Returned (17 page)

             
She watched him walk away then decided she looked like a love sick puppy and turned heading to the shop. She wasn't looking for anything serious, she didn't have the time, but some flirty fun with a good looking man was something the doctor would definitely order.  She would make him order it.

Chapter 19

EMBER

“You’re late,” Tabitha barked at her as she ran into the shop.

Yes, she'd run.

“I know, I know.” She did a quick glance around the shop and then sprinted for the fake staircase assuming she was waiting there.

“The door is already open for you,” Tabitha called after her.

             
Cora ran down into the darkness. Her fear of the dark was coming in at a close second to the look she was expecting on Ember’s face. She was running for crying out loud. Every other fear came in at a close second.

             
She skidded to a stop before entering the small room but was unable to compose herself as Ember was sat at the table with her hands folded looking directly at her. 

“Merry meet, High Priestess.”  As she spoke she stood and bowed.

“Merry meet, Ember. I’m so sorry I'm running late.”

“That is okay, High Priestess. You are allowed to come and go as you please, we are simply here when you need us.”

Shaking her head she narrowed her eyes in frustration. “No, it’s not okay. That makes it sound like you wait on my beck and call, I won’t have that. I won’t be late again and please call me Cora.”

“As you wish, High…. Cora,” she smiled gesturing to the chair next to her.

“So, what defence moves will I learn today?” she asked as she sat down.

“You won’t.”

“Huh?”

“Your power is advancing and you know what I can do. I believe when the time comes you will know what to do with my power. If not, I will guide you a little.”

Guide her a little. But she needed guiding
a lot.

“I want to talk about me.”

“Oh, okay.”  This wasn’t the training session she'd been dreading. She felt uncomfortable with this revelation.

“I was born in London on August 3
rd
1636,” Ember began.

“Oh my god!” Her mouth allowed the outburst to pop out before her head could control it.

“What?”

“Sorry, it’s just that I’m older than you. How can I be older than you when you look older than me?”

Ember smiled and she quickly realised her mistake.

“Not that I mean you look old... you always look great,” she stuttered.

“Thank you,” Ember said, whilst Cora kicked herself Ember continued. “I lived with my mother Sarah, my father Charles and my sister Jane. Jane was two years younger. We had a very normal upbringing for that time. We weren't rich but we managed from day to day. I was known as Mary-” she broke off.

Cora's mouth had dropped open. Ember had been a Mary? She didn't look like a Mary. Cora was a great believer that people looked like certain names. In her opinion she personally didn't look like a Cora, more like an Aimee.

“I can only assume by your expression that you're shocked, I know I don't really
look
like a Mary, but I was Mary Edwards with brown hair and eyes. Life in London was very different to the one you love now.

             
“Charles, my father, was a tall man with brown hair that was peppered with grey and was thinning with age, his soft whiskey eyes held love and years worth of wisdom. He was the most loving and caring man you'd ever want to meet. I was your typical daddy's girl and I loved him dearly.

             
“I lost my father to the Civil War in 1642. At that particular time the King and the parliament didn’t see eye to eye. The King didn’t make use of the parliament and there were disagreements about almost everything, money and control being two important factors. My father sided with the parliament. He didn’t like the King, my father used to mutter about the world turning Catholic again. We were largely Protestant at that time. The first battle took place at Edge hill, my father was one of the causalities. There were few killed compared to a large scale war but he lost his life.

             
“The house was never to be the same without him. I believe now, as does Tabitha, that this began a change in me. I was very close to my father you see and now I know why, he was a witch. I cannot believe that he didn't tell me. I don't even know if my mother knew. I’ve never known the gene to skip a sibling but my sister didn’t inherit our father’s abilities. I did. Tabitha spent many years researching this but she didn’t find an answer.

             
“The years after we lost father were very hard for my family and we lived from day to day. My father was what you would call, 'the bread winner'.” Ember paused holding her clasped hands together in her lap.

Cora felt like she was listening to a history lesson, not this woman’s life. How could Ember be so composed about everything? She'd fainted and laughed hysterically when she'd found out her life story.

             
“The Great Plague, the one you have learnt about in your history books, hit London in 1665. Human waste and rubbish lined the streets and the intense heat from a long hot day only added to the stench. Almost immediately after the disease hit I found my sister had become ill. She had tried to hide it but living in close proximity with each other meant we knew when something was wrong.

             
“Once my sister’s illness became common knowledge, we were subjected to gossip. I do not think badly of my neighbours, they were simply trying to survive. Our home was closed and we were unable to leave. I can only assume they believed this would contain the disease. How wrong they were.” She shook her head.“In a matter of days Jane had become delusional. The plague, I knew, was slowly killing her. Before Jane had become ill we’d heard about this plague. How it ate away at you. Hearing and seeing are two completely different things. I hate to remember my sister like that.

             
“One morning she told me that father had visited her. It wasn't true of course; father was lost to us. I knew then that her time was coming. I hope that father was there for her at the end. Mother was constantly at Jane’s side, we hadn't slept, each taking it in turns to nurse her. But we could do nothing to help her. Jane was lost to us in July of that year.”

Her voice weakened with the memory.

             
“My mother had reached an age many never dreamed of for the times, disease and standard of living usually took those people we consider young nowadays. Our home was still under lock down when my mother could no longer hide the disease. She lay where Jane had, also losing her fight. I was so angry with her at first, she'd covered the bulbous swellings even in the heat so as not to worry me. I hadn’t noticed until it was too late, her black fingers gave her away.  Now, after all these years I understand that she loved me and she only tried to lessen the hurt. I looked after her until the end. She left me on the 3
rd
August 1665. That was my 29
th
birthday.”

Cora felt the first prickle of tears sting her eyes. “I’m so sorry for your loss, I truly am.”

She couldn’t imagine the hurt and grief this woman had been through. For reasons unknown to her, Cora believed it was always harder to lose someone you knew. You would miss their voice, their laugh, even the habits that used to annoy you.

“I’ve had years to deal with my grief.” Ember gave herself a moment before continuing. “The night my mother died was the night that changed my life. I believed I was dying from the plague, although I didn't hold any of the signs, the pain I felt was excruciating. I lay on our dirty floor alongside the bodies of my sister and mother believing I was going with them. I'm not ashamed to admit this but at that moment I wanted to be with them. I closed my eyes ready for my lovely father to come for me.

             
“I was awoken in the night by sounds. The men with the carts had come for the dead and I knew I only had a matter of minutes before they realised there was still one survivor remaining. I hid and when there was a free second I made a run for it. I stumbled upon an empty house several streets away from my family home. This was the best I could do; it was either live in this house or on the streets.

             
“The next morning I made my way down to the Thames and was careful to avoid the ones who knew me, they would know about the plague you see. I washed myself trying to clean away the death and the dirt wondering why I was spared. I thought I wasn't worthy of death. I was jealous of my mother, sister and father. They'd been picked and I had been left. How silly of me to think that. Life is a miracle, we are so blessed to have what we have.

             
“I was stood knee deep in other people's filth when I doubled over as the most horrendous pain surged into every part of my body. I gasped as the brown of my hair just fell out in my hands. I looked at my reflection and was shocked to see it turn silver. I nearly screamed, biting my lip saved me. I then saw my eyes, they felt like they were suddenly on fire. I rubbed at them and tried to rinse them. I was petrified. I didn’t know what else to do so I ran back to the house and locked myself away afraid that people would take me away because I'd changed my appearance. Silver hair was no doubt a sign of madness.

             
“Some time later the officials came knocking at the door. I was terrified they would take me away so I rubbed mud into my hair. They were enquiring about my name and whereabouts. I gave the name Ember Smith and I told them I was from Scotland and had travelled there before the plague hit. They were too busy to question this so went on their way pretty quickly. I lived in that house and made it a home whilst learning my new skill. I lived there until the dreadful night in October 1666, the Great Fire hit. I made it out of the inferno rather quickly but many perished. I left London and made my way up here. I met Tabitha some time during the 1670’s and I haven’t looked back since. Tabitha has taught me everything I know today.”

Cora sat dumbstruck. Somehow, knowing this helped her see Ember in a different light. 

“Why did your hair change?”

Ember was shaking her head. “We honestly do not know. Tabitha had never heard of it and it’s never happened since. I think I may have been a unique case.”

Cora definitely agreed. Ember was indeed unique.

“Since meeting Tabitha I have found a new family, one I have come to love. I watched you with the Hunt family. I watched you in London,” she smiled, her grey eyes softening. “I consider you family, although you may not remember, I did occasionally visit you during your birthdays. I hope the green bag has been of some use?” she asked. 

Her much loved bag had been a gift from Ember?

“The bag still goes everywhere with me.” She couldn't say anymore as her throat felt tight with tears.

“I hope you understand me a little better? I wanted you to know about me now that you are no longer under the charge of Tabitha and your memories will remain with you.”

“Thank you.” Her throat was bobbing up and down trying to fight the tears.

Ember nodded and stood so she followed her.

             
They opened the door to the shop which stood in darkness. Ember turned towards her and smiled as she gently kissed the side of her right cheek.

“Goodnight, Cora.”

“Goodnight.”

She watched Ember leave.

“You’ve learnt a lot tonight I gather?”

She turned
,
too emotionally
exhausted to even jump. “You could say that.”

“Do you want to come up for a drink?”

“Okay.”

             
She followed Tabitha and stepped into her living room. She’d been in Tabitha’s flat before but she would never get used to its quirkiness. To her left the soft grey corner sofa faced the brick chimney breast. The cauldron shaped mirror reflected much need light into the small space. The walls on either side of the fireplace housed large bookcases and both were brimming with their heavy loads.

             
Tabitha pottered around in the kitchen, a breakfast bar the only thing dividing the two rooms. She made her way over to a stool and dropped heavily on it.

“I take it the session with Ember weighs heavily on your heart?”

“I really don’t know how she can carry on with everything after what she’s been through.”

Tabitha nodded placing a hot chocolate in front of her. “Time heals. It is a term that is perhaps over used but one that is never wrong. You cope because you have to.”

She blew on her hot chocolate, nodding. The kitchen was a great little room. The walls, a lovely toffee shade created warmth, the cupboards were white, the counter tops were granite, white stars twinkled from within the depths of black. The small fridge reflected Tabitha’s personality, it was green in colour.  A door next to the fridge led to the bathroom and the bedrooms.