Chapter 40- Whispers In The Wind

There was no one now to stop her from getting into deep trouble. He was the one she looked up too. The one that showed her love and affection, he had brightened up her life in away only a parent could. He never failed to have time for her. Be there when she needed him. He was weak and followed his mother, however he showed compassion, something Jeanette never had.
As she looked into the dark hole, loneliness wrapped around her and squeezed her heart, it made her feel numb inside.
Her father would never be waiting by the door again. He wouldn’t be asking her how her day had been at school.
Who would take an interest in her life now?
It was time she stood on her own two feet and faced the world alone. She would keep her head held high and make her father proud.
“It is funny, how the small things in life you did for me, hold so much meaning now.
When mother and I disagreed. I always ran to you. You always made me laugh and all my worries disappeared. Even though in the end you made me do what my mother wished, you gave me comfort in knowing that you were there for me.
I just wish I could see your smile one last time. Here your voice. Wherever you go now I know you will be free. The shadows of life are now gone and the light on the other side will shine for you.
Don’t worry about me. I will be fine.
I know I am a pain at times, but I promise you one thing. Everything I do is for a purpose and what I am about to do. It is for us all.
I guess I after letting you go now. One day I will make it away from here.
Light up the sky Dad. You will be the brightest star without a doubt.
You will forever be in my heart.”
Tossing a black rose into the grave she turned away and brushed the tears away from her face. Levi stepped closer and threaded his fingers through hers squeezing them slightly. Crystal gave him a small smile for the little comfort he offered her.
Once Ruby had dropped her rose into the grave, she nodded at Levi who began to cover her father with the soil from the earth.
***
Watching Henry slowly disappear into the ground, sent a shock of pain through Ruby. Inside she had crumbled. Losing her father had left a hole. It aloud worries to seep in, leaving her terrified. He was the voice of reason and now she was worried about the choices her mother would make. She had so many doubts and no one to chase them away. He had promised her that he would keep her and her baby safe from her mother’s wrath. Then he had left her alone with that broken promise.
Her secrete she carried close to her heart. Without her father, Ruby was worried what the future had in store not only for herself but her unborn child.
Gazing at Crystal, the sadness in her heart deepened. She acted like a tough cookie. Yet Ruby knew deep down all she wanted was to be loved and accepted. Henry had provided her that. She vowed she would take his place and make sure no harm would come to Crystal. She would keep her grounded.
A bright light floated from the now fully covered grave. It danced and floated around Ruby then stopped hovering above Henry’s resting place.
The light slowly dissolved, and her father’s figure appeared surrounded by a white hue.
“Ruby don’t be alarmed,” his soft voice spoke into her mind.
“How?” she whispered.
“What?” Crystal asked looking at her strangely. She couldn’t see him. Ruby glanced at her father’s figure and back at Crystal, she was staring at the ground with a few tears dripping from her chin. If she had seen him, Ruby would have known.
“Speak only in your mind,” Henry said giving her a sad smile. She took a step back and closed her eyes. It was just her imagination. When she opened her eyes, he stood in the same spot looking at her with guilt.
“There are many dangers that are yet to come. Ruby, I need you to protect Crystal. Not from the world but from your mother,”
“I don’t understand,”
“Oh, but you will. You see, the path before you all are dark, keep Crystal in the light or everything will be destroyed as two worlds become one,”
“Dad, you don’t make sense,”
“Find my diary and everything will become clear,”
He began to fade.
“Dad no! Wait!” Ruby stepped forward desperately trying to hold onto her father’s sprit.
“Goodbye for now Ruby, we will meet again,” Ruby didn’t have time to say anything as he disappeared leaving a hollow feeling in her heart.
Had she really just seen her father?

***
“We can’t locate him, our magic is being blocked,” Duke said with his head bowed.
“You idiot he, his dead! Magic cannot find a soul that as already left this earth,” as she said those words, she knew that Henry had been buried. Against her wishes he was free.
“Leave!” she bellowed at the collage boy. He had a lot to learn.
She collapsed into the living room chair. Henry Hudson had left her. Alone to do what must be done to save her people. Did he think she wanted to do what she had too? Unlike him she wasn’t weak.
The fireplace roared to life on its own accord. Jeanette didn’t need to think who had caused such a scene. She knew. She had been dreading the day for a long time. She wasn’t ready.
Black smoke gathered in the centre of the room, and she leaned back into the chair putting on her poker face.
“It is time you repay your debt,” Daman the King of Death and destruction said with a gleeful glint in his narrow eyes.
“And what will the payment be?” Jeanette asked casually. She knew what he wanted. She just played stupid.
“A son, if not that then I want your daughter,”
“I have plenty of them, which one do you seek?”
“Crystal,” he licked his lips and Jeanette had a feeling of disgust in the pit of her stomach.
“You can have any of my daughter, but not Crystal,”
“Oh, you seem to forget. The payment is not up for debate. You will give me what I wish,” her heart sank, and anger boiled under the surface.
“Fine, then you will have to wait. I need her until Christmas day. Then she is yours,” she snapped at the grubby looking demon.
“Christmas day?”
“Yes,” she snapped again.
“Then you shall owe me one more debt if you are to make me wait,”
“Very well,” Jeanette waved her hand. Damon smirked as he absorbed into the black mist.
When Christmas day came, he wouldn’t be able to take what he wanted, nor request any other favour from her. She grinned as the last bit of smoke vanished. She would outsmart the demon.
She was young and naïve when she had fallen upon Damon. Stupid was a better word. She thought she could pull off what he wanted. However, she didn’t count on Enchilada getting in the way.
She had to admit the arrangement she had with Damon had played its part in her master plan. She had gained a husband and rarity that any witch would love to have. A seer not connected to any demon. Her daughter Perl had served her well. Now he wanted payment in the form of her youngest daughter. The only one he could not have. If it was left to Jeanette, she would gladly give him that child. He may be the one to tame her.
She needed her. Without her she would never be able to return home.
If she survived what was to come, he could have her.
The sound of a throat clearing brought her out of her thoughts.
She turned to see Martha. The sour faced old woman who was one of the elders.
“I want the body of my husband found, even if you have to dig up the whole community,” she didn’t bother to ask the woman what she wanted. That was the pleasure of leading a coven. She was the one in control.

Jeannette pulled the hood of her cloak firmly around her head and held the basket of baked goods that she had to take to her grandmothers.
It was a long trek through the twisting and winding forest. It was a journey she had done a thousand times before.
Clutching the basket, she left the warmth of her wooden home that was nestled within the ancient trees and set back from the nearby villages. It was a lonely place for a child to grow up.
The cold wind whipped around her, she pulled the cloak tighter around her body and stepped into the foliage of the trees. In mid-winter the forest had little light, and mist gathered around her feet, it was an eerie feeling, one where she knew danger lurked. Yet she wasn’t scared, she had faced many creatures in her young life, and she was soon to be an adult. Her eighteenth birthday was only days away and the man who had been chosen to be her husband was the man every female which wanted. She was to become a princess.
Seth Carmichael was a strapping young man, handsome with an air of mystery. She couldn’t wait for her wedding. He had made her countless promises and she couldn’t wait for them to come to light. He was the perfect gentleman and charming. Everything she wanted in a man.
She heard voices up ahead. Quietly she crept towards the voices, curious to who would be so close to her home. One sounded familiar; the deep rumble that sent her knees weak was unmistakable.
As she approached her heart stopped, as pain shattered all her hopes and dreams.
Seth Carmichael held the chin of Mary St Claire the look of total adoration in his eyes was a look she would never wipe from her memory.
“I love you, Mary. You and our unborn child,” he whispered and placed a soft kiss on her forehead then her lips. The same kiss he had given her when her mother had set up her union and they began to court.
Mary St. Claire was rumoured to be one of the fallen. How could he? It was against all the rules, not even he could break them.
Jeanette dropped the basket she had been holding and alerted Seth and Mary to her presence. The look of disgust on Seth’s face made her quiver under his gaze. She had made the mistake of failing for him. The lies and soft words of happily ever after had filled her dreams. In that moment she swore she would never make the same mistake again. She would never give her heart away.
Jeanette snapped out of the memory. Had she done the right thing? Offering her daughter up to Levi Carmichael? After all he was the reason, they had been exiled from their world. Of course, she had. Her past was her past and Crystal and Levi were the two who would open the gate and allow them to go home where they belonged. She sighed as the memory opened up old wounds.
She was the one destined to be queen. Mary with her blond locks and pelican face had stolen that from her. She had stolen the love of her life and the fairy-tale dream. Now she was giving her daughter what she had always wanted. To marry a Carmichael and rule the witches.