First Rules (Sisters of Andlusan Book 2) Read online

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  About the Author

  Also by Andie M. Long

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, with the exception of the use of small quotations in book reviews.

  Copyright © 2019 By Andie M. Long.

  Book cover design and formatting by Tammy Clarke at The Graphics Shed.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Andie M. Long holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

  To my own sister, Maz.

  I’d say I’m sorry for giving you 24 hours to drop everything and read through my book, but we both know I’ll do it again…

  I love you loads.

  Chapter One

  Leatha

  I remembered being in the car as it turned the corner and Billy pumping the brakes.

  The brakes that no longer worked.

  Then nothing, except a plea to my sister for help before it all went black…

  My eyes opened, and I found myself staring at my bedroom ceiling. I was back home in Andlusan in the Winter Court. My heart thudded in my chest as a heavy feeling of foreboding invaded my body, feeling like it was choking me from the inside out. A deep unease that something wasn’t quite right.

  Then my door burst open and my sister came running in. A man I’d never seen before hurried behind her. His hair was strawberry blonde and his eyes a vivid green. They carried an expression of concern that I didn’t comprehend, given I’d never seen him before in my life. I pulled my covers up around my shoulders. I felt like I needed to shake my body, as if by doing so I could lose this feeling of darkness. It was as if a cloak of something ‘other’ lay around me, something I found difficult to describe, but needed to be free from.

  “Leatha. You’re here. Thank the Goddess.” My sister began to cry, flinging her arms around me.

  “What happened? I travelled to earth and there was a crash and then I remember nothing. Just a feeling of being trapped, uneasy. Please tell me what’s been going on.” My words tumbled out with haste and a panic of wanting to know what had happened to me and what had happened to Billy.

  “You have created quite the drama.” The strange gentleman told me, his eyes assessing me as he stood there in his formal suit. I assumed he was a physician, as the gaze that looked me over had no interest in it other than that of someone checking for a pulse.

  “Who are you?”

  He bowed before me. “My name is Isaac Stafford. I helped your sister with bringing you back from where you were trapped between the planes; and also with saving the life of Billy Buckley. Things have been quite eventful, and I’m mindful of the fact not to overburden you with too much information until you have been assessed by your physician.”

  Billy was alive! Thank the Goddess. Questions assaulted my brain, causing a pain at my temple.

  I rubbed at my head. “This is a lot to take in. I’m so tired. I feel like I’ve woken from a bad, troubled dream and it’s still there.”

  “We can do a cleansing ritual which will take all of that feeling from you.” Isaac reassured me. I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t know this man’s background, but if he knew a cleansing ritual and had helped with my rescue, I could hazard a guess that he knew something of magick. And a cleansing ritual was exactly what I needed to take away this feeling of a shadow around my soul. Isaac met my gaze, a solemn look in his own. “Now, I have to tell you, Leatha, that you cannot travel the planes again. You now have a sensitivity to it that means you can get stuck again.”

  No travelling? No escape from Andlusan? No… Billy?

  My face fell. “So I’ll never see Billy again?” My travels had taken me to a different life on earth and had shown me love. Was I never to see any of that, or him again?

  Isaac looked at me. “Not necessarily…” He looked at Mercy. “However, I wish to get this cleansing ritual performed immediately so that you may feel better and recover. I shall leave it to your sister to discuss with you the future of you and the Buckley brothers.”

  The Buckley brothers? My eyes found my sister’s, and she blushed.

  Well, it would appear a lot had happened while I had been trapped in the planes.

  “I will leave you to bathe and will return later to update you on everything that happened while you were… away.” My sister left the room and after Isaac had explained the ritual so did he.

  Ramona, my lady-in-waiting, ran me a bath and placed the herbs in it that Isaac had given us. She fussed around me, helping me out of my nightgown.

  “I shall burn this. Just in case.” She told me. I felt a crease form at my brow. “Saira and I are aware of the old ways. Your sister told us nothing; but you can trust me, just as you always have. It is better that we burn that in which you travelled. That we cleanse you of everything.”

  I nodded.

  “Thank you, Ramona.”

  She tilted her head towards my now steaming bath. “Let us get you into the tub and perform the ritual.”

  My body welcomed the warmth as I sunk beneath the water. Flower petals and leaves floated across the top of the water and there was a smell of lavender, rosemary, and other fragrances I couldn’t bring to mind.

  “There are some words for you to speak, Leatha.”

  In public, Ramona addressed me as ‘Your Highness’ but within my private chambers we addressed each other by our given names. I considered Ramona a friend, something not easily found as a royal in the Winter Court.

  She passed me the paper and I read it over before speaking the words aloud.

  “I call to the Goddess

  To bless this water

  To purify the body

  Of her blessed daughter.

  To remove the shadows of what passed before

  To calm, care, protect, and restore.”

  The water glowed a luminescent pale blue, and it slowly began to swirl around. Rivulets of water trailed up my neck, and over the parts of me that weren’t already covered by the bathwater. Though Ramona’s lips parted slightly as it happened, she showed no fear of what she witnessed before her, and I wondered what indeed, she knew of the ways of old.

  The water receded from my body, the light dulled, and I knew the spell had been performed by the fact my body felt tired but lighter. The darkness was gone. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and then my stomach gurgled loudly, breaking the tension I hadn’t realised had been there in the room, as Ramona and I giggled together.

  “Let’s get you out of there and into some clean clothes and then I’ll call the cook to fix you some dinner, lest there be reports of the sound of an earthquake in the palace.” Ramona laughed.

  After I’d eaten, Ramona left me to tend to other tasks around the palace. I sat on my chaise and stared out of the window that looked out over the front of the palace. The frost glistened on the ornate stone staircase leading up to the main entrance; the dragon statues at either side ironic given dragons were known for breathing fire and the Winter Court was known for its coldness.

  A knock came to the door and Mercy walked in, taking a seat
at the side of me.

  “In some ways it seems like only a dream.” I told her. Then I smiled wryly. “Look at you. I don’t think you’ve been in my room this many times in a year.”

  Mercy looked at the floor, a blush coming to her cheeks, then she looked back up, directly into my eyes. “Yes, I have apologies to make. I’ve been so busy worrying about the reign of Andlusan and its people, I forgot we have to live too.”

  “Well, I also have to apologise.” I told her. “Because I forgot that while I carry on with my fancies, I leave you to do all the boring stuff. My selfishness means you don’t have any fun yourself.”

  We agreed to meet in the middle and to get our advisors to approach the other courts and see if we might share our rule, given we were twins; rather than my having to take on the Kingdom despite being born only minutes before. Then Mercy told me about how Billy’s mother was Lord Mandrake’s wife, and about how she’d accidentally killed our father and been banished from the court by our mother.

  I called Ramona to make us some sweet tea while I pondered everything I’d just been told. After my drink, I made my decision. “It was an accident, and it sounds like she has been punished enough.”

  Mercy looked relieved. “Yes, time passed in both realms for Lord Thomas and Dawn. It was not a simple case of time travel like we did.”

  “So, let her come back if that’s what she wishes.” And that way I would see Billy again.

  “I shall ask Isaac to speak to Lord Thomas. You know this means Aaron and Billy shall return?”

  I smiled. “What a pity. We shall have to spend time with them again.”

  Mercy broke into a huge grin.

  “Now, Sister, I want to know everything about your visit to Earth and how you managed to romance the very moody Aaron Buckley. I think that is more of a feat than your time travel.”

  She elbowed me in the arm. “Hush with you. Aaron is wonderful. I am so happy that they will be able to return to their home and be re-united with their father.”

  “Yes, well, just remember this is not a fairy tale we’re in and this is all the happy ever after. Dawn and Lord Thomas have been separated for a long time, and Billy and Aaron barely know him. Now, what are we going to do about the fact that we now know we are the next generation of a family of witches? We not only have our coronation to discuss, but whether we herald a return of the use of white magick, herb lore, healers, etc. It has been years since our mother banned the use of magick in the Kingdom.

  Mercy sighed and rubbed at her temples. “There is so much to consider. But for now, you need to rest and reflect on everything that has happened recently. I will leave you to recuperate and tomorrow I will arrange for us to hold a meeting with the court officials so that we may discuss our coronation and any other pertinent issues such as how to rescind the ban.”

  “Still so serious, Sister. What else shall we do, in order to have some fun?”

  My sister smiled. “We shall discuss what we are going to do to welcome back Aaron and Billy. I’m sure there will be some fun in that.” Then she winked at me, and I realised that recent events had changed us both.

  After an evening meal of a hearty stew, Ramona helped me into my nightgown. I bade her goodnight and returned to my chaise to stare out of my window at the clear and cloudless night sky patterned with a myriad of silver stars. I was exhausted. My mind felt like it had been turned inside out and back to front, and before long I felt my eyes closing. I knew I should move to my bed, but I didn’t have the strength.

  I was somewhere but nowhere at the same time. I could see nothing and couldn’t move. It was like I was suspended in midair and held by invisible threads. I felt a mental prodding at my temples like someone was trying to read my mind.

  “You shouldn’t be here, girl. This is what happens when you mess with that you don’t know.” The voice travelled around me, not coming from any definite source.

  “Who are you? Where am I?” I called out.

  “You are trapped, like a fly in a spiderweb. That’s what you are.” The voice replied and a hollow laugh followed. “It’s been a while since I had company. Those of us in the planes like to share our prizes. You are mine.”

  That probing sensation came to my mind again, making me wince. “Stop doing that.”

  “Or you’ll do what?” The voice mocked. “You are in no position to bargain with me here, child. You’d do well to remember that.”

  Then a feeling came across me like ants crawling down my skin, and thoughts invaded my mind of bodies reduced to dust, burned from the top down, and I screamed into the abyss.

  “Leatha. Leatha.”

  I woke panicking, and clutched at my maid. “What was that? What was it?” I yelled at her.

  “Leatha, you were having a bad dream. You’re on your seat, look. You must have fallen asleep there.”

  I glanced around and sure enough I was on the chaise near the window. Vaguely, I remembered my eyes closing as I’d looked at the stars.

  I rubbed at my eyes. “It seemed so real. There was something familiar about it all.”

  Ramona passed me a tumbler of water. “That’s how all dreams are when you’ve just awoken from them. In a few minutes it will begin to fade and then you’ll be able to get back to sleep. Now let’s get you into your proper bed.”

  She’d have only fussed further, so I let her lead me to my own bed and I crawled inside the covers. Once I’d convinced her I was all right and ready to try to sleep again, she went, insisting I call for her whatever the hour if needed.

  But sleep wouldn’t come because every time I closed my eyes I remembered the nightmare.

  And despite the fact I’d taken the cleansing bath and spoken the words to clear me of anything I picked up on travel, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that what I’d dreamed was a flashback of the time I was lost; the time I couldn’t remember.

  Eventually exhaustion won out once more, my last thoughts that I would research ‘the planes’ the first chance I got.

  There were thankfully no more dreams that night.

  Chapter Two

  Leatha

  With our coronation in two day’s time, there was no more time for me to wallow in my room. Despite how tired I was, Mercy and I were to go to the council chambers situated within the main part of the palace, where we would meet our council and advisors and discuss business.

  I decided I’d be prompt and knocked on Mercy’s door. I needed to show willing with dealing with palace affairs; something that bored me rigid.

  Mercy’s maid Saira opened the door to her chambers and beckoned me inside. “She won’t be a moment, Your Highness.”

  We walked down the vast corridor together, before descending the stairs and making our way to the huge room. “How did you sleep?” Mercy asked me.

  “Like the dead.” I told her. I decided not to mention my nightmare. She would only fuss, and to be honest there were enough things to deal with in our immediate future.

  “I’m not surprised. Me too. I still can’t believe I travelled to Earth.” She whispered. “I miss jeans and t-shirts already. Having to walk around in gowns all day is restrictive and bothersome.”

  “That’s another thing we can change.” I said, finally finding some enthusiasm for something. “We can keep our fancy attire for ceremonies and royal visits, but perhaps we can introduce softer clothes for our day-to-day?”

  “There is much I’d like to change after what I saw on Earth and we shall, but we’ll have to do it gradually or the villagers will think we have been brainwashed.” Mercy giggled.

  We reached the large wooden doors, and I rattled the knocker before entering. A large wooden table surrounded by eight chairs was placed in the centre of the room and all present stood and bowed as we walked inside.

  “Your Highnesses.” said our Uncle River, our mother’s younger brother, on behalf of the council.

  The council consisted of River, the lead councillor; Tredby, the treasurer; two lawyers, and two emi
ssaries whose job it was to travel around on our behalf.

  Mercy and I nodded our heads at everyone and took our places around the table.

  River took the position of Chair. He began to speak while maids poured tea and provided trays of freshly baked goods.

  “So the first point of order. Everything is set for the coronation with-”

  I raised a hand to interrupt him. “I’m sorry, Uncle River. We have some urgent business that we would like to put forward.”

  “Okay…” He looked from myself to Mercy.

  “We would like to propose that as twins, born so close, we both rule. Two Queens of Andlusan. I would like for Jed and Alun to travel to the other courts to gain their permission to the change and obviously this would have to be immediate given the date of the coronation.”

  Mercy added her voice to mine. “We all know I have dealt more with the official paperwork of late. My sister and I have had deep discussions and agree that we should share the rule, the paperwork, the throne, equally between us.”

  “It is not right that I rule just because my mother birthed me first.” I added.

  “But that is the way it has always been.” Tredby said. “The first rules. It has been this way for thousands of years. Are you sure this is not because you don’t feel capable of ruling alone?”

  “I wholeheartedly agree with your joint rule.” River clapped his hands, interrupting Tredby. “You were born together. You should rule together. As soon as we are finished here we will set the wheels in motion. Royal life will be much easier if we have two Queens. It means we can do much more business.”