Hidden Mortality (2 page)

“I don’t have much time.” Her voice echoed around the room. Not the sweet lyrical voice he remembered, but one raspy and full of pain. “Give me your hands, my darling.” She reached out and took his hands in hers.

“You’re not real.” His whole body shook at her touch. He had wanted her to be with him more than anything, but not like this. For all his size he had never been so frightened in his life.

“I loved you. Find out who did this to me.” She caressed his cheek. “Don’t cry, my darling. You always doubted yourself too much. You are a good man. We just met at the wrong time for us both. Promise me you’ll protect my descendants in case they come for them.”

Seth nodded as Rosie placed their hands on the dagger in her chest and pushed deeper. His body became cold, as cold as the wind before snow comes.

“No” Seth screamed.

Not releasing him, Rosie lent forward and kissed him with icy blue lips.

Seth’s strong arms bulged as he attempted to pull away. He didn’t want his last memory of her to be this. Rosie pushed the blade deeper still.

“There were four of them, Seth. Promise me now you will do what I ask.”

Seth nodded. “I promise I’ll watch over your family. I’ll find those who did this to you. They will pay with their lives.”

Rosie became a dazzling brilliance of colors. Her hair glowed. Her eyes, one blue, one green twinkled mischievously. She laughed. All traces of blood and wounds disappeared, except for the dagger in her chest.

Seth smiled and laughed with her as warmth and power surged through his body. For one glorious moment, he was enveloped in a brilliant light and the happiness of what might have been.

“I’ll give you life for as long as you need to avenge my death,” Rosie said.

Then the kitchen resumed its darkened state. She was gone.

He stumbled toward the back door and pulled it open. The cold night air hit him. Dizziness overcame him again as he fell to his knees and emptied the contents of his stomach on the garden path. With the ale gone and the cold air sobering him, he leaned back against the wall of the cottage. He tried to remember Rosie’s words through his muddled and intoxicated thoughts. What did she mean she had given him life?

He staggered across to the forge and lit an oil lamp to help illuminate the darkness. Its yellow glow caused the blades on his workbench nearby to gleam with sinister intent. Maybe he was still drunk. It felt as if the knives still called to him.

He picked one up and sliced across his wrist. He gritted his teeth at the searing pain. The skin glowed along the cut. Little veins grew out and pulled the edges back together. It was as if he watched someone else’s hand heal. This couldn’t be happening. He peered closer. All he could see was a faint scar barely visible in the light of the lamp.

“Rosie? What have you done to me?” He yelled the words, although there was no one to hear. On the night he was to end it all, she had saved him. In the past he had let her down, but not anymore. He had promised to look after her family and find her killers, and that was what he would do.

Now, he remembered something else about the apparition. The dagger plunged into her chest was one he finished repairing only two days before.

Chapter 1

Cork, 2010

The bookshop buzzed with excitement as customers vied to get close to Nan. The early flight from Bristol to Cork had arrived late. So did Cara, but she was here now and planned to have some fun. She wanted to do a happy dance. It would probably attract a bit of attention and this was Nanna Kathleen’s day.

The queue stretched to the exit as people stood clutching their copies of the Magic Touch Cookbook. Nanna looked wonderful in her elegant blue dress with her long auburn hair twirled up. No white-haired granny in an apron here. The hair color came out of a bottle these days. Cara had every intention of doing exactly the same when her dark auburn hair went gray.

The red hair and the odd green and blue eyes were what connected her to Nanna. It also made her feel a stranger with her own mother whose eyes were brown. Of course, there was also the fact they disagreed on about everything, especially her involvement with magic. Mum had never been able to access the power. It caused a grudge she wasn’t prepared to discuss no matter how much Cara or Nanna tried.

Cara still couldn’t get out of her mind that this wasn’t your normal cookbook. Nanna made no pretense about accessing magic to enhance her food. She even went so far as to provide incantations with some of the recipes. Cara had always known that magic was real, with Nanna it was hard not to. She just didn’t want to take the next step and practice herself. She suppressed a giggle at the thought of people buying the cookbook and going home thinking all their problems could be solved with a bit of sage and saying abracadabra.

Nanna glanced up and waved across the shop. The next customer was a man who put a single rose down on top of his copy of Nanna’s book. Cara shook her head. The poor guy didn’t know what he was getting into. The women in her family didn’t do things by halves, eccentric Nanna, perfectionist Mum, and what about herself?

She reckoned she was slightly alternative with a love for vintage clothes, charity shops and Irish food. A quick glance around showed there weren’t any men determined to walk her way with a rose in their teeth. It was just as well. If one showed up, she’d have told him that if he thought she was going to kiss him and get tetanus, it so wasn’t happening. Someone touched her arm. Cara squeaked, then covered her mouth in embarrassment. She turned to find a smartly dressed woman beside her.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you jump. You’re Kathleen’s granddaughter, Cara, aren’t you? I’m Julie O’Donnell, from The Cork Examiner. Your grandmother said you’re a chef and run your own business in the UK based on Irish food. We’d like to work on the connection. Say we found you first.”

Julie kept talking but Cara couldn’t concentrate. The place was crowded and warm, but a shiver passed through her body. Her back arched. For a second, the whole shop appeared to darken as if the shadow of someone’s mind reached out to grab her. Cold seeped through her body making her lightheaded. Then the sensation was gone as fast as it had come. She leaned against a bookcase and took a deep breath as the room steadied.

That’s what happens when you have an overactive imagination and no breakfast she considered. Julie was still talking but she hadn’t heard a word.

“I’d love to do anything to help,” Cara replied. What had she just agreed to do?

“Great, then we’ll have you in the photo shoot too.” Julie threaded her arm through Cara’s and shepherded her across the room. “You know I’d never seen anyone with eyes of different colors, the blue and green are so different and so vivid, and now two of you in the same room. I can’t miss that opportunity. Plus I love the green dress, so 1950’s. You obviously have your Nanna’s good taste.”

Cara hugged Nanna who whispered, “this won’t take long darling. Then we can have some time together.”

“I’m fine, Nanna. Wallow in the glory, you deserve it.” Cara took her place next to the book display as flashes went off from the cameras. The intimidating feeling from earlier completely disappeared. It was just as well because if someone good or bad was watching now, she would never see them for the lights in her eyes.

The day seemed surreal once they were back at the family farm of Waterfall House. The whitewashed seventeenth century farmhouse oozed peace from its walls. Nanna had probably cast a protection spell that helped. The calmness always seeped into Cara’s bones when she stayed here.

She had seriously thought of coming back after the breakup with Tony and losing the baby. Then the catering business had taken off and kept her going. Plus she wouldn’t do that to her partner, Daniel.

Cara hoped the farmhouse wouldn’t change now her grandmother was famous, especially since there were rumors of a television show. It was selfish, but Cara didn’t like the idea of people rummaging through her memories.

“I saw you blush when the man gave you the rose, Nanna. You still have the golden touch. That twinkle in your eye gets men’s hearts racing. Did you put a spell on him to make you look good in front of the reporters?”

Cara settled into one of the comfy armchairs in the sitting room, wine in hand. She’d changed from her dress to jeans and an overlarge jumper. The room seemed to shield them from the outside world with its coziness.

Her grandmother started a fire in the beautiful old inglenook fireplace. “He was charming, and had a lovely head of black hair just like Pop when I first met him. He was a bit too young for me though. Said he’d seen my website and traveled from England. And no, I didn’t put a spell on him, you cheeky minx.” Nanna wagged a finger as she sat opposite.

“He made you blush just like Pops used to.” Cara’s heart ached at the thought of her grandfather. The world still seemed less without him in it.

“I’ve never been interested in anyone else. Love’s an elusive thing. I’ve no explanation why I found it with your grandfather, though the angel cards did tell me he was coming. I don’t expect to love again now he’s gone, but I’m open to offers. A little dalliance here and there might be fun. Your problem is you’ve never had a great love.”

Cara sat back in the chair and pulled her feet underneath her. “We both know I’ve been extremely successful in finding exactly the opposite to love. My work is great. I’ll stick with it instead. By the way, that reporter thought I was a witch, didn’t she?”

Cara steered the conversation away from her love life, though magic was probably just as tricky as she couldn’t deny her witch heritage much longer.

Nanna raised her gaze as she sipped her tea. “Didn’t bother you, did she? She has this thing about the odd-colored eyes. It means nothing if you can’t access the power.”

“Daniel would’ve loved the photo shoot. I’m sure I was gormlessly grinning in the background.” Cara pulled a face, trying to cross her eyes. She didn’t succeed. That was a family talent that hadn’t been passed on to her.

“How is Daniel?”

“Business is doing well and before you ask, Jeff hasn’t proposed yet.” Cara sipped her wine; glad the conversation was no longer on her love life.

“He will. I’ve seen it in my mirror. I’ll give you an incantation to do the next time you cook for them,” Nanna said, amusement sliding into her eyes as she grinned. “It’ll speed things up a bit. I want to be alive when they tie the knot.”

“No. I won’t mess with spells again,” Cara said. “I don’t have the gift. I never did. It’s more likely they’d probably never speak to each other. You’ve the knack of drawing in the power. I’m a disaster waiting to happen. Remember, when I gave the cat hiccups for two hours? Even you couldn’t reverse it.”

Nanna leaned forward, obviously she wasn’t going to let up. “You know I didn’t ask you back because of the book launch. A scrying might stop those dreams you told me about. Don’t give me that look as if you’re mumbling something under your breath.”

“I’m not,” Cara lied.

“I just want you to think about casting some spells,” Nanna said. “While you do, I’ll go and get dessert.”

Cara had five bookings next weekend and needed to be focused. In addition, she was honestly scared of the power her grandmother embraced so easily. It seemed to be a double-edged sword as far as Cara was concerned. She didn’t want to hurt the cat again, plus the dreams had started after her last go. The sexy ones with the dark well-built and mysterious man were okay. The ones with bodies being chopped up were another matter.

Nanna walked back in with the apple pie and cream. The flavors burst on Cara’s tongue with the first mouthful. “You haven’t put something in this, have you?”

“I’m shocked you’d suggest something. Are you insinuating my cooking’s not good enough without magic?” Nanna wiped a fake tear from her eye.

“I’m eating it anyway. Life’s too short.” Cara shoveled in another mouthful. If Nan’s pie was wicked, then she was more than happy to be sinful.

“While you do, I’ll get ready.”

Maybe, her grandmother was right and the scary dreams would go away if they did this. It would be good if she could keep the sexy ones though, Cara thought. They were as close as she got to romance these days.

Nanna went to the sideboard and brought out a box made from a dark wood with a gold pentagram surrounded by a silver circle painted on the top. Cara glanced around and was relieved to see the farm cat was nowhere in sight. She didn’t want to put it through agony again.

“You obviously weren’t ready last time, Cara. I do believe you have the gift though. We’ll see what we can do to help your business. To keep me happy, we’ll do what we can about your love life. If you think you’re up to it, we’ll deal with the dreams as well.”

Cara cringed at the thought, but kept eating. Nanna opened the box and took out two necklaces and placed them on the table. One was a delicate gold shamrock-shaped charm on a chain. The other looked to be made of silver or white gold, and had the shape of a stag’s head. Cara had seen her grandparents wear them over the years and always thought them beautiful.

“I’ve been meaning to give you these since Pops died. He always said he was my protector. Sweet man couldn’t even chop the head off of s turkey at Christmastime, but I let him believe it. I want you to have this so you can give it to your mate when you meet him.”

Cara choked on a mouthful of food as she laughed.

“Come on, Nanna. I’m twenty-eight years old and look after myself. If not, I’ll call the local security firm or the cops. I‘ll go along with this tonight but I’m not asking for some magical protector and ‘mate’ sounds so basic.”

“Humor me and take them. I’ve imbued them with power. If you just want to wear yours as a pretty necklace, it will be fine.” Nanna held out her hand.

“It’s beautiful and I’ll always wear it.” Cara put on the necklace as Nanna took four candles from her box and placed them in the corners of the room.

“I want you to close your eyes and imagine a circle of light surrounding us. I know it is how you like to imagine protection and I have called mine here already.”

Cara’s pulse started to quicken. Her hands grew clammy. The power had been good for Nan, so she had to think it would be the same for her granddaughter. If she was going to do this though, Cara thought, then she would barter. “Only if it gets me another piece of pie.”

“That’s my girl.” Nanna smiled, reached out and squeezed Cara’s fingers.

“Just don’t be disappointed when nothing happens. I’m not paying the vet fees if the cat goes daft again.” Cara closed her eyes and tried to envisage a circle around them. It was easier than she imagined.

When she opened her eyes, she could actually see a ring of light. It was probably just the effect of the candles and the fire. If Daniel could see her now doing this magic stuff he would crack up laughing. It was either that, or he’d be getting her to do spells to make them both rich and famous.

“I’ve called for the Goddess to protect us while we work. When you do this on your own, you must always ask a higher power to watch over you. Now, I want you to read this.” Nanna took a piece of paper and a round mirror from the box and placed it on the table between them.

Cara picked up the piece of paper and cringed. “I thought we were going to do a spell for my business.”

“We will, later.” Nanna smirked as she raised an eyebrow.

Cara took a deep breath and read aloud.
“True love I have not found, true love I seem to fear. Banish the sadness of the past, and true love will soon appear.”
She felt her heart pounding in her chest as she spoke. Did she really want to see her past and her failed loves thrown in her face again? Her hands shook as she peered at the mirror.

This was all hocus-pocus, so what was she scared of? Something other than a reflection of the ceiling above slowly appeared in the mirror. It looked like the main street in Bath. People milled around. One stopped and appeared to be staring as if he could actually see out of the mirror.

He was a tall well-built man with a somber brooding face, and hair cropped close to his head. Nanna might think those gray eyes appeared unapproachable, but Cara knew him to be incredibly passionate. She also knew he wasn’t real. The mirror had conjured up her dream lover. So much for this spell finding her a real person to love. At least this dream guy wouldn’t break her heart.

“He’s not what I expected, but from the size of him, he looks as if he could protect you. You’re blushing. You’ve seen him before.” Nanna squinted at her.

“It’s embarrassing. I’ve sort of seen him before, but it’s not what you think. It’s not possible for me to know him. He doesn’t exist, except in some rather raunchy dreams I’ve been having.”

Heat spread up Cara’s neck. She felt hot in places she wasn’t meant to when sitting with her grandmother. Thank goodness reading minds wasn’t one of Nanna’s abilities. She would be shocked at the man in the mirror and the things he had been doing with her granddaughter.

“Maybe you’ve seen him once and can’t remember. The Goddess appears to believe he exists. She’s never wrong.”