Longing for You, стр. 42
“Who would wish me harm? I’m just an ordinary woman,” Amelia said.
“Sometimes the most ordinary people do extraordinary things, mydear. The Honey family has a long history with the witches here.”
“I know they used to take a group from the church to witch huntand break up any meetings of new women here in the forest. They made me terrifiedof what they called the evil occult,” Amelia said.
Sybil laughed softly. “David Honey and his father before him werecertainly pains in the neck. They tried to break up our meetings, ourceremonies, worshipping the devil as they thought we were, but in the end Davidand Joy Honey were our saviours.”
Amelia was trying hard to keep a clear head and take all thisinformation in, but after a day like today, it was hard.
“Tell me everything.”
“First thing you have to know is the history. There was a time longago when spirits and gods of nature were revered by the human race, andcreatures, magic folk, and all manner of paranormals lived alongside them. Wewere part of their tribes, their ancient rites, births, marriages, deaths, andwe sent them to the underworld.”
“Like the Celtic tribes?” Amelia asked.
“Exactly. As mystics, we witches helped the humans navigate theirlives, helped them honour nature and the gods. Don’t get me wrong, there werethose in our community who wished to use our advantages over the human worldand did. Two groups formed, one that sought disorder and chaos and power overthe earth, and one—including ours and Byron’s great-great-grandmother’scoven—who tried to protect humankind.
“As human society and achievement moved on, the old naturalreligions began to be forgotten. Gods and spirits who were worshipped weredemonized, as all paranormals were. We weren’t trusted any more, even those whowere trying to help. We were persecuted by humans and driven into the shadows.Some of us believed that the shadows gave us safety, while some longed for areturn to controlling and influencing the world to their ends. Power, it’s allabout power.”
“So where do I come into this?”
“We were given a vision that a darkness would come, a darknessbrought by a witch who had once been human, that would devastate the land. Awitch named Anka.”
“Anka?” Byron replied.
Amelia turned to Byron. “You’ve heard of her?”
“Only in legends over the years. People tell stories of an ancienthuman woman who coveted the power of the witches and sold her soul to gainpower.”
Sybil nodded. “You are right. A long, long time ago our ancestorsmanaged to trap her, but somehow she got free again. As each decade passes, shegets stronger. Left unchecked, the darkest of paranormals will rule, with warand hate feeding her, until the day comes when she is unstoppable.”
“What did the vision say about me?” Amelia asked.
“That two descendants of those of us on the side of good wouldbring together the paranormal world. One witch, and one from a family ofvampire slayers. Both would bring together witches and vampires and humans todefeat the darkness, because only with everyone pulling together can we evenhope to beat her. She has some evil backers, ancient evil.”
Amelia was silent for a few seconds then said, “Who is the otherdescendant?”
“I don’t know, but you will find them.”
“But wait, witches and vampires attacked you tonight. Aren’t theyalready united?”
“Not all covens fought for good, my dear. Some witches have anincredible lust for power.”
“What happened to my birth mother, and why did you give me toDavid and Joy Honey?” Amelia asked.
Sybil got up and went to a drawer. She brought out a photo albumand walked back over. Sybil opened the first page, and Amelia saw a picture ofa dark-haired woman, who looked very like her, cradling a new baby in her arms.
“That’s your mother, Bronte. She came to us when she was nineteen.On the run from something, she wouldn’t talk about it. I became a sort ofgrandmother figure for her.”
Byron watched Amelia flick through the photo album with tearsstarting to run down her face. She sat closer and put her arm around Amelia.
“Who was Amelia’s father, Sybil?” Byron asked.
“I don’t know. Bronte realized she was pregnant not long after shejoined us, and she wouldn’t talk about the father. She was so happy when shehad you, Amelia. Bronte said you gave her life meaning.”
Byron gave Amelia her handkerchief as she began to cry more.
“What happened to her?” Amelia asked.
“I and a few of the elder witches had a vison the night you wereborn, that you were one of the descendants. We prepared ourselves for a specialbirthing ceremony, and the night of it, David and Joy Honey and their friendswere protesting and singing hymns nearby.” Sybil put her head down. “Anka andher people attacked us. They wanted to kill you.”
Byron pulled Amelia into a hug to give her support.
“What happened?” Amelia asked.
Byron guessed this truth was going to upset Amelia even more.
“They were targeting Bronte, so she gave you to me and told me toget out of the ceremonial circle in the forest. I ran, dodging dark witchesalong the way, until I ran right into David and Joy’s group. I made a snapdecision—I asked them to take you, protect you, and keep you away from anythingin our paranormal world, and they did.”
Byron remembered what Joy had said when she lay dying. “Sybil, Joysaid she was told one day a vampire would come along. Was that me?”
Sybil smiled. “Yes, you were always part of the vision, part ofour plans.”
She watched Amelia trace her fingers over her face in the picture,then say, “Hello, Bronte, hello, Mum.”
Chapter Fourteen
Alexis walked back inside the cabin and found Katie talking on herphone. Trying not to disturb her, Alexis walked to the fridge to get some water.She heard Katie whisper, “You have to be careful, Daisy…Yes, I know I said Iwould, but…okay, we’ll talk when I get back.”
Katie turned around and jumped when she saw Alexis there. “God,you’ll give me a heart attack.”
“Sorry, would you like a drink?”
Alexis was