Chapter Seven
Elizabeth – Present Day
“Elizabeth,” Ligeia said. “This is a warning. If you leave, we cannot assure you of anything. And your betrayal will not be so easily forgotten.”
“I’m not leaving forever,” I said quickly. “I told you – I just have some things that I have to take care of, that’s all. I’ll be back. I promise.”
“This is what you wanted, remember?” Ligeia glared. “You wanted your best friend, your Monica. And now she has returned, and yet you are still not happy. Why, Elizabeth?”
“Because,” I growled through gritted teeth. “She’s not the same.”
“Isn’t she?” Ligeia clicked her tongue against her teeth and shook her head. “Or have you just remembered things which you’d rather have forgotten?”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. Dropping to my knees, I closed my eyes and surrendered to my own emotions. Tears came to my lids and I blinked them back hotly, covering my face with my hands.
“I just don’t know why I was able to forget everything that happened,” I moaned, sniffling. “I don’t know why I forgot! And now, I can’t un-see the past. I can’t…” I trailed off, biting my lip and sighing. “I can’t forget about her stabbing Andrea.”
Ligeia gave me a cold look. “You are weak, child,” she said. “Take time – return home, regain your strength.”
Relief washed over me.
“But then you will return,” Ligeia said harshly. “You will return, and serve me, for as long as I please.” She held her chin high in the air.
As I ran from the coven, I wondered just what exactly Ligeia had in mind.
I ran for what felt like hours and hours, until my legs were threatening to give way from under my body and my chest ached so badly that I felt like I’d been stabbed in the lungs.
It felt like a much, much longer way out of the woods than usual. By the time I got back home, the moon was high above me and the night sky was dotted with stars.
I didn’t know what I was going to do. The only thing I was certain of was that I couldn’t go home – not like this, not when I didn’t have any answers.
And now when I didn’t feel like dealing with Steven or Karen.
Instead, I wandered around until the dark sky began to fade into a tawny pink and orange sunrise. I was starving and dehydrated, but somehow it was like the needs of my body weren’t even a concern. I was running on autopilot, on fear.
On anticipation.
Finally, I reached for my phone. Please work, I thought as I scrolled through my contacts. Please let me find him.
When he answered, the voice was deeper and almost unrecognizable.
“Hello?”
I cleared my throat. “It’s Elizabeth,” I said nervously. “I need to talk to you.”
David sighed. “This is a surprise,” he said. His voice was neutral, impossible to read. “What’s going on?”
Oh, nothing, your long-lost girlfriend is miraculously still alive and the witches I swore fealty to want me dead, I thought sarcastically. But of course, I knew I couldn’t say anything like that.
“The coven,” I managed to say. “The leaders…they’re lying to me,” I said. “About Monica.”
David was so silent on the other line of the phone that for a moment I thought I’d lost the call. I had no idea what I was doing – if I brought Monica home, what was going to happen? Would she call off the spells? Or would everything just revert back to the way it had been before – complete and total insanity. I shuddered. I didn’t want that back – I didn’t want to be standing in the eye of the hurricane, watching as Steven made a fool of himself day after day.
But I knew something had to change.
“Well, what do you want me to do about it?” David sounded petulant, peevish. “Elizabeth, why did you call me?”
“Because something’s wrong and I don’t know how to handle it,” I said softly, slumping down and sitting on the wet ground. “And you’re the only one I can trust.”
David inhaled sharply. “What about your fiancé?”
“We’re broken up.”
“Elizabeth, I don’t know what you think I can do,” David said. “It’s not like I can flip a switch and have everything back to normal.”
“I know that,” I said. I couldn’t lie – the way he was talking to me like I was a little kid was hurtful. But I deserve this, I thought, thinking back over the years. I’d never been honest with myself when David was concerned. And now, I was paying for that.
David sighed. “Look, if you’re really that worried – why not try to go back? Why not see if you can find out what they want on your own? You’re smart, Elizabeth – I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
“What if I can’t find it on my own?”
“Then I can’t help you, anyway,” David said. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I had a feeling he was smirking. “So you might as well just give it a shot on your own.”
“But if they’re lying to me, how am I supposed to outsmart them? That’s not fair, they’re both much more powerful than I am.”
“Well, they obviously want something from you,” David drawled. “Just try, Elizabeth. If there’s a chance of your helping Monica, it’ll be worth it.”
That stung, too, but I nodded and bit my lip, determined not to let him know that he’d hurt me.
“I have to take a chance,” I said, more for my benefit than David’s. “I have to try.”
“Yeah,” David said. “Look, I’m sorry…”
“About what?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Forget it, Elizabeth,” David said. “I’m worried about you, that’s all.”
I sighed heavily. “Well, I got myself into this,” I said softly. “The least I can do is try to help myself out.” I wouldn’t have admitted it, but hearing David say that he was worried about me was like a soothing balm on my fear.
“Good luck,” David said. “I’ll be in touch, okay?”
“Okay,” I said numbly. “Thanks.”
We hung up and I slipped my phone back into my pocket. By now, the humid night air was drying up and I was feeling exhausted. It was with a heavy heart that I walked the distance from the edge of the woods to the house that I still shared with Steven and Karen. I sighed with relief when I saw that the driveway was empty.
Good, I thought as I slipped inside and kicked off my muddy shoes. At least I don’t have to worry about a fight.
“There you are.”
At the sound of Karen’s voice, I jumped in alarm and clutched my chest.
“Jesus,” I muttered, flicking the light switch. Karen was sitting at the dining room table with her arms crossed over her chest.
She glared. “You haven’t been home in days,” Karen pointed out. “Steven’s really worried about you.”
I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. “Yeah, I bet he is,” I said sourly. “Look, I’m just here to pack a bag.”
“You’re making a mistake, Elizabeth,” Karen said. “You’re being really selfish and I don’t even think you understand what kind of damage you’re doing to Steven.”
I sighed. “Look, why do you even care? This isn’t any of your business,” I said angrily. I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm but I couldn’t help it – I was getting so tired of everyone acting like they knew better than me.
“I care because you’re both my friends,” Karen said. “And I don’t really like watching my friends throw things away,” she added.
“Like I said, none of your business.”
I walked out of the kitchen and jogged up the stairs. The bedroom I shared with Steven was a complete mess. I frowned as I opened the closet and reached for my suitcase.
“Elizabeth, I’m going to call Steven, he should come over and you guys can talk.”
“Karen, butt out of this,” I snapped.
Karen gave me a wounded look. To my dismay, she stalked into the room and flopped down on our bed, intently watching me as I tossed jeans and tops into the open suitcase.
“Where are you going?”
I didn’t look up.
“Elizabeth?”
I sighed. “I’m going to my parents’ house for a few days while I get things sorted out,” I said, brushing my sweaty hair back from my forehead. “And then I guess I’m moving out. We’re almost at the end of our lease, anyway,” I added. “So this isn’t a bad time.”
Karen was looking at me with her mouth hanging open. “You’re kidding,” she said.
“I’m not.” Looking down into my suitcase, I decided that I’d gathered enough of my things. I grabbed a small bag and dumped my makeup, deodorant, and phone charger inside before tucking it in my suitcase and zipping the whole thing closed.
“Steven’s going to be really upset,” Karen said.
“I don’t care,” I replied flatly. “That’s not my problem, Karen.”
Karen frowned. “I don’t know why you’re being so cold,” she said, sniffing as if I’d somehow offended her.
“Karen, I don’t really have a choice,” I said, shaking my head and pulling my suitcase up. For just having a few clothes inside, it was surprisingly heavy.
“Well, if Steven comes back, what do you want me to tell him?”
I shrugged as I made my way down the hall. “I don’t care,” I said, shaking my head. “Tell him whatever you want.”
The drive home to Jaffrey felt shorter than usual, almost as if the town was somehow anticipating my arrival. When I pulled into the driveway, Mom ran out from the house immediately. She smiled tentatively, as if she wasn’t sure how she should greet me.
“I’m fine,” I said, rising out of the car and forcing a smile. “Trust me, this is a good thing.”
Mom nodded but this time, she was frowning. “Honey, I’m just happy you’ve come back for a visit,” she said softly.
“Yeah, about that…” I trailed off, gnawing on my lip. I wasn’t sure what it was, but there was something about being around my parents that still made me feel like a little kid. “I might be here for a while,” I added. “My lease is up soon and I’ll need to find a new place.”
“What about Steven?”
“I don’t know,” I said darkly as I hefted my suitcase out of the backseat and carried it up the driveway. “I think I need some time on my own for a while.”
“That’s not a bad thing, honey,” Mom said. She smiled, but I could tell she was unhappy. “How does salmon sound for dinner?”
“Great,” I muttered. “Perfect, even.”
Mom left me alone while I settled back into my room. Aidan was off at college in Georgia – we hadn’t talked in months. I had him added as a friend on Facebook, but I had the sinking suspicion he’d long since changed all of his privacy settings so I’d never be able to see what he was up to. It was funny – now that we were older, I had a lot of affection for Aidan. But at the same time, I’d never forgotten about what had happened when we were growing up.
Being back in my old room felt strange. I tried to push those feelings to the side, but now that I was home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Monica. What would happen when I tried to find the coven?
Was I already too late?
“Elizabeth!” Mom yelled. “Dinner!”
“Coming,” I yelled back. “Just give me a second.”
Dinner was awkward. Mom and Dad were clearly curious about what was going on – and why I wasn’t wearing my engagement ring – but they knew better than to pry. Still, the silence was killing me.
“Look,” I said bluntly. “I’m fine, okay?”
“I know, honey,” Mom said. She reached out and put a hand on my arm. “I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”
“You have literally no reason to be worried,” I told her, crossing my arms. “I just don’t think I’m ready to get married. Not to Steven, at least.”
Mom and Dad exchanged a nervous glance. “That’s important, honey,” Dad said slowly. “And you know how I feel about this – you’re much too young.”
Mom sighed. “Elizbeth, we just want you to know that we support you.”
I stabbed my fork down in a pile of oven-roasted carrots. “Thanks,” I said. “I appreciate it.”
“And however long you want to stay here, that’s fine,” Mom continued. “But we’ll have to talk about rent.”
I laughed. “Trust me, I won’t be here more than a few days,” I said. At least, I hope I won’t.
“However long is fine,” Dad said. He cleared his throat and pushed back from the table. “If you’ll both excuse me, I’m going to do some work in my office.”
When Dad was gone, the awkward tension went from mildly unbearable to incredibly uncomfortable. I stood up and carried my plate over to the sink, washing it off and sticking it in the dishwasher.
“You’re so grown up,” Mom said, leaning back in her chair and narrowing her eyes. “I feel like I don’t even know you, honey.”
I frowned. “That’s an odd thing to say,” I said slowly. “Are you mad at me?”
Mom gazed at me with a glassy expression. “Of course not,” she said. “I’m just surprised, that’s all. It feels like yesterday that you were back in high school.”
“I’m going upstairs for the night,” I said, feigning a yawn. “Want me to clean up?”
Mom shook her head. “No, honey, it’s okay,” she said. “Thanks for offering.”
I darted up the stairs, unable to shake the feeling that I’d somehow driven myself back in time.
Waiting for Mom and Dad to go to sleep was torture. It was ridiculous – I was an adult now, it wasn’t like I had to wait for their permission to leave. But again, being back in their house made me feel young and inexperienced, a true naïf.
Finally, around ten-thirty, the light under my parents’ bedroom door turned off. I dressed in jeans, a pair of hiking boots, and a thick sweater, but then I made myself wait another fifteen minutes. It wasn’t until I could hear the loud sound of my dad snoring through his bedroom door that I snuck downstairs and crept outside, into the woods.
“I’m coming for you, Monica,” I said under my breath. “You’d better be ready.”
My boots crunched over dead leaves and twigs as I walked hesitantly into the woods. I shivered, remembering the last time I’d looked for the coven – years ago, before leaving for abroad. Then, I wasn’t able to find it. But tonight I was feeling determined and powerful. The moon was almost full and I tried to summon the strength of the goddess as I walked through the branches and brambles.
I’m a goddess, just like you, I thought in determination as I hiked further and further away.
For once, I felt confident and strong. Sure enough, the woods around me began to thin and warm as I approached the coven. When I hit the clearing, I took a deep breath.
“Ligeia,” I called loudly. “I’ve returned.”
Ligeia floated across the clearing, looking pleased and dignified. “Child,” she said. “You’ve come back. I knew you would return.”
I forced a smile. I knew that I was about to give the biggest theatrical performance of my life, and I was starting to get nervous. My hands were sweaty and I wiped them on my thighs.
“Yes,” I said, keeping my voice sweet and light. “I came back. I had to, you know.”
“And have you made your decision?”
Swallowing, I nodded briefly. “Yes,” I said softly. “I’ve decided to remain here, and allow Monica the chance of returning to the world beyond the coven.”
Ligeia smiled. “Good,” she said. “I am pleased with you, child. Henrik, too, will be pleased.”
“I’m glad.”
“Come, child,” Ligeia said, clapping her hands together briefly. “There is much to be done.”
I followed Ligeia through the clearing, between the different huts, and into the circle of woods where Andrea’s body had been bound to a tree years ago. I could feel her energy pulsing weakly through the enchanted land – she was still alive, but barely.
“It doesn’t seem like years have passed,” I said softly. “It feels almost like yesterday.”
Ligeia smiled, showing her even and white teeth. “I can understand that, child,” she said. “For me, it has been a mere blink.”
My apprehension grew as I followed Ligeia deeper and deeper into the woods. The moon was gleaming and white overhead – I wasn’t sure why, but it always seemed much larger in the coven than it did in the real world.
Ligeia stopped and pulled a knife from her robes. She held it out to me and gave me an expectant look.
“Offer yourself to the earth, child,” Ligeia said.
Gritting my teeth, I took the sacred athame from Ligeia’s hands and sliced open my palms, squeezing the puckered skin until the blood was flowing freely. It hurt, but I felt somehow detached from the pain.
So far, everything is working, I thought as I knelt and smeared my palms to the earth. Ligeia knelt down and took my wrists in her hands with surprising strength. She bound my wrists together with a leather cord.
“Your soul shall be bound to the coven from this point forward,” Ligeia said. She took the athame and gently scratched something on my forehead with the tip. As I felt the sharp blade cut into my skin, I winced.
Ligeia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Then she began to chant, mumbling under her breath and rolling her head around on her neck. The trees began to wave and sway, mimicking Ligeia’s graceful movements. The wind increased and whirled around me, whipping my hair around my face in painful tangles. Ligeia’s chanting grew louder, as if it was coming from the earth itself. My heart started to thud faster and faster and soon, I felt like my chest was opening right up to the universe.
“You belong to us,” Ligeia thundered. I shivered – the sound of her voice was no longer just Ligeia’s, but Henrik’s, too, and all of the witches in the coven. Her blue eyes blazed brightly in the dim light and I shuddered at the intense look there.
Ligeia touched the knife to my chest, right above my heart. She pressed the blade against my skin until I began to bleed. Strangely, it didn’t hurt at all – but I felt a strange, swirling energy inside my body. It was an odd feeling, almost like a storm was raging within my bones.
When it was over, Ligeia cut the cords from my wrists. Rubbing them with my fingers, I climbed shakily to my feet.
“Now, child, you want to see Monica, yes?”
“Yes.” My mouth was dry and I licked my lips. “Please, I mean.”
Ligeia nodded. “I am pleased with you,” she said. “You have done well, Elizabeth.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. If she had any idea how I was really feeling,…well, I didn’t even want to think about that.
I followed Ligeia out of the woods and back into the clearing. Monica was sitting there, with her head cocked to the side. When she saw me, she looked confused.
“Ligeia, mistress, I have one favor to ask from you,” I said, bowing my head to show respect. “Please, allow me to leave one last time – so that I can say goodbye to my fiancé, Steven.”
Ligeia frowned. “You have broken with him, have you not?”
“Yes, because I knew I was coming back here,” I said softly. “But I want to say goodbye.”
Monica narrowed her eyebrows. “Ligeia,” she said quickly. “You have to let Elizabeth go, or else my spell still holds on Steven. He won’t ever get over it, or have a normal life, without her. She has to see him once more to break the enchantment.”
Ligeia’s blue eyes were two turbulent storms as she stared at Monica, then at me.
“Child,” she said quietly. “You deceived me.”
Fear struck my heart and I shook my head quickly from side to side. “I didn’t,” I said quickly.
“Elizabeth didn’t mean to,” Monica said. “She didn’t know about the spell I’d cast, Ligeia.”
Ligeia gave me a long, hard look. “Your soul is bound to that of Prudence Arrowsmith now,” she said. “If you do not return of your own free will, I will be forced to come and take you. That will not be pleasant,” she said, staring coldly. “You understand, yes?”
“I know,” I said quickly. Inside, I was panicking. But something about Monica’s calm expression made me feel better – was it true, what she’d said about the spell?
It didn’t matter, as long as I had one last chance to break free.
“Besides, I should take Monica back,” I added softly. “She’s been away for years. She’ll need to acclimate.”
Ligeia scoffed. “I do not wish to hear any more,” she said. I could tell she was seething with anger. “Go, then, if you must,” she said. “But when you return, know that from that point on, you belong to me. The coven will be your permanent home. You will never be allowed to leave.”
I didn’t say anything – I was too afraid that somehow agreeing with her would just make things worse. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Monica grabbed my wrist and pulled me away. We walked through the clearing together, my heart pounding in my chest.
“What are you doing,” I hissed.
Monica looked at me, clearly frightened. “Shh,” she said. “Not yet, it’s not safe.”
We walked on in silence. The blood pounding against my eardrums was deafening, and it took a full minute to realize that we were actually running. As the woods grew denser and less full of Ligeia’s powerful magic, I felt an equal sense of relief and terror shooting through my body.
We didn’t stop running until we were almost out of the woods. When I could see the treeline and the houses of Jaffrey, I took a deep breath and stopped, leaning over to rub my legs.
“Monica…” I trailed off, reaching for my friend’s shoulder. She stopped and turned, giving me a frightened look.
“What?”
I swallowed nervously. “People…everyone thinks your dead,” I said softly. “They had a memorial service and everything.”
Monica gave me a strange look. “I’m not surprised,” she said, shaking her head. “It was probably easier for Henrik to do that than worry about wiping everyone’s minds.”
I bit my lip. A cold chill came over me and I shuddered. My palms were still bleeding from the deep cuts of Ligeia’s athame.
“Why did you do that,” Monica asked softly. “Why would you risk coming back like this, Elizabeth?”
“I had to,” I said. “I…Something’s not right,” I added.
“No shit,” Monica said darkly. “They lied to us the whole time. I just wish I could’ve told you before you signed yourself over like that.”
“What?” I frowned. “What do you mean, lied?”
“About everything,” Monica said. “Come on, this way.”
She led me around the back of her house and into the yard. When we were just a short distance away from the woods, Monica turned to me with tears glistening in her brown eyes.
“They lied about everything,” she said, sniffling. “About Andrea, about Prudence – about the real reason why they wanted her.”
My heart sank. “So I was right,” I said slowly. “I had a feeling…that something wasn’t right.”
“It’s worse than you could have imagined,” Monica said. She swallowed hard. “They didn’t want to protect the world from Prudence. They wanted her soul for themselves – they wanted her power, and they told me they were sick of living in hiding.” She wrapped her thin arms around her thin torso and hugged herself tightly. “And now, they have her soul. They can do it, Elizabeth. They can unleash hell on the whole world.”
For a moment, I thought I was going to pass out.
“Why? Why would they do this? And then lie – why would they lie to us?”
Monica looked miserable. “Because they’re powerful witches,” she said, shaking her head. “And we only have one chance at defeating them.”
I shook my head. “There’s no way we’d be able to do that,” I said softly. “There’s no way we’re strong enough.”
Monica smiled. “You’re forgetting something,” she said. “Before I left…well, I have a surprise for you.”
I frowned. “This isn’t a time to joke around,” I said, shaking my head. “This is really fucked up, Monica! This is serious shit!”
“I know,” Monica said. “Look, I’m not trying to make light of the situation. But I swear, this is important.”
“What, then?”
Monica pointed toward the woods. When I saw Andrea walking towards us, in a ghostly trance, I shrieked with fear.
“Shhh, Elizabeth!” Monica grabbed my hand and squeezed. “This is a good thing, she’s going to help us!”
“You’re kidding,” I said warily. “You hate each other.”
“Prudence’s soul is asleep,” Monica said, shaking her head. “But we don’t have much time.”
Andrea came closer and closer. She was floating just above the ground, the tips of her feet brushing against the wet grass. Her eyes were closed and I could sense that she was barely alive, that she was on the very edge of death.
“Andrea,” Monica said, snapping her fingers. “Wake up.”
Andrea’s eyelids flew open. “Hello, Elizabeth,” she said softly. “It’s been a long time.”
I stared right back at her. “Yes,” I replied. “Yes, it has.”