Chapter 4
An unwanted visitor, probably there on behalf of her brother, because it wasn’t as though Anne Lockwood had any other reason to speak with the members of the Council. If he thought she’d have a better chance he was very wrong. Their souls were scarred by their choices.
“Leonora, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I was hoping we may be able to talk.”
There was no easy response. Anne’s voice was gentle, hiding the truth of who she was, but there were those who knew, whether she wanted them to or not. Two old souls, shrouded in darkness.
“What makes you think I’d want to speak with you, Anne?”
“I know you don’t, but you are a member of the Council. Although I understand why you believe the decision made is in your best interest I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Speaking Titus’ words?”
“No, not this time.”
“There’s no reason to trust anything you say.”
“One of my brother’s greatest flaws is his inability to see people as they are. He trusts no one, apart from me, and sometimes it leads to bad decisions. Like the one he made with you. I know what you can see, Leonora.”
“See?”
“The Embers have often had soul magic. You aren’t the first, so there’s no doubt why you’ve chosen to take a step away from the Council. Unlike you they can’t see the darkness.”
“How many Embers have you known, Anne?”
“A few. You’re always good people, almost too good.”
“Is that some kind of threat?”
“Not exactly.”
Anne closed her eyes for a moment, and Leonora watched the younger woman. People could change. Sometimes even those who had souls that looked like a Lockwoods’.
“What do you mean not exactly?”
“Titus is the one who’d threaten you.”
“By speaking his words you’re doing the same, Anne, whether you want to believe it or not.”
“In a way, yes, but this is more a warning, because I don’t want anything to happen to you. The path we’ve walked is a complicated one.”
“Why walk it at all?”
Anne looked down. “For him.”
“You are your own person.”
“We’ve been together for a long time, Leonora. I don’t know who I am without him now. Our souls, in many ways, are entwined, and it’s impossible to say if I can ever get free.”
“Do you want to?”
“That’s the question I’ve never had an answer to.”
Being so open was unusual, but maybe it was a way to connect with Leonora, to show she was more than the choices she’d made in those past lives. Anne Lockwoods who focused on immortality at the expense of everything, and everyone, else. Was she still the same as before?
“Unless you find the strength within you to step away from Titus you’ll never be able to see who you are.”
“One life it may even happen.”
“Anne…”
“I don’t need you to save me from myself. My soul… well, I think it may be too late. Too many lives where I didn’t care.”
“Then why? If you don’t want me to help you are here to convince me to join the ritual.”
“For your family.” Anne breathed in deeply. “Titus is strong. You see it the same way you see the darkness. What he’s capable of… I’m not going to pretend he doesn’t scare me.”
“Leave him. Walk away. There are those of us who can help you.”
“No, you can’t. Even if you think you have the strength to stop him I know better. Compared to him you’re nothing, and what he is willing to do… I’ve seen it happen before. Any who go against him regret it.”
“Nothing you say will change my mind.”
“Leonora, he doesn’t want you dead. He wants you to regret the choice you made to go against him for as long as possible.”
Anne’s words swirled around Leonora, the truth of them painful. “I mean it, Anne. He can threaten me all he likes.”
“This isn’t only about you. Whatever he does he’ll make certain it affects your entire family, one way or another.”
“If he tries he’ll regret it.”
“No, he won’t, because you’re weak in comparison.”
“Weak?”
“You’ve had a lifetime to learn magic. He’s had multiple.”
“As have you.”
“My strength is nothing compared to his. He’s made certain of that. Titus needs to be the one in control. Leonora, I don’t want you, or your family, to be affected by his anger.”
“You’re pretending to care, Anne. Anyone can see through it.”
“No, I’m not.”
“If you actually cared you’d have stopped him.”
“Like it’s that easy.” Anne laughed. “Our first life together changed us both. He made me a promise, and now this is where we are. I need you to listen to me.”
“Your excuses can’t change who you became. I can see it.”
“Leonora, I know you can see it. I’m the one who has to live with it.”
“You also have a choice now. Break free.”
“No one has a choice. That’s what you’re missing. We’re already tied up in Titus’s plans.”
“Unlike you I’m not too scared to do what’s right, Anne.”
“This is the time you should be.” Another truth, more painful than before. “Let me tell him you’ll come. Save those you love.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“You have my answer, Anne.”
“Do you understand what he’s capable of?”
“His soul tells me enough.”
“I don’t think it does.”
Anne looked at Leonora, seeing other Embers, memories swirling. Like the Lockwoods they were some of the first to be transformed.
“You should leave.”
“Not until you understand the danger you’re in.”
“Titus can’t do anything to me.”
“I’ve heard others say the same thing.”
“Staying away from the ritual is the best protection.”
“Words I’ve also heard before, because I’m always the one to try. By now you’d have thought I’d have learnt better, but I can’t give up on you, when I know what they went through. Curses are one of Titus’ favourites.”
“He’s going to curse me?”
“Leonora, he will curse the entire family line. You think you know how to protect yourself, the same way they did, but you don’t. Not from Titus, when he’s made his decision you need to pay for your choices. Going against him the way you have…”
“Was the right choice.”
“Remember I warned you. More than anything I wanted to stop this from happening. The Embers are one of the oldest magical families, Leonora, and I think he’s wrong. Unfortunately nothing I say will stop him. He’s made his mind up, like you.”
“Once again pretending to care.” Leonora felt the truth of Anne’s words, but it was too late to change anything. “You should leave. It would be better for everyone.”
“Please…”
“Should you be right I’ll remember today, I promise you that.”
“I am sorry for what’s to come.”
“As am I.”
“He won’t do anything until after the ritual. You have until the night it happens to change your mind.” Leonora opened her mouth. “I know you won’t, but…”
“Think about what I said. Get away from him before he does any more damage.”
“It’s too late for that.”
“No, it’s not. You have a chance, Anne, and I think you should grab it with both hands, whether you’re ready to or not.”
“There is no chance. Not this time around. I know Titus better than anyone else, and he’s not willing to let me go.”
“He doesn’t need to be willing.”
Those were easy words were Leonora to say. She stepped into the greenhouse, door closing behind her, and Anne breathed in deeply, tears welling. Going back crying wouldn’t help anything. Titus would react badly, knowing something happened, and he’d try to get to the bottom of it.
More angry than before Titus might change his mind, cursing the family right then, Leonora’s words enough to make him hate her even more than he already did. How dare she try to take Anne from him? It was so easy to see him pacing, the fury he felt… no, she needed time.