Page 16 of Raven in Midwinter

“Do you have any rosemary?”

She thought a moment. “In the tea you made me.”

“You have some of the hearth blend left over?” This was excellent news.

“I do.”

“That’s perfect. Bring me that.”

She flew by me to get to the pantry, and I returned to the water and sprinkled cinnamon, dried marjoram, and basil on top. “Go now, I banish you from this ornament and from this sacred space,” I ordered the curse and watched the water boil as Cass stepped in beside me with my homemade tea blend filled with all kinds of helpful herbs, mainly lavender and yarrow, red clover and sage. “Go!” I commanded as I covered the top of the water with the tea blend.

The lights went out, and suddenly, standing in a funnel of fire, was a beautiful woman in a green silk brocade dress with organza, satin, and cotton lace, with metal boning. She was stunning, with jet-black hair, dark blue eyes, and alabaster skin.

“He loved me, witch,” she roared, her voice like thunder.

The yelling and screaming from the new people in our midst helped nothing.

“Shut up,” Lorne ordered forcefully.

“He worshipped every smile and touch I bestowed,” the woman intoned.

I nodded. “I have no doubt.”

Quick breath, like my agreement had pleased her, and the fire was gone, replaced by a fog rolling off her and into the room, thick and white. “His wife…she was a mouse of a woman, and every time he came to me filled her with dread.”

“Of course it would,” I granted. “You’re a goddess, I can plainly see.”

Her eyes narrowed. “All wives of faithless husbands who covet my jewels will die as she did, flinging herself into the depths of the Seine.”

This, then, was the curse on the earrings, and now, if she’d been listening, Thessaly knew her husband was not monogamous.

I took a breath. “You must be so tired, lady.” I reached out my hand.

She took several steps forward, and we all heard her shoes on the wood before she grasped hold. “He meant to put me on the street after she died, his guilt making my countenance unbearable to behold.”

“Yes,” I said, squeezing her hand.

“He was going to give my treasure to an ingénue from a wealthy family, someone to restore his reputation. But I bled over my jewels before the dark claimed me.”

“A blood curse of undoing from a powerful witch,” I stated with certainty.

She smiled then. “As are you.”

I sighed deeply. “Go now to Summerland and be at peace. Your people will be there just as mine will be for me.”

Her face crumpled. “What if⁠—”

“They will be there, lady. Think of your mother. Bring all that she was to you, to mind.”

“My mother,” she whispered as her blood tears fell. A last breath as she closed her eyes and was gone.

The lights came on at the same time, all hint of her vanished except for the earrings, now sitting at the bottom of a bowl of herbs and moon water.

All eyes on me.

“This is why…” I began, then turned to Cass, one eyebrow arched in question.

“Oh, oh I know! This is why you must always purify with water or sage anything vintage you bring home before you wear it, use it, or display it anywhere in your house. You never know what kind of bad juju might be sticking to it.”