I feel the Spriggan hoping around on my shoulder. He hisses, “Remove necklace... bad... cold iron.”

I reach up to the clasp and release it from my neck and ask, “Can you become invisible? I would like to see if my coven mates see you.” I finish with my reasoning. I feel a pat on my ear and figure that is a yes.

Walking in to our cottage, I catch Jadis and Circe by surprise. According to them I just left. Sitting down in our small kitchen, I explain what had happened, except the Spriggan. I want to see if they notice him. This is a chance to test its glamour.

Looking concerned Jadis asks, “How do you feel now? And how long were you gone?”

“I feel different. The time using Fae magic with Tamyson helped open my emotions and I let my repressed anger out. Not just anger, it opened all my emotions. It’s like my life prior was black and white and now my life is filled with colors. I have dimensions to my feeling that were never there. I understand things much better now. And to answer your other question... I have no clue how long we walked between.”

Looking at them both I explain, “Knowing the truth has scared the crap out of me. It is a lot to take in. My grandfather has a goat’s head and legs. I don’t even know what to say to my grandmother about that one. Then there is the fact that I am part of a breeding program. And some man, named Abramelin who is hundreds of years old, has plans for me in that same program.”

I ask, “Do either of you know who that man was with Damiana was the night we were bound?”

Circe’s voice becomes syrupy, “He was OMG gorgeous. I wondered who he was and had hoped I would run into him around Cave Croft.”

Now I shook my head, “No, that is a bad idea. That is Abramelin.”

Circe and Jadis look shocked and Jadis squeaks out, “He is hundreds of years old? He looks in his 30’s!”

“Yeah.” There is nothing else to say on that subject at this point.

Looking at both, “I will try hard not to let anger rule my actions. I don’t know what to do, and we are tied together in this.”

Circe, in what I assume is her usual hot-headed manner says, “We will fight this shit. I may not like you a lot, but I sure as shit do not want anyone else making decisions for us.”

Jadis nods, “I like calm and quiet. I think we should enjoy life. However, I am not up for a breeding program… for any of us. Gwen, what are the plans of the Fae?”

“I don’t know, Tamyson said he will be back tomorrow to continue training. They want to protect me… in fact, I guess, I should introduce you to my Spriggan.”

Holding my palm up towards my shoulder, “Spriggan, can you please come out?”

Circe and Jaddis let out a gasp as the creature sits on my palm.

“How?” Jadis asked.

“I don’t know. Spriggan can you help explain?”

The Spriggan jumps from my palm and walks around the table to look at Jadis and Circe. Cocking its head from side to side, blinking its eyes, he came back to me and appears on my shoulder, just sitting there.

In a piping voice and its head cocked to one side he says, “Spriggan; I am. Cork, you may call me. I sneak and protect. I help Gwen. I can show how to hide and sneak, like me. No one messes with my treasure.”

“Now you know as much about the Spriggan and his purpose as I do.”

Circe looks interested, “Cork, how can you sneak?”

Cork disappears from view and then reappears, “Glamour; I can.”

Cork looks cute, as his head keeps cocking back and forth like a bird.

Circe isn’t satisfied, “OK, how do you protect?”

Suddenly, he appears standing on the kitchen floor. Now, he stands 4-feet tall and coved in small boulders that look like armor.

“I protect like this. No one takes my treasure.”

Circe looks impressed, but not convinced, “Well, we have some help. I guess this is a start.”

Suddenly my stomach grumbles and I realize how hungry I am. “Do we have more food?”

Jadis jumps up, “Yes, we were about to gather food prior to your arrival home. Help me get stuff together.” And Circe and I stand to help her.

Circe works on the fire in the stove while Jadis grabs herbs for tea and I decide to check out the cellar. Finding the latch I pull and it opens easily. Finding an oil lamp and lighter, I start the thing up and check out our food supplies. The area is a small dirt floor room. with shelves lining three walls and hooks coming out of the ceiling. Meats hang with herbs. Rolls of cheese and bread lie in baskets. I see that everything has access to air. Nothing is packed tight to help stop mold. There isn’t a lot of food either. I imagine that they are careful not to spoil food. I find sausage, eggs, bread and cheese. Grabbing an empty basket, I load up and head back up the short flight of stairs. Then remember the lamp. It is bad to leave the oil lamp burning, it can start a fire.

Once I enter the kitchen again I lower the cellar door and hand over the food to Jadis. I watch as she adds lard to a cast iron pan and scrabbles the eggs. Circe is slicing the sausage, cheese and bread. The kettle whistles and I grab it. Placing it on the table the others follow shortly with the food.

As we eat Cork joins in. Hopping onto the table and squatting next to my plate, he inspects our breakfast. I cut little pieces of everything to make it easy for him. The little guy seems to enjoy our meal and the tea.

I speak up as we eat, “We don’t have electricity? Have to pump our water and no indoor bathroom?”

Circe, in what I am learning is a typical smirt laughs at me, ““Witches had to hide. These conclaves are or were hidden everywhere around the world. With the release of magic, legends and lores, we witches can now move about openly. However, you never know if we need to hide again. There is no sense getting used to modern niceties. We are self-sufficient."

“You have to be flippin insane. If magic is ok then there is no reason not to have indoor plumbing! I mean the hot springs is awesome but damn, we have to run through the weather to get to the water.”

The easy going Jadis shrugs her shoulders and smiles. Circe is the typical ass. “Get over it. You need to learn how to survive in hiding. We will never be safe.”

I sigh, “Ok, it's not like I have a choice.”

I have other questions, “We are a coven, I don’t understand magic and dont understand your powers. To top it off, I am training with Tamyson on Fae magic. Shouldn’t we come up with a schedule for training and fact finding. After spending all of my life in the dark... I really want to know what is going on. Where are my mother and grandmother? I almost don’t care about my grandmother, but we are family so I should look into her situation.”

Jadis and Circe nod their heads. Jadis suggests, “I am practical magic. That means divinations are one of my specialties. That doesn’t mean that you or Circe cannot perform divinations. It’s the fact that I am one of the strongest practical magic witches in ages... literally.”

I look at Circe, “And how does your magic work?”

Circe smirks, “My powers are very personal. Sex and blood. I can influence people. When we have a plan, I can help our chances of success. Like Jadis, I am the strongest witch in these areas of magic in an age.”

I say, “Then there is me. I am supposedly a witch and I am a Fae. I have two types of different magics running through my blood.”

Circe adds, “I think that is why Damiana is so excited. You may be the first with the powers of both. I think she wants to use you. I wonder about the ceremony... She cleansed your body but didn’t open up your emotions the way Tamyson did. Do you think that’s purposeful?” Circe finishes with her question to Damiana’s reasoning.

Cork pops out and onto the table with a serious look, “This place no good. Can’t keep treasure safe here. This place of witches, not place of fae. We move you.”

Circe answers, “Oh hell no. You don’t get to tell us what to do.”

I ignore her outburst, “Where will you move us?”

Cork nods his head in agreement, “Close... not far... must trust. We keep safe but close to witches. Your own place special. You three special. Place special... we know what you need and protect.” And with that the little guy disappeared.

I look at the others and say, “I would rather live in a fae home than one provided by Damiana. At least we know that fae want to keep me safe and Cork said the three of us safe.”

Jadis agrees, “I agree with Gwen. They moved us here without concent and we know we have zero power to control our lives here in Cave Croft if we let Damiana provide everything for us.”

Circe gazes at my shoulder looking for Cork, “We have specific needs if you really plan to keep us safe from Cave Croft. Jadis has to have her herbs and an area to practice her magic. I also need an area for my magic. My area should radiate a sensual aura and I need a lot of space. Lastly, if Jadis and I have our space to work, Gwen needs a space as well. It would be nice if they could attach somehow. Not that we see each other but we can access our areas through adjoining doors.”

I look at Circe, “Wow, that is fairly specific.”

Jadis nods her head, “Yes, Circe and I talked about this previously as we grew up. Not about being a coven but what we would need to perform our craft. We really are the best in our magics in an age and were planning for our future. We talked about this together because our power levels are considered immense.”

I look at the two of them, “Ok, does that make it easier for you Circe? If we are close but not under Damiana. Will that work? I believe Cork is right. We need our space. If the fae can protect that, then it makes total sense to move.”

Circe looked thoughtful, “If we are close but under our own authority, I believe that this is extremely beneficial.” And adds, “I will work a divination as well.”****

Jadis adds, “I will work divinations. I want an overall picture of our situation.”

I agree, “Ok, Tamyson told me that Cork can teach me glamour. So, that is what I will work on. At some point we will figure out my witchcraft.”

Walking out the door Cork commands, “Go between, we will work both. Glamour and between.” I concentrate on the edge of our little front yard and between steps, I stand at its edge.

In my ear, I heard, “Is good, now do more.”

So, I go between. I looked for any area that has an edge, any area that forms a coming together of two different ‘things’. From grasses that match up to trees, to rocks touching water. That one got me pretty wet. I need to think about where I will step. It would suck if I walk off a ledge because I step onto the wrong side. That little water incident sends me back to the cottage for dry clothes.

Damn we didn’t get to the glamour.

Walking back out of the cottage, I see Abramelin standing in our little yard and understand Circe’s comment better now. He is gorgeous… like holy crap gorgeous, mixed with danger. He looks foreign. Dark skin, high cheekbones, arched eyebrows, bright hazel eyes and black hair that hangs in small curls at their ends. That hair fell to the base of his neck and some hung down and across his high forehead. The sex appeal is finished with a closely shaved beard and mustache.

In a soft hiss I hear Cork, “Careful. Very much power, dangerous.”

Before anything can happen, Tamyson steps out from ‘between’ at the edge of the small yard. His horned head immediately drops, facing that dense forehead towards Abramelin and says, “Leave Abramelin. She is of the Fae and will learn the Fae. Your time to face her is not now. You will not continue to use us.”

His statement sent a chill down my body and Cork made soft sounds in my ear to calm me. I don’t know if it helps, I am petrified with the unknown.

Abramelin gives a small bow of his own head, “Tamyson, I greet you. I do as I need and will ever continue to do so.”

He has a small smile on his face as he eyes rove my body from head to toe. He has the audacity to walk around me, like he was inspecting me. It doesn’t help that I am in a soaking wet white nightgown. It sticks to my skin and I know that it is completely see through. I don’t move.

“I can see the Fae in her features. I have accomplished a lot with this family and I want to examine my latest addition.”

He stands in front of me and I shake as he runs a finger down my cheek. “Very beautiful.”

Tamyson is suddenly beside me and I hear rustling around us. Fae appear around us. Sticking their heads out of the surrounding vegetation. They stare at Abramelin without a single emotion crossing their faces . They stand, watching for danger. They stand with me.

Thank goodness... they will protect me.

Through gritted teeth I tell him, “I am not your next project. Leave me alone.”

Abramelin chuckles, “Just like your grandmother. However, you will succumb, just as all the others have and I will enjoy it.”

Grabbing my hand, Tamyson moves us between to a lovely glade surrounded by giant redwood trees.