Page 65 of Charmed

He had a saucer ready to go, but Tristan wrapped his fingers around Riley's forearm, stopping him. He thought Big Brother was going to restrain him, but Tristan stared into his eyes with a torment that matched Riley's.

"Save some for the rest of us." A half smile, and Tristan took the saucer. He threw it. Before it could land, he hauled Riley against him in a fierce hug. "About time you lost your gourd."

Shaking, Riley cupped the back of his brother's head. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Tristan pulled away. "We're not the monsters he tried to make of us and we're not frightened boys anymore." To prove it, he broke a teacup.

Brady, ever efficient, snatched a stack of bowls and dropped them. He dusted his hands. "You're on to something here. I feel better."

When all was said and done, there wasn't a piece of china remaining in the cabinet. They left the shards and ate in the kitchen.

Chapter Eighteen

After once again rehashing the tale from the alley, Fiona leaned back in her chair at the kitchen table, eyeing Ceara, then Aunt Mara. "Brady thinks it's a good idea to talk you, see if anything jogs your memory."

"You know everything I do, lass."

Ceara reached across the table and covered their aunt's hand. "The littlest detail might be useful. Is there anything more about the immortality spell Celeste cast? A loophole, perhaps? Did she ever hint at alternate outcomes?"

"Nay," Aunt Mara said, her Irish brogue thick and her tone distracted. She combed her fingers through her shoulder-length white hair while her blue gaze drifted in thought. "I figured I was the only one affected. You learned about Minister Meath the same moment I did a couple months ago. Celeste either purposely left that out or she hadn't been aware she'd spelled him, too."

"Why would she do that, though?" Fiona asked. "Assuming it wasn't by accident, why would she give the man who killed her more time to spread his zealous message? She had to have known he'd go after more witches, including our family."

"Punishment, maybe?" Ceara shrugged. "Being immortal sounds good on paper, but the reality is very lonely. Year after year, never aging, watching those you love die."

"That's assuming he's capable of love." Fiona sniffed. "Which he isn't."

Ceara canted her head in a clear touché. "Still, forever wears thin, no matter who you are. I sensed frustration for his circumstances and melancholy from him in our few encounters. It was buried under a lot of hate and anger, but there nonetheless."

"Aye, I can relate." Aunt Mara nodded. "It's possible his presence was needed for the cycle to end. It was my job to watch over our line, guide the fated when the time came. Perhaps the scales required balance and that's why he's here."

"Makes sense," Ceara mumbled. "Magick requires balance."

Aunt Mara straightened suddenly as if having an epiphany. "You know, I had a few visions of her back in the day, I did. More than a hundred years ago now, but she showed herself to me. I was having a rough go of it, and she told me the other reason why she cast the curse. Her premonitions showed her the Galloway/Meath quarrel wouldn't stop and we'd wipe out our whole bloodline. Something had to be done."

"We know that already." Fiona sighed, peeved at Celeste all over again. Or still. There were countless ways the witch could've resolved the situation, but she'd chosen to curse two families and take away love. No love, no hope. No hope, no peace. For three freakin' centuries. "Sounds like more excuses on her part, if you ask me."

Their aunt shook her head. "No, I believed her. She said something else. I forgot about it until you mentioned outcomes." She took a pass looking into Ceara's eyes, then Fiona's. "She said she was trapped in The Between. Neither living, nor dead. All this time, she hasn't been able to move on, and she can't until the six do their tasks. She implied her Finn might be there, too. Said she could sense him sometimes, but not see him."

Misery filled Ceara's eyes. "Goddess, no. After all her trials, to not be able to spend eternity with the man she loves? That's awful."

Even Fiona couldn't argue with that, no matter how mad she was at the woman. When all was said and done, Celeste had only been human, after all. People made mistakes. It was basic nature. To be punished for all eternity seemed harsh and cruel.

Then again, that was magick. There were consequences involved for every act.

A shiver tore down her spine as gears clicked into place. "She's trapped there. Finn, too, possibly. Right? No escape until we do our part." She ran a shaking hand across her forehead. "What about others? The Galloways and Meaths who've died since the curse was initiated? Are they stuck also?"

Ceara's frightened gaze met Fiona's. "Oh, no. Do you really think so?"

"And what about you?" Fiona looked at her aunt. "Is that what happens if we fail? Do you go there? Will we?"

"I..." Trembling, Aunt Mara set her teacup on the table as if that scenario had never dawned on her. "Perhaps. That rings true, I suppose. The phrasing used by her was we'd never find peace."

A sob hitched Ceara's chest, and she covered her mouth with her hand. "Please, no." Tears filled her eyes. "Mom might be there. Brady, Riley, and Tristan's father. All our ancestors."

Jarred to the bone, Fiona glanced away.

It was bad enough knowing the six of them were dooming everyone who came after them to an existence without love if they didn't succeed. But to realize death wasn't even an escape from that hell on earth, that there was no light at the end of the tunnel? It was nothing short of eviscerating.

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