Illusions: Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (The Seekers Book 1) (19 page)

T
hey made
their way back to the cabin in the woods, where Rohan and Paxx could shift, put on some clothes and discuss with Phist what had occurred—and what was likely to come.

“Let me find Hedy,” said Sera. “I have an idea where the Crones will be hiding the Aspirants, and it’s best that I not bring you with me at first.”

The men had abided by her wishes for a number of reasons, but primarily out of respect for her and the Sisterhood. Much as neither wanted to let her go, Sera was proving more than capable of looking after herself; a truly worthy mate, not to mention a fantastic woman.

Phist seemed to have been hit hard by the news that Circe had been taken far away.

“When will I see her again?” he asked Rohan, only weakly masking the pain in his voice.

“Soon, I think,” Rohan replied. “I have an idea that you might like, but we must wait for Serafina’s return before implementing anything. I do believe she’s in charge of things now.” He said the words with a smile, his voice filled with admiration.

The three men strategized, discussing Melina’s mates and the Guild’s membership.

“There are a few fully-fledged shifters,” said Paxx. “The ones who stick around to defend the place tend to be tough, fighters. But in general they haven’t had the good fortune to mate with a woman equal to Serafina or Melina; in some cases they’ve simply been paired up with regular humans, and so their powers are limited. Our best defence against them is simply brute force, I’m afraid. Some members will fight very little or not at all. They’re as reluctant as we were to support the Guild’s methods.”

“I’m not too concerned about the weaker shifters, or those disloyal to the Guild. They will save themselves rather than attack. But what of Melina’s mates?”

“Mace and Crow are a bear and a lion. Unfortunately I have yet to see them in action. They’re strong, but there’s more to them than that. I think Melina largely keeps them in check, but I suspect that they are quite powerful. She is an ambitious woman and intends to move up in the world, after robbing this territory of all its viable females. So she will be ensuring that her mates are prepared to fight anyone who threatens them.”

“I wouldn’t underestimate them,” Phist added. “I’ve seen them punish Guild members viciously. But theirs is only a physical strength; nothing of Melina’s magic seems to have transferred in the Ritual.”

“Well, then,” said Rohan. “We’ll do what we can.”

S
era approached
the cliff face quietly, occasionally drawing a rune to help her along. These were unnecessary; runes of silence, of tranquility, of stealth. She wanted the practice; to hone her skills and increase the speed with which she could cast a rune-spell.

Nyx rode on her shoulders, occasionally shifting—his own form of practice—before barrelling down her body and running along beside her. His many forms seemed to vary greatly in size, and occasionally when he shifted into a panther it came out as large as a bear. “You’re showing real potential,” said Sera, laughing as she watched him pace beside her. “What am I saying? You’re a miracle. I never knew that this was possible.”

In her mind, she prepared herself for the conversations to come, particularly with Hedy. Now that Sera would be kicked out of the Sisterhood she had to be a little careful not to step on the toes of its leaders. They would be looking to other Aspirants now to protect the group’s future.

The cave was concealed behind tall shrubs, no doubt conjured into existence by some spell or other. For decades it had been used as a hiding spot for the Crones, and Sera had only known because she’d been out hunting one day and spied Guilana, one of the Elders, entering quietly. Days later she’d returned and discovered that the cave’s interior was stocked with all manner of potions, dried foods and even some straw beds. It was as though they knew this day would come.

As Sera approached, Hedy emerged; no doubt she’d seen the young woman coming in her mind’s eye, in spite of her weakened Sight.

“Nice to see you in one piece, Sera,” she said, smiling warmly. Karab was at her side, snuffling about on the ground.

“Are all the Sisters with you?” asked Sera. “Safe?”

“Yes. Even the young ones.”

“Good.”

“Would you like to come in?”

“No. I want to speak to you alone for a moment. Would you walk with me a little?”

Hedy nodded and approached, and the two strolled into the woods.

“No doubt you know what I’m going to ask,” said Sera.

“I don’t, actually. My Sight is weakening by the day. Oh, I haven’t told the others, but it looks very much like my time is coming.”

“What do you mean?”

“We all die at some point, Sera. I have lived a long life—longer than you know. And it has to end. If I’m to be honest, that was why I had such hopes for you: I needed to know that someone would be able to replace me.”

“I could never replace you,” Sera replied, her voice tight in her throat. “No one could.”

“And yet you are more like me now than you ever were.”

Nyx was cantering about in front of them in the form of a miniature horse, amusing himself.

“How do you mean?” she asked. “I’ve participated in the Ritual now; I would have thought I’m quite different from you.”

“Which reminds me, Sera: it’s my duty to expel you from the Sisterhood.”

“I know. I don’t fit in, now that I have mates.”

“Well, it’s a silly rule, anyhow. You wouldn’t be the first Aspirant who has engaged in the Ritual. You wouldn’t be the first to go through that change.”

“Of course. But Melina had already deserted when she performed it.”

“I’m not talking about Melina,” said Hedy. “I’m talking about myself.”

“
Y
ou
?” said Sera, stunned.

Hedy stopped and turned to her, her still bright eyes sad.

“Karab,” she said to her Familiar, who always seemed devoid of energy. “You can do it now.”

The badger shifted into a jackal then; sleek, intelligent, angular. And a moment later he was back to his pudgy self.

“How are you still a Crone if you’re…one of us?” Sera wasn’t sure what to call herself.

“I’m not. Not really, not anymore,” she said. “It was a long, long time ago. A lapse in judgment, perhaps, or something else. Love. Whatever it is that overwhelms us and attaches us to others. But I don’t regret it, to this day.”

“What happened? Where are your mates? I know enough now to understand that the Ritual bonds three people together for life.”

“My mates died long ago,” she said. “In a conflict between their kind. Both taken at once, as well as our only son.”

“Hedy, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you’d been through such a thing.”

“Thank you. It nearly killed me, I must tell you. I felt the life being drained from me. I feel sometimes that it’s only my bond with Karab that has kept me going. And I realize that you feel deceived by me and by the others—yes, the other Crones know of the Rituals, and of the strength that they can give. But long ago I pleaded with them to keep all of it secret. For your protection, and that of the Sisterhood. Solitude is far less agonizing than what I went through.”

Sera was silent for a moment, filled with sorrow. But she was hurt, as well.

“It should have been our decision to make,” she said. “I hate that you were so badly hurt. But I can’t tell you what it is that I feel now. I would rather experience this sort of—love—yes,
love
—than a lifetime of solitude, of fighting against the notion of attachment, when attachment has proven so beautiful.”

“You wouldn’t say that if something happened to your Rohan and Paxx,” said Hedy.

“Maybe not. But I hope that I would recall what it is that I feel now. They are my life, my blood. They have given me strength and protected me, and Circe. I’ve only known them for days and yet it feels like I never lived until they walked into my life.”

“I’m happy for you, Sera, really I am,” said Hedy. “But the Sisterhood is based on a community of women. We are independent and we shield ourselves from the hurt that comes with love.”

“The Sisterhood denies themselves one of life’s great pleasures. And without the Ritual, you would not have lived this long, I’ll warrant.”

“No. You have that right. I lived long enough after the death of my mates, in fact, that the Crones no longer recalled who I was or what I’d done. They welcomed me with open arms, for my skills. And for generations I’ve protected Ealdor and its inhabitants.”

“And for that I’ll always be grateful, and so will Circe. But now you need our protection. Whether I’m one of you or not, you need my help, Hedy. Melina and the Guild will come down on us soon, and they will not be merciful.”

“We Crones will fight them,” said Hedy. “We will protect the Aspirants.”

“I’m not sure that you can. There will be many of the men, the shifters. Paxx has warned me. And I know that your powers are fading. We all know.”

Hedy heaved a deep sigh. “Ever since Rohan stepped into Ealdor I’ve known that this day would come. That this battle was imminent. It’s not his fault, of course, or Paxx’s. We need to turn the tides on this place, to ensure that the future for this land isn’t bleak, ruled by the powerful who lord over the weak and vulnerable. But I must first talk to the Crones. They don’t yet know what you’ve done.”

“Let me,” said Sera. “And to the Aspirants. Let me tell them what I’ve seen, and perhaps they’ll listen.”

“All right,” said Hedy. “We’ll need all the help we can get.”

Overhead, a vulture soared and then turned away, heading towards Salem.

I
nside the cave
, Sasha, Guilana and Decca waited for Hedy’s return. Each of the Crones was an indefinable age and each possessed a different set of skills. Guilana had mentored Melina in her youth, teaching her offensive spells to do harm to others. These were called black magic by most, but for Guilana they were called “Offensive Defence;” protective spells in case of an encounter with a hostile animal or, worse, a hostile man.

Melina had been a sweet thing as a child, or at least she had appeared as such, and Guilana was taken in by her enthusiasm and joy, spending many hours with the young girl. When Melina had left the Sisterhood, the old woman had been shocked. She’d always thought the young woman would follow in her own footsteps, oblivious to her ambition.

Hedy was the only one who hadn’t seemed surprised, as though her Sight had offered her the ability to see Melina’s mind. But she had never disclosed her findings. And no one had reprimanded her for it; after all, Hedy wasn’t meant to control the course of the world.

And now she was handing over some of the power to Sera, who was no longer one of them. And yet, unlike Melina, she remained loyal, protective and responsible. Perhaps the Sisterhood needed more allies like her.

“Attention,” said Hedy, addressing the Crones as well as the many younger Aspirants milling about the cave. “Serafina has a few words for you. I’d suggest that you listen, as they will affect all of our fates.”

“You may or may not know by now,” Sera began, “That I have…bonded…with two men. A Shape-Changer and a shifter. One is from another time and place.”

Among the Aspirants came light chatter, but from the Crones, silence.

“This means that I am no longer eligible to be part of the Sisterhood, I know. I chose to engage in the Ritual after Circe was taken, in order to strengthen myself. But in truth I chose it for other reasons, as well. I had grown attached to the two men in question. They are good and kind, and would give their lives to protect me. And all of you. But it is my hope that they never need to.”

“So are you proposing to offer their help?” asked Decca, leaning on a crooked cane of solid wood.

“I am,” Sera said. “Their help and mine, if you will accept. When the Guild descends upon us, the young Aspirants who have not yet bonded will be vulnerable. I believe that Rohan has a plan for their safety. As for the rest of us, we will need to fight. And there may be deaths.”

“On their side, of course,” said Hedy reassuringly.

“Of course,” said Sera. “We are powerful women. Their strength is largely physical; muscular, though Melina and her mates will prove a challenge. She has already defeated my powers once, though that was before the Ritual. It’s possible that I could take her now, but I may need your help.”

“And let’s say that we defeat them,” said Decca. “What then? Will the witch hunts cease and the hangings along with them?”

“That’s my hope,” said Sera. “Paxx was a member of the Guild and he says that there are others who, like him, disagree with their methods. If he can get back and speak to them, it may make things easier for all of us.”

“I’m not sure about any of this,” said one of the Aspirants. Her name was Alana and she had bonded, granting her a certain amount of strength in the Craft. “How are we guaranteed safety after all is said and done?”

“We aren’t,” said Hedy, stepping forward. “There are no guarantees in life; none. But I can assure you of this: without the help of Serafina and her mates, we have no chance. She is now the most powerful among us, even if she no longer bears the title of Aspirant.”

“What can you do?” scoffed Alana. “How has this ‘Ritual’ made you any better than the rest of us?”

“I’m not better,” said Sera. Nyx, in ferret form, unraveled from her neck and slid down her arm, bouncing to the floor. He stepped up to Alana and, staring up at her, shifted into the form of a lion. “Well, all right,” said Sera.
“He
may be better.”

Sera quickly drew a rune in the air and, to the surprise of all, the fiery outline of a door appeared on the side of the cave.

“Go ahead,” she said. “Open it.”

Alana pushed the stone door open easily. Outside was Salem: the old church, the wooden houses, people wandering about, looking tense and terrified as always.

Sera held up her hand, shutting the door as Alana gaped at the scene.

“Well, that was something,” she said, surrendering. No Aspirant had ever pulled off such a trick.

“One of my mates is a
Leaper
,” said Sera. “He can move through time and space. And I have been learning how to apply that magic to my advantage. I can create doorways to other places, making it easier for us to move about.”

“Could you bring us to the compound?” asked Guilana.

“Yes, I suspect that I could, if that’s what you want.”

“We should take the fight to them. Surprise them.”

“No,” said Hedy. “We should prepare here. We have the advantage in this place. We know the land and there is only one entrance to this cavern, provided that you don’t include Sera’s ability to draw doors all over the place.”

Sera laughed. “So, are you in?”

“We’re in,” said Hedy. “As you know well. You have remained loyal to us, and we will return the favour, Sera.”

“Good.”

Sera turned to the wall and, with a few swipes, drew another door. “I’ll be back in a little,” she said. “Watch for us.”

She pushed the door open and, disappearing through into the interior of a small house, shut it once again.

A
fter she’d spoken
to them, Sera made her way with the men back to the cave in the woods. There was no doorway created this time; she wanted to show them the lay of the land so that they could learn to strategize; memorize the woods, potential hiding spots and weak spots.

“I’ll take the Aspirants to Dundurn,” Rohan said as they walked. “There’s plenty of room for them, though I must warn you: there is an entire army of shifters there, who rarely get to spend time with young women.”

“They’ll be all right,” said Serafina. “They’re mostly just as stubborn as me, and they’ll slap anyone who makes advances.”

“Well, Dundurn’s men are respectful, at least. They are nothing like the nastier Guild members. But they may issue a lot of admiring glances.”

“That’s acceptable.”

“Phist,” said Paxx. “Would you go with them? Look after them?”

“Really?” replied his brother. “But what about you? You’ll need me…”

“You’re an Aspirant too, of a sort. You can’t yet shift, and as such you’re vulnerable.” Though Paxx’s words may have seemed patronizing, he was focused particularly on one item: getting Phist to Circe. He could tell that his sibling had pined for the young woman ever since her departure, and having been through a similar fate with Serafina, he understood.

“I can fight,” muttered Phist.

“I know you can, Brother,” said Paxx, slapping his shoulder. “But fighting sometimes means protecting. Do this for the Sisterhood.”

With their arrival at the cave, the men remained outdoors while Serafina entered to speak once again to the Crones. A few minutes later she emerged with the younger members of their clan.

“This is Rohan, and Phist,” she said. “They’ll take you somewhere very safe, among friends. Though they’ll no doubt look like Guild members they’re nothing of the sort—these are the noblest of shifters. Don’t worry.”

The young women looked at the two men, curious. So rarely did they interact with anything male that each in turn appeared timid, shy, in spite of their usual confidence.

“If you’ll all link arms,” said Rohan, “And be sure that your Familiars are with you. Phist, put your hand on my shoulder.” When all of them were in contact, Rohan pulled them away and in a flash they were gone, only a patch of footprint-infused dirt revealing any evidence of their existence.

“Serafina,” said Paxx. The two were alone now. “They’re coming.” He pointed to the sky, where two vultures circled, crying out, signalling that they’d found what they were looking for.