The Witches of the Dark Power

by Gabriella Lepore

  ‘It won’t make any difference,’ said Demetrius.

  The sound of the Hunter’s voice made Mia’s blood run cold. Her knees threatened to give way beneath her as she realised that Kizzy’s vision was about to come true. Demetrius had found her, and he was going to kill her. She stumbled back against the tree trunk.

  ‘Your plan won’t work,’ Demetrius went on in a low murmur.

  ‘What plan?’ Mia stuttered. She held her breath. Colt and Amos were just a short distance away. She could run to them, or call out, or . . .

  ‘Nothing will stop him,’ Demetrius continued in a whisper. ‘He’ll kill you all. Then once he’s stolen the Arx, he’ll take over the castle.’

  Mia swallowed. ‘Colt doesn’t want the Arx, or the castle. He—’

  Demetrius’s shoulders began to tremble with silent, hollow laughter. ‘No, not Colt. Amos.’

  Mia shrank back as far as she could, until the bark of the tree trunk was digging into her spine. ‘Look,’ she said shakily. ‘I don’t know who you think you’re fooling with this act, but we all know it’s you. We know you’re the one trying to steal the Arx—’

  ‘You know nothing,’ Demetrius replied huskily. His black eyes blazed as he towered over Mia. ‘You’re all so blinded by him.’

  ‘By who? Amos?’ Mia asked incredulously. ‘Amos wouldn’t want the Arx!’ ‘Amos already has the Arx. He killed his brother William for it years ago. But it’s fading now, and he wants more.’

  ‘That’s not true!’ Mia cried in a hoarse whisper. ‘You’re sick!’

  Demetrius’s dark eyes bore into hers. ‘If he killed his own brother, he won’t think twice about killing you. All of you.’

  Mia’s heartrate quickened. ‘You’re lying.’

  ‘Imagine how he felt when the inheritance went to Wendolyn, not him,’ Demetrius hissed. ‘He thinks the castle should be his, and he’s here to claim it for his own.’

  ‘No.’ Mia shook her head. ‘Amos would never do any of that.’

  ‘He killed Jonathan, too,’ Demetrius carried on. ‘Our prized Arcana knew too much, and he threatened to expose him. And I’m next, if I don’t play along.’ He exhaled heavily. ‘In a way, I envy your Hunter. He’s above Amos’s control. Of course he’ll die for it, but—’

  ‘Colt won’t die,’ said Mia on impulse.

  Demetrius looked at her sadly. ‘How can you be so sure about that?’

  Letting her guard down for a moment, Mia stole a quick glance beyond the tree trunk to the exchange taking place in the clearing.

  Amos was standing inches from Colt, staring intently into Colt’s eyes. To Mia’s horror, Colt’s expression became glazed and he began to rock from side to side.

  ‘Give me the book,’ Amos ordered in a silken voice.

  In a trance-like state, Colt did as he was told.

  Then Amos began to murmur in dulcet tones. ‘Organs shrinking, throat closing . . .’

  Suddenly Colt let out a choke.

  ‘Breath escaping, suffocating . . .’

  Colt gripped his throat and began to wheeze.

  ‘. . . Lungs of lead, foggy head,

  Short of breath, you’ll soon be dead.’

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Temporary Stand-In

  Mia raced out into the open as Demetrius fled in the opposite direction.

  ‘Colt!’ she cried.

  Colt’s hands were helplessly fastened around his own throat. His eyes remained transfixed on Amos even as he gasped for breath.

  ‘Help . . .’ Colt choked. ‘Break . . . the . . . connection . . .’

  ‘So, you brought reinforcements, did you, Hunter?’ Amos baulked. ‘What happened to our honourable deal?’

  ‘She . . . must have . . . followed us.’ Colt’s eyes never left Amos’s as the older man held the spell. ‘Mia . . . do something.’

  Mia raised a trembling hand. A few seconds later, a flutter of wind wove around them all.

  Colt grimaced. ‘Do . . . something . . . better,’ he wheezed.

  ‘I’m trying!’ Mia cried.

  ‘Take . . . your . . . time,’ Colt panted. ‘It’s not . . . like I’m . . . dying . . . or anything . . .’ He managed to roll his eyes.

  Mia outstretched both her arms and focused on Amos. On her command, a tornado suddenly appeared and swept Amos up into its funnel. Suspended between two large trees, the cyclone proceeded to spin Amos in neat circles while drowning out his feeble cries.

  Released from Amos’s hypnotic clutches, Colt staggered backwards and drew in a lungful of air.

  Mia held her palms upward to hold the twister in place. ‘Um . . .’ She glanced at Colt. ‘Now what?’

  Colt frowned as he peered into the opaque cocoon of wind that was enveloping Amos. ‘I don’t know,’ he mused. ‘Keep him there until we figure something out?’

  Mia’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t know how much longer I can hold this!’

  ‘I only need a minute,’ said Colt. ‘Two, tops.’

  ‘To do what?’ Mia cried, exasperated.

  He didn’t answer. Instead, he pounced on the Tome of Black Magic, which Amos had dropped when he’d been swallowed up in Mia’s tornado. As Colt retrieved the book from the forest floor, the cyclone jerked forward and tousled his hair. He jumped back quickly. ‘Can you get a better grip on that?’ he asked as the wind began to unravel.

  ‘No! I don’t even know how I got this grip!’

  Colt groaned. ‘Do I have to do everything around here?’ he muttered. He shot a glance at a pile of dry leaves, then kicked over the discarded oil lamp. The lamp’s flame ignited a modest spark in the crisp leaves. In moments the foliage was crackling and spitting hot embers as the small pyre caught alight.

  ‘There,’ he said quickly. ‘Do something with that.’

  ‘Like what?’ Mia floundered.

  ‘I don’t know – be creative!’

  Colt opened the book and turned his attention to frantically flipping through the aged pages.

  Trembling, Mia lowered one hand towards the smouldering leaves. ‘Rise!’ she commanded. ‘I order you to . . . be a bigger fire or something!’

  ‘Eloquent,’ Colt remarked as he thumbed through the tome.

  Mia held her breath as a pillar of flame rose from the dry leaves.

  ‘Now be a circle,’ she went on.

  Colt cast a fleeting glance her way. ‘You don’t have to say it out loud, you know.’

  She ignored him. ‘Now go’—she gestured towards Amos and the tornado enveloping him—‘that way!’ On her command, the fire created a dishevelled loop around the tornado.

  From the corner of her eye, Mia noticed Colt flick his index finger to tidy the flame. ‘Nice,’ he praised before returning his focus to the book.

  Mia looked on in awe as the ring of fire wound around itself in constant motion. As it flowed, its pulse fell in sync with her own, as though she and the flames were one entity.

  She looked over at Colt and smiled. He smiled back at her.

  All of a sudden, a bold glow of amber started to shine beneath his T-shirt.

  ‘Colt,’ she said, her eyes glued to the orange light.

  He frowned. ‘What?’

  She pointed to his chest. ‘You’re glowing.’

  ‘The amulet,’ he murmured. Setting the book to the side, he withdrew the necklace and stared down at the shining amber stone as though he were seeing something that Mia could not.

  He froze.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Mia pressed.

  Colt’s expression thawed. ‘I was wondering when you’d get here,’ he said at last.

  ‘Do you think it worked?’ Dino asked Blue as they paced out of the graveyard.

  Blue bit his thumbnail. ‘I hope so,’ he muttered.

  They crossed beneath the wind chimes and strode into the moonlit gardens. Ahead, Siren was waiting for them. He was leaning against a tall hedge wall, his ankles crossed. ‘Where are the others?’ Dino called, jogging towards him.
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  ‘There are no others,’ Siren replied smoothly. ‘Only me.’ He stood up straighter as the two Arcana joined him.

  ‘What about Talon and Finn?’ Blue asked, shrinking under the Hunter’s gaze.

  ‘They have declined,’ Siren answered. ‘They’re fearful of the retribution that may follow our . . . how shall I put this? . . . Uprising,’ he finished with a vague smirk.

  ‘And D-D-Demetrius?’ Blue pressed.

  ‘Nowhere to be found,’ Siren replied. ‘As I said, it’s just me.’

  Dino knotted his fingers through his hair. ‘But Colt needs four! Four Hunters. Otherwise the spell won’t work.’

  ‘You have raised Lotan?’ Siren checked.

  The boys nodded.

  ‘Then it will have to be Lotan, Colt, myself, and . . .’ His ebony eyes landed on Dino. ‘You.’

  Dino tensed. ‘I’m not a Hunter.’

  ‘I know,’ Siren said with a sigh. ‘But you’ll do, I suppose. You’re more Hunter than Arcana, really, aren’t you?’ He sized up Dino with a curious gaze.

  ‘Forget it,’ Dino laughed without humour. ‘I’m not a Hunter, and I definitely won’t do a Hunter’s spell. You’ll have to find someone else.’

  Siren’s eyebrows drew together. ‘There is no one else. And we don’t have time to consider your emotional baggage. Do it. Get over your fear of turning into your father.’

  Dino’s jaw dropped. He looked at Blue, lost for words.

  ‘You’re not your father,’ Siren went on. ‘And you never will be. No matter how many Hunters’ spells you do.’

  Dino swallowed. His throat suddenly felt tight.

  ‘Siren’s right,’ Blue added gently. ‘You’re not Tol. You’re Dino. And we need you, Dino.’

  At Blue’s last words, Dino felt something inside of him shift.

  They’re right, he thought. I’m not Tol. I’m Dino. And for the first time in months, he actually believed it.

  Colt stood in the forest, listening to the distant rustle of leaves and crunch of undergrowth. They were on their way.

  Beside him, Mia was staring fixedly at the fiery tornado that was holding Amos prisoner.

  Nicely done, he thought, feeling a sense of pride on her behalf. Perhaps she is able to protect herself, after all. Thanks to my influence, of course.

  Returning his attention to the amulet, Colt touched the amber stone. He felt Lotan’s energy seep into his fingertips. In his mind, he heard Lotan’s voice. Not as a memory now, but as if it was being transported through an unseen portal.

  Coven leader, Lotan remarked with a hint of irony.

  Colt grinned. What of it? he responded silently.

  Nothing. It suits you, that’s all.

  Not as well as it suited you, Colt replied.

  I don’t entirely agree with you. But then, when did you and I ever agree? Lotan asked lightly. It seems a shame to break pattern now, just because I’m dead.

  Colt winced. I don’t like that, by the way, he answered the voice in his mind. I don’t like you being dead.

  I can’t say I’m thrilled about it, either, Lotan granted. I wish you would stop mourning me, though. It disappoints me to think that I was so likable. I spent my life trying to be otherwise.

  You weren’t likable, Colt reassured him. And that’s why I liked you so much. But now I hate you. I hate you for leaving me.

  It is with deep regrets that I left, my friend.

  Colt ground his teeth. It’s my fault you’re not here. I should have been with you when Tol’s coven attacked. I could have stopped the ambush. I could have—

  You could have done nothing, Lotan told him. That was my destiny. And this is yours. Don’t waste it in sorrow. Say goodbye and live on. For god’s sake, let me rest in peace, brother!

  Colt smiled sadly. Are you happy where you are?

  Yes, he insisted. So let go. You’re needed here. Talon and Finn need you, too. Accept them, Colt. Let them in.

  Lotan? Colt said silently. I . . . I love you.

  Lotan groaned. Colt, please! Listen to yourself!

  Colt flushed with embarrassment. I know, I know. How crass. I have no restraint these days.

  Lotan gave an audible shudder. Well, I wish you would at least try to restrain yourself in my presence.

  The crunch of footsteps was close now. They would be here at any moment.

  I’ll need your help tonight, Colt told his brother.

  Then I’ll be here for you, Lotan assured him. As I always am.

  Colt closed his eyes to end the exchange, then he said the words he’d been longing to say for months. Goodbye, Lotan.

  Goodbye, Colt. There was a beat of silent. And brother? I love you, too.

  Colt opened his eyes and swallowed a lump in his throat. With that, Siren emerged through the thicket of trees, followed by Dino and Blue.

  At the sight of the flaming wind tunnel, Blue’s eyes widened like saucers.

  ‘Whoa,’ Dino breathed. He squinted as he tried to peer through the fire at Amos.

  ‘It’s about time,’ Colt said sharply to the newcomers. ‘Where’s our fourth Hunter?’

  Siren pointed to Dino. ‘There.’

  Mia gasped. Her attention was drawn away from her task just long enough for the twister to falter. ‘Dino’s not a Hunter,’ she spluttered as Colt steadied the ring of fire.

  ‘Temporary stand-in,’ Siren explained.

  Colt sighed. ‘If that’s our only option, then it will have to suffice.’

  ‘Needs must,’ Siren concurred. ‘Did you locate the Astral Switch spell?’

  Colt gave a quick nod, remembering Wendolyn’s hint. ‘Yes, it was in the Tome of Black Magic, as we suspected.’

  Dino frowned. ‘Hold up. We’re doing a spell from the Tome of Black Magic?’

  ‘Yes,’ Colt replied.

  Dino folded his arms. ‘How can we trust you?’

  The two Hunters groaned in unison.

  ‘It’s a little late to be rehashing the trust issue, wouldn’t you say?’ Colt retorted with an impatient sigh.

  Dino and Blue swapped a surrendering look.

  ‘Shall I do the honours?’ Siren went on.

  Colt gestured for him to continue.

  Privy to Colt’s plan, Siren took the liberty of drawing a triangle in the mud around Amos’s whirlwind. Siren’s hair ruffled as he nimbly dodged the spinning flames.

  ‘Take your positions,’ Colt ordered as he touched the glowing amulet. Still cradling the Tome of Black Magic, he stood on a point of the triangle and waited for Siren and Dino to do the same. Once they were evenly spaced around Amos, Colt glanced at Mia. ‘Release the captive!’

  On his command, Mia lowered her hands. The tornado slowed to nothing more than a gentle breeze, and the ring of fire sank into the ground, leaving only a trail of smoke lingering on the forest floor.

  Amos stood before them now, his glasses and clothes askew from the cyclone. He was clearly struggling to regain his bearings.

  Without missing a beat, Colt began reading from the open book.

  ‘Minds of witches rise,

  Travel through lands, seas, and skies,

  Inhabit the vessel I offer to thee,

  Inhabit this body and speak unto me.’

  The night suddenly fell still, as though even the air was holding its breath. Then, Amos let out a gasp. He blinked at the Hunters and took in his surroundings as if through new eyes.

  ‘Colt,’ said Amos in a strange voice. He looked down at his hands with interest. ‘The Astral Switch worked.’

  Colt’s eyes gleamed with affection. ‘Yes, Wendolyn,’ he replied. ‘Thank you for joining us.’

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Protectors

  Mia stared aghast as Wendolyn spoke through Amos.

  If Wendolyn’s mind is in Amos’s body, Mia wondered, does that mean that Amos’s mind is in Wendolyn’s body? She thought of Wendolyn, weak and immobile in her bed.

  ‘He’s poisoned you,’ Colt explaine
d to Wendolyn now. ‘He was lacing your tea with belladonna.’

  Amos’s palm raised. ‘It’s okay,’ Wendolyn said in the old man’s voice. ‘I know.’

  Mia’s jaw dropped. Amos was poisoning Wendolyn? And she knew?

  Through Amos’s face, Wendolyn frowned. ‘He is guarded by something—I can sense it in his body. A force-field. But it is weak.’ His eyes shot to Mia. ‘Is it the Arx? No. Impossible. You’re still alive.’

  Mia drew in a shaky breath. ‘I think it is the Arx,’ she confirmed. ‘But it’s not mine. Demetrius told me something . . .’ she took another deep breath before continuing. ‘Demetrius confessed that Amos was the one who killed William Wix. Amos stole the Arx from him, but it’s weakening now. That’s why he wanted mine.’

  The older man’s face drained of colour as Wendolyn absorbed the words. ‘No . . . No, that can’t be. Amos wouldn’t kill his own brother . . . unless . . . Oh, Amos, how could you?’

  The others exchanged glances as she worked through the implications of what Mia had just said.

  ‘If this is all true,’ Wendolyn went on through Amos’s voice, ‘if he is truly this vicious, then there is only one way to stop him. And we must act fast.’

  ‘How?’ Colt asked with urgency.

  ‘You must kill me. The real me. His body may still be protected by William’s Arx, but his mind is not. And our bodies cannot exist without our minds. But you must do it quickly, before the astral enchantment wears off.’

  ‘But what would happen to you?’ Mia asked Wendolyn.

  ‘If one of us dies during this spell, then we both shall die.’

  Colt shook his head. ‘No,’ he said adamantly. ‘There must be another way.’

  ‘There is no other way,’ Wendolyn replied through Amos.

  ‘There has to be,’ Colt insisted. ‘We can bring Amos back into his body and then do the spell to steal his Arx. That will vanquish him, and finally justice will be done.’

  ‘Yes,’ Mia said, nodding her head.

  ‘No,’ Wendolyn countered. ‘I forbid you from using dark magic. Besides, if you use that spell on Amos, the Arx will move into one of you. And believe me—a stolen Arx is a dark hex. It would poison your souls, just as it has done to Amos.’