Invoked Page 9

  Nea screwed up her face, trying to recall. ‘I don’t …’

  ‘It was undead. It was brought back to life inadvertently by the necromancer, Grace Riordon, when she was just a child. Then, to everyone’s surprise, it actually brought itself back to life, flesh-and-blood life. Elena says the cat told her that it found that it could be alive when it had a reason to.’

  ‘Hilda, we need to talk.’ Gregor was back to being mean and grumpy.

  ‘We do, hey?’ Hilda got up from the table and started rearranging her pots on the bench. ‘A while ago you refused to talk to me.’

  ‘That’s because I didn’t want to talk to you on that topic.’

  Hilda started putting her jars away in a big bag, ignoring Gregor who stood hovering over her. ‘And now you expect me to talk to you?’

  ‘Of course! Now I want to talk about what I want to talk about.’

  Hilda folded her arms and looked up at Gregor. ‘No deal. You answer my questions before we talk about anything else.’

  ‘Or what?’

  ‘I’m going home to my bed. I’m overdue for a nice long sleep in.’

  Nea smiled when Gregor growled like a bear. ‘Come on then,’ he said as he headed for the door. ‘In my study.’

  Hilda folded her arms and leant her back against the kitchen bench.

  Sitting at the table, Nea wanted to demand he share with her too, but had no energy to argue. Hilda glanced at her sideways and hesitated. ‘I think we best talk here. Bethanea has a right to know what happened to you, too.’

  Pausing, Gregor swung around and he had a no-nonsense expression on his face, all prim mouth and piercing eyes. ‘Who are you to tell me what my granddaughter should know?’

  Nea nodded approvingly.

  Hilda squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, meeting Gregor’s glare with one of her own. ‘A good friend—to both of you, aye. She told you what had happened to her, although it embarrassed her greatly. You could be just as open as you expect her to be.’

  They locked gazes, and then to Nea’s surprise, Gregor returned to the table and sat back down. Next he twirled his empty mug. Over his head Hilda winked at her. Nea sat there fascinated. She’d not seen them react this way to each other before. What had happened between them while she’d been bedridden? Was there more meaning to the words going home to my own bed than first appeared? Had Hilda slept with Gregor? At that thought, Nea sat upright, and paid attention.

  ‘I confronted Penderton.’ Gregor spoke in a flat voice. Nea’s skin tingled. ‘He overpowered me easily. I’m not sure how. Maybe I was too cocky, too sure of myself. Maybe he had help from her. I only know I just made it out of there in one piece. I had to crawl the last part, being injured as well as partially drained.’

  Nea’s mouth hung open. No words came out. What could she say? Gregor had always been the strong one, the leader of the coven, the one people went to, and that upstart, dangerous warlock Drew Penderton, had bested him? Nea cast her gaze Hilda’s way but the older witch said nothing, just nodded sagely as if she’d known all the time.

  ‘So what happens now?’ Nea’s brain was having a hard time keeping up with events. She could hardly grapple with the news let alone contemplate any ramifications.

  Hilda spoke. ‘Gregor has a number of options open to him.’

  ‘Really? What are they?’

  ‘He can resign as leader of the coven—’

  ‘No!’ Nea protested, and then, energy depleted, she sank back into her chair like a ragdoll.

  Hilda frowned and Nea shut her mouth. ‘He can ask for a melding with other members of the coven and go back and confront Penderton again. He can ask for help from the Sydney coven—not too difficult, given Penderton was their problem. Or he can do nothing.’

  Nea glanced from her grandfather to the older woman. Gregor just stared at the mug he was turning around on the spot, not appearing to react at all to the words. ‘Grandpa?’

  He harrumphed in response and shrugged. ‘Don’t call me that.’

  Nea shook her head and then shared a pleading look with Hilda.

  The older woman leaned over and patted her hand. ‘You need to rest a bit more, dear, and your grandpa needs to think.’

  ‘Call me Gregor, why don’t you?’ He sulked when Hilda just smiled archly at him.

  Nea nodded, glancing uncertainly at her grandfather.

  ‘Up in your room where it’s safe, dear,’ Hilda said softly.

  Nea eased out of her chair and stumbled to the stairs, feeling like her body was a sack of vegetables that she had to wrestle up the steps. As she put her feet on the risers, low whispers reached her. At least they were talking to each other. Gregor’s silences unnerved her. Usually she could go out and get away when he had one of his dark moods. Since her grandmother’s death no one had attempted to talk him through them. Hilda was one brave woman.

  When she returned to bed, a long-stemmed, pale pink rose appeared, just making itself in front of her eyes. Nea started and then looked around the room. There was no sign of Earl.

  Her gaze went back to the rose he’d conjured on her pillow. A note appeared, a flowery hand wrote: I’m sorry you are suffering. Forgive me. Earl.

  Her fingertip brushed the tip of a soft velvet petal. It comforted her to know he cared.

  ***

  Hilda was there the next morning, cooking breakfast when Nea came downstairs. ‘Take a seat, dear. You need to eat before you head out.’

  ‘How did you know I was going out?’

  Hilda grinned. ‘There’s a spring in your step and a glint in your eye. I’d say you’d be wanting to walk around the lake, hey?’

  Nea sat down and poured some coffee. ‘Yes, that’s exactly what’s on my mind.’

  She sipped her drink as Hilda turned off the gas and tipped some scrambled eggs onto a plate.

  ‘So how’s Gregor this morning?’

  ‘Better,’ Gregor said as he lurched into the room. Nea was confused. He was in better spirits, and he took his plate from Hilda as if it happened every day.

  ‘That’s good, then. So what have you decided?’

  He glanced up at her and his eyes twinkled. ‘Nothing. I’m doing nothing for now.’

  ‘And?’ Her gaze flicked between them.

  ‘The council is keeping watch on Penderton and then when we know more, we will act.’ This came from Hilda.

  ‘Oh, that sounds good.’ Nea wasn’t convinced, but she certainly didn’t want her grandfather hurt.

  Gregor swallowed another bite of breakfast and then guzzled the remainder of his coffee. ‘By the way, I’ve adjusted the ward. Your phantom lover is locked out.’

  ‘I see.’ Nea understood his caution. She wasn’t going to argue. There was more going on in the coven than these two were admitting.

  Hilda poured more coffee into Gregor’s cup and his eyebrows lowered. Something shivered in the air between them. A faint flush crept into his cheeks.

  Something more than their romance.

  A screech in the ether made her jump up from the table. Hilda dropped the coffee pot and it hit the ground with a bang, splashing dark liquid onto the floor. Gregor lurched out of his seat. It was the house ward. Instead of silently guarding them it was keening.

  ‘What is that?’

  ‘An attack,’ Hilda said, heading to the window.

  Gregor closed his eyes and then lifted an eyebrow. ‘Not your lover boy … it’s Penderton.’ His eyes widened in surprise and he flinched. ‘Ouch! He’s made quite a dent in the ward.’

  Nea ran to the front door and opened it. A car revved there and when she looked out, an arm reached out of the passenger-side window, flipping the bird at her, and then the car sped off.

  Gregor dragged her back and pushed past her into the street. Penderton was gone. Hilda came up beside her and grabbed her hand.

  ‘Don’t worry. I’ve called the other council members. They’ll be here soon.’

  ‘It’s bad, isn’t it?’ she asked the
older woman.

  Hilda nodded. ‘Not good. No. Not for Gregor. Not for the coven.’

  Chapter Seven

  Locked up tight in the house, Nea fretted. She was restless and scared too. It was hard to believe that nasty little creep had hurt her grandfather and might possibly attack them further. All day the councillors of the coven had been in the house, talking strategy and allocating watches for Drew and for other key folk. The ward had been reset tighter than before. All because the keening they’d heard earlier in the day had been Drew trying to cut through it. He was playing with them. Gregor had called Rory Penderton, and they had discussed Drew at length. Rory was certain that Drew did not have the power to do such a thing when he’d lived in Sydney. After that call, Gregor had announced with certainty that Drew was a dark one and had been trained in the art by Pris Denholm.

  The mood was heavy. Nea’s heart clenched. Drew’s family would be devastated, and she found that she pitied Drew. She was certain he would never find happiness no matter what he did. Not a happiness that she understood.

  ***

  Now, looking out over the lake, Nea watched the moonlight on the water, rippling with silver. A man stood on the pier. It was Earl. A sudden surge of need washed over her. She wanted to be with him, wanted to share her concerns. Maybe he would know something or could give her some advice about Drew.

  Turning around, she searched for her robe. Was she seriously thinking of sneaking out to fuck her phantom boyfriend? Was she that desperate? Bloody oath she was.

  Earl was funny, kind, sincere and sensitive—all the qualities she enjoyed in a man. He did things to her that made her body sing. Hopefully this time he wouldn’t drain her dry.

  As she walked to the pier, her robe flew open, letting the cool night air caress her skin. She didn’t mind Earl seeing her naked. When they met on the water’s edge, her fingers reached for his and he backed away.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked.

  ‘I can’t be sure I’m not a danger to you.’

  ‘What do you mean? I’m fine. I got better.’

  He shook his head and then conjured a scene for them. They were at a table in a restaurant, but they were the only diners. There was no food there, just a single red rose in a slender glass on the snowy tablecloth. The table was too wide to reach across and hold hands. Nea wanted to get up and go to him, but she couldn’t move. She wasn’t really there.

  ‘It’s too dangerous for you to touch me, Nea. There is a threat here, one you can’t feel but I can.’

  ‘But that’s not coming from you. It’s not coming from making love to me,’ she said, and she knew she sounded desperate.

  ‘With you weakened, we only invite danger. With you depleted you are vulnerable to the dark one. I have thought about what happened, the risk we took. I could have drained you dry. You were giving freely to me, and I took. I couldn’t help it. I was empty of life. I won’t let that happen again—’

  ‘Then we can’t make love ever again? Is that what you are saying?’ Hot and cold surges rushed through Nea—anger, fear, love and loss.

  He shook his head. ‘I don’t really know. Maybe when we are over this threat, when the dark one is gone, we can take time to work around it.’

  ‘Dark one? You mean Drew, don’t you? You know about him?’

  His darkened eyes met hers. ‘Yes, and Pris too. You can’t underestimate the danger they represent. Be on your guard. I will do my best to help you.’

  ‘Help me? I don’t want your help. I want you to make love to me.’

  ‘I want that too, more than anything, but …’

  Nea closed her eyes. ‘I’ve never had such an experience. You took me places I’ve never been. It was glorious, amazing … Now you say we can’t go there again?’

  A soft breath caressed her neck and she groaned. A firm presence on her nipples made them contract. ‘Just fleeting illusions of touch.’

  Nea was aroused already. Yet looking across the table at Earl she saw all that she wanted but was out of reach. It was back to the self-help manual on sexual fulfilment. ‘You can keep your illusions. I want you. I want you now. I don’t care about the risk.’

  ‘I care.’

  The conjuring faded. Nea was once again on the shore, her robe open, her skin cool. Earl’s presence was fading.

  ‘Please, Earl. Don’t leave me.’

  ‘I won’t ever leave you …’

  The sound of the sliding door opening reached them.

  ‘Nea?’ Gregor’s voice called out. ‘Are you out there?’

  Earl’s voice lifted on the breeze. ‘You’d better go in.’

  She bit down on her anger, then nodded and called to the house. ‘Yes, Grandpa. Coming in.’

  As she gathered her robe around her, she frowned and ground her teeth. Frustration and anger amplified inside her. Denial made the want more. How was she going to cope with reliving their lovemaking knowing it may have been their last encounter?

  Gregor stood with his arms crossed in the doorway. Nea grimaced as she walked up the path.

  Gregor lectured her. ‘What are you doing out there? Why do we have wards? To keep you safe, and you got out there and what?’

  ‘Grandpa, please. I’m okay.’

  ‘You met that phantom lover of yours again. Didn’t you?’

  ‘Just briefly.’

  ‘After what he did to you? Are you crazy?’

  Her anger built. ‘I don’t need this right now.’ She walked past him and put a foot on the stairs.

  ‘Were you fucking out there, Nea?’

  She paused, one hand on the rail, and looked back. Ripe annoyance flooded into her. ‘Were you fucking in here?’

  ‘Nea?’ Gregor’s expression dropped, as if she’d smacked him. ‘I don’t understand you.’

  ‘Well, what business is it of yours if I fucked Earl on the beach? I’m okay. He didn’t mean to hurt me and he didn’t this time. I don’t ask if you’ve been having sex with Hilda.’

  Gregor swallowed, and his cheeks reddened. ‘What has gotten into you? You disrespect me when I’m looking out for you and then hurl accusations.’

  Nea looked down, tears in her eyes. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to have a go at you. The pressure is getting to me, Grandpa.’ She came back down the stairs and faced him. ‘What am I going to do? Earl won’t touch me. He doesn’t want to hurt me. I feel so bereft. So lost.’

  Gregor grabbed her to him, cradling her head on his shoulder. ‘I know it’s hard for you. Life is like that sometimes. But in a year’s time, things will be different. You’ll see, and you’ll look back on this and these feelings you have for this phantom lover will have faded.’

  She sniffed and pulled back, shaking her head. ‘There’s a lot of time for anguish between now and then.’

  Gregor held her by the shoulders. ‘I’m no prude, Nea. Sex is natural and is to be enjoyed. I don’t have a problem with you enjoying yourself. But Earl. You said his name was Earl?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I see … well, Earl is not alive and definitely not fit to be your partner in life. We’re on alert here. The wards are for your protection. Just be careful. Stay inside them. Okay?’

  ‘Okay. I will. I’m sorry.’

  ‘What else do you know about Earl?’

  ‘He says he grew up around here.’

  Gregor nodded, a frown marring his brow. ‘Earl,’ he repeated, as if savouring a flavour on his tongue.

  Nea lifted her eyebrow in query.

  Gregor shook his head. ‘It’s nothing. Good night.’

  Nea raced up the stairs and took a shower, letting the argument with Gregor slide away. He only wanted her safe. He wasn’t judging her. That had to be Hilda’s influence surely.

  ***

  Earl saw Gregor standing in the garden and knew he was looking for him. There was no point in hiding, so he showed himself to the old warlock. Danger lurked in the shadows, and Earl had to make the old man understand that he couldn’t leave. Couldn’
t let the dark one take Nea.

  ‘Keep away from her.’ Gregor’s voice reached him, although he spoke quietly.

  ‘I can’t.’

  ‘You must. She belongs with the living.’

  ‘There is danger coming.’

  ‘I will care for her. Leave.’

  ‘No, I won’t. She needs me.’

  ‘You will, Earl. You think I don’t know you, but I do,’ Gregor said, and then followed that up with a thrust of power that threw Earl back. ‘Return to whence you came, Earl Pressonville!’ Gregor called in that low voice, and Earl couldn’t resist the compulsion. Gregor named him and that gave his thrust sticking power. Before he knew it, he was back in the ground below the ruin.

  He had to go back, had to be there. Yet, he could not rise, could not fight the compulsion to stay. He had to wait for the power of Gregor’s spell to wane or he’d be drained of power. Tonight he was going to need it.

  ***

  Too on edge to return to bed, Nea curled up on the sofa with a book. She’d decided it was pointless arguing with Gregor. It had been dangerous to leave the confines of the ward, but she’d been with Earl and there was no harm in that. Definitely no harm, as he wouldn’t touch her. There was emptiness inside her where his touch had resided.

  Lowering the book, she considered the danger Earl had mentioned and also the hints she’d garnered from what Hilda and Gregor didn’t say. Then there was the attack on Gregor, very serious, and now the attack on the ward. What was Drew up to? What did he want? He’d given her the finger and driven off. What was that? A tease? A teenage prank? How big a threat was he?

  Even though she tried to dismiss the threat, she couldn’t ignore that Gregor had been hiding something before this crisis had emerged. Could it be these dark uprisings that were whispered about here but talked about openly overseas?

  Nea went upstairs to go to sleep, then paused. There were alien sounds from her grandfather’s room. She stood for a minute and listened, and then understood. He and Hilda were making love and from what she could hear, they were enjoying it. Nea smiled to herself as she entered her room, lay down and pulled the sheet over her. Go Hilda. Go Grandpa, she thought as she buried her head in her pillow. They should both have smiles on their faces in the morning. Nea would have to work hard to find hers.