Return to

Home Page

NEW AUTHORS SHOWCASE

 

19-10-09

6M

p4

Mystical Circles

by

S. C. Skillman

 

Sample: S.C. Skillman was born and raised in Kent, England. She read English Literature at Lancaster University. Now she lives in Warwickshire with her husband and children. When not writing novels, her hobbies include yoga, dog-walking, visiting old country houses, and networking with her writers group in a pub near Kenilworth Castle.

Mystical Circles
    Juliet, concerned that her sister Zoe has fallen for the charismatic Craig, leader of a New Age spiritual group, sets off from London into the Cotswold hills to investigate. Upon arrival she finds an unlikely ally in Don, Craig’s father. They are two people of different generations coming together in a common cause... or are they? Juliet’s goal is to rescue Zoe from Craig and his Wheel of Love. Who will distract her? Will it be Don? Theo, attractive young clergyman with a mysterious past? Or impetuous Zoe, switching her affections to leave Juliet undefended against Craig’s fascinating powers?

EXTRACT FROM CHAPTER ELEVEN

    Sprawling on the sofa in an Edwardian tea jacket he must have picked up from a theatrical costumier’s, James listened to the tea-time conversation but did not participate. Every so often, Juliet noticed, he moodily sipped from the bone china cup placed beside him on the occasional table. Theo, despite his modest manner, was the centre of attention for the others in the oak-panelled library. Seated between the slight figure of Laura and the nervously twittering Sam on one of the sofas, he answered all questions shot at him.
    Juliet had stayed quiet too for the past twenty minutes. As ever, her Nagra hung from her shoulder in its carrying case, and she was equipped with her microphone. But just at this moment, she didn’t feel like making any recordings. She was still struggling to come to terms with the mixed feelings that had arisen from Theo’s challenge to her up on the ridge earlier that day. So Craig was unlikely ever to commit himself to any woman, was he? Well then, in principle she should be feeling pleased. She imagined Theo would have told Zoe that too, and Zoe would quickly realise she was better off leaving this place and coming back to London with Juliet.

    But in fact Juliet didn’t feel pleased at all. Rather she felt a tumult of conflicting emotions. Why? Craig meant nothing to her personally. Though if he had a problem with commitment it was, of course, interesting, and she should probably investigate it in a further interview at some stage.
    The powerful feeling of hurt that had overtaken her when Theo had first  mentioned it had now diminished somewhat. But even so she resented even feeling like that.

    Pushing this observation away into a dark corner, she re-focused on the curiously anachronistic figure of James. He looked as if he should be lolling back against the brass fender of a gentleman’s study, pipe in hand, at an Edwardian house-party. From time to time, she noticed, he’d been on the receiving end of a quizzical glance from the clergyman. It was clear James wasn’t happy about this. However, for the moment, he seemed prepared to remain silent and attentive.

    “Even if you are in trouble, Theo,”  Laura laid her hand on his, “you know you can always stay here with us.”

    “Don’t go,” said Sam. “Who cares about the bloody bishop?”

    Theo smiled. “Thanks, Sam, but I must go. There’s no getting out of it. My boss at the Golden Chalice is concerned too. I have to face the music. But I’ll be back, I hope. I’ve looked up train times, and there’s one I can catch from Cirencester in two hours.”

    “I’ll give you a lift,” said Don.

    “Thanks, Don; most appreciated.”

    The Yorkshireman sat back, arms folded.

    Zoe, eyes large and appealing in her oval face, gazed at Theo from the seat opposite. Juliet could hardly fail to notice. This level of concentration on him from her sister was beginning to give her serious qualms. It was Craig she loved, after all. Or so she supposed. And if not what was going on?

    Although she liked Theo, his penetrating questions, discernment and insight made her uneasy. And Zoe was a headstrong drifter. That was still how Juliet saw her, despite all Theo’s words during their walk. Certainly it felt like no time at all since she’d claimed to be in love with Craig. Indeed it was only just a week, she reflected. Surely she wasn’t cooling off from him? Was she starting to prefer Theo? Impossible. And yet if she was, to do this so soon seemed feckless at the very least, not that Craig would have been any better a choice, of course.

    She resolved to speak about it privately to her sister at the next opportunity.

    However, as tea finished and the group gradually dispersed, Zoe slipped away before Juliet could intercept her. Suddenly Juliet’s path to the door was cut off by Don.

    He stood four-square in front of her.

    “Glad I’ve got you alone.”

    “Why’s that, Don? “

    “Your sister. This new liking of hers. For our friend Theo. Can’t help but notice.”

    “Neither can I,” she said in a tight voice.

    “We’ll be off at six. He may be back tomorrow, of course. There again, may not. But meanwhile...” He stopped.

    “Yes?”

    “While he’s gone... ‘Might be a case of out of sight, out of mind’ ...  Zoe could set her sights back on Craig again.”

    Juliet frowned.

    “What are you trying to tell me, Don?”

    “When she first came...” he said, then stopped. He quickly continued. “Hung on his every word, she did.”

    Juliet listened with quickening interest. It seemed undeniable that a new attraction to Theo might be drawing Zoe away from Craig.

    “Does this worry you, Don?”

    The colour of his face intensified.

    “It ought to worry both of us.”

    “Why?” she asked, prickling with suspicion.

    “Do you like him?”

    She stiffened. Somewhere in the background she heard the library door open, but her focus was upon Don.

    “Who? Theo?”

    “No. Craig.”

    “What are you getting at, Don?”

    “I’m sure you like him. And the feeling’s returned.” He broke off.

    She sat upright in her chair. She’d need to stamp on this, fast.

    “Look, Don. Even if I weren’t here to do interviews He’s charismatic... No-one denies that. But if you’re suggesting...” She looked up. Craig stood there. Her eyes met his.

    She could have kicked herself.

    Then he moved to the armchair opposite, and occupied it. She sat up straight. The honest approach was best.

    “You’ll have overheard our last few remarks, Craig. So perhaps you can put your father right on this?”

    “No, Juliet, I’m afraid I can’t.”

    “Why not?”

    She struggled to settle her inner turmoil. But, instead, whilst groping towards some kind of exit from the fog gathering around her, she slipped further in. Now she felt a curious instability, as if she was on a jetliner that had flown into an air pocket. In the next moment she received the impression that Craig’s features had melted and re-aligned themselves.

    Instead of looking at him, she believed she faced someone infinitely old and wizened, and Peruvian in appearance. The image of an ancient carved face on a rock in an Inca city, presented itself to her. It shifted again, and a new face emerged, that of a shabby, travel-stained New Age traveller.

    With a desperate effort of the will, she regained her awareness of Don beside her. But he was set into a freeze frame. His hand had risen, perhaps to admonish Craig, but had then been arrested in mid-air. He wore a glazed expression.

    Craig smiled, and as he did so the spell, or whatever it was, lifted. All returned to normal. Don’s hand dropped to his side.

    Juliet realised she’d held her breath for several moments. She gasped the air back into her lungs. Her heart was pounding. Craig had done it again. Changed appearance. What was it with him? How did he do it? It made her feel desperately insecure. Her eyes were fixed upon his face.