[Scarlett O'Hara]

Maude surveyed the amount of tea collectibles to still wrap and sighed. Abby asked in mock seriousness “I could do this so much faster with my active magic.”

“NO!” Maude said. “Just keep talking to me and time will past while I wrap.” She began to wrap individual tea cups for each of the sets.

Abby smiled behind Maude’s back and began to slowly move cups back to their original locations. Maude would need to search before wrapping some of them, causing further delay to let Gary help Lee. “Gary and I actually rode that day.” Abby declared. “I had never ridden in any manner other than sidesaddle, so I got tired and sore rapidly. Apparently, he didn’t expect us to ride far. On the other side of the woods from Father’s estate, a small gazebo which belong to the next estate, had been decorated for lunch. We stopped and he helped me off the horse. He had hired servants from the estate and had them prepare a nice lunch. When I asked how he had arranged it with the estate owner, he simply said ‘Monsieur Barbin-deBellevue does not like your father. Apparently, he and his wife feel compassion for you and Maude.’ We stayed at the gazebo and talked all afternoon.” Abby was feeling nostalgic for the old days in France.

“While I....Never mind. Tell me more. You’ve never told me what happened that day.” Maude said as she wrapped cup after cup.

“We just talked. Well, actually, he did most of the talking. Since that was my first lifetime, I had little to tell. But when I asked Gary how many lifetimes he had already, he dodged the question.” Abby laughed. “He still won’t answer the question directly.” she laughed again.

“I knew he was far more experienced with life than either of us. That’s why I was nervous for you being with him.” Maude confessed. “But he was only two lifetimes older than us.” Maude added casually.

“How do you know that?”

“I have my ways. I am a witch afterall. I may not have the same powers as you, sister, but I have some unique ones of my own!” Maude snickered and wrapped another cup. Suddenly, Maude stopped in mid-wrap and whirled to face her sister. “You’re using active magic to move teapots and cups around. You are trying to stall me.” She looked up, as if she could see through the floor to Lee’s room. “What is wrong?” She dropped the cup from her hand and raced for the narrow winding staircase.

“STOP MAUDE!” Abby said and raced after her. She caught her at the top of the landing and ‘froze’ her in place with her active magic. Maude shrugged it off after a couple of seconds and took another step towards Lee’s room. Abby used stronger magic. Maude ‘froze’ and shrugged it off as well but it took longer.

“MAUDE NO! Lee and Gary do not want us in there!” Quickly, Abby told Maude as little as she could to get her sister to stop. Abby took her hand and led her to Abby’s room instead. Together, they laid on the antique bed and Abby wrapped her arms around her sister. “Let me finish my story, Maude.” Maude nodded but her mind was on Lee down the hall. “As the afternoon got later, Gary helped me back onto the horse, and we hurried back to the estate. I could have whisked myself home to our room but I didn’t want to miss a second of time with him. And when we climbed the vine to our room, Gary whistled when he saw you. My mouth dropped open. You were so beautiful!”

“Not so beautiful inside. I had to play the game, though.” Maude added sadly.

“But you were so beautiful! Your garnet colored silk gown, tailored in the highest fashion of the year, the cream colored lace chemise showing just a couple of inches over your decolletege, the embroidered shawl, and your hair up with soft ringlets flattering your face. And when Gary asked for what you were so dressed, I knew he was suddenly feeling protective. He knew Father was not at home.”

“Yes, I don’t know what I would have done if Gary had not been so close at hand that day!” Maude sniffed.

[Holbrook]

"Maude was certainly dressed to kill wasn't she?" Gary said as he noticed Lee's breathing, it seemed shallower. Time was ticking he thought, he needed to get things done within the hour.

"Yes and it was my fault. You see, I had told her of Lu's plans and thought she would just not go, instead she started questioning me" Lee's mind when back to the hour of so before Gary and Abby arrived back in the room.

"Dragon," she said, "Lee is a prisioner isn't he?" I nodded, "I knew it, he never said, but I could see Lu had some hold on him. It is magic isn't it?" I nodded again my head lowering. "Oh, little dragon you are too aren't you?" I sighed. "Well, I shall free you both." Maude announced.

"How, Lu is a warlock." I blustered and flapped my wings, the thought of Maude. I could not think of it. I wanted to change there and then and hold her and tell her all, but the small lie of pretending to be a dragon, small as I was, had back fired on me. Maude would be upset, no angry and feel betrayed.

"And I am a witch, besides if he thinks I am willing to go with him, his guard will be down. It will be a simple matter to stop his heart. Warlocks can die too you know."

I went cold as I heard her words. "This is maddness Maude, for one thing Lu has no heart."

"That is nonsense." Maude retorted.

"I mean in his body." I snapped and flew up onto her shoulder almost bellowing in her ear. "He has moved it to that cursed tea caddy. Lee is one guardian and I am the other."

"I see...." Maude's eyes gleamed. "That makes it easier in some ways."

"You are mad.... woman,,,mad, stupid and so brave."

"Dear dragon, I am in love." Maude said softly. "I need to take the tea caddy, make it mine in a spell of possession, though little dragon, that would make you and Lee mine, though. Then I will get rid of Lu "

I rubbed my head against her neck and could not believe it. "I don't mind" I said. "But getting rid of Lu might not be so easy"

Maude gave a small sad laugh. "Lee might, could you go tell him, I mean What I am going to do and he can then chose to go back to China, if he wished and..... As for getting rid of Lu, if Abby were here the two of us might be..." She sighed.

"I will tell him, " I took wing and flew out of the window and circled then came back and sat and watched Maude get ready. I decided then I would fight Lu myself. I knew what he could do to me with his magic, but it would be a distraction, it could help and even if I died, I would be free and so would Maude from him. That I knew in my heart.

She was just finished getting ready when you arrived and asked what was happening, I must admit I was a little jealous of your reaction to my Maude.

"Indeed, you were, you buzzed my head and demanded Maude explain." Gary said and took Lee's hand and checked his pulse. It was time him to get working.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Gary had already gathered the items he needed for the incantation. Checking Lee’s pulse, he knew it was time to begin the Rite of Balancing Light and Dark. He had gathered the items from around the tea shoppe and the apartments. As Lee’s breath became more shallow, he quickly drew the circle on the floor and moved the chair into the circle. He brought a small table into the circle as well.

Draping the table with the vestment cloth once owned by his father, Gary laid out everything he needed. Finally, he lifted Lee to his feet and walked him into the circle. Together, he walked Lee counter-clockwise around the inside of the circle 10 times, sitting him gently in the chair at the conclusion of their walk. “What will this cost you personally?” Lee rasped. He was aging faster.

“Less than if I did nothing.” Gary replied honestly. Lee thought he meant that he would lose the love and respect of Maude and Abby if he allowed Lee to die. At that moment, Gary added “I don’t have enough friends that I can afford to lose one.”

Shocked by the simple confession, Lee tried to smile and say “Thank you” but only a small hiss escaped his lips. Gary worked precisely, not too quickly, not too slowly. The rhythm of the incantation was as important as the words and sacrifices made. Taking a deep breath, Lee managed to say “But you will age, yes?”

Gary nodded “yes”. His fingertips touched all the items as he checked everything one last time. “Yes, I will age a year for each year you become younger. But I am now only 20 and I am strong, Lee. I have done this so many times before, for POW camp mates. Honor me in this gift.” Gary’s face was grim as he looked to Lee.

“You honor me, Lord Iluawyr.” Lee smiled and rasped louder, slumping in the chair.

Gary began to circle the inside of the circle mark, counter clockwise, holding his hands out as if in repentance and chanted “I consecrate this circle for the power of the Ancient Gods of Earth. Here may they manifest and bless their child, Lee Ko.“ Gary stopped behind the small table, now a makeshift altar and faced north. “We are gathered in a time which is not a time; in a place that is not a place; on a day which is not a day. We stand at the threshold between the Light and the Dark, the Heavens and the Earth. May the Ancient Gods of Earth help and protect their child, Lee Ko.”

As Gary waited patiently for the answering call, his pale blue eyes quickly scanned the items on the small altar-table. He had the white candle already lit, a chalice containing about 2 cups of boiled and cooled water, a smaller chalice containing a small mound of salt, his dagger, a small ceramic bowl of rocks previously heated on the fire grate and still glowing, oil of myrrh, a clay pot of soil collected from the dirt surrounding Maude’s roses which had loving worked for over 50 years, a silver bell hung from the stand, and finally, the freshly cut willow stick. He knew he was ready to perform the ceremony, but he had to wait for the Ancient Gods to answer him.

Lee’s breathing rattled and rasped behind him - waiting. Finally, they both heard the voices. Lee’s eyes opened widely as he watched the Rite unfold. With each passing moment, he seem to gain strength. Gary appealed to the Gods of Water, Fire, Air and Earth, performing his parts perfectly and in steady rhythm. Lee needed to say nothing, only listen and nod when he was asked questions by the Gods. There were moments he thought he had died and gone to some afterlife at the beauty he saw in the Ancient Gods. The fact that Lord Gary Iluawyr could do this proved that he was a powerful warlock. He had never heard tales of Maude’s father being able to conjure the Gods. Or perhaps the fact that Inkerman no longer worked his own evil intent on Gary had loosened the young man’s abilities. But Lee couldn’t wait until he told Maude of this event, in detail.

The Ancient Gods suddenly turned their attention to Lee. In various voices they all protested “You must not tell of this!” Another - “This is for you alone. Honored are you by your friend.” and another “This is his sacrifice and thus only he can share its meaning with others.” Their anger was apparent and Lee apologized, surprised at how strong his voice was already. Gary continued the Rite.

“What is keeping them so long?” Maude cried softly as Abby held her. “This is taking too long!”

“It will take as long as it takes, sister.”

“But four hours since you stopped me from entering the room....” Maude cried harder, her tears spilling onto the cotton shirt worn by Abby. Abby squeezed harder and rocked her gently. They heard the silver bell finally being tapped.

Gary finally arrived at the conclusion and reached for the silver bell, tapping it in a steady rhythm using the willow stick. A tiny bell tap for each word as it was said “We call upon you, Ancient Gods of Earth, Be with Lee Ko in this moment of his need. As light needs dark, as fire needs water, as Earth needs the Sun, As Spirit needs flesh. As a man needs a woman to further his line, and a woman needs a man to further hers, we need you Ancient Gods of Earth to lead us in this Rite to Balance Light and Dark. May the character of the old enter the new. O Ancient Ones, make Lee Ko strong again, cast behind him the darkness of death looming, the sorrow pressing from the past. Manifest his dreams and desires to bring him harmony with Life. Blessed be the Ancient Gods of Earth! To all beings here, seen and unseen, We Thank You.”

Gary replaced the bell and stick and gathered the candle. Slowly he turned and held the candle within inches of Lee’s face. At the start of the rite, Lee appeared in his 40’s but now look 30. He knew then that he had aged from 20 to about 30, though he didn’t feel any different. A year for a year is what was required by the acting priest or priestess when balancing light and dark.

“Ready?” Gary asked softly.

“Yes. I have the change incantation center most in my mind.” Lee answered much stronger than before.

Gary puffed out the flame, sending the undulating smoke towards Lee’s face. Mentally he reached out to touch Lee’s mind, finding the change incantation and working it for Lee.

Gary awoke with a start, from where he had collapsed next to Lee. He was half way on and half way off the chair once occupied by Lee Ko. As many times as he had done this, he had never gotten used to the passage of time. He never knew if seconds or minutes had passed.

“Good, you are awake.” said a tiny voice nearby. Gary rolled over into a sitting position, resting against the chair and spotted the tiny red dragon sitting patiently on the makeshift altar. Gary was still getting the bright mental flashes of other memories from Lee’s mind. It was inevitable that it happened. He had always snagged small memories from nearby as he reached for the main one he sought. They would fade quickly in minutes. Stronger memories could take hours to fade. It still was a little disturbing to relive the memories of others. But Gary smiled as the dragon flitted over to him and rested on his shoulder. “Thank you, my friend. Thank you! I owe you a great debt.” said Lee.

Gary slowly stood and laughed “No. No debt, Lee. I am young and strong again. No Inkerman to interfere with Abby and me. I have what I want. I just want the same for you and Maude.” He stood straight and held out his hand to Lee. Lee flew the short distance. Gary stroked his back. “Let’s go show you to Maude. I’m sure she’s sick with worry.”

[Holbrook]

Lee hesitated as Gary said to go down stairs to Maude. He sighed and looked at the diary he had been writing. He flew over and flipped the book open.

“What is it?” Gary asked as he came along side.

“Will you help me finish the last entry?” The small dragon asked. Gary smiled and picked up the book weaving his fingers over it.

“You just tell the tale and the magic will do the rest” Gary said and placed the book down “I will go down stairs and tell the ladies everything is fine and leave you to finish it.”

The dragon smiled a very toothy smile at the warlock and coughed to clear his throat.

“Both Abby and Gary were against what Maude wished to do, but they both also knew they could not stop her. So the three put the plan of sorts into action, I in dragon form flew to inform Lu of Maude’s coming into the rose garden. I was shaking with anger at the look on his pale face. He commanded me to take my place on the tea caddie. This I did, watching with worried eyes as Maude, so beautiful to behold, came into the moon lit garden. I knew Gary and Abby were close, but were the three young people a match for Lu? I doubted it and feared for them.

Lu, could be charming and this night he was more than that. He was determined to spirit Maude away. She played her part allowing Gary and Abby to spin a weave of spells that would hopefully hold and contain Lu while they worked on his destruction and that of his heart.

Maude teased, flattered all the time inching closer to the tea caddie, sitting on the wall by Lu. She ran her fingers over the metal in the same manner; she made clear she would to do Lu. I felt her magic begin to work. Soft, gentle, bonding me and the caddie to her, over riding Lu’s magic. Under her spell I could sense Gary striking at the heart. The moment Gary’s spell touched the organ I could not breathe, I gasped and fell off the caddie curling up. I knew I was dying. Maude screamed and Lu bellowed as he became aware of the snare round him.

A wall of light lit up around him as he struggled to break out of the magic Abby was linking to the very ground under Lu's feet. I could see cracks appear in the wall as Gary fought to complete his spell of attack. The containing spell broke. Lu reached out smashing Gary's half completed ward of magic, leaving the young Warlock on the defense, seeking to protect himself and Abby.

My evil master lashed out seeking those who sort to bind him with balls of fire. Abby and Gary deflected the attack, sending the firey orbs crashing into the roof of the Château. The explosion lit up the night sky. Maude picked me and the caddie up and ran, Lu tried to grab her, Gary and Maude hit him hard sending him spinning across the rose garden. But such acts were draining them.

Lu recovered and attacked, striking Gary hard. Maude as she ran, was reworking Gary’s and her’s spell. She was locking the caddie and myself firmly to her, washing away with her love Lu’s spells, but in the moonlight I could see her crying because she knew or believed that I the dragon and the man she loved, which she at that time thought were two individuals, would be locked to the caddie and it’s contents just the same. The heart she knew could not be destroyed without destroying “us”.

Behind us the battle raged and Lu was winning. Gary and Abby, then did not have the experience to use their power to kill him. It was then the clatter of horses was heard coming hard across the grounds. Maude saw her father riding fast, outlined against the blazing house.

She screamed at him. Inkerman changed direction and flung himself down, striding up to his daughter, shaking with anger. Maude breathlessly told him that Lu had tried to kidnap her. Abby and Gary ,who she said had called to see him on matters for the Duke of Wellington. (Maude could lie with the best of them when she wanted to.) came to the sisters' aid.

She said she had Lu’s heart and they had tried to destroy it. Inkerman took the tea caddie from her.. “You have bound it to you, well done. if his body is scattered the heart is of no consequence. Keep the caddie and its guardians as a trinket my dear.” Inkerman said as he looked over his Maude’s head. Gary was shielding Abby from Lu, who was closing in for the kill.

“Not so fast…”Inkerman bellowed and began to weave the magic he was famous for. He hit through Lu’s defences and slowly began to put the evil man apart, fraction by fraction, splitting him down to his very atoms. Then with one sweep of his hands Inkerman sent what was now a fine invisible cloud of dust high into space.

“Now to see what remains of my damn house; and young man” Inkerman addressed Gary… “What message from the Duke?”

[Holbrook]

Maude, brushed the hair out of her eyes and sighed as Lee flitted into the tea shoppe and settled on her shoulder. "Hello.. " She said. Lee rubbed his small head against her neck and settled down. He was soon asleep his small talons locked in the fabric of Maude's "t" shirt.

The day wore on, things were packed up and the crates marked. The spells laid to keep the contents of the "Tea Shoppe" together during the move.

Maude took "Lee's caddie" and took it up stairs and placed it in smallest of the two crates set aside for her personal belongings. It nestled between her jewel case and a some carved jade statues Lee had given her. Over it was laid the tissue wrapped plain velvet gown she had worn nearly two hundred years ago on her "Wedding Day"

Least as far as she and Lee were concerned it was their wedding day. Maude sat on the bed and stroked the head of the small dragon on her shoulder, he yawned but did not wake. Magic had that affect, especially the sort Gary had used. Gary too was sleeping. Maude too felt tied she lay down and closed her eyes, just a nap she thought.

As she closed her eyes she began to remember.

Remembered her horror at the events of the night that Lu was split into atoms. Her pain and anguish at Lee's fate. Her anger at him, when she found out "he" was the dragon. A dragon that had seen her in the bath, in her shift and in bed. But the anger soon had faded to laughter.

One month of every year Lee could be human without aging. The reworked spells had turned him into a young man in his late twenties again. The joy and pain of this was something both were dealing with. But least they were together.

Maude's father found the fact amusing and took it as a sign that Maude was a true daughter of his. Enslaving this dragon man as her toy... Maude for some reason never said different, she was beginning to see her father differently, as his behaviour to Abby over her growing relationship with Gary became plain.

On the sisters return to England, one snowy day Lee was trying to be serious wanting to talk. Maude wouldn't let him and he got angry and stormed off, turning into his Dragon form and flying out across the snow covered landscape.

Maude had her small sleigh hitched to two beautiful cream coloured ponies and set off after him. Through the lanes she dashed, the bells on the harness ringing out. Soon one small dragon was hovering over the thick rug she had round her knees.

"We do need to talk" Lee said...

Maude pulled the ponies to a halt and said. "Well here," she pulled out a bundle of warm clothes "Get dressed and we will go home and talk!"

Lee did and was soon sitting beside her as she whipped the ponies on and they were flying through the icy winter landscape, all silver, blue, the dusk sky streaked with red. The road entered a small wood. The trees were thickly coated with ice and snow and hung over the road like roof of a massive ice cathedral.

"Stop the sleigh." Lee said placing his hands over Maude's "We talk here, now."

"What about?" Maude said.

"I want to marry you" Lee said..

Maude gulped and blustered about her father and lots of other things.

"Maude, be quiet, do you want to marry me?" Lee said sharply.

"Yes... "

"Well... "Lee took her hand and looked into her eyes. "I Lee promise to love you, be with you and travel this life with you for as long as I live."

Maude's heart leapt and she smiled, repeating his words. Then Lee kissed her for a long time, till the snort of one of the ponies reminded them where they were.

"Best go home," Lee said and took the reins from Maude's hands.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

After rising from her long rest, Maude went downstairs expecting to find Abby and Gary. Lee rode comfortably on her shoulder, occasionally nuzzling her neck and ear. The shoppe was dark, except for one small lamp. Underneath, Maude found a piece of Abby’s handmade stationary and began to read her sister’s artistic, or rather undisciplined, handwriting.

“Gary and I have a small amount of packing to accomplish at his apartment. Frustrating! He won’t agree to my active magic to get us there quickly. Stubborn! Prefers the old fashioned way. In this case, hiring a car to drive us to the Welsh coast. Waste of money, if you ask me. Back in 3 days, dearest. You and Lee rest until then. We’ll all move to Prong Little when we return. Love, Hugs and Kisses, Abby”

Lee had read the note over her shoulder and whispered “Three days alone. Wonderful. What shall we do?“ Maude giggled.

Abby and Gary sat in the back of the expensive limousine, feeling indulged. The drive was beautiful through the English countryside and into Wales and the Cambrian Mountains. Abby began to get excited when she saw the large ornamental iron gates ahead. She had been to his ancestral home only once, for an evening gala in the mid 1800‘s.

The limousine driver slowed to enter the narrow passage through the gates. In the cool autumn afternoon, the view approaching was fantastic. They passed the ancient round-bottomed lighthouse on the hilltop, only one of two privately owned lighthouses in the British Isles. The car turned off the main road, onto a carefully manicured single lane road which wound towards the home. The limousine bounced slightly as it passed over the permanent indentations from centuries of carriage wheels grinding into the cobblestones.

The cobblestone drive passed through neatly clipped bluish-green hedges and ancient yews pruned to an undulating waves pattern. Sculptural pieces dotted the wide lawns. The drive began to circle, passing an orangery dating back to the 1700’s. The single cobblestone lane began to widen as it approached the home, forming a large circular approach. The center of the circle was a formal garden centered by an ornamental pond, serenely dotted with ducks and geese.

Abby lowered the power window and stuck her face out of the car. She gushed over the beauty and heard Gary laugh behind her. The Iluawyr ancestral home had been named Serendipity by the first Lord Iluawyr when the original home was built in the mid 14th century. The home had once been a simple medieval home which, gradually over the centuries, was expanded to eventually boast parts which were Jacobean, Georgian and Regency. Its shape was a sumptuous confection of turrets, gables, chimneys and several belltowers, constructed from light pink granite stones or brick, all locally produced. Large expanses of stained glass windows marked the original house.

As he paid the driver generously for the trip, Gary asked him to return in 3 days for the return trip. Seeing the size of the gratuity, the driver was quick to accept the job. Abby had rushed ahead but as she reached for the massively carved door, it appeared to magically open. She turn to smile at Gary when the butler spoke to her. Gary laughed and whispered “No magic here!” He followed her inside and enjoyed watching her take in the details of the home he had known for centuries. From the massive oak beams and the richly carved Jacobean ceilings to the French carved inglenook fireplaces, the house was sublime, though everything was covered by protective linen coverings, including the antique crystal chandeliers.

Abby noticed only a few selected pieces had been uncovered and were being crated for the move. She followed Gary through the long halls and up the center staircase. He led her to a small cluster of rooms on the back of the house, with a splendid view of the bay far below. As he switched on the electric lights, she started laughing at the difference in his private rooms from the ones they had just walked. Here was an eclectic ‘single-guy’ style of decorating!

They seriously began packing his ‘must haves’ the next morning. It took less than a full day. “What are you going to do with the rest?” Abby asked over their candlelight dinner that evening.

“Selling.” he replied simply, unemotionally.

“And the house?” she asked sadly.

“Yes, I am selling the house. My other options are to donate to the National Trust which means it all becomes their for perpetuity. Or sell it. Frankly, I’m not willing to hand over the bulk of my wealth to a charity.”

Abby frowned. She would love to live in this house and raise children, dogs and cats; tend the gardens with Maude’s help; keep horses in the stables which they had passed earlier. “May I ask, how much.....” her question stopped as she realized how crass it was of her to ask.

Gary laughed and patted her hand. Looking around to make sure no one was listening, he softly answered “Ł4.8 million.” Abby choked on her wine and began to cough uncontrollably. He patted her back and added “Though I would settle for Ł3.5 million.” Abby continued to cough.

As soon as she managed to get her voice back, she stuttered “But, this has been your home since....since....” she realized she didn’t know how long he had been here, nor his father and ancestors before him.

He tried to smile but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “A great family home bears the marks of many generations - children, grandchildren, pets, parties, friends. Each new generation should add spirit and testament to a place.” He looked around him sadly. “This is only a collection of things. Stones, bricks, pipes, pictures, draperies, crystal - things, only meaningless things. That which really mattered to me has eluded me as long as I have lived here, Abby. We have a chance to start over. Make new surroundings with people and possessions we truly love. I don’t want this place in my life any longer. It is time for someone new to take it.”

He stood and walked slowly to the garden, lost in thought. Abby sat quietly and stared into the large fireplace. She knew he was right. That is what she had felt earlier upon their arrival. It could be a showcase for the right person, but for him it was only a place from which to escape. She wondered if he would like the things she had selected for him in their new home. If he didn’t, it was only paint and fabric and could be easily changed.

Maude had once told Abby "The true magic of our tea shoppe is the bygone world of Rajahs and Emperors, tiger hunts and Chinese pirates, Japanese Geishas and Indian Gods all woven into a tapastry of light. Nightly, it melts from the tea caddies and filters into the shoppe and our lives, bestowing us with magic to face the next day." Abby smiled as she thought of Maude's type of magic. Once Gary was around that infectious nightly magic, she knew he would feel at home with her. And with Maude and Lee, and with the Tea Shoppe.

"It's not magic that will make me feel at home, Abby." he said softly behind her, startling her from her reverie.

"I wasn't aware you could read minds, Lord Iluawyr." she smiled sweetly up at him.

"I can't. Just had a feeling that's what you were thinking."

"Then why do you push your magic powers away from you?" she asked seriously. "You are a powerful warlock, Gary! You could do such great things...."

"Become like Inkermann? Or Lu?" he asked. "Or like my own father and grandfather?" he added with a strange hardness in his voice. "I thought you knew me better than that! Everything I have done throughout my lives, I have tried to break the tradition. I don't want to be like those men, Abby. That's really why I am selling this place. It contains too much evil."

[Holbrook]

The Château that Inkermann had rented for his family in the summer of 1815 had moved through the next 188 years like a ocean liner, it had been battered by the waves of two world wars, been home to familes, soldier's and the homeless tossed far from their own homes by the storm of war's passing. Now, it's mellow stone walls gazed out upon a different vista. It was the centre piece of a major hotel and tourist complex.

The grounds were much changed, yet the rose garden was still the same, it, like the Château was a focal point of the enterprise.

During the month after Inkermann's demise at the hands of his own family members, something rather strange began to happen in the rose garden. Each night it seemed motes of dust danced in the moonlight, forming a shape, or trying too. But with the dawn the shape faded with the dawn.

Then one night as the shape was forming, Mr Arthur Rashton, an American business man of some property and note was enjoying a evening walk among the roses, more to aid the digestion of his meal, than because he had any love of roses.

The dust motes began to follow him .

Then surround him.

Slowly one mote lunged at him.

"Damn insects" Mr Arthur Rashton swore and swatted at his neck. Another mote attacked. "Hell!" Mr Arthur Rashton cursed and batted at the motes, which had now surrounded him.

He cursed and batted, twisted and turned, but to no avail, the motes were intent on attacking.

As dawn came this time, the motes didn't fade, for they were well and truely lodged in Mr Arthur Rashton. But Mr Arthur Rashton wasn't Mr Arthur Rashton anymore he was some one else.

As this someone else lay inside Mr Arthur Rashton, reading the gentleman's mind, the someone else began mutter... "I want my heart"

You see there is one problem with witchcraft. Certain spells are linked to the life force of the witch or warlock, who cast them. In fact, most link such out of pure laziness and the conceit that they won't die, so there was no way their spells can become undone.

The problem was they did die.

Inkermann had died, so a number of his spells had begun to become unmade. This included one said spell performed on a summer night in 1815 at a Château in northern France.

The spell that had put Lu in a million pieces in orbit.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

With Abby and Gary’s return from Wales, it was time for the four to relocate to the colonies. But first, Maude and Abby made a slow walk around Puddle Hill. They were supposedly the grand-nieces of the old ladies who owned The Prime Dona Tea Shoppe and addressed people as such. They noticed how serene and beautiful their long time home was, as it progressed more rapidly into autumn. Both quiet in thought, each wondered how the small village would fair after they left.

But once back at the tea shoppe, they were ready for the change. They made the incantations which first zipped their belongings off. A short while later, the three of Maude, Abby and Gary, made the incantations while Lee looked safely from Maude’s shoulder. The tea shoppe seem to melt around them, the colors and textures swirling into a void of nothingness. It seemed as if they stood still while the world moved to them. As if in reverse, the colors and textures began to coalesce and solidify slowly around them. Suddenly, appearing inside their new home, they were met by a small group of well wishers who blew whistles and clapped and laughed. Maude and Abby recognized Lena, the witch friend and accomplice. “These are my coven!” she announced proudly as the others pushed inward to meet their new arrivals. It was the first time in any of their moves that they had been met with a party.

Lena had organized the small banquet and had the majority of things already set up for the tea shoppe. Only the boxes which had arrived moments earlier, remained unopened. “Oh my, but it is grand!” Maude breathed as she looked around at the antebellum home.

Abby grabbed her hand and pulled her through the large central hallway towards the elegant stained glass door. “Let me show you the outside.” Abby was laughing as she pulled her sister, who was still craning her neck to see the inside. Once outside, Maude saw the extensive garden renovation which awaited her specific touches. “Look!” Abby was excited as she pointed back towards the house. “It’s original owner called the home Cloudbreak.“ Maude turned and gasped.

The two story house, a Georgian-style four-room wide by two-room deep, had been reclaimed from near loss. Now painted a soft shade of yellow, with off-white trim, the house was stunning as it set peacefully beneath the autumn-dressed hardwoods. Abby was talking rapidly “It was built in 1850, somewhere in Virginia. But in the mid 1900’s, someone moved it to Tennessee and added a T-wing on the back. Our tea shoppe amenities will be the rooms across the front of the first floor. Your suite, Maude, will be the second floor of the original house. Your room faces east so you can have your early morning sun.” Maude’s mouth hung open.

“Can we afford this, sister?” Maude’s common sense was showing.

Abby laughed and said cheerfully “Oh yes, we can afford it.” They quickly walked around the house as Maude saw more and more area which she could transform with roses and other flowers. “Gary and my suite will be on the second floor of the T-wing. The first floor of the T-wing and part of the first floor main house, will be our common rooms.” Abby explained. They stopped and looked down through the heavily wooded countryside which flowed quickly downhill behind the house. “Down there is our very own creek! And across the creek is Sugar Trail Horse Farm.” Abby was excited and her voice was almost childlike with happiness. Once around the house, they strolled back inside.

Quickly, Abby pulled Maude upstairs. “I do so hope you like what I have chosen for your suite. If you don’t, it’s only paint and fabric. It can be changed.” She was giggling as if she held a special secret, which Maude found delightful. Stopping at the top of the stairs, Abby indicated Maude was to go first and examine her rooms while she waited at the stairs.

Maude flung open the door to the sitting room and gasped, her hands quickly covering her mouth in astonishment. The walls had been lightly ragged in a soft peach shade of paint. An artist had stenciled the walls with a delicate Oriental-style design and then coated the entire surface with an antiquing stain. The large crown moldings and bass moldings, as were all moldings, were painted a crisp off white high gloss paint. The hardwood doors throughout were stained and pickled a light beechwood to match the hardwood floors. The entire east facing wall of windows were topped with balloon shades to filter light. The fabric was an elegant french toile. The sparingly light pattern was shades of peach and gray on a cream background. The fabric and its coordinating pale gray silk were sprinkled across various upholstered pieces in the room. The entire space was elegant and understated, not overly feminine.

Maude walked into the study and noticed a related color scheme, though this one was a little darker and more masculine to suit Lee. The peach shades were now rust, the creams now browns. She knew their favored pieces from England would fit snugly and comfortably into the room. A small adjoining study, obviously meant for Lee’s singular use was almost as elegant as their bedroom. The walls had been done in a rich velvet brown, ragged and stenciled in off-white. A copper opalescent wash had been applied, giving the walls a mellow metal appearance. Again the beautiful moldings were off-white. The windows had simple cream balloon shades but were fringed elaborately in browns and rusts. The old leather sofa and his writing desk would fit nicely in the masculine room.

When Maude returned to Abby on the landing, tears were in her eyes and Abby’s expression dropped rapidly “You don’t like it.” came the rejected tone. “I’ll have it changed immediately.”

Maude grabbed her and said softly “I adore it, Abby! You copied the suite I had in Zurich! You remembered how much I adored those rooms.”

Abby smiled and then excitedly asked “Did you see your bath?” She pulled Maude back through the space to the large expanse of bathroom connected to their suite.

“We won’t have to share?” Maude breathed excitedly. Seeing Abby shake her head “no”, Maude took in the details. Again the beechwood hardwood floors were pristine. The large Victorian claw foot tub sat majestically in the corner of another bank of eastern windows. The cream and taupe colored tiles were topped with the palest of yellow painted walls. An artist had rendered a fantasy scene on the walls, and then covered with an opal-pearl wash. The walls appeared as soft as satin, softly reflective. Plants were hung and placed about to resemble a Victorian hothouse and the linens were all pale yellow and taupes, embroidered with “M & L”. A lady's dressing table sat in the corner, topped by Maude’s antique Venetian oval mirror, and her collection of crystal perfume decanters. A door led to another room. Maude stepped in and laughed. Lee would have his own very male retreat. A companion to her room, his room was a deep taupe with pale yellow accents. The windows were dressed with a tailored window treatment in taupe and yellow plaid. The gentleman’s dresser was complete with clothes brush and wooden butler. A small shoe-shine alcove next to it, held court with soft brushes and waxes.

As Maude finished touching all the surfaces and giving her approval, she said “I want to see your suite!” Abby nodded and took her hand, pulling her through the second floor towards the back wing which faced west.

[Holbrook]

Mr Arthur Rashton, or what had once been Mr Arthur Rashton, sat at a computer thinking, his fingers paused for a second.

It had taken the interloper, Lu, four days to sift through the memories of his host, five to insure that Mr Arthur Rashton never came back. The sixth, seventh and eighth day Lu had spent using Mr Arthur Rashton's money and contacts to track down his money and contacts.

Lu was presently suprised, the witches of the "city" in London had done him proud with their investments, it showed what a little fortune telling could do, when applied correctly.

He was now preparing to go to London and tap into his wealth and find the family of his enemy, all of them, Inkermann, Maude. Abby, that young fool of a soldier and Lee, if the dragon/man was still in existence nearly two hundred years later.

On thing that Lu had come to adore, while sifting through Mr Arthur Rashton's mind was the wonders of techology. No more lengthly spells to speak and see to afar, and computers and the internet, were superb. He was drawing together a thread of information concerning many things. Lu had plans well beyond his revenge, but that and the safe recapture of his heart was his main concern.

He printed out the information he had downloaded and swtiched off the machine in the study of the Château and went upstairs to his room.

Here packing his and her bags was Mr Arthur Rashton's wife, Joanna. This lady had adapted rather well to the change in her husband, in fact she liked it, Lu's dark nature had appealed to a certain streak she had held buried for a long time.

Lu, it had to be admitted rather liked the said lady, it was unusal and though he kept telling himself he would be rid of her soon, something inside him doubted that. Perhaps it was part of Mr Arthur Rashton that Lu could not destory and had to join with? For Mr Arthur Rashton had adored his beautiful and talented wife.

One thing for sure was that she was part of his plan to find his enemies and destory them totally.

[Holbrook]

The rolls, rolled into Puddle Hill, silently, ghostly with the dusk. It was late October, the air was heavy with wood smoke and the tang of rubber. A burnt out car lay in the heart of the duck pond on the village green. Things it seemed had started to go down hill in Puddle Hill.

Lu tapped the glass between himself and the driver and the vehicle came to a halt besides what once was "The Tea Shoppe" The door was half smashed off and no glass remained in the leaded panes of both windows.

"Goodness" Joanna Rashton said

"Indeed" Lu replied as the driver opened the door. The once American now Wizard tugged at the sleeves of his crisp silk suit and held out his hand to the lady still in the car. Joanna uncurled her long legs and slid out, standing close to Lu's side.

Lu led her into the abandoned shell of a building and stood where the tea counter once had. He sniffed the air.

He could smell them, all four.. The magic in them left a spiced tea flavour in the air.

"You know where they are gone?" Joanna asked as her phone rang, she pulled it out of her stylish bag and held it to her ear. "Yes... what? Are you sure? Thank you...." She dialed again and spoke swiftly into the device.

"Well?" Lu asked arching an eyebrow.

"Inkermann is dead." She said softly.."They just comfirmed it..."

“Damn.” Lu snarled and a snapped his fingers a dozen small dust demons began to rage across the floor. The snapped his fingers again and they faded away. He smiled “It was to be expected I suppose, something must have triggered my release.”

“I am so glad something did.” Joanna said huskily and leaned against him.

“Yes but what was the rest of the call about?

” Serendipity The Iluawyr ancestral home is up for sale.” Joanna answered walking out of the tea Shoppe, she did not feel very safe in this village it felt explosive

“Well, well, off to see the agent my dear, they if any will be able to tell me where our four are.” As he left the building, Lu sensed his heart; it had been here, in this place. He sniffed hard its scent trailed off west. He smiled. West it was but how far and where.

He got into the car and said “Wales… and don’t spare the horses.” Joanna giggled and the rolls softly left the village as the first riot of the evening began.