The Witch at the Worlds End: The Carrigan Chronicles, #3

By J. J. Caler

The story continues for Erin Carrigan and her family. When ancient gods twist destinies, the world will pay for it. Everything has its price. This is the final struggle. They are all at the will of fate as the story continues from Erin Rise. And chance has not been kind. Erin must find her way back, and then face her final destiny, one that will tear at the threads of time themselves. She meets a new friend on the way. And together, they will change everything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. J. Caler
• Release date: Mar 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215866757

J. J. Caler

I am just your basic guy who was born in the mid south. I have travelled to every state in the continental U.S. and have crossed into Canada and Mexico for short visits. I spent half of my early years in the Pacific Northwest, taking on the love of the ocean. I joined the Navy as soon as I received my diploma. Short lived, still an experience I would never trade away. I have worked in many jobs and professions, and finally, have discovered that I really love to write. Not so much telling stories as relaying them from the characters I create.  I do this purely because I enjoy it. I have no illusions. But I hope that there are many people out there that can enjoy these tales and go along on the journeys with me.

Book preview

The Witch at the World’s End

Erin’s story continues.

J. J. Caler

The Witch at the World’s End

Book III of the Carrigan Chronicles

Copyright © 2024 by J. J. Caler

All rights are reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by J. J. Caler, 2024

Table of Contents

The Witch at the World’s End

Table of Contents

Prologue

Dedication

Acknowledgment:

Chapter 1: What is and Should never Be

Chapter 2: Over the Hills and Far Away

Chapter 3: Night Flight

Chapter 4: Time in the Sands

Chapter 5: The Longest Road

Chapter 6: The Elemental

Chapter 7: The Broken Hourglass

Chapter 8: Birds in Smoke

Chapter 9: The Queen of the Sea

Chapter 10: The Never Was

Chapter 11: All The Way

Chapter 12: Time To Go Erin

Chapter 13: No Flowers

Chapter 14: The World’s End

Chapter 15: The Never Was

Epilogue

Books by J. J. Caler

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Prologue

There is only one way that this story ends.

That is on the last page.

But before we get there, let me tell you a story.

A story of two lovers who defied the odds and the gods.

A story of a witch who sought to change the course of history.

A story of a world that was torn apart by war and magic.

Miles to go between dusk and tomorrow.

Sleepless eyes in the shadowed burrow.

A twist in time and on a sailor's furrow.

Buried past they blended thorough.

THIS IS HOW IT BEGAN.

Jasper and Maeve were fugitive pirates on the run, hiding from the British Empire that wanted them dead, in 1726. Jasper had freed Maeve from the stockades, and they eventually married and had a daughter. However, in the course of events, Jasper’s lack of control and fast reaction took them into hiding in the Cove of Evermore for three years.

But they were not alone. They had allies and enemies, friends and foes, in their quest for freedom and justice. And Jasper’s decision to take them back to the civilized world led them through a vortex that sent them into the future to 1912. There he would learn of others involved in their lives. The old gods, both friends and enemies.

Jasper and Maeve withstand the tides of their lives, raising their daughter with love and care. And Ares, once again, enters to disrupt. This time sending quakes through the heavens. Zeus acts to intercede and Jasper and Maeve are set right, and all is revealed.

That is when Erin, their daughter, came of age. She found that her parents were alive, and young again. She learned of her relationship to these deities. That she was the granddaughter of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. And now she would meet one more.

Hecate. The goddess of the crossroads, the goddess of family and the goddess of witches.

LET THE LOVERS HIDE in their own inferno.

Light the path between dusk and the morrow.

Where the lone witch stands

between man and sorrow.

THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID.

"Ares is a tyrant who has corrupted the natural order of things. He has used his power to alter the past and the future, to suit his own selfish desires. He has erased the memories and the histories of all mortals. He has created a false reality, where he rules supreme and everyone else suffers. And where he will end the world.

But there is a way to stop him. There is a way to undo his deeds. There is a way to restore the truth. And that way back through the Sailors Furrow.

The Sailors Furrow is a portal that connects all points in time and space. It is a hidden passage that only the chosen ones can access. It is a dangerous journey that only the brave ones can survive.

But if we succeed, we can change everything. We can rewrite the past and the future. We can create a new world, where peace and harmony prevail. We can restore the sand in the hourglass and let life proceed as it was intended.

But we have to act fast. Ares knows about our plan. He has sent his agents to hunt us down. He has set traps and obstacles to stop us. He will do anything to prevent us from reaching the Sailors Furrow.

That is why we need you. You are the key to our success. You have the power and the potential to make a difference. You have the courage and the love to make a sacrifice. You have the destiny and the fate to make a choice.

Will you join us? Will you help us? Will you follow us?

There is only one way that this story ends.

That is on the last page.

But before we get there, let me ask you a question.

Are you ready? Are you ready to live?"

J. J. Caler

Dedication

To the little muse for endlessly inspiring and giving hope. May your dreams come true, whatever they may be and wherever they take you.

Acknowledgment:

This book contains the poem The Butterfly by Pavel Friedmann, which is part of the collection I Never Saw Another Butterfly: Children's Drawings and Poems from Terezin Concentration Camp, 1942–1944. The poem is used with respect and honor for the memory of its author and all those who suffered during the Holocaust.

Throughout the three books that make the story of Jasper and his family, I have left my nods of respect and appreciation to the Authors, Stories and Bands that have inspired me. Tolkien, Homer, Led Zeppelin, Rush, AC-DC and more. I have drawn inspiration from them all on this journey, and am proud to give them that credit. And the little muse, who was there with me at the world’s end. The rainbow hidden in black who didn’t see its own light.

Chapter 1: What is and Should never Be

"Diomedes, son of Tydeus, my favorite of all fighters,

heal yourself of this wound and keep away from the fighting. You will have a chance to fight again, when the wound is healed, and the blood has dried.

Then you can go back to the war and fight the Trojans."

(Homer, Iliad 5.1-5) 

ERIN LAID THERE, HER mind slowly focusing as she awakened. She was lying in a bed and felt the soft warm feeling of the blankets over her. They were buttery smooth and had just the right weight to make her feel wrapped up and comfy while still being able to move freely.

She could hear a whisper someplace nearby. She focused on the voice, and it became clearer. Clear enough that she could have been standing right next to the person.

You know she is going to be stronger when she wakes up.

a second voice answered, Can't you repress her memory again? Turn her back off?

No. I already tried. She is too strong now. You were supposed to watch over her. This should never have happened.

She was doing fine, and I was injured. I needed to see the doctor.

For ‘that’? Aphrodite pointed to the tiny blemish on her arm. You could have waited. Maeve had you patched up fine.

I think she will be fine. This was an unusual circumstance. If they hadn't acted, how much of the world do you think would have survived?

I don't argue that. The problem is, she is too dangerous now. We can't let her go back.

She isn't going to like that. Eris got a little bit angry at her mother now.

We aren't going to tell her, are we? Not yet. Let her get settled in and we will explain it to her.

Erin closed her eyes and took in what Aphrodite was saying. Maybe she was right. Maybe she was too dangerous. But how could she not return to her mother and father and children? No, Eris was right. She didn't like that. Not one bit. Her grandmother was going to be in for a disappointment soon.

She would keep this to herself. See how things worked out after she figured out exactly where she was now.

Erin waited a bit before she sat up. Then she stood up and looked around at the open and airy room. Marble columns and large arched windows open to the warm breeze. She could see the gentle waves of the ocean far down below.

The water washed into the cracks between the rocks that lined the shore, making white frothy faces that taunted her. Further down it opened up into a long pink sandy beach.

She folded her arms around her chest and felt the cloth against them. She looked down to find herself dressed in a flowing white gown with a broad woven gold waist belt.

She walked towards the windows, feeling the softness of the carpet under her bare feet. She leaned on the sill and looked out at the stunning view. The sun was rising over the horizon, painting the sky with pink and orange hues. She breathed in the salty air and felt a fresh energy and wonder course through her veins.

She noticed a small table near the window, with a silver tray and a crystal pitcher. She poured herself a glass of water and took a sip. It was sweet and refreshing, with a hint of mint. There was a note on the tray, written in elegant script:

"Good morning, Erin. I hope you slept well. You are my guest in this house, and you are free to explore it as you wish. There is a wardrobe in the corner, where you can find clothes that suit your taste. There is also a bathroom with a tub and a shower, where you can freshen up.

Breakfast will be served downstairs at nine o'clock. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Yours, Aphrodite."

She decided to follow the note's instructions and get ready for the day. She opened the wardrobe and found a variety of dresses, skirts, blouses, and shoes. She chose a simple blue dress with white flowers and a pair of sandals. She put them on and admired herself in the mirror. She looked different, but not in a bad way. She felt more feminine and graceful.

The dress made her blue eyes shine even brighter and flowing red hair seemed perfectly at home resting against her shoulders.

She went to the bathroom and found a marble tub filled with warm water and rose petals. She dipped her toes in the water, and it was warm and relaxing. She undressed and got into the tub, letting the water soothe her muscles and calm her mind. She washed her hair with a fragrant shampoo and rinsed it with a jug of water. She dried herself with a fluffy towel and applied some lotion on her skin. She felt refreshed and invigorated.

She left the bathroom and saw a basket of fresh fruits and pastries on the table. She picked up an apple and looked at it. It was ripe, red and looked delicious. And she thought to herself, Yeah, no apples. That never works out. She picked up a croissant and walked back to the window.

She checked the time and saw that it was almost nine o'clock. She went to the door and opened it and stepped out into the hallway. She saw a staircase leading down to the ground floor. She followed it and found herself in a spacious living room with a fireplace and a piano.

Aphrodite was sitting at a small table, Come on in here. How are you feeling?

I feel okay. Where am I? How did I get here? Where is my mom? Is she okay?

Maybe sit down and have some breakfast and we can take one question at a time?

She stepped out of the stairwell and began the short walk toward the table where her grandmother was seated, passing a beautiful cherry cabinet on her way. She glanced at it, noticing how lovely it was. It was adorned with gold handles and flourishes. It stood tall against the wall. Taller than she was. There were drawers at the bottom and a pair of large doors at the top. The wood was deeply carved in relief with scrolling like vines and leaves.

She paused for a moment and heard an old man's voice in her head, Bring it back.

She moved back away from the cabinet and over to the small table. Aphrodite had stepped across the room to make her a plate of food.

Erin put her elbows on the table, and then put her forehead into her hands.

I remember that voice. Where is that voice from? she thought. As she sat there, other memories began to creep in. Remember. The cove is here. Bring it back.

So, did Paean live up to his reputation? Aphrodite placed a plate in front of her.

What?

How are you feeling? Did Paean get you fixed up?

Oh. Yeah, I think he must have done a good job. I am just feeling kind of out of sorts.

Erin’s last memory was lying on the scorched ground outside of a Nazi missile bunker hidden in the mountains of Romania. Her mother was holding her and telling her they were going to take her home.

Suddenly her mind raced. What had she done? She lost control and burned everything in front of her for miles.

She slid her hand across her waist, looking for her talisman. It was gone.

She focused on the plate in front of her. She mustn’t let Aphrodite suspect any of her thoughts. Go along and get along until we know what’s going on.

Is my mom ok? Erin looked up into her grandmother's eyes now.

She is alive. That ruffled some feathers upstairs. I am glad, but that is not something you should have done. Or even have been able to do.

The goddess crossed both her arms and legs and leaned back into her chair. We have a lot to talk about, but you recover first. Get back on your feet.

Erin put her fork down. I am not sure what you expected. Give me insane amounts of power, a day with Eris and then send me off on my own in the middle of a war.

You are only partially right. You got your powers from me, but I didn’t give them to you. I just unlocked them. Sooner or later, you would have been confronted with them. I hoped that we could ease that change for you.

Well, in my opinion, everyone made a big mess out of it. I set off that explosion. Mom died trying to save all of us. I lost my cool. And here we are. By the way, where is here?

Erin hoped she would get a straight answer to this last question and not have to find out the hard way. She was fond of her grandmother. And her grandmother had to love her. She had been watching over her since before she was born. But she had no intention of remaining a prisoner in any gilded cage.

"It is called Eleuthera. It means ‘free’. We aren’t terribly far from where your parents grew up."

In the Bahamas?

Yes. I really wasn’t sure if you knew where they grew up. Aphrodite smiled, knowing the journey the young woman had been through in the last month.

Yeah, I read the book. Erin shook her head, a bit annoyed with the whole revelation thing. Her grandmother smiled and laughed.

Erin picked up a cup of what must have been tea. But it tasted like it had been seined through honey. It was good, just not what she expected.

She let her eyes drift through the glass doors out across the garden. There was nothing but ocean on three sides reaching out as far as she could see. Course rock lined the edge of the yard