Page 2 of Haunted Hearts

Blaze’s long black hair fell over his shoulders, lifting slightly in the late autumn breeze. His leather doublet clung to him, showing his lean body and broad chest. Through the opening at the top of his tunic, she noticed curls of crisp, dark hair.

Lillith felt a rush of heat run through her. Damn, why did he have to look so good? She didn’t want to have these types of feelings for him. Not anymore. Not after what she’d learned about him and his family.

Why couldn’t he be fat, bald, and ugly and covered with warts instead? Isn’t that how all witches looked? It sure would make it easier for her to let him go if he had. Then again, what did it even matter? Things between them were over. Her father and his father might have had a verbal agreement that one day Blaze and Lillith would wed, but there was never anything put in writing.

At the beginning of the feud, her father changed his mind. Henri Bonnel had been securing a betrothal between Lillith and Baron Edward Bancroft before he died. Lillith and Serena just spent a sennight at the man’s castle. The baron was rich, good-looking, and kind. Everything that made a good husband. Even if he wasn’t Blaze.

Lillith wasn’t in love with the baron, but what did it matter? After all, she would never marry a warlock! She was a devout Catholic, and wouldn’t live in darkness the rest of her life, dooming her soul to hell for all eternity by becoming Blaze’s wife.

“Sister, you need to throw a shovelful of dirt atop father’s grave.” Lillith’s sister, Serena pushed the shovel into her hands, taking her attention now. “And stop staring at the warlock,” she warned in a harsh whisper. Her eyes flashed over to Blaze and then back to Lillith again. “He’s going to curse you, just like his mother did to Robert, if you don’t stop it. We don’t want you to die as well.”

“Give me that,” said Lillith under her breath, grabbing the shovel and scooping up some dirt. As sad as she was that her father and brother were gone, her anger overshadowed anything else at the moment.

How could Blaze never have told her he came from a family of witches? Lillith had been close to Blaze, and thought she’d known everything about him. They’d always been honest with each other. Or so she’d thought. He’d played her for a fool! His choice of deceiving her was unforgivable.

Lillith tossed the dirt into the hole and handed the shovel to the gravedigger. The sky above turned a shade darker. Thunder rumbled, echoing in the air. The cry of Blaze’s raven almost seemed like an omen of death. When she looked back to Blaze once again, a bolt of lightning flashed in the sky directly above him, almost as if he’d summoned it. Or mayhap he was trying to strike down another of her family members with it, hoping to kill them too.

“It’s starting to rain,” called out one of the bystanders, causing the crowd to disperse.

“Get the women back to the castle, quickly,” commanded Arthur. Her uncle, at least, had been here when her father died. Lillith had never really cared for the man since he’d always coveted everything her father had. Still, he was proving his worth she supposed, stepping in and helping to take care of things during this very difficult time.

“Sister, you’re staring at him again,” scolded Serena. “You’re starting to scare me. Now please, stop it.” Serena hooked her arm through Lillith’s, trying to pull her in the opposite direction, but Lillith didn’t budge. She continued to watch Blaze, wondering just what kind of man he really was now. “People are going to talk and say you still have eyes for the dark lord of Skull Manor if you keep that up.”

“I promise you, I don’t like him anymore,” Lillith said, shaking her head slowly.

God’s eyes, her father’s death would change everything for Lillith now. He’d been in the process of drawing up the papers to betroth her to Baron Bancroft, one of the richest and most eligible men in England. Her life had been about to change for the better, but now, she didn’t know where she stood. She was already well past marrying age. If she waited any longer, she’d end up stuck with an old, fat widower if she was even that lucky. Lillith could only hope now that Uncle Arthur could carry out her father’s dealings and still secure the betrothal for her with Sir Edward Bancroft. The sooner the better as far as she was concerned. Lillith couldn’t wait to get far away from Alderwood Castle, the feud, and most of all, Lord Blaze Payne.

Almost as if Blaze could hear Lillith’s thoughts, his head snapped up and his dark eyes interlocked with hers. Lillith gasped, her body tingling and stiffening, making her legs feel like wood. With his eyes locked on her, she couldn’t even find the will to move or the breath to speak.

The wind picked up, blowing the tree limbs, causing their branches to sway and creak, threatening to break. The raven squawked from its perch, then flew over and landed on Blaze’s shoulder. Slowly, the dark lord turned and headed back to his horse that was neighing and pawing the ground in anticipation of the storm. The man’s long, black cloak billowed out behind him in the breeze, making him look like a warlock if she’d ever seen one – which she hadn’t. Still, it was how she expected one to look.

“Enough! Let’s go, Lillith.” Serena took her hand and ran back to the wagon, pulling Lillith along with her as the sky opened up and the rain pelted down drenching them all.

“Someday they will pay for what they did to Robert,” Lillith gave her promise to her sister as she climbed into the wagon. Another chill swept through her. When Lillith looked back to the spot Blaze had been, the dark lord was gone.

* * *

Lord Blaze Payne made it back to Skull Manor and entered his courtyard riding in the pouring rain. Sliding off his horse, he handed the reins to his stablemaster, Orvyn. His pet raven, Ebony, flew up to the roof to find shelter under one of the overhangs.

“My lord, I need to speak with you,” said Orvyn, taking the reins and looking up at him, using his hand to shelter his face from the rain. Orvyn was old and slow, and always wanted to talk. The man’s wet clothes clung to his overweight body, reminding Blaze of his mother’s fat cat the last time it fell into the watering trough. Blaze wasn’t much for small talk, and rather liked his solitude. He also didn’t have time for this right now.

“We’ll talk later, Orvyn. Just tend to my horse for now, and make sure to rub her down,” he called back over his shoulder as he hurried across the courtyard and up the stairs to the keep. He nodded a greeting to some of his men in the great hall, not stopping, but rather walking right past them. Blaze headed down the corridor to his solar, wanting to be alone.

Seeing Lady Lillith and her family at the cemetery today upset him greatly. Because of the ongoing feud, he hadn’t spoken to her and had only seen her from a distance in five long years now. This wasn’t the way things were supposed to be. Blaze used to be the one to protect Lillith when they were children. He’d learned to use a sword at an early age, and had always brought it with them when they’d climbed the hill to see the sheep and watch clouds. He had felt like a knight protecting his lady whenever they rode into the forest to explore and look for mushrooms so Lillith could make him his favorite soup.

Aye, Blaze lost his heart to the enticing girl long ago, and would never forget her. In his mind, he thought that Lilly would be the one he’d marry someday although no betrothal had ever been formally made. Still, he’d had no doubt that they’d always be together. Lillith used to run straight to him when something was troubling her. He’d always been able to calm her with just a hug and a wide smile. But that was before they became mortal enemies. Before the damned feud.

Today, the wench glared at him as if she wanted to kill him. Blaze didn’t like the feeling at all. Their families had been feuding for so long now, that it was getting hard to even remember what they were truly fighting about.

Blaze threw open the door to his solar, stepped over the threshold, and stopped short, letting loose with a low groan when he saw his mother. Now he remembered the reason for the feud. His mother, the witch, had been accused of cursing Lillith’s brother, causing him to go mad and jump from a cliff to his death.

The last thing he needed right now was seeing his mother, Lady Minerva, here at the manor. Finding her in his private solar only added to his frustration. He hadn’t seen his mother in years now, and wasn’t in a hurry to do so again. Wherever the woman went, trouble seemed to follow.

“Nay,” he mumbled, shaking his head, thinking this was the last thing he wanted to deal with tonight. It was because of her that the family feud started in the first place. His mother didn’t know discretion. Because of it, she had ruined Blaze’s life and almost caused his father to lose everything, including the manor and even his title of knight.

Minerva looked up at him, not seeming at all surprised to see him, although it took him aback that she was here at all. Her fat black cat, her familiar, sat right atop his table. One lone candle burned brightly from an iron holder on the table, lighting up each wrinkle and subtle crease on his mother’s face. Five years had aged the woman more than he had imagined.

Her black hair was pulled back tight and twisted into a knot. Newfound streaks of gray ran through it. But even having aged, she still looked impeccable, he had to admit. Her gown was crisp and fresh and not wrinkled at all. She was clean, and the scent of rosewater drifted from her hair. Minerva wore colored gemstone rings of red and purple on her long, tapered fingers. The stones glittered in the candlelight, making her look like an elegant lady instead of a damned witch. Blaze noticed her crystal pendant resting against her chest, hanging from a silver chain around her neck. She used it as a pendulum for getting answers to questions. She’d let Blaze try it a few times, but he never could seem to make it work.