The Witch's Key, Book 1

by Sarra Cannon

  I did my best to calm my mind, despite the panic building inside me.

  A lot of the magic available to me as a young witch with just a single key needed reagents, but there were a few things I knew how to do that didn’t take any ingredients at all.

  I longed for the dagger I brought, but I’d dropped my bag somewhere in the woods when the flames hit.

  I thought back to the encounters I’d had with demons in the past. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure this was demon magic attacking me now, but it was my best guess from what Kai had told me.

  Demons hated salt, but I didn’t have access to that right now. I made a mental note to put a handful of salt in my pockets from here on out.

  I knew the command to open doors and other things without needing any spell ingredients, and what I wanted right now was for this invisible rope to open and set me free. I had no idea if it would work, but I was running out of time to figure this out. Soon, I wouldn’t be able to speak.

  “Solvo,” I said with all the confidence and authority I could find.

  To my complete shock, the spell released me. I fell hard to the ground below and rolled to my side, pushing up with my good arm.

  I ran, wanting to put some distance between me and this demon, so that I could buy more time. I hated to leave Kai behind, but it wasn’t going to do him any good if we both got caught or killed. I must have rolled my ankle when I fell, though, because each step was agony.

  I stopped and ducked behind a large tree to catch my breath and try to wrap my mind around what was happening.

  Since this demon was comfortable with fire, I was certain ice would help to slow it down or even harm it, but I didn’t have a water source to use to create it. I’d seen my father pull moisture down from the clouds before, but my key wasn’t high enough to access that magic.

  I thought back to some of the jobs I’d gone on with my parents. What had I seen them do in situations like this?

  I closed my eyes, pulling up a mental image of my parents at one of the last demon slayings they took me on. Once, they’d cast a circle and used it to trap a demon before banishing or containing him.

  I didn’t have the time or tools to cast a circle right now. I also didn’t know the right incantations for it.

  But then I remembered something else I’d seen them do before to push a demon back when it had us trapped in an old castle. Mom had forced it to another room with a bright light.

  I remembered the incantation my mother used, too.

  It was a simple spell they’d taught me when I was just a young girl afraid of the dark, but it had been effective against the demon. At least temporarily.

  Each girl was taken during the night, so it was possible this demon’s powers were more potent in the darkness. Light should repel it. I hoped.

  I stepped out from behind the tree and pushed my left palm forward.

  “Lucerna,” I said.

  A bright, focused light radiated from my palm like a flashlight.

  It was one of the first spells I’d ever learned. I never dreamed I would use it on a night like this.

  I rotated my arm, shining the light all around the area. It was hard to see very far, because of the smoke reflecting the light back to me, but when I turned to my left, something hissed and scurried off to my right.

  I followed the movement as quickly as I could.

  “Amplio,” I said in a strong voice.

  The flashlight grew stronger, illuminating a slightly larger area in front of me.

  For a moment, the demon appeared in the darkness, its invisibility spell wavering in the bright, conjured light. And Kai was right. This was definitely a demon.

  Most demons had the ability to appear human when they wanted to, but this demon had shed its human form, making it more powerful. My heart raced as it walked straight toward me.

  In its hands, it gathered a fresh ball of flames.

  The first time, I was sure the flames were meant to separate us from each other. This time, though, it aimed to kill.

  I took a step backward and winced at the pain in my ankle. There was no way I could outrun its spell. I was out of options, and though the light had temporarily slowed it down, I wasn’t strong enough to stop it.

  This was it. I was going to join my parents in heaven.

  I clasped my mother’s locket, sending up one final prayer for help.

  The locket trembled for a moment, the cool surface of the silver warming beneath my fingertips. Just as the demon lifted its hands to unleash its fresh flames, the locket somehow super-charged my flashlight spell, throwing a sunburst of light outward in all directions.

  The sheer power of the spell flowed through me like a dam being released somewhere deep inside. It was so intense, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold it long, but since I had it now, I poured my entire soul into it.

  The spell consumed the darkness completely, lighting up the forest as though the sun itself had come out.

  The demon screeched and stumbled backward, dropping its focus and losing the fire spell. In the brilliant moment of light, I saw it bare its pointed teeth in a snarl.

  I hoped the strong light would scare it away, but this was no lesser demon. It wasn’t going to just turn and run. Whoever this was, he had great power.

  My power, on the other hand, was being drained so quickly, I felt lightheaded. It was obvious to me now I was using magic that wasn’t supposed to be used by a witch with only a single key.

  I had no idea why or how it worked, but I was grateful for it while I had it.

  I fought to keep my eyes open, but I refused to give up.

  The demon stretched its hands outward and the same bluish-purple energy I’d seen pulsing around Kai now pulsed around the demon’s body. With one swift motion, the demon threw the dark energy to the forest floor.

  It spread out quickly, like fog, to consume my light.

  I held on for as long as I could as the dark energy expanded and grew upward, quickly reaching the height of my waist. Tears streamed down my face as the light radiating from me blinked and faded.

  My eyelids drooped, and I fell back against a tree. I couldn’t hold it much longer.

  The last of my energy cut off, and my legs gave out. Like a ragdoll, I fell to the ground. I had nothing left to give, but I’d given enough.

  At that moment, Martin’s face appeared in the shadows behind the demon. I saw nothing but the flash of steel as my eyes closed and everything went dark.

  That’s What Matters

  I woke to the sound of Kai yelling my name and the feel of smoke in my lungs.

  I coughed and tried to sit up, but my shoulder hurt so badly it nearly made me pass out again. I winced at the pain and lay back in the dirt.

  “She’s here,” he yelled. “She’s hurt.”

  My eyes fluttered open, and I smiled as Uncle Martin’s face came into view.

  Tears rolled down the side of my face and into my hair. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “I almost died, too. I almost left you.”

  “You’re still here, my brave girl,” he said as he knelt at my side. “Everything is going to be okay.”

  My eyes closed again, and I drifted off to sleep.

  I woke again as someone lifted me into their arms. Kai. His arms were gentle around me, and I got the sense of floating as he carried me through the woods.

  Is this what it feels like to fly?

  The next time I awoke, there was a faint light coming through the window in my bedroom. I sat up with a start, wincing at the pain that covered the entire right half of my body.

  Kai stood, nearly knocking over the chair he’d set beside my bed.

  “You’re awake,” he said. He reached for my hand, as if we’d known each other all our lives.

  I didn’t pull away. I needed some comfort right about now.

  “What happened last night?” I asked, pulling myself upright.

  Kai moved to stack a few pillows behind me, never taking his hand away from mine.<
br />
  “What do you remember?” he asked.

  “Everything up until the attack.” I closed my eyes and tried to remember what happened next. “I remember seeing you caught in some kind of netting. The demon had me. I thought we were going to die.”

  I touched the key and locket hanging against my chest and sucked in a breath.

  “What did I do?” I asked. “How?”

  Uncle Martin appeared in the doorway with a tray of his famous peanut butter chocolate chip pancakes, a large glass of water, and a rose from his garden out back.

  “Somehow, you amplified a simple spell and turned it into something much more powerful,” Martin said. “The how is a bit of a mystery.”

  “The locket,” I said. “When I touched it, the spell grew so much bigger. I could hardly contain it.”

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner,” Martin said. He set the tray down at the end of the bed and pulled up a chair on the opposite side from where Kai sat.

  “I’m sorry I left without telling you,” I said, guilt tightening my jaw. “I didn’t realize what we were getting into out there. I still don’t understand how that demon knew we were there or what Ms. Greer has to do with all of this.”

  “Sir, did you know about Blythe Greer and this guy Bates?” Kai asked. “Did you know what that guy was up to out in the woods?”

  Uncle Martin nodded and handed me the glass of water. His eyes dipped to our clasped hands for a moment, but he was polite enough not to say anything.

  I pulled my hand away from Kai’s, a little embarrassed.

  “I am familiar with Bates,” he said. “I didn’t realize he’d opened up shop here in Newcastle until Kai mentioned him last night after we got home, but he’s relatively harmless. I don’t believe he had anything to do with the attack, but I’ll be looking into it in more detail as soon as you’re feeling better.”

  “I take it you two properly introduced yourselves while I was passed out, then,” I said.

  Martin chuckled. “Kai and I have known each other for quite some time.”

  My eyes widened. “Are you serious?” I turned on Kai. “And you didn’t think to mention that you knew my uncle?”

  He shrugged. “You never asked.”

  I wanted to punch him. So, not only were our parents good friends, he was also friends with my great-uncle. I was going to ask him just how long they’d known each other, but Kai turned the conversation back to the attack.

  “What happened out there?” he asked. “Who attacked us? Was that the demon who’s taken the girls?”

  “Yes. I believe it was,” Martin said. “The demon ran when I pierced it with my dagger. I’d like to go back to the area this morning and have a look around.”

  “I’m going with you,” I said.

  “No, you will stay in this bed and rest,” Martin said. “I’m afraid your role in this investigation has come to an end. I will not have you risking your life for anyone else right now.”

  Anger flared at this news, and I shifted my weight on the bed, pulling my legs up to sit crisscross under the covers.

  “What are we going to do about Peyton and the other girls?” I asked. “We have to find them. It’s only two days now until the full moon. We’re running out of time, and the Council doesn’t even seem to care.”

  Uncle Martin brought the tray of pancakes toward me and set it on top of my legs. “Eat,” he said. “We can discuss battle plans after breakfast. Kai, can I get you something to eat or drink?”

  “I’m okay for now, but thank you for offering,” Kai said.

  I didn’t know about him, but I was absolutely starving.

  I was also really curious how my arm had mostly healed. I was in pretty bad shape last night. There were bandages across a lot of my right side, but I could tell the burns weren’t nearly as bad as they had been.

  “Who healed me?” I asked between bites of pancake. “I’m assuming you didn’t take me to a hospital.”

  “I may be retired, but I’m not useless,” Uncle Martin said, as if I’d offended him. “I still have many of my old Keeper supplies, which include various instruments of healing. Your shoulder wasn’t too hard to put back into place, but the burns were slightly more complicated. How is your head feeling this morning?”

  I shrugged and swallowed.

  “I have a mild headache, but it’s nothing I can’t handle,” I said. I touched the back of my head where I’d slammed it against the tree. It was a bit sore, but it could have been a lot worse. “I think it’s okay.”

  “Be sure to drink all of your water,” Martin said, standing. “I put a flavorless powder in it that will help your headache. I’ll be downstairs in my study. Come find me when you’re feeling up to it, and we’ll decide what we’re going to do about your friend.”

  “Thank you,” I said. I’d expected him to be really angry with me, but he was taking this a lot better than I anticipated. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”

  “Let’s not think about that now,” he said. “You’re home, and that’s what matters.”

  I touched a hand to my bandaged arm.

  I was home, yes, but there were five other families out there missing someone.

  “What do you think?” I asked when Kai and I were alone again. “Is he going to let me out of this room again before I’m eighteen?”

  Kai smiled, and the whole room lit up.

  “He cares about you a great deal,” he said. “I was worried it might destroy him when your parents died, but having you here saved him, I think.”

  I blinked back tears. “He’s been there for me every moment since the funeral. I don’t know where I’d be right now without him.”

  “I’m glad you have each other,” he said.

  Sorrow darkened his eyes. It was strange how his emotions could control the mood of a space.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.

  “Another time,” he said softly. “For now, let’s just focus on getting you to a better place. There will be plenty of time to talk about my family later.”

  I didn’t want to press the issue, so I let it go, but I really hoped he’d fill me in soon. He knew so much more about me than I knew about him.

  I opened my mouth to ask him if he’d gotten a good look at the demon last night when the doorbell rang downstairs.

  I glanced at the clock across the room. It was just barely after seven in the morning. Who in the world would be coming to visit at this hour?

  Afraid it was Ms. Greer coming to reprimand me about last night, I pulled myself out of bed and hobbled down the hallway with Kai following closely behind.

  But when I got to the stairway, it wasn’t Blythe Greer at all.

  A tall man in a blue suit and tie glanced up as I appeared, a strange look crossing his face as he noticed Kai at my side.

  Uncle Martin, who had just answered the door, wore a look of frustration.

  Looking down at my bandages, I suddenly understood why. This wasn't going to be easy to explain.

  “Looks like she is here, after all,” the man said, patting Uncle Martin on the shoulder and stepping inside. “You must be Lenora Thorne. I’m Detective Lancaster, and I have a few questions for you.”

  Secrets Of His Own

  Why couldn’t I have just stayed put for once?

  The look Uncle Martin was giving me made me want to go back and crawl under my bed. Yes, I messed up. I should have stayed in my room and trusted him to deal with whoever was at the door, but I always felt like I needed to be in the middle of everything.

  And now, I’d given myself away to this detective. I’d probably also brought Kai into this questioning session.

  Not to mention the fact that my body was bruised and burned. How was I going to explain that?

  Oh, no big deal officer, I just skipped school yesterday and fell into a demon’s fire spell. But I swear, I have no idea what happened to Peyton.

  At least I had the new girl
thing going for me. It wasn’t like I was here when the other girls were taken.

  Which is potentially why the detective gave Kai a strange look. If this guy was worth anything, he already knew Kai had come to town just before the first disappearance. And that Kai worked at Sir Bean, a place all the girls had visited right before they went missing.

  “I’m just going to get back to my studying,” Kai said, turning the other way.

  “No, why don’t you go ahead and join us down here,” Detective Lancaster said.

  Kai groaned and followed me down the stairs.

  “You’re here pretty early,” Detective Lancaster said to Kai, making a point to check his watch.

  “So are you,” Kai said with a smile.

  He didn’t offer any additional information, and I got the distinct feeling these two had met before. There was definite tension in the air between them.

  “Would you like a cup of freshly brewed coffee, Detective?” Martin asked. “Why don’t we all go back to the kitchen to have a cup and sit down together?”

  “I think we’ll just have a seat out here,” Detective Lancaster said, motioning to the parlor.

  I rolled my eyes. These couches were going to get more use in a couple of days than they‘d seen in the past hundred years.

  I sat down on the same square of navy velvet couch I’d chosen when Ms. Greer questioned me and pulled my legs underneath me. I wasn’t exactly dressed for company, but the loose sweats and tank top Martin must have changed me into last night would have to do.

  Kai hadn’t been there when he did that, right? Surely not.

  My entire body suddenly went up in fresh flames, and I scooted down, hiding my red face behind my arm.

  “What happened to you, Miss Thorne?” Detective Lancaster asked, nodding toward my bandaged arm as he sat down in the straight-backed chair across from me. “Those look like fresh injuries.”

  I didn’t answer, hoping we could stall that conversation for as long as possible.

  Martin opted to stand, placing an arm on the mantle of the large fireplace, while Kai took a seat next to me on the sofa. He coughed slightly as a cloud of dust rose from the fabric on that side, and I had to stifle a grin.