A story of old-world vampires and modern-day witches. An alliance destined for centuries between two natural enemies is brought together by powerful ancients for the best of all mankind. Of course, nothing ever runs that smoothly. The only witch that can mend the past and secure the future is afraid of magic.
When Clara Redfearn—a retired high priestess of the Eternal Flame Coven— purchases the contents of the old Stepney Castle, she has no idea what they will find. Though given the Castle’s history, being occupied by the original Vampire Sovereign, Julien Laurent, and his family, the items should draw a curious crowd to her new antique store—Immortal Treasures.
Sorting through a box of vampire artifacts, Olivia Parker —Clara’s granddaughter— unknowingly discovers an ancient Timekeeper Journal. While she is frightened by its magical pull, there’s a part of her that can’t seem to put it down.
As she cracks the spine on the ancient leather-bound tome and begins to read the first exquisitely written inscription —Julien Laurent ~ SOV— every vampire named within its pages suddenly stops. Until today, time has been frozen within the cover while it waits patiently for its chosen interpreter— Olivia.
They’ve been waiting more than a century for her. The one witch who can unlock the secrets inside the journal and the only witch capable of activating the resurrection key.
What the vampires don’t know yet is that Olivia Parker may possess the power, but she has no idea how to use it, nor does she care to learn.
Excerpt
“You got it, Lizzie.” Ignoring Elizabeth’s dirty look, she winks at Olivia and flips her hand toward the neatly stacked wood. “Flamma!” As the wood ignites, Helen hangs the cast pot over the flames and steps back, grabbing two of the ingredients from Clara’s hands. “Shall I give the water a bit of a kick?” Patricia wiggles her fingers toward the pot. “You know, add a little heat to that baby,” she grins.
Olivia can’t help but chuckle, watching Elizabeth tense as she closes her eyes and shakes her head with a feigned smile. Patricia is undoubtedly doing everything in her power to irritate the high priestess, and Elizabeth is doing everything within her power to ignore the attempts. “No, dear. That won’t be necessary. The water is already beginning to simmer.”
“Alrighty then. I’ll just sit with Olivia and let the rest of you do your thing.”
But before Patricia can walk away, Clara holds out two small jars of liquid. “Not so fast. It’s your job to deliver the dragon’s blood and clove oil. Once Helen has delivered her offerings, you’ll add three drops of each to the pot, calling out your element, and you’ll take your position when required. Understood?”
The corner of Patricia’s mouth tightens as she nods. “Yeah, I got it.”
“Look, I know you don’t like these ceremonies, but I need—” Clara stops herself. “No, Olivia needs all of our strengths right now.”
“I said I got it.” She lowers her gaze and quietly joins her sister, watching as Elizabeth draws the invoking pentagram in the air above the altar. She then takes one of the glass bottles marked verbena and counts to nine, dripping it into the simmering pot above the fire. “Goddess, we ask you to help us loosen these binds that hold Olivia from the gifts you’ve granted her.” She waves her hand through the steam in a circular motion, then pushes it skyward. “I come to you with the power of air.”
As the air element, etched on the bricks below, begins to glow a brilliant yellow, Clara steps forward. She drizzles tiny pieces of vetivert root into the pot and opens a small satchel of soil. Pouring the pouch into her palm, she rubs her hands together, letting the granules fall into the simmering water as she speaks. “I offer my strength from earth and air.” Then, just as Elizabeth had done, she waves her hand through the steam in a circular motion and pushes it skyward before stepping aside.
The earth symbol shimmers a vivid green, and Helen steps forward to join Clara, emptying the lemon juice and rose water into the mix. “I come with the strength of water,” she says, moving her hand over the pot in a stirring motion.
Blue illuminates the water symbol around the pentacle, and Helen shifts to the side as Patricia moves toward the altar. Then, just as Clara instructed, she adds three drops from the first jar and three from the next. Finally, she holds out her hands and looks skyward. “I bring the power of storm and fire.” Thunder rolls above as the fire sign glows red.
Clara takes the large wooden spoon from the side of the altar and begins to stir the pot. Three times to the left, then three times to the right before carefully resting the spoon across the top of the bubbling brew. She then pulls a small anointing flask from her pocket and dips it into the mixture. “Come kneel here in the center and place your binds in front of you,” she says, gesturing to the ground just in front of the altar.
“Inside the pentacle?”
"Yes. You're the focus, dear."
