Chapter 40

Nova watched the cab pull away and then turn to look at the white fence surrounding the little house. The plan to have them drop here nearby didn’t work out because there were no other homes nearby. A chill went through her, she should have brought warmer clothes. It was cooler this close to the water. She looked around the area, there weren’t any other homes close at all. She’d been worried when they drove past so many houses along the way, but the driver had kept going until it was as if they were driving down a dirt path in the middle of a forest. He’d made comments about how it must be nice to have a getaway this secluded.

Picking up her bag, she started for the gate. The fence and property were in good repair, so obviously the caretaker the red book mentioned was still looking after it. She approached the door and hoped the memory of where a key was would finally come to her. For half the bus ride, she’d tried to recall where it might be, but hadn’t been able to.

Stopping in front of the door, she reached out to do the obvious and see if it was locked. Before she touched it, the door swung open with a soft creaking noise. “Hello?” She looked inside, then took a breath and stepped in. “Hello?” She tried a little louder. There was no one there. Setting the bag down, she leaned to look into the room beside the entrance. There was no one there either.

“Oh good, you’re here.” A woman came down the hall toward her. She was shorter than Nova, which she found odd, being as she was barely five feet tall herself. Her hair was a faded red, being washed out with grey. She stopped and smiled at her. “I’ve spent my life hoping to meet you and never thought I would.” She motioned to the room. “Come in.” Moving quickly, she closed the door. “When I found out you were coming, I rushed here and gave the place a quick dusting. And I’ve prepared a few meals and put them in the freezer for you.”

“Thank you.” It wasn’t what she intended to say, but that’s what came out of her mouth. “How did you know I was coming?”

Scoffing, the woman stopped. “I’m sorry, I was so taken with the excitement I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Una, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Ianna, the original caretaker of Halcyon cottage.” She lifted what looked like a glass pendant away from her shirt. “This is passed down from mother to daughter when we take on the task of maintaining this property. I don’t think it’s lit up since my grandmother’s time.” She clasped her hands in front of her like that explanation told the whole story.

Nova glanced at the door.

“Oh, it’s spelled to only allow entry of the one keeping the soul. I have no idea how it works.” She sighed. “I only have a trace of fae in my body. It’s too diluted for any of the fun stuff that goes with that.” She started down the hallway. “Come, we’ll have some tea and chat.”

Nova watched her walk into the room at the end of the hall and then looked at the door again. Spelled to only allow this soul inside? Magic pendants? This was nothing like she’d pictured when she decided to come here. She went down the hall into a small kitchen. She was pleasantly surprised to see it was more modern than the one at home. It had a full-sized stove and fridge, even a microwave.

Una smiled at her as she poured water into a pristine white teapot. “I had the kitchen, and the plumbing was updated about ten years ago. Come sit.” She motioned to the small table along the wall.

Nova went over and sat down. She looked around to see the other side, the walls were without pictures or decoration. “There wasn’t any information about this place except an address.”

Nodding, Una set the teapot on the table and turned back to open a cupboard. “There wouldn’t be. The diaries about here are here. In the sitting room.” Setting two cups on the table, she sat down. “This was the first home of the keeper, although I’m sure it started out as a shack that long ago.” Her pale eyes darted from Nova to the table a few times. “I was never told if I was allowed to read the diaries, but I did.”

Nova picked up the spoon and lifted the lid of the teapot to give it a stir. “You know more than I do.”

“It must be spectacular to carry so many lifetimes of knowledge inside you.”

Nova poured the tea into Una’s cup first and then glanced at her. “It’s interesting at times.”

“My mother told me you would return at a time of reckoning.”

Nova paused with the teapot in her hand. “How would she know that?”

Una shrugged. “The story is passed down from mother to daughter.”

Putting the teapot down, Nova wrapped her hands around the warm cup. “Yes, I get that, but how could it be known?”

“It’s all in the diaries.” She smiled. “And I’m sure she’ll tell you herself.”

“Who?” Nova looked around the small space as if someone else was going to appear.

“The spirit of the keeper.”

Nova couldn’t hide the confusion she felt. “I don’t understand.”

Una sat back in the chair, a look of thoughtfulness on her face. “Each time the body that is keeping the soul passes on, a small trace is left behind.” Her gaze held hers for a moment. “Nothing significant that you’d notice, of course, but it always comes here to where the magic started, and the spirit never leaves here after that.”

Nova watched her sip the tea and then set the cup down. “I should get back, I rushed out with barely an explanation. I was just so excited when this—” She touched the pendant. “—finally lit up after all these years.” Reaching over, she patted Nova’s hand. “Relax and enjoy your time here.” She stood up. “My number is on the fridge if you need me. Oh, a cell signal won’t work inside the house. I’m not sure why, but no signal of any kind passes through the barrier.” Picking up her sweater and purse, she paused and smiled at her. “It’s been my pleasure watching over this place as I know it will be my daughters in the years to come.”

Nova stood up. “My name is Nova, I just...” She huffed out a breath. “I just realized I didn’t introduce myself.”

“Nova.” Una smiled. “How lovely.” She bobbed her head once and then turned and went out the door beside the counter.

Going over, Nova looked out to see she was walking into the trees on a narrow path. She’d explore that later. Turning back, she glanced around the kitchen, checking each corner to see if this spirit of her soul was lurking anywhere. “Hello?” She looked around again. She should be freaked out knowing she was alone in a house with some sort of spirit. She didn’t know why, but this little home, with the bare walls, somehow felt right. She walked slowly into the sitting room and looked around. It felt like she was meant to be here.

The furniture design was very old, but a quick look told her it was well-maintained. It had probably been red at one point but was now faded to a shade closer to a plum color. She bit her lip and wondered if she did an online search for them would she be able to find out. She looked around and spotted the bookshelf in the corner. On it were several books, old books, but there were three leather-bound ones that she knew were likely the diaries. Underneath the shelf was a dark-grained wooden stand, on it, in glass was a white and what looked like a bronze urn. She blew out a breath, she wouldn’t be touching that, it looked like a fancy cremation urn.

Going back to the entrance, she opened the door on the other side of it. It was a bedroom with a four-poster bed, a dark-grained dresser, and a single nightstand. The cover on the bed was yellowed with age but had probably been white long ago. Nova bit her lip and looked at the symbol sewn into the center. It was the same as the one on the trunk at home—and on Bastian’s shoulder.

She wasn’t sure when her life had become a giant complicated puzzle, but it definitely had. She turned to go back out. If coming here was going to solve the mystery of it, she was glad she came. Of course, she thought that now, she wasn’t so sure what she’d do when she met this spirit.

She stepped outside, wanting to look around before she opened one of those diaries. Her phone rang as soon she cleared the doorframe. It startled the breath from her.

She answered it quickly, “Hello?”

“Thank the gods. I’ve tried calling ten times in the last half hour.” It was Bastian.

“I just found out I have no signal inside.”

“Inside? This white house you had to visit out of the blue?”

Nova cringed; he wasn’t trying to hide his anger from her at all. “I’m sorry. If I’d told you—”

“I would have objected very loudly.”

“Yes.”

“You refused to hide in Alterealm, then take off on your own.”

“I can’t explain it, Bastian, I just had to come here.” She turned and looked at the quaint house. “I think I’m going to find more answers here.”

“I would have preferred we find those together. Are you at least safe? Is there a lot of homes around?”

She walked along the fence, running her hand on the top. “I think so. It’s been spelled or something so that only the body with this soul can enter. And the caretaker.”

“There’s someone else there?”

“No. She left. I’m alone.” Except for the spirit of many women, she thought. Nova walked with slow steps to the back of the yard and looked for the door Una had gone out. There wasn’t a door. Turning she saw there was no path either. Stepping back, she turned and quickly went back to the front. “The caretaker is part fae.”

Bastian sighed. “I am not surprised.”

“How are things there? Your note sounded like it wasn’t good.”

“It is not. They are determined to find you. The wonderful clue I found in the journal is now a dead-end, quite literally. You left your fish alone.”

She smirked. “I left them food; they should be fine for a few days. Bastian, this is the original home, and I might find all the answers we both need here.” She didn’t know why she felt she needed to explain to him, she just wanted him to understand, and she’d never had anyone to talk to about any of this before, so that might have been the reason too.

“While I’m just as curious about the reasons, I’d feel better knowing where you are. Did you at least get the porter before you snuck off?”

“I didn’t sneak, I walked, but yes, it’s in my pocket.”

“Put it on your wrist. If anything, and I do mean anything feels off, use it. Please.”

Putting her hand in her pocket, she wrapped her hand around it. “I wasn’t sure if I could be tracked by it.”

“Now I’m wishing I’d asked for one that could be tracked.”

He was really annoyed with her. “I’m sorry, Bastian, I just needed...” She looked at the house. “All of this is overwhelming.” She heard a door close quite loudly.

“Listen, I don’t know anything of wooing a woman or even... well, anything to do with how a modern, human relationship works—I’ve observed for centuries and still have no idea about the inner workings,” he growled. “What I’m trying to say is if I’ve upset or offended you in some…”

It truly bothered her to hear him so out of sorts. “Bastian, it’s not you. I don’t have the first clue about relationships either, not really, but removing myself from the city seemed like a good idea and I need answers. I need to understand why this soul has carried on like it has, why now?” She didn’t say why him, now, but it was one of the questions in her head.

He sighed again. “I would prefer to have this talk face to face—such a lovely face to look at." He was quiet for a second. “I brought you tea and a muffin this morning.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, I gave it to Ava when she told me you were gone. Imagine my surprise to learn that.” He mumbled something she couldn’t make out. “How long are you staying?”

She turned around and looked at the yard. “A few days.”

“I supposed I’ll survive a few more days after thousands without you.”

“I’m sure you will—be careful please.”

“Do you like chocolates?”

“Uh, as much as anyone else.”

“Not the enthusiasm I’d hoped for.” She heard voices in the background now. “Wear the porter, keep your amulet on, and—wear a sweater when you go outside unless, of course, you’re somewhere unseasonably warm, then hydrate often.”

She put her hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t laugh into the phone. “Promise,” she managed to say.

“Message or call, often, so I’m not out of my mind with worry.” The voices were louder. “And for the love of the gods, set up your voicemail so I can at least leave you rambling messages when you can’t answer.”

She frowned; she had no idea how to do that. “I will.”

“I need to go, again, Princess Aireese has just arrived.”

“Let me know if you find out why they’re after me.”

“Mmm, right after I kill them, I’ll be sure to call.”

“Be careful.” She bit her lip.

“I will.” The line went quiet.

She looked at the phone, voicemail. She’d seen that somewhere when she’d explored her very first phone. Looking at the house, she went over and sat in the single white chair beside the door. She didn’t like how upset and panicked he sounded and if leaving her messages was going to help him, then she’d figure it out.