The Cost of Betrayal

Chapter Forty-two

Birsha freed himself from his cottage, angry that she'd escaped him yet again. He rushed down the path, but she was gone. "MAURA!!" He screamed in anger. He stopped running, he knew that he could get a few of the guards to help him bring her back. Especially since that damn necklace didn't seem to do the trick. He couldn't figure out where he went wrong with that blasted thing. Every other item he had used that spell on worked. He would keep trying until she was at his side, where she belonged.

He turned to walk back to the cottage when he heard a very familiar voice.

"Why are you so obsessed with her? If she doesn't want you, let her go. You can have so many others."

He smiled, he knew that sultry voice and she was perfect for his plans. "You should know, you're a member of the Elder Council." His retort only made her angry, she knew full well that that b***h was destined to save that coven. Why Hecate blessed that puny witch, she'll never understand. But Birsha would work, she could feel it. He had some very untapped potential. She quickly changed tactics, she knew what she wanted. And she would do anything to get it.

Brigid gave him a seductive smile, she knew that this man held power and she wanted it. She was getting tired of playing the council's games. Once she had control over the council, she would control all of the mystical creatures. And control was everything. Then finally her father would be proud of her.

Birsha knew what Brigid wanted, but he wanted his mate. He murmured the spell under his breath. If she were close enough, he hoped the necklace should bring her to him.

"Come now," Brigid whispered softly in his ear, "You know you want to." She let her finger trail up his arm to his neck and then under his chin, she knew how to make a man want her. She gently turned his face to hers and looked deeply into his eyes. Once she had learned of her other side, she learned quickly how to un-tap this wonderful trick. She kept it a secret from the rest of the council. Although she was sure that Cassius was aware of what she was. And that damn Abigor wanted nothing to do with her, she scowled slightly at the thought of the demon. He would have been perfect for her, but now she would settle for this dark witch.

Birsha growled low with desire, he wanted Maura, but he could feel his body responding to her. He scooped her up and carried her into his cottage.

Brigid purred, "I love it when a man takes what he wants," she whispered encouragingly into his ear. She had managed to manipulate his mind into making it see what he wanted. And when he sees what he wants, she gets what she wants.

*************

Maura sighed sadly as she looked in the mirror. She was happy to be away from that dark Isle and away from her fated lover. The words of the kind minion weighed heavily on her mind. She touched the delicate chain of the necklace her grandmother had given her. The necklace warmed again, burning the delicate skin around her neck. How could this be doing her so much harm? Her grandmother had never uttered a single spell to harm a person, and yet this necklace continues to burn her. What was going on with her necklace that it would be doing this? A single tear trailed down her cheek as the all too familiar pain of his infidelity hit her chest. She didn't care that he was unfaithful, but she would never be. That wasn't her style.

"You know, you don't have to keep it if it causes you pain," a deep gentle voice spoke from her. Abigor entered the room, he didn't know why he felt bad for this mysterious witch, but he did. Even if he didn't care for witches, he could tell that this one was decent and kind. And decent and kind people deserve love and protection. He could help her, he was certain, but she would have to get rid of her baggage.

Maura jumped, "How did you get here?"

Abigor did something he rarely did, smiled at the witch. He nodded his head towards the door, "Wash and Tree told me about you. And they were worried even after I sent you away. So I asked Anemone where they took you." He nodded in the direction of the young witch and her necklace. "If it's causing you pain, don't keep it." He stepped into the room and approached Maura. He didn't want her in the way he thought he had wanted Freya. And he had to do everything in his power to fix the darkness and keep his parent's good memories alive.

She looked at him sadly, "But it's from my grandmother." She reached up and touched it gently, missing her Gamma and her wisdom dearly. "It's only ever been off one time."

Abigor crossed his arms and tilted his head curiously. "Why was it off then?"

Maura sighed, "I was attacked on the night of a Beltane celebration when I was a teenager. The necklace fell off," her voice broke at the memory of that terrible night. "And a friend of mine died."

Abigor kept silent, he knew loss all too well. His mother and father were both gone, leaving him with more questions than answers. He patted her shoulder, he couldn't do anything else for her.

Maura rubbed her chest as the pain there continued. She clutched her stomach as the pain hit her there next. She knew he wasn't just making out with this person.

He saw her grab her stomach, he felt for her. "Who returned your necklace?" he asked gently. He wanted to distract her from what he was certain was happening.

She looked into his eyes, "My fated one."

"Hmm," was all Abigor replied before he reached up and gently removed the necklace. He lifted her chin, and gently told her, "If it's causing you pain, remove it."

Maura tried to take the necklace back but he held it tight in his fist.

"Wash was right, there is a fighting in your necklace." He looked down at Maura, "Your grandmother was quite powerful, wasn't she?"

Maura smiled, "I'd like to think so." The pain in her stomach was coming in waves at this point. Whoever he was with, they were insatiable. She held her hand over her belly.

Abigor looked down angry with whoever was hurting this innocent witch. He scowled, "If it's causing you pain, remove it." He repeated this time looking pointedly at her as she rubbed her belly.

Tears were forming in her eyes, "I tried."

Abigor's free hand clenched into a fist, he wasn't about to damage this necklace. "Who?"

Maura shook her head, she never spoke his name. She didn't want him to find her, she wanted away from him.

"I think I know someone that can help you," Abigor smiled as he formulated his own plan to help this witch. "But, you'll owe me."

Maura nodded, "I agree."