Darkwater (18 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Not until she was almost back to Darkwater did Jennifer realize that she still clasped in her hand the tiny bottle of liquid Mrs. Hodges had given her. She stopped and lifted her hand, meaning to fling the bottle into the dark water near the path.

Instead, she lowered her hand, staring at the bottle. What if it worked? Mrs. Hodges' tea had worked, hadn't it? She had more strength than she'd had in days. Her progress going there had been a prolonged labor, but she had nearly run all the way home.

And what would she not do to bring Walter back to her? What would she not try? Mrs. Hodges had said it was harmless—but could she be trusted?

Slowly, Jennifer put the bottle into her pocket. She could always throw it away later, after all. Or, again, perhaps not. She would wait and see.

She was surprised when she arrived back at the house to discover that she had already been missed and that her absence was the cause of some consternation.

“Heavens, there you are,” Helen greeted her, rushing into the hall. “We've been frantic.”

“I just wanted to go for a walk,” Jennifer said. Bess was standing behind Helen, and for a moment her eyes met Jennifer's, and it was if some unspoken understanding passed between them. Bess nodded her head almost imperceptibly and Jennifer realized Bess knew where she had been, and that Mrs. Hodges had given her something. It seemed that Bess was telling her,
yes, go ahead, use it.

“A walk?” Helen looked incredulous.

“Yes, I'm feeling much better today and I was tired of spending all my time in bed. Is Walter in?”

“Liza suggested that perhaps in a delirium you had wandered into the swamp, and at her suggestion they went to look for you.”

But not,
Jennifer thought at once,
by the usual path or I would have met them.

“Well,” she said aloud, “I am home now and quite all right. I wonder if someone would bring some coffee up to my room, I think I would like some. And, Bess, send two cups. When Walter comes in I'll ask him to have some with me.”

Again, she had the impression that Bess understood more than had been said, but Bess only nodded and said, “I'll bring some right up.”

“You do look as if you're feeling better,” Helen said in a puzzled tone of voice. “Do you want me to help you up the stairs?”

“No, I can manage.”

In her room, changed into her filmiest peignoir and waiting for Bess to arrive with the coffee, another thought struck her. Was she feeling better because of the odd tea Mrs. Hodges had given her, or because Liza was out and not tormenting the doll? It no longer struck her as remarkable that she would accept one or the other of those two possibilities, either of which she would have laughed at not so long before.

Bess brought a tray bearing a steaming pot of coffee and two cups. “I made the coffee real strong,” she said, setting the tray down near Jennifer's chair.

When Bess had gone, Jennifer took the little bottle from her pocket and turned it about in her hand. It gleamed in the light from the window like a liquid amethyst. She removing the stopper and held the bottle to her nose. It had almost no scent—so, presumably it would have little flavor as well.

She heard muffled voices from outside followed by the sound of steps along the hall. Walter was home and coming to see her. Quickly, shutting her mind to the voices clamoring within her, she emptied the bottle into one of the cups. By the time Walter came into the room, she was pouring the coffee. She looked up and gave him a nervous smile.

“Hello, dear,” she greeted him.

“So you're back,” he said, not returning her smile. “Where were you?”

“Just out for a stroll and a breath of fresh air. I didn't dream I would cause so much excitement.”

“You had everyone very worried. Liza and I have been out hiking through the swamp. She had an idea she had seen someone going that way and thought it might have been you. She was worried too.”

“Was she?” Jennifer asked, trying to keep any sarcasm from her voice. “I am sorry to have alarmed her. Come sit down, won't you, darling, and have some coffee with me.”

“I've got work to get back to,” he said, still in an ill humor.

“It can wait five minutes, surely,” she said in her most coaxing voice. “And if you've been hiking around, you must be tired. It's been a while since you sat with me.”

Reluctantly, he came and sat in the chair opposite her.

“Your hands are shaking,” he said as she handed him one of the cups.

“Perhaps I was not as well as I thought. Drink it while it's hot, please.”

She lifted her own cup and tried to sip the strong brew, but it left a bitter taste in her mouth. What if that old witch gave me poison, she thought? The woman was certainly half-mad. She watched Walter lift his cup to his lips and for a moment she almost cried out.

Then the moment was past, he was drinking the coffee and it was done, for better or for worse. She gave a sigh and sank back in her chair.

He frowned down at his cup. “It has an odd taste.”

“It's very strong. I asked Bess to make it that way.” She forced herself to drink some more. “I rather like it like this.”

She watched him drink more of his and after a moment some of the stiffness went out of his posture. He seemed to relax visibly and when he looked at her again, his mouth formed itself into a smile and there was a tender light in his eyes that she had not seen for too long a time.

“I haven't been in very good spirits lately, I guess,” he said. “I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?”

She set her own cup aside and said, smiling, “Only if you kiss me.”

He knelt before her and took her in his arms. His lips sought hers, gently at first and then with a sudden intensity of passion. Eagerly she clung to him, her body melting against his, her lips warm and yielding. Her fingers moved through his hair.

“Darling,” she breathed hotly into his ear, “must those chores be done just now?”

“But you've been sick,” he said, starting to draw away from her as if he had just remembered.

She held him tightly to her. “And I am better today, so very much better.”

For a moment more he hesitated. Then he kissed her again, more passionately than before, and she knew that now a stronger magic was at work.

“Lock the door,” she said in a breathless whisper.

He did so and came back to take her in his arms again. He did not, apparently, hear the footsteps in the hall outside, as she did, or see the doorknob turn tentatively. The footsteps disappeared—in the direction of Liza's room.

She clung to him and tried to ignore the awful pain that began a moment later in her throat. Mrs. Hodges' tea had worn off, or Liza was at work on her doll again, but for the moment it did not matter. Let Liza do what she could, for now she would lie in Walter's arms, would die in them if she must. For the moment, Walter was hers, and not all the power of hell could change that.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Never had the pain been so horrible. Liza, she thought in the moment of lucidity afforded her between spasms, must be furious with her.

Jennifer smiled through her agony as she thought of the cause of Liza's anger. It had been worth it, whatever it cost her in the way of suffering. And the look on Walter's face when he kissed her and went out, that was worth any price.

A fresh wave of pain broke over her and despite her efforts not to, she cried aloud. It felt as if her body were being broken on the rack. She tried to seize the bedpost, to hold herself steady, but she was too weak to grasp it and her hand fell limply across the sheet.

A sudden stab like a bolt of lightning went through her and she screamed, loudly. Then, mercifully, she fainted.

When she woke, Helen was there, bathing her face with a cold towel.

“...Too much for traipsing around out of doors,” Helen was saying. “I thought that was too sudden a recovery. She should never have gotten out of bed.”

“Walter,” Jennifer gasped. Her voice was nothing more than a hoarse croak.

“He's gone out to the fields,” Helen said. “They're harvesting the cane. Do you want me to send someone for him?”

“No, leave him there,” Jennifer said, clutching at Helen's arm for emphasis. “I want...I want some of your special tea that you made for me before.”

“Of course.” Helen looked over her shoulder at Bess. “You know how to make my tea, and....”

“No, you make it for me, please. It's never the same when someone else makes it.”

Helen sighed and although she looked harried, she was obviously flattered too. “For heaven's sake, yes, I will make it myself. You'll be all right for a few minutes?”

“If Bess will stay with me.” Bess nodded and came to stand by the bed. The door opened and closed.

“Is she gone?”

“She's gone,” Bess said. “And you look like you almost are too.”

“She's killing me,” Jennifer said in a fierce whisper. “I think this time she's actually killing me. She's stabbing me with...something.”

She gave a gasp as another sharp pain shot through her abdomen. In genuine terror now, she reached up and seized Bess' wrist.

“Bess, you must help me.”

“What can I do?” Bess asked, looking as if she were about to cry. “I don't know how to stop her. I tried to find that doll, I looked everywhere, but she's too clever for that.”

“There is someone who can stop her,” Jennifer said. “Mrs. Hodges. You must go for her, Bess, bring her here.”

“The witch?” Bess's eyes looked huge in her face. “Bring her here? Miss Jennifer, I couldn't. I couldn't even go there.”

“Bess, you must. Look at me. Can't you see I am dying? And you are the only one who knows why or would believe me.”

Bess wrung her hands frantically and Jennifer could see the tears in her eyes. “Miss Jennifer, I'm afraid.”

“And so am I,” Jennifer said with a wan smile. “Bess, Bess, if there were anyone else—but there isn't. You see that, don't you?”

“Yes'm.”

“And you will go?”

“I'll go, Miss Jennifer, but if I don't come back you'll know something awful happened to me.”

Helen brought the tea Jennifer had asked for. She set a tray down on the table near the bed.

“Here is your tea,” she said. “And Jennifer, don't be angry, but I sent for Walter. I thought that I should. He'll be here any minute.”

As if on cue, Walter's footsteps echoed down the hall and a moment later he burst into the room.

“Darling, I thought you were better,” he said, rushing to the bed and falling to his knees beside Jennifer. He embraced her gently but fervently.

“It's my fault,” he said, stroking her hair.

“Hush,” she whispered, patting his shoulder. “If your love can't cure me, what can?”

And it was true, as if by magic she had begun to feel better in his arms. The pains had stopped shooting through her and suddenly she could breathe again. She took a deep breath, and felt new strength flowing into her limbs.

“You see,” she said, smiling up into his face, “at the touch of your hands I am already better.”

“I will never leave your side again,” he said passionately.

“Oh, hello, Walter,” Liza said from the doorway. “I thought I heard you come in.”

Jennifer felt a chill go over her. This was why her pain had temporarily subsided. Liza had heard Walter come in and had stopped torturing the cursed doll to come here instead.

“Hello, Liza,” Walter said without looking at her. “Jennifer's sick again. That's why I came back.”

“With all of us here to take care of Jennifer when she has her spells? The cane won't wait, you know.”

“As long as Jennifer needs me by her side, that's where I will be,” Walter said.

Even Liza seemed surprised at this ardent declaration. Neither Helen nor Walter was looking at her at just that moment, so only Jennifer saw that she was confused.

Was it Mrs. Hodges' potion at work, Jennifer wondered, or only the love Walter had always felt for her but which had temporarily been overcome by other, confused feelings and which was now once more coming to the surface.

Liza was quick to recover, though. She's like a cat, Jennifer thought, landing on all fours no matter how she is thrown.

“Well, Jennifer looks as if she is better now,” Liza said. “I think what she needs is a few hours of good sleep. Don't you agree, Jennifer?”

Jennifer saw the challenge in her eyes. Was she being offered a deal? Let Walter go for a time and Liza would let her rest without disturbance.

“If I could sleep,” she said cautiously, “I would certainly welcome it.”

“Why don't you try, then? I'll take Walter out of here, and Helen too, and see if you can't get some real rest for a change. I'll bet that's all that's wrong with you.”

“No, I don't think that's all that's wrong. But, yes, I will try to sleep.”

Walter rose and smiled tenderly down upon her. “There, you see, you used to think Liza didn't care about you. I suppose now you'll admit you were foolish.”

Jennifer felt a sinking sensation within her. “Yes, I will admit I was foolish. About Liza, among other things.”

Without the pain, she had no difficulty falling asleep as soon as they were gone. She sank into an exhausted slumber, only to be awakened some time later by the sound of her bedroom door softly opening and closing.

She opened her eyes and saw Bess, and Mrs. Hodges, hobbling across the room toward her.

“My, my, it looks like you've had a sinking spell, dearie,” Mrs. Hodges greeted her.

“Mrs. Hodges, oh, thank you for coming.” Jennifer struggled to a sitting position in the bed. “I was afraid you might refuse.”

“Always glad to be of help.” She leaned over the bed until Jennifer could again smell that foul breath. “If I can be of help, that is.” she cocked an eyebrow.

Jennifer reached out and touched her hand. It was dry and coarse, like the bark of an old tree. “She's killing me.”

Mrs. Hodges nodded head sagely. “Yes, she is.”

“You must help me. I don't think I could survive another of those attacks. Tell me how to stop her.”

“I've already told you what to do.” Mrs. Hodges reached into her pocket and brought out the doll she had made to represent Liza. “Here's the answer. I even brought you my pin. You stick that through the heart and your troubles will be over.”

At the door, Bess's eyes were like saucers.

“I can't,” Jennifer said with a groan. “I can't resort to murdering her.”

“Well, that's up to you, I'm sure.” Mrs. Hodges drew herself up indignantly. “You asked for my help. There it is. Use it or not, as you like.” She started for the door.

“Wait. Surely there must be something else you can do, something you can give me that would not harm her.”

Mrs. Hodges turned from the door. “She's got the power,” she said in a voice of scorn, “and she's got the doll. So long as she's alive, your life isn't worth that.” She snapped her fingers. “Now, I'll be going, thank you. Call on me if you need anything. If you can call on me, that is.”

She went out with a final, withering look at Jennifer. Bess followed her to see her out of the house.

Jennifer looked at the doll Mrs. Hodges had left lying on the bed. She picked it up and repressed a shudder. What an innocent looking thing, to be so evil.

She heard someone coming along the hall and quickly thrust the doll and the pin under her pillow. A moment later Liza came into the room. She shut the door soundly after herself and leaned against it.

“I saw her,” she said in a low, menacing voice. Her eyes flashed wickedly and her entire face was contorted into a mask of rage and hatred.

“Saw who?”

“Mrs. Hodges.” Liza fairly spat the name out. “So that's how you got Walter interested in you again, is it? I should have known it was some of her doing.”

Even through the worst of her ordeal, Jennifer had tried to cling to an image of Liza as still little more than a child, however cruel she might be. Now, for the first time she saw her as she truly was, full grown in malevolence.

“Walter never really went away from me. He loves me, you know. Nothing you can do will change that.”

An evil smile played upon Liza's lips. “Oh, but you're wrong. There is something I can do.”

“Liza....”

“You thought that witch's potions would solve everything, did you? You don't learn your lessons very well for a schoolteacher. I will see to it there is nothing of you to love.”

“What do you mean?” Jennifer was truly alarmed now.

Liza laughed and it sounded to Jennifer exactly like the laugh of the old woman in the swamp. “You know just what I mean. I had to kill Alicia to get her out of the way and I'll do the same to you.”

“You can't get away with it.” Jennifer sat up again, struggling to get out of her bed.

“Who's going to blame me? They already all think you're crazy, the same as Alicia. And Walter won't be in such a hurry to marry again. This time he'll wait, wait for me.”

“You're mad.” Jennifer had gotten her feet on the floor. With all the strength she could summon, she shoved herself away from the bed, lunging toward Liza, but Liza sidestepped and gave Jennifer a cruel shove. She fell to the floor.

“You'll never feel Walter's arms around you again,” Liza said. With that she was gone, disappearing from the room.