A Witchy Tale - closed

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Jacquelyn smiled and took his hand in hers. “Thank you Benny,” she told him and kissed his cheek. She led him toward the back of the tavern and through a door that exited into an alley. Mice, rats and several large felines littered the cobblestone walkway, but when she and Benny stepped into the pathway, a soft breezed touched them both and Jacquelyn whispered words of quiet poetry that when spoken by her native tongue unleashed a torrent of magic. She touched his hand and squeezed it.

“You look stunning,” she whispered, though the words were normally given to ladies. Her Benny did look entrancing to her. She pressed a kiss against his ear and kept herself against the eloquently garbed Lord.

Her gown fell down in pools of linen, lace and pear buttons. “Come Benny, there will be others looking for us. There is some reason Uncle felt the need to put us here. We must discover why.”

Holding her dress at one side, she kept the hem from dancing in the mud. “We must first determine the date, time and our whereabouts here in London Town.”

She looked up at him. “You are so brave, you know this.” They walked into the middle of several peasants selling wares and she wondered if he was truly grasping everything that was happening, or if he would, in time freak out.

 

[Tseranc]

Ben looked down and gawked at his attire. Where the hell had this come from!? He looked down at the woman holding to him, and nearly didn’t recognize her. “Jacquelyn…you look. You look amazing.” The shock of seeing her in such a fancy gown took the edge off the surprise he had changed clothes without knowing it.

He picked up on the fact that they were supposed to be some sort of British lord and lady, out walking the streets of London. She took them down lesser-used routes, but he still saw people, and most were not as well dressed as he. He wondered how great a plan this was, as surely he could hide better as a worker then a lord, no one talked to workers it seemed.

Around several more corners they went, until she pulled them inside s small shop – the local apothecary. Apparently she had not been lying about needing herbs and oils, yet she seemed very, very cautious as to what she ordered and how. Of course! Witchcraft was still a burnable offense in this time. He prided himself on rationalizing that out, then realized the implications and swallowed hard. He attempted to remain quiet, and give off the appearance of being aloof; merely tolerating his Ladies shopping. When the price came up, he reached into a heavy pouch on his belt and produced several coins. He selected the two heaviest, knowing not the denominations that the man requested, and instead decided to overpay him…he hoped.

It seemed to work as the small, fragile looking man’s eyes lit up, and stuttered his thanks. Benny quickly ceased the opportunity of the man’s sudden gratitude, “For your digression Master Apothecary.” Hoping his horrid attempt at a British accent was overlooked or miss heard by aging ear he led Jackie out there door and whispered in her ear, “Where too now? I don’t think I’m cut out for public appearances like this just yet…it’s been a long time since High School Shakespeare.”

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Jacquelyn kept herself pressed against her lover’s side, her gaze constantly moving between those surrounding them and being wary of passerbys who would try to lift the pouch of magic from Benny’s waist. The traveled up along the side of one of the parks, nodding to other nobles and declining the wares of peddlers.

A young boy was selling papers and she opened a small clutch, pulled the coin that was required out and pressed it into his palm. The paper was handed to Benny and they resumed their walk, this time choosing a path not full of morning peers of the realm.

Swans swam in the pond, while men and women rode horses, richly garbed with bells and lace or ribbon. Ladies wore hats with feathery plumes, gentleman constantly eyed their trim waists or attempted to engage them in conversation that would bring them close enough to gaze down into their bosom.

“There is a bench here,” she whispered and turned them toward the black iron bench. She gathered up her dress and sat down. Once Benny had taken his place beside her, she rested her parcel of herbs and oils on her lap and waiting for him to read the paper and tell her where they were in time.

The breeze continued to lift her hair from the nape of her neck and she silently cursed her Uncle and his sick sense of humor.

 

[Tseranc]

Ben unrolled the paper, and proceeded to read through the various announcements. Nothing really caught his eye but the date, which he told Jackie immediately, but without a hint of worry. “It’s the 4th of November, 1605.”

But try as he might he could not help but glance back up to the date the pit of his stomach began to twist into knots for reasons he could not recall. Sure it was upsetting to find out you got dumped off in the past somewhere, after your house was taken over by a bunch of witches…one of which still sat beside him; but the nagging feeling felt like something more.

“Remember remember the 4th of November? No that's not right...” he muttered to himself…

“Oh shit.” He ducked his head hoping no one around had heard him, then leaned over to the woman beside him “You’re not going to believe this, but we’re stuck in London the day before they find Guy Fawks trying to kill the King and parliament. We need to be anywhere but around here.”

Sweat poured from his brow, as he thought just how chaotic this very square would be in less then 24 hours. They had to go home, and go home like yesterday….whatever that meant around Jacquelyn.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Jacquelyn’s eyes grew wide and her fingers clenched at her gown’s skirt. Her face paled and she leaned against Benny. “We have to make sure we don’t interact with anyone. If we do we could really screw up time.” She shuddered inwardly at the thought of what all that would mean for the future as well as her family that was born after this time. She smoothed back her hair and thought of returning to the pub where her Uncle had sent them, but shook away the thought, there was a reason they were here, but why?

“Come Benny, we need to get away from the city or at least far from here, as you suggest. There are others here, like me, we just need to find them. My magic is severely limited, but I can feel some of it still in me.”

They rose and quickly made their way back to the main lawn of the park. Her eyes met the gazes of several ladies who had taken it upon themselves to stare at Benny with open admiration. She glared back at them and snarled under her breath. Her arm tightened on his and she pressed herself closer than she should have. “We need to find a chaperone or pretend we are wedded, I’ll not deal with the likes of those and try to save us.”

She wasn’t sure if he knew the interest he was creating, but she did and the thought of turning the women into leeches sounded very appealing, especially the blonde who Jacquelyn knew was heading toward Benny. The look in her emerald eyes spoke of the willingness to play in the sheets, behind the doors of some private lounge.

“Good day,” the woman whispered, barely giving Jacquelyn a glance as her eyes openly admired Benny.

Jacquelyn bit her lip, but said nothing, just lifting her brow, her nose and setting her gaze to that of a woman readying herself to cast a curse that would make the blonde’s hair fall out.

 

[Tseranc]

Benny took note of Jacquelyn’s observation about others, and the blond she was giving daggers to. As the Blond lady past them, he responded simply, “Good day,” touching his hat, and pulling Jackie closer to him. Polite, but obviously not interested.

He leaned over to whisper in his short companions ear, “Calm yourself. I’m not about to go running off with the first woman to bat her eyes at me. I said we need to get outta here, and fast, specifically to avoid interacting with anyone. Who knows who these people are and where they need to be for history to go as it should? Now stop being so jealous and help think of a way out of town. Get us out of here and I promise I won’t hold a grudge, deal?”

He hoped the ‘offer’ would be well received, mainly since it was not a bargaining chip he really possessed – he’d forgive her for nearly anything. He new that, and it scared the hell out of him.

“Can you conjured us some rings or something, we’ll be married and on our way out to some country estate outside of town – how’s that? I hope these coins in this bag are real enough to pay for one of those coaches, walking out to the country sounds increasingly hazardous.”

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

"Don't lose the bag and all will be well," she snapped back. Her shoulders squared and she felt herself stiffen. "I was NOT jealous," she stressed the word and pulled slightly away from him, still remaining contact between their bodies, but now instead of intimite lovers, they resembled more like a proper betrothed couple who were out for a courting stroll. Her eyes watered as the tone of his words fell over her and she chastised herself for her ridiculous behavior. How would he have felt had some man come over and ogled her? She bit her tongue in order to keep from asking the question.

They walked toward a carriage and more coins produced the conveyance they needed. She moved inside and sat across from Benny. The driver asked them both where they wanted to go and both remained silent, eventually Jacquelyn sighed and named a village just outside of the city. The door closed and they were left alone inside the darkened chamber.

"I need two coins," she told him and took them from his fingers. She closed them into a fist and quietly began to whisper words of rings and circles, binding promises and links to souls, eventually her hand warmed and she opened the fist. Two gold bands lay in the center, their metal still warm from her making.

"Benny, you need to know, that once you slip this on we'll be connected far deeper than when we were before. If you are in trouble I'll sense and I can get to you with the use of my powers, but if I am in trouble you'll only feel it. You'll not find me. I stress that you and I do our best to remain at each others side.

She gave him his ring and slid hers onto her finger. She stared at it and then stared out the window. "I'm sorry," she whispered, unsure of what else to say to him as the countryside passed them by.

 

[Tseranc]

He slipped the ring on, and indeed could feel – something. It was odd, like the comfortable feeling of a loved one watching over you. He began to smile until she apologized. He was about to ask for what, then all the events that had happened so rapidly came crashing down on him, now that he had time to think, and not just react.

His head hung into his hands and he took several deep breaths. Several moments passed in silence as the carriage rocked onward down the road, headed to their next misadventure.

Finally, after another long sign, he raised his head and met her gaze. “Ok, I think I finally processed all that has happened. Damn you don’t make things easy do you? I can’t say I figured much out, except one thing; no matter what all this is, or what else is to come, I can’t seem to force myself to hate you, or even be mad. Absurd right? Anyone would be mad right now, wouldn’t they? Jackie, we’ve just met, and now I’m wearing a ring that feels right, in a time that certainly isn’t right.”

He knew he couldn’t say witch, they’d both be hung or burned at the stake for that, and doubtless the driver could hear. No one in this time would not pick up on that word, even if they were not listening in.

He extended his hand to hear, offering to pull her over and be seated next to him. “We’ve been through a lot in such a short time, and once we figure our way out of this, I hope we could slow things down a bit and see what all this really means.”

What the hell are you getting yourself into now Benny?

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

She took his hand and lifted her gaze to his. The offer to remain by his side, filled her with a warmth she didn’t know she was lacking, but knew if it left her she’d feel incomplete. She moved to sit with him as the carriage traveled.

“I don’t know why we are here, or how to get us home.” She sighed and felt tears begin to trickle down. Wiping them away she told herself to remain strong. Benny was worse off than she was. As the coach traveled, the coach swayed back and forth. The sun began to set and she chuckled. “I didn’t realize the time had moved so quickly. It grows dark already.”

Leaning against him, she laid her hand on his thigh. “We should arrive soon and an Inn will be available for us. I’ll make sure of it. Then we can rest and tomorrow begin to put pieces together.”

Her gaze met his and she blinked, then licked her lips. “I’ll go slow if you’d like,” she whispered, unsure how she was going to keep her hands and mouth off of him.

 

[Tseranc]

The Inn she promised did not disappoint…for the time they were in. That notion still baffled him, but somehow he managed to think of it as more of a riddle to be figured out, a case to be solved, then actually being stuck in the past. It helped.

Once they ate in the common room, and listened to a pretty girl sing as her partner played a strange stringed instrument that he could not name for as long as seemed polite; they retreated to their room. It was a small space, with a bed that would be large enough for two people, if they had been smaller then him. He was sued to being taller then Jacquelyn by now, but he didn’t seem to realized how right his history teachers had been when they said that Europeans had been smaller people in the past. A pitch of water sat on a table next to a bowl and some towels, and a fine, clean bucket was provided for each of them….for reasons he’d rather not think about just then. When the hell had flush toilets been invented?!

Still, the place was nice, quiet, and the flickering lamp light made her appear ever more amazing in her rather ornate dress that covered much, yet pushed her bosom out for his enjoyment (her was sure). How had he asked a woman this beautiful to go slow?!

He turned the bolt on their door to lock it, and kept his voice low for fear of thin walls. “Ok, we should be safe for now….so now what?” The somewhat lost look that he knew graced both their faces just made for an awkward silence. “OK, we’ll rest. We can figure it out tomorrow like you said. It’s just us for now.” He was immediately lost in her eyes…eyes so rare, and not just from their violet color. Eyes that could capture a man’s soul. After a long moment of wading in the light purple pools, he shook his head, and sat on the bed.

“I hope I didn’t scare you off or anything with talk of going slower. It wasn’t just some line or anything. Hell I don’t even know what I want…other then to know all these feelings are real, and not just some reaction to fast paced crazy events.” He knew better then to add a comment about it being some spell. “You’ve got to admit this has been a crazy two days, and so short a time I seem to feel….very close to you.”

He figured he had best shut up now while he was still ahead, before he said something foolish, or something put in a foolish way, or anything else that always seemed to play out where the man said something and the woman hated him for it.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Jacquelyn studied him as he sat on the bed looking a bit lost and weary. She too was tired and thought of his last words. Slow. . .the four letter word was almost, if not as bad as the word, Love. She swallowed the apology that was bubbling under the surface and simply took a seat on a chair that was under the window.

The silence was thick and she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. Pushing back her hair, she looked about the room and thought of how she could make it easier for Benny to relate too. Her time of power in this era was waning, but she managed to conjure up a bit more down for the pillows and clear the bugs from the bed, with a simple wave of her wrist. Even if Benny noticed, it would be slight, but she’d not tell him she was using up what little magic she had to make things easier on him.

A soft knock came to the door and she stood up. Upon answering it, she was greeting with a servant and presented with a tray of soup, rolls, and wine. She studied everything and when the door closed behind her, the maggots were no longer there and the bread was loaded with butter. The soup rich in flavor and the wine, was no longer diluted with whatever the tavern owner was using to save money.

“Benny, come and eat and then we’ll get some rest.” She eyed the bed warily and then looked back at the chair. It was small and so was she. She thought of how to slip from Benny’s side in the middle of the night to make his sleep more comfortable, because she was not going to further trouble him by forcing him to share his space with her, nor was she planning on allowing him to sleep in the chair.

 

[Tseranc]

He was busy peeling off the layers of clothing this era seemed to require as she worked her magic on the bed, pillows and then the food that came. He didn’t notice any of it…only the magic she worked over his heart and mind. What did he feel for her exactly?

A thought he knew he could not immediately answer…but knew enough that that answer would be deeper then he should be comfortable with. But whatever his feelings for her were, the fond emotions certainly did not extend to her family, which had invaded his home, and cast him off into the depth of time! He might strangle that uncle of hers as soon as they were returned to their rightful time and place.

As she approached with the food, he knew that what lay on the tray smelled a good deal better then the aroma’s coming from the kitchen down stairs earlier. It seemed that dating a witch had its perks. He rose, in nothing but loose shirt and baggy pants and walked over to her. He ditched the sweaty shirt before sitting with her at the small table and winking his approval at her work on the meal.

He reached out and broke the bread, handing her half with a grin, and they began to enjoy the small meal. They had only shared one meal before this, really, and that was pizza, a food not yet even invented; but the act had the same feeling. It seemed no matter where (or when) you were; it was simple things like this that pulled at his heart. Watching a woman eat had always seemed like a magic to Benny, and that was before he met a witch. They were so dainty and elegant with their food, even when they didn’t try to be.

“Jacquelyn, whatever you and your family are…this is the part I like best of you. The times that it’s just two people, and that is enough. I’m sorry if trees crashing through the roof and being deposited in the dark ages scares the crap outta me…but I hope you can over look that when it’s just us again.” He leaned over the tiny table and kissed her softly on the lips before sitting back down in his seat and resuming their meal with a wolfish grin.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Jacquelyn licked her lips, tasting nothing but the man that had kissed her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and quietly went back to eating her meal. Her thoughts were chaotic and she feared she was going to fall hard for Benny, if she hadn't already and she was pretty sure she had. She shifted nervously on her seat, wishing her Uncle was around so he could zap them back to the proper time. . . and now Benny was kissing her and telling her not to think about anything but the two of them together.

What were they supposed to do here? Was there some man or woman they were supposed to find or interact with? Some mystery to solve? What!? The questions ran around in circles as she fought a battle to not throw herself at Benny and offer to be his own special witch, one that would grant his every wish and desire just for the right to kiss and taste him. A frustrated growl left her lips as she pushed away her meal, deciding she was too distracted to really enjoy it.

"I am going down to the bar," she muttered and spun on her heel before Benny could get a word in edgewise. She opened the door with a flick and closed it just as fast, locking it behind her. She needed to be alone and there was no way he'd break the spell on the lock. She heard his curse and his battering fist on the door. "I just need to be alone, " she shouted to the wood and turned to the steps, passing a servant of the Inn and making her way down to the smoke-filled pub of the establishment.

"Whatever you have that is strong," she demanded and put a coin on the table, one large enough to get the notice of several men and women in the room. This was lost on her as a bottle and a mug was presented to her. The first drink burned, but she welcomed it as she fought to keep her despair in check.

 

[Tseranc]

Benny raged against the door for a few more moments before turning his back to it an sliding down to the floor. He didn’t know what he said that upset her, but he was learning that angering a witch had as many cons as pleasing one had pros. But what irritated him the most was that he wondered and worried about her more then he did about what tomorrow would bring. Tomorrow there would be a mass assassin attempt discovered, and then the hunt for any of his accomplices would follow. Very likely new faces or suspicious characters would be tossed to the police readily. Ben had no doubts that he and Jacky fit into that description, and would soon face the local police tomorrow, maybe the next day if they were lucky.

But no, he couldn’t focus on that. Instead his entire attention was on the woman that had left him locked in a room, and went down to a bar, alone. A woman alone in 1605 would very likely draw all the attention in the world, not to mention a small, gorgeous woman alone. He figured over fifteen minutes had passed in his depression and pondering, before he decided to act. He dressed again, but only in his shirt and boots, adding to the pants that never left him. He peered out the window, and looked down. He was on the second floor, but the way this building had been constructed; he might as well be on the 3rd story or higher. Luckily a small edging run the entire length of the outside wall, only about two inches, but enough for a toe hold.

Benny left through the window and worked his way past the window below him. Once only bare wall stretch beneath him, he carefully crouched down, using the edge of the window sill from wench he came, and took hold of the edge with one hand, then the other. All was going surprisingly well for such an ill-conceived plan he thought, until his foot in its smooth leather sole, slipped. He managed to hold on to the edge, but his body was drug across the rough stone as his legs fell, and yank at his outstretched arms. Still this is what he planned, if not so suddenly and painfully. With his feet as close to the ground as they were going to get he let go, and hit the ground, attempting to roll away from the building to lessen the impact.

His joints ached, and knew he had bruised the hell out of pretty much everything. But, he was down, and picking himself off the ground he dusted himself off as he walked around to the front of the inn. Walking in, he knew he must look like he lost a fight from all the stares he got, but it took him no time to spot a woman in the corner with a dark bottle and a mug. A crowd of men had begun to inch their way around her, but Benny walked right through and past them and sat in front of her, taking the bottle and a long hard gulp of it’s contents.

“Following you is a rather painful hobby I must say. Any chance we can go back upstairs and talk about whatever it is I said to make you run?” He whispered to her, then took another swig.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Her eyes were watery, either from tears or the drink Jacquelyn didn’t know, or care. She simply took back her bottle, glared at Benny and drank straight from the source. Once she swallowed the burning fuel she took a deep breath and muttered. “It isn’t what you said, its what you did. . .well and what you said.” She poured herself more drink and consumed it, feeling the effects washing over her.

“You tell me. . . “take it slow” then you go and kiss me, well Benny you can’t be doing that. You can’t say things like that and not expect me to react,” her voice was raising slightly and more stares were coming their way. Her violet eyes darkened as she thought of all the things she could do to the nosey people inside the pub if she were back in her time.

Moving from her chair, she stumbled into her “husband” and muttered another word not often passed from a woman’s lips. Her arms came up and she shoved herself off him, righted her balance and rolled her eyes. A few chuckles and surprised gasps were heard from the crowd that was slowly inching their way closer, hoping to find out more about the strange couple.

“Let’s just go upstairs and get to bed. I think tomorrow you and I can find a way to get home and then you can be done with me, because I can’t hear. . . “take it slow” come out of your mouth if you’re going to be kissing me with it, too.”

Pushing her hair away from her face, she tried to walk away, only to find herself colliding into the chest of a villager. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her high in the air, swung her around and then tossed her over his shoulder. “Let me go!” she demanded and curled her small hands into fists, which were soon pummeling the huge man’s back.

“Aren’t you going to do something?” she said to Benny, who looked shell-shocked from the unexpected turn of events.

 

[Tseranc]

Benny took in her words and felt the blows as if she hit him. He had been confusing, he could see that, but fuck if he didn’t have a right to be! Who else on earth would have taken such events so gracefully? He almost started to stammer out a retort when a huge wall of a man grabbed and tossed Jackie over his shoulder like a rag doll.

Her question jarred him out of his stupor, and the cop in him went quickly to work. HE first tried the non hostile approach, hands raised, open palms just to chat, but was quickly shoved aside as if his displeasure was of no consequence. The hand that shoved, however, was quickly caught and twisted, bring the large fellow to his knees out of reflex. It left Jackie room to get to her feet and break free of the broad attacker.

That was when several of his buddies stepped forward. “Shit, not this too.”

Benny spun the first offender down to the ground, face first, and wrenched his arm behind his back, then pinned it in place with his knee. “Look gentlemen, if you take another step forward, or lay a finger on that woman, I’m going to break his wrist with my knee, as I get up to deal with you. Then I’m going to have to break things on every one of you until there is no more threat to my girl or myself, and all that sounds rather tiring and messy. I’m sure your Innkeeper here would much prefer not to have the blood and broken tables; which would surely end in us all getting permanently kicked out of our favorite establishment, right? Right. Now why don’t you take a step back, and I’ll hand Tiny here over to you, and you boys can be his friend and get him the hell to his bed without further incident, ok?”

He prayed that Jacquelyn’s spells had made him sound somewhat convincing in the local dialect. From the odd looks he was getting, he doubted that was the case, but slowly, each man took that one step back and waited for their friend to be returned. Benny got off the man and helped him to his feet, letting his buddies haul him off to his room; though not without several long glances back at Benny and Jackie.

He took Jacquelyn’s hand and led her back up to their room, and waited patiently for her to undo whatever the hell she’d done to the door. “Ok, now that all that is over for the moment, we need to get inside and then bug out before he comes looking for another fight.”

He looked up and down the dim hall and was grateful it remained empty. Signing in relief, he looking into her violet eyes, “Look, I know I’ve been confusing, I’m sorry, but this all has been rather confusing. It’s a lot to take in. When I said I wanted to go slow…I meant like maybe a relationship closer to normal…that I could get my head around before being zapped into the past, or heaves know what else. Witch or no, I really like you…want to be with you, I just need to get to know the girl before I can get comfortable with the rest. If that makes any sense.” His eyes pleaded with her to understand.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Jacquelyn wanted to scream, but she didn't. Instead she darted to the window and looked out. "I see," she said and motioned for Benny to make his way over to her. "I guess I get to do this too?" she asked, knowing that he was right they were going to have to depart and the front door was not an option.

Carefully she stepped out onto the windows ledge. "Would be nice to have a freakin' broom right about now." She shrugged her shoulders and began to take the same route Benny had earlier when he'd escaped the room she'd locked him in.

When she reached the ground, she too tumbled and fell, but quickly bit back the wince and watched Benny descend.

Once he landed, rolling with little grace, much like her, she asked, "Where are we going to go? We are stuck in the middle of nowhere.” She pushed past him and then turned on her heel. “I’m sorry. Thank you for getting me out of that particular situation and I am sorry you are stuck here in the past with me. If I knew what we were supposed to do, or who we are supposed to meet, then this would be easier for us both.”

“Benny, you can’t have normal with me. I’m not normal. I have never been normal. I don’t even know what normal is.”

She rose to her feet and began to pace back and forth. “Benny, I’ve never not used magic. I mean I have spells for all sorts of things. Making warts disappear, freckles, aches and pains. I can heal wounds. . .that cream you stuck on my back. . .the wounds are gone. I’ve used spells to get my way in things, to turn on appliances, to cure colds and even help out the men and women of our town. . .I can’t be a normal woman. You can’t have that if you want to be with me. Do you understand that? I can’t shut myself off.”

Licking her lips she rolled her shoulders, hoping to ease the tension she felt in them. “Did you hurt yourself?” she asked, getting up and walking over to him. “I’d hate myself for getting you into more trouble.”

 

[Tseranc]

As she ranted on about what he could and could not have with her, half listening, he hauled her along and into the stables. He heard footfalls, and quickly placed his hand over her mouth, earning himself a glare that might well have killed him had she wished it…for all he knew.

He listened for them to go by, and then released her. In a hushed whisper, “Sorry, probably just the stable boy, but yes; we’re stuck out in the cold now. Nowhere to go and no friends to call on. We have each other to rely on for the moment, so let’s just decide to get along, whether you hate me or not, ok?”

He pulled led her further into the apparently empty stables, as there were no horses to notice their passing in the first few stalls. No other sounds came from the road or the inn so he decided it was safe enough to wait and think of what to do, and salvage anything else he could. “Look, I know you think you’re so different from everyone else, and in many ways you are. I certainly would not be having this conversation in Old England with any other girl, but to say I can’t have normal is a lie. I already have. Do you remember the pizza joint? I don’t know if you used and of your tricks there, but nothing significant, of that I am sure. I know that place too well, and what I know is that two people had a great time after dancing. Those are the moments I’m interested in. The magic, the crazy family, those are things I’ll have to learn to deal with, but I want the woman. I want to get to know her, and if that can be done without so many shocks to my fragile mind, then so much the better, but damn it, I’ll try no matter what.”

He hugged her to close to his body and quickly ran his hands up and down her arms and back in to help keep her warm. He had no idea what he was getting himself into, but he hoped this night would be the worst of it. Whispering in her ear, “Just don’t shut me out Jackie, not yet. You gotta let me try.”

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Jacquelyn stared into his eyes and nodded her head. “I’m sorry. I just feel so out of place, just like you do and before long I’ll be useless to you. Just baggage that you don’t need right now.” Her fingers moved over his brow and then back into his hair. “I’ll try very hard to keep calm and collected. I don’t want you to think I’m like my Uncle.” She smiled softly and then stepped up to press a gentle kiss to his lips.

Pulling away she held his hand in hers. “We need to go. Tomorrow is going to bring a lot of questions and we don’t want to be around to answer them. Seeing as we know more about what takes place and who does what, we’d be seen as an enemy and we know how those are dealt with. . .almost as bad as being found a witch.” She outwardly shuddered and felt the blood drain from her cheeks.

She heard the whinny of a horse and bit her lower lip. “Horse theifing. . .does that get you hung here or is that only in the Wild West?” she asked, moving silently toward the last stall where a beast of mammoth proportions stood chewing mindlessly on oats and barley. She reached out and rubbed the black nose, enjoying the soft velvet texture.

 

[Tseranc]

Her small kissed warmed his heart, and he knew his message had gotten through all the panic, the disorientation and the doubt. But still, that left them here. Her comment about her uncle had him irked again though…why on hearth would someone send a member of their family into harms way like this? Sure, send the boyfriend he didn’t like off to die, that would at least make sense, but under what possible motive could you endanger your niece? He could accept all her quirks, readily even, but he would have to find a way to deal with that uncle when they got back.

“I think horse theft has been a hangable offense since there were riding horses to steal…only in the old west they didn’t bother with a trial, just strung you up from the nearest tree. Lets leave the horse, I have another idea.”

He led her along, out of the stalls and down the road until the woods began, then pulled her to those. They walked several minutes, listening to ensure they were lone before he stopped and began his very new theory that had been sparked by thoughts over her uncle.

“Look, your uncle sent us here, and did so with magic,” he whispered. “He must also know that your own abilities would not last long here, so there would be no way for you to magic us back to our time. In a few hours it will be November 5th, and England will never again forget the day, so why now, except to cause us panic in being caught up in that? I think your uncle set us up to accomplish something together, not change history. Help me figure out his motive, and I’m sure I can figure out what it is he must have set up as a condition to win, and we’ll be home.”

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

“My Uncle is known for quick snap decisions. I don’t know why he did what he did. He is an oddity that only my aunt can understand.”

She held his hand as they continued to walk along the side of the road. “There has to be someone involved that he doesn’t want involved. Or perhaps someone is accused wrongfully or someone dies that isn’t supposed to die. . .”

Jacquelyn kicked a pebble and watched it dance across the rock. “I simply don’t know. I know so little about this time. I’m a modern witch, not a relic.”

The night wind picked up and she shivered. She moved herself closer to him and tried to absorb his body heat. “There is some light over there. . .perhaps a barn too, maybe we should rest,” she told him.

“In the morning then we can return to the city. We’ll simply have to be there to see what happens. I don’t have any other answers for you. . .his motives. . .possibly to teach you a lesson in respect, humility, or just to see if you are worthy of being associated with me.” She shrugged her shoulders and stirred him toward the light.

 

[Tseranc]

It was how she used the word relic that made a light go on in his brain. “Yes, lets get to the barn and rest.” He could feel the gears working now, and better, he felt almost useful.

“I hate to be rude, but I don’t know how long you, ah, your family lives. Is your uncle a relic? Maybe we have to go back to him in this time?” he knew he sounded like a fool, but he also knew he was on the right track. “Maybe not your uncle, but a family member from this time that he respects, or thought better capable of handling some punk like myself? Maybe someone to teach me a lesson?”

He didn’t add the fear that this whole ordeal was done to simply get rid of him. Not like Shelly and the boys at the station would find his body in England, or the past.

Leading her toward the light, they discovered it was a small cottage, and indeed had a small barn beside it. Benny quietly opened the side door to the barn, and looked around as best eh could with only the moon light coming in from the door. “There is a hay loft in here Jackie, it’s about as warm and dry as we’re likely to find.” He helped her up the small ladder before closing the door and joining her in the golden straw.

With the door closed it was nearly pitch black, and they huddled together instinctively for fear of loosing each other in the darkness.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

“You have a good idea and since I have none to offer you, I think it is best we search him out. He would have been alive in this time, but from the stories he told he was a Nobleman and his true abilities known to only a select few.”

She pressed herself against his chest, her fingers slipping around his waist and her head tucked under his chin. “I never expected this,” she told him. “I hope you know that. I also have never been in this situation. My family has always descended upon me when I was hurt, lost, confused, or fearful, but never have they sent me and another into the past.”

Jacquelyn looked up at him, the moonlight played on his face, highlighting features that she was fast becoming more in love with as time slipped by. Her hands moved to caress his cheek and she ran her fingertips over his face, enjoying the scratchy stubble of his whiskers.

“The women in my family live for approximately three hundred or four hundred years. I am a young witch, barely grazing thirty, so when I tell you I am unfamiliar with many things, it is true. I am, but Benny,” she licked her lips, scooting herself up closer to his face, “there is no other in my past I would want with me on this new journey.”

Her lips brushed against his, before she pulled back, a questioning look in her eyes as his words of “go slow” ran about haphazardly in her thoughts.

 

[Tseranc]

Four hundred, the number rolled around in his head far more then any other information she had provided. Her uncle looked like…like an uncle to a 30 year old should…but apparently he was well past pushing 50 or 60. Or 100.

Her soft kiss brought him back out of his daze, but barely. No wonder going slow would piss her off! She’d out grow, and out live him, and peel through 4 or 5 other lovers, and that’s if she stuck with them for the majority of their lives. He was beginning to see just how far away from normal he was.

He couched, and forced a chuckle, “Well, it seems I’ll have the better deal, you’ll always look young and beautiful, even after I get old and wrinkly.” He didn’t add and Die…it didn’t seem necessary.

“Lets bed down here for the night, unless you know where he might be staying. Tomorrow will be chaos, but we’ll have to find him. I’ve a bone to pick with that man.”

But then he sat and thought about it. “He won’t know you, will he? I’m not sure how time and all that works for you, but logically speaking, he’ll have never met you, since he’s a billion and you are thirty, or will be in a few generations. … My head hurts.”

“I’m touched by you comment, and I know I’ll not be the last in your life. I’ll take what I can get and be grateful for it.”

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

“Benny my uncle will have no clue as to who I am. I will have to convince him of my existence; this should not be too difficult. He was an oddity even in his young age. As far as you aging and others following behind you. . .well that is not entirely true. There is a way, but already you have had a lot to deal with. I will not thrust that upon you too. Just know that right now I want no other but you,” she told him.

Turning around she pressed her back into his chest and took one of his arms. “Please Benny, we both need our rest. Tomorrow will be a difficult day.”

She closed her eyes and tried not to think of the future, but all she saw was Benny turning away from her when she told him what he’d need to do to spend his life with her. “Would he?” she wondered. How many before her had failed and how many times had her mother stressed to her the consequences if she chose wrong?

Jacquelyn shivered and tried to tighten the hold she had on Benny’s arm. She wanted him to think her cold, not afraid.