Chapter 14: Frost and Stone

Siobhan stared at her hand and the light went out. She squeaked and fell back into Pwyll who caught her and held her safe. Only she was mad at him. He'd broken into her room in the middle of the night, and her Dad had caught them. Something was weird about her dad, but she needed to read this letter and figure out what was going on.

Guard it carefully, the letter said, it is a part of your heritage.

"Great," she said, "first paragraph and I've already blown it."

The tradition in our family is that the stone is the one Cain used to slay Abel. I don't know about that, but I know the stone does something to the person who holds it. It magnifies whatever they are feeling. The results can be devastating. We aren't designed to hold such feelings, yet it is addictive. It is our task as Siobhan to hold the stone and keep the balance. It is such a small thing, yet small things change the balance. A grain of sand can tip a balance.

You must learn to master yourself. If I'd been allowed to train you it would be easier, but you have mother's chair. It will have to do.

"What does Grandmother's chair have to do with anything?"

If you don't master your emotions, you could do great damage. The stone magnifies emotion, but it also acts as a focus for the power you carry within you. That power is just power. It is clear as water and as pure, but what you add to water can make a healing tea, or a deadly potion.

There are times when it is useful to have such focused power, but dangerous too. Other people may be weak and hear words spoken with power as curses or spells, some will fear them, others crave them. Be mindful of what you speak because your words may cause unintended damage. Damage that is impossible to repair. You can no more take back your words than catch a stone that you've thrown.

"Dad," Siobhan said, "I have to find Dad. I told him to go away."

"Read the letter first," Pwyll said, "then I'll help you find your Dad."

The light flickered, but Siobhan took a deep breath and turned back to the words on the letter.

I wish I could travel to you, but that is impossible. God has a different trip in mind for me and it is long overdue. The stone sometimes manifests as if it has a will of its own. Some hear whispers that speak to their desires, some see things, totems that talk to them and make bargains. Whatever you do, make no bargain with the stone. It will hold you to every letter of the bargain and make you regret it for all the days of your life. Yet if you do, you must fulfill your end, however painful, or the stone will own you, body and soul.

"Could I have done any worse?" Siobhan said. "I've lost the stone, made a bargain with that little man and cursed my father."

"You finished the letter?"

"Yeah, it stops with the stone owning me, body and soul."

"Your aunt didn't sign it or anything?"

"No, it just stops."

"Those were all the pages that your mom gave me. It was strange like she couldn't stand to touch them. When you left, I hung my coat up and went to bed. I had this freaky dream that you turned to ice and broke when I tried to kiss you. I wanted to make sure you were Ok. I found the letter when I put my hand in my coat pocket. It read it to see what freaked your mom out."

"I guess having a witch as a sister would do it," Siobhan said, "I've always thought that Mom wanted a boy not a girl. You couldn't name a boy Siobhan, could you?"

"So let's go find your Dad."

"We should find the last part of the letter, maybe it has the answer. Please?"

Siobhan watched as Pwyll sighed, then sat still. When she prayed, she tried to sit still, but her hands moved or she shifted her weight. Pwyll was so still, she could barely see him breathing. He looked empty, like he wasn't truly there. "What are you doing?" she said and poked him.

"Trying to find your letter," he said, "give me a minute. I've never done this in public before."

She got up and found some clean underwear and went to the bathroom to change. Wearing underwear this long made her feel grody. It also meant she didn't need to see Pwyll sitting there empty. It was too freaky, like he sent himself out ahead and his body just sat there. She changed clothes quickly, in case he walked in on her, but when he didn't she brushed her hair. The short hair made her look strange. She was used to the weight of it on her neck and the hair covered her shoulders and breasts. Now, this odd girl looked at her in the mirror. She looked older, tougher. Like she'd lived more.

"You'd better get out there," her reflection told her. "You have no idea what's coming for you."

She gasped and ran out of the bathroom straight into Pwyll. He staggered back until he hit the wall. Her lips brushed his, and a spark leapt between them. She closed the distance again and kissed him. She felt the flow of energy between them, but she made it into a loop, whatever she took, she gave back to him. The energy still heated her and her hands went from on his chest to exploring.

Pwyll pushed her back a little.

"I really would love to do this all night," he said as his hitched his pants up. "But we don't have time. We need to find your dad."

"I thought we were looking for the letter?" Siobhan tried to push away the feelings of just a second ago. Wasn't she angry at him? Weren't the guys supposed to want this, whatever it was?