The Witchling Grows Up
Family Pendragon # 1
By: Mary Moriarty
Family Pendragon # 1
By: Mary Moriarty
Blurb
Dylan Pendragon is not what she appears to be. She appears to be a twenty something, hippy, new-age follower… When in fact she is a ninety-year-old, witchling from one of the oldest families connected with witchcraft.
She has yet to get any powers so to speak. But she is destined to be the most powerful witch of them all…
And she is a virgin.
Justice is a seven thousand years old Vampire. He is the oldest friend to his former king of their kind, Cormac O’ Heachthanna. There are three things that vampires love. Blood, fighting and sex and not necessarily in that order. Justice lost his wife about six thousand years ago, so he has devoted his life to keeping mankind safe… and he has had no sex in that many years.
The Dark One has one thing on his mind. Capture Dylan Pendragon and take what he thinks is his… her virginity and her power which will blossom like a rose once she is taken. He will do anything to get her and that power or die trying.
In the course of one night under a full moon two become connected and set into motion events that can’t be stopped that will ultimately bring victory for some or one and the rest will be cast into the underworld for eternity and beyond.
Can Justice show Dylan he wants to protect her without touching her? Will he listen to his heart where love that has been dormant for so long, and is waiting to be released?
Will Dylan allow Justice to protect her so she can figure out how to get her powers and be strong enough to fight the Dark One? Or will she fall and be the sacrifice that the Dark One intends her to be.
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2014/07/the-witchling-grows-up-by-mary-moriarty.html
Dylan Pendragon is not what she appears to be. She appears to be a twenty something, hippy, new-age follower… When in fact she is a ninety-year-old, witchling from one of the oldest families connected with witchcraft.
She has yet to get any powers so to speak. But she is destined to be the most powerful witch of them all…
And she is a virgin.
Justice is a seven thousand years old Vampire. He is the oldest friend to his former king of their kind, Cormac O’ Heachthanna. There are three things that vampires love. Blood, fighting and sex and not necessarily in that order. Justice lost his wife about six thousand years ago, so he has devoted his life to keeping mankind safe… and he has had no sex in that many years.
The Dark One has one thing on his mind. Capture Dylan Pendragon and take what he thinks is his… her virginity and her power which will blossom like a rose once she is taken. He will do anything to get her and that power or die trying.
In the course of one night under a full moon two become connected and set into motion events that can’t be stopped that will ultimately bring victory for some or one and the rest will be cast into the underworld for eternity and beyond.
Can Justice show Dylan he wants to protect her without touching her? Will he listen to his heart where love that has been dormant for so long, and is waiting to be released?
Will Dylan allow Justice to protect her so she can figure out how to get her powers and be strong enough to fight the Dark One? Or will she fall and be the sacrifice that the Dark One intends her to be.
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2014/07/the-witchling-grows-up-by-mary-moriarty.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22854175-the-witchling-grows-up?from_search=true
Buy Links
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Author Info
I grew up in New England surrounded by a lot of history and storytelling by my father who was from the Mid-Coast of Maine. What I remember of my mother was her love of fairy tales, the wee people and poetry. So it’s no wonder I would one day write.
When I am not writing, I read. Of course I love Romance but can’t read the same genre that I write so I read mysteries, memoirs and history… I love history, especially Medieval and WWII.
I don’t generally watch TV but I love Downton Abbey.
My favorite authors… Mmmm, well let me see. Jane Austen, the late Elizabeth Peters, LM Montgomery, Loretta Chase, J.R.Ward , Sharon Kay Penman and Pamela Kaufman to name a few that come to mind.
What do I do when I am not writing? I am a mother of seven, four still at home. I have a home filled with pets, four dogs and six cats. I write seven days a week.
Author Links
Website: http://marymoriarty.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.Romance?ref_type=bookmark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryMoriarty1
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/178005.Mary_Moriarty
I grew up in New England surrounded by a lot of history and storytelling by my father who was from the Mid-Coast of Maine. What I remember of my mother was her love of fairy tales, the wee people and poetry. So it’s no wonder I would one day write.
When I am not writing, I read. Of course I love Romance but can’t read the same genre that I write so I read mysteries, memoirs and history… I love history, especially Medieval and WWII.
I don’t generally watch TV but I love Downton Abbey.
My favorite authors… Mmmm, well let me see. Jane Austen, the late Elizabeth Peters, LM Montgomery, Loretta Chase, J.R.Ward , Sharon Kay Penman and Pamela Kaufman to name a few that come to mind.
What do I do when I am not writing? I am a mother of seven, four still at home. I have a home filled with pets, four dogs and six cats. I write seven days a week.
Author Links
Website: http://marymoriarty.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.Romance?ref_type=bookmark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryMoriarty1
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/178005.Mary_Moriarty
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Excerpts
Excerpt #1 (Long) **You can use a part of this excerpt instead of whole
Prologue
He came from a large, powerful family of witches. To him they were no different though, than any other family. His father was a demi-god. His mother, a witch of marvelous and great powers. Their match had been one of convenience but had turned into a marriage of love. With that marriage came years of happiness. Then came their little boy who looked the spitting image of his father. He would follow his father around, when he was home from a campaign. As the years wore on, the wars also became many and his father was away more times than not. So the boy would sit at his mother’s feet and listen to wonderful stories of days gone by and the magic his mother made and the love that was between her and his father.
When his father returned, and he always did. He brought gifts from faraway lands. The boy would go out to play while his parents would spend time together.
Then in the boys twelfth summer a baby girl was born. She was as beautiful as his mother. Fair of skin and beautiful golden hair. As she grew it was evident she would be a special child. She had the gifts of not only her mother but the gods also.
The boy knew he had the ability to work magic. He would practice by himself. He would see his mother watching him for signs. He was more interested in being a soldier like his father though. So in his fourteenth summer, his father started to train him. It became evident along with his size that he was a warrior.
The years turned into centuries and the family moved to Albion, old England. They settled on the wild,west coast. With them came his mother’s sister and her girls.
So they settled and became part of their new home. The mother and her sister healed the folks of the area. The girls broke hearts but never married.
Finally the time of the Civil War in England came. People turning their own family members in for a favor. It was then that his sister found love. Or so she thought. She was hundreds of years old but she looked like a mere girl of sixteen. The fresh blush of love on her cheeks as she ran into her home. Her brother and father were home after a long absence.
She caught herself. She wouldn’t say anything until her mother was alone. Her mother glanced up from the fire, as she stirred a soup. She sensed her mother knew without her words being spoken.
Later after her husband and son were asleep she sat sewing by the fire. She waited for her daughter to come to her.
Rose picked her way down the stairs of their home. Dogs the size of colts and cats lay on the stairs. Some were curled up at the fire. She tiptoed to her mother.
“There be no need to walk like my cat… I knew ye would come down stairs.” She waited till her beautiful daughter was seated. “Now tell me why? You know your father and brother will go to him, and he being a titled landowner. You know he is engaged to be married.”
Rose looked up at her mother. “Why can’t you put a spell on him? He loves me not her. I carry his child not her.”
Her mother’s heart pained for her child. Even if she was centuries old, she looked to be but only sixteen. She was her child nonetheless and always would be.
“I can not… not even for you, darling daughter of mine. For you are not meant for the likes of him. He will only bring hurt. He is a Talbot and her family who he is betrothed to, is even wealthier. His family needs the money to save their estate.”
Rose was crying, she didn’t care. “But what of me? Your own daughter. Blood of your blood, bone from your bone. Can’t you stop that?”
Her mother looked down at her sewing, and saw she had pricked her finger and a drop of blood spilled onto the dress she made. “No, because I made the spell to bring the marriage to come to pass. The girls mother asked me to. You see the girl is also with child.”
Rose jumped up and cried out. “No, she can’t be. He loves me, and loves my child, our child. He said so today, said he would find a way.”
Her mother shook her head. My powers are too strong, there will be no finding a way. We will move. You will have the child and our family will raise the babe.
“No!” cried Rose.
They didn’t see or hear the father and brother come down the stairs. “What is all this noise?” The father asked. His voice the sound of thunder.
Rose dried her eyes. She wouldn’t tell the men of the family. “Nothing Papa… She ran past him, but she bumped into her brother. Glancing up and with the help of the firelight, she saw his black eyes light up with knowing. She ran up the stairs.
She thought her bedroom door was latched but it flew open. In strode her brother, his presence filling the room. “He must be made to make things right.”
Rose grabbed her brother’s nightshirt. “Hush you fool, you will bring father up here. She then latched the door and then turning, went to add more wood to the fire in her fireplace. “Father need not know. He will soon leave for another campaign and I will carry the baby. Mother can’t undo her own spell and I am not strong enough to cast another against hers.”
Her brother glanced up. “I am.”
Rose stared at her brother like he was another creature. “You? How? You don’t practice.”
“I do and can put a spell on that simpering witch of his betrothed.”
Rose looked up into her dark brother’s beautiful face. “You are sure? I can not even work magic if it’s against mother’s spells.”
Her brother pulled his sister close. “Anything for you.”
***
The wedding was announced for the lord and his young lady. It happened quicker than the brother expected. The girl became the lady and her belly grew. The brother bid his time. While his sister stayed indoors and refused to see the Lord her belly grew also. The father left, non-the wiser because of a cloaking spell the mother and brother cast on Rose.
One dark day William sat on his horse and cast the spell as he sat overlooking the manor of Lord Talbot.
Two months later the young wife fell as she came down the grand staircase. She died a week later. The Lord went into mourning and while he mourned he remembered the beauty he had loved. His mother said “No, she is not of your class, I forbid it!”
The Lord didn’t see the hate that was growing within his mother. It grew like the ivy that climbed the manor walls. Fast grew the gossip and lies till they reached such a fevered pitch even if Old Lady Talbot wanted to stop it she couldn’t. Because, once the young wife had died, the money dried up. Just like the roses in her garden on a winter’s day. So Old Lady Talbot continued to feed the stories and rumors while her son was in London, morning his loss. Rose’s brother was also away as was their father. The son had gone to London. He had told his mother and beautiful sister he would return in time for the birth. He was securing a home for them in London town.
It was a stormy spring day. The rain had stopped but not the tongues. Lady Talbot had stirred up the righteous against Rose and her mother.
“They are witches I tell you… witches! The mother has placed a spell on my son and his departed wife. She put the evil eye on me.”
Molly, Emma, their mother and Grandmother Bess came rushing in. “Sister we must leave… the town’s people come to rid this area of us.” Their words stopped on their lips. ‘There stood beautiful Rose and it was evident she was in labor.
“I can’t leave, the babe’s arrival is fast approaching.”
The Aunt placed a hand on Rose’s belly. We can stop the contractions.” We must fly from here.”
Rose clutched at her belly and screamed.
The mother came to her daughter and helped her to the couch by the fire. “You see I can not cast a spell. The babe comes and we can’t fly, save yourselves. Go find Will, maybe he can stop this. But I can not stop the babe.”
All the women looked up at the sounds that were coming from the crowd that was fast approaching the house up the path. “We will leave to go find Will.” The women left the house out the back door and grabbed their brooms. They took ointment out of their sacks that would help them to fly. They smeared it on their chest and taking up their brooms flew into the night.
“Did you see that?” Lady Talbot said as they walked up the path that led to the witches door.
“They fly into the night.”
Someone screamed from the crowd.
“Impossible, it was only three. It was the sister of this witch and her two daughters. They flee and don’t even try and save their own.” Said another.
****
Rose could feel the baby coming. The pain was intense. She looked up at her mother, felt her cool hand on her fevered brow as she braced herself for the next round of contractions. “Save yourself Mama…”
The witch looked down upon her beautiful daughter and knew this would be the time of birth and death. Death would meet them very soon but not before she took a few of those wicked people and gave them some of their own treatment. “Don’t worry my Rose. We will be fine. The babe is about to be born and with that we will flee… have no fear.” She saw the feeble smile of her daughter. She was weak and with the birth would bring her death.
She went to the fire and ladled a bit of broth. Walking back to her girl she bent and fed some to her. “Here drink this, to give you strength, to bring that baby into the world…” Out into the unforgiving world. The world that had no room for such as us. Who hate because we are different and powerful… the town’s folk feared their power…
Rose strained against the pain. She felt the babe come. “Mama!” She gasped as she felt the baby come forth. She knew her mother held the baby. “Mama, please let me hold her.”
Her mother saw the baby, saw her little rose bud mouth open and close. She had been born and breathed right away. She had black hair, like a raven. “Here Rose, meet your daughter… you somehow knew it was a daughter.”
Rose smiled a weak smile. “ You know I have the second sight Mama.”
Rose stared in wonder at the beautiful gift that lay in her arms now. By the light of the fireplace she saw the baby’s perfection. “My little Rosebud.”
Her mother took the amulet and the other things needed to keep the babe safe. She took the baby. “I will wrap her up and you can hold her again.”
Rose took a labored breath. “Yes, Mama…” She closed her eyes. Then she jumped at the sound of the pounding on the door. She turned wild eyes at her mother who bent over the babe.
She was intent on making sure the babe would survive the trip, till Will found the wee one. She hastily scribbled a note, put it in an oilskin sack and put it next to the baby’s skin. Then wrapping Rose Bud up tight she called her largest wolfhound down. All the animals came.
She strapped the baby to the back of the hound. She spoke in low tones as he sat so noble. He was her familiar and he would serve her beyond her death. She did not fear death. It would bring her past the place where spirits lie… she would wait for her beloved who would come to her. “I will clear the way for you. Go, find Will and help him raise Rose Bud… Keep her safe.”
The Wolf Hound looked down. He knew it would be the last time he would see his witch. Looking up “I will my lady…” he looked around and all the animals who had found shelter here knew they must flee now, if they were to live. The shouting was getting louder. “We must leave…”
Rose’s mother stood in the center of her great room and started to chant. She spoke first in low tones and then as her voice grew louder. The voices outside silenced.
“What happens inside there?” Someone said. Everyone in the crowd grew quiet as the voice that seemed to surround them grew louder. Until they all closed their eyes and tried covering their ears. As a mighty wind went rushing by, they all fell to the ground and screamed. “She hexes us, we will all die for sure.”
The witch watched as Nero her hound ran out the front door and at his heels his army… the cats and dogs flew along side him, giving him protection as they ran amongst the townspeople.
“We are being attacked!” the people screamed as the animals ran past. Some were attacked as the cats ran over the prostrate forms of some, especially Lady Talbot. She screamed the loudest. Jumping up she saw the door open and the witch standing in the doorframe. “Get her…” She screamed.
Rose lay listening to the screams of those outside. “Mama… my babe…”
The witch turned and walked back into the house. Slamming the door behind her. She knew her time was up. Grabbing the sleeping potion she poured a goodly portion to give to her daughter. It would put her into an eternal sleep. She would feel nothing of what would happen to her body. She knew what was in store for them. She could take it but her beautiful, sweet Rose, she was too weak.
“Here darling, drink this and when you awake everything will be fine…”
Rose took a sip of the tincture and knew it would help. She tasted the lobelia and other herbs. She knew this would help her to sleep. “ Thank you Mama…” She reached up and touched her mother’s face. Her mother who was so brave and strong. She knew she would take care of those angry people outside. Papa and Will would return and they all would be a family again, along with Rose Bud… She knew everything would be fine and she would heal and see her darling daughter grow, with or without him. Things became fuzzy and she saw her mother, saw flames outside. Heard funny sounds…was that breaking glass? She saw her mother, heard the loud voices but it seemed so far away. She felt so sleepy. She would sleep and all would be better.
The witch looked down into her daughter’s peaceful face. She was gone now. No need to fear for her. She raised her arms and fireballs went flying around the room.
People outside jumped back and screamed, “She will cast a spell on us all. We will all die before sunup.” More screamed and some started to run away from the house.
The witch saw that as the flames grow inside her home. She would go out of this world her way. She wouldn’t allow them the chance to hang or burn her and her daughter. She threw out her hands in the direction of the crowd. Her door was open and she could see Lady Talbot and Lady Bronson, Lady Bronson who was the mother of that child bride, she didn’t fault Lady Bronson, she was a follower. Lady Talbot… she had a special plan for her. She would die a slow lingering death. She cast a spell, a web dropped from the heavens and settled nicely over the Grand Lady. She would be dead within a year but it would be slow… the rest of her family would watch and wouldn’t be able to do a thing… the rest of the family, She knew Will would take care of them… nicely.
“Come out witch, come meet your maker…” they jumped at the sound of shrill laughter that erupted from the flames. “Never… come in and get me and my daughter and the new baby that belongs to Lady Talbot’s son. She knows that and wants the beautiful baby gone. She is the one who is wrong here, the murderess.”
Those left turned to Lady Talbot. Who looked around wildly “She says lies. He never lay with that simple daughter of a soldier and witch.”
A wicked laugh came from the house as a fireball came shooting out. They could see the witch inside holding the form of the daughter. Her daughter’s hair hanging down to the floor. Flames surrounding them but did not touch them. They watched spell bound as the witch lay her daughter down and then laid her body over hers. Then raising her hands one more time the fire engulfed them and a scream the likes no one had ever heard or hoped to ever hear again came from within the house. The house was then consumed by flames.
Everyone turned towards Lady Talbot. “You brought this on us…” They all screamed as they flee the scene.
Lady Talbot stood with open mouth and watched as the flames claimed the home of the witch. Now her son was in London, her husband dead. Her younger son away at school. She would be alone… She shuddered. What had she done. She heard a scream from down the path and jumped. How was she to get from where she stood to the carriage that stood waiting for her? She would be lucky if the men stood waiting, she ran. She got her carriage and saw one lone man on top. “Get away from here.”
The old man nodded. He did as he was told. The younger ones didn’t know how to do that. He would whip the lad who had come with him… if he turned up back at the manor. “Yes, Ma’am…”
The carriage took off with a lurch. The old man saw Lady Bronson running. Unless Lady Talbot gave him leave to stop he would keep going.
Lady Bronson reached for the carriage as it slowed at the turn. “Please stop!” she screamed. “The hounds are so close.”
Lady Talbot sat, ram rod straight, ignoring the sounds of the screams coming from Lady Bronson, outside the carriage.
Lady Bronson tripped over a root, her face landing in a puddle. She tried to get up but a body of some kind of animal slammed into hers. She screamed. The last thing Lady Bronson knew before death overtook her was the snapping sounds of the teeth that tore at her flesh.
***
Will and his horse Lucifer flew over the countryside. He saw the flames and smelled the smoke from miles away. He knew what it meant. He felt the wind pick up, heard a rushing sound. Then he saw four forms land just ahead of him. It would be his aunt and cousins.
He reigned in Lucifer and jumped off the big warhorse.
Molly saw her cousin and knew what she told him would be hard.
“Where are my mother and sister?” Will asked. His heart in his throat, making him feel like he would choke.
Molly being tall walked up to her cousin Will. Taking his arm. “Brace yourself cousin for bad tidings… She sent us away… your sister was too close to her time, I fear…”
An explosion was heard and fireballs shot up into the sky towards the heavens. Two especially bright ones flew further. The three women and Will stood, silent to what had just happened. “They are gone… “ Molly’s mother said. “Out of harms way and gone to the glom. No one will be hurting them now.”
“Will felt tears sting his eyes. Many a battle he had been part of, many a deaths he had witnessed, but never his own flesh and blood. His mother, a princess who had lived for thousand’s of years… to go like this. “But what of the babe?”
As if on cue a hound came running up and stopped in front of Will and the women. Will bent and saw the parcel strapped to the hound. On the heels of that hound were cats. Then a pack of hounds came running up and skidding to a stop. Their eyes radiated blood red.
Will patted his mother’s familiar, Nero’s head as he unstrapped the bundle. Then spoke to the other hounds. “ Tell me what happened.”
“ She sent us out before the crowd got too close… not that would have stopped us…”
Will unwrapped the bundle. The women all stood on tiptoes to see. All sucked in their breath at what they saw. In the bundle was a tiny baby and she was sound asleep. Around her neck was the amulet of amber. Her little mouth was pursed up and looked like a little flower bud. Will found the note under the swaddling and opened it up. “Give some light Aunt.”
His aunt flicked her hands and a flame came from her fingertips. All stood still while Will held the baby close and read the letter.
Don’t mourn for us. We go to a better place… a place where no one can harm us. I will wait for my beloved… your sister never felt anything. I gave her a potion to put her to sleep. As you see we have a new member of our family… it will be up to you Will and the rest of you to raise her in the ways of the old ones. Her mother named her Rose Bud. She will be the seer of the Amber Stone.
You can do as you please with the Talbot family but Lady Talbot, I have taken care of. She will live but her life will be one of misery. She will wish she never raised her hand against us… The towns people who came … I am sure they were dispatched by the Hounds of Hell… they are good beast. Take good care of them.
I leave you with much love son. Take good care of the wee one. She will, despite her mixed blood be as strong as me someday, maybe even stronger than you. Raise her in the love and light. Blessings.
Mother
Will sighed as he read the missive again. He felt his cousin Emma and Molly’s arms around his waist. Molly’s mother Sadie reached and touched the baby’s face. We will find a wet nurse amongst our kind.
Will pulled the baby close. “We go to London, where I have found a home. That was where I was at…” he sucked in his breath. “I wanted to get mother and Rose away from this area.” He looked down at his tiny niece. She squirmed and the puckered up her lips.
Molly’s mother hugged her nephew. “We will return someday… It will be a place of healing”
Will nodded his head. “Yes but for now we go to London Town. We will blend in so Rose Bud is not at risk…” He thought about what he was going to do to young Lord Talbot once he got his family settled in the town house. He would find that weasel and kill him slowly… Then each generation would meet the same type of death… slow.
Excerpts
Excerpt #1 (Long) **You can use a part of this excerpt instead of whole
Prologue
He came from a large, powerful family of witches. To him they were no different though, than any other family. His father was a demi-god. His mother, a witch of marvelous and great powers. Their match had been one of convenience but had turned into a marriage of love. With that marriage came years of happiness. Then came their little boy who looked the spitting image of his father. He would follow his father around, when he was home from a campaign. As the years wore on, the wars also became many and his father was away more times than not. So the boy would sit at his mother’s feet and listen to wonderful stories of days gone by and the magic his mother made and the love that was between her and his father.
When his father returned, and he always did. He brought gifts from faraway lands. The boy would go out to play while his parents would spend time together.
Then in the boys twelfth summer a baby girl was born. She was as beautiful as his mother. Fair of skin and beautiful golden hair. As she grew it was evident she would be a special child. She had the gifts of not only her mother but the gods also.
The boy knew he had the ability to work magic. He would practice by himself. He would see his mother watching him for signs. He was more interested in being a soldier like his father though. So in his fourteenth summer, his father started to train him. It became evident along with his size that he was a warrior.
The years turned into centuries and the family moved to Albion, old England. They settled on the wild,west coast. With them came his mother’s sister and her girls.
So they settled and became part of their new home. The mother and her sister healed the folks of the area. The girls broke hearts but never married.
Finally the time of the Civil War in England came. People turning their own family members in for a favor. It was then that his sister found love. Or so she thought. She was hundreds of years old but she looked like a mere girl of sixteen. The fresh blush of love on her cheeks as she ran into her home. Her brother and father were home after a long absence.
She caught herself. She wouldn’t say anything until her mother was alone. Her mother glanced up from the fire, as she stirred a soup. She sensed her mother knew without her words being spoken.
Later after her husband and son were asleep she sat sewing by the fire. She waited for her daughter to come to her.
Rose picked her way down the stairs of their home. Dogs the size of colts and cats lay on the stairs. Some were curled up at the fire. She tiptoed to her mother.
“There be no need to walk like my cat… I knew ye would come down stairs.” She waited till her beautiful daughter was seated. “Now tell me why? You know your father and brother will go to him, and he being a titled landowner. You know he is engaged to be married.”
Rose looked up at her mother. “Why can’t you put a spell on him? He loves me not her. I carry his child not her.”
Her mother’s heart pained for her child. Even if she was centuries old, she looked to be but only sixteen. She was her child nonetheless and always would be.
“I can not… not even for you, darling daughter of mine. For you are not meant for the likes of him. He will only bring hurt. He is a Talbot and her family who he is betrothed to, is even wealthier. His family needs the money to save their estate.”
Rose was crying, she didn’t care. “But what of me? Your own daughter. Blood of your blood, bone from your bone. Can’t you stop that?”
Her mother looked down at her sewing, and saw she had pricked her finger and a drop of blood spilled onto the dress she made. “No, because I made the spell to bring the marriage to come to pass. The girls mother asked me to. You see the girl is also with child.”
Rose jumped up and cried out. “No, she can’t be. He loves me, and loves my child, our child. He said so today, said he would find a way.”
Her mother shook her head. My powers are too strong, there will be no finding a way. We will move. You will have the child and our family will raise the babe.
“No!” cried Rose.
They didn’t see or hear the father and brother come down the stairs. “What is all this noise?” The father asked. His voice the sound of thunder.
Rose dried her eyes. She wouldn’t tell the men of the family. “Nothing Papa… She ran past him, but she bumped into her brother. Glancing up and with the help of the firelight, she saw his black eyes light up with knowing. She ran up the stairs.
She thought her bedroom door was latched but it flew open. In strode her brother, his presence filling the room. “He must be made to make things right.”
Rose grabbed her brother’s nightshirt. “Hush you fool, you will bring father up here. She then latched the door and then turning, went to add more wood to the fire in her fireplace. “Father need not know. He will soon leave for another campaign and I will carry the baby. Mother can’t undo her own spell and I am not strong enough to cast another against hers.”
Her brother glanced up. “I am.”
Rose stared at her brother like he was another creature. “You? How? You don’t practice.”
“I do and can put a spell on that simpering witch of his betrothed.”
Rose looked up into her dark brother’s beautiful face. “You are sure? I can not even work magic if it’s against mother’s spells.”
Her brother pulled his sister close. “Anything for you.”
***
The wedding was announced for the lord and his young lady. It happened quicker than the brother expected. The girl became the lady and her belly grew. The brother bid his time. While his sister stayed indoors and refused to see the Lord her belly grew also. The father left, non-the wiser because of a cloaking spell the mother and brother cast on Rose.
One dark day William sat on his horse and cast the spell as he sat overlooking the manor of Lord Talbot.
Two months later the young wife fell as she came down the grand staircase. She died a week later. The Lord went into mourning and while he mourned he remembered the beauty he had loved. His mother said “No, she is not of your class, I forbid it!”
The Lord didn’t see the hate that was growing within his mother. It grew like the ivy that climbed the manor walls. Fast grew the gossip and lies till they reached such a fevered pitch even if Old Lady Talbot wanted to stop it she couldn’t. Because, once the young wife had died, the money dried up. Just like the roses in her garden on a winter’s day. So Old Lady Talbot continued to feed the stories and rumors while her son was in London, morning his loss. Rose’s brother was also away as was their father. The son had gone to London. He had told his mother and beautiful sister he would return in time for the birth. He was securing a home for them in London town.
It was a stormy spring day. The rain had stopped but not the tongues. Lady Talbot had stirred up the righteous against Rose and her mother.
“They are witches I tell you… witches! The mother has placed a spell on my son and his departed wife. She put the evil eye on me.”
Molly, Emma, their mother and Grandmother Bess came rushing in. “Sister we must leave… the town’s people come to rid this area of us.” Their words stopped on their lips. ‘There stood beautiful Rose and it was evident she was in labor.
“I can’t leave, the babe’s arrival is fast approaching.”
The Aunt placed a hand on Rose’s belly. We can stop the contractions.” We must fly from here.”
Rose clutched at her belly and screamed.
The mother came to her daughter and helped her to the couch by the fire. “You see I can not cast a spell. The babe comes and we can’t fly, save yourselves. Go find Will, maybe he can stop this. But I can not stop the babe.”
All the women looked up at the sounds that were coming from the crowd that was fast approaching the house up the path. “We will leave to go find Will.” The women left the house out the back door and grabbed their brooms. They took ointment out of their sacks that would help them to fly. They smeared it on their chest and taking up their brooms flew into the night.
“Did you see that?” Lady Talbot said as they walked up the path that led to the witches door.
“They fly into the night.”
Someone screamed from the crowd.
“Impossible, it was only three. It was the sister of this witch and her two daughters. They flee and don’t even try and save their own.” Said another.
****
Rose could feel the baby coming. The pain was intense. She looked up at her mother, felt her cool hand on her fevered brow as she braced herself for the next round of contractions. “Save yourself Mama…”
The witch looked down upon her beautiful daughter and knew this would be the time of birth and death. Death would meet them very soon but not before she took a few of those wicked people and gave them some of their own treatment. “Don’t worry my Rose. We will be fine. The babe is about to be born and with that we will flee… have no fear.” She saw the feeble smile of her daughter. She was weak and with the birth would bring her death.
She went to the fire and ladled a bit of broth. Walking back to her girl she bent and fed some to her. “Here drink this, to give you strength, to bring that baby into the world…” Out into the unforgiving world. The world that had no room for such as us. Who hate because we are different and powerful… the town’s folk feared their power…
Rose strained against the pain. She felt the babe come. “Mama!” She gasped as she felt the baby come forth. She knew her mother held the baby. “Mama, please let me hold her.”
Her mother saw the baby, saw her little rose bud mouth open and close. She had been born and breathed right away. She had black hair, like a raven. “Here Rose, meet your daughter… you somehow knew it was a daughter.”
Rose smiled a weak smile. “ You know I have the second sight Mama.”
Rose stared in wonder at the beautiful gift that lay in her arms now. By the light of the fireplace she saw the baby’s perfection. “My little Rosebud.”
Her mother took the amulet and the other things needed to keep the babe safe. She took the baby. “I will wrap her up and you can hold her again.”
Rose took a labored breath. “Yes, Mama…” She closed her eyes. Then she jumped at the sound of the pounding on the door. She turned wild eyes at her mother who bent over the babe.
She was intent on making sure the babe would survive the trip, till Will found the wee one. She hastily scribbled a note, put it in an oilskin sack and put it next to the baby’s skin. Then wrapping Rose Bud up tight she called her largest wolfhound down. All the animals came.
She strapped the baby to the back of the hound. She spoke in low tones as he sat so noble. He was her familiar and he would serve her beyond her death. She did not fear death. It would bring her past the place where spirits lie… she would wait for her beloved who would come to her. “I will clear the way for you. Go, find Will and help him raise Rose Bud… Keep her safe.”
The Wolf Hound looked down. He knew it would be the last time he would see his witch. Looking up “I will my lady…” he looked around and all the animals who had found shelter here knew they must flee now, if they were to live. The shouting was getting louder. “We must leave…”
Rose’s mother stood in the center of her great room and started to chant. She spoke first in low tones and then as her voice grew louder. The voices outside silenced.
“What happens inside there?” Someone said. Everyone in the crowd grew quiet as the voice that seemed to surround them grew louder. Until they all closed their eyes and tried covering their ears. As a mighty wind went rushing by, they all fell to the ground and screamed. “She hexes us, we will all die for sure.”
The witch watched as Nero her hound ran out the front door and at his heels his army… the cats and dogs flew along side him, giving him protection as they ran amongst the townspeople.
“We are being attacked!” the people screamed as the animals ran past. Some were attacked as the cats ran over the prostrate forms of some, especially Lady Talbot. She screamed the loudest. Jumping up she saw the door open and the witch standing in the doorframe. “Get her…” She screamed.
Rose lay listening to the screams of those outside. “Mama… my babe…”
The witch turned and walked back into the house. Slamming the door behind her. She knew her time was up. Grabbing the sleeping potion she poured a goodly portion to give to her daughter. It would put her into an eternal sleep. She would feel nothing of what would happen to her body. She knew what was in store for them. She could take it but her beautiful, sweet Rose, she was too weak.
“Here darling, drink this and when you awake everything will be fine…”
Rose took a sip of the tincture and knew it would help. She tasted the lobelia and other herbs. She knew this would help her to sleep. “ Thank you Mama…” She reached up and touched her mother’s face. Her mother who was so brave and strong. She knew she would take care of those angry people outside. Papa and Will would return and they all would be a family again, along with Rose Bud… She knew everything would be fine and she would heal and see her darling daughter grow, with or without him. Things became fuzzy and she saw her mother, saw flames outside. Heard funny sounds…was that breaking glass? She saw her mother, heard the loud voices but it seemed so far away. She felt so sleepy. She would sleep and all would be better.
The witch looked down into her daughter’s peaceful face. She was gone now. No need to fear for her. She raised her arms and fireballs went flying around the room.
People outside jumped back and screamed, “She will cast a spell on us all. We will all die before sunup.” More screamed and some started to run away from the house.
The witch saw that as the flames grow inside her home. She would go out of this world her way. She wouldn’t allow them the chance to hang or burn her and her daughter. She threw out her hands in the direction of the crowd. Her door was open and she could see Lady Talbot and Lady Bronson, Lady Bronson who was the mother of that child bride, she didn’t fault Lady Bronson, she was a follower. Lady Talbot… she had a special plan for her. She would die a slow lingering death. She cast a spell, a web dropped from the heavens and settled nicely over the Grand Lady. She would be dead within a year but it would be slow… the rest of her family would watch and wouldn’t be able to do a thing… the rest of the family, She knew Will would take care of them… nicely.
“Come out witch, come meet your maker…” they jumped at the sound of shrill laughter that erupted from the flames. “Never… come in and get me and my daughter and the new baby that belongs to Lady Talbot’s son. She knows that and wants the beautiful baby gone. She is the one who is wrong here, the murderess.”
Those left turned to Lady Talbot. Who looked around wildly “She says lies. He never lay with that simple daughter of a soldier and witch.”
A wicked laugh came from the house as a fireball came shooting out. They could see the witch inside holding the form of the daughter. Her daughter’s hair hanging down to the floor. Flames surrounding them but did not touch them. They watched spell bound as the witch lay her daughter down and then laid her body over hers. Then raising her hands one more time the fire engulfed them and a scream the likes no one had ever heard or hoped to ever hear again came from within the house. The house was then consumed by flames.
Everyone turned towards Lady Talbot. “You brought this on us…” They all screamed as they flee the scene.
Lady Talbot stood with open mouth and watched as the flames claimed the home of the witch. Now her son was in London, her husband dead. Her younger son away at school. She would be alone… She shuddered. What had she done. She heard a scream from down the path and jumped. How was she to get from where she stood to the carriage that stood waiting for her? She would be lucky if the men stood waiting, she ran. She got her carriage and saw one lone man on top. “Get away from here.”
The old man nodded. He did as he was told. The younger ones didn’t know how to do that. He would whip the lad who had come with him… if he turned up back at the manor. “Yes, Ma’am…”
The carriage took off with a lurch. The old man saw Lady Bronson running. Unless Lady Talbot gave him leave to stop he would keep going.
Lady Bronson reached for the carriage as it slowed at the turn. “Please stop!” she screamed. “The hounds are so close.”
Lady Talbot sat, ram rod straight, ignoring the sounds of the screams coming from Lady Bronson, outside the carriage.
Lady Bronson tripped over a root, her face landing in a puddle. She tried to get up but a body of some kind of animal slammed into hers. She screamed. The last thing Lady Bronson knew before death overtook her was the snapping sounds of the teeth that tore at her flesh.
***
Will and his horse Lucifer flew over the countryside. He saw the flames and smelled the smoke from miles away. He knew what it meant. He felt the wind pick up, heard a rushing sound. Then he saw four forms land just ahead of him. It would be his aunt and cousins.
He reigned in Lucifer and jumped off the big warhorse.
Molly saw her cousin and knew what she told him would be hard.
“Where are my mother and sister?” Will asked. His heart in his throat, making him feel like he would choke.
Molly being tall walked up to her cousin Will. Taking his arm. “Brace yourself cousin for bad tidings… She sent us away… your sister was too close to her time, I fear…”
An explosion was heard and fireballs shot up into the sky towards the heavens. Two especially bright ones flew further. The three women and Will stood, silent to what had just happened. “They are gone… “ Molly’s mother said. “Out of harms way and gone to the glom. No one will be hurting them now.”
“Will felt tears sting his eyes. Many a battle he had been part of, many a deaths he had witnessed, but never his own flesh and blood. His mother, a princess who had lived for thousand’s of years… to go like this. “But what of the babe?”
As if on cue a hound came running up and stopped in front of Will and the women. Will bent and saw the parcel strapped to the hound. On the heels of that hound were cats. Then a pack of hounds came running up and skidding to a stop. Their eyes radiated blood red.
Will patted his mother’s familiar, Nero’s head as he unstrapped the bundle. Then spoke to the other hounds. “ Tell me what happened.”
“ She sent us out before the crowd got too close… not that would have stopped us…”
Will unwrapped the bundle. The women all stood on tiptoes to see. All sucked in their breath at what they saw. In the bundle was a tiny baby and she was sound asleep. Around her neck was the amulet of amber. Her little mouth was pursed up and looked like a little flower bud. Will found the note under the swaddling and opened it up. “Give some light Aunt.”
His aunt flicked her hands and a flame came from her fingertips. All stood still while Will held the baby close and read the letter.
Don’t mourn for us. We go to a better place… a place where no one can harm us. I will wait for my beloved… your sister never felt anything. I gave her a potion to put her to sleep. As you see we have a new member of our family… it will be up to you Will and the rest of you to raise her in the ways of the old ones. Her mother named her Rose Bud. She will be the seer of the Amber Stone.
You can do as you please with the Talbot family but Lady Talbot, I have taken care of. She will live but her life will be one of misery. She will wish she never raised her hand against us… The towns people who came … I am sure they were dispatched by the Hounds of Hell… they are good beast. Take good care of them.
I leave you with much love son. Take good care of the wee one. She will, despite her mixed blood be as strong as me someday, maybe even stronger than you. Raise her in the love and light. Blessings.
Mother
Will sighed as he read the missive again. He felt his cousin Emma and Molly’s arms around his waist. Molly’s mother Sadie reached and touched the baby’s face. We will find a wet nurse amongst our kind.
Will pulled the baby close. “We go to London, where I have found a home. That was where I was at…” he sucked in his breath. “I wanted to get mother and Rose away from this area.” He looked down at his tiny niece. She squirmed and the puckered up her lips.
Molly’s mother hugged her nephew. “We will return someday… It will be a place of healing”
Will nodded his head. “Yes but for now we go to London Town. We will blend in so Rose Bud is not at risk…” He thought about what he was going to do to young Lord Talbot once he got his family settled in the town house. He would find that weasel and kill him slowly… Then each generation would meet the same type of death… slow.
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