A Witch in Time (8 page)

G
emma and Fox
stepped outside the castle, and Enid followed. “Should you be out here, Sis? The ghouls are still lurking somewhere.” Gemma asked.

“Don’t worry. I have no plans to step outside the wards.” Enid shivered. “Those things aren’t coming anywhere near me again any time soon.”

“I’m glad. You need to come home soon.”

“Yeah. Bronson’s pining away,” Fox said.

Enid wondered whether Fox might still be joking. “Is he okay?”

“He’s not eating as well as usual because he misses you,” said Gemma as the couple stepped outside the wards. She looked back at Enid. “Stay put.”

“I said I will.”

She waved them off into the fading light of the late afternoon and allowed her senses to expand. Though a stone witch didn’t often use certain types of exploratory magic, most witches could sense the presence of others with power, and she now felt a strong source nearby that seemed much different than anyone else in her coven.

Enid felt a strange sense of relief as she moved to the very edge of the warding. A fresh breeze came up and she wished she could smell the mingled rain and seawater.

A shadow moved out of the tree line. The ill-defined shadow became the figure of a man.

“Rafe?” Enid asked.

The elemental walked toward her with his eyes on the castle. “And who are you?”

“My name’s Enid. I’m an old friend of Orianna and Fern.”

The blue eyes once again fell on her. “You’re confusing. You don’t seem like a normal spirit.”

That’s an understatement.
Enid laughed. “You’re not only powerful, but also perceptive. What gave me away?”

“Most spirits I’ve seen don’t show so much…life, for lack of a better word.”

She remembered Nana’s comment about how Hephaestus seemed so much more spirited since she’d passed over. Then she thought about the true ghosts who wandered this side of the veil, drained of any semblance of the souls they’d once possessed, and how much she didn’t want to end up like them.

“I’m glad you’re still here.”

Rafe stepped inside the wards and walked over to sit on a nearby stone. He exuded a dangerous strength. “Why is that?”

“I want to ask you something.” Enid moved next to him and glanced up to the castle as she wondered where Hephaestus might have gone. They’d reached a bit of a truce before Rafe had shown up so she didn’t want to anger him again. “About your powers.”

“Will you help with Fern? No matter what anyone thinks, she needs my guidance.”

Enid’s eyes flew to Rafe’s. She again felt the unnerving sensation of being cocooned within a shroud of the cool blue magic so prevalent to the Spirit World. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said. Fern needs training.”

Enid backed away to break the spell between them. “Orianna is a good friend and I won’t go against her wishes.”

He got up and dusted off his slacks. “Very well. I’ll just go now.”

“Wait!”

Rafe turned back, one of his wild black brows quirked.

“Can I at least ask you my question?”

He looked her over before nodded. “Go ahead.”

After she cast another quick glance at the castle to make sure none of the party-goers who’d were heading out into the fading light, she stepped closer, lowering her voice. She feared Hephaestus might be within earshot most of all and didn’t want him to know what she’d planned. “You’re right about me not being a normal spirit. An accident sucked me through the veil a few days ago and I need to get back to the Living World before ghouls can drain my power and trap me here forever.”

“That’s quite the predicament. You still haven’t asked a question, though.”

“Your magic is strong. So I wondered…” Enid hesitated as she considered whether she might be making another mistake by trusting this stranger. The thought of the way Hephaestus looked after seeing the memory of her ancestor reassured her that she’d be doing him a disservice by not asking this man for help to get back as soon as possible. “You possess a strong power over nature. Could you use that strength to help me pass through? We’d planned to perform a ritual when the veil thins on Samhain, but that’s also when the wedding will happen, and I think I need to get back over before that happens.”

Rafe looked off into the distance. His mind seemed to be elsewhere.

“Will you help me?” Enid feared he’d lost interest and would leave before answering.

He stepped outside the wards and turned back to face her. “This isn’t something I’ve ever tried. In theory, my connection with the elements would allow me to do what you suggest. I just can’t promise you success. And I guarantee you that a spell like that comes with a high price.”

Enid clasped her hands together to still their shaking. “I’m not asking for promises. Just help.”

The blue eyes met hers again. Despite the way his look made her feel frightened at her very core, she maintained contact.

They stood that way for what seemed an eternity.

Finally, he held out a hand. “Come along. Let’s go. We don’t have all day.” Unnerved by his impatience, Enid took a step back. “Do you want my help or not?” She nodded. “Then come on.”

Enid stretched her trembling hand out to take his. He pulled her through the wards and started off up the path before she realized what was happening.

Ghouls skittered at the edges of her vision. She sensed their watchful eyes on her.

“Wait! I can’t leave the wards. They’ll get me.”

Rafe pulled her close. Their proximity allowed more of his strength to bleed through the veil to her. Reassured, she fell into step at his side.

“You don’t need to worry about the ghouls.”

She soon realized Rafe knew more about the ghouls than she’d thought and knew they wouldn’t bother her. Perhaps the creatures even feared his powers. Whatever the case, the fact that the little beasties didn’t seem willing to come after her at the moment buoyed her confidence. She allowed her mind to relax and started to take in her surroundings as they strode along the winding path leading into a crevice in the hills behind Secret Hallow. A very familiar path. She soon figured out where they were headed.

“You know about our Elder Tree?”

“Of course I do,” said Rafe. He cast an unreadable look in her direction. “Orianna told me all about her home while we were together so I know a lot about Secret Hallow. The power of the Tree is so strong I felt its pull as soon as I got here.”

Full night fell as they passed into the Samhain Grove.

Enid hadn’t been anywhere near the Grove since she’d passed through the veil. She found the intensity of the blue glow shrouding the trees unnerving. Everyone in Secret Hallow understood that the core of their power came from the Grove and, most especially, the Elder Tree. She’d sensed the power whenever she’d visited the area. Yet this was the first time she’d seen how the magic looked.

“Oh…my…goblins…”

Rafe stopped in his tracks. “What did you just say?”

“Goblins?” Enid looked up at him, uncertain about what had caught his attention.

“That’s what I thought. Shame on you.”

She held back when he started walking again. “What’s wrong?”

“I hope you don’t use that kind of language around my daughter.” Rafe’s brow furrowed. “She’s too young.”

Enid thought he seemed to be overreacting. “I don’t often say anything like that.”

“Good.” Rafe tugged her hand. “Come along.”

She thought about how Hephaestus led her from The Penny Spindle to Nana’s cottage and felt ashamed that she’d left the castle without letting him know. If nothing else, she should have told him she needed to attend to some business. He might worry when he couldn’t find her after everyone left. And he’d be alone again.

The forest thickened as they walked deeper into the central core. Then, all at once, the grove ended and they stood facing the small stream separating them from a lone tree towering over all the others. The Elder Tree.

She stopped short. To her, the tree looked as bare and dead as it had before being healed by Rowan. The gnarled branches reaching skyward reminded her of the ghoulish fingers grabbing at her as she lay in the road. Before Hephaestus had saved her. The impression both unnerved her and reminded her of what she hoped to accomplish here.

“We’ll need to create a ritual space.” Enid got down to business right away. “I’ve been tutored on how to use my powers to move objects, but I’m not very good. Could you help?”

“Tell me what you need.”

So the two of them gathered up the supplies she’d need to cast the spell. She’d never before attempted to perform such a ritual and feared she might be mistaken in her choices so she took a long time to selecting the proper ingredients. Enid asked Rafe tear a piece of cloth from his shirt, take up soil from the base of the tree, and to cut a few roots from nearby bushes. She managed to unearth a couple mushrooms and then told the man to tie everything up into a pouch. A quick rub of the bag between his hands captured some of the essential oils from his body.

Enid told him to tuck the bag into a notch at the base of the tree.

When he’d finished, the elemental stood before the tree with his arms out, his face to the heavens. He spoke a spell in a voice she couldn’t quite make out though she could easily see his lips moving.

Blue light rippled between her and her companion as the separator between the two worlds fluttered. She saw strands of Rafe’s power pierce a single point in a focused way that reminded her of Hephaestus’ tutelage.

A bright circle of blue appeared in the center of the veil.

Enid watched the rippling edges of the circle expand outward. The light around the hole glowed brighter as the opening continued to enlarge and she saw the clarity of the Living World on the other side. Entranced by the appearance of her portal out of the Spirit Realm, she ignored the sound of scuffling behind her.

“Don’t just stand there. I can’t hold this open forever.”

The sound of Rafe’s voice broke her out of her reverie and Enid stepped forward.

Brilliant blue magic continued to ripple around the edges of the opening.

Enid put one hand through. Then another.

Her body vibrated with magic as she passed between worlds.

Then her feet came through.

Followed by a large popping sound.

Enid was back in the Living World.

She looked over to see Rafe had relaxed. He stood watching her, wiping his hands on his pant legs, with a strange expression on his face. The scuffling noises she’d heard before grew louder. Turning, she found the portal between worlds remained open.

“What happened? You said you couldn’t hold that for long,” she said.

Rafe shrugged and dug his hands into his pockets. “I’m not holding it open.” He didn’t seem the least bit worried.

Skeletal fingers grasped the edges of the portal and wide glowing eyes stared out.

“They’re coming through!” Enid cried, leaping away from the portal.

Once the first ghoul passed through, the rest followed with frightening speed.

“I warned you about the consequences. This kind of thing can happen when you mess around with elements,” Rafe said.

Looking at the strange warlock she’d convinced to help her return to her own world, she came to the horrifying realization she’d made a mistake yet again. A huge one. And this time she wouldn’t be the only one to suffer the consequences.

Bony fingers grabbed her ankles and pulled her off-balance. She fell to the ground with a thump that jarred her entire body.

Rocks and twigs tore at her skin as the ghouls pulled her into the thickest part of the Grove.

Rafe waved a hand to fend off the little creatures who’d dared to approach him. They respected the power of an elemental too much to attack harder.

“Help me!” Enid shouted.

He didn’t seem to be in a hurry to rescue her. In fact, he looked almost amused. “I wouldn’t let them drag you into the ocean. Don’t forget that saltwater binds spells so you could make that gateway permanent.”

A permanent door between the Spirit and Living Worlds?

Yes, Enid had made a
very
big mistake.

Spirits of the dead wafted through the portal and headed toward Secret Hallow.

Enid began struggling harder when she realized the little creatures did seem to be dragging her straight for the beach. Her time on the other side of the veil seemed to have drained her strength and she felt the little she had left draining the harder she fought them.

Everything seemed so much more vibrant now that she’d returned to the Living World. The caress of the breeze on her bare skin. The comforting autumn scents of her village. The soft kiss of silvery light from the rising moon. All the things she’d taken for granted before now seemed so precious and dear to her.

She realized with frightening clarity that, if she couldn’t escape, the ghouls and spirits would be free to roam the streets of Secret Hallow forever.

Enid couldn’t allow that to happen. She had to get away.

R
afe’s laughter
fed her anger and helped strengthen her in the fight against the ghouls. Enid gathered all that power into a ball within her to expand the range of her senses as she searched for someone to help her escape her current predicament. As the ghouls dragged her along the winding path through the Grove, she allowed her mind to seek out the rest of her coven, connecting with them through the cables of magic that flowed out of the Samhain Grove.

A vision of the group still gathered at Castle Hallow filled her mind.

Orianna crossed the room to Caedmon’s side. “I talked with her like he suggested.”

“I can’t believe you listened to that man.” Caedmon frowned. “He’s not to be trusted.”

“Now, don’t be jealous. You’re her daddy and my love. He can’t change that.” She placed a gentle hand on Caedmon’s arm as she smiled up at him. “He was right about asking Fern. She may still be a child, but she needs to have a say in her future. I can’t take that away from her. And I can’t deny that her powers are more than any of us can handle.” She shook her head when he opened his mouth to interrupt. “Fern wants to learn from Rafe. Seeing his power made her feel more comfortable about her own.”

“You don’t think he’ll try anything funny?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Orianna looked over to where Fern played with Keene Leif as his father, Maddock, watched over them. “She deserves to get the chance to know him. I’m sure he won’t be around any longer than necessary.”

“I still don’t like this.”

Enid felt a small thrill as she caught sight of Hephaestus hovering near the couple. The spirit moved closer to the angry groom-to-be and bowed to Orianna. “Begging your pardon, but I would like a moment with your young man, if you do not mind.”

“Of course not,” said Orianna.

Caedmon followed Hephaestus a few feet away.

The older man looked around at the rest of the group as he spoke in a low voice. “Take care, young Master McFarland. Pride goeth before a fall.”

She sensed the strength of Caedmon’s anger through her connection. Hephaestus didn’t seem to be calming him. “Fern doesn’t need two fathers. She has me. Ori can’t seem to understand that.”

“Your young lady is thinking of her child. You must respect her intuition.” Hephaestus looked over to where Fern and Keene played as Orianna had. The warm sensation he felt at watching them passed through his connection to Enid. “Fatherhood is not a competitive sport. You had best learn that lesson sooner rather than later.”

Caedmon also looked at the kids. His shoulders slumped in a sign of defeat. “You’re right. She needs to get to know the other person who helped bring her into this world. We’ll let Fern train with her father.”

Hephaestus stepped back as Orianna rushed over to hug Caedmon. “Thank you.” She stood on tip-toe and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

The spirit glided away.

As she had back in the storeroom, Enid once again found herself in the mind of Hephaestus Hallow. This time she didn’t see him recalling a memory of his distant past. He seemed to be thinking of a time not so long before. Hours earlier, in fact.

An image of her own face filled his mind as he thought about the discussion they had up in his bedchamber.
I have not treated her well. She has been nothing but kind to me the entire time we have been together. Like Master McFarland, my actions do not show me in a good light.

He stroked his chin as he looked around the room. When he caught sight of Nana Winterblossom, he winced. The older woman gave him a look that seemed to indicate she knew his thoughts. Her slight nod seemed to reinforce his thoughts.

Young miss Enid deserves an apology. I wonder where she might have gone…

A glob of mashed potatoes flew across the room and hit Garrett in the face.

Wiping off the mess, Garrett looked out over the tables to see who’d thrown the food.

“Ghouls!” Rowan pointed to a group of the small creatures running through the great hall.

Screams rent the air as the guests threw their arms over their heads to protect them from the leftovers being lobbed around. Orianna and Caedmon grabbed Fern and ran for the door. Garrett and Rowan followed close behind, bent over Siobhan, whose indignant howls pierced the night air as the little family escaped outside.

The ghouls climbed up onto the table tops. Several dug into a couple untouched pies and tossed the contents at the few stragglers who remained. Crystal goblets shattered under the feet of the rampaging hoard.

Enid felt a stab of sorrow at the waste of the pies. She hadn’t eaten in days and knew for a fact they would’ve been quite delicious. They didn’t deserve to be scattered around by the bony fingers of the mischievous ghouls.

A burning log rolled out of the fireplaces onto the flagstone floor. Sparks flew everywhere.

Adora Glenn waved the flaming wood back into the hearth before anything else ignited. She held her free hand before her face to protect her from breathing in any of the ashy cloud as a stray spark caught her eyebrow and singed away the hairs.

Maddock Leif tossed his son onto his shoulders and grabbed his wife’s hand. They ran.

The gnome band disappeared into thin air as the ghouls descended on them. Their tiny instruments broke into shards as the larger creatures stomped up and down on them while chuckling with glee. The rambunctious ghouls also broke the stands into bits and spread tiny pages of sheet music around the space.

Several other ghouls knocked over the candelabras flanking the front doors.

Another group used defaced the tapestries with pie filling and gravy.

Sorrow washed over Hephaestus as he watched the destruction of his family heirlooms.

Enid felt a stab of guilt at having caused him such pain when she’d meant to protect him. Her best intentions seemed to only create chaos.

Hephaestus looked around the great hall as the coven scattered out into the darkening night. Screams faded into the distance as the people hurried to escape the ghouls chasing them.

A hard tug on her own foot broke Enid’s connection with the chaos. She struggled to free herself from the vise-like grips of the ghouls who dragged her ever-closer to the ocean. The smell of seawater intensified and the crashing thunder of the waves grew louder. Bits of driftwood dug into her back as her top rode up. Her strength flagged and she realized she couldn’t get away no matter how hard she tried. Someone else would have to save her.

She took a deep breath and fought to regain her connection with the others.

At that same moment, Hephaestus realized someone had opened the veil between worlds. He made the connection between that event and Enid’s disappearance with a deep sense of disapproval.

Help me!

Her desperate plea caught the attention of the spirit. He escaped the castle as fast as possible while trying to avoid the draining touch of the ghouls who chased him. He’d do no one any good if he were turned into one of the soulless spirits.

“I am coming, young Miss Enid. Have no fear.”

His reassurance warmed Enid as nothing else had. He’d save her – and Secret Hallow.