Before (7 page)

“
I believe the veil will complete it.”

Her grandmother stepped back and admired her work on her
hair.

Cora’s hair had been pushed high up on her head, the bun not
quite containing all of her hair as wisps fell across her high
cheekbones. Her grandmother had curled it with help from Tabitha’s
element and a metal pole that had become dangerously hot. Cora had
feared for her hair, believing it would fall out but, now that it
was finished, she couldn’t argue with the end result.

A loud bang at the door made them jump. Cora held her hands at
her sides, the wind already snapping from within her. She felt
overly cautious, she’d been this way since the attacks started
happening. No wonder witches were unleashing their powers, it was
because they were so jumpy.

“
Whoever could that be?”Her grandmother charged to the door and
opened it. Before she was able to stand back, Eli ran into the room
and was instantly followed by Jack. Cora squealed and ducked behind
her mother so Jack couldn’t see her.

“
I’m sorry we have intruded but-” Eli began.

“
You are witches! We have witnesses to testify to this. You are
going to be charged!”A loud voice shouted from outside as Eli
pushed the door shut.

Eli slammed his fist on the door angrily as the charge of
people tried to push the door. It wouldn’t move, Eli had made sure
of that. His element allowed him to move and manipulate anything
within a certain reach. With another slam of his fist, Cora was
sure the door would suddenly fly back into the waiting
crowds.

“
Jack, go to Cora. Mother, leave now!”

Jack ran to her holding her hand as their family turned
towards the two of them with their hands held up, their lips moving
together. Cora watched her grandmother make a quick escape out the
back. She held her breath but she didn’t hear anything that might
suggest that her grandmother had been taken. She turned her
attention back to her family who were standing in front of them
preparing themselves to protect those they loved once
again.

Cora could see the shimmering protective bubble expand around
them. She watched as it flowed to the floor, they were shielded
from whatever lay ahead. She didn’t want that. More than anything,
she wanted to be on the outside, standing with her mother, with
their families.

“
You look beautiful, Cora,” Jack whispered as his fingers
caressed hers.

She pushed back her hair feeling self conscious. This wasn’t
exactly the perfect setting; he should be seeing her in this dress
on the day of their wedding. “You shouldn’t see the bride before
the day, I’m sure it is bad luck.”

She couldn’t shake the unease, the dread, which had suddenly
grabbed a hold of her gut. This wasn’t good.

“
I do not believe in such superstitions, we are meant to be
together, Cora.” He squeezed her hand.

They turned to face the door as the loud, thunderous punches
made it quake in the doorframe. She held her breath and then the
door was suddenly pushed down under the brute force of five men
that bounded into the room.

Jack’s hand held hers as they stood behind the shield and
watched their family deal with yet another attack.

“
What is the meaning of this?” Tabitha snapped.

“
We are here, by the order of the King, to detain those we
believe work for the Devil. Anne Whittle, Anne Redfern, you are
coming with us.”

Jack made a move to open his mouth but Cora silenced him by
placing her hand there. One murmur and they would be found. The
bubble concealed them from view but their voices would travel
through.

They watched the scuffle as Eli pushed his way in front of
Anne trying to stop the many hands reaching towards the woman he
loved. Jack pushed against her hand, stepping forward so he could
rush to his mother’s aid as the men grabbed her. She could
understand Jack’s need to help but her mother and Tabitha were
helping keep Anne away from the men. Still, Jack pushed against
her, she grabbed him, using her power subtly so that he couldn’t
push through the barrier that concealed them. He couldn’t shout
because every member of their families would be arrested for
witchcraft if they were caught. Two people magically appearing in
the room would get them killed.

“
They are not witches!” Eli shouted, pulling at Anne whose face
was now white with fear. Her mouth was open but her screams were
silent.

“
We have it on good authority that they are,” responded one
balding man that grinned gleefully as he pushed at Eli.

Cora was unable to keep up with the motions. The crowd was so
big she kept losing sight of her mother amongst the heads and the
arms that were flying in every direction as they tried to grab at
the suspects. Cora caught sight of Tabitha, her long hair was being
pulled back by a man holding a rather large knife. She twisted and
expertly punched him, the force knocking his head to the side. Cora
saw the quick flash of fire in her hands and held her breath.
Tabitha wouldn’t reveal her power. She was usually the one to
enforce the law, but these were testing times.

The fire sparked but Tabitha didn’t do anything with it. Cora
sighed and noticed her mother pushing through the crowd trying to
help Eli who was holding onto both his wife and his mother in law
as the crowds tried to drag them apart.

Cora had lost the use of her tongue, she wanted to shout,
really she did, but if she was to utter one word they would find
her. She knew her mother wouldn’t want that. In fact, as the
thought entered Cora’s head, she watched her mother jump on the
back of a man who had ventured too close to their bubble. Jack
pulled her back and they watched as she fought like a crazed animal
to bring the man to his knees.

He dropped to the floor and Cora gasped as her mother lifted
up her hands so she could protect her friends, her
family.

No! No! No!

She couldn’t reveal her element, Cora held her breath. The mob
renewed their attack leaping towards who they considered to be the
most dangerous figure.

Her mother.

Cora moved forward to help her mother but instantly felt like
her movement had slowed. Her head was working at the usual speed
but her limbs wouldn’t comply. Her mother had used her element on
her knowing she would do something, that she would try to help
her.

She watched as her mother turned, assessed the situation and
then simply held up her hands for the villagers to cuff. There was
too many of them, they couldn’t fight them all without the use of
their powers. Jack and Cora were silent as their loved ones were
taken by the villagers. The last person left, leaving an eerie
silence. She held back the tears as she cast a glance around her
home. The room was ransacked; the table had been cast aside and was
smashed into small pieces around the room.

Their possessions lay broken, like her family.

Eli was standing at the door, he was panting as blood trickled
down his chin. He watched the crowds take his wife and mother in
law. Cora was confused as to why they hadn’t taken Eli. He had
fought and he still remained. Her mother had fought but she had
been taken. Where was Tabitha? When did she leave? Had she been
taken without Cora seeing it? Cora felt panic claw at her throat.
What could she do? What would happen next?

The commoners would soon believe that Eli was also a witch if
he was married to one. That would lead them to look at daughters
and sons.

“
What have you done?!” Eli cried looking at her through the
bubble.

She shook her head, shocked by his sudden outburst. “I haven’t
done anything...” she whispered. What did Eli mean? He had seen
what had happened, she was not controlling what
happened.

“
You brought this upon us,” Eli stormed as he made his way
towards their corner. “How else would they know who to take? They
asked for my family, not yours!”

“
Why would we bring this upon ourselves when we were here
also?” she argued, pleading with Jack as she did so.

Jack looked white; the shock of what had just happened was
sinking in.

“
It’s a cover up! Alizon was only taken because she
fought!”

“
Yes, she fought; she wanted to save them because she loves
them like her own family!”

“
You did this...” Eli sneered, glaring at her.

“
I haven’t...I haven’t...” Tears trickled down her face. They
had to believe her. He had to see, Jack had to know she wouldn’t do
anything to hurt them, his family and hers. Why was this blame put
on her?

“
How did they know my mother and sister would be here?” Jack
whispered.

She shook her head watching as his jaw pulsed with an anger
she’d never been the victim of.

“
How did they know?!” Jack shouted.

She jumped back nervously. She didn’t have an answer, she
didn’t know why.

His fists smashed against the bubble, she could see the
elastic of it moving with each punch. Eli was shaking with anger
and then a knife appeared in his hand. She reared back as he
charged at the bubble, a look of grim determination in his eyes as
the blue and green swirled uncontrollably.

Jack punched and screamed, was he so eager to leave her? Did
he not want to stop and think about what had happened? She couldn’t
get her thoughts to leave her mouth, she wasn’t sure he would hear
her. Her ears were ringing from the pain of his cries.

Eli lifted the knife and penetrated the bubble. It popped
instantly and the magic disappeared allowing Jack to escape. He
didn’t look back as he left her; any fight left deserted her. She
fell to the floor in a heap with her wedding dress pooled around
her broken body. Eli glared at her, his hand clenched around the
knife showing the white of his bone. Cora held her breath as he
took a step towards her.

“
You will not touch her!” Tabitha snapped, standing in the
doorway.

Cora felt relief wash over her. Tabitha was safe. She would
help. Her hands were on fire as she glared at Eli.

“
You are to blame for this,” Eli said ignoring Tabitha as he
stepped closer towards her. The tip of the knife nearly touching
her shoulder.

Before Cora could say a word, a burst of fire hit Eli. Eli
stumbled and turned holding his now singed shoulder.

“
That wasn’t a wise move,” Eli snapped.

“
It was not wise for you to point a knife at Cora. You wouldn’t
listen, so I stopped you.”

Eli picked up pieces from the table with his element and fired
them at Tabitha.

Cora quickly stood as the wind built around her. She waited
until it was at breaking point and then unleashed it. She only did
it to stop them from fighting. She watched Eli fly across the room
towards Tabitha. Before they could do anything, Tabitha flew into
the air and Jack stepped around the corner. His brown eyes focused
on Tabitha.

“
Jack, what are you doing?” Cora asked shocked.

Why was everyone hurting each other? Jack didn’t answer her.
He lifted Tabitha as high as the straw roof and cast her aside.
With a loud crash, Tabitha hit the floor. A gasp escaped her as
fire built in her hands. She ran to Tabitha to stop what could
happen next. She looked at Jack in shock. He shot her one fierce
look and walked out with Eli hobbling by his side.

“
Tabitha, are you okay?”

“
Yes. I’m fine.”

Cora felt like crying. Her throat bobbed up and down trying to
stop the tears. She couldn’t believe the mess that was now her
life. It had taken less than fifteen minutes and her life had
become unrecognisable. “What do we do now?”

Tabitha shook her head dusting off her robes. “I do not
know.”

“
I’ve never seen Jack act like that before. He didn’t even look
at me, and he hurt you.”

“
I do not know what to say, Cora. Things are changing and I
believe we must look after the four of us now. We have to stay
positive and be strong together. I’m so thankful your grandmother
left.”

Cora was thankful too; her grandmother couldn’t have lived
through that. She was barely holding it together
herself.

Tabitha’s arms slid around her as the tears started tumbling
down her cheeks. Her family had been taken; her mother was no doubt
in prison accused of being a witch. To make matters so much worse,
her relationship with Jack had just fallen to pieces. The whole
foundation of their friendship felt unreachable. She had worried
that their kiss would break them apart. She had never envisioned
something of this magnitude would happen. Tabitha soothed as the
sobs consumed her.

8

6
^th
September 1611

Her wedding day had come...and gone. She’d spent the day at
home, despite the lovely sunshine that should have rained down on
her and Jack, she tucked herself in her room ignoring the world
around her. Tabitha could do nothing to console her; she didn’t
want the sympathy so she’d spent the day wrapped up in her
dress.