by Jami Klein
***
I approached the dorm slowly, already I could the shadows of more than one person moving beneath the door. Here we go again. I faded back into myself so I could see what was going on.
Maya had come back. She was acting sweeter now, as if she had tried the vinegar and was now going to try using honey. “If you just trust me, it will work. I’ve been practicing this summoning for a while.”
“She really has,” Abigail said.
I watched from my bubble of consciousness as Priscilla started to open her mouth – as if she were about to protest.
But then Abigail blurted, “En silencio vayasa!”
Instantly, Priscilla’s lips sealed shut and I bit into my lip to keep from gasping. I watched as she lifted her hands and began to pull at her lips – but they didn’t part.
“I told you, if you’re not going to do your part just keep your mouth shut. Now you’ll see what Abigail’s really capable of.”
That didn’t sound good.
Stefan.
Andrei
Come to the witches’ dorm.
Sixth Floor.
Room Thirteen.
Something bad is going down.
I didn’t know what else to do – but seeing Priscilla in such a helpless state, I knew I wouldn’t be much help without backup. Sure, I might be able to influence Maya or Abigail, but then the cat would be out of the bag that I wasn’t encumbered any longer and there was no way I was going back to feeling half alive.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the wall. Patiently waiting wasn’t a feeling I enjoyed, but I also knew that choosing my battles wisely would win me the war – not going off like a loose cannon.
In the end, it took less than thirty seconds to walk through the door.
“Priscilla?” I called out, trying to act as normal as possible.
Maya and Abigail’s glares instantly fell on me as I came inside. Priscilla glanced back at me, but seemed to have a blank expression on her face – like she was there, but not so much. I frowned. “What’s wrong with her?” I feigned curiousity.
“Nothing. We’re about to head out to get some food and watch some TV.” Abigail lied right to my face. “Priscilla seems tired.” Abigail sounded sweet and innocent. I wanted to kick her.
“Yeah, we’ve been working hard on a class project,” Maya said.
Strange. She wasn’t lying. What teacher authorized this type of summoning?
“Yeah, I’ve got some major fatigue. It’s no biggie.” I nodded and watched as Abigail and Maya made their way out the door.
“Have a good night, Lola,” Abigail said, smiling.
“Yeah, you too.”
“Yeah, goodnight!” Maya said brightly. The door closed and I looked back at Priscilla. Her face still a blank slate as far as emotion was concerned, but her mouth parted on a gasp.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Yeah, my mouth just feels weird – like I’ve had my jaw stuck in a vice grip.”
“What are those witches up to?” I asked.
“Uh, honestly…I forget?” she said, a confused look overtaking her face. Maya and Abigail must have put a memory wipe on her—which only showed how much more powerful the two of them were. If controlling Priscilla was their mission, it was looking to be a success.
“Hm, do you like kombucha?” I asked her. My father had taught me the best way to clear a hexed mind was to make burdock root tea – a special recipe that I could still mix because I made sure to take all the ingredients with me. But, first, I had to get Priscilla to agree to it. Meaning she had to voluntarily consume it in order for it to work.
“What the heck is kombucha?” she blinked.
“Tea,” I said.
“That depends – I tried this nasty hippy concoction one time and I’ll never do that again.”
Great.
“This stuff is really soothing for toothaches – didn’t you say your jaw hurt?” A white lie couldn’t hurt, here. I mean, considering it was looking like Priscilla had been made a zombie, with Maya and Abigail acting as her remote controllers. At least, I had good intentions on my side.
“Hm, well if you think it will help, I guess,” she muttered.
I smiled and nodded.
“In an hour when you feel better you’ll be swearing by it – I promise!” I rushed to grab the supplies out of my bag and slipped out the door. Down the hall on the right, we had a water fountain – and I knew that time was of the essence, so I rushed to fill out and jogged back to the dorm. I made her drink it while I rushed out to follow Abigail and Maya.
This way, boys!
I had no idea if they even heard me.
Chapter Twelve
As I got outside, I heard Stefan roar twice.
He was in trouble.
I rushed down the path, running full out when the moon was blocked out by a darkness that was about to suffocate me.
“Upsie daisy,” Andrei said and hugged me from behind.
“What the hell are you …. Dooooinng?” My voice cut off in a scream as he shot straight up into the air and flew toward Hellion Falls faster than I could have run.
“It’s happening, right?” I gasped, trying not to look down.
“Yes, the lion sensed something and took off. I came back for you. Who’s really your protector and who’s out for himself?”
“Not now, Andrei. We’ve got to get there in time to stop this ritual before someone else dies.”
“You sure you’re ready for this. Abigail and Maya is true are not going to give up without a fight.”
As we flew over the falls, I thought we were too late. Stefan was suspended in mid air, raging against a forcefield, trying desperately to get to Maya. “Tonight, I’m going to introduce you to an old friend.”
“Get me in closer. My power is stronger when I’m up close. I’ll take Maya. You go find Abigail.”
Andrei flew us straight at the circle and then the jerk dropped me, just as Maya pulled a large ornate staff from her jacket and slammed the staff into the earth and I gasped as a bright neon green light began emanating from the earth.
I landed just as the ground began to crack and tremble beneath my feet. I flinched back as a shadowy creature oozed out of the cracks.
“Reverse the spell,” I screamed as the wind picked up and sent debris flying all over the circle.
“Too late,” Maya said and backhanded me.
I fell and landed hard on my back. I really need to learn how to take a punch.
“Release Stefan,” I said.
“Okay.” Maya gazed at me blankly and snapped her fingers.
Stefan hit the ground snarling and pounced on the shadow, grappling it and holding it between its massive paws.
“How do we kill it?” I screamed at Maya.
“You don’t. You need to send it back to hell.”
“Do that.”
“I need its power first. I don’t have enough to do it.”
The shadow exploded outward and Stefan went flying.
Andrei where were you?
The shadow coalesced into a hideous horned creature with leathery bat wings and pointed teeth that drooled acid. “You really thought you could contain me, girl with your pet kitty?” The demon chuckled. “Another stupid witch to add to my list of vanquished. You’ll die like Delia Bragg did. Protesting she knew nothing about what her uncle had done to me.”
What?
“Mark Bragg gave up his power.”
“You’re an idiot.” But the demon turned its attention to me.
Here goes nothing.
“What’s your name?” I asked, shoving all my power into the demon.
“Thetalle,” it crooned. “And what are you?
“Run!’ I yelled. Maya took off running. The demon suddenly flew upward – it’s body soaring over my head as she leaped clear over me. She took on the form of a beautiful woman with elegant black wings, but the evil leeched out of her eyes.
&n
bsp; My eyes widened as she flexed her nailed hands and tilted her head. “Lola Bragg, did you know that your father also tried to cross me? Did you know that I will find what he stole?” she growled. “He will not take his secrets to the grave with him. I have made sure of that.”
I frowned. What the hell was she talking about? Suddenly, a flash of golden fur flew past me leaping into the air to take the winged creature to the ground again.
“Die, you raggedy flea infested beast,” the demon yelled.
Stefan pinned to the demon’s shoulders as he roared into her face. “You first.”
He crunched her head clean off her body.
I leaped for the staff and slammed it back into the ground. I could feel power sucking out of me at a whirlwind rate. My knees grew weak and my vision darkened. It had to be enough power to send it back. Then I felt Maya’s hands on mine. Then Abigail’s. Then Andrei’s and finally Stefan’s hands. Together the earth sucked the demon’s corpse back down into the underworld.
I couldn’t pry my fingers off the staff. He stepped back as Maya and Abigail closed in around him.
“You saved my life,” Maya shook her head. “What the hell was I thinking?” she asked.
“I honestly don’t think you were thinking at all, Maya – not about anything other than yourself!” Abigail snarled. “You lied to me – you convinced me this was going to heighten my power and all it did was create havoc. You almost got us all killed!”
“You’re up,” Andrei said, giving me a nudge.
I blew out a sigh. “Listen up witches.”
“You’re going to march right into Headmistress Magee’s office and tell them exactly what happened here.”
“Uh,” Andrei said. “I’d like to be kept out of this.”
“Good point. Scratch that. You’re going to tell them everything that led up tonight and what happened, leaving out the part that Stefan, Andrei and I were here. Tell them you came to your senses and used up all your power to send the demon back to hell.” I took a deep breath. “You’re going to exonerate Stefan. You’re going to tell them that it killed Delia and his brother.”
“No,” Stefan said. “It wasn’t the same one who killed my brother. He’s still out there.”
“But it did kill Delia,” I said.
“We should get out of here, Lola. You ready?” Andrei asked.
I nodded. It was time to go. Abigail and Maya swayed like zombies and staggered after us.
I would have to do some research on Thetalle. But that could wait until tomorrow.
Lola’s adventures continue in Pearl of Wisdom. Jewel Academy Book Two: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X29JXVV