Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

door. “Even if he doesn’t wish to marry me, if I could get with child, I would be the happiest of women.”

I was glad Anne was happy. A lusty man. I liked Captain Burnett but hadn’t realized he had such fire under his rather stern exterior. I also couldn’t forget my man was out in a storm, about to wage war. Perhaps this witch would be able to tell me something to take away my fears.

“If you want to marry your Malcolm, I’m sure we can push him in that direction. Right, Flo?” I followed them out of the tower room.

Florence looked back at me and winked. “Yes, we will manage it. What say you, Lady Anne? Is the handsome captain one you would like to make yours?”

Lady Anne just laughed. “One thing at a time. We will see what the witch says. She is sure to be home in this storm.”

Valdez scolded me as he helped me into my cloak. “This is madness. Colin says the witch is in the village near the beach. That’s a long walk. You will be drenched, Glory. All of you will be.”

“It’s better than just sitting here, waiting for Jeremiah to return. Worrying and wondering.” I braced myself as Colin threw open the door and we all headed out into the driving rain. Thunder boomed and I jumped. Was it a warning? Foolish notion. It was just weather, nothing to do with me.

The path was muddy and we were a mess by the time we got to the small crofter’s cottage near the beach. It was hard to see past the waves, but easy enough to tell that the three ships had lifted their anchors and were gone. The only men on the sand were two unlucky soldiers standing guard over the rowboats tied up and left behind.

At the hut, Lady Anne took the lead and knocked on the wooden door. It creaked open after a few minutes and a woman of middle years stared at her. She wore a cap over her blond hair and a black gown that was well-made and of fine material. I decided that the business of predicting the future must pay well.

“My lady, you are soaked through. Come in and stand in front of the fire.” She noticed us. “You brought others. All of you, my house is small but you are welcome to squeeze in and dry off as best you can.” She waved us in, stepping back out of the way.

“Mistress Haig, thank you for the welcome.” Lady Anne threw back her hood and wiped rain from her face. She introduced us all, including Valdez, to Helen Haig.

It was crowded in the small room that held a table, two wooden chairs, a chest and a cot. There were a few cooking pots next to the fireplace and herbs hanging from the ceiling. A shelf held jars of potions and things I didn’t try to name. This might be where Anne had gotten her herbs to help conceive. A book was on the table next to a fat candle.

The woman could read. I was surprised by that and the way everything seemed clean and neat. This was not what I’d expected in a witch’s house. The smell though… Not evil but not to my liking either. I wanted to bolt but needed answers so I stayed.

“I know why you’ve come. Worried about the men gone to sea, are you?” The witch brought out a bowl from the chest next to the wall and filled it with water from a pitcher.

“Yes, yes we are. Florence, Gloriana and I each have a man we care about on one of the ships bound to fight the pirates. We need to know.” Lady Anne took a shuddering breath. “Will they all return to us? Safely?”

Thunder boomed, shaking the house. The witch looked up at the ceiling, as if listening to the heavens. Flo and I held hands. What did this mean? Was it a witch’s trick?

“I will do what I can. You are asking a lot. What will be my reward?” The witch’s eyes drifted over us. Her gaze landed on Flo’s fancy dress, visible when her wet cloak opened. “I hope you will be generous. This is not a simple task, seeing the future.”

We each dug out a coin and placed it on the table. I could hear Valdez grumbling behind me.

“Very well.” She nodded. “I will do my best.” She sat at the table and pulled out a bag from her waist. She opened it and sprinkled something into the water, waving her hands over the bowl.

To my surprise, the water began to move in a circle, round and round, making a whirlwind. She stared at it, her eyes narrowing until they were almost closed. Her head moved too, up and down, up and down. I couldn’t look away and I knew no one else in the room could either. Suddenly the witch slapped the table.

“There are some in this room who are not like you, Lady Anne. Luckily, they mean you no harm.” Her eyes seemed red in the candlelight. “The one you wait for will return, my lady. Your future looks bright. Hold onto him and don’t let what others want sway you.”

“Oh!” Lady Anne gasped and clasped her hands together. “I can’t believe it.”

The witch stared into the swirling water again. “Two men, others, will not return right away. The storm.” She closed her eyes and swayed. “The great storm will blow them off their course.”

“No!” Flo leaned closer. “You lie. What do you know of our men and their ship? Does it sink? Others. What do you mean?”

The witch looked up, staring at Flo with those red eyes so intently that my friend froze, mouth open. “You know very well what I mean, madame. You are other. You and your companions here. You think I don’t recognize your kind? I have lived long enough to know and despise creatures like you, preying on the