Chapter Forty-Six

Darius was furious to think he was made to contend with this now. In Smythe’s bloody witch-house dungeon jail, he stared out the window. Two weeks earlier he’d sent a messenger to Jean-Claude. The man better have heeded his message in telling Arianna he’d been held up at the settlement. He didn’t want her to think he’d changed his mind about being with her, but also didn’t want her aware he was imprisoned here.

It had taken him three weeks to arrange everything at the settlement. Now, he’d been held here another three weeks. He’d offered Reverend Smythe, his son and bloody Charles Mendenhall, a good amount of coin to set him free, but they’d declined.

Johnathan Smythe was bitter about the loss of his arm and Reverend Smythe annoyed he’d been frightened by Cythrawl. With their marriage ended, Smythe said Darius hadn’t kept his bargain, so he’d keep him jailed. Mendenhall apparently just wanted Arianna dead. He didn’t know how he’d finally learned her identity, but he had.

In part, Darius wanted Arianna to simply be taken to the future so she’d never know of his predicament or have to face these spiteful men. But Christ he longed to see her again…at least to say farewell.

Arianna’s heart ached knowing every day Darius didn’t return was another day they missed being together, especially when she might need to leave any time. Maybe he’d had a change of heart, but she couldn’t believe that was true.

She knocked on Jean-Claude’s door though she hadn’t been to his home since she’d learned of his deception. She and Danhoul had continued her magical training at her cottage instead, though he still stayed with Jean-Claude.

Jean-Claude opened the door, not one of his many servants. He showed her to where Danhoul was, though they barely spoke.

“I need to know if you’ve heard from Darius,” she curtly asked.

Danhoul and Jean-Claude shared a look she couldn’t determine.

“I told you he’s held up at the settlement,” Jean-Claude said.

“I don’t believe it. Even with my magic I can’t seem to sense Darius.”

Danhoul wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Tell me what you know!” she ordered.

“Darius sent a messenger insisting you not be told. They’re holding him in Wyndham Village. He thinks Mendenhall wishes to lure you there,” Danhoul admitted.

“Let him bloody well lure me. What can he do to me when I have magic, a Druid and Celtic gods to defend me?”

“The winter solstice draws near and it coincides with a full moon, which is likely when you’ll be taken to the future. We can’t risk permitting you to become involved with anything that will weaken your abilities,” Danhoul said.

Arianna felt so angry she began to shake.

“Will pitching a furious hellfire fit weaken my abilities? You both kept this from me!” Arianna accused.

“Darius didn’t want you to know,” Jean-Claude said.

“Why wasn’t I aware of it?”

“I placed a concealment spell around Wyndham Village,” Danhoul said. “But I assure you, Darius hasn’t been harmed. Once we’ve gone to the future, Jean-Claude will make certain he’s released if he must hire thugs to break him free.”

Jean-Claude nodded.

“But you’ve disallowed me this time with him and a farewell. That was incredibly foolish, Danhoul! And that’s twice you’ve kept us apart, Jean-Claude.”

“This time it was to protect you, Arianna,” Jean-Claude said. He hadn’t called her by his fond endearment since she’d become angry with him.

Danhoul held Arianna’s arm. “Don’t go to Wyndham Village. I’ll go see what I can do.”

“I think you’ve done quite enough,” she said as purple flame surrounded her, burned a circle on the floor, and she disappeared.

“Darius Wyndham, you have absolutely no notion how displeased I am with you just now. If you want to win my hand, this isn’t working in your favor,” Arianna said after stilling time and walking through the crowd at Wyndham Village square. “Apparently we’ve now come full circle and it’s my turn to see you freed from the pillory.”

“Arianna, as happy as I am to see you; you can’t be here. I firmly instructed Jean-Claude to keep this quiet.”

“He did; it was Danhoul who finally told me after much insistence. How long have you been here?”

Darius didn’t reply.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said waving her hands so the bar holding him was roughly ripped off the pillory and wildly thrown in the sea. He stood, put his hands on his back, stretched, and moved his neck from side to side.

“By God, that’s bloody uncomfortable!”

She glared at him but he took her in his arms weakening her resolve to remain angry.

“I can’t believe you didn’t want me to free you,” she said.

“I didn’t want you anywhere near here, Arianna.”

“Have you been held all this time?”

“Three weeks. I came to tell Smythe I intended to marry you again or to see if his undoing of our previous marriage could be undone.”

“That’s absurdly confusing.”

“He said since we’re no longer married, I hadn’t fulfilled my part of our bargain and needed to be punished. I told him to go to hell and…you see how well that went. Mendenhall wanted to lure you here, but I couldn’t let that happen.”

“The governor won’t allow witch persecutions any longer,” Arianna said.

“They’ll surely only see you persecuted for something else.”

“Then we’ll escape.”

“How do you propose to explain the broken pillory and that I’ve escaped when you release time and this crowd awakens?”

“Perhaps I’ll set them aflame, destroy the entire village with my hellfire so there’s no trace it was ever here.”

“My wee witch, you wouldn’t kill innocent people.”

“Were you intending to stay here indefinitely?”

“Smythe would have eventually let me go.”

Arianna shivered as she looked at Reverend Smythe, his son, and Charles Mendenhall.

“Unpleasant memories, my wee witch?” Darius asked.

“Aye, I loathe the pillory, but it was better than being stripped and searched for the mark of the devil.”

“They did that, Arianna? You told me about the ducking stool, the floggings and the pillory, but…they searched your body?”

She nodded. “Aye, Reverend Smythe and Cooke. I’m thankful Smythe’s son wasn’t there.” She motioned to Johnathan Smythe. “My hands were bound. I wouldn’t have been able to prevent anything he might have done.”

“Christ, I understand that feeling,” Darius said.

She looked at him uncertainly.

“You wanted to know what happened with Alcott,” he said lowering his head.

“Did Alcott rape you, Darius?”

He shook his head. “I knew that’s what you believed; that might have been better, for only I’d have suffered,” he said. “But, that wasn’t it.”

“You don’t need to speak of it, my love.”

“I’ve wanted to tell you for some time but I’ve never told anyone. Only Alcott knows.”

Arianna inhaled waiting for him to speak.

“Alcott said I undermined his authority. He was cruel, pitted the crew against each other, belittled them. Sometimes, I openly opposed him though he was my superior. He had me beaten, lashed. Still, occasionally I couldn’t refrain from voicing my opinion, but he found a way to get to me.”

Arianna could see the pain and fury that remained.

“There was a lad, Jeremy Cheeves, maybe sixteen. He had an affinity for men, followed me around; smitten, I suppose. Alcott infuriated me one day, made a man lick his boots. I called him a displeasing name; he lashed me himself, far worse than ever, then had me taken to his quarters, my hands and feet chained. Alcott sliced off my garments with his sword, threatened to slice off more. But instead, he gave a carving knife to Cheeves and ordered the lad to cut me and eventually emasculate me.”

Arianna saw him grimace. She knew how difficult this was for him, yet Darius didn’t turn away, but met her eyes.

“The lad was unwilling, but surely knew he’d be beaten or killed himself if he didn’t comply. I fought as best I could, but chained, bleeding and wounded, eventually I was too exhausted. Cheeves half-heartedly cut my chest and belly a few times. Alcott told him to get on with it. Even afraid and outraged, when Cheeves put his hands on my cock, I became undesirably erect. We’d been months at sea; I suppose it was just a natural male reaction. I was furious and humiliated, but by his expression, the lad clearly misinterpreted. Alcott found it most amusing. I suspect he would’ve had Cheeves pleasure me, bugger me, or gone through with seeing me a eunuch, but fate intervened when the ship was nearly overturned by a sudden wave. Alcott was forced to contend with a squall instead.

“I was held in the brig till my wounds healed. When I was released, Cheeves was noticeably more attentive. I warned him to stay away. When he offered to pleasure me, I hit him…only once, but the next day he was found hanged. He’d taken his own life. Alcott only laughed. With no regard, he kicked Cheeves’ body off the plank with his boot.”

Darius stopped speaking and took a long breath.

“I went mad, attacked Alcott and…you know the rest. I was locked up again till we reached shore.”

Tears streamed down Arianna’s face. She went to Darius and brushed a curl from his eyes and held him.

“I’m sorry, my love, for what Alcott did and for the lad.”

“Aye,” Darius said exhaling again, “but now…we have other matters to contend with.”

Arianna stared into the scarred face and cold eyes of Charles Mendenhall.

“Danhoul told me gods are capable of taking away memories. Reverend Smythe and the others could be made to forget they’ve ever seen me. But I’d like Mendenhall to pay, for he truly rejoiced in taking my mother’s life. Perhaps Aine could do so.”

As if saying her name summoned her, Aine appeared.

“I’d like you to make them all forget Darius was here and that they’ve ever seen me.”

“I suppose if it will alleviate further problems,” the goddess agreed.

“That seems far too easy,” Darius said.

“I am goddess and protector of women,” Aine said.

“Why didn’t you protect my mother?” Arianna asked.

“Some events needed to happen. If Eirann hadn’t died, you wouldn’t have lived with your aunt and learned of spells and magic. If your aunt hadn’t suffered darkness and wanted to offer you to a demon, you wouldn’t have journeyed to the colonies and found your guardian.”

“You told me your aunt wanted you to leave,” Darius said.

“I believe she fought the darkness. She arranged for me to leave, but then killed the vicar, for she’d became dark herself.”

“She also enlisted the young Frenchman,” Aine said. “She gave him some powers, added wealth and extra charm. In return, he was to make you fall in love with him and deflower you so you’d reach your awakening and Clodaugh could ensure you’d side with her and the others with darkness. But Jean-Claude fell in love with you and defied Clodaugh. She was furious.

“For him putting your safety above his own, we protected him, employed him in assisting us instead. But Clodaugh still tries to locate you. She knows your powers are strong and wants to ensure you and the other transcendent witches won’t be alive to fight the evil of Odhran.

“If you hadn’t left England, eventually Clodaugh would have given you to a demon to heighten her powers,” Aine said. “That was the true reason why she kept you virginal and why we needed to get you away from her.”

“Christ!” Darius said.

“Now, we need to see this dealt with. Do you really want this man dead?” Aine asked staring at Mendenhall.

“You can’t kill him when he’s unable to defend himself,” Darius said.

“Should I tie him to a stake and burn him alive as he did my mother, Darius?”

“I can’t watch,” Darius admitted.

“Go then, Guardian. The fire witch and I’ll see this done.”

Darius appeared distressed, so Arianna touched Mendenhall’s head and he awakened. His eyes filled with loathing.

“It’s you, witch, the one who killed my father and maimed me. I’ve been looking for you for years. You always seemed just beyond my grasp, but I’ll finally see you pay.”

The foolish man drew his sword and thrust it toward Arianna. Instead of Aine killing him with her own sword or Arianna with her magic, Darius powerfully grabbed the man and viciously threw him against the pillory. He struck his head hard and fell to the ground.

“Your guardian’s clearly willing to nearly kill a man with his bare hands to save you, therefore I will further assist.”

Vicar Edwards appeared by way of Aine’s magic. He didn’t seem surprised so Arianna believed he’d had dealings with the Celtic gods before. They may have even sent him to the settlement as part of their tests to see if Arianna remembered and her fear or anger made her powers present themselves.

“Charles,” Vicar Edwards said to his wounded brother. “Mrs. Wyndham only set that fire in our home because of what we did to her mother. I lived at the settlement for months and never witnessed any wrongdoings. Forget about harming her.”

“Help me up, Edward, so we can end this woman’s life,” Charles Mendenhall said, clearly unwilling to listen to his brother, even as blood poured down his face.

“I won’t, Charles. I avowed years ago to stop those heinous persecutions. You only want revenge. This has nothing to do with ending evil. You’re far more evil than Mrs. Wyndham. Think of all the innocent women you’ve sent to the stake.”

“Thank you,” Arianna said before Vicar Edwards disappeared again with Aine’s magic.

Soon a golden glow surrounded Reverend Smythe, his son, Cooke, and the villagers and they simply disappeared.

“What did you do?” Arianna asked. “You can’t just erase them.”

“I didn’t,” Aine said.

All the buildings, including the witch-house, the pillory, and all evidence of everything in Wyndham Village instantly disappeared as well.

“What did you do?” Darius asked.

“I moved them and the village to another location. They’ll have no memory of either of you or Wyndham Village, for it will never have existed here and it will be renamed.”

“But how did Arianna and I meet here then?” Darius asked.

“Guardian, do not attempt to understand altering time,” Aine said. “It will only perplex you and eventually drive you mad.”

“What of him?” Darius asked as he looked at the injured Mendenhall.

“I’ll leave that up to you,” Aine said before disappearing.

“No, you’ll leave him to me,” Cythrawl said as he materialized.

“This is absurdly peculiar with people appearing and disappearing. I feel I must be losing my mind,” Darius said.

“Then I’ve lost mine as well,” Arianna agreed.

“He’ll pay for ending your mother’s life, always hunting and wanting to kill you, my daughter.”

Cythrawl’s eyes held an unmissable dark quality Arianna didn’t want to witness knowing he was her father. He lifted Mendenhall without touching him…so high in the sky they could barely see him. Then numerous bolts of lightning from every direction struck him. The thunder was so loud they covered their ears. A few wisps of smoke were visible, but there was nothing left to fall to the ground.

“I believe young Tristan would say he was eradicated!” Cythrawl said. “Now, I likely won’t see you again, Daughter, till the final battle.”

Arianna nodded.

“Take care of my daughter, Guardian,” he said.

“How am I to do that if she’s taken to another century?” Darius asked.

Arianna looked from one man to the other, then whispered in her father’s ear. His eyes became large, he stared at Darius but nodded his head and disappeared.

“You need to bathe, my love, for you bear the foul scent of the witch-house dungeon.”

She took his hand and they magically arrived back at Jean-Claude’s home.