CHAPTER 4

After Lilly finished her pizza, she headed to the attic. It had been a long time since she saw her mother’s things. Her aunt never threw anything away and as a child, she used to come up here and play. The old stairs creaked with age, after flicking on the light she smiled. The fort she had made was still in one piece. She crawled into the small tent-like fort. It was, of course, made mostly of sheets and pillows. But it had been a castle, pirate ship, a dragon’s lair, or a secret cave buried with treasure back in its prime. She chuckled. She couldn’t help a sigh thinking of what her mother would think of it.

She knew that she had the journal. It just wasn’t the same. She would always have questions, always have a small longing in her heart. She wondered who her father was? what he liked; did he truly have magic too? There was no way of truly knowing. Unless she were to ask Gracie. Which would only put her in harm’s way? No, she couldn’t go to her treacherous grandmother.

It boiled Lily’s blood to think of any mother, who was supposed to love you. Would use you for her own means, and knowingly sacrifice your life to save hers. Lily shivered. What a heartless person. But she had read once that one had to be willing for the spell to work so well. Had her father knowingly agreed to deceive her mother. Were they even in love? Love, what is it anyway? secrets, broken hearts. Her own perceived betrayal is on her mind. Gripping the letter from Godric. She woefully moaned as she thought back to how she was a naive little girl. He is an ancient vampire, and she is only a child. She would only ever be a child. She was certain that no matter how strong she would get, or how useful her power would be. 

She would only be a child. A toy, whose heart would never be safe. Her aunt who now as she was sitting in this old attic. Was planning to help trap her, Gracie her grandmother, who willing planned her mother’s death, and who was currently awaiting Lilly to turn of age so her powers would be matured. Just so she can use her as a weapon no doubt. Those stupid spirits that had always called her to dance in the moon, on that night she met Godric. No, her heart would be hers. 

Whisper of the spirit was on the wind as they sensed a change in Lily. Lilly never heard them pleading for her to not let herself grow cold. She had made her mind up. She would study and learn everything she could. Looking down at the letter in her hands. She should read it. Would it be more lies? Would she know the difference? Deciding she should at least read the letter. If not but to hear him out. Sliding her finger along the envelope’s edges she pulled out the letter and unfolded it.

My dearest little flower,

I regret the way I had to leave you and I owe you an explanation, I was approached by a very powerful member of my people. They requested that I become the king of Texas. You may not know what that means, and you don’t have to. I have a lot of enemies. Lilly and they would love to do nothing but hurt you to get to me. I could not stand it if something happened to you because of me. I promise you will be safe. If I stay away. Your aunt and I keep in touch now and again. She assures me you are well protected. And I am relieved. She says you have grown up well. Lilly, I want to tell you that...

Just then a noise downstairs signaled someone was in the house. Lily jumped up; the letter lay forgotten on the floor. Her aunt wouldn’t be home so soon. And Gracie would be at the meeting as well. The voice inside her head screamed for her to run to her cubby. After all, she would be safe. Taking a deep breath Lily whispered. “I cannot be a victim forever.” So, drawing on the power she could feel humming just under her skin. Lily bravely walked down the stairs. A look of determination firmly in place. She may not have a lot of experience. She may not be at her full power. But she sure the hell wasn’t going down without a fight!

As she rounded the staircase. Her heart beat so fast it could rival a hummingbird. Godric’s letter did say his world was dangerous. What if it was a vampire? No, she quickly erased the notion. She would most likely be dead already. As if the thing in her house could hear her mind. It appeared in front of Lily snarling. A giant black wolf-like creature stood before her. This was three times bigger than the wolves Godric had killed. Lily could feel her heart race in her chest as she took in the beast before her. Its black eyes and red-stained teeth sent chills down her back. 

“Good Doggie, nice Doggie.” Lily backed up a little like the smell of rotten eggs wafted in the air. Sulfur? She once read in a book somewhere about a wolf, that smells like sulfur. What was it again? Then it dawned on her a hellhound!  She ran toward the kitchen, she had knives there. Lily didn’t have to look to know the beast on her trail. She reached for the knives to find they were missing. This was planned, and she knew who was behind this.

 Before Lily could run, she found herself backed into the corner where the counter meets the wall. The beast pounced and as Lily threw up her hands there was a fire. And the hound whimpered as it disintegrated. Lily opened her eyes to see a man who couldn’t be older than forty-three standing in front of her. Grabbing a frying pan ready to use it like a baseball bat she stared at the man. 

“Who are you, and how did you get here?” He smiled widely, his green eyes were kind and there was something else about them. She couldn’t place. “I am Mathias Glidden, but you can call me Mathias. I have been tracking an unusual uptake of dark magic in the area. When I came across your house. Grace must be getting sloppy in her old age. Hell- hounds are nasty, I wonder what you did to cross the old hag?” Lily stood her head held high.  

“My name is Lily Thompson and thank you for saving me. As for what I have done. Easy nothing, Grace is a crazy coven leader. She is full of dark magic. And she wants me dead evidently.” The man nodded and she noticed his short fiery red hair.  He was reasonably tall. Could pass for Tolkien’s version of an elf. Without the pointed ears.  “Grace killed my brother. For her evil little plot. Then she killed his wife.”

Lily froze her eyes widened. “She killed my mother by driving her crazy so that she jumped to her death. My father died from cancer that came from nowhere. Wonder if my parents knew your brother?” He shrugged “I wasn’t very close to my brother. So I could not say.” What if this man, who had just saved her, is an enemy of Godric? She decided she had been rude long enough. “My aunt is part of her coven still and I believe she is trying to kill me too.”

The man seemed to pause thinking to himself. “I suggest you leave this place if you want to live. I do not doubt that she will send more minions to kill you.” Lily nodded. “I have nowhere to go to Mathias.” The man just looked at her for a minute. “Take care child, I will be back.” With that, he was gone.

 What the hell is he? and how did he disappear like that? And what on this goddess blessed earth made her trust him?     

“Lilly, honey, are you awake?” Her tone was sickly sweet. Like a Venus flytrap. “Yes, I am in the kitchen. Just get a bottle of water. How was your meeting at Grace’s house?” She smiled at me “Wonderful, we managed to cast the perfect circle to complete our objective. How was your night at home?” I smiled and turned to face her. “Pleasantly quiet and uneventful.” if you count meeting a strange man with fire magic. Who rushed in to save you from hell hounds? Sure, just another day.

“Yes, everything was quiet, I think I will go to bed. Good night, Aunt Agatha.” Lily hoped she managed to sound innocently sweet.  She half ran up the stairs. And went to the attic to grab the few things of her mother and father she had stashed and the discarded letter from the floor and went straight to her cubby and hid them there. Then she heard her aunt coming up the stairs and head to the attic. Which she never went to. A deep feeling of dread filled her.  

“Spirits I call to you, hear me ancestors show me, Agatha, give sight so that I might live tonight?”  Lily whispered and even to her ears it sounded pathetic. She was new to writing spells.

 Images of Agatha holding a knife walking up to the fort and stabbing it. She let out a frustrated growl.  “I am going to kill you. You little brat!” Agatha seemed to pause as if she didn’t mean to say that.”  The image disappeared and Lilly ran to the closet and grabbed her stuff.  The protection spell didn’t work against those who live in the house. Packing quickly, she heard Agatha walk down the stairs she grabbed her bag and made it down the stairs and almost made it. When Agatha was at the front door. Lily threw a hand up in front of her slamming her aunt against the door and running to the back door. 

The next minute she was met with the firm form of Mathias. “I told you I would be back. Found trouble again so soon?” Lily rolled her eyes as Agatha charged poised to strike the knife into Lily’s back. 

Mathias slid his arm fast around Lily’s waist spinning her behind him. Stepping forward, his body angled low he charged into Agatha’s stomach. She gave an angry yell trying to stab her attacker.  Lily watched on not knowing what she could do to help in this situation.  It seemed the basic skills she had learned failed when frozen in fear.

Mathias managed to disarm the witch when she tossed a fireball at him. Agatha had aimed to wide and only managed to singe part of his sleeve. The ball of flames hit the curtains and caught fire. The old house was always a hazard waiting to happen. 

“Mathias! The house is on fire!” Lily’s panicked voice reached his ears. Agatha looked shocked. “Ken you, you are dead I saw you die.” Mathias smiled. “For crimes against your own blood you witch, you will not live to tell the story.” Lily tried the door, and it wouldn’t open. Damn it she cussed, why couldn’t she remember that damn spell.  Agatha’s scream made her turn around as her protector snapped her aunt’s neck.  Mathias went over to the sink cabinet and grabbed some flammable sprays and torched the witch.  

Lily pulled on the door, and it still didn’t give way. Mathias turned to the frightened girl. “Trust me?” All Lily could do was nod and Mathias slung her over his back and in a swirl of color they were outside the burning house. 

“Mathias where do I go now? Grace was to care for me if my aunt died. And I can’t find Sheba she has been gone for a few weeks.” He looked down at her sadly. “To the clearing, then we will talk more.  As for Grace, she will never find you. You are my blood and I protect my own.”  Lily ran down the path she knew he was behind her.

Upon reaching the clearing Lily fell to her knees panting.  The excitement from earlier and the run had taken the energy out of her. 

“Come child, we need to go.” Lily started to cry all the emotions finally being released. The pain of never knowing her parents, her aunt trying to kill her, her evil grandmother. The revelation of having a family that didn’t want her dead.  Sheba is still missing. It all swirled inside her heart. 

“Child, we need to move.” Lily didn’t answer, she just stayed on the ground. Breathing heavily wishing the world would stop. 

Then a gentle breeze picked up. 

Hush daughter, let not your heart grow cold by the pain you feel. We will always be with you. Whether here in this sacred place or whatever foreign land you dwell on. 

Closing her eyes Lilly got to her feet and faced her uncle. “Alright, I am ready where to now?” Mathias Smiled taking her hand. The next she knew they were in front of a witch’s supply shop. “Of all the places you brought me here? Oh, very top secret Grace would never look for me here.” Shaking his red locks, he chuckled. 

“My dear you are in New Orleans and this shop is not your average place.” Mathias knocked on the door three times paused then knocked two times. The rustling of paper and the sound of what Lilly imagined was a stool falling over as the door opened.

“Mathias Glidden! As I live and breathe. It has been years since you paid me a visit come in, come in.” Once they were inside and seated. The old women noticed the shaking form of Lily.

“Mathias… When did you start traveling with a child?” Mathias shrugged. “This Is Lily Thompson, My late brother’s daughter. She is why I am here. You see Agatha is dead, she tried to kill the girl. Grace had sent hell hounds to the poor girl earlier tonight. They were destroyed. I need you to hide her. Train her if you would.” The room sat in silence as the elderly lady eyed lily.

“I am sorry Mathias, But I took a job for the Northman, protecting his bonded. I just came back to grab some things.” Mathias nodded. “I know of the Northman and His bride. I was there when they pledged. Please Octavia” Before Lily could remember to use her manners, she was out of her seat. 

“Octavia? Octavia Phant? My mother is Olivia Thompson. I. she. I was told to find you. Please help me” Smiling at the girl in front of her Octavia took a minute to realize who the girl was.

“Olivia’s little girl? MY child, I am sorry for your loss. Let me call the Northman and request that two-bedroom house.