chapter 2

Catriona Age 11

“Please, come on, Cat! Your Mama is gonna to kill me! I don’t want to know what Aileen would do to me, either. Your sister is scary. She acts like the Queen of Sheba and has some sort of an army to back her. All Saints, even Aiden, Cillian, and especially Finn, will have my head if anything happens to you!”

The rain started to beat harder on us. I was still dressed as a princess, and Red still had his shiny shield over one arm and sword in the other. A chill ran through me, but I blamed it on the sudden change of weather. It had been a bright sunny day leading up to the great gathering.

I heard Redmond talking, well pleading, but as usual, I stayed focused on my mission. Despite his voice coming from my left, I kept wondering right, and like he always did, he followed me. I kept moving and thinking as we passed each tree. I wasn’t sure what direction our families’ homes were in at this point. I just felt a pull and followed. If there hadn’t been for the lightning, I could have sworn I was following a path of wisps. Oh, how I love my bedtime stories. They inspired tonight’s costume. I had my wild blonde curls flowing down with a now wilted crown of flowers around my head like a halo. I looked the part of a fairy princess. One day a prince would sweep me off my feet, and we’d ride away and live in a castle, and I would be happy every single day, and no one would ever talk about the magnificent Aileen. I don’t hate my sister; I am just tired of everyone telling me that if I’m lucky, I will grow into the young lass she is. 

Red says I’m not going anywhere. That like him and the rest of the boys, I will stay right here and help run the farms. I will make a proper wife and have nothing but sons. Yuck! I’ve seen the horses give birth. I don’t ever plan on doing that. And the way they make the colts are terrifying.

  Despite my lovely fairy stories, there were the scary ones. The horrible teenage boys told us all about the beautiful vampires who lure their victims with gold and beauty and then kill them, Balor the god of death, Carman, the evil witch, the poor children stolen and replaced by changelings, and the wicked Fae men who took unsuspecting humans for their wives or dinner! I really don’t know which of those fates was worse. How could they tell so many stories in one night every single year! Finn was one of the loudest and most animated storytellers. No doubt, he was my favorite of the older boys. Despite the vile things coming out of his mouth, I couldn’t help but listen. He spoke as if it were all true. I could listen to him for hours. It didn’t hurt that he was also the most handsome, even if he was a disgusting boy. As I sat there dreamily letting my mind drift into all that was being said, I felt a quick kick to my foot and was greeted with a pissed off look from Red.

Despite the folklore and legend of tonight, Red and our friends still went out in our costumes and made sweet treats around one of the smaller fires. But the legends were the spirits were close on that night. Sprites, fairies, and other mischievous creatures could cross over and wreak havoc for fun. Just for good measure, we made extra treats and placed them on the outer edges of our little camp. One year I went and looked the next day, and they were gone. Redmond said that the birds ate them, but his older cousin Finnegan said it was an offering and those it was made for, thanked us. I only used their full names when I was mad. I agreed with Finn. I felt it. Someone had watched us all night. Just as they do every year, maybe one day I would see them. See beyond the veil and what I’m not supposed to see. I knew where I would find answers! So, I kept walking.

Why did I desperately believe in magic? It scared me, but I liked it. I’m probably too old to believe in any of it. I’ll be twelve in less than two months. The tales my mother read to me of witches, selkies, changelings, werewolves, and good faerie kings excited me. Werewolves and Kings were my favorite. The thought of a brave warrior shifting into a beast to protect his clan had a certain appeal to it. I didn’t let Mama know that for sure. I would have gotten a lesson on impure thoughts. As if being curious about a man is really that wicked? They aren’t that different from us? Just taller and hairier, I guess. I’ve seen what dangles, and frankly, it’s just weird. Certainly, that would get on your nerves trying to get settled in your breeches.  

“Catriona Quinn, why are we headed into the forest directly into the storm? You are walking us into the lightning. We need to go back. The biggest bonfire is barely visible. I said I would protect you, and if you get stuck. I might as well be too since your parents and mine are likely to murder me on the spot. Ha! I’ll be a disgrace to the O’Connell name! Can’t even protect my lady.”

“Really Red? Your lady? I don’t need protection. Now, if you are following me, at least hurry up. We need to get to where we are going.”

“Where exactly are we going?”

I ignored the question and kept wandering.

“And yes, you are my lady! You do need protecting from a knight just like me. Do you know how silly and clumsy you are? I swear I kept you from falling face-first into the fire tonight. Then there are all the whispers about you and Aileen. I listen. Just so you know!”

Did he mean I needed protection by him or protection from him? Ha! Red and his words. He’s always in a hurry to spit them out. He rarely takes a breath. They often came out as riddles. But oh, his last sentence one had my attention.

“What are you talking about? Everyone is perfectly fine. Nobody cares about me. They don’t whisper. Everyone openly talks about my beautiful, perfect, porcelain-skinned, and raven-haired sister! She orders all her friends around and glides through town. I bet she will even be crowned this year’s May Queen. Then I’ll have to dance around her and be one of her subjects. As if I’m not already. If only everyone knew how awful she really was!”

“Yeah, there is a reason for that,” he muttered.

“WHAT?”

“Shite, nothing, Cat. Let’s just get back home. You know it’s not safe to be out tonight.”

“No. Talk Redmond.”

“Come on, Cat, you’re special. Where Aileen is cold and hard, you are gentle. Only the gods know what she is capable of doing, but you, you are the fiery one who brings light to the dark.” He quickly added, “According to Finn, it’s a very dark world out there, and you are precious. Therefore, we’ve all sworn to look after you.”

“What exactly are you quoting me on little O’Connell?” I was shocked to see Finn out in the middle of the woods, trying to shake the water out of his hair and staring at me like I was out of my mind.

“Finn, what are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be snogging some girl in a barn somewhere?” Red rolled his eyes, trying his hardest to insult his cousin.

“Why, yes, I should be. But instead, I saw you, two idiots, heading into the forest straight into a storm, and began wondering what in the Hell was wrong with you. No doubt, this little witchy enchantress was leading you by the ballocks.” I couldn’t believe he laughed as he called me a witch. Did he think I was gross and ugly with warts on my nose? He was now my least favorite person. 

In a lower tone to me so Red couldn’t hear, he whispered, “Cat, don’t give me that look. You know I’m right, Red here would walk straight into the fiery pit if you asked. He’s only eleven. I hate to see what it will be like when you are my age.”

“Then, why are you here?” I gritted out.

“To finish Red’s story, of course… Let’s see he was blabbing how all of the boys were told to keep a watch on the Quinn girls. And with excellent reason. I’ve never seen two lassies get in as much trouble as you and your sister!” 

“All?”

“Yeah, all the Murphys, O’Connells, Ryans, and of course, the Quinns.” 

“Well then, you two are the most loyal O’Connells, and my sister is the meanest Quinn. Between all of you, nothing will ever go too wrong.”

“Saints. Don’t tempt the fates.” Red busted out. “They already seem in a piss poor mood tonight despite the treats we left and the biggest bonfires I’ve ever seen. And did you see all the meat roasting over the pit? But I still can’t believe all the wine our mothers drank. Your Mama and mine are going to be like two devilish witches in the morning. So no, I don’t want to make either one of them even angrier by losing you.”

“Aye, they will feel like complete shite in the morning. Best stay clear of them. Now, will you tell me why you both are out here?”

“Cat wants to see a witch,” Red couldn’t help but tattle. But that was my business, and I didn’t invite Finn.

“Now why is that young Quinn. Do you already have enemies that need hexing or a love spell that needs concocting?”

“No, and it’s not of your business. You can turn right around and head back.”

“Not even the strongest and fastest Gypsy Horse could drag me away from this. So get to moving. Cat lead the way.”

“Fine. But be quiet.” 

We walked a little further. There! I saw some lights glowing in a circle. I could have sworn there two shadows just beyond the light, but in a blink, they were gone.

I finally found her. I grabbed Red’s hand in my left and Finn’s in my right and pulled them faster toward the lights. I saw her. I expected the witch to be old, ugly, and in tattered clothes, but instead, she was maybe in her twenties, smooth tanned skin, and wild brown hair, and so many bangles lined her arm. Each bracelet was carved and had stones embedded. They looked heavy. I could see them shimmer in the moonlight. Under an awning outside of her traveling van, she sat quietly watching the rainfall, sipping a hot cup of tea.

“Finn, I take your compliment.” I continued to rush forward, not giving either a chance to speak.

I heard my sister talk about the witch who told fortunes last year. She said she was a spiteful old drag who stole your money to tell you misery and lies. All she wanted to know was if she would really be the one for him, and the old hag said fate had a different plan. Aileen would break her oaths and must learn to accept what she is given. Everything comes with a price. I could only assume him was Finn.

She looked at him in the same adoring way we all did. She would die of jealously if she knew he was right next to me. I mean, I don’t want him because he was a smelly teenage boy, but if Aileen wanted him, then he was no doubt special. I would think the price was her…well…if she wanted Finn. She’d have to give him more than a kiss to get him to notice her. Or at least that’s what I heard the other girls giggling about. But then again, he never looked Aileen’s way, and it drove her mad. It made me like him a little more.

He was younger than her by a year. He had a soft, gentle smile, floppy brown hair, and just a little bit of stubble. I wanted to make him smile. But he’d just ruffle my hair and tell me to be a good lassie and run off and play with Red.

I wasn’t roaming the woods for my sister’s fate. I was in search of mine! Maybe this witch was real? I bet one of Aileen’s ex-friends had paid that old woman to tell her those things since my sister was known to steal their boyfriends. Or at least take them long enough to kiss them and prove how untrue their undying love really was. At sixteen going on seventeen, she had a ruthless reputation of getting what she wanted. Another reason I was shocked she didn’t have him. Despite being cold, calculating, and downright nasty to those she didn’t like, she was absolutely adored. Thank goodness she liked me. Well, she loved me. I was her sister. Blood overrides everything else, and despite whatever else was going on, we were there for each other. Even when I was green with envy and wanted to tell the world how spiteful and vindictive, she was, I kept my mouth closed. You don’t turn on family. Ever.

While all of these thoughts ran wild through my head, the woman shifted her gaze and looked directly into my soul. Could she hear my thoughts? She smiled.

“Who is that? And is this why you drug me out into the middle of the woods?”

“Yes. She is going to tell me, my future. My fate.”

“No. No. No. Let’s go home, Cat. You don’t need to go around messing with dark magic.”

“I didn’t think you believed in magic.”

“I don’t. I meant you don’t need someone stealing your savings and telling you lies. I can’t deal with you crying.”

“Let her go, Red, she’s going to do it anyway. No use arguing.” Finn said with a slight smile.

“I am going. She looks friendly, and it is dry where she is standing. Are you two coming with me?”

“Nah, you two run ahead. I’ll wait here to guide you back home.”

I looked at Red. In a defeated voice, he said, “You know I would follow you anywhere. Even if it is to keep your dumb self, safe.”

I grinned and dragged his hand forward more and away from his cousin.

I thought of the words I’d heard my sister say to boys all the time and, for some reason, felt them leave my lips with a smile. “Come on, Red, you know you love me.”

He looked down, shuffled his feet, and cursed. “We better hurry up. Let’s run to the witch and find what our future holds.”

This time when I looked her way, she began to chuckle and waved us on. Red grabbed my hand, put his shield over our heads to protect us from the rain, and said, “Remember Cat, never go alone you are special, and always need protection.”