face.
“I’m a widow, yes. The other widows and I are most happy on our own. No one bothers us.” Her eyes narrowed. “Not usually.”
With a roll of his eyes, he turned back toward me. “Join us for dinner in my home. We’re about to enjoy our midday meal.”
I turned to my mother, terror pumping through me.
She held up her produce. “We really need to get these back home. Also, my daughter is expecting me.”
The magistrate stepped closer to my mother. “You can store those in my house while you eat, and little Gessilyn will be fine. I’m sure you left her in the care of someone capable.”
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing. When someone with my authority invites you for dinner, you come, woman.”
My mother turned to me and gave a slight nod.
The magistrate grinned. “I’m glad you’ve agreed. Let us go.”
I made eye contact with my mother as we followed the magistrate.
“Act normal,” she mouthed.
“Magic,” I mouthed.
Her eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously.
We ended up in the home I had found myself in earlier. Now, it looked nothing like Toby’s mansion. Yes, it was one of the largest homes in the colony, but it was no Victorian mansion.
I slid the umbrella back where I had originally found it before we stepped inside. Lively conversation greeted us before a servant offered us towels to dry off from the rain. My clothes dripped, and the towels did little to help with that.
As we passed the living room, I gazed longingly at the mirror that had brought me here in the first place. If given the chance, I would try to use it again.
The magistrate led us to a dining room with a long table. He indicated for us to sit.
My appetite was gone, so I merely picked at the food on my plate. I tried to stay quiet and hoped that would be enough to keep attention off me, but the magistrate told everyone about my husband, Killian, the Icelandic soldier.
Everyone asked about him—everything from his looks to his skills as a trained killer. It felt like a trial around the dinner table. I plastered on a friendly smile and told them everything I knew they wanted to hear. Eventually, the magistrate seemed convinced that he really did exist and I wasn’t spouting off faerie tales.
I patted my mouth with the napkin and excused myself while everyone laughed at a joke the magistrate’s wife had told.
My mother arched a brow as I left the dining room. I gave a quick nod, hoping to reassure her. While everyone was distracted, I had to give the mirror another try. It was a portal, and I hoped not a one-way source. I needed to leave the same way I’d arrived.
I hurried over, pulling the bottom of my skirt from the ground so I moved a little quicker. I stood in front of my reflection and thought of Killian and my family in the future, but mostly of Killian.
Closing my eyes, I imagined the rune I’d destroyed in his bathroom. It was the only thing I knew capable of bringing someone to the coven in the middle of the forest of confusion. I held out my finger. It tingled. I reached for the glass and traced the image.
A pull dragged me toward the mirror.
Steps behind me sounded.
My eyes flew open in time to see the magistrate in the reflection. A mixture of fear and twisted joy covered his face.
“Witches! We’ve found the witches.”
Everything turned black.
23
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on a floor. I jumped up and looked around. This wasn’t the magistrate’s house.
It was Killian’s.
I gasped for air. I’d done it, somehow ending up back in his bathroom, using the same rune as Claudia had.
He’d replaced the mirror. I ducked, careful not to let it catch my reflection. It would only be a matter of time before my old coven figured out I was alive.
I ran out of the room and looked up and down the hallway. Everything was quiet. They had to be in Frida’s home.
Assuming I’d managed to arrive at the right time. What if this was before they’d met me?
My pulse drummed in my ears. There were too many unknowns. My head spun—likely from all the time traveling.
What little food I’d eaten at the magistrate’s twisted in my stomach. I turned around and threw up in the toilet. If I could help it, I would stick in one time period for the rest of my life. I’d had more than enough traveling to last me a lifetime.
I cleaned up, careful to avoid the mirror. Then I went out into the living room and peeked out the curtain. The sun shone brightly. At least I didn’t have rain or huge skirts to deal with. My regular clothes had returned along with me.
Did I dare go to Frida’s house to see if they were there? I had no idea when this was. What if there were two of me?
Anything would be better than pacing this home alone. I hurried into the guest room and looked for my phone. It wasn’t there. Hopefully that meant I’d arrived in the right time, and Frida and Killian were awaiting my call.
I glanced outside again, and seeing no one, I headed out. The sun felt wonderful on my skin. I shivered, still chilled from the rain soaking me. I ran over to Frida’s house and risked going in without knocking.
Killian, Roska, Eldon, my father, and Frida all sat in her living room. They each glanced up in surprise. The terror in their eyes worried me that I’d arrived too early.
“Where have you been?” Killian exclaimed. He jumped up from the couch and engulfed me in a hug. “I’ve never been more worried.”
His embrace cut off my breathing so I couldn’t answer.
The others also got up and held me.
“Where were you?” my father asked.
I stepped back and made eye contact with each of them. “Not where. When.”
Frida’s mouth gaped. “What?”
“I traveled through time. Did Toby send you a picture of the rune?”
She shook her head. “He called and told us what happened, but the rune you drew disappeared along with you. He tried to describe it, but couldn’t recall all the details, and it was nothing I recognized.”
“I think it was from colonial times.”
Killian took my hands in his. “Is that where you went?”
“Yes. I barely escaped.” My throat closed up, thinking of my mother. The magistrate had seen me disappear. Tears blurred my vision. “I think I’m the reason my mother was killed. She was burned at the stake because of me. I need to find her.”
Killian pulled me close and stroked my hair. “She’s alive now. Your father told us all about her finding him before you arrived.”
I turned to Johan. “Where is she? I need to find her.”
“She also is hiding from your old coven.”
My heart sank. “Why didn’t you bring her here?”
“I couldn’t. Selena-Marie barely approved you staying here. She isn’t aware of your presence, remember?”
I leaned my head against Killian’s shoulder. “What are we going to do? I’ve got to find her.”
“She assured me she’s safe.”
“But if the coven is after her, too, we need to work together more than before.”
Johan stepped closer to me. “There’s something I didn’t tell you before. She didn’t want you to know, but I think you deserve the knowledge.”
Fear pierced my heart. I could tell by the tone of his voice I wasn’t going to like what he had to say. “What?”
Eldon and Johan exchanged a worried look.
“What is it?” I exclaimed.
Johan took a deep breath and stared into my eyes. “She’s using herself as a distraction to keep their attention off you.”
I jumped away from Killian. “Haven’t I done enough to put her in harm’s way? If she dies again, there’s no chance of her returning.”
Eldon shook his head. “I wouldn’t count on that.”
“What do you mean? It’s now impossible to cross over from the other side back to the land of the living.”
“Countless witches are working on spells to get around that.”
“But it’s supposed to be unbreakable.”
“When have you ever known our kind to back down in the face of a challenge?” Killian asked.
I sighed. “Never. I suppose that’s good news if Mother ends up dead again.” I looked in Johan’s eyes. “Do you know where she is?”
His expression softened. “She’s hiding with a light coven here in Iceland. They’re protecting her with blessings. When the American coven arrives, Nora will be well protected.”
“She shouldn’t be fighting this battle. It’s mine. I brought all of this upon us. It’s no wonder the coven hates me. I exposed their existence to the magistrate.”
I slumped to the ground and gave into sobs.
Killian wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his lap. “You can’t help the past, especially that which was brought on by the runes. You’ve never been taught in them, but clearly you have a power with them that has never before been seen.”
I pressed my forehead against his rock solid chest and cried all the harder.
He ran his fingers through my hair. “You can’t help any of it. We need to teach you about the runes before you practice them anymore. Once you know enough, you’ll be able to defeat the old coven easily.”
More tears streamed down my face, soaking into his shirt. The sound of his heartbeat sounded in my ear. “But now I know they have reason to hate me. I can’t blame them. How will I bring myself to fight them?”
He leaned back and stared into my eyes. “Because they want you and your mother dead.”
I shook my head. “I need to apologize to them. They deserve that much. I didn’t mean to bring them harm, but it was my fault they were—”
“Apologize if you must, but be prepared to fight them. They’re holding onto centuries-old grudges, and blood is what they want. You’ve got the backing of each of us, plus your mother and the coven she’s with. This can’t be ignored any longer.”
I tilted my head. “Do you know something I don’t?”
Roska kneeled down and gave me a compassionate glance. “They’ve returned already, sweetheart.”
My mouth dropped. “While I was gone?”
She nodded.
Acid churned in my gut. “How long was I gone?”
“All together?” Johan asked. “Six days.”
“Six?” I exclaimed. “So each time I traveled via the runes, two days were lost?”
Killian tightened his hold on me. “It would appear so.”
“Is that normal?”
Frida shook her head. “Traveling is supposed to be instantaneous.”
“That’s why we need to teach you everything we know,” Johan said.
I buried my head against Killian’s chest again. “We should bring in my mother. If you can hide me, you can hide her, too.”
Eldon shook his head. “They’re searching for both of you. If you’re in the same vicinity, it will be like a beacon. We need to throw them into as much confusion as possible. At least until you’ve mastered runes.”
“How long will that take?” From what I could recall, it was a lifelong study.
“Years, normally,” Frida said. “But in your case, I’m sure it won’t take long at all. Look at what you’ve accomplished already. No one has ever done that before, not without all kinds of education.”
I took a deep breath. “Would it be possible to do this after some sleep? I haven’t slept at all, and I can feel every bit of those six days wearing on me.”
Killian sat taller. “Only if you let me watch your every move. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“I’m sure that would help me to sleep even better.” I slumped against him.
Frida rose. “Now that you’re back safe and sound, I’m going to prepare your lessons. You promise no rune-making while I’m gone?”
“You couldn’t pay me to go near one right now.”
She smiled. “Good. Come back here after you’re rested. I have a feeling this is going to be a battle unlike anything any of us has ever seen before.”
24
A giant spike dug into my skull.
My eyes flew open. I was in my bed in Killian’s guest room. He sat in a rocking chair, reading some papers.
The pain in my head from my dream didn’t ease. I grabbed my temples, unable to cry out. It felt as though someone was hammering a metal stake into my brain.
My stomach churned. It felt like it was full of something toxic. My mouth tasted of turpentine. The only thing I could smell was skunk spray. Something crawled around in my throat, stinging me with fire as it took each step.
I gasped for air, unable to breathe or vomit. Yet I needed to do both.
Killian appeared at my side. “What’s going on?”
All I could do was flail around. I grabbed my neck, trying to squeeze whatever was making a nest in there. The pricks of fire only intensified. The poison in my stomach grew. I could feel my shirt constricting against my swelling belly.
He swore and then spoke a chant.
Nothing happened.
Killian rubbed his fingers along my forehead and spoke in an ancient Icelandic dialect.
The pains all grew. I tried screaming, but between all of the agony, my voice was gone. I finally gave into the pain and slumped down, closing my eyes. I couldn’t fight it. There was nothing left in me to give with all the other stuff going on.
“Are you okay?” Killian asked.
I shook my head.
“Can you breathe?”
Barely. I nodded.
“I’m getting your father.”
I managed a groan.
He pressed his lips on my forehead. “We’ll fix this, whatever it is. You have my word.”
“Mmm.”
Killian ran his hands along the edge of my face. “I’ll be right back, I swear. I hate to leave you alone, but I have no other choice.”
My eyes watered. I nodded.
“You’re breaking my heart.” He kissed my cheek and then left the room.
I closed my eyes. If only I knew a rune for health. I knew plenty of spells, but without the ingredients—or being able to move or talk—those would be useless. The nice thing about runes was that I just needed my finger, or even my imagination in some cases as it turned out.
