Penelope opened the door and Freya stepped over the threshold and into the cosy cabin. She felt suddenly shy as everyone at the table looked at her.
‘Okay, didn’t anyone tell you it’s rude to stare.’ Penelope snarled as she put her hand gently on Freya’s back and urged her to a chair at the head of the table. She went to sit next to the one called Drakon. The one who had sent her to sleep. She would have to keep an eye on him.
Freya wiped her hand over her face and ruffled her hair. She probably looked a right state. She settled into the chair marvelling at the food on offer.
‘I didn’t know what you liked.’ Dominique gestured at the food.
‘So, he literally made you everything.’ Kasha said and moved quickly as Dominique tried to elbow her in the side.
‘It looks amazing. My friend Ali would be jealous of your skills, Dominique.’
‘Oh my God, Brother you are blushing, should our Kasha be worried?’
‘Drakon,’ Penelope said with an edge, which said play nicely we have a guest.
‘Okay, Okay.’ Drakon said, picking up a chicken thigh and ripping off a piece as Aland wined from the floor.
‘Thank you Freya. It’s nice to know someone has manners. Dominique has kept us alive with his skills when food has been scarce,’ Kasha said pointedly, looking at Drakon. Freya wondered what exactly had happened to this group who appeared to be around her age but talked as if they had a long past.
‘Now, now children.’ Penelope said, clapping her hands together, ‘Freya is our guest and we have a lot to tell her and if we are going to convince her to join our coven then maybe we should at least pretend that we all get on.’
Drakon choked on a piece of chicken and others started to laugh which turned into hysterics and Aland made a noise which showed he approved.
Freya wiped her tears away and reached for a warm piece of baguette which she lathered in butter and jam. Closing her eyes she savoured the taste. If Dominique’s cooking was anything to go by then they could count her in. She opened her eyes to see them all smiling.
‘Can you all hear my thoughts?’ Freya asked, deciding it was time to lay their cards on the table.
They all looked a little guilty but it was Kasha who spoke, ‘We all have different abilities shall we say but a coven is like a hive mind. With practice you can block us from listening and we apologise as we shouldn’t be taking advantage of your lack of knowledge by prying in your mind until you give us permission but you looked so happy.’
‘I do love food. I cannot deny it.’ Freya replied giving them the benefit of the doubt, ‘so, where do we even begin? I think maybe with the part where Penelope said I was in danger. I would like to know more about what’s happening.’
Penelope nodded as Kasha got up and poured everyone a cup of coffee, ‘I think we are going to need this.’
‘Well, I think you know we are witches. You didn’t seem too surprised when I told you this and judging by your alternative life and the tarot cards, you are not closed off to a different world as many are. You can believe and you know you’re different from others.’
Freya nodded, as she spooned some sugar into her coffee and reached for a croissant. She felt everyone’s eyes on her. She had always let her feelings govern her life decisions and this was no different. It was true what Penelope had said. These strangers, as weird as it was and clearly they were a dysfunctional family were something to her. They were connected. How else could she explain them turning up and letting them bring her somewhere, wherever the hell she was. It didn’t make sense. She was a free spirit but she liked to think she was street wise.
‘I’m open and I want to hear what you have to say. I want you to tell me everything. Who you are. What’s going on? Who and what this danger is we are in? Who are they? What can I do? Who am I? What I can do to help?’ she took a deep breath, ‘tell me.’
They did.
***
Mary followed Tobias for hours, her legs ached and she felt weary and cold to her very bones. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so tired but she followed because what else could she do. There was nowhere else she wanted to be.
Finally, they stopped and at first she thought they were just going to rest and all she could make out were trees and more trees. Earlier she’d been petrified when she heard a wolf cry into the night but Tobias had turned and gently taken her arm and told it was okay. They were protected. She didn’t know why but she had felt reassured. It would certainly help with her disappearance if the village heard the wolves hunting throughout the night.
‘In here.’ Tobias called.
Mary stepped forward and realised he’d pulled up a hidden trapdoor which was behind a tree. She could smell the damp earth below but she didn’t hesitate to climb down into the depths of the earth. She was the new Mary. The new Mary would do brave things and not be scared, although the beating pace of her heart belied a little trepidation.
Tobias followed her in and pulled the trapdoor back over encasing them in a darkness she had never experienced before but the new Mary didn’t make a sound. She heard rustling above as if someone or something was covering it with leaves. She squinted as Tobias lit a candle and she looked around, her mouth dropped as she saw a doorway.
Tobias smiled as he looked at his new ward. She would be his perfect replacement. He had a lot to teach her and such a short time to do so.
‘Mary?’ Tobias said quietly, as he opened the door to a room Mary had only heard her father talk about when on the odd occasion he had visited a rich merchant’s house. Opulent. The word her father had used was opulent. She had stored that one away as she did all the words he had shared with her over the years. He never came back with gifts, he knew they would be sold the moment he left. His gift was words and the vision and stories of places Mary thought she would never see with her own eyes.
‘Welcome home. We have a lot of work to do.’ Tobias took a moment to enjoy delight and wonder on Mary’s face. She had not had an easy life and it was unlikely she ever would, but he let her have this. He could let her have this.
Please note: this story is just a bit of fun and writing practice for me. It hasn’t been edited so if mistakes send shivers down your spine, then don’t read it 😉)
C.L. Peache 