Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) (19 page)

Jack was desperate to fall back asleep, but his body decided to rebel against the need. He was on edge; he had felt some strange presence in the cottage earlier. Talisa forced him to stay inside today, which meant that she felt something as well. Jack wasn’t brave enough to ask her what the presence was.

He had no desire for a head-slap or being splashed with ice water so early in the day.

Jack tried to follow his teacher’s suggestion of studying the previous elf mages, but he couldn’t focus. His mind drifted to Callypso, and he cursed himself. Jack knew there was more to her than her appealing visage, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. A part of him felt that the answer was slapping him in the face and he was just too dense to notice.

However, he did notice the letter that Talisa had thrown at his lap before she left. It was from Shadow, and Jack couldn’t bring himself to open it. Each time he made the move to do so, the fear of the soldier’s words restrained him.

“Oh, just open it already, you idiot!” Jack hissed as he snatched up the letter and tore through the green wax seal.

Hello Jack
,

       
Artemis sends her love (and threats). We were both quite amused that you may be a “proper elf” when you return to us! Artemis bet you would last a week at most before you return to your old self
.

       
Now onto that little dilemma of yours. As far as I know, the string occurs for one person only. There
is
a difference between the string and simple lust, you know. (I know you’re glaring at this point. You should stop before you get another one of those headaches you complain so much about.) Whoever this new woman
is, she must certainly be something in order for you to forget all about Lily. I’m afraid I can’t really be of much help to you, Jack. If you feel the string for two women, I hope you realize you can only choose one. All I can tell you is to choose wisely
.

       
Artemis and I plan to visit you and Talisa sometime soon. You can introduce us to your mystery woman then. Maybe you’ll even receive our blessings
.

Shadow

“Soleil burn me, why do the both of you enjoy tormenting me?” Jack whined. “I’m not lusting, damn you! This is a damned conspiracy!”

He could imagine the looks he’d receive from both Shadow and Artemis if they heard his response. Artemis would glare and call him an idiot, while Shadow would simply shake his head and flash that sarcastic smile of his.

Shadow had no right to judge; he had his own problems, like denying his feelings for Artemis. Artemis was in the same predicament, even if she wouldn’t acknowledge being in one. Jack would much rather be in his current trouble than in theirs. When the day came for those two to come together, the victory would be his. He would make sure to never let them hear the end of it either—the physical abuse they would hand him would be well worth it.

He tossed the letter aside and was startled by the knocks on the front door. Jack grabbed the small curved knife he had grown accustomed to carrying after his first night of the apprenticeship, and tucked it away in his tunic sleeve.

“Who is here at this hour?” Jack grumbled, knowing that Talisa would have walked in with or without announcing herself.

Reaching the door, he felt a soothing energy he recognized instantly. Jack opened the door and somehow managed to suppress a stupid grin when he saw her.

Callypso stood outside the door, her light blue eyes still hypnotic to him. She wore a flowy peach dress this time and was still barefoot.

“Hello, Jack,” she greeted him, with a soft smile. “I have to admit I didn’t expect to see you here. Aren’t you supposed to be on your walk?”

Jack rubbed the back of his neck and tried to still his nerves. “Sadly, Talisa confined me to the cottage.”

“That is a shame, as it’s such a nice morning for a stroll,” Callypso replied, as a small wind lifted the blond curls that framed her face.

Jack grew mesmerized at the sight; she was such a beauty.

Then he realized he was being rude and quickly moved aside so that she could enter.

“Why don’t you come inside? I’m afraid Talisa isn’t around, but perhaps you’d like some tea until she comes back? Unless you’re in a hurry, of course.” Jack scowled at himself for babbling like a youngling.

“I’m in no hurry.” Callypso stepped inside. When she wasn’t looking, Jack took the knife out of his tunic sleeve and hid it in the closest bookcase. “I would love some tea.”

She let him lead her into the kitchen, even though Jack surmised that she’d been in Talisa’s cottage before. Callypso settled into one of Talisa’s cushioned chairs and studied the room.

“Nothing much has changed since I was here last…” she observed.

“If you don’t mind my asking,” Jack began, “how long ago was that? Better yet, how exactly do you know Talisa?”

“Let’s just say I’ve known her for far too long.” Callypso smiled. She crossed her legs while folding her arms. “I’m partial to vanilla hazelnut, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t,” Jack answered. “I see you’re still favoring the cryptic approach.”

“I do enjoy a good mystery.”

“Please don’t tell me you were once an apprentice to Talisa.”

“Goddesses, no!” Callypso chuckled. “I value my friendship with Talisa far too much to discard it by accepting an apprenticeship.”

Jack stood up to retrieve the teapot, and then he returned to hand her a small teacup. “You are something else, though.”

“Oh?”

“I can’t figure it out yet, but you’re definitely more than you’re letting on.”

“If you hadn’t realized that by now, you wouldn’t be much of an apprentice.” Callypso laughed at Jack’s sullen look. “I meant no disrespect, Jack.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Why did Talisa venture out of the cottage so early? It’s not something she normally does until much later in the day.”

“I didn’t ask.” Jack was going to mention the odd presence he felt earlier, but decided that he too, would be cryptic. “Something was bothering her. She looked as if she didn’t want to be disturbed.”

“Probably a wise move on your part.” Callypso sighed. “I wonder if…” She noted Jack’s look of interest and waved him off. “It’s nothing. I’m just musing aloud.”

“I could be of some help. I muse aloud all the time.” Jack grinned.

“I wondered if she’s out looking for me. Something…something strange has been in the air lately, and I wanted to talk to her about it,” Callypso explained as her face darkened.

So she felt something too
. “That has been a recurring theme lately.”

“Tell me, what do you know about spirits? Particularly of those who long ago passed from this world?”

“Spirits of the deceased either linger or disappear into the hands of the goddess of death, Avilyne,” Jack replied while tapping the armrest. “Those who linger do so because their souls refuse to move on.”

“That’s not always the case,” Callypso said. “Spirits that linger have enough strength left over to have personal vendettas carried out for them. It always starts with dreams, and then strange events follow soon after.”

Who are you, Callypso?
“You’ve been sensing a lingering spirit lately?”

“I can feel the spirit in the winds.” She shuddered. “I’m not sure what to make of it.”

Talisa said to me that a ripple effect was coming after we saw Tamina’s death in Kiare’s Mirror
, Jack thought.
Is Tamina the spirit she’s referring to? Did we feel Artemis’ mother this morning?

“Jack?”

“Sorry, I was thinking of something.” Jack blinked. Callypso raised an eyebrow, and he shrugged in response. “It’s nothing, really.”

“You know something.”

“As do you.”

“Ah, now I see what you’re trying to do. I tell you why you feel there’s more to me than meets the eye, and then you’ll explain what you know about my suspicions.”

“Something like that.”

Callypso rose from her chair and left her teacup beside the teapot. She smirked as she walked toward the front door. Jack followed and watched her wander into the open forest, looking to the sky.

“I’m afraid I just can’t tell you, elf mage,” she sighed. “You’ll have to work harder at learning my truth. I suspect you have an idea, and I can see that you do not trust the thought. You should learn to pay more attention to your instinct. It might save your life one day.”

Before Jack could speak, she disappeared. A gentle wind blew through his hair and his clothes.

He wished Talisa was around for a head-slap. He’d even take the ice water.

“It’s you,” he said aloud. “You’re an elemental. You’ve been here before my very eyes.”

Another realization set in—he felt the string for an
elemental
. Jack looked to the sky as if he was watching the goddesses. “This torture is for all the nights at the tavern, isn’t it? Soleil burn me. What a mess I’ve gotten myself into.”

Talisa found herself before the gateway to the Grove of Kiare’s Mirror. She hadn’t meant to come here, and she doubted the one she was looking for was within besides. There was no need for Kiare’s vassal to be here; Talisa had enough of the grove it after seeing Tamina’s death.

“I didn’t expect to find you here,” a voice said from behind her. “That seems to be the theme of the day—surprise.”

Talisa smiled when she saw the curly, blond-haired woman wearing a flowing peach dress. “Callypso. Just the one I was looking for.”

“I thought as much, since you weren’t home.” Callypso chuckled.

“You went to the cottage?” Talisa raised an eyebrow. “Willow be damned, you’ve met Jack. I apologize already if he gave any offense.”

“No apologies necessary, since I’ve met him before, Talisa,” Callypso replied. She laughed at Talisa’s stricken expression. “The blame lies with me. I told him it would be in his best interests to stay silent on the matter.”

“He has a fascination with elementals, Cally,” Talisa explained. “He probably realizes by now that you are one. You’ll never know peace again.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.” Callypso sighed. “He has so much potential, but he is rather dense. Our dear Jack fears his instinct. He has doubted himself for too long, and it’s hindering his abilities to grow.”

“Don’t get me started on the boy.” Talisa rubbed her temples. “Let’s get down to it, shall we? You went to the cottage for a reason. Is there something amiss?”

Callypso nodded as she fixed her skirts and sat against a tree trunk. “I’ve been sensing a lingering spirit in the wind. The energy trail this spirit left behind has been disturbing to me.”

“Oh?” Talisa realized Callypso spoke of Tamina’s recent visit. She fixed her robes as she sat against a tree opposite the elemental.

Callypso wrinkled her nose. “I sense some of it on you as we speak. Have you had an odd dream or encounter lately?”

“Yes,” Talisa admitted. “It’s what I wanted to speak to you about. You’re feeling the energy of a dear friend who was murdered a little over two decades ago.”

“That explains why the energy trail is so strong.” Callypso rested her chin in her hand. “What did it want?”

“
She
asked me to send you to find her weapons,” Talisa answered. Callypso grew confused. “Tamina was a vampire, a full-blood from Blackwen City. She fought alongside Shadow of Ellewynth and me for many years in service to the realm. She was a master of the sai. The weapons and skills are only passed down to the women of her bloodline, the Ravenwing.”

“That part I know,” Callypso said. “How did she die?”

“By Arlina’s hand.”

Callypso froze. “As in Arlina, the current Mistress of Blackwen City?”

“Indeed.”

“They were sisters, yes?” Talisa nodded, and Callypso frowned. “It would appear that Tamina desires revenge. You’re now a piece in the game that she created. It would seem that I will be joining in as well, whether I wish to or not.”

“She only asked for you to find her weapons, Cally. That would be your only service.”

“And who will be the one to wield them should I choose to retrieve them?”

Talisa pursed her lips. “Artemis, Tamina’s only daughter and the last living kin to Arlina.”

“The little dhampir who used to run rampant around your cottage?” Callypso asked. Talisa nodded again. “No. Absolutely not. I loved that little girl. I will not put her in harm’s way.”

“I won’t deny that I am uneasy about this as well,” Talisa said, “but it must be done.”

“Why must
I
be the one to find these weapons of Tamina’s?”

“You’re an elemental,” Talisa answered. “You have also lived in this forest long enough to know where things are hidden. Tamina wants you to find her sai and then hand them to Artemis once the time is right. It’s better if you just return them to me. I do not think Tamina will mind that.”

“Avilyne’s hell.” Callypso rubbed her temples, seeming as if she was having an internal debate.

Talisa rarely saw her this way. “What troubles you, old friend?”

“I will look for the sai and retrieve them,” she answered, after a moment of silence. Before Talisa could express her gratitude, Callypso raised a hand to silence her. “I will do so under the condition that I cleanse them. I worry, Talisa. Spirits that linger for as long as Tamina has…they’ve lost themselves. They lose all sense of sanity and focus on the one thing that keeps them here in our world, which oftentimes is anger. If she returns again, and I have no doubt that she will, please be cautious. She will not be the same Tamina you were once so fond of.”