Daughter of the Spellcaster (21 page)

A dark cloak. Just like the ones those people in the woods were wearing in Mom’s photos.

She flashed back to when her mother first regained consciousness and had been muttering Bahru’s name. Maybe she hadn’t been
asking for him at all. Maybe she had been remembering who she’d seen in the woods that night.

Lena huddled lower as he came forward, whipping the cloak off his head and giving it a brisk shake before bundling it under one arm, all without breaking stride.

He walked right past her. She prayed the cat wouldn’t move and give them away, but when she glanced at the animal, it was crouching low, tail twitching in agitation and emitting a deep growl.

Holy shit.

Lena couldn’t trust her favorite guru anymore, that much was clear. But how the hell was she going to find out what he was up to, much less prevent it?

She had to see what was inside that cave, she decided. Stroking the cat, she whispered, “All right, cat. You’ve delivered your message. You wait here, okay? I’m going inside.” She got to her feet, drew a fortifying breath and headed for the waterfall.

14

L
ena pulled up her hood, braced herself and darted through the waterfall as fast as she possibly could, then quickly shrugged off her coat and shook it hard. It was wet but not soaked through. Good enough.

She pulled it back on again as she looked around the interior of the cave, and shivered. Whatever entity Bahru had been conversing with was not in sight. It wouldn’t be hard to miss a being that resembled a shadow, though. There were shadows everywhere. Still, she didn’t feel its presence. She’d always known when the house ghost was near, long before she’d started catching glimpses of it. And she didn’t feel that nearness now.

Wishing for a flashlight, she moved deeper into the cave, her steps slow and careful, her eyes gradually adjusting to the darkness. The cave seemed to penetrate deep into the hillside, and it seemed to curve away as it receded into the distance.

Something moved in the darkness, and she froze, sucking in a breath so fast it hurt her chest.

“Mrrow.”

Squinting, she leaned forward. “Cat?”

“Mrrrrrow.”

The cat trotted toward her a few steps, then stopped and waited.

“How did you get in here? Did you run through that waterfall?” But it couldn’t have. Even in the near-darkness she could tell it wasn’t as drenched as it would be if it had come through that cascade. There must be another way in. And now the cat seemed to be asking her to follow. Again.

“All right, but I can’t stay in here much longer.” Bahru might come back.

And yet, even if he did, she didn’t think he would venture this deeply into the cave. Something told her he never had. This place had an empty feel to it. The air was stale, and it felt devoid of any hint of human energy.

She started toward the cat, which turned and pranced a few feet farther along, then stopped and sat down. It sat tall and regal, and groomed a paw while it waited for her. She stopped. “Now what?” she asked.

The cat looked at her, then gave a slow, arrogant blink as only a cat could.

Sighing, Lena looked around, seeing nothing but the stone floor, the stone wall, the little pile of stones that—oh, wait. That pile of stones. That wasn’t natural. That had been put there.

She went closer, kneeling awkwardly for a better look. “There’s something under here,” she said, and began moving the stones aside one by one until she uncovered it. A miniature treasure chest with black metal bands around it. It looked old. Hands trembling, she lifted the lid, surprised that though it appeared to be locked, it opened easily.

Inside lay a cylindrical bundle tied up with a thong. Her hands trembling, she untied it, unrolled it and saw that there were parchment pages inside. As she flattened them out, an envelope fluttered to the cave floor and lay there looking up at her.

It was too dark to read the pages, but the printing on the front of the envelope was big and easy to see, even inside the cave. It was a modern envelope, not old, like the rest. And it had a single word handwritten across the front.

Magdalena

“That’s just not possible,” she whispered. But there it was. She explored her own mind, to try to determine whether or not she might be hallucinating this entire event. Or dreaming it. But the stone walls felt real when she pressed her palms to them. Hard and cool. The air tasted the way it should. The water had been icy cold and wet. The cat rubbed itself over her legs, and even it felt the way a cat should feel.

It was real. Someone had left this chest and a note for her to find in this cave. And the cat had led her to them.

She set the pages and envelope aside, and closed the box, then carefully buried it again, covering it with loose rocks to hide it from view. It was too awkward to carry back to the house, too big for her to sneak it in unnoticed, and she had a feeling she needed to keep this to herself until she figured out what was going on. The box was beautiful, possibly even valuable, but it wasn’t important right now. The pages and the note
were
. She folded the envelope and stuffed it deep into a coat pocket. The scroll she tucked inside the jacket, under her arm. Then she scooped up the cat, who allowed it but didn’t seem amused. Stuffing the cat, too, inside her coat, she pulled up the hood and ducked through the waterfall again. Then she took the poor feline out from under her jacket but continued carrying it as she hurried back to the house. The cat, which Lena decided was female, didn’t seem inclined to escape. By the time she got back she was tired from the long walk, but also fired up. Ryan had been right. She hadn’t hallucinated any of this. Something was happening. She’d been right about that all along. It was real, it was supernatural, and it was important. And it involved her
and
her baby. But she had help. Of that she was sure. She had the cat, and she had the ancient pages and note, and she was going to figure this out.

She reached the house and saw that Ryan’s truck was back in the driveway. Eager to see him and show him her finds, she went inside, then froze as she saw Bahru sitting in front of the fire, sipping tea, while her mother and Ryan set the table.

Ryan sent her a smile as she walked in. “I was just about to go looking for you,” he said, walking over to her and raising his brows at the cat. “Who’s this?”

“I found her wandering. Thought I’d keep her safe until I can locate her owner.” Her eyes shifted to Bahru, and she plastered on a smile that felt stiff and phony, hoping he couldn’t tell. “Hi, Bahru.”

“Hello, Lena. How are you feeling?”

The cat hissed and dove out of her arms, then tore through the room and up the stairs like a black streak. Ryan frowned at the cat and then at Lena. He saw through her fake smile, she knew that much.

“Bahru’s joining us for dinner,” her mother called from the kitchen, and even
her
voice sounded strained, the cheerfulness hollow. “Isn’t that nice?”

“Awesome.” Lena kept that false smile in place. “I’m going to need some supplies if we’re going to keep the cat around. The Grapevine’s closed until tomorrow, though. Maybe after dinner we should take a drive into Ithaca.”

“Sleet and freezing rain are predicted for the evening,” Bahru said. “It might be best to wait until morning, see how the road conditions are.”

“It’s funny you’d know that, Bahru,” Lena said, trying to sound conversational rather than challenging. “You don’t even have a television out there in the cottage.”

“I do not watch television. I do have a radio, however.”

“Oh.” She shrugged. “And of course you’re right. No point in taking unnecessary risks just for kitty litter.”

“There’s a pile of sawdust in one of the outbuildings,” her mother called from the kitchen. “We can use that for tonight.” She smiled at Lena. “Did she eat the meatball?”

“No, she wouldn’t touch it. I forgot the bowl, though. I’ll get it later.”

“No problem. We’ll find her a can of tuna. She won’t turn her nose up at that.”

Lena considered her options, upset that Bahru had just effectively stolen her excuse to get out of the house tonight. She’d been thinking of taking her mother and Ryan along with her and maybe not coming back. Probably a big overreaction, but still...

Selma set a steaming pot of sauce and meatballs in the middle of the table, then went back for a bowl of freshly cooked spaghetti and still-warm garlic bread. The salad was already there. “Dig in,” she called.

But Lena was still standing in front of the door with her coat on, to hide the bundled pages hidden under her arm. She heeled off her boots and then, without explaining herself, headed up the stairs.

“Lena?” her mother called after her.

“I, um—I don’t want the cat up here. I’ll just grab her and bring her back down. Won’t be a minute.”

She had no idea if anyone believed her, but she gave them no time to argue. She made a beeline for the temple room, and closed and locked the door behind her.

Peeling off her wet coat, she let it fall to the floor and took the scroll to the cabinet, tucking it far in the back, out of sight and nearly out of reach. Then she arranged jars and bottles artfully in front of it. She pulled the letter from her coat pocket and eyed it, wondering if there was time to read it.

“Lena?” her mother called. “Are you okay up there?”

“Yeah, Mom. I’m coming.” She put the letter in the cabinet as well, then closed it and left the temple room to head down the stairs, stopping to hang up her coat on the way.

Somehow they got through the meal. Lena caught Bahru looking at her oddly once or twice, especially when he asked how the baby was doing, and she felt the blood drain from her face as she answered him. “My baby is strong and healthy, and she’s going to stay that way.”

He smiled. “I’m certain the child is male.”

“Then you’re wrong. She’s a girl.”

His expression turned to one of confusion for a moment, but at least she’d distracted him from her almost angry reaction to what seemed, on the surface, a casual, even thoughtful, question. She knew he was up to something. She
knew
it.

And with every minute that passed, she felt more and more certain that she had to get herself and her baby the hell away from Bahru and the shadowy presence that had inhabited the house, away from the cave, and even away from Havenwood. And Mom and Ryan needed to get away, too. They should all leave together. Tonight. As a family.

Finally Bahru left. Lena followed him to the door, eager to be rid of him but smiling all the way. She opened it, saying goodbye, good-night, sleep well, all the usual crap. But she didn’t feel relief when she closed it again. She didn’t feel relief until he’d walked halfway back to his cottage, and she was still peering out the window, watching him, as he disappeared into the darkness.

“Lena, what is going on with you?” Ryan asked. “You’re as antsy as hell tonight.”

“Nothing.” Not until Bahru was back in his cottage and the lights were on, she thought, still staring out into the night. Then she would tell him.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. No. I mean, there
is
something, but... We’ll talk later.” Her mother was in the kitchen, clearing up all by herself. “I should help Mom.” She gave one more glance out the window. Bahru had to be almost back to the cottage now.

“Well, give me just a minute first, will you?” Ryan asked. “I have something I want to ask you, but...in private.”

She raised her eyebrows, and a whole new sort of nervousness flooded into her brain and body, completely tugging her attention away from Bahru and the cave, the letter and the parchment pages. Everything tingled. Her stomach knotted. He had something to
ask her?
In
private?

“Um...sure. Okay.” She glanced toward the kitchen, where her mother was humming as she ran hot water into the sink. “Where do you want to...talk?”

“Here is fine.” He led her back to the sofa, and she sat down. “And don’t worry about the dishes. I’ll go relieve your mother momentarily. You should just rest. Okay?”

“Okay.” She wondered if he would get down on one knee. She wondered if she should tell him about Bahru first—but that would really ruin the moment, wouldn’t it?

He took a breath. She could tell he was nervous. But he didn’t get down on one knee. He just sat beside her on the sofa. “All right, here it is. I wanted to tell you sooner, but after you told me about that dream, I didn’t dare.”

She blinked, completely confused. What did her dream have to do with his proposal?

“My father left me something—something...weird.”

Her eyebrows pushed against each other. “Something weird,” she repeated, beginning to suspect this wasn’t going to be a marriage proposal after all.

“The note he left with it warned me not to tell anyone about it. But I need to tell you, because the thing is...it’s enchanted or something.”

“Your father left you an enchanted...
something?
”

“A knife,” he said.

He could have gut-punched her and not driven the wind out of her lungs any faster.

“Gold, all engraved with symbols. It came in a carved wooden box that looked antique. Possibly ancient.”

She had to remind herself to breathe, and when she did it was in short, openmouthed little gasps, which didn’t provide enough air at all. She thought she was going to pass out. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I was going to,” he said. “But then you had that dream, where you thought I was going to...”

“Kill me.”

“And the description of the knife—it matched.”

“So you hid it from me.”

“I put it under the seat of the truck,” he said. “I didn’t want it in the house. I thought it was dangerous to have it around you and the baby.”

The baby. Always the baby. She got to her feet, looked toward the kitchen, wondering if her mother had lied to her, too, when she’d said there was nothing under the seat of his truck.

“Lena, don’t look like that.”

“Like what?” She was standing between the sofa and coffee table. He was still sitting, blocking her escape in that direction, but she could back up, and she did, one trembling step at a time.

“Like you’re afraid of me. I would never hurt you, I swear it. It’s just that...the knife disappeared. It’s not where I left it, and I was wondering if you maybe found it or moved it, or...?”

“Yes. I found it. I saw you hiding something from me, so I went out there and looked to see what it was. I found the very same blade that you used to murder me in my vision.”

“Dream.
Nightmare
. Not vision.”

“Vision. I saw the same thing in the chalice. The one your father left to me.”

He frowned. “That’s right. And the chalice has powers, too. You said—”

“The power is in the witch. Tools are just tools.” But even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t true. And she also knew that the chalice and the blade were intricately bound to one another. Mated.

“Yeah, well, this knife is considerably more than just a tool, believe me.” He looked at her inching away from him and pushed his hands through his hair in frustration. “Every time I pick it up, it...it shoots sparks. Fire. It blasts things, Lena.”