you need to see.”
“I figured that by now. But where are they coming from?”
“Hawthorn.”
“I received a strange message from Hawthorn, it must have been written hundreds of years ago. How did she know that I was going to exist?”
“She could read the future.”
“How could you be alive back then?” Brenna leaned in close to him. “Are you a ghost?”
Ronan laughed. “No. It’s a bit of a long story.”
“That’s okay, they take ages to bring you the food in this place.” Brenna needed to hear his story. Now.
“I’m actually from your time. Our time. Not too long ago I was walking near your forest and I heard a voice. It was telling me to walk in a certain direction, telling me off when I went the wrong way,” he recalled, laughing. “Eventually the voice led me to the pond. The day was sweltering. The water irresistible. When I stepped into the middle of them, I was transported to another time.”
“Wow,” Brenna said, not doubting him. “Do you know whose voice it was?”
“I found out later it was Hawthorn. I asked her why she picked me. She said it was because I had a gift. You see, not everybody can use the pool, or there’d be plenty of trouble. Can you imagine children going missing in front of their parent’s eyes because they decided to take a dip?” Ronan took a drink, gently shaking his head. “It wouldn’t be pretty. My skill had just developed when Hawthorn gave me the message. She said she’d been waiting for a long time for me to be ready, saying she needed my help, and yours.” Ronan finished his glass of wine. “She told me about the situation she was in. Whole villages were being raided and burnt. She said she needed you to be ready when the time came.”
“The time for what?” Brenna poured her and Ronan another glass of wine.
“For us to destroy the evil force that has trapped all of the witches’ spirits in the forest.”
“Hold on, you’re going to help me?”
“Of course. But only somebody descending from Rowena is powerful enough to perform such magic.”
“I’ve never been too good with spells. I’m a witch, but I forget my lines during rituals. I prefer to make it up as I go along, you know?”
“That is what makes a real witch, Brenna. You are a natural. There’s no one quite like you.”
His words sent her heart fluttering. He started to talk again but she was staring at his striking dark brown eyes not hearing a word he said. “Brenna? Are you listening?” He leaned in close to her, studying her face which she knew would be blushing.
“Sorry, you were saying?”
“I have to tell you, Brenna, I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I can’t help but feel connected to you.”
I feel the same. But that’s crazy! Lust. That’s what it is.
“It’s not crazy. That last part is interesting though,” he said with a wink.
Brenna’s eyes opened wide. “Um, I’m not even going to ask you how you knew what I was thinking.” She looked around the room. “We should concentrate on the problem at hand,” she said, trying to keep her thoughts under control.
“The coven has arranged a meeting at my house tomorrow. They want you to attend as well. We’ll be arranging the ritual needing to be done on Hallows eve.”
“That’s two days away.”
“Yes. We don’t have much time. There’s still a lot to do.”
“I know. Some of the ingredients are rare. And there’s the matter of my friend Maggie. She’s still missing.”
“We’ll try to resolve all that tomorrow. You’re going to need plenty of sleep. It will be draining.”
“After all of this wine that shouldn’t be a problem.” Brenna hoped he wasn’t over the legal limit to drive. “However, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Sure.”
“Do you know the name of the judge who was responsible for sentencing the witches in Witches Hill?”
“The one who sentenced Isabel?”
“Yes.”
“Hector Prime.”
“Hector…” Shockwaves rippled throughout Brenna’s body. The evil face of her lawyer involved in buying her land appeared in her mind staring at her maliciously.
“Yep. Hector. Why?”
“He’s the one keeping the witches’ souls trapped. I know a dream will show me exactly what happened soon. But here’s what I know. Rowena was supposed to be burnt after it was found out that she was a witch. I don’t know what happened to her, but the judge, Hector, he went missing. I’m thinking he is the obvious suspect. I don’t know why