The Coven Series: Books 1-5 Page 3

  “Will Mother go to live with God?” Abigail whispered.

  “She is resting,” Ligeia said. “She will survive.”

  “Ligeia, I’m scared,” Abigail whimpered. “Mother could perish.”

  “She will not,” Ligeia snapped. “Now take the babe!” Ligeia passed the squalling infant to her younger sister before walking out of the room. She was so weary that she felt it in her bones, but she knew there was no time to rest.

  Ligeia started a fire in the hearth and filled the cauldron with water. As she waited for it to boil, she sat down on the stone and leaned against the wall. It felt good to be idle, even just for a moment, and she rocked back and forth, cradling her elbows in her hands.

  Ever since Ligeia had stumbled upon Henrik in the woods, her visions had mercifully stopped. She knew she should be grateful; perhaps this signified that she was again restored to grace in the eyes of God. But instead, Ligeia felt more fearful than ever before. She wondered if the visions had shifted to Abigail, or perhaps to one of her younger brothers. The idea was nothing short of terrifying to Ligeia. What if her whole family was being stalked by the devil, one by one, until they fell from grace?

  Constance slept for over an hour. When she woke, Ligeia passed her the infant and looked away as Constance parted her shift for the infant to nurse. Despite the painful ordeal she’d gone through, Constance looked better than she had in weeks.

  “How are you, Mother?” Ligeia asked softly. “Does it hurt very much?”

  “I am always filled with joy when a new babe has come,” Constance said softly. She stroked the dried blood away from the baby’s head.

  “What shall you name the babe?”

  Constance didn’t look up. She cradled the baby in her arms, staring down with eyes full of love and admiration.

  The door opened and slammed and William stepped in the room. His face was angry, but his expression melted when he saw the little babe. He strode into the bedroom with purpose before reaching down to pluck the child from his wife’s arms.

  “Are you poorly?”

  Constance shook her head. Some of her strength was beginning to return, but her face was still bloodless and pale.

  “No,” she said softly. “William, we’ve had another girl.”

  “Aye,” William said. He turned to Ligeia. “And fitting. I have news for my eldest.”

  Ligeia’s heart sunk. “Father, what do you mean?”

  William patted the infant and gently returned it to Constance’s arms.

  “Father, tell me,” Ligeia demanded. “Prithee!”

  William sighed. “I have found a place for you,” he said. “In Salem.”

  Ligeia’s heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she thought she would be sick.

  “You mean, I am going away? To live with another family?”

  William nodded soberly. “Aye,” he said, “for a year. And if things are promising, you will marry the son.”

  “No,” Ligeia said. She shook her head, stomping defiantly on the ground. “I will not go.”

  William grabbed Ligeia’s arm and pulled her close. “You will heed me, chit,” he said. “I refuse to allow my own daughter to go against my wishes.”

  “Mother, please,” Ligeia begged. Her eyes filled with tears as she turned to face her mother. “Please! Do not let Father send me away!”

  “Ligeia, this isn’t a punishment,” Constance said. Her eyes hardened. “You are no longer a child,” she said. “You are becoming a woman. It is time for you to have a family, to bring godly children into the world.”

  “No,” Ligeia said. A tear rolled down her cheek. “I will not go!”

  William yanked Ligeia roughly by the arm, pulling her close and slapping her across the face. She cried out in pain as the slaps grew heavier and her cheek was burning and stinging in agony. William’s face screwed with rage and spittle flew from his mouth as he slapped his eldest daughter.

  “You will obey me,” William ordered. “Lest I cast you out to find your own way!”

  Ligeia whimpered in pain. “Please,” she whispered. “Please. Do not make me go!”

  William sighed. “Aye, child, I know it is not what you wanted.” He shook his head. “But it is the decision I have made for you, and you will do me proud.”

  Tears streamed silently down Ligeia’s face.

  “On the day you become a woman, I will make arrangements with the family,” William said. “You will act as a household servant for a year, in order to cover the cost of your room and board. And if you prove a suitable match for the household, you will wed Thomas Whittier, the eldest son, at the year’s end.”

  Ligeia stood mute. She recalled Henrik’s warning, but she found she could not make herself refuse her father. The idea of being cast out was horrifying – too horrifying to bear. Ligeia shivered as she thought of being alone in the woods, curled under a sodden tree in the middle of a thunderstorm.

  “Yes, Father,” Ligeia said softly. “I will do your bidding.”

  William’s face relaxed and he released his grip on his daughter’s shoulder. “Aye,” he said. “You are headstrong, child, but this is the godly path. All women must obey their fathers, and then their husbands.”

  I hate this life, Ligeia thought suddenly. Rage burst open inside of her chest. I cannot stand the idea of never being in control of my own fate! It’s not fair!

  “William,” Constance said softly.

  Ligeia’s heart flipped. She yearned for her mother to take her side, to stand with her against William. Maybe she will come to my aid, Ligeia thought as she stared at her mother, nursing the babe. Maybe it is not too late. And I have not yet begun to bleed. Perhaps I have months, even years before I must leave home.

  “Yes?” William ignored his daughter and stepped closer to the bed. “What is it?”

  “The babe,” Constance said. “Her name shall be Prudence.”

  William nodded solemnly. “Prudence Arrowsmith,” he said quietly. “After the baptism, I will inscribe the name in the family bible.”

  Constance beamed with pride. Ligeia’s hopes faded once more.

  My parents don’t care for me, she thought angrily. She balled her hands into fists as the taste of iron seeped into her mouth. They’ve already forgotten my misery. And the same thing will happen with Abigail, and Drusilla, and yes, even to baby Prudence when she comes of age.

  Henrik’s warning flashed in Ligeia’s head, but instead of saying anything else, she slunk out of the room, feeling utterly defeated.

  Chapter Four

  Months passed, and my blood cycle still did not appear. I felt both nervous and frightened each time my belly twinged with pain, each time I felt swollen and bloated. But there was no blood on the inside of my petticoats, and I remained a child for another year and a half.

  My father grew impatient to be rid of me. Six children under one small roof was a great burden, and the responsibility of raising my brothers and sisters often fell to me. I took some small, petty delight in the knowledge that once I left home, the family would be lost, if only temporarily. But my younger sister, Abigail, was now the age I was when Father had brokered my own marriage. I knew she wouldn’t have much longer at home, either.

  The strange visions never returned. I couldn’t forget them; I knew I’d never be able to rid my mind of the bucket filled with blood. But for the most part, life in Ipswich returned to normal. Even the buzz around Henrik Larsson died down. After a while, most people saw him as an eccentric old man, albeit not a godly one.

  My father and mother grew more pious by the day. When I was thirteen, Father came home, looking defeated and angry. He had quarreled with Minister Boggust, and our family had been cast out of the church. Father said it was a blessing. He said the rest of the village placed too high of an importance on vanity and sin. He said that our family needed to stick together and remain godly, remain as pure and free of sin as possible.

  The morning of my fourteenth birthday, I woke up in a pool of
rusty blood. My mother scolded me for not being more careful, but she didn’t attempt to hide the news from my father. And later that day, my father made arrangements with James Whittier.

  I didn’t cry when I left home. I was too angry with my father, and even angrier with my mother for failing to protect me from his wrath. But if I had known what horrors awaited me in Salem, I would have cried until my eyes were as dry as gravel.

  ---

  Salem, Massachusetts – 1683

  “What a pretty picture you make,” Thomas Whittier sneered. He stood with one foot planted on the steps, the other on the landing with his arms crossed against his muscular chest. “I should have Mother make you do this each day.”

  Ligeia silently fumed. She was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor with a boar-bristle brush and lye mixed with water. It was backbreaking work. She had never thought her knees could ache as much as they did right now. It had taken her the better part of the day to scrub stairs, and now she had two whole floors of dusty wooden planks awaiting her. Despite the chill in the air, she was overheated and flushed. Sweat dripped down her forehead, soaking the neck of her gown. Her dark hair was plastered to her head with sweat, and her blue eyes glittered with hatred.

  “Do not ignore me,” Thomas said. He glared at Ligeia. She still did not look up, keeping her attention on the work at hand. When she still did not reply, Thomas strode across the floor and grabbed her by the back of the neck, twisting his sausage-like fingers into her delicate skin until she whimpered with pain.

  “Yes, Master Thomas?” Ligeia whimpered. Her blue eyes flashed with anger.

  “That’s better,” Thomas replied. He released her and strode around her in a circle, keeping his eyes glued to her figure beneath the thin, homespun gown. “I am eager for your time to pass more quickly,” he said. “Do you feel the same?”

  “Yes, Master Thomas,” Ligeia grunted. She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply as pain shot up from her knees to her thin thighs.

  Thomas grinned cruelly. He squatted down. When Ligeia did not look up, he tangled his fingers in her sweaty hair and yanked her face to meet his own.

  “You are a lovely thing,” Thomas sneered. He licked his lips, letting his eyes trail down her body and focus on her budding breasts. “And I know exactly how to treat things that are so lovely.”

  Ligeia glared, but she did not speak.

  “Only, you have one problem,” Thomas said. “You are too quiet.” He released his grip on her hand and stood up, circling her once again. He snickered as he leaned in and swatted her hard on the behind, smacking her again and again until his palm stung from the force of it.

  “You stupid beast!” Thomas shouted angrily. “Make noise! I want to hear you cry!”

  Ligeia was biting the inside of her mouth to keep from howling with pain, but finally, she relented and released a loud cry of suffering and hurt. Thomas grinned. He smacked her buttocks all the harder until Ligeia collapsed on the soapy floor.

  “You little wench,” Thomas sneered. “Pathetic!” He kicked her roughly in the stomach. This time, Ligeia’s cry of pain was genuine. Tears flooded her eyes, and she sniffled, rolling into a ball and hugging her knees to her chest with both arms. Her cheeks burned with shame as Thomas grinned down at her, evidently enjoying the sight of his betrothed in pain.

  “Leave me alone,” Ligeia hissed.

  Thomas snickered. His boots were filthy with mud, and he smiled at Ligeia, keeping his eyes locked with hers as he strode around the room, covering the floor with mud and dirt.

  “For now,” Thomas said cheerfully. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked out of the room, humming under his breath.

  Ligeia took a deep breath and hauled herself into a sitting position. Her whole body ached. She hated living with the Whittier family more than she’d ever thought possible. Thomas, the eldest son (and her soon-to-be husband) was a menacing bully who delighted in tormenting everyone around him – even his mother, Joy, who was the only kind person in the household. When Ligeia had first arrived, she had sensed an ally in Joy. But her trust and happiness eroded quickly as soon as she realized that Joy would offer no true protection against Thomas’ constant cruelties.

  The Whittier home was a grand one, the largest in Salem. Ligeia’s father, William, had been very proud when he’d announced to his family that Ligeia would be marrying into wealth. But Ligeia deeply regretted not standing firm or running away. Life in the grand house was horrible, and she spent her days cleaning, cooking, and sometimes watching the younger Whittier children.

  James Whittier, the patriarch of the family, was no better than his son, Thomas. Joy, his wife, and his daughters shrank when he was around. Ligeia was frightened of him, too. James and Thomas were both large, bulky men with shining caps of blond hair and smug, fat cheeks. They looked like overgrown children, and Ligeia grew more horrified with each passing day in the knowledge that she’d soon be having children of her very own.

  Heavy footsteps thudded down the stairs, and Ligeia cringed. ‘Prithee, Thomas, leave me alone,’ she prayed silently as she scrubbed the floor. ‘Do not bother me again today!’

  The footsteps grew nearer. Ligeia kept her head bent over her work, scrubbing hard at the wooden floor until it shone with suds and water.

  “Ligeia.” James’ booming voice made Ligeia cringe. “You work so hard,” he said. He snickered, stepping closer. “Come, take a moment to chat with your father.”

  Ligeia shuddered. The worst part of living as a servant in the Whittier home was having to treat James and Joy like parents.

  “Yes, Father,” Ligeia said obediently. She stood and curtsied, keeping her gaze lowered at the floor.

  “Tell me, are you happy in this godly home?” James snickered. “William seemed to think you would be.”

  “Yes, Father,” Ligeia said. James’ eyes slid from her face to her bosom, and Ligeia was reminded, unpleasantly, of Thomas. ‘All men are disgusting,’ she thought as James ogled her. ‘I hate being subjected to this!’

  “Come here.” James raised his eyebrows and held out his arms.

  Ligeia walked forward stiffly, as if her joints were made of wood. James pulled her into a tight embrace. Ligeia couldn’t decide who was worse: Thomas or his father, James. While Thomas pinched and hit, James was more subtle. He enjoyed holding Ligeia close to his body and refusing to allow her to escape.

  James wrapped his arms around Ligeia’s shoulders and pulled her close. She tried not to gag at his bodily stench. It was raw and musky, like onions and stale urine. She stood stiffly as James stroked her back, sliding his hands down to her bottom and squeezing. Her flesh was still sore from where Thomas had spanked her, and she tried not to shake as James squeezed her buttocks.

  “You’re a good girl,” James said. His breath was even worse than the rest of his malodorous body, and Ligeia shuddered. “A very, very good girl.”

  “Yes, Father,” Ligeia said automatically. She cringed as she felt James’ prick stiffen in his trousers and press against her.

  Voices sounded from below, and Ligeia tried to escape from James’ grip, but he held her all the tighter. Ligeia stifled a groan when she recognized Joy’s light soprano making its way up the stairs.

  “Husband,” Joy said. She was panting. She was extremely overweight, and her face was perpetually red and shiny with perspiration. “I need your help.”

  Finally, James released Ligeia, and she immediately sank into a curtsey for Joy. Joy glanced at her with derision. Ligeia hated the sense of guilt and anger she felt toward Joy. She hated the fact that Joy’s husband treated her like a wanton slut and she was expected to put up with it. But mostly, she hated how Joy grew angry with Ligeia for obeying James.

  “How thee fare, wife?” James asked sarcastically. “Our little wench was just cleaning.” He pointed at the floor. “And doing a very poor job. What is all this mud?”

  Ligeia’s ears burned. She could not tell the truth, that Thomas was responsib
le for the state of the room. “I will clean it all,” she promised meekly.

  “No supper for you,” James said. He winked, and Ligeia shuddered.

  “Go on,” Joy said. She gestured for Ligeia to kneel and once again begin scrubbing the floor. “Continue your work, wench.”

  Joy and James left the room, talking amicably. Ligeia heaved a sigh and scrubbed with more force than ever before. She deeply wished to run away, but she had no money and no resources in Salem. The other household servants resented her. Ligeia wasn’t bound to servitude for life, and one day they’d be serving her themselves, and she had no companions in the home or in town. Ligeia was rarely allowed to leave the house, and when she was, she often was expected back in a strict timeframe. She’d had no contact with her own family since she’d left; her few letters had gone unanswered. More than once, Ligeia had thought perhaps James, or even Thomas, was responsible for taking the letters and hiding them. But then one day, she’d heard Joy saying how strange it was that Ligeia never received post from her family.

  ‘It’s like they forgot all about me,’ Ligeia thought sadly as she slopped a little more water and lye over the floorboards. ‘It’s like I never even existed.’

  When she thought of her family, she pictured her brothers and sisters as young as they had been when she’d left. But she knew that Abigail was growing up. Maybe Father would find a place for her in Salem, too. Ligeia desperately wished for the opportunity to run away, but no such time ever presented itself.

  Cleaning the floors of the Whittier home took the rest of the day. By the time Ligeia was through, she was exhausted and so hungry that she thought she might faint. She wasn’t looking forward to a cold night, alone in her tiny room, shivering and hungry.

  “Girl!”

  Ligeia’s head snapped up. The cook, Mary, snapped her fingers.

  “Yes?”

  Mary gestured for her to come closer. “Come here, wench,” she said. “You must go to the market and fetch fresh fish.” She stamped her foot in exasperation. “The little wench at the stove forgot it earlier, and Master James will be angry.”