COMPLETED!!!! The past and present are on a collision course, when the fates of two women, born hundreds of years apart, intertwine in a story of magic and the power of love... In the present, Faye Bennet, haunted by dreams of a woman burning at the stake, returns to the village of her childhood, to seek answers and escape an abusive marriage. Unbeknownst to her, her return will awaken the vengeance of an evil, hundreds of years old and she will have to face the truth buried deep in her soul. 230 years earlier, Mathilda, mother, wife and witch, fights to protect her coven and her young daughter from a demonic entity, parading as a warrior of God and in doing so, puts her own life at risk. How far will she go to protect the ones that she loves? Little does either Faye or Mathilda know, but their stories will entwine through the threads of time, sending both of them hurtling towards danger and perhaps a chance to undo an ancient evil, once and for all.
View MoreFaye Wilding opened her eyes. The beams of sunlight streaming in through the curtains of her hospital room, were the first thing she saw. The voices were quiet now. It felt surreal because usually they were so active, so eager to be heard. She took in her surroundings. The hospital room was cold and impersonal. How long had she been here? The last thing she remembered was Nolan slamming his fist into her face. She lifted her hand. Her left eye felt tender and swollen. Had he hit her so hard and carelessly? He was usually so careful about leaving visible evidence. She tried to remember what happened, the fragments of memories arranging themselves as it all came flooding back to her. It was foggy, but not completely indiscernible. It was always like this. She always had to fight to remember the beatings, as if her mind wanted to block out as much as possible, to spare her almost. Last night had been the annual Children’s Charity Ball, her second as Mrs. Nolan Wilding. They’d been dancing. She was so happy and then, all of a sudden, the vision, the same vision she had seen so many times in her life, had assuaged her, causing her to scream in fear, wildly pushing Nolan away and fleeing the ballroom in terror, oblivious to the scandalized looks and hushed whispers of disapproval from all the matrons of high society. Always the same, a woman roped to a stake, screaming, as the flames scorched and burned the flesh from her bones. She’d fled to their house, where Nolan found her, sitting, and crying on the bed. ‘You stupid bitch,’ he’d fumed, ’do you have any idea of the humiliation you have caused this family? Do you know how many investors were there? And what must they think of me now for having a train wreck for a wife?’ She’d stared up at him with her tearstained face, not even flinching at the verbal insult. She was used to it by now. Her expressive hazel eyes showed no fear. This was the nature of their marriage. ‘I saw it again, Nolan, ’she said softly.’ The vision, of the burning woman.’ ‘Fuck your damn vision! ’ he yelled, dragging her off the bed by her flowing dark hair, his rage reaching boiling point. Fighting back was futile, it would only make the beating so much worse. ‘This was the last straw! Do you think in my position, with my family’s standing and good name, do you think I need a goddamn lunatic for a wife? This marriage is over, and you have embarrassed me for the last time! Do you hear me? Do you?’ Still holding her by the hair, his fist connected with her face, and everything went blank from there, till now, that she remembered. She closed her eyes, then heard the door open and a woman’s voice spoke to her. ‘Mrs. Wilding?’ She opened her eyes. This must be her doctor. ‘Yes,’ she answered. ‘I am Mrs. Wilding.’ For some reason, saying it felt odd, as if the name didn’t belong to her anymore. ‘I’m Dr. Miller. You gave us all a scare last night, after the fall you took down the stairs at your home.’ Faye smiled. So that’s the spin Nolan put on it. She’d fallen down the stairs. He’d probably dragged her from the bedroom and rolled her down it himself, an old trick of his. He knew exactly how much force to use, not to kill her. The first time he’d hit her, four months into their marriage, he’d pushed her down the stairs and left her lying there till the paramedics arrived. She had three broken ribs and a twisted ankle from that encounter. No one batted an eye at him. As heir to the wealthy Wilding empire, his money rendered him above reproach. It also helped that his bitch mother knew which strings to pull to keep it undercover. ‘You were out for a while, ’the doctor continued, ’but luckily both of you are okay. In your condition that's nothing short of miraculous.’ ‘Both of us? ’Faye asked, surprised at the word ‘both’. Had Nolan in his abusive zest taken a tumble with her? She found the thought quite amusing. ‘Yes, Mrs. Wilding. You and your baby are both in perfect health.’ ……….. The English Coast, 1794 ‘I dream of people, Mother,’ nine year old Esther said, ’and sometimes when I wake they speak to me, in my head.’ Mathilda wiped her hands on her apron, her heart beating frantically. It has happened, she thought, one of my daughters has inherited my gift, the one thing I have tried to keep hidden all my life. ‘What do they say to you, dear one? ’Mathilda asked as calmly as possible, terrified at the thought that Tobias, her husband, would find out. He was a very religious man and to him this would reek of witchcraft. She shuddered at the word. Even now Tobias was out with Magnus, the most feared witchfinder in all the land. If they were to know, her precious Esther would burn. ‘They tell me things that will happen, ’Esther continued in her little girl voice, ’and last night they scared me.’ ‘What did they say Esther? ’Mathilda asked, a bit more forcefully than what she should have. ‘Mother. . . . they told me you will die.’ ……… It seemed as if time stood still as Dr. Miller’s words sunk in. Faye was sure her jaw had dropped ten inches from pure shock. How was it possible? She had never missed her birth control pills once. The last thing she ever wanted was to give Nolan a child. The thought of involving a baby in their tawdry mess of a marriage was enough to give her palpitations. It was horrifying enough that she had to endure the abuse. ‘Doctor, are you saying I’m pregnant? ’she asked, disbelief coursing through her veins. ‘Yes, ’ Dr. Miller smiled, ’you’re 12 weeks along and after the tumble you took, you’re very lucky that no harm came to the baby.’ Dear God, she was pregnant. She was carrying Nolan’s child, the grandchild of the mighty Anna Wilding. ‘Does my husband know? About the baby I mean?’ ‘No, he hasn’t been here yet.’ ‘Doctor, whatever you do, do not tell him.’ ‘Mrs. Wilding, I don’t understand. Surely this is something to be celebrated with your husband.’ ‘Just do as I ask doctor. My husband must never know about this baby.’
Faye basked in the soft rays of sunlight, streaming through the window, where she sat in the nursery. After the events of that night, she packed up and moved in with Eli, beginning their lives anew. They hadn’t gotten around to getting married yet, but they would soon.Mathilda Evans made her way into the world, two weeks before Christmas. Her birth was a joyous moment. She came into the world, kicking and screaming, a fighter from day one.Eli had been with her through it all, and when they finally held their daughter in their arms, their lives felt complete.Now, their little fighter, was peacefully asleep in her cradle. Faye smiled contentedly, gazing out the window, to the garden, where Eli, Sybil and Mark were having a snowball fight, as a light dusting of snow began to fall once more.Sybil and Mark were married soon after that night and shortly after their wedding, they had the biggest surprise of all. Sybil was pregnant and their baby would come in the summer.As for Janice L
The English Coast, 1794 How long she sat in the darkness, Mathilda did not know. Everyone she ever loved was gone and she was truly alone in this new world, tasked with the overwhelming responsibility of keeping watch, until the day Clarissa and Magnus, would face each other for the last time. Clarissa had already been reborn. How many lifetimes would it be, before she was strong enough to defeat the demon? How many years, would she, Mathilda, wait before being granted the gift of sleeping, until it was her own time to be reborn? She was so tired. All she wanted was to rest, but the will of the Goddess had been communicated to her, clearly and concisely. She had a sacred duty, and she would see it through. When she finally had the strength, she made her way to the village square where the smoldering remains of Clarissa remained. Already the dogs had begun their feast. There were more than 10 of them, each one wanting its piece of flesh and bone. They dispersed, whimpering,
‘Are you sure Janice? Working a double shift?’Tim Conway looked sheepish as he stared at her and momentarily, Janice felt a pang of guilt. He was supposed to take over her shift at the morgue, but he began complaining about stomach aches and feeling unwell. So, she offered to cover his shift, but not out of the goodness of her heart.Because they wanted her here…They said they needed her here…When the two living corpses appeared in the morgue earlier, she’d been shocked and astounded. Even more so when they spoke to her and it felt as if she entered a lucid dream, from which she couldn’t wake up.In all the years she’d worked at the morgue, she always suspected someday, something like this would happen. The pills she’d put in Tim’s coffee earlier, appeared on her desk out of nowhere. That’s why he was feeling ill. He’d gratefully accepted the cup from her hand, glad for the warmth away from the biting cold and rain outside. He never suspected she’d drugged him.They didn’t want a
Night had fallen and Faye was happy to be back in her own body. As exhilarating as the experience was, of merging with Whisper, it wasn’t something she planned to do again anytime soon. How Clarissa managed it, and enjoyed it, all those years ago, was beyond her understanding. It was a complete reality shift which defied all logic. Beyond belief, her spirit had left her body and merged with another living being.And considering their bloody return when Whisper killed the demon in her room… She could still taste its foul blood in her mouth but was happy that no harm came to the people she loved. If anything, ever happened to them, because of her and the situation they found themselves in, she would surely die.Sybil and Mark seemed fine. Mathilda explained to her that it was some sort of sleep spell the demon performed on them, and it would have no lasting effect on them, or August. They were a bit groggy and disorientated after waking up from their impromptu slumber, but copious amoun
‘Think about it, my dear boy. Only by killing the witch, will you ever be free from her temptations. The evil in her soul is too powerful. She will corrupt you and you will never enter the gates of Heaven. You will never be reunited with us, the people who love you more than life itself. Kill her, Elijah. It is the will of God that she must die…’Listening to it speak, in his mother’s sweet voice, turned Eli’s stomach. How was this foul creature so good at playing its part? Had Mary and Magnus become stronger, instead of weaker? Their hijacked bodies would soon decay completely, yet they had enough power to cast this illusion.‘I’m no killer,’ he said coldly. ‘I will never take another life, especially the woman I love. My mother would never ask such a thing of me.’Momentarily, just for a split second, he noticed how its eyes changed color. It went from the radiant green of his mother’s, to pitch black. Lord, was this a demon? He wanted to call out to Mark and Sybil, but the house ha
July 31, 2016‘Harold, I feel the chemotherapy is helping. I feel a bit stronger today. All the doctors say my chances are waning, but I don’t believe them. I feel God is answering my prayers and soon I will be well again. You and Eli have been so good to me during this trying time. Our family is truly what keeps me going.’Nancy took a deep breath and leaned into her cushions. Speaking had exerted her and the rasp in her breathing, was evident for all to hear. ‘I can’t wait to get in the kitchen and cook Eli’s favorite meal. It’s one of the things I look forward to, the most,’ she continued. Pastor Evans swallowed back his tears. They were sitting in their room, on a small little couch by the window, overlooking the garden. This was Nancy’s favorite spot. She always told him it gave her so much peace to sit there and read, while he and Eli were out for the day. It also gave her the perfect vantage point, to see them come home. The minute they walked through the door, she would be
‘My darling boy, I have missed you every moment of every day, since I’ve left this world. Yes, Eli, it’s me.’Eli let go of Faye’s hand and made sure she was still comfortable, before slowly rising to face the woman before him.Nancy Evans, his mother, who died 9 years ago.Rationally, it occurred to him it was impossible for her to be standing in front of him. He’d been the one to find her, that horrible night, when she’d drowned in the tub, when the pain from her cancer had become unbearable and ultimately ended her life.He remembered pulling her up from the water where she was submerged. Her eyes were open and she was slowly turning blue. Even as he administered CPR, he knew she was gone. She was limp in his arms and he gently laid her out on the floor, her emaciated form bearing almost no weight. He’d wrapped her in a towel, before breaking down in absolute defeat and agony, his tears scorching his cheeks.When he was done, when he could finally find a semblance of composure, he’
She was acutely aware of everything around her.As Whisper raced through the woods, kicking up mud with her powerful legs, Faye felt as if it was her, as if she were the one running at breakneck speed. Whisper barely stopped to breathe, hurtling over logs and puddles, not once missing a beat. Her power was primal and it surged through Faye, in a current of strength and instinct. ‘I sense your awe,’ Whisper said whimsically. ‘We have done this before, young witch. Clarissa was the only one ever brave enough to merge with me. That is why it feels so natural to you.She did it purely for pleasure though. She wanted to know what it felt like.’Faye was surprised. It seemed Clarissa was quite the adventurer in her day. Was that why she always wanted more from life? Why she packed up and moved to London? Was a part of Clarissa always awake within her? It would explain so much, if indeed that was the case.Seeing through Whisper’s eyes, Faye recognized the area they were in. They were close
‘Do not be afraid, Faye,’ Mathilda said gently, as Faye leaned back into her pillows. ‘This will bring no harm to you or your baby.’Faye inhaled deeply and protectively placed her hands over her abdomen. Even with all the assurance from Mathilda and Whisper, a part of her still felt nervous for what was to happen. It seemed unreal that she was about to eject her soul from her body, to track down Magnus and Mary. Next to her, Whisper lay outstretched, appearing as if in a deep slumber.‘I can’t help it Mathilda. This was something Clarissa used to do, and those memories haven’t come to me yet. I could fail and place all of us in even greater danger. Even Esther. How can I protect her, if I’m dead?’‘You carry the weight of a great burden, young witch, but your salvation and the survival of your family, lies in you freeing yourself from fear. We can all only help you to a certain point, and from there you must shoulder this alone. The path of a witch, is not an easy one.’‘Nor one I as
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