Returned (24 page)

She was interrupted as Ayden walked in with a huge smile on his face. “Well, well, well, my three favourite ladies.”

Cora eye balled Ayden as he approached her mother giving her his trademark mischievous grin. His hand slid fluidly around her mother's waist. He leaned in and gave her a loud kiss on the lips. In that same second her jaw hit the floor.

“Does anyone want to explain
that
to me?” She pointed at the two of them who were so caught up in each other they wouldn’t have budged if a bomb exploded in the street. The action had been more than explainable but still.

“I was going to tell you-”

“But you thought taking part in tonsil tennis right in front of me would be the best way to explain this?”

“Cora,” Ayden warned. “We didn’t tell you because we wanted to see how it went. It’s been only a few weeks. We wanted to make sure it was right before we brought it up. Plus your mother has irresistible lips,” he added and kissed her again.

She hadn’t seen this coming because she’d been a little preoccupied.

“Will you two stop swapping saliva!”

“Cora,” her mother warned giving her the look.

“Mum, you are dating a member of my coven. I have every right to not like the situation.”

“Cora is correct. I’m sorry, I should have asked but I’m asking now. Is it okay?”

She looked at her mother then at Ayden. It was already too late to say no.

“Fine” she sighed. “Give me the food and all is forgiven.” She actually didn't mind, whatever made her mum happy.

             
Two hours later she was laid on the floor fit to burst but one person was missing. Ember hadn’t appeared yet. They couldn't put the meeting off which meant she would have to start the meeting without her.

“Where's Ember, Tab?”

She saw the quick exchange between Tabitha and Ayden. They knew something and they weren’t telling her.

“She was caught up with something. She will be here tonight for the meeting in the field.”

Although Cora wanted to know what was going on, there was no point in asking them, she wouldn’t get a straight answer. It was really hypocritical of them. They demanded to know everything she did but they refused to do the same.

“Right, if Ember isn't coming until later we should get started. Thank you for tea, Mum. I’ll see you later,” Cora called as she jogged after Tabitha who had already started down the stairs.

Tabitha knew what to do without her saying a word. A small flame surrounded Tabitha’s hand so she pushed the wind licking up the flame; a soft glow lit the entire tunnel.

Chapter 31

ALL HALLOW'S EVE

They walked across Andrew Bruton's field in silence. Her mind raced with defence blocks, attack moves and sarcastic retorts. Just in case. Tabitha was walking to her right; Ayden was walking to her left. They walked with their backs bolt upright, shoulders square, faces solemn. She felt like the Queen with her many body guards.

             
Tabitha halted, her arm snapping out stopping Cora in her tracks. She looked around but couldn't s
ee anything. They were surround
ed by complete darkness. The little hairs on her arms stood upright in anticipation.

“Hello, Cora.”

Jack shot forward at a startling speed and landed with a heavy thump. He remained upright, wobbling unsteadily on his feet.

“Jack.” Her voice held the same impassiveness.

“You wanted to meet. Start talking,” Jack said.

She ignored his rudeness, being the adult that she was. “I think we need to find some way to live peacefu-”

Jack’s hysterical laughter cut her off. “Peaceful. Yeah, right. You started this and I intend to finish it.”

“Jack won't touch you whilst I'm here.”

She looked over as Clay stepped out of the shadows. She was glad he was unhurt but seeing him, in this situation, confirmed everything. Even if she wanted to make a go of it, she couldn't. There was too much anger between the covens. Too much history.

“You have no say in this affair, Clay. Cora, shall we finish what was started?”

“There will be no fighting tonight.”

Cora whirled around to see Ember walking towards them. She watched as a silent conversation played between Tabitha and Ember.

“Cora, I need to intervene in this meeting, may I do that?”

“Yeah... of course.” She stepped aside feeling nervous.

“I have received grave news. Ember was sent by me, without Cora's knowledge, to find out what was happening within the Corenthio Coven. I believed word may have reached them regarding your little
meeting
. I'm afraid it has.

             
“
According to Ember, they’ve heard a few mutterings regarding magic, screams, and unusual things occurring here. They have discussed their options at great length,” Ayden laughed but Tabitha continued. “A repeat of 1612 would be disastrous for our kind.  The Corenthio Coven is set in their ways and resolves these types of situations by doing one thing...” Tabitha looked at Cora, her leaf green eyes portraying something she couldn't decipher.

“How could we solve this?”

“Talking isn’t on their agenda,” Ayden scoffed.

Cora heard several sharp intakes of breath.

“They didn't think it over. It took them less than three bloody weeks!” Ayden shouted.

             
Jack looked confused, but, she realised, he always looked like that. He was staring at Eli who looked like he had aged twenty years in seconds. She turned to her coven. Ember, the bearer of the bad news, looked unaffected. Tabitha had edged closer to her. Ayden appeared to have another outburst ready. Cora needed answers. Tabitha had to tell her how to solve this problem. All problems had solutions, right?

“What is the Corenthino Coven?” Jack asked, breaking the silence.

Tabitha hissed in frustration. “Eli, what have you taught your leader?”

“The boy doesn’t want to learn, apparently he knows everything there is to know,” Clay sneered.

“Shut your mouth, you little shit,” Jack growled at Clay.

“Do you want to come here and say that?”

Cora didn’t look at Clay but she knew there would be a smile on his face tempting Jack to bite.

“Enough!” Eli shouted holding Jack back. “It is true; I have found it
difficult
to teach him.”

Jack wrestled against Eli’s strong hold. “I don’t need your help; I will deal with this new coven by myself.”

“And you will die before taking a breath,” Tabitha barked.

“Is there no way to survive this?” Ayden asked rubbing his hands over his face.

Jack slumped against Eli, perhaps understanding for the first time the severity of the situation. Survive repeated over and over in Cora’s head.

“No one has ever come away alive when the Corenthio Coven set their mind to it,” Ember declared.

“Everything is happening again. I'm sorry; I keep trying to save you...” Tabitha whispered.

Cora’s heart squeezed. “You
have
saved me. Please don't do that. Don't blame yourself.”

             
She had to make a decision, one that would save her coven.

“Jack, we need to join together to face the Corenthio Coven.” The words didn't want to leave her mouth but she forced them. “I know that we cannot face them alone.”

“I believe that would be our only option, Jack.” The woman next to Jack spoke. 

“Cora’s coven has my support.” Clay edged towards her coven.

“It is the only way Jack, we-”

“No! No! No!” Jack shouted.  “It’s not the only way. We can do this without
her
.”

“Clay and Clio believe it is the right thing to do. I do too. I will stand with them to save our coven.”

Cora watched this scene and felt guilty. She was making him choose and his options weren't appealing. If the roles were reversed she would be pissed at Jack too. The emotions on Jack's face expressed the grief and betrayal he felt.  His coven was deserting him; this added to her guilt more than she wanted to let on.

“Jack, when we face the Corenthio Coven, the covens will be equal.”

Jack’s chocolate brown eyes found hers. “If we must do this then I have no choice.” His voice was dead with defeat.

“Fine, we will talk later.”

             
She didn’t wait for a reply; she turned and slid her arm around Tabitha’s waist. She knew their situation was bad but she didn't feel the weight of it, yet. She was sure it would come, knew it would crush her. The emotions playing across Tabitha’s face told her how serious it was. Her leaf green eyes shimmered with tears, her teeth worried her lip. Cora felt her chest tighten. She didn’t want to die but would it come to that? The expressions on her coven’s faces didn't give her positive vibes.

“Cora! Cora, we need to talk.”

Clay ran up ahead, stopping them in their tracks.

“I don’t want to speak with you tonight, Clay. I have too much to think about.”

“Wait! Cora!” His hand reached out to her.

“She will deal with this tomorrow,” Ayden said, his words ice cold.  

They continued walking away from Jack and his coven.

“I’m so proud of you, Cora,” Tabitha whispered as they walked down the hill.

“I don’t feel like I've done anything for you to be proud of.” She looked at Tabitha trying desperately not to cry. “If I could’ve just kept my anger in check or stayed away from Jack-”

“You will never ever berate yourself in front of me,” Ember interrupted shaking her head. “You have given up your role as High Priestess to work with Jack, a boy who has done nothing but attack you. You are the most selfless person I know and I couldn't be prouder.”

             
Her throat felt thick with emotion. Cora nodded as Ember placed her arm around her waist. Ayden walked in front of them, protecting them from any unknown threat that may lurk ahead.

Chapter 32

THE MASTER PLAN

He watched Clay, his eyes as sharp as an eagle. He noticed every little emotion wash over his face. Clay was stood brooding with his hands in his jeans pockets, his face set in hard lines, his fair eyebrows pulled together in frustration.  He was stood off to the side of the main group in the middle of the area. He watched with delighted glee as Clay kicked his boot into the frost bitten dirt. Whilst venting his frustrations, Clay never took his eyes off Cora. Jack almost laughed and shook his head. That man needed to get a grip.

             
Jack shifted his attention to her.
He still didn’t like the girl but it was something that he had to put up with if he was going to survive; because surviving would mean he could seek revenge at a later date.  He caught Cora's exaggerated sigh as she finally discovered her little audience of one. As far as he knew, Clay and Cora hadn’t spoken since the meeting; he knew that this annoyed Clay. Clay tried everything to grab Cora’s attention. Yesterday, for example, he'd watched Clay sprinkle water over her and Jack had caught a smile, a very small smile playing on Cora’s lips. He'd also seen her quickly cover that smile with a scowl just in time for Clay to see.

He saw everything.

             
The group were stood in the woods near his cottage which wasn't too far from Cora’s house. He didn't know if that bothered him.

Easier to attack. Easier to be attacked.

Tabitha was striding around barking instructions to Eli and Cora, her long green flowing robes lapped at the hard ground. It pissed him off that Eli looked as happy as a child on Christmas morning.

             
Jack lay slumped on the floor, he was freezing but he'd sat down and hadn’t wanted to appear weak by standing up. He didn't have the patience or the energy to deal with this. He could curl up his coat and use it as a pillow. A few winks would do the job and energise him. They wouldn't use him for training; he'd made it perfectly clear that he wanted no part in this whole arrangement. His eye lids swayed shut.

             
A scream that smashed through him like a thousand sharp tipped knives made his eyes pop open. His focus shot straight to Cora watching her move. Had she already started the attack whilst he'd been sleeping on the job? She leaped towards a huge tree trunk that was suddenly lying in the middle of the training area. When had that got there?

             
Clay was no longer stood brooding as he had rushed forward trying to grab a chunk of the tree that lay on the ground. The scene played out in front of him in slow motion. Clay tried to lift the trunk without success, his fingers slipping off the rough bark. Cora flung her arms high trying to control her element; he felt the wind gather, cold and powerful. Jack looked back at the trunk and realised the tree trunk had flailing arms underneath it. He scanned the area, he couldn’t see Eli. His heart tripped. He leaped up rushing towards them.