Chapter 11
Several loud, urgent knocks broke through the silent night. I shot up out of bed, heart racing. Nothing good ever came from late-night calls to my cottage. Wrapping my robe around me, I made my way to the front door, with Forrest following closely. I opened the door a crack and saw nothing.
“Ahem!”
I looked down and saw fiery hair glowing in the moonlight. “Magda? What are you doing here so late?” I paused, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes while trying to think of the last time Magda had made a house call.
“Will you let me in already, child? It’s freezing out here.” Magda pushed past me and hurried inside the cottage before taking a moment to catch her breath. “We don’t have much time,” she gasped as she bent over, wheezing.
An unnerving dread snaked its way through me. “Magda, will you please sit down and catch your breath? I’m sure whatever it is can wait a few moments.” I ushered her toward the sofa in the living room. “Forrest, could you please go get a glass of water for Magda?”
He nodded as he rushed into the kitchen.
Magda slowly looked up at me and whispered, “Violet and Fiona were found guilty by the Children of the Celestial Mothers. Maxx and his mob of idiots rounded the two of them up tonight. They’re both being held at the sanctuary.
Their execution is planned for two days from now.
They want to make a big spectacle out of it. ”
Forrest came back with the glass of water. Magda took a long sip before continuing.
“They’re coming for you tomorrow morning, child.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the walls closed in on me. My chest tightened, and my heart raced. I pulled at the collar of my robe, feeling suffocated by the fabric.
Forrest turned me so I was facing him, gently rubbing his hands up and down the sides of my arms. “Aurelia, look at me.”
My mind started to spiral. I had failed, the cost of which was steep. Two women were going to lose their lives because of me. I stared at the floor, willing a hole to appear so it could suck me in and take me away from this madness.
“Aurelia, will you please look at me?” Forrest’s voice broke through the haze.
How long had he been talking to me? I looked up to find beautiful azure eyes full of resolve.
“We planned for this, remember? Our bags are already packed and ready to go.” He leaned in and gently kissed my forehead. “I will not let them take you.”
I pulled back, wiping tears from my face.
I turned to Magda, my voice barely above a whisper.
“How did they find out?” I wasn’t sure why I needed this information.
It wasn’t like the outcome would be any different.
It was just my own morbid curiosity. “I know it has to be either Violet or Fiona, and I’m not upset with either of them.
I know if I were in their situation, I would say whatever I needed to if I had any chance of helping a loved one out. ”
Hurt and anger were written all over Magda’s face when she answered.
“Neither of them said a word.” She stopped to take a deep breath.
The weight of what she was about to share seemed to be too much for her tiny frame.
“It was Wyatt. He was so incensed after your little fight in the village square the other day that he decided to share everything he knew about you with Maxx.”
No. There was no way that he would do that.
“Magda, are you sure it was him?” I asked. “How could he possibly have known that I had helped them? I have never been honest about my work with him, and as far as he knows, I make bathing oils and tea blends. It had to have been someone else.”
“Do you remember Willow’s mother?”
I nodded, my heart aching at the memory of that terrible night.
“She happened to be at the sanctuary this afternoon when she overheard a damning conversation take place between Wyatt and Maxx. She shared this information with me so I could warn you.”
I shook my head in disbelief. This was a courageous and thoughtful deed for a woman still grieving the loss of her child.
“Wyatt told Maxx that he knew you were involved with what had happened with Violet and Fiona, because for years he had been bringing up the supplies you needed from the South to make those elixirs. He claimed that there was no one else in this village with that knowledge but you. He confessed that he’d known all along what you had been up to but chose not to say anything, as you two were together. ”
“How valiant of him,” Forrest sneered. Contempt radiated from him in menacing waves.
Magda nodded in agreement at Forrest’s facetious comment. “They plan to come for you early tomorrow morning. Make a whole spectacle out of it.”
This news felt like a giant boulder sitting on my chest, crushing me under its immense weight.
I couldn’t believe that this man, who I had let into my life and my bed for years, had been able to turn on me so quickly because I had rejected him.
I knew Wyatt had been furious with me, but I never could have imagined that he would stoop so low to get back at me.
“Where—is—Wyatt—now?” Forrest asked.
“He’s been staying at an inn close to the sanctuary while he’s been healing from the injuries you inflicted upon him.
I don’t think you’ll be able to get near him now without having to deal with his new friends.
” Placing the half-empty glass of water down on the small table in the living room, Magda stood up.
“Is there anything we can do to help Violet and Fiona?” I asked.
“Like what?” Forrest asked.
“I don’t know. Shouldn’t we try to rescue them or something? They could come with us up north.”
“You would ask Fiona to leave her children behind?” Magda asked.
“I would assume that it would be preferable to the alternative,” I spat back. “If she stayed alive, she could at least see them eventually.” I sat down on the sofa and slumped forward. “I know. It’s not a smart thing to attempt. I just feel awful that they’re going to die, and we can’t help them.”
“Child, what part of ‘they are coming for you’ do you not understand? You delay leaving this goddesses-forsaken place any longer than is necessary, and you won’t have time to worry about Violet and Fiona, because you’ll be dead too!
” Magda cried. Tears started rolling down her face.
“You must leave tonight! You cannot waste another second of your time worrying about anyone other than yourself!” Her arms flailed as she motioned me to move.
Magda reached into her pocket and brought out what appeared to be a golden skeleton key with an eye at the top.
“As you know, your grandmother and I were close. We both came from very unconventional backgrounds. That combined with our shared interest in magic made us quick friends,” she said with a sad fondness.
“I loved your grandmother with my entire being. My universe only consisted of her. She was my sun, moon, and stars. And when it was her time to leave us, I thanked Hecate for allowing us to have the time together that we did.”
While I was growing up, Magda had been quite close with my grandmother and me, but I’d had no idea of their feelings for one another. I felt guilt and sadness that I had been unable to recognize that part of them and see them as they were, which was two women deeply in love.
Magda handed me the skeleton key. It looked to be made of gold, although I had never seen this much gold in one place, so I couldn’t be sure. The eye at the top appeared to be made of pearl and onyx. It was surrounded by beams of lapis lazuli. It was absolutely stunning.
“Why are you giving me this?” I asked.
“Before your grandmother passed, she asked me to hold on to this for you. She said that it was a family heirloom, and that under no circumstances should it ever end up in anyone else’s hands besides mine or yours.
It has the power to grant access to places and things no one but you has the right to access. ”
I looked at Magda, confused. “What are you talking about? This doesn’t make any sense.”
“Shh, child. If you would let me finish.”
I waved my hand at her to continue.
“She said that this key would offer you a way out in times of great need. I am giving this to you now so you can use it to leave this place.”
“I don’t understand how this key is going to help us. Is it for a secret home my grandmother had somewhere?”
“When you leave tonight, you must go into the Nightwood and find the clearing shaped like a half moon. There you will come across a portal. Use this key to access the portal.”
I wasn’t sure if it was nerves, but at the mention of a portal, I laughed hysterically.
“I fail to see what is so funny about this, child,” Magda chided.
“I’m sorry, Magda. There’s just a lot to unpack in that short little sentence. A portal? To where? And what am I supposed to do once I’m there?”
Magda took a deep breath and let out a long sigh before answering. “It’s a doorway. It will take you back to the start.”
I stared at her, stunned and confused by the words she had just uttered. “Back to the start?” I whispered to myself. I narrowed my eyes at Magda. “What do you mean by that?”
“I wish I could elaborate, child,” Magda replied, pulling at a loose thread on her sleeve that wasn’t there.
My mouth fell open. “No, that’s not good enough. Nothing you’re saying right now is making any sense.”
She looked at me with pity. “Aurelia, my dear, I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I protested. I was past being confused and was now starting to get annoyed. “Magda, please.”
“I’m bound, child. I can’t tell you anything more, even if I wanted to,” she whispered. Her voice was calm and soothing. She was aware that her evasion of my questions was tearing something within me.
I shook my head. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. I deserve to know what the fuck I’m running into!” The annoyance I had felt seconds ago now shifted into anger.
“I’M BOUND!” Magda cried. “Do you not know what that means?” The diminutive woman looked up at me with sadness and regret.
I folded my arms over my chest and turned my face away from her, tears burning my eyes. I knew what she meant.
My grandmother had bound her. My own grandmother had used her abilities to silence Magda and withhold more secrets from me. My life was actively being unravelled right before my eyes. I felt like I no longer knew the people who had been closest to me my entire life. I barely knew myself anymore.
“I am so sorry, child. I do wish the circumstances were different and I could have shared this with you in a much gentler way, but unfortunately, we are quite pressed for time.” Magda reached into her pocket and pulled out another item. “I have something else to give you.”
I raised my hand in protest. “I’m not interested in any more gifts from you.”
She took a step toward me, ignoring my words. In her palm was a delicate gold chain with three phases of the moon made out of moonstone on it.
“This is a gift from me to you. It is a moon charm that the goddess Hecate herself has blessed. It will provide you with protection and comfort when needed.” Magda held up the chain. “May I?”
“Anything I should know about this?” I replied sarcastically.
She shook her head slowly. “No. It is simply a gift of love. No matter where you go from here, you will always have a piece of my heart with you.”
I closed my eyes tightly, willing away the onslaught of tears coming at Magda’s moving words. I nodded at her silently in acquiescence. I turned my back to her and knelt down so she could put the necklace on me.
As the moonstone pendant settled at the centre of my chest, faint vibrations resonated throughout my body. I grabbed the pendant, holding it tight.
“Who is Hecate? You mentioned the name earlier, but I’ve never heard of her,” I said as I stood up to face Magda.
“Hecate is an old-realm goddess. She is considered the mother of the witches, the mother of my people from the Southern Isles. I know you have no use for anything pertaining to belief in a higher power, but it will help me sleep better at night knowing you have this.”
I leaned in and gave Magda a firm hug. It must not have been easy for her to come here tonight and share everything she had. I was sure she would much rather we stayed close, but that was a luxury neither of us could now afford.
Magda pulled away from me, tears streaming down her tired, weathered face. “Please, you must go now. Do not give them any chance to catch you.”
I stared at Magda, unable to form words.
We had failed. And we had done so in such a spectacularly bad fashion.
Behind me I heard Forrest spring into action, grabbing our emergency packs from the trunk and some items from the kitchen.
Moments later he was standing beside me in the living room, ready to go.
Grabbing my shoulders, he pulled me in close.
“Aurelia, you need to get dressed now,” he said before planting a firm kiss on my lips.
I returned to the living room a few minutes later, dressed in my best outdoor attire—pants, a long-sleeved tunic, boots, and a thick cloak.
Just as I was about to get my things together, Nocturna and Astra started pacing and growling at the front door.
I ran over to the living room window to see what the matter was, but I could see nothing but the pitch black of night.
Forrest came over beside me, craning his neck to listen. “I hear something. It sounds like a group of people. They’re angry and shouting.” He turned to look at me, shock and rage written all over his face.
“It’s them! They’ve come early!” Magda cried behind us.
I looked over at Magda, tears clouding my vision, my voice cracking. “What’s going to happen to you now? Won’t they know someone helped me?”
Magda grabbed me with her tiny, wrinkled hands.
“I am more than able to take care of myself, so please do not worry about me. The only thing that matters right now is keeping my promise to your grandmother and making sure that you are safe.” She planted tiny kisses on the back of my hands.
“You were meant for far greater things than this life, Aurelia. Leave this place, and become who you were truly meant to be.”
I wrapped the small woman in a fierce hug.
No matter how long we stood here, it wouldn’t be enough time to say goodbye.
Magda had been there for me throughout my entire life.
She was the person I had gone to when I had needed to talk about things I had been too scared to confide in my grandmother about.
She had become a second mother to me after my grandmother had died, making sure I was always provided for and wanting for nothing.
It felt impossible to let go and say goodbye.
She had risked her life to save mine. I could not linger here any longer and let all her sacrifice be in vain.
I grabbed my pack and tossed it on my back. I leaned down and gave Magda one last kiss goodbye. “Thank you for everything. I love you.”