Cursefell (11 page)

CURSEFELL

CHAPTER ELEVEN

     The following morning dawned crisp and clear, at least as clear as winter skies got in Stonecrest.  The hearty aroma of bacon and spices wafting throughout the cabin and the momentary peek of sunlight streaming through the solitary window in my room had me rushing about to get dressed.  Wide awake in spite of the long broken night, I practically ran to the stairs with an urgent appetite.  And pulled up suddenly on the top step at the sight of the stranger who had come to see my mother.
     Tristan had returned with the promise of help he had been sent to find for my mother.  The promise came in the guise of the ordinary man loitering, as if he had been waiting, just below me.  When I saw him it felt as if the clouds from outside had moved inside the cabin and a shadow had been cast across the room.
     The man, with his grey hair and smartly dressed tailoring, looked more like a banker than a doctor.  His dark suit fit snugly over broad shoulders un-stooped by age.  The plum striped tie was tacked high up with a knotted silver pin, tucked under a matching wool vest he wore fully buttoned.  He stood at the landing to give me a long look before motioning for me to approach.  My instincts told me not to trust him, but my feet moved slowly down the staircase anyway, heart thudding wildly in my chest.  I did not like the man.  It was a feeling that only intensified as I drew nearer.
     The hands that cupped mine felt greasy and smelled faintly like a sprig of mint.  I wanted to shiver, disgusted.
     "Nathera.  Heir to the first.  What a pleasure." He had a leering smile.  I guess it wasn't impossible to like him any less.  "You must have many questions.  You will come with me after I tend to your mother."
     "Excuse me?"
     "There is much you need to learn.  We shall instruct you."
     "I don't even know you," I told him, slipping my hand out of his grip.  "I'm not going anywhere."
     "Ah, well now.  Call me Mister Rail.  You have been told the way of things, have you not?"
     "Not exactly."
     "Ah, well then.  As you have inherited the gift of the first, you are subject to rules set forth by the conclave of the magi."
     "The Circle?"
     "Just so.  The Circle.  A council of human wizards and witches charged with enforcing laws protecting magic and human interactions." He waited for me to respond, but I gave away nothing.  "A covenant exists between the heirs to the first and the Circle.  There are rules you must follow being, well, being what you are."
     "Really."
     "To be sure.  To ignore them would be less than good for you."
     "Less than good for me.  Like becoming some sort of monster is better than good?" I mocked him.  Maybe not the smartest thing to do when the situation you find yourself in could be dangerous, but this authoritarian attitude rankled me.
     "Even monsters have masters, dear girl."
     "Well I didn't sign any contract or covenant with your council.  And I didn't elect anyone either," I spat sarcasm in response.
     "You're feisty, sure enough.  But have a care now." The drop in his tone was a warning.
     "Same to you."
     "You may have not voted for us, and what a quaint notion that is," he chuckled.  It was haughty and mocking.  The sound of security bloomed from the powerful without limits. "but those who have magic fall under the Circle's laws.  Your mother being one.  She has no choice.  Neither do you, as heir."
     "We all have a choice."
     "That is the great lie fools tell themselves," he said, bowing his head.  When he raised it again it was with a smile that any true snake might wear.
     "You will come with me when I am done here.  It has been decreed by the Circle."
     "As I told you, I'm not going anywhere."   
     "I'm afraid you mistake that for a request," he said, a hand darting out to grab my arm.
     The stranger's hand never touched me.  Galead had appeared out of nowhere, snatching the man's wrist before he could grab hold of me.  Tristan was there too, on the other side.  The bigger brother angled his body between us, shielding me with his own body.  The man in the dark suit looked from one of them to the other.  You didn't have to be good at reading people to see that he was angry.
     "You know who I am.  What must be done will not be denied," the stranger growled at them.
     "I see who you are.  Even better, I know what you are," Galead told him and then dropped his hold on his arm.  "Take care of her mother.  That's all you are here to do."
     The man looked at us all, anger still showing, but he relented when the brothers refused to back down.
     "For now," he said.  Tristan escorted, or maybe herded is a better word for it, him down the hall and into the room where my mother stayed.
     Concerned as I was, Galead would not let me enter her room.  He would only say the stranger was skilled at healing, if lacking social skills, and that she was in good hands, reminding me that his brothers would watch over them both.
     "Fine.  You keep your secrets.  Don't trust me."
     "I do trust you, Thera.  But..."
     "Creepy guy's secrets are not yours to share?  Yah, you have said that before.  What about you then?  Let me guess, you can't tell me why you are involved in all this, even though you promised."
     "I..."
     "Whatever.  I don't want to hear it.  You know, at some point you are going to have to choose to be honest or to lie.  You are going to have to help me or not." I jingled the house keys sitting in my pocket.  He had made me so mad I needed to get out.  "I'm going home.  I've got to get my mom's book."
     "I will get you whatever she needs."
     "No.  I'm going.  It beats sitting around here waiting for whoever he is to get done with whatever he is doing to my mom."
     Galead grabbed the keys to his car from the counter.  He insisted on driving at least.  I exhaled loudly in a big pouty huff, but he didn't budge when I told him I didn't want his help.
     "Fine, fine.  I need to grab something.  I'll meet you outside."
     "Don't disturb your mother," he warned me, wagging a finger.
     "I won't," I told him, adding when he arched an eyebrow.  "I swear I won't."
     Somewhat satisfied, Galead went out the front door.  As soon as the handle clicked shut I rushed to open the hidden panel leading downstairs to the cells below.  Calling Isabel's name, her voice floated up in the echo of a response.  In less than a minute (she must have sprinted up the stairs) Isabel had joined me in the kitchen.  She gulped down a tall glass of water and grabbed a bag filled with baked potato chips before following me outside.
     "What are you doing?" Galead demanded, practically leaping out of the idling car when he saw Isabel in tow.  "She isn't going anywhere."
     "She's coming," was all I said before sliding into the passenger seat.
     Galead remained standing outside, fuming for a long minute before getting back in.  He slammed the door, gunned the engine, and then we were speeding down the driveway.  The wheels kicked up a hail of loose dirt and rocks that pinged the undercarriage before the tires gripped the pavement on the proper highway, leaving smoldering streaks of blackened frustration in our wake.
     We drove in silence because, really, what was there to talk about between a mermaid, a human being, and whatever I was?
     When we pulled up to my house I could feel acute anxiety knotting up my insides.  True, Isabel was with me, and Galead too, so I wasn't expecting any surprises like last time.  And yet I could not help wanting to turn back, tell Galead to just drive away.  As I sat there staring I didn't notice my companions had gathered outside the car until Galead opened my door.  After a slight pause, my hand slid into his offered palm, the strong warm skin comforting in a way I had missed in the last few days without even realizing it was missing.
     Galead balanced me as I stood up in more ways than I could possibly express.  Guilt washed over me about this morning and the coolness with which I had treated him.  Looking up at him, I noticed the hard mask his face had held on the drive here was replaced with a worried look, making it even worse.  Without words being spoken between us his arm encircled my shoulders and I allowed myself to nestle against him.  Closing my eyes I pressed a hand against his chest and let the beats count against it.
     An impatient Isabel cleared her throat rather loudly.
     "Thank you.  For saving me, I mean." My voice fell quietly into his shirt.  "For saving my mom."
     "That's twice you know," he whispered back and I heard the amusement in his voice.
     I couldn't stop the smile blooming on my lips.
     "Thanks twice then.  I owe you."
     "You don't owe me anything, Thera." Galead spoke very softly, almost too soft for me to hear.  "I will always be there when you need me.  I will always be there to save you."
     "Even from myself?"
     "From yourself or others."
     "Promise?" the words were trembling as they came out.
     "I swear it," he swore somberly.
     Isabel coughed again, so vehemently I thought she was going to hurt herself, and tapped her foot loudly.
     "Hey Romeo.  Juliet.  Are we going inside or are you going to stand out here cuddling all day for everyone to see?  Because I got to tell you, cuddling is not much of a show."
     We shared a laugh, breaking apart.  Isabel did not find it funny.  Her arms were crossed, foot tapping madly in annoyance.  She probably thought it was to her advantage if Galead and I weren't getting along.
     "Alright.  Keep your fins on," Galead deadpanned.
     A true belly laugh burst from me as Isabel scowled at him.  My anxious feeling was expelled with it.  Suddenly the morning seemed bright again, less heavy and oppressive.  It seemed like such a long time since I had really laughed at anything.  Even my home looked inviting once again.  It certainly did not frighten the old crow sunning itself on top of the shingles.  Its feathers were the shade of dark bruises, gleaming in the little light peeking out from behind the coastal clouds.  Two red eyes glowed in dark sockets, staring down at me.  The crow did not move, not even to cock its head, as we stood looking at each other.  The longer I looked, the larger the crow actually seemed, until I thought it would pop.  That anxious feeling was coming back.
     "Galead." I turned, plucked at his sleeve.
     "What?
     Turning back, I pointed a finger at the unusual bird.  But it was gone.  It had disappeared from sight in a blink.  Scanning the roof, the sky, and those thick branches grown from the oldest oaks, the crow had vanished.  Not even a dark speck in the distance or a blot in the sky betrayed its location.
     "Thera?" Galead looked concernedly at me.
     "I saw something I think.  A big crow.  It was watching us from the roof.  It had red eyes, strange eyes." Both of them were staring.  I didn't blame them.  It sounded stupid to me too.  "Never mind.  I must have been imagining it.  It was nothing."
     Apparently it was enough for Galead and Isabel to share a serious look between them.  Galead unlocked the car trunk, scanning the sky and the roof of my home, before raising the lid fully open.  Isabel and I joined him at the back of the car when he beckoned us over.
     Galead slung a long handled sword across his back in one practiced motion.  He adjusted the black sheath with the leather strap crossing his chest before handing me a short dagger.  My involuntary recoil brought half a smile to his face.  I didn't doubt that a chuckle at my expense was close behind.
     "Unless you can use your gift at will, you need to take this," he said, balancing it on an open palm, offering it to me.
     "Why do we need these?" I asked.
     "Just in case," he replied.
     Worried some neighbor might notice our little band arming themselves with obsolete weapons and report us, I grabbed the dagger.  It slid into my waist like it belonged there all along.  The sweater pulled down to perfectly cover it.  I only briefly stopped to wonder why he had a fracking sword and other obsolete weapons sitting in his trunk.  And wouldn't something modern, say like a gun, be better?
     Galead hesitated midway to closing the trunk.  Sighing in resignation, he took out another dagger.  It was the exact twin to mine.
     "Isabel." He held it out for her.
     Isabel took it from him.  She turned it over in her hands as if studying the blade for flaws, then tossed it back into the trunk.
     "That one is nice," she told him.  She reached down, bent at the waist, and pulled up her pant leg.  Tucked into her boot, the ornate handle of the dagger Galead had brought into the cells the day before clearly showed.  "But I like this one better."
     "Let's get this done." Galead, scarlet with the embarrassment of having forgotten the weapon, stomped past.  Isabel winked my way before following with a happy skip to her step.
     Once the door was unlocked Galead took our point position.  He held the hilt of the sword cupped in his palm as it rode upon his back.  It kept the weapon from making noise should he knock it against a wall or anything else.  To keep it ready to draw as well I guessed.  I watched him move slowly, cushioning his steps to silence.  Angling his body from right to left with each step, Galead looked like some great lion stalking its prey.  Balancing on the balls of my feet and mimicking him as closely as I could, I made even less sound than he did.  Isabel, who had failed to abduct me from this same house several nights before, brought up the rear.