Maids, Mothers and Crones: Crone Chronicles, #2

By Jacqueline Farrell

Professional crone Sophronia Sheridan is still in California, trying to teach her young protégée, Charlie, how to be an effective witch, in between hunting for Billy, the rogue human, who is more than happy to sell other witches to unscrupulous vampires for their blood. Charlie's crone grandmother, Nell, proves to be more of a hindrance than a help, and Sophronia's only real ally is Hagen, the vampire lord. But despite finding herself dangerously attracted to him, she doesn't trust him an inch.

And just when things couldn't seem to get any worse, another vampire appears on the scene, far too interested in Sophronia's past and close to unearthing secrets, that, once revealed, could get her killed…  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Triquetra
• Release date: Oct 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393365143

Jacqueline Farrell

Jacqueline Farrell lives in Merseyside where she works as a teacher. She has been writing as a hobby since she was a teenager, before finally getting a novel published at the age of 45. She writes historical and paranormal romantic fiction and more details of her work can be found on her website www.jacquelinefarrell.co.uk. She can be contacted on twitter @jacquiefw1. 

Book preview

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Authors Note

Bonus Material

Chapter One

Sophronia, you look awful.

I opened my eyes. Hagen stood in the doorway, examining me with an unflattering eye; when I sneezed, he actually took a step back. Vampires can be very tactless.

I feel awful, I said and sneezed again. The expression of mild disgust on his face increased but he came in anyway.

Ceredig tells me you have lots of tiny animals in your bloodstream trying to kill you. I must say they look as though they’re succeeding.

Is there a point to your visit, Hagen, or have you just come to gloat?

The last three words sounded more like ‘cob to glode’. Hagen sat down on the chair beside my bed, delicately kicking the used tissues out of the way first. I know I’m a slob, but I really did feel dreadful and I couldn’t be bothered to tidy up. Besides, I wasn’t expecting anyone. I’d told Charlie and Macie to stay away and they had, following my instructions with a bit more enthusiasm than I’d expected.

My darling, of course I’m not gloating. Why would I do that? You’re no use to me sick.

I glared at him. You know, that’s exactly what I thought when I woke up this morning with my head throbbing and glue pouring out of my nose. ‘How can you be of any use to Hagen in this condition, Phronsie?’ I said to myself. It’s been bothering me all day.

He picked up a stray sock from the arm of the chair and dropped it on the floor where it joined the tissues.

I realize you’re unwell, so I’ll forgive you your sarcasm.

Thank you so much.

In fact, I came here to help, he added as I struggled to sit up and find a tissue. I could feel the tell-tale tickle of another sneeze begin at the top of my nose; but at his words I stopped and stared.

Help?

Yes. Why do you constantly behave as though that’s so hard to believe? I do occasionally have altruistic urges, you know. Sometimes I even act on them. His smile became brilliant and I could feel him trying to mesmerize me.

Don’t, I snapped. I’m not in the mood for it.

Just as you wish. He looked away.

Although a vampire, he wasn’t the ferocious animal of popular legend, or at least, very rarely, and even then, only with his enemies. Generally, he was the most urbane, well-mannered creature you’d ever wish to meet and very amiable, as long as you did exactly as he wanted. And you would, because he’d have mesmerized you. It’s a neat trick and since vampires are exceedingly lazy, they use it to get us to work for them. They have a good life generally, surrounded by their walking meals.

So how are you going to help me, then? I asked, picking up a tissue and mopping my nose.

I thought you might like to stay at my House.

We’ve been through this, Hagen. I’m staying here.

Why? He looked round at the peeling paint on the walls, the dark furniture, the central heating that only worked intermittently. It’s horrible.

He had a point but I felt duty bound to make some attempt to defend the place.

It’s improving. The renovations are under way. Charlie’s already cleared out the furniture in the front rooms for the decorators. I paused. Did you see her on your way in?

He settled more comfortably in the armchair. I believe she looked out of the window, but, since she still hates me at the moment, we didn’t exchange greetings.

I sneezed again. I warned you, I said, but the expression on his face registered indifference.

Charlie is the owner of this rather run-down motel. We’d only met recently, but we’d become friends since we share a unique perspective on life. We’re both witches. Not the pointy hat and broomstick kind; our powers tend more towards supernatural abilities like telepathy and coercion. Charlie is barely twenty years old so her powers are still very erratic. I, on the other hand, at fifty, have a lot more control, since I am a crone. It sounds awful, I know; but there are some perks. I can recognize vampires, for a start, which helps me avoid being mesmerized into doing their bidding.

I’ve told the boy he can see her. Hagen’s tone was grudging and I laughed croakily.

You’re all heart.

He’s too young to leave my House. And I will not have a fledgling of mine with his own witch.

You don’t have to convince me, I said. If I had my way, I’d take her a thousand miles from here the minute that wretched cousin of hers was found, except I know she won’t go. I sneezed once more and then had another coughing fit, but after a few minutes I was able to continue. By the way, any news of him or Louis?

Charlie’s cousin Billy and a vampire called Louis were on the run from Hagen. Hagen wanted to kill Louis because he had been tortured and humiliated by him, and I wanted to kill Billy because he was a worthless little fiend who had betrayed his fellow humans for the price of a few drugs. Obviously, I wasn’t going to, because, apart from anything else, Charlie wouldn’t be happy about it. But I certainly wanted to.

One of my vassals found a nest just outside Arizona a few days ago, Hagen said, picking up a jar of mentholated vapor rub and sniffing it idly. It appears Louis and his pet stayed there a while.

Why didn’t you say so before? I croaked. I’ll get dressed straightaway. Isn’t Arizona quite a long way away? Geography isn’t my strong suit and I find the size of America too much to get my head round sometimes.

About a thousand miles.

It’s hot there, isn’t it? Being English, I can never get over how other countries aren’t constantly mired in the cold and grey and damp.

Hagen’s face assumed its patient expression. Yes, it’s hot there. My vassal thinks Louis may have escaped to the Mojave Desert. I’ve sent others to assist in tracking him but they don’t have the advantage of a tame human to move them around during the day. My plan this evening was to take you and the witchling there to pinpoint the exact location of Louis and the boy. He paused and looked at me critically, but obviously you’re in no condition to go hunting tonight.

I’m fine, I said. It came out as ‘I’b fide.’

He gave me a withering look. You can’t even speak properly.

Don’t worry about me, I rasped, levering myself creakily into an upright position. Just let me get dressed and we can fetch Charlie and-

He reached out one finger and pushed me back onto the bed. I lay panting for a few moments, exhausted by the effort of getting up and then falling back down again.

That was vulgar, I croaked eventually.

You’re not well enough to move, he replied, pulling the quilt over me again. Being tucked into bed by a vampire was wrong on so many levels, but there was no point in pretending I was going anywhere.

But we’ll lose them, I whimpered as he looked around for another blanket. The thought of Louis getting away again was almost too much to bear and for a second I felt close to tears; then I realized it was just another sneezing fit on the way.

Only temporarily. Hagen’s eyes darkened a little. "I will have audience with Louis however long it takes."

I believed him. Besides torturing him, Louis had killed three of his progeny, which never goes down well with these creatures; they’re very protective of their young.

I know you will, Hagen. I have complete faith in you. And since you are here and you want to help me- I paused and looked at him in enquiry. Even though he’d offered, being a vampire means he can change his mind on the turn of a penny.

Tell me what you desire, Sophronia. It shall be yours.

Okay, I could really do with a cup of tea.

You want me to serve you? He sounded appalled. When he’d said ‘Tell me what you desire’, what he’d actually intended was a grand gesture designed to show his power, not something trivial like boiling a kettle. He can’t help it, being two thousand years old and a vampire lord; besides which, even when he was human, he never did menial domestic chores, since he was a man and men just didn’t do that kind of thing then. So I nodded patiently.

All you have to do is switch the kettle on, Hagen. It’s over there. I pointed to my new electric kettle. I was quite proud of it actually. I’d ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it made such a difference to my life. The coffee maker in my motel room was ancient and had been making unhealthy noises every time I used it. If you could- I started then had to break off as another wave of sneezing overtook me. He frowned.

Perhaps I should call a physician, he said, but I shook my head.

It’s just a cold, Hagen. You must remember colds.

No. If one survived to adulthood one had to be strong when I was human. And most people died young anyway. He went over to the credenza and flicked the switch on the kettle. Is there anything else you require?

Could you put a teabag into the cup? And if you could go into the bathroom and turn the taps on for a bath, I’d be really grateful.

He sighed but went into the tiny bathroom, and then returning a few moments later.

There’s no water.

What? I said, trying to ignore the thumping that was starting in my head.

The well from which you draw your water appears to have run dry.

Dammit. I’d been looking forward to a nice hot bath. Charlie?

"What?"

There’s no water in my room. Is there any coming out of the taps in the main building?

I felt a vague sense of muttered curses and then one loud one.

No, there’s nothing here either. Wait a moment.

There was a pause.

"None of the other rooms have water either. The builders must have done something to the water supply. Damn. I thought the pressure in the faucets was getting low. Is he still with you?"

Yes.

How long’s he staying?

I don’t know. Look, can you get onto the builders tonight? We need water, Charlie.

I’ll see what I can do. She faded away.

I felt a bit cross-eyed after that. Telepathy’s usually easy for me, but tonight my head was spinning.

There’s no water in any of the rooms. It looks as though the builders broke a pipe or something.

Dear me. Hagen buttoned up the jacket of his immaculate suit. Well, my offer stands, Sophronia. Feel free to call me if you change your mind and want to stay at my House. Here. He placed a card on the night-stand beside my bed.

Right. I lay back on the pillow, feeling hot and cold flushes ripple unpleasantly through my body. I’m getting used to this in the run-up to the menopause but this time it was a different sort of unpleasant. There is one last thing before you go.

What would that be?

I coughed again as I held out a wrist. You know, I said, making sure the juiciest veins were uppermost, but he barely glanced at them.

Not this evening.

You don’t want to feed from me? Usually I can’t keep him away. Vampires and blood, you know. I can’t say I love the procedure, since it gives him the power to control my movements, but it is a reciprocal arrangement in that it forms a link between us, giving me some idea of his whereabouts. Heaven knows I need every advantage I can get, because although I am, God help me, fond of him, I don’t trust him at all.

No, he said firmly. You’re ill.

That’s sweet, Hagen, but if you only take a little, I’ll be okay, I murmured, touched by this unusual display of concern.

I wasn’t thinking of you, he replied, with the eye-watering selfishness that only really old vampires are capable of. If I drink from you the illness will incapacitate me and I’ve got a lot to do this evening.

I was instantly suspicious. Just a tiny bit, Hagen, I wheedled. It can’t be that bad.

It certainly can. I once drank from some humans who’d been infected with the plague and I was unconscious for days. And I nearly got cremated in a funeral pyre.

I’m not that ill, honestly. I’ll be fine tomorrow. I tried to sound enticing. Sometimes coughs can give your voice a husky, sexy quality and I hoped that was the case now. Of course, being all sweaty and blotched wasn’t exactly alluring, but you can’t have everything.

He looked at me for a moment then sighed. Taking my wrist in his hand he massaged it until he found the pulse; then he bit gently into it for a nanosecond before letting go. He can be affectionate when the mood stirs him and he never goes for my neck which is very considerate. Vampires are particularly attracted to the jugular; all those movies weren’t wrong, after all. But when you’ve had a crowd of vampires slurping on your neck for weeks like it’s a never-ending buffet, as had happened to me a few years ago, you don’t ever want anyone touching you there again. So he sticks to the wrist.

There. Are you happy now, Sophronia?

Ecstatic. You know, sometimes you can be quite kind, Hagen.

Thank you, my darling. By the way, you have influenza as well as a common cold.

Really?

He nodded. I remember it well from the end of the First World War. I was in Spain at the time and it was in every village we went to. It was so insidious one didn’t always notice it until one had bitten a human, but the taste is quite distinctive. It was a very depressing time as I recall. Coffins everywhere, whole streets laid waste, people dying like flies.

Thanks, I rasped. Reminding me I’m going to die is just what I need hear in my state of health.

Of course you’re going to die, Sophronia, he said unsympathetically. Everyone dies, even vampires eventually. But you’re not going to die tonight, not of influenza anyway. It isn’t the same strain and you’re not suffering from malnutrition. I’m sure you’ll be well in a week or so.

You’re such a comfort.

My darling, what do you want me to say? I’ve offered you the hospitality of my House which you’ve refused. There is no more I can do for you. Now, I really do have to go. Stay in bed and you’ll be fine. He passed a hand across my cheek, then he was gone and I lay for a while, coughing and snuffling and generally feeling sorry for myself. Just as I was thinking about making some tea, the light went out and the heater in my room stopped pumping out hot air. I began to feel cold straightaway. As I shivered in the dark Charlie eased into my head.

"Has he gone?"

Yes.

The electricity’s fritzed now. I’ve arranged for the plumber to come first thing in the morning, but I’m going to have to call an electrician too.

Oh dear. I coughed feebly. Staying at Hagen’s House suddenly seemed much more attractive and it would help me keep in touch with whatever scheme he was plotting.

"Charlie, how would you feel if I went to Hagen’s for a few days?"

There was a pause. She was getting better at shielding from me and my heart swelled with what I was beginning to recognize as maternal pride.

"Well, y’know, on the one hand I hate him and the thought of you anywhere near him really makes me mad-"

I know, darling.

-On the other hand, you don’t seem so good, Phronsie. There’s a weird fog around your thoughts. It’s like wading through glue. He’s a bastard, but I know he’ll look after you. And it’s not like his minions are gonna catch anything from you, is it? Besides, if you go, I can get your room done first.

Would you really?

Well sure. I’m kind of fond of you, you old bat.

I was feeling tired and emotional and close to tears. So you won’t mind if I go?

No. Just do me a favor and make his life hell.

I’ll do my best, dear.

I felt a wave of laughter swell over me and then she faded again. There was a suggestion of Macie in the background, yelling about water. Macie is Charlie’s other cousin, the sister of Billy.

I lay for a while longer before finally summoning up the strength to phone the number Hagen had left. It rang for barely a second before being picked up.

Yes?

Ceredig? I said in surprise. Is that you?

There was a pause. Mrs. Sheridan, the voice replied finally, thick with dislike.

Ceredig, how come you’re doing something as menial as answering the phone? What did you do to piss him off?

I could almost feel the waves of antagonism rolling through the handset, which was very gratifying. This is Lord Hagen’s private number. How did you get it?

He gave it to me, Ceredig. Can I speak to him, please?

He’s busy. The words were clipped and terse.

Even so, if you tell him it’s me, he’ll want to know, I said, relishing every word. Ceredig is Hagen counselor, his second-in-command. He’s a very old vampire too, a thousand years old. And we hate each other, in case you hadn’t guessed.

He wants to know what you want, Ceredig said, after a moment. This is typical. Hagen would think nothing of giving me his private number then making me work for every crumb.

He offered me the use of a room and I’ve decided to take him up on it-

Even before I’d finished speaking, I was put on hold. Then Ceredig’s voice came back on the line.

A car will come and fetch you presently.

Thank-

The line went dead.

-You so much, you bald-headed little Welsh git, I said, putting the phone down. Even so I couldn’t help feeling a bit better. I always enjoyed annoying Ceredig. He was a tenth century Welsh monk before Hagen turned him and he’s never really got over the fact that the working class in general and women in particular don’t have to bow and scrape to the likes of him anymore.

I got up and wandered around the room, throwing some things into a bag. I wasn’t too sure how long I’d be at The Cabal, Hagen’s exclusive club. The packing took about two minutes because after that I just ran out of energy and had to lie down on the bed again until my ride arrived. I wondered fuzzily who he’d send to pick me up. I hoped it would be Dwayne, because I like Dwayne. He’s only been a vampire for forty years or so which makes him the youngest in Hagen’s House and therefore the most still in touch with his humanity. But it was just as likely to be Torsten, who had a Heidelberg dueling scar and had never been in touch with his humanity even when he was human.

But when the car finally turned up, neither Dwayne nor Torsten got out. In fact, my chauffeur for the evening turned out to be Ethan.

Chapter Two

Why are you doing this? Ethan glared at me, his eyes blazing. Do you want me to die? I that it? Would it make you happy if he kills me?

Oh, for heaven’s sake, Ethan-

If I see her, I’ll want to touch her and, if I touch her, I’ll want to bite her and if I bite her, I’ll be dead before the morning. I thought you knew everything about us, he ended bitterly.

The thumping in my head cranked up a few notches, thanks to his yelling; just my luck to get stuck with a lovelorn vampire. I couldn’t help feeling Hagen had done this deliberately.

Ethan was the reason Charlie hated Hagen. He was turned in his early twenties which means he never really fully matured. As a result, he’s got lots of unresolved issues, the main one being that he and Charlie should have been having themselves a fine little romance, but they couldn’t because of Charlie being what she is.

Vampires like witches. They like having our special talents at their disposal and, as they’re quite prepared to fight over us, only the oldest, most powerful vampires get to have witches in their service. Ethan couldn’t expect to be able to support or protect a witch for hundreds of years, assuming he lived that long. And, anyway, Hagen wanted her; she’s on stand-by, you see, for when I finally kick the bucket. So he’d forbidden Ethan to bite her and, since he was Ethan’s sire and Ethan was still too young to be out on safely on his own, he’s got no choice but to comply with Hagen’s wishes, which makes romantic walks in the moonlight problematic. Charlie doesn’t understand this. She’s a twenty-first century kind of girl and feudal commands from one’s lord and master don’t really mean anything to her, no matter how much I try to explain it.

I sighed now as he got into the driving seat and slammed the door shut.

All I said was ‘Why don’t you go up to reception and say hello to Charlie while I finish packing. I know she’d love to see you and you haven’t spoken to her for weeks,’ I said as he began driving away from the motel. You don’t have to get so angry.

I’m not angry, he spat at me.

Aren’t you? Then why are your eyes all black and spooky?

He ignored me. He was good at this. We weren’t each other’s number one fans, to be honest.

Could you turn on the heating, please? I asked. Vampires don’t feel heat or cold so it never occurs to them that we might. He flicked the heater on with more force than was strictly necessary.

Thank you, I said, determined to try and get on with him. I am sorry about you and Charlie, you know.

He didn’t answer, keeping his eyes on the road. Not that there was much to see. Charlie’s motel was stuck on a coast road that had all but been closed down about six months ago by her spiteful stepmother’s machinations. It’s a bit like a bad fairy story. Ethan threw me a disdainful glance before apparently deciding to be conciliatory.

I know you care for Charlie, he said grudgingly at last.

A great deal, sweetie, I said. And I’m crone. I always get what I want in the end.

He almost smiled this which I took as a positive sign. Then I had another sneezing episode and by the time I’d recovered we were at the club.

It was looking as garish and brightly colored as ever, the long driveway illuminated by flaming gas torches. Sometimes