Glancing out the cabin window, she saw the dark purple
clouds racing over the hill. The air pressure dropped, and the wind wailed. She
leaned forward, steadying herself on the counter. She blew a tuft of her
corkscrew red hair out of her face. The storm would be here any minute. Just in
time.
He snarled at something outside. Her skin prickled,
and she made her way to the front door.
“Mortimer. Come!” she hollered, pulling the door open and
stepping onto the wraparound porch.
The outside air sent shock waves through her body. Electric and cold all at once.
Mortimer didn’t come running, but his noises got
louder. Then a distinct growl. A warning.
At the bottom of the steps, she rounded the corner and
saw him over by the fence, the rickety one. Poised, her black wolf, had found
something he didn’t like.
“Mortimer. Get to me. Now!”
The black wolf turned and barked, but then whined and complied,
trotting to his master.
A blast of cold air slapped her in the face. She stood
frozen, waiting. Mortimer at her side, ready to defend. It was happening now.
The last one had found her.
A vermin-riddled four-legged mutt of a critter stood on
its hind legs at the fence. With a low guttural howl, the creature strained and
morphed into a woman. A beastly sort, with wild yellow eyes and a few graying
teeth. A greenish stench cloud surrounded her, “Kalliroi.”
“Aurello.” Kalliroi said with a curt nod. “You’re not welcome
here,”
But the woman lifted the latch on the gate and
sauntered into the yard.
Mortimer growled.
“That thing going to attack?”
“If he has to,” Kalliroi folded her arms and stood
taller. Her reddish curls danced in the stormy air.
“Now what can I do for you?
Why have you invaded my exile? Uninvited?”
“Three sisters have come before me to find you, yet
none of them have returned. Tell me, have any of them found you?” The yellow-eyed
woman asked.
“Sisters of yours, have come looking of for me? Well
goodness. Whatever for?” Kalliroi replied avoiding the real question.
“They thought you might be interested in helping us,”
Aurello said. Her eyes intent.
“Helping you? Oh no. Remember I am forbidden to help either
side, the youngest or the oldest. Do not come here and attempt to sway me.” Kalliroi
said. The corner of her mouth twitched. “I know the consequences.”
“Some of the most horrific consequences,” Aurello gave
a terrifying gray grin.
“Indeed.” Kalliroi’s jaw clenched.
“Now tell me, have my… our…sisters been to visit you recently?”
“Look Aurello, do not waltz in here under the impression
that because we share a wicked witch of a mother, we are sisters.” Kalliroi voice
icy and her eyes hard, as she stepped forward. Soon her mouth was only inches
from Aurello’s ear. Her words hushed, “Now, is there anything else?
“There are other ways to persuade you, to see things
our way. I must take you take you with me, I’m afraid.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Kalliroi gave the tiniest
nod.
Mortimer bared his teeth and his body echoed a threat.
“With a flip of my wrist, I’ll snap that beast’s neck
in half.”
“Maybe,” She said. Patting her wolf, he whined in
protest, but stood down. “What about them?”
The women looked around and sets of eyes appeared around
the cabin, surrounding them. A collective growl warned.
Before Aurello could raise a hand in any direction, a
large gray wolf lunged from the bush, grabbing her by the throat and pinning
her on the ground. Her bulging eyes asked a million silent questions.
“Mortimer’s not my only pet. I’m more of a pack animal.” Kalliroi said with a light smirk, as she kneeled next to her trespasser.
“The ones before me?” Aurello choked.
“Yes. They came. All of them.”
“And?”
“And I killed them. I had no choice. They came for me,
and I can’t do what you want. I won’t. I will protect what is mine.” Kalliroi
whispered staring at every inch of Aurello’s face. “It’s never a good idea to
mess with a 7th daughter. You should know that.”
“You look like her.” Aurello spat.
“Who?” Kalliroi’s eyes widened, caught off guard.
“Our mother.” The witch softened. “You have her eyes.”
The storm around them stilled. There was a connection.
They shared blood, but it wasn’t enough to give up her true loved ones. Kalliroi
kneeled next to the pinned woman and pointed the tip of the blade at her heart,
slanted just to the right.
“Take a message to the hells for me.” Kalliroi
whispered as she pushed the blade, “There is no way. In any realm. That I will
let mother kill any more of my
daughters. If that means I have to kill everyone one of hers, I will. You make
four.”
As the athame punctured the witch’s heart, Kalliroi’s
eyes rolled back in her head. The vision. The one she needed. Loud and clear, she
saw it. The diamond, glinting in the moonlight, hidden in plain sight. On a
mountain top, only a realm or two away.
When the vision ended, Kalliroi snapped her fingers. A
tempest swooped in, picked up the yellow-eyed woman and carried her away.
Then she stood and patted Mortimer, “Come on, boy. We need to get to the Looking Glass. Those at home need to know about the mountain and the last gemstone. It’s the only way to save Giselle. My sweet 7th daughter.”
