C.L. Peache's Blog

A droplet of blood dripped onto the page as a voice called commandingly from outside.

‘Knock, knock. Are there any witches in there?’

Everyone froze.

‘How did we not know they were coming?’ Kasha hissed, ‘Aland.’  The wolfhound raised its massive head and whined. Clearly it had no idea and the other animals on watch hadn’t warned them.

‘Well, well,’ Drakon said, a smile on his face, ‘Finally. It’s time to make a stand.’

‘I’m glad someone is happy we have been caught napping.’ Penelope stated as she turned to Alex and Freya, ‘Listen you two must stay in here. After all these centuries I cannot believe we have no time.’

Penelope turned to Freya, ‘You need to find Tobias’s name and write in Alaric’s using the blood then you need to put the book in the centre of the pentagram.’

‘I’m going to say hello to our visitors and buy us some time,’ Drakon said, as he sauntered towards the door, the familiar tap of his cane seeming too loud.

‘I cannot do this Penelope. It’s too soon. We don’t know what to do.’ Freya cried as Alex put an arm around her.

‘I know and I’m sorry, Freya but we have to try and get through this. Alaric has Ali. The only way to save her is to kill him.’

Drakon opened the door and stepped onto the veranda. He sounded calm, as if he was chatting to a friend, ‘Alaric. We meet at last and you’ve brought friends. How nice.’

Dominique’s head snapped up. He nodded to Kasha and they moved to the back door. Aland stayed behind as Kasha snapped her finger and pointed at the floor near the book.

‘Alex? Freya are you in there?’

Penelope grabbed Alex’s arm, ‘I know it’s your sister but you need to stay in here. The only way to keep her alive is to stick to the plan.’

‘Plan?’ Alex growled, ‘You call this a plan? Write a name in a book with someone’s blood and then burn it and this is going to kill this Alaric? Hundreds of years you’ve all been trying to find us.’ Alex gripped Freya’s arm, ‘to create a coven so that you can take this guy out.’

Alex ran his hand through his hair, ‘Jesus. You expect me to stay in here whilst Brad Pitt lookalike with a cane goes out there and faces down Alaric. Who the hell has a name like Drakon and he looks as if he would throw his own grandmother under the bus if she was mildly inconvenient to his wishes.’

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Penelope smiled, ‘I’m sorry Alex. We are out of time. You either stay here and trust us or you walk out that door and kill us all.’

Penelope turned and walked towards the door.

‘I guess that’s the negotiation over.’ Alex said to Freya, ‘what the hell are we going to do Frey? This situation is worse than the time we were high on mushrooms. We just have to accept we are witches and get on with crazy plan?’

Freya felt her hand steady as she dipped the quill into the blood once again. She turned the page and wrote Alaric’s name in the book. She turned to Alex, ‘Let burn this book and get Ali back alive.’

Decision made, Alex turned and pulled the table to the side of the room and rolled up the rug until the pentagram was exposed once again. Freya watched the blood seep into the page as she wrote Alaric’s name and then closed the book, her hands now shaking. She moved over to Alex and placed the book in the middle of the pentagram.

‘Now what the hell do we do?’ Alex asked as they both cried out and fell to the floor as the windows blew out.

Alaric grinned as Drakon came to the door. These had had the strongest coven until he’d finally managed to weaken them. He’d tried to get to the others over the years but they’d proved elusive. Now he had them all here but he’d felt the shift when the first full coven had joined in hundreds of years but they were new and Alex and Freya knew nothing about their powers.

Drakon watched as five witches came out of the shadows of the trees. ‘What’s this, Alaric. Have you copied us and created your own little coven from the ones who cannot find their place amongst the proper witches?’ Drakon winked at the woman tied to a tree, her mouth gagged. Alex’s twin sister he presumed. She glared at him but he could see the fear in her eyes.

Alaric sneered as he nodded at the witches who he’d controlled over the years. They were his and would do exactly what he told them if they wanted their loved ones to stay alive.

‘Now, Drakon. I am going to make this easy for you. Just let me inside and give me the book and let’s end this nonsense. There is no point in turning your back on the inevitable. We’ve all enjoyed the cat and mouse games over the years. I’ve appreciated your ineptitude at trying to kill me over the years.’ Alaric grinned and raised his hands, ‘Us mere mortals find it a little harder to navigate a longer life.’

Drakon tracked them all as they moved inch by inch closer to the cabin as Alaric talked. It was one of his skills. Alaric knew how to work a crowd. Knew how to hold the attention, that’s why he’d been the best witchfinder. He had dedicated his life to not only killing witches but finding them. The ones who would do his bidding and extend his life beyond that of a normal human. Looking for their powers and sacrificing any witch who defied him or he had no use of their power.

Drakon knew these witches before him. He knew their strength and weaknesses. He had not been idle in the years since he’d seen Penelope and the others.

He heard Kasha to his right and Alaric turned, eyes wide as the leaves in the trees started to rustle and the ground began to shake. In moments, every branch and ground space was filled. Drakon knew Kasha was able to communicate with the animals but this was beyond anything he’d ever seen. An eeriness settled as every single bird, fox, squirrel, badger, deer and wolf waited silently.

‘Well, Kasha. My dear. This is certainly impressive.’ Alaric nodded to one of the witches.

Kasha cried out as Aland howled in pain at her feet, ‘It’s always a question of what you’re prepared to sacrifice. I’m not sure how many times I need to tell people. Your weakness will always be someone else. Your ability to care and love.’ Alaric scoffed as Kasha held Aland huge head in her arms, his breathing laboured. ‘If one of your creatures move. I will rip his insides out.’

‘Ah, Dominique. Never far from Kasha’s side. It’s hard to know what your biggest weakness is. Would that be our lovely Kasha or would it be your brother. Granted, Kasha is better looking and your brother can be a bit of a snob.’

‘Alaric. Isn’t it time you just died.’ Dominique said flatly as he crouched next to Kasha.

Alaric laughed, ‘Not so different from your brother after all unlike me and Tobias.’

‘We are not so different my brother.’

Tobias stepped out of the doorway.

Alaric stumbled back, his eyes wide. Alaric’s witches looked uneasily at each other. It was the first time they had seen Alaric anything less than commanding.  

‘We were made in the same womb. We shared that space, as we share this one. All that you’ve done is to become like me but you’re already like me. You just need to embrace it.’

‘I am nothing like you,’ Alaric spat, ‘you are weak. You’ve always been weak. Not prepared to take your birth right and become more. You settled for being less than everyone else. With your power.’ Alaric shook his head and closed his eyes.

Kasha watched as Dominique concentrated, pushing all his power out to calm everyone in the clearing. Kasha held onto Aland’s mane as he whined in pain. She adjusted her body so she shielded Dominique’s face hoping one of the didn’t see him influencing them, she could see Drakon had his cane pointed towards Alaric. It would take all their powers to hold him. Freya and Alex needed time. They knew so little, they had pinned all their hopes on two people who they had only known for five minutes. It was a crazy plan.

Alaric’s laughter made her look up. He raised his head and started clapping, ‘Bravo,’ he called, ‘for one minute you had me.’ He pointed at Tobias, ‘you have been dead for a very long time. I know that because I killed you and Mary. It’s a shame her father managed to get to the children to safety but it turns out he did me a favour.’

Tobias stared at Alaric. He turned his head slightly, listening.

Kasha watched Tobias’s form shimmered back in to Penelope and she in their mind they all heard one word.

‘NOW!’

‘Shit.’ Freya called as a sharp piece of glass sliced through her cheek. She winced at the pain as the book dug painfully into her stomach. Pushing herself up, a drop of blood landed on the book. She knew she should check on Alex but she couldn’t look away as her blood swirled around the centre of the book. She gasped as her vision blurred.

‘Frey.’ Alex was at her side, heedless of the pain as he crawled over the broken glass to get to her, ‘are you hurt? What’s wrong?’ Freya was transfixed by the book. Alex gripped her shoulder as he registered the terrible noises coming from outside. His stomach clenched as he thought about his sister. Freya trusted these strangers and so he had to.

‘Freya. Wake up.’ Freya barely moved as he tried to shake her awake. Unblinking she hadn’t heard him. As he watched her face intently, her features suddenly changed. The deep creases of her frown smoothed out and she looked peaceful. In that moment. In this moment, with everything happening around them he had never seen her look so happy.

Freya finally closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them and turning to Alex.

‘I know what to do.’

Penelope ducked as a huge wave of energy coursed over her and smashed all the windows in the cabin. She hoped Alex and Freya were okay but she didn’t have time to spare. They were fighting for their lives.

She took a moment to look around the clearing. It was like a scene from Twilight. Except this was witch against witch. Drakon was lashing out with his cane and using his considerable influence to gain the split second advantage over his opponent. The huge grin on his face told her he was enjoying himself. Typical Drakon but she was glad he was on their side.

Penelope changed the landscape once again as a huge bear came crashing through the trees towards Drakon. Where the hell had that come from? She had to protect Kasha who was focusing her mind on commanding the animals to attack the other witches. Penelope thought one of them must have the power to create mirror images of themselves. All very Game of Thrones, she cursed her wandering mind. It was no time for book analogies.

Drakon turned at the roar of the bear. His eyes wide as the ferocious teeth dripping with blood at the woodland creatures it had left dead in its wake. He steeled himself, cane held up and with a flick of his wrist, a sharp blade was in his other hand. Feet planted in the ground, he waited. At the last moment, Penelope cast her spell and a large gaping hole opened up in front of the bear. The witch controlling him stood on the edge of the tree line gasped and gave away her position. The witch didn’t have time to scream as Drakon’s knife pierced her throat and in one fluid motion Drakon leapt into the air and slashing down with his cane, he caved in the bear’s skull.

Penelope cried out and dropped painfully to the floor as a vice like grip seized her. She screamed as the pain increased as she felt her body being crushed by an invisible force. ‘It’s okay. Hold on.’ She heard Dominiques voice. Always calming he used his influence to help her manage the pain. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to relax. The witch’s power would feed on her pain and resistance.

Dominique left Kasha as he moved towards Penelope. He flinched as a wolf controlled by the other witch’s, raced towards him. A flash of fur and Aland’s giant jaws clamped on the smaller wolf’s head and snapped its neck.

Penelope felt the grip release on her as Freya voice entered her head, ‘Be ready.’

Freya ignored Alex’s questions as she scrambled over to the desk with the book, praying that there was still some blood left.

‘Yes,’ she cried relieved to see enough blood in the bowl as she heard Penelope scream outside, she had to hurry. Freya willed her hand to stop shaking as she picked up the quill. She took a deep breath and crossed out Alaric’s name. She turned the page and her fingers now steady. Conviction giving her the strength, she crossed out her name and added Alaric’s.

She didn’t know what to expect but she felt a calmness wash over her. Before she lost consciousness she connected with Penelope. It was their last chance. Freya could hear Alex crying and calling her name but she couldn’t answer him. She had left it too late to tell him she loved him. To tell him she’d been scared to lose him as a friend. To tell him she wished she had been braver. That she should have trusted their love would have been enough.

Freya pushed the book into Alex’s hands and slipped to the floor.

***
‘Freya.’ Alex screamed as Penelope rushed into the room.

‘Get onto the pentagram now.’ Penelope shouted grabbing his arm and pulling him up, ‘we need to finish this Alex. You need to help. Now.’

Alex struggled to his feet leaving Freya inert on the ground as he stood his spot on the pentagram, ‘What should I do?’

‘We need to command Alaric to come in and stand in the middle of the pentagram. Use your mind, with us. Do it for Freya.’

Alex found the strength. He didn’t know even what he believed but the sight of Freya’s slumped, still body on the floor. She was so lifeless. He turned away, anger surging through his body as Kasha, Dominique and Drakon crashed through the door, quickly followed by Aland dragging Alaric by the foot. Dominique slammed the door shut.

‘We don’t have much time.’ Kasha called, as Dominique picked Alaric off the floor when Aland let go.

Dominique pushed Alaric into the centre of the pentagram. Throughout, Alex had followed the voices in his head, trying to stay present but flashes of pain meant a migraine was settling on him. He couldn’t keep it up. It was if his brain was about to burst out of his head.

‘Alex. The book. Give it to him.’

Alex realised he was still holding it. He was outside himself somehow. His body and mind felt separated. Alaric glared as Alex stepped closer. Alex could see the fury in Alaric’s eyes as his finger twitched but they were holding them with their minds. How was this even possible? Alex could feel the hatred radiating off this man. Was he really so bad? Was he doing the right thing by helping them? Alex’s face hardened. This man had taken his sister. He deserved to pay.

They willed Alaric to raise his hands. Alex could see he was trying to resist but they were strong now. They had a purpose. Alaric’s hands gripped the book, sweat streamed down his face as he tried to resist.

Alex stepped back and they were all in position. He was chanting words he didn’t know. The air in the room changed and all he could hear were the words.

The heat hit him before the smell. The noise in his head stopped and he staggered back.

Alaric was on fire and making no noise. Alex would think about it many times over the coming years as he woke up from the nightmares. Alaric just stood there and burnt alive right in front of them.

‘It’s done.’ Penelope said, weariness settled in her very bones as they all dropped to the floor their powers exhausted.

‘Freya. Can you hear me?’ Penelope touched Freya’s cheek.

‘Yes.’ Freya replied, now feeling unnaturally alert after everything that had happened, ‘How’s Ali? Alex?’ Freya pulled herself up into the chair, glad the fire was blazing. She noticed someone had boarded up the smashed windows and there was a smell of food in the air.

‘Ali’s okay. Her and Alex have matching bumps on their heads. Twins huh.’ Penelope shrugged and smiled.

Freya returned the smile, relieved they were all safe. She woken as Alaric and the book burned.

‘You spoke to Mary?’ Penelope said as she handed Freya a drink. Penelope suspected Mary and Tobias had something to do with it. They said a witch never truly died. Their essence was in every living witch.

‘You could hear her?’ Freya asked taking a sip of her drink.

‘No. But it’s the only thing which makes sense.’

‘I’m glad something makes sense but I can tell you. I have many questions, Penelope. Many.’

Penelope reached over and gripped her hand, ‘I know. I promise we will get through this and we will fill in all the gaps.’

‘What does it mean though. Now our book has been destroyed along with the witchfinder?’  Freya found it easier to separate the two. The evil one and the man burning. She eyed the rug which covered the evidence.

Drakon’s cane tapped on the floor as he joined them around the fire, followed by Kasha and Dominique. Freya smiled at them. Her new family.

‘Just let me see her. I’m okay. Stop fussing Alex or so help me God I will pound you.’

Freya grinned as Ali reached her and pulled her from the chair, hugging her fiercely.

‘Are you okay?’ Ali asked, kneeling down in front of Freya, ‘because if you are then me and you are going to have words.’

Freya heard Alex snigger. Freya grinned at Ali. She couldn’t help herself. Being judged and told off by Ali was possibly the worst experience imaginable. She felt overwhelming relief that they were all safe.

Ali reached up and wiped the tears from her cheeks, ‘Okay. I won’t tell you off now but don’t think I will forget.’

Freya hiccupped as Ali reached over and hugged her fiercely, ‘I look forward to my telling off.’ She whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Ali let go and stood up. Setting her hands on her hips she glared round at them in turn. Even Drakon’s eye twitched but he sensibility kept quiet, ‘Someone better tell me what has been going on.’

As the hours passed, Freya’s eyes started to droop. She was bone weary and thought she just might sleep for a week the initial exhilaration after she woke had worn off.

‘So, Freya wrote Alaric’s name after crossing out her own,’ Ali almost spat the name, ‘into this book which effectively made him part of your coven. You all did some jedi mind tricks on him. Penelope did some other mind tricks on the other witches and the animals were controlled by Kasha. The bad witches stopped when you had Alaric because he was holding their loved one’s captive to do his bidding. Dominique was the ultimate mind therapist and calmed everyone down.’

Drakon started to say something but Ali held up her finger. This time all the group smirked. Freya could see Kasha in particular was enjoying someone being able to shut him up.

‘So, his name was on the list and because you burnt him and the book,’ Ali shivered, ‘he died. Freya found all this out from Mary who lived many hundreds of years ago and was the guardian of the book who also it seems has some jedi mind tricks from the past but she isn’t actually a witch.’

Penelope nodded. Enjoying the fact she wasn’t the one doing the talking for a change.

‘Mary and Tobias, who was Alaric’s twin brother was a witch and they had twins and me and Alex are related to them. Alex is this Sixth Witch but I’m not a witch.’ Ali pointed her finger at Alex, ‘Not one word.’

‘My question is.’

‘Thank all the Gods she just has one question.’ Drakon muttered under his breath.

‘Is Freya still a witch as she crossed herself out. Why isn’t she dead and what about the other book Alaric had?’

‘That’s more than one question, Ali.’  Alex said and received a look of respect from Drakon as they all smiled.

‘What did you just say?’ Ali turned to Drakon.

He stumbled on his words.

‘You said something in your mind and everyone heard didn’t they?’

Drakon actually blushed.

‘Freya you heard didn’t you?’

They all sat up straighter, the weariness gone as they realised what this meant.

‘Yes.’ Freya said, as the tears threatened again.

‘So, you’re still a witch and part of this coven then?’ Ali stated looking slightly smug.

‘How could that be?’ Kasha asked.

Penelope was about to speak but Ali continued, ‘Your name must be in Alaric’s book. Somehow Mary must have broken the connection between the books at the point you crossed yours out and put his in. I’m not sure how she did that since she’d dead and not a witch but my brain is about to shut down and I need some sleep.’

Penelope stood up and motioned Ali to sit down, touching her arm gently as she passed.

‘I think it’s going to take us a long time to understand everything. They don’t have a manual for being a witch.’

Ali smiled as she sat down heavily in the chair. She winced as she rubbed her head forgetting about the bump.

‘But all I know for now is that we are safe and the threat is gone. We know Alaric used witches to extend his life and held many of their loved one’s captive. It’s our responsibility to try and put everything right and help build the covens back up again but that’s a job for when we’ve had a least a week’s sleep.’

Everyone nodded their agreement.

‘I suggest we go to bed and figure the rest out later.’

‘Finally.’ Drakon said as Ali and his gaze met he winked at her and Ali couldn’t hide her smile.

‘Drakon.’ Penelope warned.

‘That wasn’t my power, just my natural charm.’

Penelope groaned as she set about helping set up the camp beds in the bedrooms. As they all left Freya sighed as she ran her hand over Alaric’s book. It was funny but that was how she would always think of it. She closed her eyes and felt a deep sense of calm descend over her. This cabin was built over the place Mary and Tobias hid all those hundreds of years ago. It still held their love and compassion. Their power and strength. She wondered what the future held for them all now the threat was gone.

‘We can think about that another day, Frey.’ Alex said as he gently rested his hand on hers.

Freya turned her hand over and their fingers entwined. They moved away and blew out the candle.

‘If we are going to get married and have lots of babies we are going to have to talk about this listening in to my thoughts malarky.’ Freya stated as she heard stifled laughter from the rest of the coven.

The End

If you’ve enjoyed The Sixth Witch feel free to give the post a like or a coffee is very welcome to power my next book.

Power the author

Hello, I hope everyone is well and enjoying the spring days if you’re in the UK. It does look as if the rain is incoming though! ((No dry canals then?)) Well, there is that, although as we are not cruising much this year it shouldn’t be a problem.

On the boat front we’ve fitted a new solar panel so if we do cruise and live on the cut for a while at least we have power. Currently we are plugged into the mains and there are two other ways we get our power/hot water, which is running the engine and our solar panels. The sun is slowly starting to show its face more but the larger solar panel should help. We were thinking of going out this bank holiday weekend but I don’t think the weather is quite up to it yet.

I know I’m late finishing the chapters for The Sixth Witch ((as if anyone is surprised!)) I have been working on the plot as I needed to work out exactly what’s going to happen before I write anymore chapters. By the time this blog comes out, I should have hopefully added another 9 chapters and be somewhere near finishing. My ultimate deadline is mid-April ((Oh is it now!)) as then the work starts on the Thriller book. ((What Jacko’s biography?)) Ha ha.

I submitted my book to a publisher on 24th Jan and it’s a 3 months wait and see ((They are not interested. You can do one. Stop bothering us. We don’t want you…)) alright, no need to rub it in! But what Brackets said. It will be sad if I don’t hear anything but it is just the start of the adventure for this thriller series and I’m more than happy to self-publish and retain more control over the creative side and publish sooner.

I’ve mentioned before that if I did secure a deal it could be another two years before the book is published. The other things to consider are the costs. Self-publishing can mean an approx. 60% royalty whereas with a publisher it can be anything from 5-7% ((WOW. That’s crazy)) I know, but the publisher has all the costs to publish the book vs self-publishing I will have all the costs which can be around the 1-1.5k. A publisher obviously has a larger reader base and can hopefully generate more sales vs self-publishing trying to reach readers and have a marketing budget.

I’ve been working out my publishing timeline and if all goes to plan I will aim to publish in November 2026, if I decide to go this route but this depends on editing, typesetting, cover design plans. I am going to crowdfund for the costs to publish the book. Something like pledge £20 and receive a signed paperback or £30 and receive a signed hardback. I need to work out my costs and then decide if this is realistic. Let me know your thoughts. How much would you pledge for a paperback or hardback once the book is published? I’m also going to offer an option where you can be added to the ‘Kill List’!

I’ve had so many ideas for the book and promotion as well as editing the story so The Sixth Witch needs to be finished so I can put my full focus onto it. This goes for the Etsy writing worksheets as well. I need to finish these off and upload and promote before the end of April. ((Me thinks you are delusional, Peachy!)) I am actually at home for the whole month which is the first time since October I think i should be able tick everything off the list!

My freelance job is still going well and getting busier with more clients, which means more books I’m helping bring into the world. I love the contrast between a business book, memoir, fashion and everything in between in the non-fiction world. I remember when I first started out in the publishing world ((Fade to black and white)) I was shocked at the costs but now I understand why. You can effectively publish a book for free but if you want a quality book then this costs money.

I feel very lucky that we have finally found our place now with work and boating life balance. I’m not going to lie that seeing the other boats leave their winter moorings for their year of cruising and exploring isn’t making me a little envious but we’ve had an amazing few years and hopefully we will be back out cruising again soon.

The next update will hopefully be centred around the thriller series and everything on my list will have been ticked off ((YOU ARE SUCH A DREAMER!))

I would be interested to know what you think about the potential crowd funder. I also wanted to thank Sandra and Melanie again for sending me coffees to power my writing and my Patreons, Hev and Adele for supporting me. It makes all the difference.

You can Power a chapter here

Catch up with The Sixth Witch here (more chapters coming soon)

have a good month,
Peachy ((& me))

Freya stood up, her heart pounding, ‘What?’ she asked no-one in particular.

Penelope, voice shaking, was the first one to speak, ‘We will come back to your name on the gravestone but you are sure that you found this brooch on that day in the churchyard? This is important, Freya.’

‘Yes,’ Freya was still scared due to their reaction but she wasn’t a liar, ‘why would I lie about it and could one of you please tell what the hell is going on?’

In response, Drakon strode to the corner of the room, his cane tapping the floor. He reached up into what Freya thought was fresh air. As he pulled his arm back down, he was holding a leather bound book in his hand.

‘What the?’ Freya exclaimed.

‘Oh shit, sorry, Freya. I forgot.’ Penelope’s cheeks coloured as she waved her hand and muttered a few words.

Freya wondered how her brain would process everything that had happened to her recently, as she stared around the room the simply furnished cabin unveiled floor to ceiling bookcases and glass cabinets with various strange objects. Hanging from the ceiling were all types of dried herbs. In the back of her mind she’d wondered about the smell but had thought it was from the scented candles.

‘Very Sherlock Holmes uh?’ Drakon stated the obvious as he placed the book on the table.

Freya nodded as they all righted their chairs, ‘Sorry Freya, once you’re fully part of our coven you will be able to see everything without the need to reveal it. It’s one of the ways we protect ourselves.’

‘You can do this to any space? So, there could be other things in this room I cannot see?’ Freya could see now why they said it would take time to learn everything about being a witch.

‘Technically, yes, but I promise I’m not hiding anything. I simply forgot to remove the spell so you could see the whole room.’

‘That’s all very interesting but let’s focus on what’s important.’ Drakon opened the book and pointed to a page.

Freya moved next to him. She felt an almost magnetic pull towards him and glimsed a wry smile as she almost physically pulled herself away. He was testing her and they both knew it. She made a point of leaning over and touching the picture in the book.

‘This is my brooch. Whose was it?’  Freya asked Drakon, making eye contact on purpose.

‘It was Mary’s, she was the Guardian of the witches’ book.’ Freya remembered they had mentioned Mary earlier but it was a lot to take in.

A thought occurred to Freya, ‘If Mary was the Guardian of this witch’s book which you said holds the names of all the witches. Where is it now and who is the guardian of the book now?’

Penelope sighed, ‘We don’t know Freya. Once we are a full coven we can find the book and that will be a game changer. We can find the other witches and start to build once again once we have killed the witchfinders.’

‘Do you think Mary could be buried in the graveyard where I found the brooch?’

‘Maybe,’ Penelope hesitated, ‘there is a myth that Mary is still alive?’

‘But how could that be, you said that the guardian wasn’t a witch?’ Freya said, wondering if she’d got it wrong.

‘That’s right but we think that a powerful coven created this brooch to protect Mary. Maybe to hide her from the witchfinders since she didn’t have any powers.’

Freya looked at the brooch and tried to imagine what this Mary felt like being told who she was. She reached out and touched the brooch and closed her eyes. She felt a connection to this woman who had been in the same position as her hundreds of years ago. How had Mary’s brooch ended up in the cemetery and did that mean Mary really was dead? Had they lost their guardian and if so, who was the new guardian?

***

Mary

‘No.’ Tobias shook his head, ‘it’s too dangerous.’

‘It’s dangerous for all the witches out there. They need our help.’ Mary exclaimed, holding tight to the book.

Tobias paced in front of the fire. Mary knew she was right, they had to use her and the book as bait to bring out the witchfinders.

‘I can look in the book and pick a name which will be in their book as well. Then we find a village we can set up as a healer and spread the word.’ Mary felt sick. What did she know about such things and how were they to deal with the Witchfinders when they turned up. They never came alone and they must have powers. How much did they really know? By trying to convince Tobias, she was realising how much danger she was putting them in, ‘You said it yourself Tobias. We need to lay a trap.’

‘Yes, but I didn’t mean you. It’s too dangerous. We cannot risk you.’

‘But you can risk another witch’s life? Another coven? Why do I have to hide?’

‘Because the guardian has special powers. I didn’t want to tell you this yet but…’ Tobias stopped pacing and stood before her, ‘I told you that witch scribes can add a name of a new witch or scratch out the name of a witch who has died.’ He paused.

‘Go on Tobias. I need to know.’

‘First, I have this for you.’ Tobias reached over and pulled a stone from the side of the fireplace. Reaching in he drew out a bag and gave it to her.

It was small and light. She unwrapped the delicate cloth inside the bag and gasped, ‘Tobias. This is beautiful. But surely it is not for me. Such an expense gift. I cannot accept it.’ Mary was about to return it to the cloth but Tobias reached out and took the brooch. He unclasped it and ignoring her protests he pinned it underneath the collar of her dress.

‘You mustn’t have it on show as someone will no doubt try and steal it but it is for your protection. A way we can find you wherever you are.’

Tobias sighed, ‘I think you are right and I knew deep down if you hadn’t suggested it I would have had to ask you to put yourself in danger.’ He gave a wry smile and Mary’s stomach flipped.

‘We have to ask and we need the name of the witchfinder. He has gone under so many names we do not know his true name. We should have acted sooner before they had killed so many and made us weak.’

Mary’s hand touched the brooch and a feeling of comfort washed over her. She felt something. Someone, almost a memory of a woman. Someone she knew she had never met.

Tobias spoke again and she turned to him and the ghost of the woman disappeared, ‘As the Guardian you have the power to remove a witch completely from the book. It would be as if they never existed but we need to know their name.’

(please remember this is just for fun and hasn’t been edited!)

Thank you to Sandra who has powered this chapter through my buy me a coffee link

Freya’s carved wooden chair creaked as she eased back, her mind reeling from everything she’d heard. She was a witch. She’d always known she was different. It had been mentioned once or twice throughout her life in jest but who really believes in such things. It’s a story in a novel or a series to binge watch. How could she, they, all these people sitting around this table be witches? She felt an overwhelming urge to consult her tarot cards.

‘Do you think she’s okay?’ Dominique leaned over and whispered to Penelope.

Penelope observed Freya, eyes closed, her hands in motion as if she were turning cards.

Freya jumped and eyes wide she stared at Drakon who had slammed his cane sharply on the table, the ruby gem shimmered.

‘Drakon.’ A warning note from Penelope.

‘It’s alright, Penelope,’ Drakon sounded almost bored, ‘It’s not going to work that well if she really is a witch and part of our coven.’ He paused, ‘I mean I know I’m irresistible…’

Kasha groaned and Dominique stifled a laugh.

‘… but she can resist me, can you not, Freya.’ Drakon arched his eyebrow.

Freya detected the challenge and smiled. Despite everything, she felt the connection with these strangers and felt part of something, a group she didn’t realise she needed. The gaping hole left by her sister would never be filled but this was something.

‘You are my leader and I will follow your every command.’ Freya delivered her reply, her voice monotone.

Freya saw the briefest of a flicker of worry cover Drakon’s face before the mask of indifference fell once again. She smirked and everyone apart from Drakon laughed, even the dog barked which sounded as if it knew Drakon had nearly been fooled.

‘Oh, you are definitely staying,’ Kasha stated, lifting her glass, ‘cheers everyone. Here’s to our newest witch.’

They all chinked glasses, even Drakon. He tilted his head ever so slightly to Freya and she raised her glass slightly to acknowledge him.

‘I have questions,’ Freya stated, putting down her glass.

‘I expect nothing less.’ Penelope replied, ‘ask us anything.’

‘I am not quite sure where to start but you said we all have different powers so to speak but how do you know what our powers are? I don’t feel as if I have anything like your powers.’

Freya looked at Penelope, ‘You say that you can conceal and hide your environment so that others cannot see them. How do I know that you’re not doing that to me right now?’

‘A good question and learning what it is to be a witch cannot be told or learnt in an afternoon but before we move onto you joining our coven, we will all try to convince you we are your friends.’ Penelope replied, ‘Weaving spells as we would call them,’ Penelope continued, a wry smile at the word, ‘it takes a lot of energy and connection to the earth. I cannot just conjure an illusion without a lot of preparation. There are certain herbs which take more years than a usual human span to learn.’

Freya interrupted, ‘wait, sorry. ‘How old are you all?’

Freya could almost hear the unsaid words between them. How much to tell her so she didn’t jump up and run away.

Kasha spoke up, there wasn’t much point in her being known for her blunt manner and then not seizing the opportunity to say something. If Freya was going to take part in the ceremony they needed to get a move on, ‘I’m 72.’ She answered.

Freya thought she might end up with a repetitive strain injury if her jaw kept this up, ‘but you look about 30,’ she exclaimed.

Drakon rolled his eyes, ‘I’m the oldest. Somewhere around 250 years old but one doesn’t bother to keep count. My sweet younger brother is a couple of years younger. I must point out that we only share a father and I, of course, have the looks and brains of the family.’

Somewhere in the back of Freya’s mind, which wasn’t thinking ‘what the actual hell’ , she had wondered why the brothers looked so different.

‘Our Penelope is the big hitter though,’ Drakon continued, ‘she tops the scales at somewhere around 300 hundred.’ He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, ‘although it’s not polite to mention a woman’s age.’

Freya broke the silence knowing she should say something, ‘but how do you all look so young?’

‘I’m afraid we don’t know everything about life as a witch, despite the fact we are witches. Some witches do live just a normal human lifespan. It is one of the many questions which is still unknown.’ Penelope informed her.

‘So, I won’t know if I have the same ability?’ Freya asked, wondering if that was the right word and what she thought about living so long. Outliving her parents, her friends Ali and Alex. Alex, her heart fluttered. What if something did happen and then she stopped aging? How would she explain that? Freya looked around at this unlikely group and realised what a bond they must share and what toll it must take on them.

‘No, I’m afraid not. There have been others…’ Penelope started as Kasha took over.

‘We have lost witches over the years. Some have died naturally and some have been murdered by the witchfinders.’

‘As in the witch trials? I know a little bit about the horrific trials from Pendle?’ Freya asked not quite able to take it all in, but she could see them all visibly flinch.

‘The trials haven’t stopped Freya,’ Penelope said, with so much sadness in her voice, ‘this is why you are here. We need to stop them once and for all but to do that, we need a full coven.’

‘But I thought you said you needed six people? Unless you’re including Aland and if I passed this test, ceremony thing, it would still only make five of us.’

Dominique quiet so far leant forward, ‘We need all five to find the High Priestess, the sixth witch. Despite Pen’s powers, this isn’t something she can do alone. She found you but it required the connection of us all and it’s dangerous.’

Kasha huffed, ‘Don’t put her off completely. We are trying to talk her into this, remember,’ Kasha reached over and squeezed Dominique’s leg and smiled, to ensure he knew she was only partly joking.

‘Listen,’ Penelope said, standing up. ‘Let’s have a break. This has been a lot to take in and…’ she held her hand up to Kasha, ‘I know time is of the essence but remember how you felt when you joined the group?’

‘I’ve still got the scars.’ Dominique said and grunted when Kasha punched him in the arm.

‘It’s up to you Freya. Would a break be useful or do you want to carry on?’

Freya’s brain was telling her to get up and run but another part of her was excited and wanted to know everything. What was this danger they were talking about and this ceremony they kept mentioning?

‘It’s okay. I want to know as much as you can tell me. You keep saying we have limited time and I already feel I don’t want us to be in danger. What is this ceremony and why is it dangerous?’

‘You have a fifty-fifty chance you will die.’ Drakon said, his gaze direct and challenging.

***

Mary had never slept so long in her life. Despite the lack of sunlight her limbs told her they’d been curled up for a long time. She stretched and groaned as her limbs popped but it felt good.

The night before she had barely managed to eat the food Tobias had insisted he serve her, along with what she thought was stronger than the usual thin, watered down mead. She’d had a split second when she wondered if had drugged her but dismissed it. She could trust him and what was the alternative? Go back to the life she already felt had been lived by someone else. Not find out who she could be. Not make her father proud.

‘Breakfast is ready, Mary.’ Tobias called.

Mary could smell the glorious bacon and fresh bread as she gathered her shawl around her and pulled back the tapestry which covered the bed. There must be some ventilation to allow the smoke out from the fire. She’d not really thought about it yesterday. She wondered why the home was underground and how the smoke was concealed so someone couldn’t find them above. Her stomach flipped at the thought of being caught.

She looked up to see Tobias smiling, ‘Don’t worry. We are safe.’

Mary blushed, ‘Can you read my mind?’

He laughed softly, ‘No. If only. I know how I would feel if my life had changed in such short a time. Come, have some food and then we will start.’

Mary wanted to skip the food but her stomach growled and she perched on the chair. No one had ever made her food before and here she was, being served twice in as many days. How jealous her mother would be. She picked up a warm slice of bread and smeared it in butter. Would they have realised she’d disappeared by now. Had her body been found? Had the villagers believed their story. She would ask Tobias but not now.

Breakfast finished, Tobias refused her help as he cleared the table and made some fresh peppermint tea he said he’d gathered that morning. Mary had never tasted anything like it.

‘Are you ready to find out who you are, Mary?’

‘Yes,’ Mary answered firmly with no trace of anxiousness.

‘Where to begin, ‘Tobias said and set down his cup.

‘You are the Guardian of the witches,’ he glanced at the book she had smuggled from the library, ‘that book has the names of all the witches.’

‘But how do they get there and how are they crossed out? I know that means they are dead. Greta..’ Mary hesitated. She trusted Tobias but how much to share and how much did he know.

Tobias sighed, ‘Poor Greta did not deserve that fate. We tried to do something but the Witchfinders arrived too quickly and we couldn’t be seen to interfere. The covens are getting weaker and it’s dangerous to show ourselves.’

‘You’re a witch?’ Mary exclaimed, thinking how stupid she was to think only women were witches.

‘Yes,’ Tobias confirmed, ‘Greta was…’ he stopped choking with emotion.

‘Oh goodness, Tobias. I didn’t think to look at all the other names.’ Mary reached over and gripped his hand, ‘I’m so sorry, Tobias. Gerta was a friend. A good healer.’

He smiled, as tears tracked down his face. Mary wiped them away with her fingers. Feeling overwhelmed at his grief.

He nodded and sighed, ‘She was special but this is why it’s so important we try and stop them.’

‘Do you mean these witchfinders? Who are they?”

‘I need to tell you about the book first,’ Tobias frowned, ‘Put simply there are witches called scribes and when they meet a witch or find out about a witch they perform a ritual. This can be from anywhere in the world. They use blood,’ Tobias held up his hand, ‘I promise to fill in the details but this is the very short version.’

He took another sip of tea before continuing, ‘They scribe the name and it’s either entered or crossed out in your book.’

Mary felt a thrill of excitement. Her book. She held back her questions and allowed Tobias to talk.

‘This used to be the only book in existence but then someone made a copy and the witchfinders have one.’

Mary gasped, ‘So they already know many of the names?’

‘Yes. No-one ever thought another witch would do such a thing.’

‘A witch made a copy and is killing their own kind,’ Mary was aghast at such evil, ‘why would they do such a thing Tobias?’ ‘Again, I have much to tell you but I wanted you to know how important the book is and why it needs protecting. We are hoping that you have the power to stop them.’

(Please note: this story is just a bit of fun and writing practice for me. It hasn’t been edited so if mistakes send shivers down your spine, then don’t read it )

Well, it was a busy old month ((yeah coz like how many holidays did you have in February??)) only one to Tenerife, which was amazing and some much needed topping up of vitamin D was achieved as well as catching up on my TBR pile.

I was only back a few days and then I was away with some friends for the weekend, as another friend was in a panto in their village. I cannot tell you how funny it was, my face was aching from laughing ((I’m saying nothing)) we also drank too much and didn’t get home until 3am!! ((3am?!?! I didn’t know you had it in you Peachy)) me neither, but you know sometimes a weekend away with your mates is the best life medicine.

After this it was a trip to Cornwall for the business retreat ((Come on now, stop pretending it was a holiday!)) hey I will have you know I worked on many of my different author projects. One of the benefits of freelance work is working from anywhere. My friend and I did enjoy exploring Falmouth and some of the Cornish coast ((The real reason for the ‘holiday’)) and we were lucky to get some nice weather in between the showers.

Still nothing to report on the thriller submission. I am more focused on self-publishing now I know so much more about the industry but I will leave it until the end of March and then decide. It will probably mean creating a publishing company name and over time, re-publishing all my books but that is certainly a long term project.

I’m going to try and finish The Sixth Witch by the end of March so I can fully focus on the thriller series. ((Maybe stop going on holiday and then you might get something done)) actually when a creative person immerses themselves in a place without any distractions, this is when the real magic happens ((I really wish I was allowed to swear.))

I have news on the cruising front. My other half has now secured some ongoing shift work so it’s now our plan to stay in and around the Warwick area and canals for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, I still haven’t won the lottery and as we have been cruising for a few years the time has come to settle down for a while and top up the bank balance. It’s likely we will have a few cruises over long weekends and then take some time off work to have a couple of long cruises. We did have the boat booked in for blacking at Langley Mill but had to change that as we don’t have the time to cruise that far so have booked in locally for August. It will mean less vlogs ((OH NO! how will YouTube cope? I don’t think their business model will cope without you!)) whatever.

So, it’s all change as we get used to the new routine of life. Our life is never boring ((unlike you)) and we both felt ready for some routine. When we do start cruising again it will feel even better. I’m slowly getting to grips with my freelance job and I’ve been creating writing worksheets which I’m selling on Etsy. As well as the writing it’s nice to have time to myself to work on all these projects. You never know, I might actually make some money ((dream on Peachy.)) Although I did receive a nice Amazon book sales payment which is a real achievement. It’s not easy making any money as a author. I’m still chasing that 50 reviews and Lost the Plot sits at 49…

If you want to catch up on The Sixth Witch you can click this link
My books are available to buy and read from here

I thought you might like to see some pics from Tenerife and Cornwall if you don’t follow me on Instagram:

Penelope opened the door and Freya stepped over the threshold and into the cosy cabin. She felt suddenly shy as everyone at the table looked at her.

‘Okay, didn’t anyone tell you it’s rude to stare.’ Penelope snarled as she put her hand gently on Freya’s back and urged her to a chair at the head of the table. She went to sit next to the one called Drakon. The one who had sent her to sleep. She would have to keep an eye on him.  

Freya wiped her hand over her face and ruffled her hair. She probably looked a right state. She settled into the chair marvelling at the food on offer.

‘I didn’t know what you liked.’ Dominique gestured at the food.

‘So, he literally made you everything.’ Kasha said and moved quickly as Dominique tried to elbow her in the side.

‘It looks amazing. My friend Ali would be jealous of your skills, Dominique.’

‘Oh my God, Brother you are blushing, should our Kasha be worried?’

‘Drakon,’ Penelope said with an edge, which said play nicely we have a guest.

‘Okay, Okay.’ Drakon said, picking up a chicken thigh and ripping off a piece as Aland wined from the floor.

‘Thank you Freya. It’s nice to know someone has manners. Dominique has kept us alive with his skills when food has been scarce,’ Kasha said pointedly, looking at Drakon. Freya wondered what exactly had happened to this group who appeared to be around her age but talked as if they had a long past.

‘Now, now children.’ Penelope said, clapping her hands together, ‘Freya is our guest and we have a lot to tell her and if we are going to convince her to join our coven then maybe we should at least pretend that we all get on.’

Drakon choked on a piece of chicken and others started to laugh which turned into hysterics and Aland made a noise which showed he approved.

Freya wiped her tears away and reached for a warm piece of baguette which she lathered in butter and jam. Closing her eyes she savoured the taste. If Dominique’s cooking was anything to go by then they could count her in. She opened her eyes to see them all smiling.

‘Can you all hear my thoughts?’ Freya asked, deciding it was time to lay their cards on the table.

They all looked a little guilty but it was Kasha who spoke, ‘We all have different abilities shall we say but a coven is like a hive mind. With practice you can block us from listening and we apologise as we shouldn’t be taking advantage of your lack of knowledge by prying in your mind until you give us permission but you looked so happy.’

‘I do love food. I cannot deny it.’ Freya replied giving them the benefit of the doubt, ‘so, where do we even begin? I think maybe with the part where Penelope said I was in danger. I would like to know more about what’s happening.’

Penelope nodded as Kasha got up and poured everyone a cup of coffee, ‘I think we are going to need this.’

‘Well, I think you know we are witches. You didn’t seem too surprised when I told you this and judging by your alternative life and the tarot cards, you are not closed off to a different world as many are. You can believe and you know you’re different from others.’

Freya nodded, as she spooned some sugar into her coffee and reached for a croissant. She felt everyone’s eyes on her. She had always let her feelings govern her life decisions and this was no different. It was true what Penelope had said. These strangers, as weird as it was and clearly they were a dysfunctional family were something to her. They were connected. How else could she explain them turning up and letting them bring her somewhere, wherever the hell she was. It didn’t make sense. She was a free spirit but she liked to think she was street wise.

‘I’m open and I want to hear what you have to say. I want you to tell me everything. Who you are. What’s going on? Who and what this danger is we are in? Who are they? What can I do? Who am I? What I can do to help?’ she took a deep breath, ‘tell me.’

They did.

***

Mary followed Tobias for hours, her legs ached and she felt weary and cold to her very bones. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so tired but she followed because what else could she do. There was nowhere else she wanted to be.

Finally, they stopped and at first she thought they were just going to rest and all she could make out were trees and more trees. Earlier she’d been petrified when she heard a wolf cry into the night but Tobias had turned and gently taken her arm and told it was okay. They were protected. She didn’t know why but she had felt reassured. It would certainly help with her disappearance if the village heard the wolves hunting throughout the night.

‘In here.’ Tobias called.

Mary stepped forward and realised he’d pulled up a hidden trapdoor which was behind a tree. She could smell the damp earth below but she didn’t hesitate to climb down into the depths of the earth. She was the new Mary. The new Mary would do brave things and not be scared, although the beating pace of her heart belied a little trepidation.

Tobias followed her in and pulled the trapdoor back over encasing them in a darkness she had never experienced before but the new Mary didn’t make a sound. She heard rustling above as if someone or something was covering it with leaves. She squinted as Tobias lit a candle and she looked around, her mouth dropped as she saw a doorway.

Tobias smiled as he looked at his new ward. She would be his perfect replacement. He had a lot to teach her and such a short time to do so.  

‘Mary?’ Tobias said quietly, as he opened the door to a room Mary had only heard her father talk about when on the odd occasion he had visited a rich merchant’s house. Opulent. The word her father had used was opulent. She had stored that one away as she did all the words he had shared with her over the years. He never came back with gifts, he knew they would be sold the moment he left. His gift was words and the vision and stories of places Mary thought she would never see with her own eyes.

‘Welcome home. We have a lot of work to do.’ Tobias took a moment to enjoy delight and wonder on Mary’s face. She had not had an easy life and it was unlikely she ever would, but he let her have this. He could let her have this.

Please note: this story is just a bit of fun and writing practice for me. It hasn’t been edited so if mistakes send shivers down your spine, then don’t read it )

Freya woke to the gentle shaking and stretched. She sat up straight panicking when she realised she was in a car and ahead of her was a cabin which was surrounded by woods. Was she about to be sacrificed? She could hear Ali telling her she told her so.

She turned to a soft chuckle, ‘I told you we are not a cult and I promise we are not going to harm you.’

Penelope smiled, she looked tired.

Freya realised she must have slept all night. All she remembered was texting Alex and Ali to say she was going to have an early night, getting in the car and saying hello and now waking up.

‘Sorry. It was awful of us to make you sleep but you did look ever so tired and we’ve had a long drive to get here. Can you forgive us Freya?’

Freya looked around the clearing. The cabin did look very welcoming with its wooden porch where she could see the wolfdog, Aland was settled on a swing seat. Smoke was twisting into the pale morning sky. It looked very inviting. She realised that she felt more refreshed than she had for years.

She stretched and yawned, ‘Sorry!’

‘Oh, don’t worry Freya. You will soon know all our little powers and until the end of time you will never stare into Drakon’s cane again. He’s the one who helped you nod off.’

‘Listen, come on. I know you met the others briefly last night but let’s get inside and have something to eat and we can tell you anything you need to know and I promise if you don’t want to stay I will take you straight back home.’

‘No bludgeoning me to death or sacrificing me to the Gods then?’ Freya asked, arching her eyebrow.

Penelope’s smile widened, ‘You are just the tonic we need and I cross my heart and hope not to die,’ Penelope made a sign in the air but it wasn’t a cross, ‘that we will not sacrifice you to any Gods and you will leave here in one piece. Will that do?’

Freya detected a serious question despite the levity of the answer. These strange new friends had secrets a plenty and they just might cause her untold grief and pain. Freya opened the door and climbed out. Turning she said, ‘Let’s go.’

***

Mary felt as if a lifetime had passed by the time night fell and the time came for her to leave her village, her home for the last time. She’d worried all day that it wasn’t true. That in desperation of a new life she had made up the encounter and everything that was happening to her. How could she be the guardian of anything? Only her father had thought anything of her and he had been missing for years.

She still held onto the hope that he was still alive. The ship he had been on had never made it to port but they’d all heard the stories of people surviving. She dreamed of him shipwrecked on an island, fighting to stay alive and waiting for another ship to bring him home. She would ask to go with him next time, would follow him and sneak onto his ship.

Mary tied her bag together trying to ignore his pain when he returned home and found her dead as the village would come to believe. Maybe one day she could get word to him. maybe not. Her bag didn’t contain much, she’d never had much, just one change of garments. The book was wrapped carefully in a homespun shawl she’d found left behind by one of the parishioners. She agonised about taking it but she knew it was the right thing to do. The rest of the items she’d buried in the churchyard. She didn’t know why, only that they didn’t seem safe left in their hiding place without the book.

She knew all the graves and who attended them and had chosen one hidden away. A fox had watched from the shadows and she’d smiled. The items would be protected.

Mary turned the key in the lock after checking for the thousandth time that everything was safe. Not that it mattered. Whatever protection had been in that room was now with her. She’d done everything she could. As she carefully made her way down the spiral steps she felt sadness at leaving this sanctuary but an overwhelming excitement bubbled inside her. No matter what happened she felt as if her life was starting and she was ready.

She left the church and the hooting of an owl signalled everything was okay. She was safe. The soft call of her name from the shadows didn’t startle her. She moved towards the large oak tree as a person stepped from behind.

‘Mary?’ A strange accent which she didn’t recognise spoke softly, her name lost on the breeze.

‘Yes. Are you…?

‘Tobias, yes. Come. We will talk soon.’

Mary followed Tobias through the graveyard, over the crumbling wall and into the dense forest. She didn’t look back.

(Please note: this story is just a bit of fun and writing practice for me. It hasn’t been edited so if mistakes send shivers down your spine, then don’t read it )

Freya screamed as a large, grey, hairy wolf nose thrust through the gap as she opened the hatch door.

‘Aland,’ a woman’s voice hissed, ‘get back out. Kasha.’ The name was called with a sigh of annoyance.

‘Sorry. You know he has a mind of his own.’ Someone answered with an edge to their voice.

Freya was still holding onto the door as the sniffing wolf was dragged backwards. The boat tipped to the side as the weight of another person climbed onto the boat.

‘Shit, you know I get bloody seasick.’ The other woman’s voice again, as the boat rocked back and forth, as Freya presumed the wolf was being reluctantly pulled off the boat.

A woman who looked remarkably like Demi Moore when she was in the iconic film, Ghost. It was Ali’s favourite film and as a consequence she’d had to watch it a million times. Freya wished she could pull off a hairstyle like that. She shook herself. Now was not the time to daydream.

‘Hi,’ the woman said, her smile broad and welcoming, Freya felt herself unconsciously smiling back.

‘Sorry about all that. That dog never does anything it’s told. We didn’t mean to barge in on you like that.’ The woman chuckled, ‘sorry didn’t mean to make a joke. I know this is a narrowboat and not a barge.’

Freya relaxed, despite not knowing what was going on, she felt easy in this woman’s company.

‘Won’t you come in.’ Freya asked, opening the door but not quite sure why she was letting a stranger into her home at night, ‘Mind your head as you come down and it’s easier if you step down backwards.’ Freya moved back into the open space where she had her desk and deck of cards ready.

‘Thanks,’ the woman said. She climbed into the boat and turned around, ’Hi, I’m Penelope.’  She said as she clasped her cold hands together trying to warm them. ‘You’re probably wondering why a stranger has turned up in the middle of the night and why you have let me in?’ she smirked at the last.

Freya frowned, wondering if she could read her mind. ‘It might have crossed my mind.’ She said tentatively.

Penelope smiled, ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t really be using my powers on you. Not fair or ethical when I’m hoping you’re going to join our coven.’

Freya’s mouth dropped open, which she was sure made her look very attractive.

Penelope knew she was taking a gamble but they didn’t have the luxury of time. Ever since she’d found her they had been in danger. It would have triggered something and the Witchfinders would do everything they could to stop them. She wanted to test how much the person they had found could handle. There was no doubt the witch they had tracked was the right person. With her slightly long nose, wild auburn hair and dark brown, almost black eyes she could be a poster girl for ‘here is how to come dressed as a witch’. She just needed to swap her jeans, jumper and fluffy pink slippers for something more appropriate.

The silence lingered and Penelope heard a shout from outside, ‘What’s happening in there?’ It was Drakon’s snooty Italian voice penetrating through. He would not be happy standing outside on a muddy towpath, waiting. Impatience was his virtue according to him. It got things done.

Freya glanced towards the path, ‘How many of you are here?’

Good, Penelope thought. She doesn’t seem too bothered that she’d mentioned that she wanted her to join the coven. She spotted the tarot cards on the table and thought maybe this was going to be easier than she anticipated but there was still the ceremony. She shuddered.

Freya stretched her hand out, ‘Are you okay? Sorry it’s a bit cold up this end of the boat. Do you want to come closer to the fire and erm,’ she hesitated thinking this might well be one of the weirdest days of her life, ‘would the others like to come in. Although, as you can see, it’s not a large space.’

Penelope turned and wondered how they were actually going to fit in. Dominique and Kasha topped six foot tall and the thought of Drakon standing in the boat made her stifle a giggle. She knew it was nerves.

‘It’s okay. I think I’m going to have to convince you to come with us,’ Penelope paused, looking at the fearful look on the woman’s face, ‘sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out like that. It’s just we have a lot to tell you and if I’m being completely honest, which I know must sound completely mad to you, our presence here means danger for you.’

Freya started to interrupt, but Penelope continued, ‘Listen, sorry I haven’t even asked your name.’

‘It’s Freya,’ she stumbled wondering what the hell was going on. Maybe she needed to go back to the hospital. Ever since she’d had that weird experience at the church her life had taken a distinct turn but surprisingly she realised that she didn’t feel scared. It was strange, yes. But there was something so familiar and comforting about this Penelope. Could there really be a coven or was it more a cult.

‘Freya,’ Penelope murmured, ‘The goddess associated with love, beauty, war and death. Well, if I had any doubts about you, that has confirmed it.’ Penelope stepped forward and held out her hands and Freya instinctively took them, pulling back quickly as an electric shock surprised them both.

‘Shit.’ They both said in unison and laughed nervously.

‘Come on Penelope. I’m not standing out here all day,’ Drakon shouted.

‘Freya. I know it’s weird but do you feel as if something strange is happening. You should be scared of me, of us,’ Penelope gestured outside, ‘but you’re not scared are you? You feel as if you have found your people.  As if a long lost relative has arrived and you have an instant bond.’

Penelope stared at Freya, seeing confusion but also an acceptance flick across her face. It seemed like forever before she replied.

‘Yes. I don’t know what the hell is going on but yes I do trust you and yes I will come with you.’ Freya answered, hearing Ali’s voice in her head asking her what the hell she thought she was doing. She doubted she would be able to explain how right it felt. She hadn’t felt a connection like this since her sister.

Penelope let out her breath, smiled and squeezed Freya’s hands tighter, ‘Thank you Freya. Thank you. You cannot know what this means to us and I promise I’m not using any of my witchy powers on you.’

Freya was about to comment but Penelope interrupted, ‘I promise we will tell you everything but your safety is paramount. Can you pack some things and I will just let the others know what’s happening?’

Freya collected her rucksack from the coat hanger and started to pack with Ali’s voice in her head demanding to know what the hell she was doing going with these strangers in the middle of the night. It was crazy even for her. She smiled despite the situation.

The boat rocked again and she heard whispers outside and then people moving away. Penelope was climbing back into the boat as she finished packing and checking the fire would be safe to just burn out.

‘Ready?’ Penelope asked, with what Freya thought was a little fear.

‘I think so. Let me just turn the lights and water pump off and then we are good to go.’ Freya said as she made sure the boat would be okay for a few days. She could always ask Alex to come and check on it as they had a key. She would have to swear him to secrecy else Ali would be checking the find my phone app to track her down.

Freya followed Penelope off the boat and zipped up the covers.

‘Where is everyone?’ Freya asked, as she switched on her torch. It was pitch black on the towpath.

‘They’ve gone back to the car. It’s just up here. I didn’t want you to get overwhelmed and I wanted to tell you about them before you met them. They can be a lot and we will be squeezed into a car together.’

As they walked along the towpath Penelope told her about Drakon, Dominique who was Drakon’s brother. Kasha who was Dominique’s partner. Aland who was the wolf trying to sneak onto her boat.

‘And you are all witches and part of a coven?’ Freya asked, hoping her direct questioning would reveal what she really wanted to know.

Penelope hesitated but then simply replied, ‘Yes.’

‘Care to expand on that?’ Freya said, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice.

‘I will and I know it’s a lot but do you mind if we wait. I don’t want to scare you but I want to be careful. Keeping you safe is our priority.’ An owl called into the night startling Penelope, ‘Shit.’

Freya laughed, ‘I don’t think you need to worry about protection.’

‘I think you might be right,’ Penelope said, a distinct note of mystery to her voice, ‘The Kings of the night are looking out for you, Freya.’

***

Mary

The flat palm of her mother’s hand connected with the side of her cheek the moment she set foot in the house. It stung but she wasn’t shocked. She’d expected it, like so many times before.

‘Where have you been?’ Her mother hissed, anger always on her lips. Her body quivering with indignation. As long as Mary could remember her mother had been this unloving demon ready to strike. Mary had long ago learned to keep quiet and hide in the shadows.

‘Sorry, Mother.’ Mary stammered, dropping in her head, ‘I was leaving the church but I thought I saw a light in the window and had to go back and check because I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to the church.’

Mary waited, hoping it would be enough. She knew her mother took great pride in the fact that her daughter was trusted to look after the church library, even though her mother couldn’t read it, which gave them a certain standing in the village and her mother coveted anything which raised her above others.

No more slaps were forthcoming. Her mother didn’t say another word and Mary left quietly and went to her room. She didn’t ask for supper as she knew the answer. Her room was sparse. Hay and a blanket served as her bed and her spare cloak and garments hung on rusty nails on the wall. The small window was covered by rotten shutters, which barely kept out the weather.

As she lay down she heard the rats scurrying, looking for food. She drew her legs up tight to her body and tucked in the threadbare blanket. She’s been nipped many times during the night when they realised she was the only food.

She was cold and her stomach rumbled, protesting the lack of food but she didn’t care. This was the last time she would stay here. Tomorrow night she would leave forever. She wasn’t scared. It didn’t matter what happened, she would be free.  The only thing she would miss would be her books. She would hide any books she couldn’t take with her tomorrow.

Mary laid still, thinking until the early hours. The rats watched for a while but didn’t approach, they sniffed the dank air. It smelled different tonight. As one, they turned and left.


Please note: this story is just a bit of fun and writing practice for me. It hasn’t been edited so if mistakes send shivers down your spine, then don’t read it )

Freya splashed water on her face. She’d had visions before but nothing like this and she’d always put them down to just a memory being mixed up in her creative brain rather than a prediction. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to fix the vision in her mind but it was fading, she could see the outline of a group of people but couldn’t see who they were but she knew they were in danger and something was coming. Something bad was going to happen and she didn’t know if she could help them.

‘Freya, you okay?’ Alex said, knocking on the door.

Freya dried her face, checked her reflection and opened the door, smiling at the frown on his face, ‘Yes thanks. Sorry for being so dramatic I suppose it’s been an eventful few days.’

Alex crossed his muscly arms and looked down at her, ‘well you are one of those travelling boat people who gives Tarot readings. I mean what else should we expect. You’re weird. You play your character well.’ He couldn’t hide the twitch at the corner of his mouth.

‘Be careful, Alex,’ Freya mirrored him, stood up straight and crossed her arms staring up at him, grateful he was making light of it, ‘one day I will read your cards so you better stay on my good side.’

Alex smirked, ‘Oh no. I’ve told you before. I’m keeping my feet firmly on solid ground. No incorporating rituals or pentagrams into my building’s young lady.’

‘Once you’ve stopped flirting children, I have to go. We have a delivery and I don’t trust anyone else with my fresh mussels. Frey, I can drop you home now or you’re welcome to hang about here? I’m a bit worried about you being on your own.’ Ali called over her shoulder as she finished putting everything in the dishwasher

‘No, it’s okay,’ Freya realised her foot wasn’t hurting at all now, ‘I feel fine.’ As Ali came over to inspect her, clearly not taking her word for it.

‘Maybe it wasn’t as sprained as they thought, maybe that doctor just wanted to get his hands on your as…’

Alex pushed his sister laughing, ‘stop picking on her you thug.’

Ali laughed, ‘okay but be careful. No moving the boat today, just chill. If you don’t promise I’m going to lock you in the cellar.’

‘Well, firstly Ali you don’t have a cellar and I need to upload the photos so once I’m settled I promise to be a good girl and rest.’

Freya thought she heard Alex mutter, ‘that’s a shame,’ under his breath but he’d turned and walked to his bedroom as he turned the handle he said over his shoulder, ’Listen sis we both know she will totally ignore us and will lug coal and all sorts. Probably have to de-ice the windows and whatever else these boat people do.’ He raised his hands to air quote ‘boat people’.

Seeing Freya’s glare he carried on, ‘I was planning on working from home so I will grab my laptop and extra warm clothes and I will take charge of our ward and sort the boat out and make sure she rests.’

Freya was about to protest, even though a day spent with Alex wasn’t the worst plan, when Ali walked past and high fived her brother, ‘sold.’

‘Erm, don’t I get a say in it?’ I called as they both disappeared into their rooms, ‘NO.’ was the collective reply.

***

‘Wow it really is beautiful on the canal. I should come here more often,’ Alex said as they walked over the bridge after managing to secure a parking spot in the village.

‘I love it. I will have to move on soon though.’

‘Oh yeah, I forgot you have to move every few days, otherwise the canal police come and harass you.’

Freya laughed as she stepped onto The Queen of Wands and unlocked the padlock, ‘well it’s not quite like that. There isn’t much they can do if you don’t move on but most of us follow the rules.’

‘They should walk the plank from their own boat in punishment.’ Alex said, as he pretended to fall in as he stepped into the boat.

‘Right, get what you need and then I insist you recline on the sofa. I have instructions from the boss and I don’t how she would know if you disobeyed her but she would.’

Freya opened her mouth but Alex was having none of it and made her do exactly as she was told. She enjoyed watching him clean out and set the fire whilst she was covered in blankets as the boat was, as predicted, freezing. She couldn’t deny she very much enjoyed watching him flex his muscles which she was sure he was doing on purpose.

Hours later she received permission to make them some food and closed the curtains as darkness fell. She gasped.

Quickly at her side, it didn’t take long to cross the space of a 50ft boat, ‘What is it Frey?’

‘I don’t know, I saw something go past the window. It was nothing, probably just a deer or something.’

‘Oh yeah, just a deer, us normally home dwelling humans just have deer wandering past our windows all the time.’

Freya elbowed him, ‘Ha ha.’ She turned away to finish heating up the pasta meal she had in the freezer when she couldn’t be bothered to cook but shivered. Something felt wrong but she didn’t want to worry her friends. Whatever it was it didn’t feel malicious but something was coming.

Alex left after dinner, as she promised she was okay and could manage on her own. Fifteen minutes later she was shuffling her tarot cards when there was a knock on her window.

‘What have you forgotten?’ Freya called as she opened the hatch.

She screamed.

***  

‘I told you not to go sneaking past,’ hissed Penelope.

‘Nonsense. We needed to know what was happening. We cannot hang around all night.’  Drakon said in his usual haughty manner.

‘We don’t want to frighten her to death. Finding out what she is will be enough.’

‘You’re quiet, have you not anything to add?’ Drakon looked to Kasha, who just shrugged.

Drakon raised his eyebrows at Dominique as Aland whined.

‘Right. He’s left. I’m going to speak to her. I will let you know when it’s safe.’

‘Well don’t take all night,’ grumbled Drakon, ‘hanging around here is not something I’m prepared to do for long.’

Penelope’s hand hovered as she raised it to knock on door or whatever a boat door was called. So much relied on this. They had waited so long. Could this woman be the one of the people they have been waiting for and what would this mean for all the witches.

Feeling the impatience of Drakon she tried to close her mind to the others. After all these years she had to work hard not to feel them with her, their hopes, dreams and anxiety. She didn’t think they could survive another. Maybe it was their time to end. Maybe witches were supposed to die out.

She shook herself, no. No this was not their fate.  They had suffered so much but they had helped so many over the generations. How much worse would life be for others if they had not played their part from the shadows.

She knocked harder than she intended and waited to see what destiny had in store.

***

The hand over Mary’s mouth stifled the scream as she was dragged behind her homestead. She felt as if her heart had stopped. She could smell the pig pen, the horse manure, wet hay and other smells assailed her senses now she couldn’t see. The rough hood scratched at her face but her hands were bound tightly and the hiss of warning her to keep her silence.

Despite the fear and not knowing the danger she was in, Mary felt exhilarated as she was guided through the back streets. She knew where she was of course, she knew every area of the village. She could and was, walking it blind. Behind the old cooper’s yard they stopped and she heard a creaking noise.

Mary jumped as someone whispered into her ear, ‘Go down the stairs.’ Maybe she was wrong because she didn’t think the cooper’s shop had a cellar.

The hessian sack was pulled from her head and she carefully stepped down the wooden steps into the dark, dank smelling earth, the light of a single candle guiding her way.

There were three hooded women waiting for her as the door closed above her and the candle flickered. She didn’t recognise the stature of anyone or their shoes. When you were a shy person you spent a long time looking at people’s feet. How could that be that she didn’t know them. She knew everyone in the area.

Mary stared at them waiting, her stomach clenching. She had only just discovered the book, who would care for it if she was killed. A fresh wave of fear washed over her as she realised the danger she was in. The witchfinders didn’t do things in secret. They wanted everyone to know what they were doing, who they were accusing and they relished the spectacle and fear.

The quiet voice startled her, ‘Be still child, you are not in danger from us.’

The three remained hooded as they told her of unbelievable stories which in her heart she knew to be true. The witches, their covens, their magic. All true, just as the Witchfinders had told them. But not dangerous, not evil, not out to hurt the world but to help it as they could. To heal and to nurture.

‘Are not any witches you have seen persecuted and killed good people? Healers?’

Mary nodded, not trusting herself to speak but despite her fears she had to know, ‘Am I a witch?’

Mary didn’t feel like a witch but what would that feel like? She had no special powers. Had never been able to speak up for herself or avoid the beatings. She had always been told she was nothing but now…

‘No.’ came the reply and her heart sank, despite her thoughts she had hoped to be something, ‘you are something even more special. You know what you are, Mary.’

Mary inhaled, was what she had thought in the library true? Was she the guardian of the witches but what could she do to help. She was powerless. Always powerless. She didn’t know anything.

The woman who had spoken this time walked forward and reached out to raise Mary’s head with her head still bowed, ‘I cannot let you see me. These are dangerous times. You have been chosen as the guardian of the book and you must protect it with your life. You must be brave, Mary. Do you think you can do that?’

Mary nodded, she had to do this. Each name crossed through the list was a dagger in her heart. If she’d been lucky enough to have children and they had been killed she knew it couldn’t have hurt more. It was unthinkable she would not be brave for them.

‘I want to help,’ Mary cleared her throat. Be brave Mary she told herself, ‘But what can I do? I cannot even protect myself.’

‘None of us are strong alone Mary. Strength comes in being together. Drawing on each other’s abilities. You are the Guardian of the book and therefore it is our job to protect you.’

‘But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with the book? How am I to protect them? How do I keep them safe?’ the words came in a desperate rush. She wanted to believe them but doubt filled her heart.

‘Spoken like a true Guardian. We have much to tell you, but not here. We are all in danger. Tomorrow night you will meet, Tobias. This is very important Mary. You must bring the book but tell no-one where you are going. You will never return here.’

Mary felt the thrill like the day she was allowed to step into the library and make it her own. The future she thought she would have would be no more. It was dangerous but she was alive.

‘But people will be suspicious in these times. Questions will be asked even if someone such as myself goes missing.’

The silence stretched out before the woman finally answered, ‘Child you are so much more than you know.’ She sighed, ‘we have no time for this. As far as your family is concerned you will have become lost in the woods and ravished by the wolves. It has happened many times before.’

Mary shuddered, she’d seen the bodies of the people who had suffered such a fate.

‘You must return home now.’ The woman lifted the hessian sack back on her head and whispered, ‘remember. Tomorrow night. Your life is about to change forever, Mary.’ The woman kissed her forehead and then turned her around, back towards the steps.

How wonderful that we’ve managed to get through the 1,345 days which is January! Sadly, I finally lost the battle ((Not the plot?)) I lost the plot many years ago, Brackets! ((I’m saying nothing)) to the cold/flu which has been doing the rounds.

The 1st of January arrived and I’d transferred my diary ready for the start of a new year. New plans. New lists. We went for a lovely walk around a country park and watched herds of deer running around – amazing. What a treat to the new year. 2nd January I woke up with a cough. Oh dear… nearly 3 weeks later I still have an annoying cough ((I have something that annoys me but it’s been around for years)) anyway, this did stop some of my plans as any energy I had needed to put into my freelance paid work. Obviously when ill, I need more coffee and more Baileys to help me recover.

Despite all this, my book sales are going very well. Over 45,000 pages read on kindle unlimited and in total over 500 books sold for just Lost the Plot ((Wow I didn’t know your mum had enough room for so many books!)) I’ve finally submitted my thriller book to a few agents and publishers so keep everything crossed they want to publish my thriller series ((Finally)) I have promised my mum it will be published at the end of the year, so if I haven’t heard anything by the end of March, I will be going firmly down the self-publishing route.

As I’ve said before, if you want to create a book you can do it for free but now I know much more about the publishing process I need to save some money to be able to publish the book to the standard I want. I’m lucky that over the years I’ve worked with editors, cover designers, The Book Typesetters and the Fosseway Writing Crew so I have plenty of people on standby to help.

As I said, getting through my cold required lots of coffee, Baileys and rest and I was very well looked after by my other half but it helped that we’d booked a holiday to Tenerife to look forward to. Mainly this holiday is to top up my Vitamin D, so really, it’s medically required! ((Honestly, you authors will make up any old nonsense to get what you want))

Lovely readers are enjoying The Sixth Witch and I am enjoying writing for fun. The characters and story are developing well and I use my tarot cards to help me make decision on the names and story lines and it’s working surprisingly well. A few readers have suggested I publish it, we will see. For now, it’s just for fun. I will try and release a chapter on Thursday’s at 7pm. I know I’m a bit behind due to being ill ((Always an excuse!))

I’ve got itchy tiller ((This is not the blog for that, Peachy! Lord have mercy. There is sharing and OVER sharing!)) which means I’m ready to start cruising again. The canal froze over for a few weeks and we are due to leave Warwick at the end of March, but I cannot wait. If we end up having a warm spell I will be untying the ropes!

One of my best friends is treating us to a working retreat in Cornwall ((If I could drink tea I would have spat it out!)) the plan is to chat about her new business she is setting up. I have a LONG list of things to do, as well as obviously enjoying the area as much as we can. I mean, we will need to have brainstorming sessions, with a coffee walking along the coast, it is a retreat!

If you want to read then click here The Sixth Witch
Or you can buy and read any of my books… just click here

Hopefully some exciting news to share soon. Have a good month.
Clair x