Da narrowed his eyes, and I could see the strain around them. It was the same tightness he would get when Craig would call on him for somethin’. Then Mam would start bitch—complainin’. He’d walk out of the apartment, his entire body rigid, like either Mam or Craig was going to attack him from the back.
Keenan spit on the ground. “Old woman.”
Da relaxed at the two words. He grasped me by the shoulder and directed me away from the lough and toward the castle. Keenan lingered behind some, takin’ in the land. It was hard not to. It seemed to be filled with magic and fantastical beasts.
We walked over to what looked like a convertible Jeep—it had no top at all. Da took the driver’s seat, and Keenan sat next to him. I took the back.
The wind whipped through my hair, and the wheels threw up rocks as we made our way past the castle and onto the road that led into the village. The path was lined with stones that had been stacked. I grabbed the pocket knife Da had given me as a gift our first day in Ireland. I used the tip of the blade to clean underneath my nails. Maybe Mam wouldn’t make me scrub my hands so hard before dinner.
Da slowed and cursed when he saw the old woman.
The woman was a witch. Had to be. She had long silver hair and weathered skin, almost like the old baseball glove I’d left behind in Boston. She was stumped over with a long face, and I was pretty sure that was a mole with hair on her chin.
I was about to bring up about the castle bein’ magical, because I was willin’ to bet she controlled the trolls, but Da’s mood had darkened. The jeep came to a skiddin’ stop, and Da seemed to be eyein’ the space between her and us.
“Don’t be gettin’ any wild ideas, Conor,” Keenan said. “I’ll take care of her.”
Da didn’t seem to calm at his words. He squeezed the steerin’ wheel, his knuckles strainin’.
As soon as Keenan tipped his hat to the woman, she pointed over his shoulder at Da and me. Her shouted words caught on the wind and seemed to slap my father in the face.
Bastard child ofmyhusband.
He stole the castle frommyhusband’s children after our family lost it.
She cursed all who set foot in the castle who didn’t bear the O’Callaghan name through marriage. She said the day an O’Callaghan man found true love would be the day the curse would come to an end. She believed that would be never.
Keenan pointed to the road behind her, and I thought he said somethin’ about trespassin’ onO’Callaghanland, but he didn’t wait for her to turn and leave. He got back into the Jeep.
The ride was quiet back to the castle, but I couldn’t help myself. I turned back to get another glimpse of the woman.
Woman?
Nah, she was definitely a witch.
I tried to copy the cacklin’ in a witch’s laugh as we stared at each other.
“Cillian.”
The sharp tone of Da’s voice made me face him. I didn’t look back.
When we got to the castle, Da told Keenan that he and Fiona could leave for the night. Keenan put up a fuss, but Da couldn’t be moved.
Mam and Fiona came out of the kitchen, both with dish towels. Fiona had one slung over her shoulder.
Fiona was a bit…odd. She had wild, dark hair and pale skin. Besides her skin, her eyes were the lightest thing about her. Mam said they were the color of sherry at sundown. The first memory of her I had was her wearin’ a black butcher’s apron that was smeared with blood. Drippin’ with it. She always wore long black dresses with stockings and boots. I thought she was around my parents’ age too.
Mam had told me once that Fiona had some chaos swirlin’ around inside of her head. I believed it.
“Do I need the cleaver, then?” Fiona asked no one in particular.
Da shook his head. “Go into town with Keenan. Meet Henry. The three of you take the night to get acquainted with the village.”
Fiona didn’t look sure. She looked at Keenan. He shrugged, then nodded toward the door. Fiona handed Mam the towel. “See you in the mornin’, Mona.”
Mam gave Da a look after they were gone. It was one of those looks that I knew meant somethin’, but I wasn’t sure what.
It was better than what she usually gave him. A full-on fight. In Boston, it always came down to a row, but ever since we arrived in Ireland, Mam’s smile was like the sun breakin’ through dark skies. Her flamin’ red hair added to her fire.
