Page 17 of A Keeper of Time

He scrolled through the numbers on his phone until he reached the one for The Thistle and Hive Inn. “I’ve got it,” he said, dialing the number.

Edna wished she could be in control of the situation, but she couldn’t. She was going to have to sit back and let Maggie handle this. It’s what she had been training her for and Edna was sure Maggie was capable enough to handle anything that came her way. There was no need for Edna to be whispering in her ear. She desperately wanted to, but this was out of her hands. Being on the outside looking in wasn’t as much fun as it usually was.

***

“Things are going to plan even better than I imagined,” Evanore said as she joined Edna in the sitting room. She ran her finger across the marble top of the fireplace, admiring herself in the ornate mirror propped atop it. She raked her hand through the length of her hair, carefully placing the long tendrils behind her shoulder on one side and draping the rest down over her chest on the other. A satisfied sigh escaped her lips as she turned and leaned into Edna’s space, a smug grin on her face. “Angus is back where he belongs and the three lassies are as well. There’s more work to do before all is set right, but I’m no’ worried, are ye?”

“Ye ken I am.” Edna’s voice was barely above a whisper, but her anger was loud and clear. “I’m still no’ clear on why ye felt the need to ruin the lives of the couples I’ve matched.”

“I’m merely resetting things the way they are meant to be. The way they would be if ye hadn’t interfered.”

It was all becoming too much. “Why do ye care? Why would ye destroy these families? Is this all a game to ye?” Edna had so many questions, but she’d start with the important ones for now.

Evanore’s nostrils flared. Edna could hear the anger in the quiet, sinister sound of her voice. “Destroying families is yer way, Edna. I’m trying to put one back together.”

Edna was shocked. She had no idea what Evanore was talking about. She used her magic to help people. She brought couples together so they could fall in love. “I doona ken what ye mean.”

“I’m sure ye do ken.” Evanore tipped her head ever so slightly and raised a brow.

Edna matched Evanore head tilt to brow lift. “I doona. Why doona ye explain it all to me?”

“Me sister was the victim of yer evil, and I have searched for years to find a way to get her back.”

“I doona ken yer sister. How is it that I know her?” It wasn’t possible. Edna remembered every couple she had helped. She checked on them now and again to be sure everyone was happy. Every woman she had matched was happy. More than happy!

“Because ye saw to her demise.” A spark of anger flared in her eyes as she spoke.

Edna could feel Evanore’s anger building and became worried about Angus and the others. She had no idea what this witch was capable of, but she knew her to be quite powerful and therefore a danger.

“Ye doona remember, do ye? Her life meant so little to ye that ye doona even remember her name. Or is it that ye’ve taken the lives of so many it’s hard to place who she is?” Evanore’s voice rose as she spoke, her anger barely controlled now. Her hands and claw-like nails were inches from Edna’s face.

Backing slightly away, Edna tried to calm her by speaking rationally. “I am no’ a killer, nae matter what ye may think of me.” Edna racked her brain, doing her best to remember who it could be. A slow realization came to her. Could it be? There was only one person, a witch, that Edna had tangled with. “I’m sorry. There’s only one I can think of and she brought about her own demise.”

Evanore’s black eyes flashed and for a brief moment Edna saw the one she spoke of.

“Brielle was yer sister.” Edna’s hand flew to her mouth.

“Aye.” Evanore’s menacing glare was frightening as she seemed to tower over Edna. “Brielle was me sister.”

Edna tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go and nothing she could do. Her powers had been stripped from her and she was up against the wall with no escape. “So yer holding me responsible for her death and me punishment is the undoing of every couple I’ve matched.” If only she could warn the couples not to meet on the Marina Green. She hoped that Hamish and Donal were unable to travel to San Francisco to join the others. They all needed to stay far away until this was settled.

“Ye believe all ye do is good, but I have a heart, just like all those ye’ve matched, but mine has been broken. Me sister was all I had left in this world.”

Evanore closed what little space there was between them and Edna felt the full force of her fury. If she was anything like Brielle, this was not going to turn out well.

Edna did her best to keep her voice from showing any fear. “I’m sorry ye’ve lost yer sister, but ye must understand that she was trying to destroy the Mackenzie clan and me niece, Maggie. Everything that was done was in self-defense.”

“Of course ye’d say that. I doona believe ye,” Evanore screeched.

“How can I prove it to ye?” Edna asked. She had to find a way to get through to her, to calm her.

“Nae matter yer excuses or what ye may say, I believe ye killed me sister and I will have me revenge.” The anger and resentment was spewing from her like lava from a volcano.

“Why no’ just kill me then? Leave everyone else out of this.” Edna would gladly make that sacrifice to save the others.

“I’m no’ a murderess. I will take me revenge in a way that will hurt yer heart. Ye’ll ache fer yer man and ye’ll cry fer yer couples, but nothing ye do will bring them back together. Then ye’ll ken me misery.” Evanore was seething with anger.

If Edna could only reason with her she might be able to set things right. From the sounds of it, it might take her a very long time to get through to Evanore, but she had nothing but time. One thing was clear, she needed to calm her in this moment. Perhaps a slight change of topic would help.