Page 10 of Which Witch is Willing?
“Where does that door lead to?” Killian asked, ignoring her directive.
“None of your business,” Tierra replied through tight lips.
“That is where you are wrong, my gazelle. Everything about you ismybusiness.” His tone was as hard as his black eyes.
Tierra wanted to shove him back, physically, magically, but held her ground without revealing just how much he infuriated her.
“Julian, show them what’s inside the trunk,” Killian said.
The other three Horseman objected at once, talking so fast that Tierra couldn’t make sense of the argument.
“Y'all go suck on a sock.” Moira lifted General Lee in front of her like a sword. “I’ve had enough of this bitchin’ and bickerin’ between us. We have bigger things to worry about than fragile male egos. It’s time we had a real truce and work together to find a solution that will save the world from endin’.”
“No one has seen inside this trunk throughout time except the four of us, and you want to open it up for these neophytes,” Nick said to Killian.
“Neophytes?” Aerin took a step toward Nick. “Moira give me that chain saw.”
“Cease!” Julian said in a low, commanding voice that raised goose bumps on Tierra’s exposed skin. “Bane is right. We will share with you what is inside this trunk,ifyou share the secrets of your sanctuary. Between the two, we might actually find a solution.”
Tierra shared a look with her sisters. They met her wary one, with suppressed anger and reluctant agreement. They really didn’t have much of a choice since Julian was mostly right. What did they really have to lose, other than the world, and that would happen if they didn’t try everything they could to stop it.
Tierra stepped forward. “Okay, but first you show us what’s inside that trunk as you are already standing inside our sanctuary.”
Julian looked to his brothers. Killian nodded for him to go ahead while Dru and Nick stood stoic. Julian set the large trunk down and released the complicated locks on the front. It seemed antediluvian, and the locking mechanism was like those antique desks with all the hidden cubbies. Finally, he lifted the lid.
Tierra and her sisters peered inside. Narrow stone risers led down to a bottom she couldn’t see.
“Is that a…staircase? Tierra asked.
“You left me for dead to save a fucking staircase?” Aerin said.
“It isn’t the staircase that is important, it is where it leads,” Julian informed her.
“Why, don’t that beat all,” Moira exclaimed. “It's one of them Mary Poppins magic carpet bags. Remember how she pulled all those crazy things out of her sack? Everythin' from coatracks to tasseled floor lamp. Don’t tell me y'all haven’t seen it?”
Aerin and Claire shook their heads.
“We need a movie night,” Moira said.
“It really is an iconic movie,” Julian said.
“You’veseen it?” Dru shared an eye roll with Nick.
“Not all of us are out every night attempting coitous with anything on two legs,” Julian said.
“There was noattemptingabout it,” Nick muttered.
“We’re getting off the subject,” Claire said. “Where do the stairs lead?”
“To Julian’s vast library in his gothic Châteaux high in the French Alps,” Killian informed them.
“France.” Aerin leaned into the trunk. “How is that even possible?”
“With all that has recently happened in your short span of your staggeringly limited life, you can’t figure that one out for yourself?” Nick pointed out.
“Listen you uncultured fuck,” Aerin said, “I know its magic, but what kind of magic?” Tierra was surprised she didn’t ask where she could get one for herself.
“Ancient,” Julian said, clearly not willing to add any more information.
