Donna Fletcher Short Story Collection (19 page)

~~~

“Are we in the basement?” Ali squinted trying
to adjust her eyes to the dark.

“You should know; you transported us,” Sarina
said and snapped her fingers causing a surge of light. “Looks like
what probably served as a dungeon.”

“Damn, I forgot, though it wasn’t the norm,
some manor homes did have dungeons of a sort. I was thinking that
if there was a gateway to Hades then it had to be located on the
lowest level of the house.” Ali shuddered. “If you’re not
claustrophobic you would be after only a few moments in this narrow
passageway.”

“And look at these cells,”—the metal door
squeaked as Sarina opened one door—“standing room only.”

They continued down the corridor to the end
and stepped into a room that obviously once served as a torture
chamber. Copies of the many pain-afflicting devices were
prominently displayed on the walls. In the middle, where no doubt a
torture table once stood, was a symbol. Not a pentagram that many
mistakenly associate with evil, but an intricate maze of circles
that seemed to have no beginning or end, but forever entrapped.

“Lottimer practices the dark arts,” Ali said
remaining on the perimeter of the symbol, not getting too close.
“Is there any way this thing can be sealed?”

“I’m not sure.” Sarina stretched out her arm
fanning her hand over the area and stumbled back. “There is a hefty
energy cone protecting this.”

“So Lottimer’s a powerful warlock.”

“The question is what does Lottimer have
planned? Is that demon here to help him release others like his
kind or is the demon to be returned for services rendered? And how
are we ever going to permanently seal this thing?”

“Did you hear that?” Ali asked.

Sarina listened. “Footsteps.” She snapped her
fingers to transport them and nothing happened.

Ali tried but they remained where they
were.

They hurried to the standing-room-only cell
as the footsteps drew near.

“It’s a good thing we’re slim,” Ali said her
face nearly squashed against Sarina’s.

Sarina tried again to transport but no luck,
they stayed where they were. “A containment spell,” she
whispered.

“I don’t think it will be necessary for
security down here,” Lottimer said, “but I did want to show this
area to you.” He passed through the narrow passageway Sebastian and
Dagon following and into the torture chamber. “Since it’s what
you’ve come to find.”

Sarina shook her head and Ali stiffened.

“They’re in trouble,” Ali whispered.

“If you haven’t noticed so are we”

Dagon grabbed Sebastian’s arm and tugged him
back away from the circle. “So there is a gateway from hell
here.”

“It’s been here for some time, with few
knowing of its existence,” Lottimer said. “But now with you two
snooping around not to mention your lovely, though nosy wives,—he
shook his head—“I’m afraid something must be done about it.” He
smiled. “Ladies, please join us.”

“Damn, he knows we’re here,” Ali said. “Now
what?”

“He may be the least of our problems,” Sarina
murmured. “We now have to face our husbands.”

“Oh pish,” Ali said, “they had to know that
there would be no way they could leave us behind. This is all their
fault.”

“No it isn’t.” Sarina insisted loudly and
then whispered in Ali’s ear just before they left the cell. “Keep
Lottimer occupied while I work to free us.”

Dagon and Sebastian shook their heads as the
two women entered the room squabbling.

“I could dispose of them both for you and
provide docile mates in their places,” Lottimer offered with a
laugh.”

Both women went to their husbands who
immediately wrapped a protective arm around each.

“How about we just do away with you and make
the world a safer place,” Ali said with a stunning grin that even
had Lottimer melting to it.

“Your beauty takes one’s breath away,”
Lottimer said. “Why not join with me? I can give you an
extraordinary life.”

“She already has one,” Sebastian said, “and I
agree with her this world would be better off without you.”

Lottimer grinned. “Perhaps, but I’m not going
anywhere—and if I want your wife—she would be as easy to take from
you as it is for me to solve this little dilemma.”

Dagon tightened his hold on Sarina. “And how
is that?”

“A wave of my hand and a memory wipe spell
and I could extend it so that it is as if either of you lovely
couples ever meant. And have Ali believe she belonged to me.”

“I would never love you,” Ali said.

Lottimer laughed again. “Darling, I could
care less if you loved me. Your beauty will surffice.”

Sebastian went to step forward, but Ali
stopped him with her hand to his chest. “Don’t waste your time. He
doesn’t understand, the pitiful fool.”

Lottimer suddenly turned to Sarina. “What
have you done?”

Sarina simply smiled as a wind suddenly
circled the room gathering with a swirling force. And after the
tempest finally settled another Tempest stood in its wake.

“You dare to harm my sister,” Tempest said
hovering in the air over the gateway from Hades.

“She looks magnificent, doesn’t she?” Sarina
said proudly admiring the white gossamer gown threaded with gold
that she wore, gold sparkling slippers and her fiery hair fell in a
tumultuous array of curls to her shoulders. She was decked out in
her witch’s finery, but then she was the Ancient One, the oldest of
witches and the most powerful. She was also very pregnant and
looking all the more radiant.

Lottimer smiled though worry wore in his dark
eyes. “Ancient One,” he said with a respectful bow of his head. “I
didn’t realize Sarina was your sister.”

“I am in no mood to play games with you,
Adam,” Tempest snapped.

He smiled and his charming tongue took
command. “You used to like to play games.”

A crack of thunder sounded so loud that it
had everyone looking to see if it had split the room in two. And
then suddenly hovering next to Tempest was Michael, her
husband.

He slipped his arm around Tempest’s waist and
placed a gentle hand on her rounded stomach. “Are you all right?
You left so suddenly.”

“I’m fine,” she said though anyone could see
that she was angry. “Sarina reached out to me with fear and I
couldn’t take time to explain. I had to rescue her.”

“Of course you did,” he said reassuringly and
kissed her cheek before turning to Adam. “You speak to my wife
respectfully and just to make it clear, Tempest never liked your
games.”

“But she played them,” Adam said.

“What choice did she have?” Michael said.
“She had to keep people safe from evil and so she battled you as
she does now to save her sister and the others.”

Lottimer got annoyed. “We struck a necessary
bargain that has worked well through the years and now these idiots
interfere, though it’s the blond one’s second time.”

“I knew you looked familiar,” Ali said.
“You’re the one I saw in bed with that woman all those years
ago.”

Lottimer smiled. “You should have joined me
when I invited you.”

“Not on your life,” Ali said.

Sarina stepped forward, Dagon remaining close
by. “I don’t understand, Tempest, you knew about the gateway from
Hades?”

Tempest floated over to her sister and eased
herself to the ground giving Sarina a hug before she answered,
“Gateways from Hades exist in various areas throughout the world.
Once one is found we contain it by allowing a warlock to reign over
it.”

“I choose who may enter this world from Hades
and serve me and I make certain that the portal remains closed on
All Hallows Eve,” Lottimer said, “the reason for the
private
dinner party. Those with sufficient power help me to secure the
portal.”

“He’s a necessary evil,” Michael said
floating over to stand at his wife’s side.

“So you approve of the demon he keeps here?”
Sarina asked.

Tempest and Michael turned raised brows to
Lottimer.

He shrugged. “It doesn’t want to leave; it
enjoys it here and it serves me well.”

Tempest stepped forward. “I will speak with
this demon.”

“Be my guest, dear,” Lottimer said with a
curt bow.

With a snap of Tempest’s fingers they all
were transported to the front parlor.”

“How did she do that?” Ali asked drifting
over to Sarina while Dagon and Sebastian walked over to speak with
Michael.

Sarina said with pride. “Her power is
unfathomable.

“The demon,” Tempest demanded.

Lottimer bowed his head respectfully and
summoned his servant. The woman walked in the room her posture
stiff.

“Anna,” the Ancient One wishes to speak with
you,” Lottimer said.

Eyebrows rose, mouths dropped open and heads
shook.

Sarina couldn’t stop shaking her head.

Tempest turned to her. “Don’t worry over it.
It wasn’t Lottimer’s spells that kept you from sensing anything; it
was mine. I had to make certain this place was protected from
prying eyes and inquisitive humans.”

“Sarina must have sensed something since she
was felled with pain,” Ali said.

Tempest cast Lottimer an angry look.

He held his hands up. “I did nothing. She
must be more skilled than you give her credit for.”

Tempest beamed with pride. “Well she is
my
sister.” And with that she turned to Anna. “You will come
with me and we shall talk.” Tempest walked out of the room with
Michael on her heels. She stopped and before she could say anything
he said...

“Don’t even think about talking with a demon
alone. It’s not going to happen.”

Tempest smiled and sighed and held her hand
out to him. He took it, wrapped his arm around her waist and the
trio left the room.

“You would not last long here if it wasn’t
for my sister-in-law,” Dagon said.

“A threat?” Lottimer asked with a laugh.

“A promise that you would be wise to
remember,” Dagon said.

Lottimer’s laughter died. “Then it is best I
remain in the Ancient One’s good graces.”

Sebastian laughed this time. “You’re a
necessary evil, pal, and that’s all.”

Tempest and Michael returned with Tempest
announcing, “Anna enjoys her sojourn here and so she shall remain
until further notice. Now I could use a nice cup of tea and some
women time.”

Sarina and Ali rushed to her side and chatted
away as they transported out of the room.

“Much luck with your wives, gentlemen,” Adam
said with a smirk and a laugh as the three husbands followed their
wives.

However, not before Michael warned, “Behave,
Lottimer.”

Lottimer’s grin grew and he whispered, “Not
likely.”

~~~

It was a lovely evening spent with family and
friends though Sarina was happy when Dagon and she were finally
alone in their bedroom.

“Lottimer will never behave no matter how
much Michael warns,” Sarina said.

“You saw that did you?” he asked.

“I saw much after my sister arrived, though I
can’t say I made sense of it all, but given time I will.”

“You should have never followed me, though no
doubt Ali had something to do with that.”

“Don’t blame Ali, she but gave me the perfect
excuse—”

“To do as you will,” he finished approaching
her slowly. “And now, witch, I’m going to do as I will.” He scooped
her up into his arms before she could say a word and carried her to
bed.

~ The End ~

You can read all about the different characters in
this short story in the Wyrrd Witches series
The
Wedding Spell
. The three other books in the series are
Magical Moments
,
Magical
Memories
and
Remember the Magic
.

An original short story first published in
Mammoth
Book Of Ghost Romances

Amanda Steele paced in front of the large bow
window. Where was he? He told her he’d be there by four the latest.
It was ten after and there was no sign of him. It would be dark
within the hour and she didn’t want to spend another night alone in
the house.

She gazed out at the long driveway praying a
car would come into view, but her prayer went unanswered. The wind
suddenly picked up swirling the autumn leaves across the circular
driveway, around the three tier fountain to settle on the parcel of
grass.

Amanda shivered staring at the gargoyle that
sat atop the fountain and spewed water from his mouth in the spring
and summer months. By October it sat silent and ever watchful—a
guardian of Blackstone Manor.

She smiled recalling the first time she had
seen the house as a child. The three story stone structure with
ivory creeping up along one side, numerous shuttered windows that
kept prying eyes from seeing in and a wide veranda where white wood
rockers would rock on their own had frightened and delighted her.
She had loved exploring the twenty odd rooms in the mansion and
though the attic scared the wits out of her she would gather what
courage she could and go explore the many trunks and boxes stored
there.

Her grandmother, Sophia Barnes, a renowned
Broadway actress, had claimed to have bought Blackstone Manor on a
whim, insisting it was the perfect getaway place for family. Tucked
away in upstate New York along with other mansions built in the
late nineteenth century and not far from the quaint village of
Meldrick, it was the gathering place for the rich and famous of her
grandmother’s day.

Besides no one had wanted the old place, it
had fallen into disrepair and that, Amanda suspected, was what had
drawn her grandmother to Blackstone Manor. Sophia Barnes had felt a
kindred spirit with the place. It still had retained a modicum of
splendor and character just like she had. But having grown old, a
death toll for a Broadway star where parts for older women were few
if any, even with several Tony Awards to her credit, she had found
herself no longer relevant to her profession.