Samantha chuckled. “That as well.”
“Your mother has the same gift, does she not?”
“Yes, but she learned to block, or silence, the music when she needs or wants to. I have not been able to harness the same control.”
“Yet, Castle Keyvnor affected her.”
“That is because evil can never be silenced and even though it is the most unpleasant and frightening music of all, it also must be heard so that we are not taken unaware.”
“I am rather surprised that you left. Remember, Iza warned you to be careful where you wander.”
Samantha chuckled. “I do not believe that she referred to leaving a church service before the others.”
“Likely not, but I could not just let you leave and go off alone.”
Samantha’s heart warmed at Cassian’s words. He likely knew that there was no danger to her across from the churchyard, but she was glad he had joined her.
“Her warning did come to me today though,” she offered and then told Cassian how she had heard the music when they were leaving the magical vault.
“I am certain that someone was probably playing in the music room. It is near the stairs leading below and with the house so old and always changing, there can be odd and unexplainable echoes,” he explained. “There were times that I was certain that someone was calling from behind when they were in front.” He shrugged.
She supposed he was correct, but just in case, she needed to remember Iza’s warning before she found herself in dire circumstances, though she was certain that it would not occur at Nightshade Manor, where witches were protected.
Chapter 17
Several people took the longer road back to Nightshade Manor after they became aware of the distress suffered by Samantha and her mother when they had walked close to Castle Keyvnor earlier.
Unfortunately, it was also darker than the road along St. George’s Channel where the moon reflected off the water.
“Malcolm and Samantha could you light the way?” her father asked.
Cassian knew that she could use fire, but he had not anticipated that both brother and sister would create burning balls, toss them in the air then send a gentle breeze to hold them aloft, going before those who walked, lighting the way.
“How come your parents could not do the same?” he asked. One would assume such gifts would be inherited from a mother or father.
“It is our grandmother who had the gift of fire. It was not passed to our father, but to us.”
“What if someone were to see us?” he asked quietly.
Samantha glanced around. “Who is out to see? The nearest residence is Castle Keyvnor and magical fireballs in the middle of the night will likely be more a curiosity than alarming, especially on the road to Nightshade Manor.”
She was likely correct. Nobody would be on this road if they did not already know where it led.
Because it took them longer to return, it was nearly three in the morning by the time they passed through the gates.
It wasn’t that the service had been long, but because the parishioners gathered and visited until the vicar practically pushed them from the sanctuary and closed the door.
Cassian and Samantha had watched it all from the bench they had found and he pointed to a few of the locals and described who was likely gossiping, even though it was now officially Christmas Day, who was courting, and who owned the various businesses.
Christ Church was the only church in Bocka Morrow so everyone who lived there attended. What had started as a small parish church had grown over the years and now there were plans for the construction of a much larger church so that some were not left standing during services.
As they passed through the gates to Nightshade Manor, Cassian fell back and watched the others enter.
The sunrise was less than five hours away. Would Samantha be there to greet it or slumbering late on Christmas morning?
He had wanted to ask but too many might overhear. However, as he stood outside and the others entered the house, it was her brother who stopped beside him and Cassian tensed.
“My sister has special gifts,” he stated.
