Page 67 of Haunted Hearts

“Nay. I don’t believe so,” Lillith answered, still hugging the goat and rubbing her hand over its ears. “What I learned from Blaze and Minerva is that people often think the worst of them and that is why they need to keep who and what they are a secret.”

“So, they don’t practice dark magic and curse and kill people?” asked Milo.

“Not them,” said Lillith. “Although, I can’t say that is true for all witches.”

“Then witches and warlocks aren’t evil and dark and nasty?” asked Milo, still trying to understand things.

“Some of them can be,” Blaze interrupted, suddenly standing right behind them. Lillith hadn’t even known he was there. “However, my mother and her coven, as well as me are not that way at all.”

“But . . . c-could any of you curse someone if you wanted to?”

Blaze chuckled and ruffled the boy’s hair with his hand. “No one cursed and killed Lillith’s brother, Robert, and neither will I or anyone curse you, if that is what you are worried about.”

“If you ask me, people curse themselves with their opinions, judgements, and beliefs,” said Lillith, starting to understand this all easily now.

“That’s right, Lilly Bee,” said Blaze, flashing her a smile, causing her heart to melt.

“What’s next?” asked Lillith.

“There is a prayer for the dead and then everyone dances around the fire,” explained Blaze.

“Is this when the spirits arrive?” asked Milo, sounding curious but scared. “The dead that come from another world to walk the earth? I’m not sure I want to see this after all.”

“We don’t need to stay for this part. I’ll take you all back now,” said Blaze. “Get your horses. I’ll tell my mother I’ll come back for her later. I’ll be right with you.”

Orvyn and Milo went to the horses and Blaze walked away to speak to his mother.

“Well, you live another day thanks to me, little goat.” Lillith gave the goat a kiss on the head and turned to collect her horse. She stopped dead in her tracks when she thought she heard her father’s voice from behind her.

“Liiiiiillllllith,” she heard a deep, low whisper.

Lillith shook her head, thinking it was her imagination. After all, there was music and chanting and lots of noise coming from around the bonfire. They’d been burning herbs since she arrived, and Lillith actually felt a little dizzy. She figured she was only imagining it all.

“Liiiiillllith,” she heard her father’s voice again. Slowly turning, she faced the fire, squinting to see the image of a man rising up from the smoke.

“F-Father?” she asked in a half whisper. “Is that you?”

“It is,” she heard him say, not sure if the voice was only in her mind.

“Is Robert with you?”

“Nay. Why would he be?” her father snorted. She walked closer to the bonfire, keeping her focus on the image of the see-through man, not even seeing anyone else. Part of her was excited that her father was here. Another part of her was terrified.

“Father? I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to you.”

“I’m ssssssorry,” she heard, straining her ears since his image as well as his voice was getting fainter.

“Sorry for what?” she asked. “Oh, you mean the feud.”

“And your . . . beeeetrothal.”

“Oh, Father, I love Blaze. I don’t want to marry the baron. But Uncle Arthur insists I have to.”

“My brooooother is a fool.”

“I wish you were here to help me.”

“I will aaaaaalways beeeee . . . with you . . . Liiiiiilllith.”