Shadow's Reflection, page 6
part #1 of Stonebridge Witches - Book Two Series
Elaine had said she’d thought there was more to what happened, but Alistair… She sighed.
The ward on the pages before her beckoned, calling to a part of her that both yearned for and recoiled from the shadows it sought to subdue. She’d perform the spell and stand as Stonebridge’s shield against the creeping dark, but no incantation would give her peace. Only answers would.
“Tradition is not just about honouring the past,” Alistair told her, his voice cutting through her thoughts. “It’s about forging our future. Your role in the coven, in this ritual, it’s important.”
What had really happened the night her parents were found in the woods? Her memory was a mosaic of fragments, pieces that seemed to shift and evade whenever she tried to look too closely. Everyone else seemed content with the story that’d been told over the years, but June knew there was more—there had to be.
She’d been avoiding thinking about it, and hadn’t even told Harriet the entire story when she’d had her one and only chance. Maybe it was time to recall the trauma she’d been running away from…maybe then she could put all this uncertainty and fear to rest.
She wasn’t sure which was worse—the unknown elements of her past or the responsibility of her future.
Yet as June turned her attention back to the ward Alistair was teaching her, something shifted inside her. The Yule celebrations were more than just a ritual—they were a reaffirmation of life, of community, of standing together against the shadows that sought to engulf them. They were important, not only for everyone else, but for her, too.
The truth, she realised, wasn’t some distant shore to be reached—it was a path to be walked, step by step. Becoming frustrated with the lack of answers wouldn’t get her any closer…she had to turn the page and see what happened next.
“So, how does this spell work?” June asked, lifting her head. “What do I need to do?”
Chapter 7
Another day dawned gloomy and grey. June darted across Stonebridge’s town square, her breath burning in her chest as she sucked in lungfuls of icy air. Her feet slipped in the snowy slush as she navigated a tangle of workers and building supplies. Laughter and chatter rose above the sound of hammers clanging against wood as market stalls took shape like puzzle pieces.
A massive Christmas tree, its branches bound tight for transport, hovered in the air, suspended by a crane that groaned under the weight. June looked up at the pine, its enormous size momentarily distracting her from the fact she was borderline late for her shift at The Corner.
A hum of excitement murmured around her as people stopped to watch the crew guide the tree into place, but a knot of anxiety tightened in June’s stomach. As she stopped to watch the crane driver, the whispers of the coven’s rituals echoed in her mind. She found herself tracing the sigil of protection absent-mindedly on her palm, determined to learn the motions so thoroughly that they’d be seared into her mind for eternity.
Without warning, a metallic snap split the air, and gasps rose from the crowd as one of the cables suspending the tree frayed and whipped free. The tree tilted dangerously, poised to crash down on the throng below. The workers, dressed in their neon yellow high-visibility vests, hollered warnings and waved their hands at the crowd.
In that split second, June’s heart stuttered, and she felt an electric surge pulse through her veins—an energy not entirely her own. Was it her magic responding to the threat, or was it reacting to something else? She couldn’t tell, but the remaining cables held fast, and the sensation faded. The tree swayed but eventually righted itself, settling into place.
The sigh of relief that swept through the square couldn’t ease the tremor in June’s fingers, nor still the pounding of her heart. Was she really going to run forward and use her magic to catch the tree?
She glanced around the square, her hands shaking. No one seemed to have noticed her moment of panic or the flash of magic that had sparked to life in her fingertips.
Then realisation struck her like a shock of electricity and her heart beat erratically—she was going to be late.
“Damn it!” June plunged back into the flow of bodies, weaving between clusters of onlookers, slipping and sliding her way across the slushed ice toward The Corner.
The bell above The Corner’s door jingled as June all but fell into the café, out of breath and with flushed cheeks from the cold. She caught sight of Lucas behind the counter, his brows knitted into a tight frown. He was manning the register, harried by a never-ending stream of customers seeking warmth and caffeine.
“Finally,” he muttered as she hung her coat and tied on her apron, clumsily knotting the strings twice before getting it right. “Could you be any later?”
“Sorry,” June called. “There was a thing with the tree in the square—”
“Get it together,” he snapped. His usually hidden warmth was buried deep beneath layers of stress from the holiday crowds that were already starting to gather ahead of the official market opening.
The clinking of dishes and chattering of customers rose around her, the harsh sounds only amplifying her anxiety. She reached for a tray of water glasses, her movements jerky and uncoordinated. One slipped from her grasp, shattering on the floor, sending shards skittering across the floorboards like ice crystals.
“Damn it, June!” Lucas’s bark cut through the noise, and heads turned their way. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, and she dropped to her knees to gather the pieces, her fingers fumbling.
“Leave it. Just—serve table seven, will you?” Lucas’s voice held a jagged edge, and he didn’t wait for her response, already moving to deal with the next customer.
As she stood, a chill enveloped June, more profound than the winter air outside. Her vision blurred, and the familiar warmth of magic usually simmered within her receded. She looked down at her hands, her breath catching in her throat.
Her skin was turning an alarming shade of blue, as if ice was creeping over her flesh, crystallising her veins beneath. A sharp, biting pain stabbed into her, so intense that she gasped aloud. It felt like frostbite, spreading deeper into her muscles, until the tips of her fingers began to turn black.
“Hey, are you all right?” One of the regular customers peered at her with concern.
She blinked rapidly, trying to dispel the illusion, rubbing her hands together to restore feeling and warmth. Then, closing her eyes for a long moment, she reopened them to see that her hands were normal again.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied, forcing a smile as she grabbed the coffee pot with an unsteady hand and made her way to table seven, her mind reeling. What was happening to her? Was this another warning that she was trying to take on too much, or was her own magic turning against her?
Lucas watched her with narrowed eyes, a crease forming between his brows and she flushed crimson and hurried toward table seven as instructed. He could totally sense something was off, but June knew she couldn’t afford to let him see how deep her troubles ran.
With her focus divided between the lingering phantom pain in her hands and Lucas’ irritated gaze, June passed by the register. Her grip faltering, the steaming coffee pot tilted dangerously. She watched fall in slow motion, unable to correct her mistake in time, and the scalding liquid sloshed over the brim of the pot, dousing Lucas’ shirt in a dark, spreading stain.
“Damn it, June!” Lucas barked, jumping back with a hiss as the hot coffee soaked through the fabric of his shirt.
The café erupted into murmurs, heads turning toward the commotion. The sharp scent of roasted coffee filled the air. Lucas’s face was a mask of shock and anger as he gripped the counter for support, trying to peel the clinging, wet fabric from his skin.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened,” June stammered, fumbling with a cloth to mop up the mess.
Lucas swatted her away, hissing through clenched teeth. “What’s wrong with you today? You can’t even handle a simple task without messing it up.”
His words stabbed into her, matching the coldness she’d felt in her vision. June recoiled, her heart sinking. Embarrassment washed over her, and she struggled to swallow the lump forming in her throat. She’d never been fired from a job in her entire life.
“Lucas, please, let me help—” she began, but he cut her off with a sharp glare.
“Save it. Just clean this up and get your head on straight,” he snapped, his voice carrying across the room.
June nodded, her movements automatic as she sopped up the coffee from the floor, trying to stem the flow of her mortified tears. The customers whispered amongst themselves, casting curious glances their way. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
With each sweep of the cloth, she wished she could absorb her mistake, rewind time and prevent the disaster that just unfolded. But unfortunately, magic didn’t work that way. It wouldn’t fix her clumsiness or Lucas’ ruined shirt, nor would it repair the crack she feared had just formed in whatever fragile understanding they had of each other.
He’d hired her on faith alone—without an interview, or knowing if she had experience—and within five minutes of arriving, she was messing everything up. What was with her today?
“Take five, June. Outside,” Lucas grumbled after a tense silence, not meeting her gaze. He adjusted his damp shirt with a grimace, clearly struggling to maintain his composure in front of the busy café.
As she backed away, the bell above the door chimed—a hauntingly familiar sound that constantly followed her around Stonebridge. She stepped out into the brisk air, her mind racing with fear and regret.
June’s breath misted in the winter air as she leaned against the brick wall of The Corner, closing her eyes and willing her racing heart to slow. But instead of peace, her thoughts churned, whipping her emotions into a shame spiral of epic proportions. She kept making mistakes, all of them in front of Lucas.
“Get it together, June,” she whispered to herself, but the plea sounded feeble even to her.
She felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold—a tremor of magic unfurling within her like a coiled spring finally snapping. It surged through her veins, seeking release, fuelled by her raging emotions.
She clenched her fists, taking deep breaths that plumed in front of her when released. Her skin tingled, the air around her seemed to vibrate, and she knew she was losing control.
“June, are you—” Lucas’s concerned voice shattered her concentration.
The burst of magic erupted from her unintentionally, a visible spark of gold energy that zapped toward him. Lucas staggered back, his eyes wide with shock and pain, the stubble on his jaw standing out against his suddenly pale skin.
June gasped in horror. She rushed to his side, her hands hovering, afraid to touch him, to hurt him further.
“What the hell?” he cursed, regaining his balance, confusion etched across his rugged features.
“Static electricity,” she lied quickly, too quickly, her mind racing for a cover story. “It’s just… The dry air.”
Lucas looked at her like she was losing the plot. She held his gaze, pleading silently for him not to question further. How many times could she wipe his memory before he had none left at all?
Realising he held her coat, her heart sank.
“Go home, June,” he said gruffly, thrusting it at her.
“Home?”
“I can’t keep ignoring this,” he said, his voice rougher than usual. “People are noticing. I’m noticing. June, I’ve got a business to run, and it’s the busiest time of year, and I’ve got the market to prepare for. I can’t keep giving you passes.”
June blinked at him, her heart pounding in her chest. “Lucas…”
He turned away from her, running a hand through his dishevelled hair. “Just… Go home.”
As Lucas went back inside, June’s gaze fell to her trembling hands. She couldn’t ignore the power that coursed through her. It was reckless to have been so careless, so unguarded. She knew better than anyone the dangers of magic, the reasons why she had pushed it away for so long.
She put on her coat and buried into it, trying to find some sort of comfort within the familiar scratchy wool. Haunted by the fear of exposure, of the world discovering the witch hiding in plain sight, she turned to look at the Christmas tree, now standing upright in the specially made base, the crane retracting its cables.
June’s feet moved automatically, taking her away from The Corner and the chaos she’d left in her wake.
Lucas had always been a complicated presence, but the disappointment in his eyes was new. She’d endangered not just herself, but everything he’d built. The possibility of losing her job paled in comparison to the thought of losing one of the few connections she had in Stonebridge. Someone who might’ve understood her struggle if things were different.
“Damn it,” June whispered, her breath forming clouds in the air. She reached out, feeling for the calming presence of magic, hoping to find some comfort, but even it recoiled.
June’s steps slowed as she reached the town square, Alistair’s words echoing in her memory. His concern about her taking on too much, now rang with undeniable truth. It was clear in the way her magic responded to stress—volatile and unpredictable.
Her gaze lifted to the workers stringing lights through the branches of the Christmas tree. In a few days there would be a tree lighting ceremony when the Mayor would officially turn on the lights, marking the beginning of Stonebridge’s Christmas celebrations.
June closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of stillness amidst the whirlwind of her thoughts. She focused on the surrounding elements—the crisp winter air biting at her skin, the earthy scent of pine needles from the massive tree, and the faint crackle of electricity as the lights blinked to life.
Elaine’s teachings whispered in her mind. The elements have stories to tell, if only you’re willing to hear them.
She let out a slow breath, reaching inward to the core of her power, where her emotions churned. One by one, she quieted the waves, coaxing calm into the storm. As she did, her senses expanded, tuning into the world around her.
The wind sang, carrying tales of snow-capped mountains and frozen lakes. The earth beneath her feet thrummed with a steady beat, a reminder of the unyielding support it provided. Even the flickering lights hummed with energy—human ingenuity harnessing a volatile elemental force.
Slowly, warmth crept back into June’s fingers, banishing the phantom chill that’d gripped her since the vision in the café. Her heartbeat found harmony with the world, and for a brief moment, she felt the balance everyone told her so much about within her grasp.
June opened her eyes, finding herself a little steadier, a little stronger. She could do this—the rituals, the responsibilities, even dealing with Lucas Burger’s inconsistent temperament.
Still, she couldn’t rid herself of the feeling that something dark and foreboding was hanging over her. And she couldn’t help but think it might be her.
Chapter 8
June turned away from the town square, her heart heavy.
Maybe she should go to the standing stones and practice before her afternoon lesson with Elaine. Get herself together before her teacher turned up to witness her setback sounded like a good idea. Some solace might do her good, actually.
Making sure her magic was tightly held, June turned toward the lane, leaving behind The Corner and her embarrassment.
She passed by several streets of quaint cottages before Stonebridge faded beyond the thick woods that ringed the town. The snow thickened, flakes settling on the shoulders of her coat, and blanketing the muddy earth.
The path ahead was covered in a pristine layer of white, untouched save for the occasional footprints of woodland creatures—rabbits and a deer—and the wind whispered through the gnarled branches overhead.
June paused, her eyes scanning the tree line as she heard words in the whisper of air threading around her. Words that she couldn’t decipher.
“Hello?” she called.
The only answer was the faint echo of her own voice, lost amongst the rustling leaves and the muted hush of falling snow.
Her heart hammered in her chest as fear surfaced in her thoughts. If there was something lurking out there, then she’d be safe in the glade until Elaine arrived. But the witch had also told her to not be afraid of the forest or the elements. Maybe she should stand her ground and go on like nothing was amiss.
June took a deep breath and continued on, her boots sinking into the deepening snow. The further she walked, the more persistent the whispers became, weaving around her like an invisible fog.
She stopped again, looking around the forest with narrowed eyes, trying to find the source of the whispers, but there seemed to none. The wind was carrying the formless sounds from all directions.
“Hello?” she called again. “Hello?”
Then, abruptly, the world shifted. Snowflakes turned crimson, spiralling down from an unseen sky, tinting the woods with a sinister hue. The whispers crescendoed into a roar that clawed at her ears, and June’s breath caught in her throat.
“Please, not now,” she whispered.
The snow thickened, falling redder and redder.
“What do you want from me?” she rasped. “What?”
The whispers clawed around her, screaming to be heard, but still she wasn’t able to tell what they were saying.
June squeezed her eyes shut, willing away the vision. “Go away. Go away. Go away.”
When she dared to look again, the red had vanished, leaving only the familiar white snow blanketing the forest floor. Listening, all she heard was silence—the whispers had gone.
She shuddered, feeling ice in her veins that had nothing to do with the season. Was it an omen? Or was something lingering in the woods waiting to take advantage of the magic seeped earth?
June hurried forward, her footsteps quickening on the slippery path. Every shadow seemed alive, every rustle of leaves a whispering menace. She couldn’t shake the sensation of being watched by eyes she couldn’t see, followed by presences that were felt rather than seen.
