An Embittered Witch, page 2
I felt her eyes turn on me.
‘Yes, I’ve immersed myself in a deep study on the subject, in Italy and Morocco,’ she continued. ‘Do you know that for everyone, there is a single chord which resonates within our beings? Just like fingerprints, each is unique.’
I stared across the hall to the great mirror which hung opposite. It showed the two of us sitting side by side, perfectly centered, like a portrait within the frame of gilded and fancifully carved wood. The looking glass was old, the edges blackened with the oxidation of time and humidity, lending a dreamlike air to the reflection.
My midnight blue dress echoed my eyes, last summer’s tan still evident on my bare arms. It was my only formal gown, the very one I’d worn last June when Cate first approached me. She, in contrast, wore a rich ivory velvet that skimmed her body like ice. With her black hair and eyes, the only relief of color was the splash of red on her lips and nails. I watched as she smiled and leaned her head toward mine.
‘The specific chord for each person can also be used to tear a person inside and cause them to spiral to the depths within,’ she whispered.
She noticed my attention in the mirror. Her eyes met mine within the silvered depths and her face slowly smiled. ‘Mirror, mirror on the wall,’ she whispered. ‘Who’s the greatest witch of all?’
A shiver rippled through my body as I looked into my own eyes. I saw my ambition, all the dreams I’d reached for in my innocence before Cate had taken me under her wing. In that ancient glass, I could see how hollow those desires were, and the price I’d paid for them.
Margaret had been right. Cate had been studying music. Music and magic. But what did this mean? I stiffened against the ice that crept up my spine.
I didn’t even notice her leave, for she’d lent no warmth in that drafty hallway.
Three
‘There you are.’ Hugh’s deep voice brought me back to the world. Sounded like he’d made a head start into the Hogmanay whisky already. He had taken pains to point out to me that it was ‘whisky’ here in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, not ‘whiskey’. ‘Come on, Mum’s anxious to introduce you around to the neighbors. It’s not every day she gets to show off her new daughter-to-be, and a hero to boot.’
Hero. Dara Martin (de Teilharde), brightest new star in the Kin. I’d come a long way since being the despised half-blood witch in their midst. Feted and even sought after, everyone wanted to know me since I’d saved the ley lines back home last June. They still talked about how I had reached in and woven the strands together again after the Dark Elves had attacked. They didn’t know the truth behind the matter, and I wasn’t about to tell them.
My hand reached up of its own accord to finger the tiny black stud in my ear, always hidden beneath my hair. It itched my skin still, like a hive buried deep, but I’d gotten used to the discomfort.
I gave one last glance at Cate’s present to his parents, the small Christmas tree with its crystal spheres still shimmering with vibration. The beauty of their sound rang discordant to me now. They were gorgeous, yes, and flashy with their opalescent sheen, but hollow inside. Just like my meteoric rise through the Kin, just like my so-called achievements.
‘Hey.’ I wrenched my gaze and thoughts back to my fiancé and stood up. I reached for his hand, taking in a deep breath while I did so. His warmth surrounded me. ‘Stay close, alright?’
‘You have no reason at all to feel nervous,’ he whispered. His warm eyes with the glints of gold deep within bathed me in their love and impetuously, he took me in his arms for a hug. ‘And the Duke is requesting a dance with you.’
Hugh cut a fine figure in his traditional costume, the wool tartan kilt with a closely fitted black velvet jacket showing off his fine build. With my dark blue frock, we made a handsome pair, except that I still hadn’t quite mastered the trick of walking in high heels. But he kept me in his firm grasp, not allowing me to falter as we made our way to the top of the shallow stairway leading down to the ballroom to where his parents waited.
I squeezed his hand in mine, my sweat already greasing the grip. My heart pounded so fast and my knees wobbled so that if not for Hugh’s body keeping me upright, I would have swayed. Crowds always jarred my last nerve because the few times I’d been the center of attention were always disastrous.
As we entered the grand room, the Duke harrumphed and hit his crystal glass with the blade of a small ceremonial dagger he’d removed from his wool stocking. The crowd hushed.
‘Smile,’ Hugh spoke out of the side of his mouth as he nudged me. I must have pasted a passable grimace on my face, for he winked back at me.
The Duke commanded attention. A handsome man, of course, slightly grayed at the temples like an older version of Hugh himself. The overall thickening of his belly, shoulders and neck gave a preview as to how Hugh would look at his age. His mother was blonde and fine featured, an ageless beauty in her long black skirt, white silk blouse and tartan sash. The candlelight from the crystal chandeliers was kind to her, catching the healthy flush to her cheeks that came from a life lived running the Home Farm.
‘It’s a very special occasion,’ Hugh’s father said. ‘I have the honor of introducing you to Dara, whose fame precedes her.’ He paused as the crowd cheered and clapped.
‘As you have no doubt heard, this young lady is lauded a heroine in her own land. Her talents and steadfast refusal to allow destruction to the ley lines, even at the risk of her own life, saved the day for the Avalon Kin.’
My blood pounded in my temples now, I could hear the whoosh of it forcing through the veins in my head, and my cheeks flared warmly. Dear Jesus, when would I hear the end of this? If they only knew the truth of what had happened, knew of Cate’s treachery, but I couldn’t say a word. I forced the smile to stay on my face. My jaw hurt with the effort.
‘And I might add, we may have a special announcement coming soon?’ The Duke twisted his head to smile at me, his eyebrows arched suggestively. The man had hit the whisky hard too, that was not healthy outdoor living rosiness in his cheeks but the flush of alcohol in an overheated room. He was enjoying himself.
Don’t, I silently beseeched him. Don’t bring up the fucking ring. Hugh and I had talked about marriage, yes, but there was nothing definitive and certainly not for a long time. I didn’t want to be forced to accept that heavy, ugly engagement ring here, for to refuse it in front of all their friends and neighbors would have been the height of rudeness.
The Duke turned back to the crowd, and flashed a wink of his eye at them. ‘A verra’ special announcement,’ he continued, but Hugh stepped in to save us both.
‘Which will happen all in good time,’ he interrupted, the large grin on his face disarming any offense. ‘For now, let us drink a toast to Dara and, oh yes, the woman who helped her in the mission.’
He lifted his glass as I followed his eye to the crowd below us.
Cate. Her raven locks gleamed in the candlelight, her pale sharp cheekbones standing out in contrast to the gleaming ruddy faces around her.
She smiled, deftly orchestrating the illusion of a modest blush at this attention, casting shy glances all around as she made her way up the stairs, the train of her ivory gown trailing behind. Cate took Hugh’s other arm. It was a good thing he stood between us. It was tempting to push her back down the stairs or...
Hugh felt my tenseness and moved his arm to embrace me, still holding my hand so I was locked within my own grasp like a straitjacket.
‘Really.’ Cate’s voice was low pitched voice but still managed to project to every corner of the hall. ‘Thank you, yet it was not my doing, but Dara’s. I could only stand behind her and encourage her work. Her immense power and stamina are the reason I sponsored her within the Kin. This young witch will go far under my guidance, for the benefit of all.’
I lifted my glass in a toast like everyone else and tossed the drink down my throat. I was going to need more than this one dram of whisky to get me through the next few hours.
The three of us lingered on the staircase after the Duke and Duchess descended into the room to begin the dancing. The orchestra started up again and the room came alive in a whirl of kilts and tartans waltzing through the candlelit night. The whisky and champagne flowed freely now.
‘So glad you could make it out here to the island,’ Hugh said to Cate. I stayed silent, refusing to even look at her. I knew her for what she was, a treacherous, manipulative viper.
With one arched brow, she purred her words. ‘I think someone is not so delighted.’
My jaw clenched as I turned on her, ready to spew my anger, but Hugh spoke before I got a chance.
‘Nonsense,’ he said, smiling warmly at Cate. ‘Dara’s a little overwhelmed with the night, that’s all. Of course, we’re all delighted to see you here. What could be more perfect?’
My back stiffened. I would have a little talk with Hugh later, a small conversation about him not speaking for me or putting words in my mouth, about him not patronizing me…
Cate picked up on my body language even if Hugh was blind. ‘And perhaps I’m here to make sure they don’t corral you into accepting that behemoth anchor of a ring,’ she murmured to us both. ‘Not before it’s time, anyway.’
The laugh which followed was directed at Hugh, to let him know she was jesting, of course. Her white teeth flashed in the light.
He roared with laughter. ‘Yes, Dara, we really dodged that bullet.’ He grabbed my hand again. ‘Come, our presence is required on the dance floor.’
The night passed in a swirl of dancing and drinking, and I saw no more of Cate after that. It was no use talking to Hugh about her either, at least not till he sobered up the next day. The Scots really took their Hogmanay celebrations seriously.
Four
The next morning after a hearty breakfast, and after most of the guests had melted away, the family donned stout boots and waterproof coats to set out for the obligatory New Year’s Day trudge across the moors. I assumed that Cate would have left on the first copter out, anxious to return to the civilization of her Edinburgh hotel.
What was the real reason she’d come to the island? Surely not just to deliver the tree with the extraordinary crystal spheres? More likely, it was a show of her power, deceiving every other witch within the Kin. No one knew the power-hungry Cate like I had the misfortune to know.
Not even my father, Jon, who had been married to her for all those years, knew the depths of her schemes and machinations.
There was little here in the Outer Hebrides that could be of interest to Cate. Except Scarp. And the Crystal Charm Stone. My feet slowed in their rubber boots. Surely not even Cate would dare to steal more power right under the noses of the Elders on that magical island.
But who would be occupying Scarp over the holiday season to protect the Stone from theft? No one. Not even a shepherd.
She wouldn’t, would she? I shivered, and it wasn’t just from the damp wind curling around my wet jeans. Then I jerked to a stop. Of course she would. Cate would be that greedy, that power-hungry.
Cate had proven herself to be ambitious beyond measure, even if no one else was aware of her treachery. And I… I couldn’t say a thing.
‘Why was she really here?’ I had to raise my voice against the wind. As I turned my head toward Hugh’s, a rogue splatter of rain hit me full on.
‘Who?’ He had stopped with me, as our arms were linked.
‘Cate.’ The rain dripped down my face and under the neck of my wool sweater.
‘Well, she said, didn’t she?’ He looked up the sheep path to where the rest of the party was quickly charging through the muck, eager to have the mandatory walk over. Hugh’s face was pale, paler than I’d ever seen it, possibly tinged with green. Late nights and copious amounts of whisky didn’t agree with him, but fortunately Hogmanay only came once a year. ‘She was in Edinburgh, and didn’t want to spend New Year’s alone. What is more natural than for her to join us here?’
He turned back to the path. The caps of the other walkers were disappearing over the top of the last hillock. I allowed myself to be tugged along.
‘I don’t think she’s left yet,’ he observed, leaning down closer to my ear. ‘The Edinburgh helicopter couldn’t make it because of the weather. She may have to stay over again. I can’t see her taking the ferry.’
My lips clammed shut. Still here and no signs of her leaving tonight. How perfect for her. But if she had plans involving the Charm Stone, she’d better forget them, for I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight.
When our bedraggled band of hillwalkers returned to the manor, Cate was ensconced in the small drawing room off the main hallway, the one furnished in pale blue silk wallpaper. Sipping the excellent coffee and snuggled warmly in her white angora sweater, she gave a mock shiver when she saw us.
‘I think you’re all mad, but I applaud your healthy habits,’ she called through the open doorway and laughed, that hated tinkling sound like breaking glass. ‘I was thinking of taking a leisurely drive along the shore, to do a bit of sight-seeing. Anyone care to join me? But I suppose you’re all too done in.’
‘I’ll go,’ I replied immediately as I removed the dripping raincoat. It wasn’t mine, just something I’d found within the depths of the great closet on the main floor. It smelled of ancient dogs and peat fires, and I was glad to get its heavy weight off my shoulders.
‘How perfect,’ Cate purred in response. ‘I wanted to have a small chat with you.’
‘Where were you planning to visit?’ Forcing a cheeriness to my voice, I confronted her.
She cocked her head to one side, pausing to think.
‘Scarp?’ The word burst out of me and I glared at her.
‘Good Lord, no,’ Hugh’s mother murmured. ‘There’s not enough daylight to get there and back, and –‘
‘You’ll never get through the mountain pass, not today,’ Lord Sabarin interjected. ‘How about a tour of the town? Stornoway has a lovely harbor, and you can walk by the river, perhaps spot the otters.’
‘Or the Bridge to Nowhere,’ Hugh added with enthusiasm. ‘That’s not too far, and we can make it back by luncheon. It’s one of the quirks of the island, can’t be missed.’
‘Well then, we must not miss it,’ Cate replied graciously, sweeping her smile around to all as if delighted by the proposal. I stared at her, my eyes narrowed. What was she up to?
In the end, five of us set off in the large touring automobile. Hugh drove, with Cate as the guest of honor in the passenger seat. Huh. I was considered family now and relegated to the huge backseat. A very frail octogenarian aunt sat on one side of Lady Sabarin, with me on the other. As we set off, Hugh pointed out each passing attraction on the road, speaking loudly for the benefit of the ancient ears behind him.
The rain and wind were falling off, yet the sky remained leaden and dull. Through the windows, the landscape all around us was a smear of green and gray on this first day of the New Year. Even the ocean took on those somber hues.
We eventually bumped our way down a graveled road, the tires splashing through deep puddles. The aunt was busy explaining to his mother about a very intricate knitting stitch she had learned from the Queen Mum, back in the day. There was little to see outside, and the whole expedition seemed kind of pointless.
At last Hugh drew to a stop in a layby on the empty lane. ‘There’s the bridge, up ahead.’ His voice had lost its vigor by now, and his eyes were bleary. The refreshment of the chilly walk had worn off, and the lack of sleep and overindulgence of the previous evening were catching up with him. ‘It was built to connect the north side of the island to Stornoway, but the money ran out, and well...’
The finished concrete bridge gracefully spanned the gorge below with nine graceful arches showing man’s taming of nature in the midst of this wild glen. Yet the structure merely led to a narrow track on the other side of the ravine. The road ended abruptly. Only Cate and I opted to walk the few paces to the bridge, for the aunt was feeling the chill and the damp in her bones.
We set off, keeping an arm’s length apart.
‘To answer your question,’ Cate said softly as we picked our way over the pools of water still on the road. ‘I’m really here to pass on some delightful news to you.’
I slid my eyes over to her. ‘Really?’ My voice was flat. ‘You came all this way to tell me something you could have said on the phone, or in an email. You don’t have a more nefarious scheme up your sleeve? Say, plans with the Crystal Charm Stone?’
She laughed, her good humor restored. ‘Silly. I have no need of that. You helped me gain far, far more power by opening the ley lines for me.’ She stopped to take a deep breath of the fresh air. It was damp still, with the sweetness of the rotting winter vegetation.
‘Why would I need Scarp when I have this?’ She held out her hand. On her gloved palm lay the tiniest black pebble.
‘Right. Adamantite. You’re the Huxor, so you control the magic metal sources back home. You’re saying you have enough power? But that doesn’t explain why you drank from the ley line.’
We were far enough away from the automobile that it was safe to talk without fear of being overheard.
‘I’m still looking for an heir who is worthy,’ she said softly. ‘Take this in your hand. Tell me what you feel from it.’
‘I don’t want to be mixed up with your business. Done that before and you burned me.’
‘Nevertheless. Please indulge me. Let’s see. Remove your mitten and hold it, just for a moment.’
I took a deep breath to shove down my hatred and distrust of this woman. The piece of metal looked harmless enough. The smell of magic was on it of course, how could it not be? I picked it up. It tingled against my skin, letting its power be known, but other than that, I got nothing from it. What was her game now?
‘See if you can fly with it in your hand,’ she urged. ‘I want to know what effect it can have.’
