Shades of Gray: A Jude Magdalyn Novel (28 page)
“I’ve always told her the truth is the most important thing.”
“You open it.”
“No, Jude. It was your grandmother’s book.” Theo pushed the tome back across the table toward me but I was already shaking my head with my hands thrust out in front of me.
“No, you. Knowing me, I’ll get the key stuck in the lock.” I pushed the book back hard enough in his direction to have it almost fly off the table. Too bad we weren’t playing paper football.
Rian slammed his coffee cup down, making everyone in the room jump. “Give me the damn box and key and I’ll do it.” Rian stepped around the kitchen island, sliding the box down to the end of the table and dropping in a chair. He held out a hand, and I silently gave him the key.
“Really, Rian. You can’t be any more tired and out of sorts than anybody else.” Elizabeth stopped, like something had suddenly occurred to her. Her eyes narrowed, and I scooted my chair away from the table. This was one line of fire I had no desire to be in. “Unless you’ve been having visions and not saying anything about them?”
“No, Mother.”
“Mother, my ass. I’ll remember your crack the next time you want me to rub your temples because a vision gave you a headache.”
Rian opened his mouth, probably to snarl some smartass comment, but I’d had enough. I raised my hand and both of them shut up. Neither seemed happy about following the instruction. I started to tell Rian to open the damn box when the potted plant in the far corner of the kitchen exploded.
The plant didn’t really burst. The pot shattered, sending shards of clay everywhere. Potting soil scattered across the floor and roots snaked their way over the hardwood. I ducked under the table but the explosion ended before it began. I eased back up to find Theo and Rian staring at me. My eyes went wide and I shook my head.
“Oh, no. Not me. If something had caught on fire, you could blame me, but not this. I’m not too good at harnessing earth.”
“Lizzy did it.” Celia’s voice was bright and chipper after only a few hours of sleep. No doubt thanks to her crazy metabolism. My brain finished catching up and I did a quick head shake.
“What? Celia, go back to sleep. You’re dreaming.” She had to be and the chipper voice was just a lie. Elizabeth didn’t possess any powers.
“I’m not going back to sleep, and I’m not dreaming.” Celia uncurled from the padded bench along the wall and marched over to stand next to Elizabeth. She should have looked ridiculous in her footed pajamas with Disney princesses all over them. Instead, she reminded me of a disgruntled little old woman. “Tell them, Lizzy. You made the plant grow because Rian made you angry.”
“Elizabeth.” Theo’s voice held a question, one taking shape in my own mind. “Is Celia right?”
Elizabeth flushed clear to her hair. The heat in her cheeks made her look like the victim of a bad sunburn. She kept her eyes on her hands where they tangled together on the table top. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“You said you don’t have any powers, only hunches.”
“I don’t! I mean, I didn’t. I mean….” Elizabeth’s voice trailed off in a groan and she dropped her face on top of her hands. Her next words were muffled, but audible. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do, Lizzy.” Celia planted her fists on her hips and stomped her foot, the sound muffled by the pajamas. “Rian made you mad and then you made the plant grow.”
“Which would explain the increased health of the houseplants over the past couple of days.” Rian’s voice was amazingly droll, considering the situation. If I made someone so mad a plant exploded, I’d be a little sorry. Maybe apologize or something, but not crack a joke.
Elizabeth raised her head up to rest her chin on her hands, and I thought about ducking back under the table at the look in her eyes. Theo must have thought along the same lines, because he eased his chair back a few inches.
“Lizzy! You’re doing it again!” Celia patted at Elizabeth’s knee, pointing in the direction of the plant. I turned to stare and sure enough the damn plant grew more. Not as much as before, but roots extended and new leaves unfurled.
“Elizabeth. It would seem Gillian willed you more than just a place on the Council.” How Theo could sound so calm I have no clue, but I gave him props. “I’ve heard of this happening, but not for a very long time. Since before Lisette’s birth.”
I noticed he’d dropped the title before Lisette’s name. “Just another of the little bennies of being the Prophecy, right?”
“So it would seem.” Rian’s voice was still droll, but more amused. Glad somebody saw humor in the situation. “Trust Gillian to make sure her power went to someone close to you, and invested in your wellbeing.”
Trust Gillian to think of everything. I shifted my gaze from the now still plant to Elizabeth. Her color returned to normal and she no longer looked like she wanted to run Rian through with a sword. Celia leaned against her, patting her knee.
“Elizabeth.” Her eyes shifted to me and they were wary, almost frightened. Like I’d rip her up and down for something she couldn’t control. I kept my voice calm, almost bland. “Remind me to either get a bigger pot for the plant or move it outside. I hope you know where the broom and mop are.”
She looked bewildered for a moment before smiling. “Not a single clue, but you can always hire a cleaning service. I can find the number for the one Wily uses.”
“Of course you do.” Scooting back up to the table, relatively certain the storm had passed, I glanced in Rian’s direction. “Now that the entertainment portion of the evening is over, maybe we can do a little work.” I took the key from Gillian’s letter out of my pocket and handed it to him.
Rian took the key, turning the small piece over in his hand before sliding it into the lock. A click, followed by the creak of old hinges as the lid cracked open slightly. He lifted the top and the smell of wildflowers and clover wafted through the kitchen. The book he hefted out had a soft leather cover and even from where I sat I could see the pages were yellowed, some of them tattered.
Rian looked at me in question, and I shook my head. I wanted to be able to absorb Gillian’s words as much as possible, something I couldn’t do if I read aloud. He took a deep breath, and flipped to a page at random.
May 3, 1982
I received news today of Jude’s birth, and Martha’s death. The phone call from the investigator was short, although a full report was promised. I’ve no doubt I’ll receive news of the investigator’s death before I receive his report. The Council seems determined to enforce their decree, no matter how many people must die in doing so.
The orphanage where Jude was born is run by the Church so she’ll be provided for, at least in the most basic sense. I’ve done what I can to ensure she’ll not be thrown out on charges of being a witch. The Council would say I’m crippling her in the same way I crippled Martha, but I don’t think so. They’ve forgotten what the rest of the world is like, the world which doesn’t believe in real magic, and things that go bump in the night. I can’t see to her upbringing or wellbeing, but at least she’ll have a chance at a normal life.
They buried Martha on Church grounds, although under protest. The investigator helped grease the wheels with an outrageous sum. I’ll not stand for my flesh and blood sunk into an unmarked grave with other vermin. Her only sin was in loving someone too flawed. I’ll take blame in her sin, because all I saw was a chance for Martha to be happy.
I should have run Luc off the first time he came around Martha. I knew what a wastrel he’d been though he changed for Martha. I’ll never say he brought his own demise on himself, but part of me wonders if it might have been avoided if he hadn’t sold his talents to Hart and his cronies.
He gave me a granddaughter, but he cost me both her and my daughter.
Rian paused, smoothing the page down before looking up. “Gillian apparently didn’t approve of your father much.”
Shocker. Now I understood her concerns about Williams a little more. Talk about someone with serious flaws.
Rian took a sip of water from the glass Theo pushed toward him. He flipped to another page, this one further into the book.
July 19, 1998
Most of the Council is gone. Only a few remain. Enough to ensure I can offer Jude no help. All my money, all my resources, and my granddaughter is forced to live on the streets.
The investigator’s report was thorough. Depressingly so. Sixteen, and forced to sell herself. Not often, but often enough. Jude, it would seem, is an excellent thief, and makes most of her money picking pockets. But once, possibly twice a week, she takes money for sex.
If I thought the Covenant would survive, I would wipe the Council from the face of the earth.
The investigator’s assistant, in the guise of a client, approached Jude and inquired about her fee. Jude answered it depended on how much he had. Not what he wanted, but how much he had. The assistant stated Jude was surprised when, after following her down the alley, he simply handed her an envelope of cash and walked away.
The investigator also included a copy of the police report of the assistant’s death. Arsenic poisoning.
My hand shook as I wiped my face. “I remember the man. Boy, really. He probably couldn’t even buy a beer yet. He told me someone wanted me to have the money, so I could sleep someplace at night.”
“How much did Gillian give you?” Impersonal questions. Good job, Elizabeth. Let’s not focus on the fact people were dying left and right just because they talked to me. Or a group of people planning on me saving their future generations thought it was fine to let me work the streets at sixteen.
“Five thousand. I didn’t need to go back to the streets for about six months.” My voice wanted to shake, but I clamped down on it. “Hotel and food for me and a few others.”
“And Lisette knew.” My voice might have been calm. Theo’s was livid, his thick accent back again. “Our families thought it right for you to live such a way and then expect you to welcome the responsibility of us whole-heartedly.”
“It’s done, Theo. We can’t change the past.” I reached across the table and placed my hand over his clenched fist. I waited until he met my gaze before continuing. “I’m here now, and whole. It’s done.”
His fist slowly flattened out and then he turned his hand up to link fingers with me. His smile came slowly, but it came. “Do you think we can throw darts at their pictures later?”
I snorted, and then laughed. “You find the pictures, I’ll find the darts.” I shot a glance at Elizabeth, not surprised to find Celia in her lap, paying full attention. Elizabeth cried silently. I turned in Rian’s direction, his face somber. “Whenever you’re ready, Rian.”
August 5, 2007
And so it begins. I hoped for more time once the bindings on her powers were released, but a great deal I’ve hoped for hasn’t come to pass.
I would have preferred for Williams to make first contact, but Hart beat him to it. Granted, Jude didn’t know at the time who Hart was, but she’s a smart girl. She knew something wasn’t right about the job and acted accordingly.
As much as I hate to admit it, her years of struggle have given her acute survival skills. Better than Martha’s, even Luc’s, ever were.
She’s strong, stubborn, and mouthy. I see a great deal more of me in her than of Martha. She would shock Martha, and most likely Luc, to hell and back. She would have been sneaking out her bedroom window at fifteen. Dancing on top of Bourbon Street bars before graduating from college.
Definitely more of me than of Martha.
She doubts us now. Most likely thinks we’re crazy as hell. I wish we were.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
Well, I guess that explained why I’d never had any flash of power before. Gillian had bound them, something I’d heard whispered in corners or as a parental threat to a child. She’d done everything she’d could for me from birth. Maybe some hadn’t turned out too great, but looking at where I was and what I’d ended up with it was hard to find fault in her efforts.
Rian paused only long enough to take a sip of water before flipping to the final page. His voice broke slightly but he didn’t hesitate.
August 22, 2007
By the time you read this, Jude, I’ll be dead and buried. I hope you’ll be able to understand why things turned out the way they did, and what your role must now be.
I’m writing this while plans to go rescue Celia are finalized. I didn’t expect Hart to move so quickly - I thought another week, at least. A little longer to work with and prepare you for the trials ahead. Hart has forced my hand, and there are some instances where fate cannot be changed, no matter how you would try.
If you still entertain any belief you are the reason I’ll be buried while you read this, I expect you to stop right now. I knew full well when we left I would not be coming back. To tell you would cause you unnecessary worry and seriously imped your rescue of Celia. Hart and his minions may fell me tonight, but I’ll take a few of them with me, by God.
This book, my Book of Shadows, is not just a collection of spells, potions, and other workings. These are my thoughts and feelings and actions for the whole of my time in the Covenant, from the moment I became aware of my powers and the resulting expectations. My history and your mother’s lies within these pages, and while I know not how much information this book will provide, it is here for the taking.
Never doubt who you are, or who you were meant to be, Jude Magdalyn. Every day of your life, I have been proud of you, and wherever death takes me, I will watch over you. All you need do is ask, and ask properly, and I will give you all the aid I can. All I ask is you fulfill your destiny, and live your life to the fullest.
And give me great-grandchildren.
“Gillian was really serious about you having kids, wasn’t she?” Theo’s voice broke the silence and I jumped slightly, my hand instinctively tightening over his. He grinned at me, wiggling his eyebrows. “In case you weren’t sure, I’ll do everything possible to make sure she gets her wish.”