The Silver Rose (16 page)

Warlock!

How could it be? She would have known. They would have felt the shift in power in the area. In that very moment, Beth recognized the silhouette in the unnatural glow of light surrounding him. Her hands rushed to cover her mouth and stifle an unbidden cry.

The portents were as mysterious as they were strong, and her skin tingled with the magic redolent in the air. Rosa had heard the Bells of Marylebone. Beth had pricked a finger, and blood had run into the wedding tapestry.

And now?

The wind shifted, and she imagined herself invisible and melted into the protection of the Pohutukawa's aura, hoping he would not discern her presence nor feel the magic she had accidentally released upon recognizing him. He stood stationary, so still she was unsure he breathed, then, he turned his head and stared in her direction. For an instant, she thought his eyes glowed dragons' fire.

Something quickened in her. Was it hope? There was no doubt it was Aden. He was a warlock, and a powerful one at that. And if that did not seal the truth for her, then the small dragon sitting on his shoulder did. Marylebone Coven! Aden was from Marylebone! Aden was one of a select few. He was a Dragon of Marylebone.

Touched by the magic of the Dragon, she understood as surely as she knew how to weave a web of magic into a tapestry that Aden was fully aware of her presence. As quick as thought, a silent command sped across the space between them and registered in her mind, leaving her to wonder no longer.

Tell no one!

And with a wild sweep of his arms, Aden vanished along with his familiar in a wondrous display of crackling electricity and a thousand tiny, exploding stars.

• • •

“What if Aden is the one for Rosa?” Beth asked Alanna in her studio early the following morning. “He's handsome, gifted, and anyone will tell you he's, you know, sexy.”

Alanna was playing with a piece of jade, turning it in the light, feeling the balance in her hand. It was the piece she'd chosen to sculpt the pendant for the gala. “He's the obvious choice, but she doesn't seem overly interested. Besides, he's not here for long.”

“But, he's so … so … ” Beth sought for words that wouldn't give her away. Aden would know instantly if she said anything at all about last night's encounter. She was sure of it.

Alanna let out a gutsy laugh. “Yes. He is so … so … !”

“He's perfect for Rosa,” Beth plugged on. “And he's bought heaps of tickets.”

Caught by her earnest insistence, Alanna looked up. “I thought so too at first, but people like Aden don't hang around for long.”

“How can you be certain? He likes Rosa. I know it. And I'm sure she feels the same way about him.”

“I know. I saw him playing with Rosa's hair the other day, and they looked very, very cozy on the couch in her lounge.”

“What! You didn't tell me that.”

“It was after Rosa fainted and he took her home.”

Beth was delighted. “Thank the Goddess!”

“Don't read anything into it. It's been several days, and she's done nothing about it.” Alanna gave Beth a sharp, knowing stare. “If this is your way of evading your promise, then try again. There might be sparks between them, but Aden will leave Raven's Creek in a few short weeks, and she's given no indication she wants anything more from him.”

Blatant lying did not suit Beth, and she struggled to explain. “You've seen the attraction between them. Everyone has. But we don't know anything about him.”

“You forget I've viewed his work in London. He's famous.”

“I'm talking about his personal life. Who is he really?” For once, Beth fervently wished Alanna would interfere in someone's life.
Ask more questions
, she silently intoned.
Prise it out of me.

“Aden isn't hanging around long enough to matter.” Alanna dismissed the notion. “Really, Beth, have you been lying awake all night devising ways to avoid tomorrow night?”

“Something like that.” Alanna had persuaded Beth into doing something neither of them had any business doing. Especially now when there was no need. “I don't think we should do it.”

Alanna gave up any pretense of work. “Don't you dare back out! You promised.”

“And so did you. To Rosa.”

“That's why you're doing it for me. I'm going to be there for moral support only.”

“You can fool yourself if you want. I'm doing your dirty work. Goddess knows what will happen to us if it all goes wrong.”

“Nothing will go wrong. And this isn't the time to go soft on me. Rosa is too important.
This
is too important.”

Not ready to give up, Beth tried again. “Aden's a superb artisan and equal to Rosa in every respect. He holds enormous potential and could work anywhere.”

Alanna knocked her knuckles against Beth's temple. “Hello. Is anyone home! Aden is not a warlock! Rosa should have the best, and that best should be magical.”

Beth paled. “We should hope for the best and trust the Fates.”

“The Fates are too wishy-washy for my liking.”

Beth was growing increasingly agitated. Alanna's caustic barbs were getting to her. But Beth knew her sister well. The more Alanna hurt, the more reckless she grew. “I think we should focus on getting Aden to stay rather than breaking your promise to Rosa.”

“Don't make me laugh. You couldn't coerce a fly into leaving a room. You'd have a nice chat with it and try to reason with it, but you could never force it to do your bidding, so it would end up buzzing around all day annoying the Goddess out of everyone. No, the only option is for us to contact Marylebone. Rosa does nothing, except date men with very little power. We must do something before it's too late. She's the anchor in our family, and I refuse to lose her to the Fates.”

“What if we don't succeed? Aden may be her only chance if she wishes to remain earthed in this world.” Beth's words hung in the air, and she wished she had not uttered her deepest fear.

“Rosa will not die or give up her power. I will not allow it!” Alanna's voice was harsh with uncharacteristic desperation. “Tomorrow at midnight, we contact Marylebone and demand they send a warlock ASAP.”

Witching night! Full moon.

Shadowed figures crept to the edge of the embankment. Shielded by a towering mass of trees there was no chance of discovery.

“Are you sure no one will see us?” Beth whispered for the umpteenth time. She looked back toward the faint light coming from Lavender Cottage as they moved deeper under the cover of trees, and her skin prickled with fearful anticipation. They were taking a huge risk of being discovered by a Dragon of Marylebone Coven. Of course, maybe that was a good thing. Could she send out a silent warning to him? No. She didn't want to embroil herself further in this deception.

The moon hung suspended above them, an illuminated bauble, waiting, heavy, expectant. Once a month, the three sisters met to form the Circle of Three at witching hour to renew their connection with the elements.

Tonight was different. Knowing they needed to complete their mission before midnight, Beth and Alanna set out early. It would have been better to perform the ritual right at midnight when the moon and the Goddess were at their most powerful, but, unwilling to alert Rosa to their duplicity, they had met at ten, gone over their plan, and then skulked around the perimeter of Rosa's property and into the woods.

“Rosa's bound to know we're up to something.” Beth wasn't about to give up on changing Alanna's mind. “She's going to be aware of the energy we create.”

“But not until it's too late to stop us.”

“You underestimate her,” Beth argued.

“She underestimates us. I'm not going to stand around waiting for nothing to happen.” Alanna turned on Beth. “What does she think we're made of? Stone?”

“You work with it often enough. Perhaps some of that hardness has rubbed off on you.”

“You're so paranoid. Get over it. Who's going to catch us? It's our land, and no one is going to be creeping about it on a full moon. Even if the locals believe it's all codswallop, they're too scared to really search out the truth.”

Beth glared at her sister and wondered if she had inhaled too much stone dust. Looking uneasily over her shoulder, she also wondered if the Dragon and his little familiar were watching them.

“We're not crazy. We're … desperate.” Alanna reiterated.

“Speak for yourself. I'm here because I'm scared you'll bungle this diabolical plan if you attempt it by yourself.”

Alanna shot Beth a disconcerted look. A flicker of doubt wavered in her eyes. “You don't think I can do this?”

“I'm certain of it. A witch never contacts Marylebone Coven. You know that. Believe me, I didn't say yes lightly. You'd better be right, or I'm going to weave you into one of my tapestries and keep you there for a long, long time.”

Amusement laced Alanna's voice. “You wouldn't. You love me too much. Besides, Rosa's going to turn me into several toads and send me hopping off all over the place.”

“Don't be so sure I won't get there first. Once I've woven you into the tapestry, I'll tack you to the piano stool. That way we'll know exactly where you are at all times.”

Alanna tossed her fiery mane in defiance. “A few tacks won't hold me down.”

“I wouldn't be so sure about that,” Beth murmured as she pushed back a branch and made her way through the dark along a path she had walked since she could toddle.

A gust of unrestrained laughter erupted from Alanna, and she snorted as she attempted to contain herself. “I'd like to see you try.”

Beth's irritation increased. “And I'll sit on the tapestry as often as possible, infusing it with other delightful scents specifically designed to taunt you.”

“We're doing the right thing.” Alanna inhaled the fresh scent of pine, and frowned. She inhaled again. “Speaking of scents, if I didn't know better, I'd say a warlock was already here.”

Beth spluttered and her eyes watered when she coughed. She stared blindly through teary eyes at her sister for several seconds, racking her rattled head for a clever reply. In the end, she said nothing, because Alanna shrugged. “Wishful thinking on my part.”

They entered the clearing — a perfect circle. Within the center several stones formed another, smaller circle. Beth and Alanna stood at its edge, clothed head to toe in white silk, white a symbol of purity. Beth only hoped they would still be pure once they had completed their task.

Alanna took a deep breath and gripped her sister's hand. “If we're going to do this, we'd better do it right and fast. Witching hour is approaching.”

Beth squeezed Alanna's fingers in reassurance. “We do this together. I'm with you regardless of the outcome. I do this out of love for Rosa. And to save your sorry behind.”

“You'll be apologizing to me for that comment before the hour is out.”

“I hope I am, for both our sakes.”

Alanna made a cursory nod, and, together, they stepped into the inner circle and placed Alanna's jade scrying bowl on the central standing stone. From the matching jade pitcher, Beth poured water, purified by rose quartz for love, quartz crystal for clarity, and amethyst to enhance spirit, into the bowl.

Stepping back, she placed the pitcher on the ground and moved into position, acutely conscious they were minus one and, therefore, effectively weaker. She prayed Alanna was right, and that what they now undertook would not hold dire consequences.

With a nod from Alanna, their feet fell silently upon the earth and they circled within the epicentre clockwise three times. With each completion of the circle, the breeze intensified. At first, just the slightest waft lifted a leaf or two and then dropped them back to earth.

The second circle produced a breeze strong enough to ripple the silk over their bodies. With the third encirclement, wind rushed through the clearing. Towering pines surrounding them bent to its bidding, and it was as if they sighed a welcoming touch to their friends.

All good so far.

Fireflies flitted in and out of the branches, and fairies trailed in their wake. A wood pigeon cooed, and an old owl hooted. A kiwi came out to see what the fuss was about, but scurried away just as quickly, returning to forage for food amongst the ferns where it felt safest.

Stars sparkled and winked. Together, Beth and Alanna chanted the spell used in emergencies to contact Marylebone, and although it took a powerful witch to do so, they knew their combined power was strong. Alanna and Beth's silhouettes winked in and out, playing peek-a-boo with the moon. In unison, both women raised their arms, palms outwards, chanting, calling on Marylebone so they could plead their case.

Just as suddenly, the air stilled, and a rift between the veils began to open between them. Hesitant, Beth spoke softly. Alanna stood sentinel, her hands in the air, mentally holding the veil open, enabling Beth to speak freely with those they could not see but who were there nonetheless.

And then there was silence. Beth waited, appearing calm but terrified to her toes. What they did was wrong. Alanna stood, impatience etched in every aspect of her stance and expression. Just as suddenly, the trees around them swayed dangerously. Long hair free from ties blew in wild tendrils, reaching out to the unseen, and then a voice whispered back to them, so soft, so cool, and so detached both women shivered and fell to their knees in shock.

• • •

Rosa walked briskly across the road to Beth's. She wanted to speak with her before they ventured into the woods. Earlier that day, when she had arrived at the gallery, her little sister had sported dark circles under her eyes and carried an unusual and substantial air of wariness about her. It was so not like her, and it concerned Rosa enough to warrant an earlier arrival at Beth's than expected.