Circle Of Sisters
6. Hera's Bargains
The tramp through the sludge and muck didn't take as long as Virginia had hoped. She wanted time to prepare, to think and plan what she might say and do, but the treacherous paths led her feet almost directly to the ruined cottage within an hour of her leaving Jed on the edge of the swamp. Almost as if her very arrival had been anticipated and now, assisted to it's conclusion. This was not necessarily a reassuring thought to Virginia. It was obvious that the swamp witch, Snow White's evil step mother, still held considerable influence over this boggy part of the Kingdoms. As she slogged through the mud, Virginia remembered the first time she had come upon the witch. Of course, the first "witch" she had met that day had in fact been Acorn the dwarf, dressed up to look very much the part and putting his scarred face to effective use. Virginia recalled begging the faker not to hurt her before she recognized him. Had the real witch in the basement laughed when she'd heard that? Probably, and most likely she was laughing even now at the thought of getting the chance to scare Virginia again. Except that Virginia no longer considered herself to be the easily frightened type.
Virginia felt a small rustling in her shirt pocket and looked to see the magic bird peeping out at her. She watched as it took in it's surroundings, trying to hide it's dismay at being back in the swamp.
"It's okay, I'll look after you. What's your name anyway?" she asked it.
"Really Miss? I'm Twig, that's my name. Look, that's the place, that's where they went in" the bird answered, almost shrieking when the hut came into plain view. It ducked back down, crawling it's way right down to the bottom of Virginia's pocket. She reached to pat the outside of her shirt absently, her attention now completely on what lay ahead. The shack looked from the outside exactly as it had when she had last seen it a year and a half ago. Virginia supposed that the witch must have put some sort of a spell on it to keep it from falling down and rotting away like most things would do when left in this warm and humid environment. A small wisp of smoke floated out of the chimney and Virginia took a deep breath to steel herself and calm her sudden nerves. Wolf was in there, she was certain of it, and she frowned at the thought that he might have been hurt, or worse. She waited outside a few minutes more, allowing the anger to build to a level before letting it wash away, leaving her mind cool and calm, focussed.
Virginia walked boldly up to the door where it hung askew on it's rusty hinges. Pushing it gently forward, she stooped to enter the top room of the cottage. A man sat at the small fireplace, his back to her. It wasn't Acorn, no dwarf but a full sized man, dressed in ragged dirty clothing. He turned his head slightly at her entrance and Virginia saw that he was tending a pot of some bubbling concoction that was suspended over the fire. He stirred it with a rusty spoon, tapping the side of the pot with care.
"Hungry? Have some?" he asked, turning to face her fully as he rose and gave a comical type bow. Virginia stared at his face openly, knowing it to be rude, but unable to help herself. It was horribly disfigured, with a great jagged scar running the length from forehead to jaw. One eye was missing altogether. In fact, it was odd just how much he looked like Acorn. Something about the face nagged at her memory. Had she seen him before? Surely she'd remember a face like that. His denim coat hung loose over his shoulders, and the label on the front caught her eye. Levi. An all American brand. The man was from the 10th Kingdom, but who and how? He proffered the dirty spoon to her, but Virginia shook her head. He looked disappointed.
"Pity. Nice food to help the pretty lady" he responded, and something about his voice triggered Virginia's memories. This was the young Irish priest who had spied upon them in Central Park. Let me help you. Yes, he'd tried to help alright, but his ideas of assistence had clashed somewhat with Wolf and Virginia's, she recalled with distaste. A sudden chill ran through her as she realised what had probably happened to his face. Wolf had done this. He'd not spoken to Virginia of what he'd done when he'd escaped from the priest's evil cage, but she had always assumed some violence had been involved, given the amount of blood left lying on the floor of the abbey. She'd stepped in it even. So, this was what someone looked like when Wolf had had a go at them. She shivered, not out of pity for the man, but simply because she had rarely seen evidence of Wolf's violent side presented so obviously before. It was totally different to seeing his typical kills of rabbits, sheep, deer and the like. Virginia wondered why he just hadn't killed the priest outright, but when she looked into the vacant, dulled eyes of the man she guessed that perhaps there hadn't been any need. He gazed upon her with no sign of recognition whatsoever. After a moment he returned to his pot, seeming to forget that Virginia was even there. She cleared her throat softly but he continued stirring. There was no time to worry about how he had gotten here in the first place, she thought, but then the witch had a habit of picking up disturbed people from New York.
"Wolf?" Virginia called, although she was not expecting an answer. If he was able to respond, he'd have been likely hollering at her to get the hell away from this place by now. She moved forward, not liking to leave the disturbing man at her back but not seeing any other way. He did not try and stop her from approaching the stairwell, but she saw his lips moving as if he silently spoke to someone. She almost giggled at the sudden vision she had of this strange priest trying to "announce" her as she stood at the top of this particular staircase. Witches, half wolfs and werewolves, may I present... Virginia sighed and grabbed up a candle to light the way down. She let her feet fall heavily on each tread as she descended to the crypt below. Standing on the lowest step, she paused to get her bearings.
It was just as she remembered it, which was surprising considering that the only other time she had been here she had been so scared that it was a miracle she recalled anything other than that rotted hand reaching for her. The open sarcophagus was the central focus of the room, it's stone sides covered still with creeping slime and moss. The swamp witch lay as before, unmoving, yet not without the spark of life, all that was left of her as she clung to the earthly realm. Virginia cast her gaze back and forth, both looking and scenting for Wolf. She picked out his familiar form almost at once, and she quietly breathed in relief that he seemed to be in one piece at least. But he wavered and rippled in a slow motion type movement and he was suspended several inches off the floor. Virginia could see the faint outline of another form, Willem, hovering behind Wolf and, drawing back her focus, the old wooden frame of a mirror suddenly became apparent. Virginia had seen enough magic mirrors not to be surprised at the fact that her lover and mate now appeared to be inside one. Leaving the lower step, she strode into the crypt with as much confidence as she could muster. Skirting the open coffin without even deigning it's occupant a glance, she approached the mirror. Wolf had seen her now, she noticed, and he was making odd swimming like motions as he tried to reach her. His mouth was open as if trying to speak, but no sounds carried across the glass, and Virginia suspected the same was true in reverse. Carefully she ran her hands along the edges of the frame, searching for the catch that might release Wolf and his brother.
"Make sure you don't hit the 'on' switch by accident, Virginia" spoke a voice behind her. Even though Virginia knew exactly who stood there, the expression on Wolf's face left her in no doubt at all. She held up a hand to try and soothe his anger, seeing that Willem was attempting that very same thing. Bit by bit the rage left him, but the fear for her remained all too obviously on his features. Virginia sighed in frustration. How could she explain to Wolf that she was in no danger from Elias? She turned her back to the mirror, not liking to do so, but knowing instinctively that this had to be played out in a certain way. Elias sat on the edge of the open stone coffin, gaping at her in a way that made Virginia feel both uncomfortable and, strangely, aroused. Your own kind. Virginia shook her head, trying to clear it of the odd emotions roiling through her at the sight of Elias. Her skin tingled as if her very blood was trying to escape, cross the few feet between them and return to it's original host. It was, a, magnetic, experience, and Virginia saw that Elias was feeling the same things. Tears coursed unchecked down his cheeks and she felt an immense desire to wipe them away with her own touch. Virginia put her hands to her temples, rubbing at them in confusion. Behind her, she could almost feel the love radiating out from the mirror. Yes. Love and Wolf. Hand in hand they went, those two. Virginia and Wolf. Not Elias, no. The spell of deception fell from her like a heavy mantle slipping to the floor. The air in the tomb crackled with anger, and, Virginia realised, humour.
"A nice try, a nice try" she said aloud. Elias jumped at the sound of her voice and looked at her in puzzlement.
"What do you mean?"
"I wasn't talking to you, Elias" Virginia spoke as she moved forward. She ignored the sudden light in Elias' eyes as he thought she was moving towards him. She came to stand at the foot of the coffin, staring down into it with a carefully controlled expression of comtempt on her face. The corpse twitched and the blackened lips parted as air hissed out of the gaps in the skull.
"Well, well, you can't blame me for trying" the old hag croaked.
"I could blame you for everything, actually"
"Ah now, that wouldn't be fair, not fair at all, fair Virginia. Really child, you expect too much of me"
"Fair? What would you know about being fair? And as for expectations, here's just what I expect. No, actually, I demand it. You will release Wolf and Willem from the mirror, you will cease whatever evil hold you have over Elias..."
"She has no hold over me, Virginia. I'm here of my own free will" said Elias, interrupting. He sidled closer to her, reaching out for her hand. Virginia snatched it away, but she was unable to hide the fact that it pained her to do so. The witch had only played up what was already there, it seemed to Virginia. She closed her eyes for a moment, calming herself, willing her heart to stop thudding. She couldn't afford to panic now. It was a battle of wits and wills and for the time being, it looked to be two against one. What could Elias see in such an evil creature as this witch? The corpse wheezed raggedly.
"It's true, girl. And don't waste your time demanding things when you must know the way of such things by now. But come now. Your wolf lover is in no immediate danger. He could have been, of course, but I chose to spare him, just as I chose to spare you. Come, sit down here, at my feet. Your mother used to sit at my feet, you know. You're very much like her"
"I'm nothing like her, old witch"
"Her name is Hera, Virginia. She knows about us. I trust her" Elias cut in once more. Virginia looked away from the corpse to stare at him as he sat perched on the edge of the coffin. She knew? The witch knew about her? Virginia felt cold suddenly at her secret being in the possession of such a one as, Hera. She spoke the name silently, disliking the sound of it. Her knees felt weak as a great portion of her courage failed. She stepped away from the coffin to sit on the lower level of the dias on which it lay, not realising that she had accidently sat herself down exactly as the witch had bid her. In the corner of her eye she saw Elias creeping forward to sit down next to her. If he so much as touched her, she would, what? Scream, or sigh? Elias seemed to realise her discomfort and he sat awkwardly, his hands clasped before him as if in prayer.
"Virginia, I don't know what to say to you. I practiced many times, in my head, since I first realised what had befallen you. Sorry just didn't seem to sound right to me and now that I see you, I know why. I can't be sorry, not now that you're here, that we're together. We're the same, Virginia. Don't deny it, I can see it in your eyes that you know this"
"I did not ask for this"
"Nor did I. But now that it has chosen you, can you afford to ignore the benefits it will bring to your life? Please don't tell me that you reject your new senses, your new skills. You're using them even now, they're a part of you now. Just as I am a part of your life now. I made you. We belong together, you and I" Elias continued in his whispery voice. Virginia found herself agreeing with much of what he said. But it was also the biggest load of rubbish she'd ever heard.
"Tell me, Elias, was this a part of some grand plan of yours? Did you really want to return to being a normal human man, or did you simply want access to this world, a place where you could fit in better than your own?"
"I don't know Virginia. It could be that what you say is true. I grieved when I had thought the power lost to me. I came to think that it was wrong to give it up. Maybe that was what went wrong with the spell. Griselda asked me time and again if I was sure this was what I wanted and I assured her that it was. But as for making some conscious decision to come here and wreak havoc with the peoples of these lands, well no, I did not plan for that"
"I think that you sought only love and friendship, Elias. Wolf offered them both to you"
"Yes, that he did. But is love such a bad thing to reach out for?"
"No. But Wolf didn't offer me, Elias" Virginia said with some conviction. Best to put this werewolf's aspirations in perspective. She glanced sideways at him, seeing his forehead creased with the strain. Tentatively she reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind his ear. He grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips and she allowed him this small comfort despite the roiling anger contained within the mirror a few feet away.
"Release him. Let them out" she said, withdrawing her hand gently. Elias sniffed and rubbed at his reddened eyes.
"I can't. I don't know how. She didn't tell me"
"Then go out from this place. Leave me with her"
"What will you do? You can't destroy her Virginia. She's not what you think she is. I've been here, spoken with her at length. She understands me, and you too. She respects you, Virginia" Elias said, but he got to his feet as he spoke, looking down on the coffin with a curiously benign expression on his face. He moved slowly around the head end and made his way to the base of the stairs, glancing back over his shoulder to Virginia. "I'll be above if you need me" he said simply. Virginia waited until his footsteps had faded away before she rose herself, brushing off the bits of mud and scum from her trousers. She stepped up to the side of the coffin, taking care to stay out of reach of the cadaverous arms should they decide to reach out suddenly. Despite Elias' words, Virginia was not about to give the corpse-witch any benefit of doubt.
"Release him" she said, careful not too sound too desperate, but knowing also that the witch Hera knew just how much she loved him. The corpse crackled as the eyes opened. They glistened with health and vigour in the way that none of the rest of the body did.
'Tut tut tut, dearest Virginia. You know that's not how things are done. We, as equals, well, we must negotiate such matters"
"We are not equals. Not even remotely"
"Really? I consider you mine. Are we not both women of strength and character, destined to change the present and future as we see fit? And please, lets not waste valuable time discussing the finer points. The great arguements between good and evil have gone on forever and a day. I'm sure they bore the Great Powers immensely, who are after all, forever neutral in earthly matters" Hera rasped. Virginia suppressed a shudder as a minute part of the witches' left ear fell off. Hera's words did strike something of a chord with her though, she had to admit. Except for the part about changing the future. Virginia wanted no more of that, no thank you. She'd played her part in the history of these lands, and no-one had even asked for her permission in the first place. But she hadn't come here to discuss philosophy with a half-dead crone. She just wanted her Wolf back.
"What do you want?" she asked finally.
"Ah ha! Now we're getting somewhere little girl. But really, you shouldn't have given in so quickly, unless my company revolts you more than I anticipated"
"You have no idea. What more did you want? Want me to tell you how easy it would be to shake you loose from that pathetic remnant that houses your soul? Think that I'm afraid of you? I gave birth, in the middle of winter, at home, in this Kingdom, with no doctors and no drugs, so nothing fazes me anymore" Virginia spoke with heat, leaning right over and peering into the witches face. The breath was putrid when it came, in great gusts as Hera laughed.
"Yes, yes, that's better, much better" she wheezed as Virginia recoiled in disgust at the smell. "And of course, how could I forget, you're a mother now. It's changed you, little Virginia. But still so young, so much more to learn. Are you ready for the lessons, little mother?"
"Just tell me what you want" Virginia said, feeling the strain of the mental effort required to hold her ground with Hera. She was no good at this verbal jousting and never had been. She wanted out of this place, and soon. She glanced across the room to where Wolf waited patiently, his expression blurred and unreadable.
"What do I want, what do I want?" the corpse mused as if savouring a wolf sized buffet table. "Well, I tell you what. You agree to do a certain thing for me, sometime in the future, and I agree to release your pet wolf and his companion unharmed. Plus, out of the goodness of my heart, and I do have one, by the way, I will throw in a bonus that you very much want"
"A certain thing? What thing exactly? And what bonus are you talking about? Virginia asked, concentrating furiously on the witches words. The last thing she wanted was to agree to a verbal trap.
"The thing? Well, to be truthful, I don't yet know. I had always anticipated that we would meet once more, but I did not guess that it would be so soon. Your encounter with the werewolf, is that what you call it, has pushed forward our reunion. But, you wisely have doubts over what I will ask of you. So let me give my word that it will involve no harm to your mate, nor your son, nor any that you have come to love"
"How do I know you'll keep to this word?" Virginia asked, although she knew the reality of the situation. If there was one aspect to deal making that was adhered to in these worlds, it was the oath of the spoken word. A great many of the tales and legends of these lands concerned what happened to those who went back on their word. But a future claim was just so vague. It could mean anything. She looked again at Wolf, floating so close but so far out of reach. Would he do the same thing to secure her release? Of course he would, without even a second thought. Except that he understood deal making better than she did. He'd made one before, with Virginia's own mother. She'd held him to it but he still found a way to defeat her. Maybe Virginia would be able to do the same. Keeping her eyes firmly on Wolf, she spoke the words.
"I agree". A faint breeze blew through the tomb, stirring the stagnant puddles with little ripples across their surfaces. Virginia fought down the sense of unease. She would prevail. Perhaps this was the test she'd always known was coming. She shook herself back to awareness. The witch-corpse lay unmoving, it's eyes closed. Virginia sensed no triumph or gloating from the thing. Maybe this Hera really did think of her as an equal. Did she think now that Virginia might be able to avoid her future claims as easily as she had avoided the traps set by her protege, Virginia's own mother Christine? It would be an uneasy truce between them she realised.
"Tell me how to release the mirror"
"Of course. But, don't you want to know what my added bonus is?" Hera replied. Virginia nodded slowly. She'd forgotten about that part. She hoped she just hadn't unwittingly put her head through the noose.
"I can tell you how to remove this curse of yours" Hera rasped. Virginia was startled for a moment. It was the last thing she had expected to hear.
"How?" she asked, trying to keep the rising excitement out of her voice, even though she didn't know if she could trust what the witch might tell her to do.
"You need to find a Source, a great store of magic that is untainted by the words and deeds of mortal creatures. Many exist, but not all are accessible. You came very close to one once. Do you remember it? No? Then go to the Wishing Well, and start there. No more will I say on this. As for your half-wolf, go now to the mirror". Virginia obeyed, her mind still spinning, trying to make sense of the vague words regarding the cure for herself and Elias. Facing the glass, she put her hands up to the frame, feeling there the natural whorls in the timber. There were thousands of them, but she found the ones that Hera described, placing her fingertips over them in a precise order that she knew she'd never have guessed even if she'd stood there for a year. There was a quiet snick and the familiar smell of ozone which Virginia associated with a 'live' mirror. She stepped back just in time as Wolf, Willem and various small creatures were ejected rather unceremoniously from the glassy surface. They all landed in a heap on the mucky ground, Virginia leaping forward just as Wolf was turning back to grab for her. He held on to her so tightly she could barely breathe.
"Virginia, Virginia" he whispered over and over, using her human name and that particular growl which she knew to be her name in the wolfen tongue. She laughed and kissed him deeply, running her hands through his tangled hair. Over his shoulder she saw Willem getting to his feet, blushing all the while. She stood herself, pulling Wolf up to join her. Both brothers looked slightly giddy and held on to each other for balance. Wolf reached for her again but she held up her hand, hearing the irritated little chirp coming from her jacket pocket. She opened it to see the very ruffled magic bird who obviously hadn't enjoyed their reunion as much as they had. Virginia took Wolf's hand.
"Come on, lets get out of here"
"Wait. How did this happen? How did you get her to release us?". Virginia looked sideways at the corpse. It lay silent and she suspected it would stay that way. Yet all of a sudden, Virginia found that she couldn't tell Wolf the complete truth of what had transpired. Not now, not yet. Later, when they were both relaxed and calm and all this had been put behind them, then she would tell him. Yes. To tell him now would only worry him, and she needed him to focus now if they were to follow the clue given by Hera.
"I, ah, I used my influence on her. She's a coward really. I defeated her before, remember? So did she" Virginia answered him, desperately hoping he would not question the matter further. Wolf looked at her closely for a long moment and Virginia could tell that he had doubts, but he smiled and kissed her hand. Virginia knew that he had put aside his questions, for now anyway. He frowned deeply when he scented Elias on her hand and gazed with hard eyes up the stairs.
"Yes, lets go then. But, should we leave this, thing, here? You know how I dislike leaving an enemy at my back"
"And you know how much I dislike wanton destruction of anyone's life. Lets leave her. She's losing what little power she still has. In a few years time there will be nothing left of this corpse, no matter what spell she's cast on it" Virginia replied, wanting to get in one last little jab at the hateful witch that had caused so much suffering in the world above. To her satisfaction, it twitched in obvious anger at her words. She turned her back on it, pulling Wolf along with her as she entered the stairwell. There was a faint hissing sound at her back but she ignored it as she trudged back up to the room above the crypt. The mad priest was still there, tending his stew, but Virginia gave him no more than a backwards glance despite Wolf's wanting to stop and stare at the man. She burst out through the low doorway, feeling that even the moist smelly air of the swamp was better than the corrupted envirornment within the hut. She felt as tired as she had ever been, but it was a mental tiredness. Wolf wound his arms around her from the back and kissed the back of her neck gently. She put his hand to her breast, wanting his touch suddenly despite their unromantic surroundings.
"We've really got to stop doing this Wolf"
"What's that, beloved?"
"Rescuing each other. It's exhausting you know!"
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Down below in the darkness of her tomb, Hera lay deep in thought. It had gone well, very well indeed. It had been entertaining, at the very least. Hera had no more doubts over her choice. Plus, she had garned an extra bonus out of the deal. Pity that she had not had a chance to deal with the wolf, but it was true that her power was failing in many ways. Still, another opportunity would likely present itself soon.
A popping, gurgling sound drew her attention and she saw one of the pools of water that covered the floor begin to ripple and steam. A mist of vapour rose from the surface, growing larger as it loomed over the coffin. Hera suppressed a shudder as she gazed at the newly formed apparition. It was three times bigger than it needed to be, but then when did those such as the sender of the thing ever develop a less than grandiose vision? She waited while it formed itself into the vague outlines of a human face.
"It's done" Hera spoke sharply. The vapourous mouth moved and it's owners musical voice came out of it.
"So I see. And for your good work, I will of course honour my end of the bargain"
"See that you do, sister". The misty shape laughed.
"Do not place yourself so high, Hera. Your aspirations have long foretold your exclusion from us" it said in it's singsong voice. Hera scowled at it. A breeze blew through and the shape dissipated with barely a murmur. After a time, Hera felt confident enough to think her innermost thoughts. You're placing far too much faith in this little girl, pond water Goddess. I have put her feet to the path, but she may never make it to you and your inner circle. And even if she does, she comes not before you untainted. What will you do when she runs from the tests? What will you do if she fails? And what will you do when you discover what your precious child has just given away?