Chapter 4
At the end of a winding road that led to the top of a tall hill, Daniel sat on the hood of his car, listening to the radio. The sky, clear and sparkling with stars held his pensive gaze over the town below.
“You here with all your friends?” Keterlyn asked, appearing out of nowhere behind him. In fact, Keterlyn had been watching him for about fifteen minutes, trying to gauge what he might have been thinking about. After coming to terms that mind reading wasn’t in her MO, now, or when she could fully use her power, she had decided it was time to announce herself.
Daniel turns surprised. “Where did you come from?”
Confidently, Keterlyn closed the distance between them. “I’m back to redeem myself.” she said as aloof as possible as she hopped on the hood of the car next to Daniel. She stared straight ahead and found a relaxed position for her body before continuing. Daniel simply looked her over with mirth. “Did you know that in medieval times a true gentleman would never have let me make a fool of myself like that. He would have jumped in with some prose or gallant gesture.”
Fighting amused surprise Daniel struggled to keep a straight face, and racked his mind to counter her with something equally abstract and meaningless. He refrained from letting any hint of smugness enter his voice. “Did you know that in medieval times some women would pluck their hairline to make their foreheads seem larger.”
Keterlyn had in fact not recalled that. Surprised she gave a “Huh.” Before resuming her silent stare ahead. Daniel smiled at her momentary silence. “Well, plucking aside, I miss the medieval era. I always felt most comfortable there.” she announced.
Daniel looked at Keterlyn with confusion etched on his brow. Keterlyn was testing him. It wasn’t as if she would make that kind of mistake, but she wanted to know what his reactions would be like. In every group she brought together, every coven, for lack of a better tem to describe it, there was always one she trusted above the rest. One who could understand her more so, and someone she could confide everything in. Last time it was Marianne. Marianne had played the role of best friend to Keterlyn, then older cousin, then, as the years went by, Marianne eventually played the role of her mother in society’s eyes. Keterlyn didn’t need to do this of course, but she felt it kept her grounded, connected. While the last coven hadn’t been told what exactly would be coming for them in the dark once the circle was ended, Marianne had known.
Keterlyn sensed now that Daniel would be her confident, the person to trust with it all. This time though, she decided after a few years, she would tell the others as well. It was only fair they knew the real stakes - eventually.
In spite of her dropping the fact she had lived in the middle ages though, Keterlyn was not about to have a deep and meaningful honest discussion about the details here and now. She just wanted to take good measure of how he reacted. Clearly, he reacted in good stride. Logic, not tricks then to connect with him.
Daniel didn’t bother hiding the amusement in his voice this time. “You miss the era? That was a long time ago. I think you missed the boat by a few hundred years or so.”
Keterlyn compensated for the ‘slip up’. “I used to work a live village... We did all kinds of recreations... It was fun. It’s weird, I know.”
Daniel smiled. He had a nice smile she thought. One she could get used to over the years. White teeth peeking out from his lips, giving away a part of himself he would normally be switching off in the interests of keeping up a façade.
“Trust me, I know weird, you ain’t it.” was all he said. So he was in touch with his inner power Keterlyn deduced. Everyone had it, but few could actually use it properly and a few more were aware of it. Knowing the force of what was within was often too much for people to accept and resulted in a range of neuroses, denials, and acting out behaviours. Daniel was aware of his inner ‘weirdness’ she was certain, but if nothing else tonight, she would push and see if he could tell her that he had used it. That would give her enough information to know how to proceed.
“I'll take that bet.” Keterlyn pauses before continuing, and relaxing back against the car. “Tell me something you’ve never told anyone else.”
“What so you can tell one of your lackey friends and brand me?”
“You care what my lackey friends think do you? I just want to get to know you better.”
“Why?” he asked suspiciously.
Keterlyn put on a fake superficial quality to her voice. “I’m new, you’re new,” she joked, but then seriousness crept back in. “Besides I don't think you are exactly what people say you are. I figure though, what with the kind of lies and gossip flying around about you, no one’s taken the time to actually talk to you.”
Daniel took a few thoughtful moments. “Something I've never told someone else huh.”
Keterlyn’s excitement grew, knowing he was going to comply. Tonight he would tell her what she wanted to know if to do nothing else but test her. “And something worthwhile. Go for gold, I don't scare easily.”
“You heard I just got out of jail right. You know what the offence was?”
Keterlyn feigned boredom. “Murder, but I don’t know...you don't seem the killing type.”
“It's true, I killed my dad.” Daniel paused clearly waiting for the shock to sink in.
“I'm sure you had very good reasons.” Keterlyn replied, secretly delighted at the surprised look on Daniel’s face. Shock turned to cynical very quickly though.
“My reasons?” Daniel asked doubtfully. “Are you one of those people who gets off on bad boys, always looking for the next greatest thrill.”
“No. I definitely don't fit that category, but I do feel I have to point out that you telling me this hardly qualifies as some thing no one knows though. So test me.”
“Test you?” Daniel sounded taken aback. “OK.” he proceeded cautiously. “I did it, I killed him, no question, but I never touched him. All I did was think it. I was cleaning up this vase that broke when I saw him standing outside. He was leaning over the pool.”
“That bastard. He clearly had it coming.” interjected Keterlyn knowing it would have the effect of lightening the moment and prompting him to continue to prove his point.
“You don’t understand. There he was, after he put my mum in hospital, cleaning the pool like it was a regular Sunday afternoon you know. I hated him. So I put my hand on the window and I let it creep up inside me, I imagined him slipping, drowning. I didn’t even realize it was actually happening until the glass broke under my hand.” Daniel it seemed had used telekenesis then. That meant he was strong, stronger than Marianne had been. Perhaps he could even be able to channel all the gifts Keterlyn could bestow. “I still hate him.” Daniel said more calmly, looking at the paintwork between his feet. Waiting for ridicule, waiting for her to run. “So go ahead and tell me I don’t fall into the crazy category.”
“That’s a lot to hold on to Daniel.” Keterlyn extended. “Did you say you did it?”
“Yes. I called the police and I told them.”
“Why? You could have walked away.” Keterlyn already knew the answer. Justice, honesty, concepts she sorely missed in herself most days.
“Because...I did it, doesn’t matter how. And I scared the shit out of myself.”
“Did it help? Being honest like that.”
“No.”
“What did your mother say?” she probed.
With poorly guarded resentment Daniel looked away. “Nothing. She did nothing, said nothing. You know what that's like?”
He hit a nerve and Keterlyn squirmed uncontrollably inside. “As a matter of fact I do.”
Looking back at her neutral expression, Daniel regarded her curiously. “You’re right – you don't scare easy do you?”
“Told you. Besides, all you told me is you have a strong connection to your natural gifts, your talent.”
Daniel laughed out loud. Keterlyn liked the sound. It suited him more than the brooding seriousness she had see
n in the halls of the school earlier that day. Or the day before really, given it was in the early hours of the next day. “My natural gifts?” he mocked playfully.
Keterlyn remained calm and unresponsive. “We all have them. Just some are more attuned than others. Don’t let it frighten you. You control it. I’ll show you how.”
Daniel took a second take, all boundaries down as he screwed up his face in perplexion. “I thought you were a history major.” He said eventually, trying to determine what exactly she had meant. He evidently thought she was pushing his buttons and he meant to bounce back the pressure.
“I am, I just have ….other interests as well. And how did you know I was a history major anyway? Been asking around about me?” There was an awkward pause Keterlyn saved him from. “That’s so sweet.”
“What about you?” Daniel jumped in, puffing out his chest more confidently.
Keterlyn smiled. “What about me?”
“Don't play. What's some deep dark secret you never told someone before?”
“Ah, I don't have a lot of secrets, not really ones no one knows.” Keterlyn was brutally honest most of the time, but that didn’t strike a chord with Daniel.
“There has to be something.”
“I'm tired…” Keterlyn indicated, and she moved to hop off the bonnet intending to make a timely get away. Daniel caught her arm instead though. Her skin wouldn’t shock in response again, but she felt something like a current which stopped her from wanting to move away from the car. Daniel must have felt it as well because he gave an inquisitive glance towards his hand.
“Tired isn't a secret, it's a byproduct of three AM in the morning!” Daniel joked. “C’mon. You owe me a story. And don’t hold back. Test me!”
Keterlyn weighed the consequences. “What if I told you something no one has heard in a lifetime? That do?”
Clearly thinking it was a game, Daniel relented. “That would qualify.”
Taking a breath, Keterlyn confessed. “I'm a 1,450 year old witch, whose immortal soul has been damned because I married a demon.”
Daniel looked unimpressed. “Fine don't tell me. Make fun of me.”
“Can’t say I didn’t warn you.” Keterlyn said in a sing song voice before she leaned over and quickly kissed Daniel on the cheek before rolling off the car. “I had better be going. See ya.” Keterlyn looked back at Daniel and instantly wished she hadn’t. Daniel had an infatuated look on his face as he stared at her retreating towards the tree line. He jumped off the car and called after her.
“Wait, I'll give you a lift.”
“No need. Thanks.” Keterlyn said it smiling but inside she was grappling with the fact she had sent out the wrong messages. She shouldn’t have kissed him. Now there would be the ride home, the ‘can I see you again’ conversation to which what was she supposed to say? Sure, love to. Let’s go someplace you can give me a cover for the next 60 years or so. You can pretend to be some distant relation to me, and I can use you as a human shield until you’re to old, or slip up and make a mistake! If he felt romantically inclined, he would want to do more than share her time, and that led to complications. She had tried it before 550 years ago and it had ended in the boy being turned inside out. Not that it was likely to happen again now she knew what she was doing, and certainly not once Daniel was in the coven, but still. There was a risk.
Daniel opened a door for her even as she walked away. “It will take you an hour just to walk down this hill. Let me take you home.” Daniel still stared after her, enthralled and waiting for her to skip back so he could give her a lift home. Instinctively he knew she wouldn’t, but he could hope. He also didn’t want to leave her out in the woods, trudging down a steep embankment at three AM in the morning. By the time he walked around the car, tripping on a stone as he rounded the front, she was gone, not unexpectedly.
Keterlyn could hear Daniel through the bushes calling for her by her fake name. “Caitlin! Caitlin!” but instead of turning around, which to be honest was what her instincts were telling her to do, she proceeded on, sliding down an embankment confidently to disappear home. A short while later as she stealthily picked her way through the trees by the road, she heard his car driving slowly past looking for her. “Where are you?” she heard him say to himself. She sighed. In purgatory she thought to herself.
The next day, back in Zara’s lecture theatre, Keterlyn had come in late on purpose, to queried looks by Micala. Keterlyn took a desk half way down the theatre and a long way back from where Daniel was. Distance was good. She made eye contact though as she was checking where he was and he had smiled back at her, that same damned look on his face. Yes, distance was good. No more sneaking off for midnight rendezvous. Even if she wanted to. Clearly, he wouldn’t be the one she should make that bond with, because it wasn’t going to be that simple. Really she should have known. Men and women were not notoriously well known for being able to be friends without the baggage.
Daniel, must have been reading her thoughts, because he had this smug unfurling of confidence. ‘Caitlin’ was embarrassed to look at him. At first he had thought maybe he shouldn’t have been so honest, should have lied and given her a different deep dark secret she had asked for, but she had taken it so well. Looking at her now, he was suddenly certain that she had simply reverted back to some safe place where she didn’t have to deal with the reality of last night. She liked him, he had felt it in the current like sensation when he took her arm, when she had kissed him, when she had looked in his eyes and spoken to him like a human being. That was something he didn’t often get, even with the so called friends he played pool with. Anyone who knew about him, and it seemed like everyone did, was full of tentative conversation and made an active effort to walk on eggshells around him. Not Keterlyn. He needed to get to know her better, and he had found the perfect option this morning.
Determined, Daniel picked up his books and bag and made a less than ninja-esque attempt to escape his desk. The lecturer ran a scolding set of eyes at him as she continued to address the students, and when Keterlyn saw him move, she ducked her head down. Why after so many centuries was she acting like a teenager. The answer occurred to her but she dismissed it anxiously.
Tripping over two desks and finally arriving on the other side of the lecture theatre, Daniel took a seat directly behind Keterlyn, who had decided to suck it up and pretend everything was fine. Her heart was beating as normal, not at all like the first time she had to face a clan of shadow people when Lormorian had dragged her into their home camp to force her in to killing something. Breath in, breath out, she said to herself. Be nonchalant.
“Hey.” Whispered Daniel, clearly ignoring her attempt at detachment.
“Hey.” Keterlyn responded as neutrally as possible and with the least amount of attention. She took a note she didn’t need to in her book and stared ahead.
“I thought you and I might do something tonight.” Daniel offered. She winced, knowing this was going to happen. Both Micala and Rebecca gave her puzzled looks from their respective positions across the room. Keterlyn had to fight the sudden urge to laugh out loud in a bout of misdirected anxious emotion.
“I think that might be a mistake Daniel.” Was all she said to try and retain her solidarity.
“I can be persistent.” he responded almost immediately.
“Daniel. Are you with us?” Zara’s incensed voice resounded through the room even without the microphone.
Daniel made a surrender sign with his hands before passing Keterlyn a folded piece of paper over her shoulder. She thought twice about opening it up. She imagined turning it in to ashes in her fingers so she didn’t go down the path it offered, but instead, she opened it up. If she didn’t respond positively to what was inside, she could set the scales in balance again. He might not want to follow her into a moonlight ritual, but then, there were other people. Best candidate or not, there were less complex relationships to manage.
As soon as she read the note she
felt like that child in the woods with her aunt. She bit her lip and couldn’t help but smile. The note read: Prose was your request, and my ego and mind make wrest. I plead for time, both yours and mine, so at your leisure, I would steal you away for your pleasure.
Keterlyn folded the note back up trying to think of something sensible to say. Something the opposite of what she wanted to. There were no happily ever afters for her, she knew that, and time spent with her meant there would be none for him either.
Daniel interpreted her hesitation perfectly. He licked his lips nervously and leaned forward admitting guiltily his schoolboy nervousness. “What do you say? Corny I know but you can’t say I didn’t try.”
Zara snapped finally at the interruption to her lecture. “Daniel. Stop now before I make you stay back and help catalogue random field note diaries. Remember, if you’re here past ten there is a good chance you’ll get stuck on the bus with Shawn the creepy. Nothing like a random stranger with bug eyes breathing down your neck to round out an evening. You look like you have other things you would rather do.”
The rest of the students laughed quietly and Zara resumed her lecture.
Pushing the boundary, Daniel pressed on. “Come out with me Caitlin.” Zara cast a gorgon like look at him and Keterlyn used it as an excuse to surrender.
“Okay, Okay, Seven O’Clock, outside the library.”
“Excellent.” Enthused Daniel leaning back in his chair triumphant.
A short while later the bell rang and Zara called Daniel to the lecture podium for a chastising. Keterlyn escaped before Micala or Rebecca could reach her. The great Keterlyn running and hiding from a bunch of college brats. Lor would laugh his guts out if he knew.
Keterlyn didn’t answer her phone and proceeded throughout the day in a vague haze until around six thirty when she finally had to pick something to wear and commit. On the eve of the most important event in a lifetime here she was worrying over what to wear. In essence though, she reasoned with herself, she did not have enough time to find another person. The ritual was tomorrow night, Will had managed to get his friend Able, the football guy, to commit to coming, so if Daniel agreed, she would have her twelve participants. Tonight could just be a friendly venture and a way of ensuring she got the last person she needed for tomorrow.
By the time Keterlyn reached the library, Daniel was already out the front, car ticking away. Hopping in the front seat, they talked about Zara’s class, the stats teacher’s rumoured checkered past, Daniel’s interest in the philosophical writings of Adorno to Cixous. Conversation eventually drifted towards Zara’s comments about ‘Shawn the creepy’. Having been too busy with her own focus, Keterlyn had yet to find out what he was all about. Daniel, although not wanting to find out, had been told anyway.
“Shawn the creepy” began Daniel melodramatically. “He’s this strange guy who has been catching the bus that runs past the campus every night about ten at night. He never speaks, but he will come and sit next to you when you aren’t looking and ..”
“So he leaves his seat, and takes on behind you? Does he pass notes too?” Keterlyn referenced Daniel’s behaviour and made him frown. She grinned at how easy he was to erk.
“Unlike Shawn the creepy, I had a reason” explained Daniel. “Shawn also tends to come up behind people and breath down their neck, his googly eyes poking out. If people confront him he makes this weird chipmunk like purring sound.” Daniel shuddered.
“He got you too didn’t he?” laughed Keterlyn.
Daniel made an uncomfortable face as he recalled the event. “I actually fell asleep. Woke up with his arms either side of my seat with his hands in my pockets, just resting them on my stomach. Nothing, y’know….nasty…just…”
“Creepy.”
“Yes.” Daniel admitted as they pulled into a busy parking area. There was music and people wandering about in Roman togas, others in jester outfits and a few with wreaths on their heads holding long veils in place. Keterlyn sat forward as she saw a sign for the event.
“A Medieval Fayre?” she said with disbelief in her voice.
“Next best thing to time travel. I would have told you but I wanted it to be a surprise, plus you might have done something weird to your hairline and didn’t I want to be responsible for that.” Daniel said parking the car and getting out.
“At least it sounds like I’d have a friend in Shawn the creepy.” Keterlyn batted back as she followed him around. Daniel bent his arm in a mock chivalrous gesture. “M’Lady.” Keterlyn couldn’t help but smile and took his arm.
Inside, the event was well underway and filled with stall after stall of goods, re-enactments, foods and events. People everywhere were dressed in their best and worst costumes drinking mead if they had adult tickets, or ye olde softdrink, if they were underaged. Corn on the cob, hand held lamb shanks and event staff posing as historical figures were rife and Keterlyn took the sensations in eagerly. Daniel was less interested in the surroundings, but made a note to visit the Mythical Animals tent for a kick and learned how to prep a pig on a spit because Keterlyn was so interested.
A short time later, they watched a Saxon battle re-enactment, with Keterlyn’s awe of the clanging weaponry pulling him in further to her intrigue. When one of the re-enactors walked past in full breast plate armor, and caused her to look after him with interest, it casued a small jealous ripple within him.
“Hear ye, hear ye.” Called the events presenter. “Any one of you puny city dwellers think you can take on the Black Knight, line up for punishment.” Daniel was off like a shot. Juvenile as it was, he was just as keen to see what it was like to fight in the pit like the others he just watched, as much as he had a vested interest in impressing Keterlyn. He was well aware though, this could backfire horribly.
Keterlyn protested when she saw the glint in his eye. She knew how heavy the armor was, how sluggish the weapons and didn’t want him proving a point.
“Daniel. Don’t do it. It’s going to hurt like hell. Come back!” she called.
Having fun with it, Daniel continued walking backwards with three other guys who had faced up to the challenge.
“Wait for me my fair maid.” he called laughing at himself as he turned to meet the instructor and get suited up. Keterlyn shook her head and bustled through the crowd to find a better spot to watch Daniel get beaten into the ground. The four overly cocky men, all suited up and armed with blunt swords made self bolstering comments to their friends, along with varying misplaced ‘agrr’ pirate sounds that Keterlyn had to fight not to laugh over. Daniel stood in the middle of the pit with the same self assured smile on his face. The same smile was wiped from all their faces when they saw the Black Knight.
Seven foot tall if he was an inch, the Black Knight’s armor shone across every inch on his body compared to the feeble breast plates and leg and arm braces they had. Launching into the attack, one man didn’t even get his shield up in time to deflect being hit in the ‘kill zone’ they had been taught to tap with their swords to indicate a victory. The other three, including Daniel scattered. Two were taken out in the next 60 seconds, unused to maneuvering in the heavy armor and uneven terrain. One held his shield with both hands, even dropping the sword in an effort to hold the shield above his head and avoid being hit. Daniel ran in to help the guy on the ground and knocked the Knight who swung back at him. Dodging two swings, Daniel fell backwards to the ground and dropped his shield in an effort to move out of the way of the swinging blade faster. Slipping in the mud, Daniel tried to kick the Knight’s feet from under him. The other man still standing rushed the Knight from the back, but was tapped across the chest in a deft movement from the Knight. Looking down at Daniel, the Knight rose his hands upwards clasped around the sword, and just as he was about to plunge the sword down signifying Daniel’s make believe death, Keterlyn closed her eyes and made a wish.
“Fall” was all she said under her breath, and the Knight seemed overcome by the weight of his own we
apon, which caused him to fall back, and to the ground. Seeing the knight struggling to get up, Daniel used the opportunity to jump up and place the sword to the Knight’s neck. The crown cheered and Daniel was proclaimed ‘Sir Daniel’ and given tokens for the Mead Bar. Practically glowing, he stumbled out a few minutes later to Keterlyn’s amused and somewhat ridiculing expression.
“And how doth thou fair, Sir Daniel the brave?” she asked.
“I think I need a hospital.” he owned up trying to walk without cringing in pain.
Keterlyn was laughing at Daniel examining the welts across his arms, stomach and back when behind the fire eater, Keterlyn’s attention was drawn to a stall. The merchants sold bogwood artifacts, and Keterlyn on automatic pilot reached out and rolled a bogwood carved pendant in her fingers recalling the feeling of when she used to carve it herself.
Daniel, who had followed her over tried to tell what she was thinking. Keterlyn looked sad, yet so engrossed. “What is it?” he asked.
“Bogwood. I used to carve these…as a child.” she answered.
“I can’t tell if you’re happy or not.” Daniel stated.
Keterlyn wanting to be clear the bittersweet memory was one of her favourites looked up meaning to smile at him, but sensed something. She could feel a dark essence patrolling the grounds, just meters away.
Whenever she sensed another being like her, she always feared it was him – Lor. Lormorian was the reason for her suffering, he lied, he killed, he didn’t care for anything or anyone he wasn’t tormenting. She always dreaded he had come for her finally, before she had a chance to hide, but within a split second she knew it wasn’t him. It was just a lower level being. Keterlyn started visually searching the crowds looking for some hint as to what it was she was sensing, leaving Daniel to follow her gaze, trying to see what could have startled her.
Keterlyn got the smell, the sensation of what it was. “Wraith.” she remarked under her breath.