Awakenings (A Witch's Coven Novel Book 1) (11 page)

Alessia hugged me and said, “I hadn’t thought that a simple bribe with a bottle of whiskey could get me in to see the mayor’s son.”

“Magic isn’t always the way. Sometimes the simplest way is the best way.” I hugged her back and then let her go. “Good night.”

“Good night.” She went to leave, but stopped and said, “I will be in the morning class. I’m not leaving.”

I smiled and replied, “Good. Then I’ll see you, and we’ll have to make another date so that I can finish my story.”

“I would like that.” Alessia headed off and went to bed.

I stayed up late that night thinking of the past and what could have been. The moon set long after midnight, but still I sat, waiting for time to turn back on itself and allow me to undo the damage I had done, but that was not to be.

***

Time passed and weeks followed upon weeks with the cold approaching until one night we had the first snow storm. I kept myself busy with teaching the initiates, and Alessia did stay in the coven. She worked extra hard in her studies and spent more time with her aunt and cousin. I did not hear much of the mayor’s son, but I expected she used what I had taught her and saw him when she could. I turned a blind eye to missing wine and whiskey, and thought it best that I lost out on a few bottles than to lose Alessia.

But keeping myself busy and lost in my work only helped me to suppress the past. Memories always found a way to resurface and sting like an old injury that would ache when the weather turned. A storm came up from the south and it blanketed the city with a heavy snow. That night I walked through the halls of my home and went to the tower where the girls stayed. I went to check on them to make certain they were warm and had all they needed. Each had their own room. If I chanced upon a locked door and a nearby empty room, I walked on. I left them their privacy.

When I came to Alessia’s room, it was empty. I saw old books and scrolls scattered about the room but did not enter. Each girl’s room was her own to do as she pleased. My only rule was no boys or girls from the outside could come in. Otherwise, I left them pretty much on their own.

“Are you looking for me?” Alessia came up from behind and nearly startled me. She was always silent like a cat.

“I came to check that all of you are well. The storm will be strong tonight, and it’ll be cold.” I saw Petronelle peak out from her room.

“I could use more firewood if any is available.” Petronelle waited for me to answer before leaving her room.

“I brought some wood in. It’s at the bottom of the stairs. Take as much as you need.”

Petronelle disappeared back into her room for a bit and came back out with a large canvas bag. Alessia called after her. “Would you like any help?”

Quiet and reserved as normal, Petronelle declined and headed off down the stairs. She had closed her door before she left. I had never seen inside her room or been invited in, but I thought it promising that she asked me for some help.

Alessia lowered her voice. “She must be extremely cold to come out and talk with us.”

“Has she been well?” I asked.

“She doesn’t let any of us into her room, but she’s friends with Rosamund. I talk with her as best I can, but she keeps mostly to herself.” She passed me and went into her room. “Would you like to come inside?”

“Yes, thank you.” I crossed the threshold into her room and the room wavered. The books and scrolls that I saw scattered all over vanished. The illusion faded and I saw that the room was well organized. Books were piled around her desk, but they were separated by topic and class that I taught. By her window, she had set up shelves with various chemicals and minerals. One of her experiments had fungus growing out of it and bubbled every so often.

Alessia went over to the fire and tossed on another log. She pulled the blanket off her bed, wrapped it around her, and sat on a chair. “I would offer you some wine, but I have none left.”

I took the rocking chair by the fire and listened to the swirling snow outside. The wind picked up and howled with both of us feeling a cold draft coming in from the window. “I’m more in the mood for something warm to drink.”

She got off her bed but kept the blanket wrapped around her. “Let me get you some tea.”

I rocked my chair and kept my feet close to the fire. “Thank you. That would be nice and help warm me up.” The wind changed direction and a mixture of snow and sleet pelted the window. Far off on the other side of town, we saw a flash of light followed by a low rumbling.

Alessia stopped boiling the water in the teapot that she positioned over the fire. “Was that thunder?”

A knock on the door distracted both of us. I kept my eye on the window, watching and listening to the storm outside, and ignored Alessia’s question.

She went to the door to her room and opened it to see Petronelle and Rosamund standing together. “We just heard thunder outside and were worried.”

Alessia opened the door wider and noticed that Petronelle held Rosamund’s hand. “We just heard the same thing. Come on in.”

I ignored the girls chatting about the storm and closed my eyes. Casting my spirit out, I left my body and searched for my raven. He had wintered himself at the top of the tower and stayed far away from the ice and snow. I could not see much through his eyes, but I listened and heard nothing unusual. When I came back to my body, the three girls were silent and watched me. It took me a few moments to reorient myself. Alessia handed me a mug of tea, and I held it in my hands. The warmth flowed through my hands and comforted me. “Girls, you all look upset. We’re going to be fine. It’s just a snow storm.”

Petronelle played with her long black hair, twirling it out of nervousness. “Are you sure it’s just a bad storm?”

I took a sip of tea and hid my displeasure. Alessia had brewed the green tea too long. Instead of tasting mild and soothing, a strong bitter flavor filled my mouth. The liquid did warm me up though and heated up my hands as well. “Yes, it’s just a storm. A bad one, but that’s all.”

Rosamund leaned onto Petronelle and stared out the window. “My father told me the story of the great wurm that attacked the northern cities thousands of years ago. Are you sure it’s not that?”

“There’s no such thing as a dragon.” I glanced back to the window. “It truly is just a bad winter storm.” The wind picked up as if to challenge me, and the snow fell faster and harder. I pitied anyone who had to be outside this evening.

Alessia passed more mugs of tea around and went over to her oil lamps and turned them up a bit. More light brightened the room, and I settled deeper into my chair. We were all silent for a moment, and out in the hall a few girls passed by who peeked in and were seemingly comforted that I was with them during the storm.

When Alessia sat back down, she asked, “Should we play a game or tell some stories to pass the time?”

Both Rosamund and Petronelle turned to Alessia in surprise. I laughed at them and said, “What? Do you not think I play games or like stories?”

Rosamund, the younger of the two, said, “But you’re old and our coven mother.” With her sweet voice and curly blond hair that flowed to her shoulders, I could see why Petronelle was attracted to her.

“I’m thirty-six. Is that so ancient to you?” I kept my face stern and waited to see her reaction.

Petronelle elbowed Rosamund in the side to silence her, but Rosamund ignored her and said, “You’re older than my mother.”

“That doesn’t mean that I dislike playing games and stories.” I put my mug down and faced her. “When I was young, I used to like playing risk and honesty.”

All three girls reacted by giggling. Rosamund stopped first and asked, “I didn’t know that you enjoyed games like that. We play that game all the time. Petronelle likes choosing risk most of the time.”

Petronelle scowled and shot her friend an angry look.

Rosamund ignored her and asked, “Can we play a game now?”

I shook my head. “I think you girls can play that later when I’m not around. It might be more enjoyable for you all without having an old person like me in the game.”

Rosamund blushed and turned away. Alessia, ever the social pleaser, stepped in and asked, “Why don’t you tell us a story?”

I stood up and headed toward the door. “Unfortunately, I can’t stay. I have a pressing matter that I need to take care of. But don’t stop having fun on my part. Now you can play your game of risk or honesty like you wanted.” I pointed over the far side of the room. “And the bottle of wine that I gave to Alessia might be fun to share tonight among friends.”

Alessia stood up and grabbed my arm. Both Rosamund and Petronelle appeared startled that their friend would be so familiar with me. “Please stay. It’s a bad night and your company would be missed.”

I squeezed her hand firmly, trying to send a signal to her. “No, I do need to go, but thank you.”

Alessia knew enough not to say more, and I left the room and headed out of the tower as quickly as I could walk without seeming to rush. At the bottom, I left the magical confines of the tower and was free to travel faster and make for my room. With the last step that I took out of the tower, my next brought me to my study. I rushed over to the fire and saw it burned low. Raising my hand, the fire ignited in a burning inferno for a second and then settled down to a nice and steady roar.

Leaving my study, I went into my library and rushed to a marble pedestal. On it, a crystal the width of my palm pulsed in an eerie blue light. I watched the pulsing light but did not touch the crystal. After all these years, the Moonstone had awakened, and a mixture of trepidation and happiness came over me. With the gem pulsing, it could only mean one thing, but I had to be sure. I sat down in a chair across from the pedestal and took watch. The pulsing light mesmerized me and I fought its magic, but soon I drifted off into a deep sleep.

***

I woke with a start, and for a few moments I did not recognize my surroundings. The Moonstone still pulsed in front of me. Several hours had passed. I must have fallen asleep in my chair watching the stone. Its magic was strong and could play strange games on people. Outside the storm still howled, and I sat fully up, feeling my heart still racing. I wanted to check on the girls again to make certain that they were safe. Dream magic and illusions were wrought with danger, and I feared for them. I left the chair and headed down the hall. When I crossed over into the tower, I passed by Alessia’s room first. The door was ajar, and she sat on the bed studying a scroll.

“Are the others fine? I wanted to come back to check on you all.” I stood in the hallway and did not enter the room.

“I’m glad you came back.” She pointed across the hall. “The others have been asleep. Though Rosamund and Petronelle have been rather noisy.”

“They’re young and experimenting. When you’re with John, do you not act the same?” I heard movement and turned to see Cassy walking toward me.

She wore her blanket around her shoulders that dragged behind like a bride’s train. “When is this storm going to be over? It’s been howling all night long, and I haven’t been able to sleep.”

“I expect we have a few more hours yet.” I closed my eyes and looked to the east. “Sunrise is still a couple of hours away.”

“I just threw another log on. Why don’t you come on in and we’ll pass the time?” Alessia got off her bed and opened the door to her room all the way.

I took a seat by the fire, and Cassy sat on the floor as close to the fire as she could get. She had her blanket wrapped around her with her hair, wild and curly, sticking up in all directions. Alessia pulled her other chair next to the fire and sat by the fireplace as well. We listened to the wind outside and the snow, but I blocked that out and focused on the warmth from the fire. The white hot coals licked at the wood, catching the fresh piece ablaze.

“I remember the winter storm that hit the city during the war.” I looked to Alessia and Cassy. “Before both of you were born, the snow drifts were higher than the tallest man. We stayed inside for almost two full days before the storm ended. When we did finally try to venture out, we opened the back door and saw that the wind had blown a drift against the door. A wall of snow covered the exit. Our cook, Bessy, formed several small balls from the snow, put them in a bowl and made a sweet mixture from sugar and milk, pouring it warm on top of them. It was delicious. Even after all these years, I remember how good it tasted. A mixture between cold and hot with just the right amount of sweetness.”

Cassy smiled. “I like sweets. Maybe we can do the same thing after this storm.” She thought for a moment and then said, “I have some chocolate that my mother sent me. Maybe we can warm that up and pour it over the snow and try that?”

“Sounds delicious to me.” Alessia folded her hands and then asked, “What else do you remember from that storm? I like it when you tell stories from the past.”

“The night of the storm, we played cards, told ghost stories, and passed the time enjoying ourselves. Some wine and whiskey made its way around that we hid from those not so inclined to partake, and we enjoyed ourselves as best we could.”

Cassy sighed. “I bet other things happened too, but you’re not telling us because you think us too young.” She scratched the back of her head and waited for me to say more.

“Out of all the girls I have taught, you are the most brazen.” I shook my head. “Is that all you want to know are the exciting parts?”

Cassy blushed but did not say another word.

Alessia looked expectantly at me, but also remained quiet.

I thought it over for a moment and then said, “Let me close your door.”

Both girls clapped their hands in delight, happy that I gave in to them. I pointed at the door and then waved my hand. Slowly, the door closed shut, and I looked at each one of them. They were young, good students, but so unsure of themselves yet in the world. Raising my hands above my head, I closed my eyes and brought in my magic. A thick mist came up from underneath Alessia’s bed and it swirled around her desk, slowly spreading over to us, filling her room with a thick fog. Cassy reached out and touched my chair and said, “I can’t see.”