Chapter 47- Whispers In The Wind

Mary sat in a white rocking chair reading a book. When she saw Crystal, she placed the book on a coffee table and smiled.
“Oh, what a pleasant surprise. Please come in and take a seat,” she gestured to the sofa beside the chair and Crystal compiled. The magic she had used had drained her and she was finding it hard to hide its effects.
“Clay, you may leave us,” she said without looking in his direction.
“What do I owe this pleasure?” she asked in the sweetest softest voice that Crystal had ever heard, instantly Crystal had the feeling that Mary was searching her for the truth. That even before she spoke this strange woman was looking for answers. She had those eyes that looked straight into your soul.
“Levi was showing me around the community. Then we heard a loud bang and went to investigate,” Crystal relayed what Levi had told his father.
“Ahh, yes I fear we may have an intruder,” Mary sighed and rang a little gold bell that she picked up from the coffee table. A woman appeared in the room wearing a plain black dress.
“Please bring us refreshments,” Mary nodded to the woman who quickly scuttled away. Even though Crystal was the daughter of the head of the starlight coven she didn’t feel comfortable with people running around for her. She didn’t have those privileges at home and didn’t want them.
“Being the monsters that others claim us to be brings us many enemies,” Mary said with a small smile.
“Why did the rumors start?” Crystal asked curious.
“Our family is to blame for our banishment from Athens. The other covens will always hate us for that. They use our curse against us. Even though each coven as a curse of their own. But hate is a strong emotion one that can turn even the kindest person cruel and vindictive,” Crystal nodded. What Mary had said was true. Hate was powerful. She had seen what it could do with her own eyes. Crystal herself had let it creep into her heart and emotions one time too many. Each time it blinded her from the right choices and violence became the only answer to any problem.

***
Levi helped his father and the men in the coven look for the intruder and Beth’s mother. He hoped that Beth had managed to conceal themselves from his father or they would both pay a price much worse than death.
“This was an inside job!” Seth yelled and pointed to his men who quickly scuttled away. No one needed further instruction. The entire community would be put on lock down.
“Bring Beth to me!” he continued. Fear gripped Levi and he silently gulped. He wasn’t one to pray yet he found himself asking God to keep her safe.
“Go take the young witch home,” Seth turned to Levi who nodded. He didn’t want to be there when his father realized he was behind the escape. His best chance was to get Crystal safely back to her own coven before more trouble stirred.
He walked slowly back to the manor running his hands through his hair. He had been stupid. Yet worse, he had dragged Crystal into the mess. Now she would also pay. He sighed as he reached the front door of the manor and walked inside. He went straight to his mother’s sitting room. To his surprise she was alone knitting.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“She fell asleep, so I had Donald take her to the guest room,” Levi smiled and bid her goodnight. He knew full well he wouldn’t get any sleep through worry. Shifting and going for a run was out of the option. Too many men were prowling the communality.
He paused outside the guest room and gently opened the door. He peaked inside and marveled just how beautiful Crystal was. In sleep she looked innocent. Gone were the lines of worry and the brave mask she always wore. The moonlight filtered through the window and lit up her face. Her blond hair spread around her head.
She didn’t deserve the life she had been handed. Guilt filled is body. He was to blame. It was his fault they had been banished and his fault Jeanette treated her as she did.
Why get attached to a child that would be sacrificed?
If he survived the betrayal, he had just committed he would make sure that the vortex was destroyed. He would keep her safe. At all costs to himself.
***
Crystal awoke in a panic. Where was she? Her head erupted in pain, and she lay back down and closed her eyes. The night flashed behind her closed lids, and she wanted to scream. Why, just why? She asked herself. She was forever doing things that were simply crazy.
No, no, no. She repeated in her mind. That is all she had to say. A simple word. Yet that word never crossed her thoughts never mind her tongue.
A knock on the door made her peak from the covers. Slowly it opened to reveal dark hair then Levi’s body followed.
“You have the pleasure of eating breakfast with my parents before I have been ordered to take you to school,” Crystal groaned and curled up. School? It was the last place she wanted to be. Her head was racked in pain.
She felt like she had been run over by a bus.
In two strides Levi was beside the bed and whipped the covers from her body exposing her underwear. She scrambled to cover herself back up as she felt the heat rise in her face. She was mortified.
“Get up,” he ordered one last time and left the room. Crystal sank back into the bed her heart raced. When her heartbeat became regular, she tossed on the clothes she had worn the night before and then exited the room with its grand furnishings.
A woman stepped out of the shadows and Crystal stumbled back. The woman had given her a freight.
“Come with me Ma’am,” the woman said without changing her composer.
She followed the woman down the stairway and past many closed doors. She wondered what secrets were hidden behind those doors. What mysteries lay waiting to be recovered?
That was her problem, she was too curious for her own good.
The maid knocked on a set of double solid oak doors and pushed them open.
“I present Miss Hudson,” she announced with a bow and then sank back into the shadows. Crystal stared ahead wondering if she also should bow. No way. She was after all the daughter of the head of the starlight coven, and she wasn’t about to submit to anyone.
She took a seat next to Levi and placed a napkin on her lap. Seth’s eyes were causing her to squirm as he stared in her direction.
“I am happy to have your presence this morning Crystal. I do hope you slept well,” Mary took the edge from the awkwardness she had been feeling.
“Thank you, Mary. It is a pleasure to eat breakfast in such a fine home,” At her words Mary beamed. She had been taught how to be polite and show gratitude and with the look on Mary’s face she knew she had it down to a tee.