Blackwood Harbour

BLACKWOOD HARBOUR

CHAPTER 1

          She sat on her bed with her legs crossed beneath her, art supplies and half finished drawings strewn all around. Her headphones pumping music into her dainty ears. She was something you don't see every day. She had long dark hair and porcelain skin, with the perfect beauty mark dotting her cheek. Her talent with cosmetics only complimented what nature had bestowed upon her. She was a beautiful girl even if she didn't think so. Feverishly, she filled in the spaces with her pencil. Erasing and smudging and shadowing with abandon, completely engrossed in the task at hand. She stopped for a moment sitting back to look at her creation and then taking a breath she began again.
          Harbour wasn't the kind of girl you expect to find in beach town in Florida. She didn't run around in a too small bikini all day chasing down all the hot guys. No, she was perfectly content to stay holed up in her room drawing, taking pictures, writing, or surfing the net. She studied history and mythology and enjoyed reading books about magic and the supernatural or unexplained. Anything to escape her mundane life as she knew it. Biding her time until she could leave. Harbour Barrett had plans. She was an extremely talented girl and her artwork and drawings seemed to breathe; crawling from their once stark white canvases and convincing most she had been trained by the best. She was planning to go to art school and become one of the masters. Honing her already near perfect skills. Her life was her art. Her ultimate escape and the only way she knew how to express her innermost self.
          She stopped sketching again. Her fingers shimmering a silvery grey from the lead of her pencil. She studied the drawing, carefully examining every line and shadow. She absently tucked a lock of raven hair behind her ear, stunning green eyes moving over every inch of the paper. The dark image of a man was beginning to emerge. Dark, piercing eyes staring back at hers. She had been seeing him in her dreams, or better yet nightmares, over and over again. A violent flash of his face and the overwhelming feeling of doom sent her hurtling back to consciousness almost every night for the last two weeks. Maybe if she could get his likeness on paper she could rid her subconscious of him. Lucian, her best friend and cat, lazily strolled across the bed stopping cold once he saw her sketch. Giving it a look of disdain he hissed his disapproval, jumping to the floor and then atop the dresser. From his perch he eyed Harbour through narrowed lids, his thick grey tail flicking back and forth, he seemed to be letting her know he didn't like the man either. 'Crazy cat', thought Harbour. He'd been acting weird for days too, jumpy and territorial. She couldn't figure out what was going on with him.
          Dropping the sketch pad onto her bed she slowly stood, stretching her tense muscles as far as she could without tumbling from the Futon. Knock, knock, knock! Harbour was startled by the sound of pounding on her door. Popping the ear buds from her ears and hopping to the floor she replied with a curious "Yea?"
         "Time to eat." came her Uncle's voice sounding very un-enthused. Rolling her eyes, she crossed her bedroom floor, " I have to wash my hands." She popped open the door standing there wiggling her grey fingers in her Uncle's face, grinning. He stood there with a vacant look. "Make it quick, I'm starving. " He said. Harbour winced at the obvious lack of interest her Uncle displayed and made her way to the bathroom.
          Bradley Sanders was a stout man, kind enough but entirely too absorbed with his work as well as himself. He was generous with gifts and money but he had never really connected with Harbour like she would have expected. How he and her mother came from the same parents was beyond her. He was simply her caretaker, making sure she had everything she needed to finish her education. She had come to live with him when she started middle school. Her mother wanted her to have a better opportunity than what she could provide in the tiny town she lived in. She missed Blackwood and her mother terribly. There was no describing the bond she had with her and it had not diminished one ounce in the seven years they had lived apart. In just a couple of weeks they would be reunited for good. No more summer vacations and no more making up for lost time. Harbour was finally going home.
          After dinner she and her uncle sat in the library reading and chatting about nothing in particular. He asked about school and if she was excited about going home. She was going to miss these rare moments and this room full to the brim with wonderful books. Lucian had been lounging next to her in the big bay window overlooking the beach but was now making his way across the room. He gracefully pounced to a spot high above them in one of the ceiling high book shelves.
          Harbour watched him smiling to herself, so glad that she would be able to take him with her to Blackwood. Her mother had immediately approved when she requested it. There was no way she could leave him behind, he was her best friend. So what if he was a cat? He was weaving his way around the assorted busts and knick knacks that adorned the library shelves, stopping next to her Uncle's favorite globe of the world. It had come from Europe, given to Bradley by a friend and he treasured it. Lucian stretched his grey paws out in front of him and using the globe as a back scratcher, knocked it from its resting place. Her body was electrified with terror as she sprang from her spot in the window.
"Oh no! No! No! STOP!" she commanded. She reached out to catch the globe as it suddenly ceased it's downward spiral with imminent destruction, just inches from the floor. The globe just hung there and Harbour's mouth fell open in shock and amazement. She glanced over at Lucian with a look of disbelief and he answered her with a curt meow as if to say "Oops."
          She took the globe in her hands and carefully returned it to it's home swatting the cat from the bookshelf. Peering around the screen made of old house shutters, Harbour realized Uncle Brad hadn't noticed a thing. He had never lifted his gaze from the huge book he was reading on the desk. She was pretty sure if he had, he would be just as freaked out as she was. All at once a wave of nausea washed over her and she couldn't decide if she was going to be sick or pass out. She excused her self and Bradley waved 'Goodnight' without looking up and quickly Harbour made her way back to her bedroom. Feeling weak, she sprawled across her bed burying her face in her pillow and breathing in and out, trying to figure out what had just happened. Her eyelids began to burn and were too heavy to hold open. She lay there, desperately fighting it but the urge to sleep was too strong and she slowly dozed off.

          Her mother was standing there in the grass. Her big farm house rising up behind her, the wind blowing her dark hair all around her tan shoulders. She was smiling warmly as Lucian was rubbing his grey body on and around her ankles. She held out her hand reaching for Harbour and saying, " It's time to come home." The sound of her mother's voice was very soothing and almost musical as she began to walk toward her. Then they both began to hear a strange sound rising on the wind and the smiles faded from their faces. It became louder and more sinister when Harbour realized it was laughter. The image of her mother began to fade and everything began to slip into shadows and finally the darkness engulfed her. Harbour covered her ears as the laughter became so loud it was deafening and suddenly there he was. His dark eyes drilling into her's and his hands began to grab for her, reaching angrily... laughing...

          Harbour's eyes flew open. Her pillows falling to the floor as she frantically shot upright in her bed. She sat there, blinking at the sunlight that was spilling onto her bed from the bedroom window. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to control her breathing. "What the hell," she whispered under her breath, rubbing her face with both hands and running her shaking hands through her hair. She sat there a moment more, collecting herself before she tried to stand up and she was suddenly overcome with the urge to call her mother.

********

          Jessika Barrett had arrived in Blackwood, a tiny backwoods town in Georgia, twelve years ago with an emerald eyed five year old and golden haired infant that lit up every room she entered. Both of her daughters had immediately caught the attention of every grandmother in town. Hugs and kisses and candies never ran low for the Barrett girls nor did offers to send their handsome sons to their mother's door. Jessika knew they all wondered about her children's father and felt sure there were plenty of over the fence conversations concerning the matter and that of her origins, of which she never divulged. Jessika figured her English accent was all the information they needed. She had come to town to replace the recently departed Midwife and healer and the locals quickly embraced her as their own. Everyone in Blackwood trusted her abilities and some came to her weekly for home remedies and salves for various ailments and aches. She was of average height and build with dark hair and features, she had piercing green eyes that seemed to dare you to try and dig too deep. There was something about Jessika that folks just couldn't put a finger on but everyone loved and respected her.

          "Will that be all Ms. Barrett," asked the young man standing at the counter. "Yes Jimmy. Thank you." Jessika answered placing the crates of jars on the counter. Jimmy began ringing up her items when Rayne came running into the store. "MOM!" she shouted! "MOM! I DID IT! I DID IT!" Startled, Jessika whirled around to find her youngest girl standing there winded, with a look of accomplishment on her face and grinning ear to ear. " I healed him. I healed the little bird I found yesterday!" Smiling nervously Jessika took the receipt and her crates from Jimmy and said sternly "Out." Nodding Rayne toward the door.
          Stepping out of the hardware store and into the sun Jessika looked hard at Rayne, "Have you lost your mind? What have I told you about NOT discussing it in public?"
" Mother, I didn't say anything about..." looking around and leaning into her mother she whispered, "...our powers."
"Still, I wish you would be more careful. Especially with everything that's been happening." Rayne nodded in agreement knowing her mother was right. They had both been sensing something was coming and neither of them liked the feeling. They loaded the crates in the back of the pick up, along with a few bags of groceries and headed for home.
          Jessika and her youngest daughter lived on the outskirts of Blackwood on a small farm near the river. Together they raised chickens for eggs, had a milk cow named Bertha and a large garden full of every sort of vegetable and herb you could think of, some of which they sold at the local market on Saturdays. The towns people were constantly asking her how she grew such wonderful produce and begged for her secret. She would always grin and say " Love and sunshine, just lots of love and sunshine." Rayne was also fast becoming a Barrett beauty. At twelve years old she was turning into quite a young lady and her mother was very proud her. With her long golden hair, her mother's emerald eye's and sunny disposition, she could put a smile on the face of even the surliest of people. When she wasn't at school or the library she was on the farm tending to her menagerie of pets. She rescued every sick, injured, or starving animal she came upon. Everything from cats and dogs to raccoons and squirrels. She even had snakes, turtles, and frogs kept down near the pond. Her mother often referred to her as the local 'animal whisperer'. There was rarely an animal that Rayne couldn't handle or befriend. She had dreams of becoming Blackwood's local vet someday.

          Helping her mother unload the truck Rayne asked, " Mom...will you come see Rupert?"
Jessika gave her a confused look, "Rupert?" she asked, kicking off her flip flops and letting the screen door slam behind her.
"The bird Mom..." groaned Rayne, setting groceries on the kitchen table and rolling her eyes.
"Oh yea, yea...sorry...sure. Show me." she answered. Giving a glance over her shoulder to scan the drive one last time, she followed Rayne out to the pole shed. Jessika was actually quite interested to see her daughters achievement. Peering into the little box, carefully constructed of chicken wire and small boards, sat Rupert. He was nestled in a bed of hay and chirping loudly for his dinner, good as new.

          Yesterday he had been holding on to life by a mere thread. He had fallen from his nest and apparently into the jaws of a cat. Rayne had held him, willing his wounds to heal. She pleaded with the powers that be over and over and over to no avail. She had cried and mourned him all night, certain he wouldn't last until morning. Jessika had brought her inside and told her she needed to rest. That sometimes it was just their time, that everything would look brighter in the morning. After her mother had left for town the next morning, Rayne had awoken and quickly made her way to the shed to check on the injured animal. He was lying there, right were she had left him under the heating lamp in the little chicken wire box. She reached in and lifted him to her heart giving it one last try. Willing it from the very depth of her. She could feel the power as the ground under her bare feet began to feel warm, rising from the earth into her very core. She could feel the warmth filling up every molecule of her being and surging into her extremities until, her fingertips began to tingle and the warmth trickled into his almost lifeless body. Suddenly, Rupert began to move. He was trying to flutter his little wings and Rayne held him out in her hands blinking at him in amazment. She had done it! She had healed him! Looking down at her feet she was suddenly aware of the grass that had never been there before. She place Rupert in the box, grabbed her bike and hurried to town to find her mother.

          Jessika smiled at her daughter, wrapping her arms around her and hugging her tight. She could feel the energy of Rayne's new found power dancing around her. Cheep! Cheep! CHEEP! Rayne pulled away and said, "I guess I better feed him."
"Yea, that would probably be a good idea." Jessika smiled. " Now that you've healed him you don't want him to die of starvation."
Rayne grinned at her mother and went out to the garden to look for worms and insects while Jessika headed back to the house, her long skirt swishing around her ankles and bare feet. She needed to start getting the house ready for Harbour. The attic bedroom needed a good deep clean and maybe even a little fresh paint and linens. She made her way back across the yard to the house feeling very hopeful. Her eldest was coming home to stay and her baby had discovered her magic.
          Stepping over the threshold, a dark feeling clung to the air stopping her short. Jessika glanced over her shoulder checking on Rayne and scanning the property for the possible cause, feeling very uneasy. She nearly came out of her skin when the old 1980's rotary phone that was hanging right by her head, began to ring. She clenched her chest to steady her heart as she answered the phone with a slightly shaky, "Hello?"
"Mama, you OK?" came Harbour's voice over the line.
Jessika exhaled and said happily, " Hey sweetheart! Yes, yes darling I'm fine! I'm even better now hearing your voice, " she glided over to the kitchen table and sat down, she was still feeling a little nervous.
"Mama, I have to talk to you about something, " said Harbour, trying not to sound freaked out. Jessika's mouth suddenly went dry and she realized where the dark feeling had come from.
"Harbour, what's the matter?" she demanded in a tone Harbour had never heard before. Her mother was usually bright and uplifting, this was more like defensive and overly concerned.
"Mom, I'm OK but I've got to tell you happened last night. Oh, and about the crazy dreams I've been having."
Jessika took a slow deep breath, calming herself, " O.K. baby go ahead. I'm all ears."
         Harbour began slowly telling her mother about Lucian and the globe, still feeling shaken up about it. Her mother relaxed a little, understanding fully what had happened but not completely sure of how to explain it to her daughter. At least now she understood why the air seem to be electrified last night and why she couldn't sleep. Both of her girls where coming into their powers but only one of them knew anything about it. When Harbour began telling her about her dreams however, Jessika's heart began to pound and her mind began to race. Was this the prophesy that she and her entire coven had tried so hard to protect her daughter from? Had Silas Morely returned?

         Jessika suddenly felt ill and fought back the urge rising in her throat. "Harbour, you have to come home. Now." she said sternly into the receiver.

"Mom, I'll be there in two weeks. It's just a crazy..."

Jessika cut her off, "Harbour, love, you don't understand. You really need to get here sooner than that. Listen, I'm going to call you back in a couple of hours. I'm going to make some preparations and I'll let you know. Baby....keep Lucian with you at all times. No matter what. Do you understand?"

"Mom. What the hell is going on? Have you been down to visit old Mr. Johnson with his 'special cough syrup'? You're acting crazy." Harbour answered, annoyed.

"Honey, you have to trust me. I will explain everything to you as soon as you get here but I've got to get you here first. Do everything your Uncle Bradley tells you and keep the cat with you. Got it?" Her mother insisted, standing up and digging in her purse for something.
"OK Mother. I've got it. Now I'm freaking out." Harbour agreed feeling very unsure about her mother's sanity.
"Don't freak out sweetheart." Jessika reassured her. "Everything is going to be fine. I'll call you back. Love you! Kisses!"

          Jessika walked over to the back door and hung the phone back in it's place. She stuck her head out the door and called for Rayne waiting until she saw her coming towards the house before returning to the phone. She pulled a little book from her purse and began to dial. Rayne was coming into the house when Jessika hung up the phone. She immediately knew something was wrong.
"Mom?" she questioned, looking all too wise for her age. "What is it?"
Jessika turned and looked at her placing a palm on each cheek of her daughters sweet face, "I think it's time Rayne."