Lady X

She knew the risk when she had used her wand. But she thought she would have more time to say good-bye. How had her father found her so quickly?

He marched right up to her, stared her down and before she could speak…

~ Chapter Six ~

EXERILLA LOOKED OUT the mullioned window of the secluded Sag Harbor estate her father owned.

She had not known of its existence before now.

The ten acre grounds were walled in with stone and electric. The driveway had a gatehouse and the gatekeeper was licensed for the Glock he carried.

A week had gone by and although she had tried to mind link with her mother, something was constantly blocking her.

Her father had snatched away the pendant from her neck, as soon as he had compelled her to go with him. And all she knew after that was that everything she did moved her closer to this day, her wedding day.

She glanced down at her gown of black lace. It was etched with white hand embroidered flowers, and clung to her figure.

A salty tear rolled down her cheek, and she licked it and sniffed. She wished she had been strong enough to make it all stop. She wanted to resist her father’s compulsion spell and run away. She had her wand safely within her air space and no other could touch it. Yet, she was unable to call for it and escape.

Her mother was nowhere to be found, but her father assured her that her mother was well, and she was making furious attempts to get to her. She was backed by her coven. She hoped they would be able to break her father’s dark wards.

She regarded herself in the long mirror and a shaky laugh escaped her. She looked like the bride of Dracula.

A long black lace veil covered her shining black hair which was piled high at the top of her head. It fell in long curls past the nape of her neck. Her face looked deathly white, amplifying the dark horror she felt.

Her father arrived without speaking to her. He undid the small clip at her hip, which had held the black lace train in place. “It is time,” he said softly as he spread the train behind her.

She stared at him. He was tall and so beautiful. He was her father. She never thought he was capable of this. She couldn’t break the spell. Her mother had always told her that White Magic could defeat dark, but she couldn’t break the compulsion spell. She knew that her father’s coven had taken measures to keep her mother out, but her mother was one of the most powerful white witches that ever existed. Oh Mom, where are you?

Perhaps her mother would save her at the last minute.

Her instincts told her no.

Her mother would not be able to enter without an invitation. Magic would keep her and her coven away.

Her father stood at her side, as she saw a look of triumph on his face. He was looking pleased while she was being tortured.

She made another attempt. “Please, if you love me don’t do this. I know you compelled me. You must have. I would never marry him. I loathe him, and besides…” she thought of Hunter and how she missed him. Hunter who she had discovered was an immortal and a wizard and forever gone from her.

“Besides?” her father frowned.

“Nothing papa, but know this. If you don’t save me from this, I will hate you forever. All the good memories will be destroyed by this last thing you are doing to your daughter. All of this for your selfish gains.”

“You will feel differently very soon. When you are married to a Debbin, and my dark magic mixes with your White Magic, it will create something new. You will see how right I am. I am doing this for you. Your mother is the most powerful white witch alive and even she cannot snatch you away. Doesn’t that tell you something? Had you given in to my genes, X, my child, you would have enjoyed my dark force and you would not now be compelled,” he said and immediately bit his lip as though biting back the words.

What? She could use this new knowledge.

“Never mind,” he answered sharply.

“Are you saying only a white witch can be compelled until she reaches her majority at Samhain?”

“I am not saying anything of the kind. At any rate, you are a white witch and have ignored your dark side,” he answered glibly.

“I will never forgive you,” she said softly. “When Samhain arrives, and I am my own person again I will leave you. I will leave him, and all of this will have been for nothing. I denounce you.”

“It will be too late,” he said softly.

Who was this man, she had called papa? What had he become? Was there no love left in him for her, for her mother? Was it all now just about the power? “You are transparent, my sweet X. You always were. You don’t understand that I am not concerned. Once you are married and a part of my dark coven, you will not wish to return to the simplicity and mundane frailty of White Magic. I shall not lose you.”