AN ETERNAL LOVE

CHAPTER: 34

"And that is her plan, Damien. To lure us all into sin, and damn us before she moves on to the next

God-loving gathering," Alex Davies said.

Damien felt his lips pull into an expression of distaste. The man was a real fool. "Yeah, no doubt the

ruination of mankind is all that the girl is living for," he said sarcastically. Though Damien had meant

that as sarcasm, Alex Davies only nodded in enthusiastic agreement, which made Damien sigh and he

tried another approach with the crazy village elder. "You said before that, even you have felt this witchly

allure she emits," Damien said.

Lowering his head, Alex Davies said, "Yes. Though it shames me to admit it."

"And you do not believe it could simply be the natural feeling of attraction any man might feel when he

sees a woman of such extraordinary beauty?" Damien asked him.

"Never," Alex Davies denied flatly. "It is witchery, I tell you. I am above the desires of the flesh. Or was,

till she worked her devilish tricks on me."

Nodding, Damien said, "I am glad you have come to me with this, Alex." And he was actually, glad,

because of the ridiculous things that Alex believed about Adira. Even Damien himself had been so

foolish only moments ago. He was drawn to the woman and had been since he had first set his eyes on

her. And it was no more due to witchery than was the sunrise or the changing phases of the moon. He

desired her. And maybe more than that.

Damien had never lied in his lifetime, he had always made an effort at utter honesty. But for Adira, he

would be willing to do far more. He could die for her, should the need arise.

"I have seen many witches during my time in England. And I can tell you beyond any doubt, Adira

Thompson is not the one," Damien told the village elder.

Alex Davies' face fell, eyes widening. "How can you be so sure?" he asked.

Damien tilted his head, "Have you never seen a witch?"

"No," Alex admitted. "But I was sure I had the day she arrived."

Searching for a plausible lie, then latching on to the first one he thought of, Damien said, "The eyes of

a witch are two different colors. The left is green and the right is blue."

"Is it true?" Alex Davies asked.

"Yeah, Alex. It is true. And the forefinger of a witch's hand is longer than the middle one," Damien said.

Alex's eyes narrowed, and Damien was sure he had pushed it too far.

"But a skilled witch," Alex speculated, "could likely disguise those things. Don't see you, Damien?

Something is not right with the woman! Her crops, her wealth. It is not by natural means she succeeds

at everything that she sets her pretty hands to. All without a man to aid her!"

"Could it be that she is simply wise and strong, and perhaps a hard worker?" Damien put forth.

"I want you to go out there, Damien. One of their acquaintance claims they have taken in another

strange young woman, and I tell you, she is likely another of their group," Alex Davies said.

"Their group? Really, Alex, I believe your imagination..." Damien said.

"Go out there tonight, Damien. They liked you, both the Aunt and the niece. Pretend that you are

making a social call. And see what sorts of things they keep in that cabin. See how they behave when

they are alone and not in the public eye."

"You want me to spy on them?" Damien asked, already thinking about the firmest refusal he could

invent.

"Yes. And if you won't, Damien, I will do it myself. However, I am reluctant to get that close to her. I fear

she would bewitch me even further. You are a man of God, Damien, surely you would be far safer than

me?" Alex Davies said.

Closing his eyes slowly, Damien recalled the distaste he had seen in Adira's eyes when Alex Davies

had touched her. She would surely not like him snooping around. And suppose Alex should find

something?

Damien had not admitted it, even to himself, but he knew there must be something to find. Some truth

to Alex's suspicions. Adira was magic. Everything about her was mystical and powerful. She had cured

him of whatever illness he had been suffering aboard 'The Golden Witch.' He did not doubt these

things.

But she was not evil. No matter what else she was, she was not that, Damien knew.

"All right, Alex," he said softly. "I shall go. But meanwhile, will you do one thing for me?"

"Of course, Reverend," Alex said.

"Tell no one else of your suspicions. Should you be wrong about Mistress Adira Thompson, you could

easily destroy her good name with such gossip. And you would not wish to do that should she be

innocent, would you, now?" Damien asked him.

Alex Davies snorted and had annoyance on his face as if he was trying to say that he did not believe

she was innocent.

"Please," Damien urged. "It will only send the town into panic."

Alex's face softened then. "All right, I shall keep my suspicions to myself. For now. Except for..." He

narrowed his eyes on Damien. "Never mind."

"Except for what?" Damien asked, and he felt a chilly premonition in his heart. "Have you already

spoken about these suspicions, Alex?"

Alex averted his eyes. "It is of no concern to you," he said. "You will report back to me upon your

return?"

Shaking his fears away, Damien faced the man. "Yeah, I will report to you, but only tomorrow, Alex. It is Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

a long walk, and I will no doubt prefer sleep to the conversation when I return."

"Tomorrow then," Alex said, and touching the brim of his hat, he backed out of the door.