I stared at Simon for a long moment. “So Michael’s…adopted?”
“That’s correct,” Simon replied quietly. He searched my eyes. “Does that make a difference?”
“It’s a good question.” And it was. One I was not sure I could answer in such a short span of time. Michael was more than just an older brother, a drinking buddy to share a few beers with. He’d been my hero, my moral compass when my father died suddenly.
Had Simon’s revelation called that into question? I didn’t think so, but it was something I needed to consider.
Simon watched me, closely. His gaze was hard and penetrating.
“Whatever the source of his birth, I’ve never known a finer man than your brother.”
“My…adopted brother.”
Simon nodded slowly. “Your adopted brother. That’s correct.”
The smile he wore was genuine, but I could detect a faint semblance of doubt.
His hand went to my shoulder. “I understand, Robert. It’s something you may need some time to digest.”
I shook my head. “I see no problem with it or with him, Simon. Michael is the same man I knew an hour ago. But my whole world has been turned on its head in a matter of days. And here’s one more piece that needs to be reworked and refit.”
Simon chuckled softly. “Nicely put, Robert. I’ll do my best to help you see they all go back together in the right order.”
We resumed our slow circuit, rounding the pristine waters of Sebago on a path that paralleled its ragged shoreline.
“All right, tell me,” I began. “If I’m so…special, how is it I’ve never noticed anything unusual? Why don’t I have those powers you spoke of?”
“Robert.” He gave me a patronizing look, like one would a slow student. “You
do
have them. Have you ever thought you knew something before it happened, imagined what someone was thinking and found out it was true?”
I thought for a minute. “Yes. Of course. I guess I’d never thought about it like that.”
“Of course you didn’t. Why would you? But I promise that you have innate powers—amazing powers—you’ve never used.”
And now the big question. The one that I’d been turning over in my mind since last night. “All right. I believe that.” I fixed his eyes with mine. “But why didn’t anyone tell me what I was? Why leave me in the dark for twenty-three years?”
He held my eyes. “A very good question and one I’d be disappointed if you hadn’t asked.” Simon seemed to be searching. For the right words perhaps? “Think about this. Courtney’s been groomed for her role since birth. She’s been steeped in our belief system, trained in how to become the embodiment of a goddess. But you, Robert.” He placed a massive hand on my shoulder. “How would your life have been different if you’d known your true identity and destiny? Would you have attended Harvard? Been such an outstanding scholar or athlete? Courtney’s been insulated, removed from the social system that you operate so well within.”
I focused on the cove below. Of course he was right. My part in this magnificent drama was to be exactly what I was: a Boston Brahmin who attended the finest schools and had the finest friends. I was the given, the control part of the experiment. He had me.
I nodded as a reluctant smile crossed my face. “I understand.”
He studied me. “Bravo, Robert. I knew you would. In time Courtney will teach you the intricacies of the craft, but she’s such a child in so many ways—naïve about the intricacies of our social systems. You’ll teach her to operate in
your
world.”
****
Courtney directed the convertible around a bend in the road. A large Cadillac, parked at a clumsy angle on the shoulder, blocked their path. She stopped. The front doors were open on both sides of the large vehicle. Two women stood next to it. One of the women was bent over. Her companion seemed to be helping her. The first woman straightened up and put her hand to her friend’s forehead.
“We best stop, dear,” Mrs. McPherson suggested, putting her hand on Courtney’s arm. “Someone may be hurt.”
Courtney nodded and pulled the Packard onto the shoulder. “You wait here. I’ll see if they need any help,” she volunteered. Opening the door, she got out and headed toward the Cadillac.
As she approached, Courtney slowed. Fear gripped her as she felt the same sense of dread she had the night before. She stopped and turned. Mrs. Mac was out of their car and headed toward her. Behind her was a woman Courtney had never seen. Her hand was on her nanny’s shoulder. Mrs. Mac stopped suddenly. A strange look crossed her face. Terror?
Courtney turned back toward the Cadillac. Both women had made a miraculous recovery and approached her. Courtney’s stomach churned. Her mouth went dry. She put her hand on the amulet and closed her eyes. Suddenly, a voice she recognized called to her.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, my dear. You’d be very sorry,” the voice warned. “If you use your powers to do us harm, it will cost the life of someone you love very much.”
****
We walked for another hour, Simon explaining while I questioned. The tutor and the student. The pupil and the teacher. As the sun rose overhead, he revealed more details of the craft, the enormous powers many of them possessed, and how they came to possess them. As he progressed through the explanation, it began to make sense.
I thought about Michael, where he’d come from and who he was. As I pictured his broad smile, thought of his robust laugh and his never-ending attempts to steer me down the right path, I knew nothing in our relationship had changed. In some ways, I saw this new relationship as a stronger one. A bond formed not from blood and necessity but one forged through loyalty and love.
“Simon.” I hesitated. There was one more question I had to ask him. “Ellen, Courtney’s mother. Could you tell me what happened to her?”
He stopped and turned, studying the lake through the pines. “Well, no one is exactly sure.” He shrugged. “She and Courtney were out on a remote riding trail. Briarwood is crisscrossed with them. Courtney told me Ellen had given her the amulet, the Andromeda pendant with the moonstone at its center. I’m sure you’ve seen it. Well—”
Suddenly, we heard a noise from below. Someone was approaching rapidly, running up the path. When I turned, I saw Michael’s stocky frame. I smiled, deciding to reveal my newfound knowledge of who he really was when he stopped abruptly, looking at Simon in a way that sent chills through me.
“What is it, Michael?”
He stood doubled over, breathless from his run. He opened his mouth, struggling to speak. Michael held something in his hand, looking back and forth between us. When I saw what dangled from his fingers, my legs grew weak. My breathing stopped. There in my brother’s hand was something we knew well, too well.
A family heirloom
she called it. Michael squeezed the engraved silver and clamped his lips together. Something that protected her fellow goddesses for a thousand years, she’d told me: the Andromeda pendant with the moonstone at its center. The one that never left Courtney’s neck.
Chapter Thirty-One
Simon gripped Michael by the shoulders. “Stay calm. Tell us what happened,” he commanded.
“I was headed here to meet you.” Michael stood wide-eyed, taking deep breaths. “I saw Jon’s Victoria convertible by the side of the road. I recognized it. I knew Courtney and Mrs. Mac were taking it for a ride. I stopped to see if I could help.”
I stood, frozen by fear. Every negative emotion Courtney talked about last night in the courtyard came flooding back, no longer theories. Something very terrifying and very real had happened to her. My pleasant, dreamlike world crumbled as I stared at the amulet dangling from my brother’s hand.
“No one was there,” Michael said. “I searched inside and found this on the driver’s seat.”
Simon looked at me then back at Michael. “Someone wanted to make sure we’d find the amulet,” he said. “To send the message that Courtney is no longer protected.”
Michael nodded.
“But I don’t understand. Who’s taken her and why?” I whispered.
“A small band of Druids,” he answered and turned. “I’m not sure why.” He shook his head slowly. “I should have foreseen this. All I know is they have plans for Courtney. Michael, we need you to focus,” Simon instructed. “Concentrate.”
“I’ve tried, Simon. I see nothing. I’ve never had this happen before.” He shook his head. “I know Courtney’s very powerful. She might be able to block my thoughts, but if she’s in trouble, why would she do that?”
“I don’t know. She shouldn’t.” His eyes grew narrow. “Could someone else be blocking you?”
“I can’t tell. All I know is I’m getting nothing.” Michael shook his head.
“Courtney would never leave the amulet on her own,” Simon continued. “But who could make her do that? She’s young but she’s so strong and has so many gifts, I can’t imagine…”
“Mrs. McPherson,” I heard myself saying.
“Yes, of course, Robert. If Courtney’s missing, her nanny’s gone as well,” Simon agreed.
I shook my head. “No, you don’t understand.”
“What are you talking about, Robbie?” Michael took my arm.
“Last night Courtney had a premonition, a vision. I don’t know what to call it. She was terrified. When we looked around, the only person there was her nanny.”
“Really.” Simon shook his head. “That makes no sense. The poor woman is old and infirm. Courtney’s the most powerful member of our family.”
“This morning at breakfast, she told me things about what had gone on at Briarwood. I had a strange sense of foreboding. I told Courtney, but she wouldn’t listen.”
Michael ignored me and turned toward Simon. “Maybe Courtney was…”
Simon stared at me. “Mrs. Mac insisted on making this trip,” he whispered, fixing me with his eyes. “Wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Simon,” Michael protested. “She’s a feeble old woman, for God’s sake.”
“What better camouflage?” I volunteered. “Michael?”
He stared at me, his mind working. “Of course. The way they taught us in OSS,” he whispered.
“What was that?” I probed.
“Hide in plain sight. In the midst of the enemy.” He looked up at Simon. “Is it possible? That she fooled all of us?”
“But Courtney had the amulet.” Simon shook his head. “She was protected. No wearer would surrender it, and no one wearing it has come to harm in a dozen centuries.”
“It makes no sense,” Michael agreed.
I was in over my head. Having been a witch for a day didn’t qualify me to debate these two.
“Let’s get back to her room. It’s possible her familiars have picked up on something.”
“Her familiars?” I asked.
“Animal partners, companions. We communicate with them through telepathy.”
“You mean the cats?”
“Yes.” Michael nodded as he pulled me down the path toward the house. “Simon has two mastiffs, I have a magnificent buck, Courtney used Cephy and Cassy. If anyone could pick up her thoughts it would be them.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
We arrived at the courtyard, breathless. Either Simon or Michael had communicated with Jon and Gretchen. They were there, flanked by two dozen members of my new family and, I hoped, my allies. Despite their age, the guests showed a different face. Everyone assembled was alert and sober. I noticed that Wendy had joined the group.
“Michael found the amulet,” Simon called, holding it up. “We’re going to find Courtney’s familiars and search her room. Everyone use your powers. See what you can discover. Gretchen, you’re the high priestess. Get your tools and draw down the circle.” He gave the group a brave smile.
This sounded like a foreign language.
Amulets, familiars, high priestess, draw down the circle?
“Robbie, come with Michael and me,” Simon commanded. “You possess gifts you may not be aware of.” We headed toward Courtney’s room. “Your father was gifted at sensing negative emotion.”
My father
?
This just keeps getting stranger.
We ran upstairs to her bedroom door. Simon pushed it open and rushed inside. Nothing.
“Perhaps whoever took Courtney destroyed Cepheus and Cassiopeia,” he whispered.
Michael went through the drawers of her dresser. Things emerged I had only seen in movies—a beautifully engraved silver knife, small silver bowls, candles of all colors and sizes, incense. Inside her closet, a small stand made of polished mahogany appeared with a pentacle inscribed in its surface.
Michael saw me staring. “These are her sacred implements: her athame, chalices, altar…all used in ritual when drawing down the witch’s circle.” He patted me on the back.
“Are you getting any impressions?” Simon asked Michael as my brother held each item and closed his eyes. He turned to me. “Michael has the ability to see things or draw images from objects. Everything has an aura surrounding it, even a rock. Michael has the ability to see things in that aura.”
Michael scowled. “Nothing, Simon.” He tossed the items on Courtney’s comforter. “We need to find—”
He stopped as we all heard the sound of meowing.
Simon closed his eyes.
Michael’s face grew a broad smile as the two majestic felines appeared in the doorway.
Simon approached them and knelt, closing his eyes again. He touched one then the other. When he stood, he looked grim. The two cats seemed agitated and glided up onto the bed.
“They’re not sure, either, but both felt a sense of dread from Courtney. It was very brief but very strong. Whoever took her knew she’d try to communicate with us. Either they managed to silence her or forced her to be quiet.”
“I don’t understand. If the amulet protected her, why would she give it up?” I was confused and afraid for her. “What do they want?”
“The amulet has been in our family for longer than we can remember. It was always worn by the most powerful priestess. Soon Courtney will take her place as the earthly embodiment of a goddess. She’ll have incredible power. Ellen wore the amulet and died right after she removed it. Perhaps the same people who took Courtney were responsible. There’s a pattern I should have seen. It’s all connected. I blame myself for being so arrogant and blind.”
“I still don’t understand. Why did she give it up?”