Bewitching: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel by J E Nice

Author:J E Nice [Nice, J E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Write into the Woods Publishing
Published: 2023-04-03T16:00:00+00:00

23

Erica

‘Got everything?’ Erica asked as Alfie closed his front door behind him.

‘Yes.’

In any other circumstances, Erica would have turned then and continued down the path to the road, leading the way. But this wasn’t her world.

She waited for Alfie as he shouldered their bag of provisions and joined her on the path. Taking her hand, Alfie led her back to the road where he stopped.

‘Why are we stopping?’

Alfie looked up and down the road.

‘Hang on, this shouldn’t take long.’ He pulled her left when she was sure they should have gone right. ‘Cecilia?’ he called as they reached a house built into a beech tree. Alfie wandered up the garden path and knocked on the door. ‘Cecilia?’ he called again.

Erica found herself hiding behind Alfie as the door opened and a woman appeared. There was a beat as Erica realised this woman wasn’t a fae and she crept out of Alfie’s shadow a little.

‘Alfie! It feels like such a long time since we talked,’ said Cecilia. Her hazel hair hung down to her hips, straight and heavy. Her eyes were dark green and her lips full. There was a natural beauty about her that made Erica grip Alfie’s hand harder.

‘A long time. I hope you and Berwyn are well?’ Alfie enquired.

‘Very,’ said Cecilia, looking to Erica as if noticing her for the first time. ‘And yourself?’

‘Very,’ echoed Alfie. ‘This is Erica Murray. Erica, this is Cecilia. She married a fae ten years ago.’ There should have been more to that introduction but Alfie left it there so that the words hung over their heads.

Cecilia gave Erica an appraising look.

‘Erica Murray, granddaughter of Minerva Warner,’ she breathed.

‘The same,’ said Alfie, squeezing Erica’s hand.

‘Would you like to come in for a drink? I’ve just made some pastries.’

Alfie turned to Erica who stared back at him.

‘Erm, that sounds lovely,’ she said slowly. ‘But...what about London?’

‘You’re going to London? Why?’ Cecilia looked between them.

‘Fen has taken a girl that way,’ Alfie explained, his gaze fixed on Erica. ‘We promised her mother we would check on her.’

Cecilia gave a nod.

‘One pastry and a drink, for the road?’

Alfie raised a questioning eyebrow at Erica, and while everything screamed at Erica to say no, how could she?

‘If you think we have time,’ she murmured to Alfie. He gave her a sly smile and led the way into Cecilia’s home.

The house was much the same as Alfie’s. Wooden floors, wooden walls, but it was lighter. There were flowers at the windows and in vases on every available surface but, Erica noticed, no bluebells. A sweet, earthy smell filled the rooms as Cecilia led them through to a small kitchen with large doors opening out onto a lush, green and private garden. Bare-footed, Cecilia padded into the kitchen and began preparing their drinks.

It wasn’t coffee, as Erica had been expecting.

‘Water with my own special cordial,’ Cecilia explained, handing her a glass and a plate with a pastry on it. ‘It helps to wake you up without all the stimulants we’re used to back in our world.

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