CONTENT WARNING: Adult threatening a child with violence, adult doing violence on another adult, and another dose of Creepy!Violeta again, as well as a creepy scene at the end with blood.
[Reynold's most recent letter to Róisín]
(Some of the text is disjunct and just about legible. The later paragraphs are in different handwriting- likely Alistair's.)
My little rose,
I'm sorry to hear that you're having trouble controlling Lunvin's ire. I was not taught to control it when I was your age, and it was harder to do so as I got older. Even if you try very, very hard, it is still impossible to fully overcome. Lunvin's ire is like that for a reason, to remind you not to let your guard down and to be brave, and to remind you that you must defend yourself and take no less than you deserve from others. It may feel like a curse, but as you grow older, you will realise it is a blessing. Like all blessings from Lunvin, it is difficult to see why such a thing would be positive at first.
I understand how painful it must be for you right now. Your emotions are stronger than most people's are because of your blood. The Lunvinchenaîne's emotions are enhanced by the light of the moon, both good and bad. To experience the world in such a way is not always so bad. The strong feelings of love and happiness and excitement far outweigh the lows.
It is harder to control your emotions at your age, even without the Goddess's anger. You needn't feel bad every time you say something you do not mean. People without our power do so all of the time, and they seldom do anything to rectify their behaviour. We all make mistakes.
If you ever feel like you're about to say or do something unpleasant, the best you can do is walk away and come back later when your mind is a little clearer. Maybe it would help to count to ten, to give you some time to let the worst of the anger pass for a moment.
I imagine it is confusing, that your mother and I tell you to be cruel yet kind- but it is knowing how to balance the two, and which one to use and when. You will learn this as you get older, I promise. Everything may seem scary now, but when you grow up, you'll have a better understanding of the world- and, hopefully, the world will be a safer place for people like us then. On top of that, your parents love you dearly and will do everything they can to take care of you.
I know that you miss me dearly, and I miss you too. I am not well still, but I promise I will visit you once I am better.
All my love,
- Your father.
Áine
Exorkízo - a spell from deep into my mother's grimoire. An old and powerful spell, said to rid the body of any curse. Whilst many believe witches to be capable of bringing curses upon others, my mother's grimoire classifies a curse as out of any witch's control. Curses are moreso caused by 'malfunctions' of magic, whether that of the veil or the magic within oneself.
For goodness-knows how long, I've been practicing it. It's far too powerful for a witch of my level of knowledge, but I must keep trying. The only trouble is having nothing and no-one to test it out on. Curses are not all that common, not amongst knowledgeable witches that mostly know their own capabilities, anyhow.
Such a spell like this requires a kind of intent that feels impossible - the intent of wanting to save someone so badly from such an affliction that I barely can understand, even with Katlego's knowledge of the matter.
One of the witches questioned why I was 'over-exerting' myself like this, especially for a man- but it isn't so simple. Strangely enough, I don't feel much different, even after all of this practice. Iris noted it was strange for someone who'd never cast such powerful magic before to be able to take the brunt of it all with relative ease. Not only was I trying to help my partner - I was doing what I'd been hoping to do properly since I'd only just become a woman- to properly be in touch with my magic. To live and breathe witchcraft.
The sensation of being charged with magic is a kind of euphoria no regular human being can ever understand. It is a fireworks display of emotions, a deep connection with every plant, every animal, every fibre of nature upon this Earth. There's a reason overcharge is so common in those with weaker magic in their blood, or those who are out of practice- the feeling is addictive. It's a feeling of superiority, a feeling of deific might.
If I can learn this spell- if I can pull it off successfully - then I can learn any spell in my mother's grimoire.
Shouldn't you rest?
Her voice seeps right into my mind, and a large doe strides in from the shadows, lying down in front of me. Any other shapeshifter's shifted form was of a reasonable size, but Iris's deer form was unusually large.
"Shouldn't you? Don't you get exhausted always being in animal form?"
I am an obake before I am a witch, Áine. I could stay in this form for the rest of my life and be absolutely fine, don't you worry. How is your spellwork coming along?
"Fine, I think. I won't know until I can put it into practice."
Iris nods. I understand. This is something I mostly keep to myself- I do not like to mope - but perhaps you ought to know. I know something of your partner's circumstances. To be stuck between the living and the dead- that is how I have lived, for countless years.
Iris...isn't truly alive? It takes a moment for it to sink in. She seemed completely in control at all times, and she never seemed as if she were distracted by anything. Reynold mentioned seeing ghosts all of the time.
"Iris, if you are cursed...If you trusted me, I could try this spell on you."
A kind offer, Áine, but I am afraid my circumstances are far different to your partner's. It certainly feels like it's a curse, but it isn't one.
"I see. If you don't mind my asking- what exactly are your circumstances?"
Iris shakes her head; I worry I've brought up a terrible memory, but she seems to relax after. To put it short- I was supposed to die, many years ago- but I did not. Hatred and vengeance kept my spirit grounded to this world instead of the next. I ventured to Mt. Komorebi, and made my way up jumping across the rocks in the form of a deer- seeking the wisdom of Kōri-Ryūjin. It gets more complicated from there.
"Kōri-Ryūjin? Who is that?"
He is a wise dragon god - a water spirit - whose body wraps entirely around the mountain, with His head resting on the summit. It is He who told me what had become of me, and He lent me his blessing. After such a devastating, life-altering event...to have a dragon's blessing, it makes me feel like the luckiest woman on Earth despite everything.
I wonder how much of that story is truth.The only dragons I know of are the ones in the storybooks that raze villages and hoard treasure. "Haven't dragons been dead for nearly a thousand years?"
On your side of the world? Perhaps. On my side, when I was still human, they were very much still alive. I do hope Kōri-Ryūjin still lives- and even if the dragons are long dead, they will live on in the hearts of the people.
"Goodness, Iris, I apologise. I shouldn't have-"
No need for apology. It is the witchfinders who must apologise for what they have done. They must pay with blood. I believe that is the only way in which I can escape and finally pass over- to fulfill the revenge I sought out all that time ago. The women here will help me fulfill that destiny, so I can create a safer world for magic-folk before I move on to the next world.
I feel a lump in my throat. It explains why no woman ever leaves this place, and perhaps even why Kat was exiled from the area, her pacifism being a barrier to Iris's supposed goal. Iris isn't just trying to keep witchfinders out - she's trying to keep the witches in. Perhaps these women don't stay here because it's safe, necessarily, and perhaps it isn't entirely in loyalty to Iris.
Perhaps, it is because they have little choice.
I love these women with all my heart, but I do not hope to be here for the rest of my life. I do not hope for Róisín to be here for that long, either. I've greatly enjoyed discovering my new life, being in touch with nature, the Sun and the Moon, and with magic- and yet hearing all of this, it's only just dawned on me how much I miss my old life. Iris will have to understand that I am a mother and a partner before I am a witch, no matter how difficult that message may be to convey once the time comes.
"Mother!"
Róisín rushes out from behind the corner of the roses, and I can just make out her worried expression in the moonlight.
"Mother, the letter is from Father!"
"I thought I told you to wait until tomorrow to open the letter? You'll feel less anxious when the sun is up."
"But Mother, look at the writing! Look!"
I bid Iris goodnight, and head back to our room. I can't make out the words under the moonlight.
"Róisín, you should be asleep. I thought I said to wait?"
"But I miss Father so much!" she cries. "I haven't seen him in years!"
* * *
I couldn't see a thing under the moonlight, so I bid Iris goodnight and return to our quarters. Róisín is panicking when she should be sleeping, and I can see why.
It's been a while since Violeta delivered a letter, and in complete honesty, it's been a while since I sent one, also. Half of the handwriting isn't his - it's likely Alistair's. His half of the letter wouldn't be legible to anyone else at all, and it's all over the place...
I have no idea what it is that's happening to him. I trust Kat's judgement entirely, and the vague scribbles about a 'ghostly curse' in Mother's grimoire mostly aligned with Kat's ideas. The trouble is, I don't know what to expect. All I can do is try, I suppose.
"Mother, please, we have to go back to Henford! Father needs us!"
"We can't go back, Little Rose," I explain to her, trying to cover up the despair in my voice. "It's...not safe out there."
"But you'll protect me! Remember when we ran here and we set all those witchfinders alight?"
"Róisín, it isn't safe for us to leave this place, okay?"
"But Father-"
"Sweetheart...Your father has his own father around to take care of him. You don't need to worry, okay? You just need to try and rest."
Róisín looks down at the floor with a heavy heart, and tucks herself back into bed. I decide to lay my head down as well.
* * *
Isn't Brindleton Bay wonderful, Brádach?
- ocean is so magical, isn't it?
- lose myself here...
I've been thinking
- for the baby, now she's quickened
- the perfect one.
- What? I don't know, I can just
- I bet it'll be a little girl.
We should call her...Áine
-goddess of summer
- Queen of the aos sí
- perfect for her?
- Well, even if she isn't born with
- deserves magic name
- what's more magical
- the gift of a child?
I can't help but worry
- does have magic, she'll
- whole life on the run
- have to do everything we can to prevent that
- Don't be like that!
- Her father! Your job
- protect her!
- Can't keep running
- Us, her, any other witch.
Sometimes, I feel
- will die out
- since ancient times
- now threatened
- Rich men's lies
- Gianni Volpe
- Damn him and his book...
She's lucky enough to have quickened
- lucky enough to survive
- have her own children
- her own life?
- use her power openly?
- embrace her gift?
you're right.
- to come is beyond us.
- better that way.
Róisín
It's late. It's quiet, apart from the wind outside. Someone will be keeping watch, but Iris has gone to sleep, so it isn't her. Whoever it is, she'll be easy enough to hide from, I think...
Mother is in a deep sleep. She keeps stirring, and mutters something about my grandmother now and again. She keeps doing that lately.
I feel like such a bad person, disobeying my mother - and Iris - like this..but it's been years since I saw Father. I'm having a really hard time with my anger. The moon makes me feel everything twice as much, but not just the good feelings- and the full moon, it's really hard not to say things I don't mean. I don't want to upset my mother or my friends here, and I need Father's help.
I think I know the way. I sort of remember it - the winding path past the houses, past the ancient arena. And the old welcome sign...It will be scary, I'm sure, but I'm a witch, and we're raised from a young age to know that we will always be on the run. You get good at running, that's what the other witches say.
There's footsteps just outside. I have to go careful, and wait until the footsteps are further away. Once they are, I carefully jump down off my bed, tiptoeing so I don't creak the wood and wake anyone. I go as careful as I can, and eventually, I manage to sneak through the trees and out of the settlement.
After Mother and I escaped and ended up here, I wrote about what happened, and I wrote a few things about Glimmerbrook that might help me find my way back. I mention that we followed the river- that should be all I have to do. The River Glimmer, some people call it the River Bagley are the same river, after an old mayor of Henford tried to rename it as to not associate it with witchcraft.
I have to be brave, for Father. Lunvin's light will guide my way.
I stop by the arena just to look at it. It's so pretty. I wonder how many witches fought here? Was it friendly, competitive, or a way to settle arguments, I wonder? No, I can't get distracted- I must follow the river.
* * *
Keep following the river. Keep following the river...
My feet are soaked and feel as if they are beginning to blister. The rain is pouring, and the thunderstorms are terrifying. I'm back in Henford, at least - on the outskirts, just coming up to some houses. I'm nearly there. Now, I just need to find-
"You there! Stop!"
I freeze, completely still, but I can't stop shaking. It's a man's voice. His figure moves into the moonlight - Lunvin is trying to warn me. Lunvin would want me to fight back, to protect myself- but I can't. I can't use my magic yet, not really.
The man speaks with a sly voice. He peers down at me through his glasses, but the lenses are blurry with raindrops.
"What are you doing out so late, little girl? You know, there's only two kinds of little girl who are out and about this time of night- waifs, and witches. So, which one of those are you?"
The moonlight shines on his sword...He wouldn't hurt a child...would he?
I know I should run, but I can't bring myself to. All I've been doing is walking and running for so long tonight; my legs are too tired. All I can do is mutter and stutter.
"I'm just passing by, sir...My mother is waiting..."
"Oh, is she? Is she a witch? Tell you what- you tell me where any witches live, and if you're right, I'll spare you- and you'll get a lot of Simoleons, too. Just think of all the toys you could buy."
"I don't want toys!" I yell. I yell loud enough that an adult caring enough might hear. "I want to go home!"
"You're testing my patience, little girl! I've given you enough leeway," he spits. His voice is shaking a little. "You have three seconds...No, ten. Twenty. Twenty seconds - to start telling me the truth, or I'm going to have to do something I don't particularly want to do..."
I have to. I have to run.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'll talk-"
Run.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
My feet are burning, and the ground is wet and slippery. He yells and charges after me, holding his sword up high. There's a screeching sound, like scraping metal. It's horrible! The man stops dead in his path, about to drop his sword at the sight of something flying in. I can feel the chill from its wingbeat- but it - she - isn't looking at me.
She's covered in bones, and has leathery wings, like a dragon- and terrifying teeth!
One moment. Is that...
She grabs him and restrains him with one arm, her giant claws forcing him to expose his neck. It is...It's Violeta!
"Look away,sweetheart." She snarls at him before sinking her teeth into the man's neck.
She holds on tightly to his throat, and what would have been screams instead sound like choking sounds. He starts going limp in her arms, and she makes a sort of pleasured growling sound.
I'm glad Violeta is here, and I'm glad we're on the same side- she's terrifying, but not as terrifying as the witchfinder. If she weren't here, who knows what would have happened...
She throws him into the river after she's done. He's dead, and she killed him, just like that, like it was nothing.
Whether it's witchfinders or magic-folk, I don't understand how it's so easy for people to do.
"What are you doing here, Róisín? It's not safe!"
In a haze of shadows, Violeta turns back into her human form. All I can do is run up to her and cry. I feel like such a terrible person. Mother would have been so worried if something would have happened to me!
"I'm sorry, Violeta! I ran all the way here by myself to see Father! I haven't seen him in years and I need his help and he needs Mother's help! He's not well and Mother's been trying to learn a spell that will help him!"
Violeta scoops me up in her arms. She's cold, but I feel safe with Violeta. Nothing could hurt anyone when she's around.
"You know how dangerous it is around here, especially at night! Does your mother know where you are?"
"No, please, don't tell her! I'll be in so much trouble!"
"I'm taking you back home-"
"No, please! Take me to Father! We need each other, and it's been years since I've seen him! Please please please!"
She forces a sort of sigh, which sounds odd from someone who doesn't breathe.
"Alright, I'll take you to your father and Alistair - but I'm telling your mother where you are. She'll be worried sick about you."
"Violeta...thank you."
She brushes the hair out of my eyes. "Don't mention it. Just don't go off on your own again, okay? It may be quieter than it used to be, but the witchfinders are still around."
* * *
I show Violeta the way back to Alistair's house. She knocks the door, and Alistair answers. He looks surprised.
"Róisín? What are you doing? What happened? - Violeta?!"
"Evening, Alistair. I found her escaping a witchfinder. Do not worry- he did not harm her, and I dealt with him. Now she is safe here, I will return to her mother-"
"She's going to be so angry with me!"
"She won't. I'll tell her you're safe, okay?"
Alistair lets out an angry growl. "I'm glad he's dealt with. Thank you, Violeta, from the bottom of my heart, but - Róisín! Where is your mother?"
I can't stop crying, so Violeta explains for me.
"She came all the way here because she was worried about Reynold. Áine is learning a spell that might be able to help him."
He nods, and Violeta puts me down. I run to Alistairs and throw my arms around him, and wave goodbye to Violeta and thank her. It's warm and safe in here. I miss being here. It's comfortable. It's cold back at the witches' settlement.
Alistair lets me cry on him. I just feel so bad about worrying my mother, and for my father, and for everyone.
"It's okay, darling. What matters is you're safe. But you have to be more careful next time, okay? Your father is safe with me."
"I know. I just haven't seen him for years, and I need his help too with moon-related things."
Alistair looks to the side like he's guilty about something. I remember when I was a bit younger, I heard Mother complaining about him, saying he didn't teach Father anything about the wolf when he was young.
"I know Father hurt Aunt Clem all those years ago because he didn't know how to control his anger," I tell him. He seems a bit angry that I said that, but his face looks normal again after. "I don't want to risk that. I don't want to get so angry I hurt Mother or one of my friends back at Glimmerbrook."
He lets out a big sigh, and we go upstairs. We go into Mother and Father's room, and he's there, sound asleep on the bed. He looks different.
"He looks so thin now. It's sad."
"Indeed," Alistair says. "I often have to remind him to eat. He's either too busy sleeping, or...distracted."
"By the ghosts?"
Alistair nods. He calls to Father a few times, but he doesn't even move. Alistair has to grab his arm to wake him up. As he comes around, he seems to be looking in the empty corner of the room. I wonder if there are ghosts there?
"Father?"
"What..Is that...you?" His voice sounds all slurred.
"Father, it's me, Róisín. I came all the way here and-"
"Be quiet! I can't hear her!"
I freeze, but Alistair says that he's not saying that to me, but to the ghosts.
"Father! Don't listen to them, okay? It's me. Your daughter."
"Róisín?" His voice is very quiet and he doesn't look at us when he talks. "Father - please let me have some time with her."
Alistair nods and leaves, and I sit on the bed. He looks upset, and his eyes glitter, like he's about to cry. They're all red, and I notice he keeps looking to the corner and back to me. He puts a cold hand on my cheek.
"You didn't come here with your mother, did you?"
I have to be honest with him.
"No. I came here because Mother has been learning a spell that might get rid of the ghosts."
He flinches when I say that, and holds on to his head, like something hurts. "Enough! Let her talk! - It's not safe out there. Your mother is worried sick about you."
"She's worried sick about you, too," I tell him. "Violeta protected me from a witchfinder. I did what Mother told me and I ran. Violeta was out hunting. She's going to tell Mother where I am- but you need to come back to Glimmerbrook with me."
"I don't know if that's wise-"
"I need your help too, Father," I say to him. "I'm really having a bad time with the full moon anger. It's so hard to control and I don't want to hurt anyone-"
He lets out a hesitant breath; I think I just reminded him of Aunt Clem. I didn't mean to.
"What do the ghosts want with you, Father? Do you see anyone you know?"
"I only ever recognised one- my old cat from the monastery. For a while I only saw animals, but now, it's people who didn't quite become one with the Watcher. Think of it as their souls wandering about in between life and death. They're terrified, and desperate, and they want the help of a priest. I've tried to help them. Some I assume passed on to the Watcher, but most...they've been through so much I think they will always be there."
"That's really sad, but even you can't help everyone, Father."
"I know."
"Will the ghosts be upset?"
His eyes dart over to the corner again. "They already are- but you're more important, Róisín."
I tell the ghosts to leave him alone, but I don't know if they heard me.
"Are you well enough to go to Glimmerbrook, Father?"
He gives me a weak smile. "Of course, Róisín. Just seeing you again has made my world brighter than it has been this past year or so."
He picks me up in his arms, and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
"If your mother thinks she might have found a way to rid me of this curse and get my magic back, then I trust her judgment. And if any witchfinders try to hurt you again, they'll be a wolf's dinner."
"You're hardly well enough, son!"
"He is well enough! He can do what he wants!"
"Róisín, please... Father, I have to go to Glimmerbrook. If Áine has a way to solve this, then I should at least try. I have a chance to get my magic back, and Róisín needs me."
"You're in no way to protect her if anything happens, are you?"
"All I'm asking you to do is have a little faith, Alistair. To be blunt- I need to teach my daughter how to be one of us."
"Reynold-"
"I can't make the same mistake you did!"
Everything goes quiet. Alistair looks horrified by what Reynold said, but he's desperate and I'm not surprised. I don't use my magic much, but I'm used to it. I couldn't imagine life without it.
"We'll go tomorrow daytime, when the witchfinders aren't around. How far is it on foot, Róisín?"
"It's not close, but it's not far either, I guess." I look up at Alistair, begging him to let us go!
"I hope you know what you're doing, Reynold. Write to me to let me know that you both got there safe. Is that understood?"
"Understood."
Yes! We're going back to Glimmerbrook, and Mother will try her spell. She's been working on it for so long that I bet it'll work! According to Mother's book, it's capable of removing a lot of curses, including the ghostly one- referred to as the 'night wraith' curse in her book. I wonder what a night wraith is? Is it the lost ghosts my father was talking about?
* * *
Reynold
To see my daughter again has lifted a heavy cloud from over me, and to know that my loving partner has been working so hard to find some kind of a 'cure' to all of this- I'm lucky to be blessed with such a loving family.
The trip to Glimmerbrook isn't short, and I carry Róisín part of the way since her feet were hurting. The ghosts are furious, and I try to drown out their thoughts. They want me to become one of them, and I resist every single time, much to their annoyance. Now, knowing that I plan to get this sorted, they're yelling, screaming, begging me not to go through with it. I have a lot of sympathy for them. Most of them died in horrible ways, and their souls may never rest- but my daughter is more important. Róisín is young, she is alive, she has the rest of her life ahead of her.
Glimmerbrook is a beautiful place- still very much belonging to nature as well as the witches who live alongside it. Not too far from the witches' settlement, hidden amongst fir trees, is an old arena of some sort, lit with scintillating crystals. There's a warmth to this place- a place where magic can be embraced.
"It's just in here. We'll have to explain everything to Iris as well."
She wrote to me about Iris- a sort of leader of their group, a witch-like woman from all the way from Yukimatsu who she said was friendly and had supposedly met a dragon back at her homeland.
As I move through the trees, a group of women gasp at our arrival. Áine is sitting down on the ground, her stiff posture relaxing the minute she sees us and-
Oh, sweet Watcher - the woman in the white dress!
"Who - what are you?!"
"Father, they're just ghosts! Ignore them! Ghosts, leave him alone!"
"No, not ghosts - don't you see it?"
"No- no, I can't be the only one who sees-"
A young woman in a pink dress- I can just about make out her confused expression. All of them are staring at me like I shouldn't be alarmed by this woman! They must not see it. But if they can't see it, then why can I?
"The knives? The blood? No, you can't be a ghost. You can't-"
I can hear the young woman from back here - "Goodness. He really is mad, isn't he?"