Solstice at Stonewylde (19 page)

‘I’m not sure how to start, really. I don’t know quite how it happened, and I—’

‘Yul, if it’s about Holly, I already know.’

‘I was worried you might,’ he groaned, his face downcast. ‘I saw her again the other day when I was up at Hare Stone looking for you. She started bragging about telling you and I was so angry with her I don’t know how I controlled myself. I despise that girl! Sylvie, I—’

‘Look, Yul, I don’t know the details and I don’t think I really want to. It’ll only make me jealous and I hate feeling like that. But I understand how manipulative she is and I guess she tricked you?’

‘Yes! I was a fool and I knew it straight away. She’d followed you and seen us together and she threatened to tell Magus if I didn’t kiss her like I’d kissed you.’

‘And did you?’ whispered Sylvie, her throat tight and aching.

He nodded in shame, looking beseechingly into her clear grey eyes, now full of pain that he knew he’d inflicted.

‘I’m so sorry, Sylvie! If it’s any consolation, I hated it.’

‘Oh Yul, how could you? I’d hoped Holly was all talk and I didn’t believe you’d actually
kiss
her.’

His face twisted with guilt. He shook his head and half turned from her, unable to face her distress. She sat silently, fighting the emotions that slashed like a knife inside her.

‘Do you want me to leave?’ he mumbled.

She glanced down at the little golden hare still in her hand. It was perfect, completely capturing the essence of hare in its long ears and lithe body. He must have spent such time and care on it, and he’d even made it from their special tree. As with the corn favour he’d made her, Sylvie was touched by his thoughtfulness and romanticism. So she shook her head and laid her head against the hard leather covering his shoulder.

‘No, Yul, I’m upset and angry, but I never want you to leave.’

At this he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down on top of him onto the bed. He held her face just off his, her
silver hair hanging like a veil around them, and gazed deep into her eyes. She saw his love for her, dark and a little dangerous, and felt herself dragged down into his soul where she knew there was a place for her alone and nobody else. Thoughts of Holly withered into insignificance.

‘Kiss me, Sylvie,’ he whispered softly. ‘Kiss me and forgive me. You know you’re the one I love.’

She began to kiss him, slowly and gently at first. She teased him with her softness and lightness, enjoying the control she had over him, the way he strained towards her so desperately. But soon her teasing gave way to the urgent need she felt blossoming inside, and their kisses became deep and hard. She felt his hands on her back through the soft linen of her nightdress, his leather jacket stiff between them as he clasped her hard against him, his mouth ravenous for hers. The walls of her bedroom disappeared as she entered the dark labyrinth of desire and took her first tentative steps along the path. Nothing mattered but this journey, and the two of them being together.

After a while and without warning, Yul stood up in a sudden and fluid motion, taking them both upright. But still she clung to him, her arms locked around his neck, unwilling to release him.

‘Sylvie,’ he murmured, and gently but firmly held her away from him. His eyes were almost black with passion and he laughed unsteadily, shaking the hair from his eyes. ‘Sylvie …’

She closed her eyes for a couple of heartbeats, then opened them to stare at him, her cheekbones flushed with longing, her breathing fast.

‘I don’t … Yul, I’ve never felt like this before.’

He grimaced, brushing her messed-up hair away from her face with a trembling hand.

‘You’re lucky then. I feel like this all the time, every time I see you or even think of you …’

He took a deep breath, his steely control slipping back into place, and gazed into her eyes once more.

‘You don’t know how much you fill my days and my nights,’
he said softly. ‘Thinking about you, wanting you, dreaming about the day we can make love and be together. You’re my whole universe, Sylvie, and Holly is just an irritating grain of sand. I can’t begin to tell you just how much I love you and how much I need you. Don’t ever, ever doubt it.’

He smoothed her hair again tenderly, his eyes searching her face.

‘I must go,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s dangerous to be here, this is so risky for both of us. But the Owl Moon draws closer and I have to tell you the plan. I’ll come and get you in the middle of the afternoon as it gets dark early, now the Solstice is near. Have lunch as normal and, after a while, say you’re feeling sleepy and need to rest before the evening. He’ll approve of that. Tell your mother that you don’t want to be disturbed, then come up here and put on your warmest clothes – lots of layers, because it’ll be cold. Make up your bed so it looks like you’re in it and pull the curtains shut so it’s as dark as possible in here. Then wait for me. I’ll come and fetch you and we’ll get away as fast as we can.’

‘Okay, it sounds a good plan to me except for one thing – what if the outside door’s locked? You wouldn’t be able to get in and I’d be trapped in here. Nearer the time, Magus may lock the door and take the key away. He’s become a real gaoler lately and I’m almost surprised he doesn’t keep me in chains.’

He grinned at her.

‘I have my own key! Harold borrowed it and Tom got it copied by the blacksmith. I’ve tested it and it works perfectly, so I can rescue you even if the door is locked.’

‘Brilliant! I feel so much better knowing there’s a plan. I’ve been really frightened about it, worrying and having nightmares. And Yul, I – oh!’

She suddenly noticed the time on her small clock and her eyes widened in panic.

‘I hadn’t realised it was that late! Oh Yul, you must go now, quickly! Magus comes in here most nights and he could be here any time now. He’s insisting on early nights because he wants me strong and healthy so I can stay on the rock for longer and
give him all my moon magic. He goes on about it all the time.’

He kissed her quickly but longingly.

‘Well he’ll be disappointed, won’t he? I’ll see you in a few nights. Send a message with Harold or Cherry if anything happens and I’ll come straight away. I won’t let you down this time, Sylvie, I swear to you.’

The wooden door had shut with a cold waft of air and Sylvie had leaped into bed and yanked up the covers. The photo and her golden hare were now safely tucked away in her drawer and her love locked tight in her heart. She’d just picked up the book and was taking slow, deep breaths in an attempt to calm her pounding heart and trembling fingers, when with a peremptory knock, Magus strode into her bedroom.

‘Time for lights out, young lady,’ he said briskly. He sniffed the air and glanced around the room with a puzzled expression, but relaxed when his eyes fell on her.

‘Are you alright? You’re a little flushed and … bright-eyed.’

She nodded, gripping her book and trying to shield herself with it. He came across to her bed and took it from her.

‘What are you reading? Oh,
Wuthering Heights
. Are you enjoying it?’

‘Very much,’ she replied, quickly lying down in bed and pulling the covers up high to her chin. ‘It’s one of my favourite books.’

He stood looking down as she lay there, blond hair spread out on the pillow in a silky mass. He stared and stared until she started to feel uncomfortable. Then he sat down on the side of the bed, his weight pulling the covers tight over her, trapping her. He began to stroke the hair back from her forehead and she shivered with fear, remembering him doing the same when she was weak and he was angry with her. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, dark as a moonless night. He gazed at her as she lay trembling at his touch.

‘Are you cold?’ he asked softly. ‘You’re flushed and yet you’re shivering.’

‘No.’

‘Then what’s the matter?’

‘Nothing.’

She was terrified, her mouth too dry to speak. His fingers, so like Yul’s, began to trace her eyebrows and then down to her hot cheekbones. She remembered Yul doing the same but she’d welcomed his touch, whereas Magus’ filled her with dread. Her silvery-grey eyes were enormous, the pupils dilated with fear as she gazed up at him helplessly.

‘You’re growing up, Sylvie, slowly but surely,’ he said, his voice like rich velvet. ‘Almost a woman now.’

His fingertips continued their slow journey down the line of her jaw. His thumb ran gently along the contours of her lips, still slightly swollen from kissing Yul so passionately, and she didn’t know how to stop him without offending him. His eyes were compelling and so close, as mesmerising as a snake’s. She saw a muscle in his cheek twitch and his nostrils flare very slightly. He seemed to be hesitating about something and she could hardly breathe, she was so scared. But she needn’t have worried. He bent and brushed her cheek with his lips, his exquisite scent entering her lungs.

‘Sweet dreams, my moongazy girl. I’ll see you in the morning at breakfast.’

He got up, switched off her light and left the room, shutting the door firmly behind him. Only then did she breathe freely again, although his presence seemed to linger in the darkness long after he’d left.

The next day Magus escorted Sylvie from the Dining Hall and she felt every pair of eyes following them as he led her out, hand under her elbow. She knew the rumours Holly had spread after she’d seen Sylvie’s sickness the other morning, and now walked glumly by Magus’s side, trying to hold her head up and feeling queasy from the heavy food she’d just eaten. She hoped that whatever he had to say would be dealt with quickly.

He ushered her into the office and she saw Clip sitting on one of the sofas. He had a cake tin by him and hastily brushed
some crumbs off his jacket. He looked pale and faraway, his face strained and eyes dull. Sylvie was reminded of some wolves she’d once seen in a zoo, their beauty and spirit marred by enforced captivity.

‘Good morning, Sylvie,’ he said listlessly. ‘You’re looking well.’

‘She’s very well now that she’s taking care of herself properly at last,’ said Magus smoothly, guiding Sylvie to the sofa opposite Clip and sitting down next to her. He took one of her hands in his and rubbed it encouragingly.

‘She’s seen sense at last, haven’t you Sylvie? I’m so pleased with her, Clip. She’s willing to make that little sacrifice every month for me and for Stonewylde. She knows what she has to do.’

Sylvie stared at her knees, wondering how she could pull her hand away without making him cross. She hated him touching her. He gripped her more tightly and she looked up suddenly. Clip was gazing at her intently, his pale eyes huge in his thin face and dominated by their enlarged pupils.

‘She’s seen sense then,’ he said softly. ‘No more fighting you.’

His voice that was like Magus’ but not as deep or resonant, and Sylvie stared at him, remembering something, something she mustn’t forget …

‘No!’ she cried. ‘No, Magus, you promised! You said I didn’t have to be hypnotised again if I co-operated. Please,
no
!’

She struggled, trying to escape, but Magus gripped her arm harder so she couldn’t stand up.

‘Just keep still, Sylvie, and then it’ll all be over. This is for your own good and it’ll make the whole thing so much easier for you. Come on, be a good girl and stop struggling. You know I don’t want to hurt you.’

‘Please, Magus, I
beg
you! I’ll go to Mooncliffe, I’ll do whatever you say, I promise! I won’t fight you and I’ll charge up all your moon eggs, as many as you want. Just don’t hypnotise me, please – let me do this for you with my own free will!’

But Magus only chuckled, his grip as tight as ever as he slid a hand behind her to grasp her other arm too and hold her down firmly on the sofa. Clip knelt in front of her, taking her head
between his hands so she couldn’t look away. She closed her eyes, desperately trying to shake her head out of his grasp, whimpering for him to stop.

‘Stop fighting, Sylvie, and just give in,’ said Clip wearily. ‘It’s so much easier, believe me. Now look at me, look at me, look closely, Sylvie, deep into my eyes. That’s right, good girl. When I count to three, you’ll wake up and you won’t remember this, just like before. Now, remember what I told you last time about Mooncliffe?’

When he’d finished he let go of her head and turned to Magus, his eyes resigned.

‘Alright? Anything else or is that it?’

Magus smiled, releasing his hold on Sylvie’s arms. She remained sitting exactly as she’d been before, staring ahead like a life-size doll, and he chuckled again.

‘It’s so easy, isn’t it? No, I think that’ll do for now, thank you Clip. There may be something else but that can wait for a bit.’

‘I told you, Sol, this is the last time. I refuse to abuse my gift like this again and I’m not coming up to bloody Mooncliffe with you either, so don’t even ask.’

‘I don’t need you, brother dear. Jackdaw’s coming with me and I think he’ll be far more effective than you were, especially if our friend Yul turns up on another rescue mission.’

‘Sol, don’t overdo it this month, will you? I know what Jackdaw’s like, and what you’re like too. Be careful, please – Sylvie’s only a girl; remember what happened to our mother up there.’

‘That was an eclipse,’ said Magus tersely. ‘Ordinary moongazing won’t kill her.’