The Tethering: The Complete Collection

19. The Hag

19

The Hag

A faint breeze tickled the back of Jacob’s neck. He turned to see the door shutting silently behind them.

They stood in a huge hallway. A ballroom opened in front of them with windows looking out onto the ocean. The hall was lined with large doors on either side, but there was not a single person in sight.

Emilia pointed toward the ballroom. It was the only open door and the only source of light.

Jacob nodded, and they started forward, the thick carpet muffling their footsteps so the silence remained. They reached the foot of a staircase that ended next to the ballroom doors. As they passed the stairs, the doors to the ballroom slammed shut with a boom that echoed through the house. Jacob pulled Emilia back, searching for someone who could have closed the doors, but they were still alone.

Jacob’s blood pounded in his ears like a muffled drum as the silence returned. Emilia led him back toward the other doors. The rumble of a sliding door to their left pulled Jacob’s gaze toward a room with light blue walls adorned in white, but as he took a step forward, the doors snapped back together with a loud bang that seemed to shake the air around them.

Crashes from the other end of the hall were coming closer, creeping steadily toward them as more and more doors added themselves to the din.

Crash, crash, crash.

Jacob clapped his hands over Emilia’s ears just as all of the doors in the hall opened and slammed at once with a sound like a cannon that ripped through the house.

Jacob swallowed hard as the ringing in his ears sent the room swaying.

“Up we go?” Jacob asked, lowering his hands from Emilia’s ears.

“I think that’s what she wants.”

Jacob followed Emilia up the ruby red-carpeted stairs. The staircase turned back on itself before reaching the second floor. Jacob expected to see another hallway, with more slamming doors. But in front of them was a silk curtain of deep violet.

“Welcome Emilia, daughter of the Gray Clan,” said a voice from behind the curtain. The voice didn’t sound centuries old. On the contrary, it sounded light and musical. “I did not think I would ever meet another member of my Clan. Although, I suppose you are not truly a Gray.”

Jacob took Emilia’s hand.

“And Jacob Evans. The boy with no family and one of the most powerful enemies in the world.”

Jacob’s spine tingled at the use of his name. How much did the Hag know about them?

A hand slid through the curtain. A pale, smooth hand with nails painted bright red. The violet curtain was carelessly tossed aside, and a gorgeous woman sauntered through. She was small, not much more than five feet tall, but her nude satin pumps added at least four inches. A white silk dress clung to her hourglass curves, and her dark brown hair hung in seductive waves around her shoulders. Her painted red lips slipped into a smile as she laughed. “And I was afraid this decade would be boring.”

The woman waited patiently for either of them to speak.

Emilia managed to find her voice first. “I’m sorry, we were sent here to find the Hag of the Gray Clan. Do you know where she is?”

The woman tossed her head back and laughed again. “I am the Hag, you silly child.”

“But you’re―” Jacob began.

“Beautiful, gorgeous, forever young?” The Hag walked to Jacob and ran her cold fingers gently across his cheek, lingering on the circular scar that Domina had given him. “If children were told the truth about Hags, there would be far too many of us running around. And then I wouldn’t be special anymore.” She pulled Jacob’s face so close to hers they were nearly kissing. “Come, my beautiful boy, and we shall see what the future holds for you.”

The Hag laced her fingers through Jacob’s and began to pull him through the curtain. Emilia started to follow.

“Did I say you were invited?” the Hag asked without looking back.

“No,” Emilia said, “but Jacob’s not going anywhere with you unless I go, too.”

“Fine.” The Hag tossed her hair and glared at Emilia, her red lips pouting. “But sometimes three does become a crowd.”

The light on the other side of the curtain was dim, without any of the cheer that filled the bright afternoon. Fine silk pillows and cushions lay scattered carelessly across the floor. There was a table in the center of the room, and upon it sat a crystal ball, a small bowl that emanated violently green smoke, and platters of food. Chocolates, berries, and pomegranate seeds on a silver tray lay next to drinks in crystal decanters.

“Please eat,” the Hag said as she laid herself on a sofa of pillows. “I do love watching people eat. I haven’t tasted anything in, oh, a few hundred years or so.”

Jacob looked to Emilia.

“We’re not hungry, but thank you for the kind offer,” she said as she pulled Jacob to sit next to her on a pile of pillows near the curtain, keeping them close to an exit.

“Dear Izzy taught you well.” The Hag clapped her hands, and all the food disappeared. “Pity. There was nothing wrong with the food. The two of you are far too interesting for me to enchant. You will provide much more entertainment for me out in the world than if you were to stay here with me. Although,” she smiled seductively at Jacob, “it will be a pity to let you go.”

Emilia cleared her throat.

“I know,” the Hag said, tossing her hands dramatically into the air, “he’s taken, like it or not, forever and ever. But a girl can still dream. You have dreams, don’t you Emilia? Dark dreams that wake you up with fear and tears.”

Emilia stiffened.

“What’s your name?” Jacob said, trying to steer the conversation away from Emilia’s nightmares.

“I am the Hag of the Gray Clan.”

“But―”

“I have no other name. I did once, a long time ago. But when you choose to live forever, certain sacrifices must be made. One is the luxury of a name. I cannot eat or sleep. I cannot feel cold or heat. I cannot feel the sun or the wind or the rain on my face. I feel nothing.” The Hag ran her fingers along her silken pillows. “They could be as rough as stone, and I would never know. But it is a small price to pay.”

“It seems like a lot to give up.” Jacob squeezed Emilia’s hand. What would it be like to never feel the warmth of her skin again?

“Not for me,” the Hag said, quickly standing up and moving to the far wall of the room. She pulled aside another violet curtain to reveal a window that overlooked the ocean. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky was filled with colors. The Hag’s eyes reflected the red of the setting sun and became frighteningly fierce.

“When I was a witch, the humans believed in magic. They hunted us. They burned us. They would praise God as they roasted us alive. And not only witches. They burned humans, too. Just because their neighbors had accused them of witchcraft. They tried to burn me once. I escaped. And that’s when I decided being immortal was worth being shunned. It was worth every sacrifice to be beyond the power of simple humans.”

The Hag strode to Emilia, her eyes still blazing, and took Emilia’s chin, examining her face. “It is f*******n by the laws of your Clan for you to speak to me. And yet you come here. Tell me why, Emilia Gray. Why would you betray Isadora?”

“Because I need your help,” Emilia said softly, holding the Hag’s penetrating gaze. “I need information. There was a woman. I’m told she came to you seventeen years ago. I’ve tried to track her, and this is as far as I can get.” Emilia paused, but the Hag said nothing. “I need to find this woman. It’s very important.”

“Coward.” The Hag tossed Emilia’s face aside and strode back to her couch. “If you can’t even ask the question, why should I give an answer?”

“But that is my question. I want to know where she is.” Emilia rubbed her neck.

“Ask the question you came here for, Emilia Gray, or leave me be.”

Emilia took a deep breath. “I want to know where my mother is. I want to know why she came to you, what she asked you, and what you told her.”

The Hag smiled and closed her eyes. “Why do you want to know where your mother is?”

“Because she’s the only person I know who lived in the compound where LeFay is based and managed to leave it alive.”

“You were in the Graylock caves for days. Even I didn’t know if you would make it out alive. And it is rare for me not to know how a story ends.” The Hag sat up, her gaze drinking in Emilia and Jacob. It was as though she were trying to absorb their essence. “I cannot see how either of your stories end. And your tales are carefully linked with the fate of all Magickind. I haven’t felt this interested in anything in three hundred years. It’s almost like being alive again.”

“You’re not alive?” Jacob asked, unable to pull his eyes from hers.

“One cannot be considered truly alive if one can never die. There is more of stone than of tree in me, Jacob Evans.”

“I was a prisoner,” Emilia said, startling Jacob, who wrenched his gaze from the Hag’s, “I never got to explore anything. I don’t know how LeFay works. My mother could be an excellent resource.”

“That isn’t why you want to find your mother. I may not be able to see your future, traitor of the Grays, but I know your heart. You want redemption. You want to know that your mother was a good little witch. That half of your blood is not stained with death. That the Pendragon has good in him somewhere.” The Hag laughed. It was a high, cold cackle unlike her earlier mirth.

For the first time, Jacob was afraid. He could feel the Hag’s age and power seeping into the room. The Hag stopped laughing. Her face became cold and her voice low.

“What if I tell you that no good awaits you down this path? You will find neither the answers you want nor the peace you seek. Would you leave this house? Go back to your home and pretend you had never met the outcast of your Clan?”

“No,” Emilia said, her face calm though her voice shook. “I would find another way.”

“When the first flash of dawn breaks through the night

at the top of the land where the rock meets the sea,

the first to see and the first to take flight

will find the land of Her pure delight.

The chance of the fall is the price must be paid.

Risk darkness or light to find what awaits.

“That is what I told Rosalie, and that is all I will tell you.”

Jacob began to ask the Hag what the poem meant, but Emilia squeezed his hand, tears streamed down her face.

“And you, my beautiful boy,” the Hag said, resuming her coy smile. “What question would you ask?”

Jacob’s stomach clenched. He hadn’t come with a request. His only thought had been of helping Emilia. His mind raced. There were many things he wanted to know. The Hag began drumming her fingers on the couch. A steady rhythm. One-two-three-four, one-two-three-four.

“I want to know―” Jacob stared down at his hands. His left palm glowed gold. “How did I survive? When we were escaping the Dragons. I did a spell. I had no talisman, and I lived. Why?”

“Why are you alive?” The Hag leaned toward him, her eyes unblinking. “Is it such an awful thing to be mortal these days? I thought you would enjoy all of the earthly pleasures.” Her eyes flitted to Emilia, and the Hag smiled. “But if you’ve grown tired of being a fragile little mortal, I could make you like me. We could live in my palace forever. The spell has been lost, banished from all the books, but I remember how to become like me. After all, I did it to myself.” The Hag reached toward Jacob. “We would have such fun.”

“No,” Emilia said. “He will not be joining you.” Jacob looked at Emilia, the tears had disappeared from her eyes, but her face had turned red. “We thank you for your extraordinarily kind offer.”

The Hag shrugged and leaned back in her seat.

“But, do you know how I survived?” Jacob dared to ask again.

“Sometimes, the universe hasn’t finished with you.” The Hag shook her head disinterestedly. “All things are linked, and the bind makes us strong. Perhaps you will find out why. Perhaps it was all just a mistake.”

“But aren’t you supposed to know these things? Can’t you just tell me?” Jacob asked. “Ma’am,” he added lamely.

The Hag smiled and stood, her hips swaying as she walked away to the far end of the curtain.

“Then can I ask you another question?” Jacob said, his heart leaping. “How can we defeat the Dragons?”

The Hag shook her head, but this time she did not smile.

“But you have to know how the Dragons can be defeated. You can see the future,” Jacob said desperately.

“I can sense the future, silly child. I don’t watch it like a pantomime.”

“Is there a weakness we can use?” Jacob asked. Again, the Hag shook her head. “Is there a spell we can use to defeat them?”

“Darling, I do magic. What you’re asking for is a miracle.” The Hag pushed through the curtain and was gone.