by TJ Green
The woman laughed. "You're feisty."
"Yes I am, and I don't know what you're doing, but I'll stop you."
"Will you?" the woman asked, walking towards Avery. "You won't have time. I have other plans for you."
Instinctively, Avery gathered air around her, and then hurled it at the approaching woman. The woman staggered as her hair streamed behind her, but she recovered quickly and kept advancing as Avery retreated. What the hell did she want?
Avery shouted, "Stop! Don't come any closer."
The woman ignored her. "Or what?"
As she drew closer, Avery whispered a spell that should have stopped the woman from walking, freezing her steps and sinking her into the earth, and for a moment, it did. But then she pulled her feet free, shaking the earth from them, and advanced again. Avery balled pure energy into her palm and threw it, but again the woman deflected it easily, sending it crashing into a standing stone. She kept coming, and Avery saw that she was older than she had first thought, fine lines marking her face and around her eyes.
Avery had no idea what would happen if she reached her, but sensed it couldn't be good. In fact, she had the distinct impression the woman was absorbing the power from her spells.
A single idea filled her mind. Witch-flight. She didn't know where she was, but she knew where she wanted to be. She envisaged the space in the back of her van that was currently parked in the castle's car park, and summoning all of her power, she disappeared, pleased to see the woman's frustrated look before she vanished from sight.
However, for what felt like several long minutes, Avery felt suspended in time and space, and she was briefly aware that the flight was taking far longer than it should. She focused on her van and only her van, until with a thump, she landed sprawling on the plywood floor behind the front seats. She gasped for breath she didn't even know she needed, and then realised she felt nauseous. She stumbled upright and threw the rear door open, half falling onto the tarmac below where she retched, a cold sweat covering her brow. She took a moment to appreciate that everything was as it should be: the car park, the circus, and night sky above, heavy with clouds. She was safe.
Then she had another thought. Alex.
Avery dragged herself to her feet, and raced up the path towards the circus and then, bypassing it and the stalls completely, she ran around the back to the campsite, pulling her phone from her pocket as she went, and flicking to Alex's number. And then she hesitated. If he was hidden and she alerted someone to his presence, that could endanger him.
Damn it!
She slowed as she entered the campground, knowing she needed to be stealthy and not having a clue as to who may be a threat, or if the mysterious woman was here again. She edged in and out of the vans, once again draped in the shadow spell, although now fearing it was useless to protect herself from her attacker.
In the camp it seemed as if nothing had changed, although the place seemed emptier. Maybe more of the performers were now in the tent? But, she couldn't see Alex or Shadow.
What if they had also been spelled away into in another place? She tried to calm herself down. For some reason, the woman was targeting her, not the others. Logically, this meant the others must be okay.
The sound of the crowd in the Big Top erupted behind her as a huge cheer went up, and the sound of clapping and stamping of feet resounded through the night. The clapping kept going and Avery paused. It sounded like it was the end of the performance, but it couldn't be, surely. It had only just started.
She stopped and checked the time on her phone, and nearly stumbled with shock. It was just after half-past nine, and the performance was ending. She had lost two hours of time. Two hours? How?
Avery leant against the side of the closest camper van, checking and re-checking the time. This wasn't possible. She had been gone for minutes only. Before she could think or do anything else, Shadow appeared next to her looking furious. "Where the hell have you been, Avery? Alex is panic-stricken." She stopped long enough to let out a piercing whistle, and then she frowned. "You're as white as a corpse. What happened?"
Avery's mouth felt dry. "I don't know. I ended up on a crossroads, somewhere."
Before Shadow could respond, Alex, Reuben, and El emerged out of the darkness, all of them looking worried. Alex ran forward and hugged her. "Thank the Gods! Where have you been? Are you all right?"
Shadow answered for her. "She's been somewhere else. Let's get out of here, now, and ask questions later."
And with that, Avery was hustled back to the van.
***
"Will everyone stop looking at me as if I've gone mad?" Avery said, frustrated. "I'm fine, honestly."
They were all in Alex's flat, and Reuben had just pressed a large glass of mulled red wine into her hand that he'd fetched from the pub below. "I'm sure you are, but let's face it, alcohol always helps."
She couldn't disagree with that, and she took a healthy sip, enjoying the spicy warmth as it flowed down her throat, heating her whole body. She hadn't even known she felt cold, and she shivered. "Thanks, Reuben. That is good."
Briar sat next to Avery, looking at her anxiously and running her hands over her, several inches from her body. "I have never seen you so pale, and your aura has been depleted." She looked up at Reuben. "Grab my bag, please."
Briar had arrived a few minutes after everyone else, having gone home first for her herbal healing kit, and it was this she asked for now. Reuben placed it at her feet, and Briar reached inside, rummaging about, while Avery tried to focus on the room, which was increasingly hazy. She looked at the wine, confused. She hadn't had that much.
"What's the matter?" Alex asked. He sat on the other side of her, watching her every move.
"I feel slightly weak, as if something is missing," Avery told him, trying to explain the weird sensation.
Shadow weighed in now. "Your magic has been weakened, that's why, not just your aura. I can feel it."
El was sitting on the floor, in front of the fire. "What happened, Avery?"
"It doesn't make sense," she said, struggling to articulate her words.
"That doesn't matter. Just tell us as you remember it."
Avery told them about her mysterious journey to the crossroads, her encounter with the strange, still unknown woman, and the loss of time. "I tried several spells on her, but nothing worked. She seemed to be absorbing my magic."
Briar pressed a large, black gemstone into her hand. "Hold this. It's black onyx and very grounding. I'm going to make you a potion." She leapt to her feet, grabbed her small case, and headed to the kitchen.
"Are you still connected to her in some way?" Alex asked.
Avery tentatively explored her magic and sent her awareness further afield. "No, I don't think so, but I don't feel right. I feel disconnected somehow. Like I'm here, but not here." Avery closed her eyes, feeling ridiculous, but as soon as she did, the crossroads appeared in front of her, wreathed in mist, timeless and draped in power. Her eyes flew open again. "The crossroads, I can see it..."
Shadow stepped closer, extending her own strange fey powers. "You are connected, Avery. That's why you're not feeling better."
Everyone turned to her in shock. "What?" Alex asked, his eyes haunted with worry. "How?"
"Boundary magic," Shadow said. "She's connected to you. It's faint, but it's there. I think she's feeding off your power."
Avery put her drink down. "Shit. I think you're right. It's the only thing that explains how I feel. How do we stop her?"
"Protective circle, salt, our magic, the works," Alex said, leaping to his feet. "We break it, now."
Shadow shook her head. "You'll need more than that."
Avery started to feel frightened. Some unknown woman with unknown magic had connected to her like a leech. "Why?"
"Because I think she's connected to your spirit body."
"We can spirit-walk," Alex said immediately. "I can do that easily, and find a way to break it."
Shadow no
dded, though slightly apprehensive. "Maybe. But if you cut the link in the wrong way---" She broke off, shrugging.
"It could do more damage," Reuben finished for her.
She turned her violet gaze to him. "Possibly. I don't know much about this---please don't think I do---but that woman's magic is more closely aligned to mine than yours. I can sense the difference, and her odd connection."
Alex sat down again, deflated. "So, what do we do?"
Briar answered from the kitchen, where she was furiously crushing herbs. "We enhance Avery's strength; keep her topped up with magic. It's not ideal, because it means the woman will continue to draw from her, but at least Avery will continue to function. I'm making a potion right now that will help."
"It's a waiting game, then," El said.
Briar nodded. "I'm afraid so."
Avery felt her head spin again. This was all so weird. She felt tricked---manipulated. "I feel like an idiot."
Newton was leaning against the wall, his eyes narrowed. "Of course you're not. But this is our chance to learn more about her and what she wants. The questions we have will eventually give us valuable answers. For example, how could she just take you away without your knowledge?"
"I don't know," she answered, looking up at him, baffled. "It was like nothing I have ever experienced before. Her magic is unlike ours---as Shadow says. I'm sure she's not a witch."
"And you had no idea about the time?" Reuben persisted. He was sitting on the rug next to El, a beer in hand.
"None. It felt like minutes only."
"It's because of the crossroads," Shadow explained. "We know it straddles worlds, and time is different in Otherworlds."
Reuben looked impressed. "Wow. So, you were in some sort of time-flux. That's very Star Trek."
"Lucky me," Avery said, feeling not very lucky at all.
Alex sighed heavily. "But why you? We're all witches, with varying strengths, why choose you?"
"Maybe it's to do with your elemental Air powers?" El suggested.
"But what can you do with elemental Air that you can't do with other elements?" Newton asked.
Avery shrugged. "Witch-flight, obviously. But everyone here can use elemental Air to some degree."
"But not as well as you," El reminded her.
Avery flopped against the back of the sofa. "I don't know. I'll need to do some reading about crossroads magic, try to work out why she needs me, and for what."
"We need to do some reading," El told her, gently. "You're not alone in this. We'll all help, like you got me out of that curse. I guess the big question is whether this is also linked to the Green Man and the Raven King."
"Bollocks!" Newton said forcefully. He pushed away from the wall and started pacing. "Just when I thought we were getting somewhere, we have more questions!"
"Why don't you tell me what you found while I was elsewhere?" Avery suggested to everyone.
"Very little," Shadow said. "Other than the fact that I could sense the Green Man and his Earth magic again. He's getting stronger."
"I found Corbin's van again," Alex added, "and searched it, but there was nothing in there to tell us what's happening, and I couldn't find Rafe or Mairi."
"There was nothing odd happening around the stalls," Reuben told them. "Just people spending money and eating lots of food. I sensed nothing magical or Otherworldly. No wild magic, nothing like we experienced on Samhain."
"What about inside the tent?" Avery asked Newton and Briar.
Briar continued to prepare ingredients in the kitchen. "I did sense magic in the tent, it was subtle, but there. The performance was amazing."
Newton stopped pacing. "It was very clever. The Raven King commanded the whole thing. It felt like the tent had come alive. The walls were covered in fake greenery, and when you were close enough, you could see it rustling, like it was alive. That was down to wind machines, but it was effective. The light tricks were clever. It felt like ravens flew overhead at one point, and all the performances were folklore themed. The stilt walkers were there, playing Cornish giants, the acrobats were dryads, there was even Beowulf fighting Grendel the monster in some crazy aerial acrobatics, and loads more. "
Briar agreed. "It wasn't quite Cirque De Soleil, but it was close. The subtle use of magic definitely gave everything an extra fizz, but no one without magic would ever know it."
Newton rubbed his face, and suddenly looked incredibly tired. "You can't tell me that the deaths and the crossroads magic is just about putting on a good show? That's nuts."
"No," Alex agreed, "there is definitely something else happening. We just have to figure out what."
"And you," Shadow said to Avery, her eyes bright with intrigue, "are in the perfect position to find out more about our mysterious woman. You're linked to her now. The connection goes both ways."
Avery looked up at her, trying to feel positive. "That's true. I just need to work out where that crossroads is. It's the key to everything."
Once the others had left, Avery turned to Alex. "I don't even know if I can sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see the crossroads. I'm scared that she'll take me back there in my sleep."
Alex pulled her close, kissing the top of her head, and they sat next to each on the sofa, staring into the bright flames of the fire. "I don't think that will happen. Besides, Briar's potion will help you sleep, deep enough hopefully to dull your connection."
She ran her fingers across his face. "I hope you're right. But if not, promise you'll come and find me? That place felt so eerie."
"I'll find you anywhere," he vowed, taking her hand in his and kissing her fingers one by one. "And if she hurts you in any way, I'll kill her. I'll raze the whole circus to the ground if I have to."
10
For the first few hours of the night Avery slept heavily, drugged by the herbs that Briar had put in the potion, but at some point that all changed, and once again she stood on one of the four roads leading to the crossroads, drenched in the shadow of a standing stone.
It was night, and the full moon was still high above her, giving a silvery sheen to the landscape. Ground mist snaked around her ankles, and undulating moors spread around her to the horizon, except for the low roll of hills ahead of her. A second moon closer to the ground confused her for a moment, before she realised it must be reflected in water. The woman was nowhere in sight.
Avery looked around, desperate to see something that may indicate where she was, but the landscape was almost featureless. The standing stones were the only things of significance. The one closest to her was twice her height, and several feet thick. Up close she could see shapes carved into it, and she frowned, frustrated. She didn't recognise them at all, but she tried to memorise them, hoping to find them later. If there was a later.
Tentatively, she placed her hand on the stone. It was cold, but Avery felt it humming with energy, and with her touch the carvings began to glow with a golden light, as if they were illuminated from within. Avery's first instinct was to step back, but she felt that wouldn't help. Whatever was happening, she needed to understand. She pressed her hand on the surface firmly, watching as the signs continued to light up until they almost burned, and suddenly realising that she could be summoning something, she tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't. It started to pull her closer, and Avery had the terrifying thought that it was trying to absorb her, to pull her in and swallow her whole. She screamed as she struggled to break free, sweat pouring from her. The sound of drums once again filled the air, primeval and tribal, and her blood pounded in her ears.
Alex's voice broke through her panic. "Avery! Avery, wake up!"
Her body was shaking violently, and all of a sudden the crossroads had gone, and she felt Alex's hands on her shoulders. Her body felt like lead, and as if her eyes were welded shut, but she forced them open, her breath short. "I'm here. I'm okay!"
"Thank fuck for that!" He pulled her close, his warmth thawing her immobility. "You scared the shit out of me."
&nbs
p; He must have spelled the lamp on, because soft, warm light flooded his bedroom, and reality rushed in. Avery pressed herself against him, soaking up his warmth. "How did you know I was in trouble?"
"Because you were screaming the place down," he said, pulling away and staring down at her. "What happened?"
"I was at the crossroads again, in my dream. It was a dream, right? I was still here?"
"You were still here," he said, reassuring her.
She pushed him away and sat up. "What the hell is happening to me?"
"I don't know, but we'll work it out, I promise." He caught her hand, and went to kiss her palm, but frowned. "What's this?"
"What?"
"This mark?"
A strange, silvery shape glowed within her palm, and she groaned. "It's from the standing stone." She explained what had happened and what caused her to scream.
Alex was annoyed. "I can't believe you touched it! What were you thinking?"
"I don't know, it seemed a good idea!"
"Avery, that place is messing with your mind! She's screwing with you! She needs your power for some reason, and now you're truly linked. You can't trust anything you see or think there."
Avery felt tears well up. "Don't shout. I didn't know. I've never had to doubt my instincts before, never!"
He pulled her close again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell, but I'm terrified I'm going to lose you. You're strong, Avery, but you can't do this alone. Promise me you won't try."
"I promise," she said, feeling exhausted. "I think I need to sleep again, although I'm terrified of what will happen."
"I'll be right here. Just don't touch anything again."
***
The next time Avery woke, it was morning, and grey light seeped into the room. She smelt coffee and bacon, and she stretched out, noticing how heavy her body felt.
She had managed to sleep well for a few hours, with no dreams. She examined her right palm again, hoping the mark would have disappeared, but it was still there, glowing just beneath her skin.
Alex appeared at the door, and he smiled. He had just come out of the shower and he was half naked, his towel wrapped around his hips, showing off his flat, muscled abs and tattoos. "You're awake. Feeling okay?"