Abandoning all my composure, I only just managed to reach Tom before I fell to my knees. Relief, joy and sadness upon seeing my lover again washed over me all at once. Relief that he was alive. Joy upon seeing him again. Sadness upon the sight of the state he was in. Not used to seeing him in shackles with a clean cut on his neck and a big bruise on his face, was I? Tears welled in my eyes as I leaned down and kissed him passionately while my fingers fiddled with the collar of his shirt. Our tongues danced in a furious pattern, all our feelings regarding our enforced separation tied together, thrust into that one desperate kiss.
Our foreheads and the tips of our noses pressed together as our lips parted, followed by our soft singular gasps.
"Missed you, Tom Ward...so much," I sighed.
"I missed you too, Alice Deane," he responded.
I then drew my head back, my fingers lightly tracing the cut on his neck, careful not to hurt him further.
"What have they done to you?" I whispered into a breath.
"Oh...they tried to get an answer out of me - how you've gained a lot of influence over nature - but I couldn't betray you. So I refused to tell them."
"I'll heal these later, Tom," I promised, gesturing towards the cut and bruise. "Right now, we need to get you out of here."
With that, I sat back on my heels and first placed the palms of my hands on the shackles binding Tom's wrists. Muttering under my breath, they unlocked and fell to the floor with a thud followed by a clang. While Tom rubbed his throbbing wrists, I then moved my hands to the shackles binding his ankles. When they unlocked, I carefully removed 'em before my hands hovered just above his ankles and I closed my eyes, using a soothing spell that didn't require words, just willpower.
When I was satisfied, I took Tom's hands in mine and stood up. When he, too, got to his feet, my thumbs found his wrists and caressed 'em lightly before I held both to my lips. Felt some sort of electric feeling spark away from my lips, I did, then felt like a fabric was wrapping around Tom's wrists, brushing against my mouth, causing tingly tickling sensations.
After I felt just skin underneath my lips again, no seeping blood, I pulled back, smiling up at my lover.
"You surprise me again, my love," Tom remarked, removing his wrists from my grasp to run his hands down to my waist and pull me close.
I draped my arms around his neck and reacquainted our lips. That same feeling lingered on my lips, teasing the flesh - the same feeling I'd usually get back at our Chipenden house before Tom would take me to bed...or anywhere for that matter. The stream running by Anglezarke, a nearby running river, a tree, the wall, the floor, a chair...rather insatiable, my Tom. But it made our relationship more enticing.
Before I even had time to realise what was happening, Tom had me pressed against the hard cold stoned wall, his leg pushed between the both of mine with one of his hands lifting up the green silk skirt of my dress so he could push his knee further. I sighed contentedly as his lips brushed lightly against my neck; so lightly I barely noticed they'd touched the skin. I must've known or my head wouldn't have tilted to the side and I wouldn't have sighed.
Suddenly, it came back to me and I lifted my head back up, my hands going to Tom's shoulders to stop him.
"Can do this later, Tom, can't we? Right now, we need to meet the others and stop Captain Crochet before he..."
"I know, Alice, I overheard two warlocks talking about it after I was brought here. The smoke that appeared around me as Captain Crochet transported us to Pendle must've caused me to black out."
I nodded in understanding. Made sense, that. Captain Crochet probably hoped to baffle Tom when he woke up. Fat chance of that! Strong, my Tom, after enduring a spook's life for so long he was used to it.
"I have to say," he continued, "I half-expected Jenny to insist on coming down with you."
I shrugged with another nod.
"She did, Tom, but needed someone to distract them two warlocks outside, didn't I? Allured 'em good and proper, she did, away from the cottage."
Tom smirked and I braced myself for the worst.
"You've never praised her before, Alice, of all people."
I shrugged once more.
"Don't get used to it."
Tom shook his head in agreement before he turned to get his staff. He turned back to me and, lacing our fingers together, I led the way out of the cellar, glad to have Tom back by my side.
On our way back through the cottage, Tom asked me, "Alice, you said 'others'...who see besides you and Jenny came here?"
"Went to Judd Brinscall for help. Jenny suggested it 'cos he'd mentioned something about a pirate mage. Got a new apprentice now, he has, Daniel Peters and they came too."
"What about Blood and Bone - the dogs?"
"Don't know. But Judd didn't bring 'em and I didn't see 'em when I was at the mill either." I then moved onto explaining what I and the others had planned to stop Captain Crochet and the gathered witches.
We gradually exited the house to find Jenny just outside, waiting for us. Her hair was a mess and her cheeks were flushed.
"So...how did it go with the warlocks?" I teased.
From out of the corner of my eye, I caught Tom rolling his eyes.
Jenny shot me a glare before she replied, "They weren't easy to deal with but I managed to knock them unconscious."
Tom glanced from me to Jenny, clearly wondering what method we'd conspired between us to deal with the warlocks who'd guarded the door to Mab's cottage. But there was no time as heavy drums began to beat through the air in the distance. Tom's eyes instantly flicked up to the moon. He then turned his gaze back to me and Jenny.
"It's almost midnight...we need to go."
Jenny and I both nodded before the three of us raced away from the cottage, heading for the place Jenny and I had left Judd and Daniel.
I looked up to find no clouds in sight, nothing posing a threat to the mystical aura of the moon that guided our way back to Judd and Daniel. The music seemed to grow louder the closer we got, like it would stop at any moment.
I was just deluding myself; as long as the moon hadn't reached its peak, we weren't too late.
Finally, we came to our meeting point and, upon hearing our footsteps, Judd and Daniel leaped to their feet, jumping away from the bushes they were hiding among and readying their rowan wood staffs.
I raised my free hand, a little startled for a second.
"All right, all right! It's only us..."
Daniel groaned in a sigh.
"Don't do that!" he complained.
Tom, Jenny and I then halted in our tracks. Appearing next to Judd was a young woman with matted blonde hair, green eyes and a crooked nose. One of Mab's sisters!
Ignoring our uncertain glances, Judd stepped towards us.
"Tom, it's so good to see you!" Judd exclaimed, shaking Tom's hand.
"It's nice to see you too...and good to be back," Tom replied, glancing sideways at me and giving my hand an affectionate squeeze.
Daniel then drew level with his master.
Noticing his apprentice next to him, Judd placed his hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"This is Daniel Peters. He is my apprentice," Judd said.
Tom shook hands with Daniel.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Err...Judd...who's that?" Jenny asked, gesturing with her head towards Mab's sister, having not met her before.
Daniel looked back and gestured with his hand for Mab's sister to come closer. She stood next to Daniel.
"This is Beth Mouldheel - Mab Mouldheel's younger sister. Tom and Alice have a history with her sister, from what I understand, and she offered us help. Since she's close with Mab, I thought she might be of some use. Her twin sister died in the battle on Ward Peak a year before you became Tom's apprentice," Judd explained.
"Mab's sister, Judd!" I retorted, anger bubbling up inside me.
This time, Beth spoke for herself.
"Decided to help, I have, 'cos I'm tired of Mab's sickening thirst for revenge over Tom Ward, here. Just 'cos you got him before she could. Tried to warn her, I did, that the old god Captain Crochet wants to raise can't be tamed even for a little bit. Didn't listen, did she? Wants to go along her merry way, she does."
"That's Mab for you," I sighed.
"The ritual begins when the drumming stops," Beth explained.
"So we got that wrong," Jenny said obviously.
I rolled my eyes, unnecessary, that.
Beth continued after clearing her throat, evidently irritated by Jenny's interrupting. She wasn't alone.
"The union point can only be destroyed by one of the Fiend's children. You break the connection, you also kill Captain Crochet. But you also risk your own life."
"It's a risk I'm willing to take," I declared.
Tom pulled me closer, lifting my chin so his eyes looked directly into mine.
"Alice..."
"It's our only choice, Tom," I told him sternly.
If I'd have to forfeit my life to stop the man who'd threatened my spook's life and mine...so be it. Much rather kill myself and Captain Crochet than let him roam free with an old god on the loose, anyway.
I snapped my head away from Tom's hand to face Beth.
"How do I destroy the union point?" I asked her.
"Overheard from Mab that Captain Crochet's heart will be the union point once the connection is made. Pierce that starblade through his heart and the union point is destroyed. But, the force emitted from the blow could be enough to kill you too."
"Where is the starblade, Beth?"
"Last saw it sheathed on Captain Crochet's belt, I did. Must still be in there. Wait until midnight. Form the connection then, he will."
I nodded but as I looked up at Tom, he looked appalled.
"...Tom..." I placed my hand carefully on his cheek. Then I said to the others, "Give us a moment."
They all nodded and headed off to the side through the trees.
"I have to do this, Tom, ain't got a choice, have I?" I told him.
"You don't have to do this, Alice, you might as well be digging your own grave if you go through with this. We can't trust Beth, she's a Mouldheel, we'll find another way. I won't lose you," Tom stated, his forehead leaning against mine.
"There's no time to search for another way, Tom, Beth is our only chance and if this is the way it must be...so be it," I said quietly.
Kept my eyes downcast, I did, couldn't bear to see the look in Tom's eyes, could I?
However, shockingly, Tom took my face in his hands, caressing with his thumbs as he lifted my gaze to meet his. There, I found all the sincerity and love in the world in those two green irises.
"Then...if I can't change your mind, I'm coming with you. A huge part of my soul would die if I lost you anyway. It's just like you told me before: our hearts are one now."
Tears came to my eyes upon hearing that last sentence.
"I can't believe you still remember that!" I remarked.
"It was the start of our new life together, Alice, of course I remember what you said to me."
Looked like I'd got him back on my side now, so, hand in hand, we traced the direction the others had gone in.
When we reached 'em, we formulated another plan. Tom had told 'em that he was going with me to break the connection. Realising he wasn't going to convince him otherwise, Judd instructed Daniel and Jenny to go with him to try and distract the crowd.
From there, we sat down and waited in silence for the drumming to start. Didn't bother with a campfire 'cos we didn't want to attract any unwanted attention.
Sat in between Tom's legs, I did, and while he had his arms around me, he also would occasionally kiss my head. Sometimes catch Jenny glance over at us with a death glare aimed at me, I would. So, even though she was talking to that Daniel Peters, she still felt for Tom.
Daniel would occasionally make conversation with me but when I responded, only rewarded me glares from both Jenny and Tom. Most of the time, we did sit in silence.
Finally, the full foreboding moon had ascended to its highest point in the dark sky and a sound throbbed through the shadows of the night like a heart beating. The drums had started.
Beth suggested, "We should go now."
We all got to our feet. Judd led the way away from the trees, followed by Beth, then me and Tom, who held me close by the waist. Jenny was about to follow when Daniel stopped her.
"Jenny, I need to talk to you," he said.
"Can it wait until after we've stopped Captain Crochet and those witches?" Jenny asked.
"No, I need to tell you now, it can't wait," he replied.
Both Jenny and I turned to face Tom.
He nodded towards Jenny. She then turned back to face Daniel.
"Just hurry, there's not much time."
We left those two to talk alone. Leaving Judd to wait for 'em, Tom and I followed the sound of the beating drums.
