"I just need a little more time," I said, knowing she alluded to my naming of the High Priest as well.
She gave a weak smile and turned back toward the study.
As she moved away from us, we darted out the door.
Like giddy children, the six of us ran around the side of the manor, shaking off all the stress that had built up in the hidden room, and then from the encounter with Chancellor Kelly. Giggling, we darted across the vast lawn, leaving the looming gables and gargoyles far behind us.
"Look," Piper called out, pointing overhead. "The crows are gone."
I shot a glance behind us, and noticed the still sky above the estate.
Asher's attempt at closing the board and then stealing the planchette actually worked.
As relief oozed out of each of us, we followed Asher and Hattie as they ran ahead. The crisp afternoon hinted of early winter, and the last of the blazing orange leaves had long made their final plunge.
We crunched through the brown leaves, kicking them into the air as we headed into the trees, and I sensed snow in the air. It wouldn't be long now until the first fall.
"We haven't visited the secret garden in ages," Hattie said. "Can we go to it?"
We were already halfway there. Our natural choice of direction took us in the exact direction.
Without the need to discuss it, we followed the familiar path that led to the hidden spot. A joyous feeling ran through me as I anticipated adventuring in the garden again with my coven. Its energy awakened a part of me that usually hibernated deep within—a feeling of nostalgia and home.
Before long, we passed the giant oak that grew where the entrance gate once stood. Its girth marked the centuries that had gone by since the garden's prime. But now, in its derelict state of crumbled statuary and overgrown vines, it was equally as beautiful to me as when it held its prize-winning rose bushes and master-carved topiary.
"Look," Asher called over. "There's water collected in the fountain. Does anyone have a penny?"
We gathered around the edge of the water feature, and I gazed at the eroded statue that once held stately glory. Moss and vines covered the form, and cracks in the fountain pool allowed only a few inches of water within.
Still, though, we made our wishes, tossing pebbles into the rippling water.
The sound of rustling stole my attention for a moment, and I scanned the garden paths all around us. Then the snap of a twig shot my attention to high alert. Clayton turned toward the sound as well and searched for any movement.
I glanced at him with a shrug, assuming it was nothing, maybe a squirrel.
Finishing up at the fountain, we called Asher down from the edge as he walked it like a tight rope. Having him fall in and get soaked would not be ideal at this moment. He'd likely freeze to death before we'd have a chance to get him back to the house.
"Come on, Asher. Stop messing," I called as we headed farther down the main path.
Then, without any words, Piper pointed to the sky ahead of us, and stopped in her tracks.
Crows.
A small flock of blackbirds circled the open field at the end of the path.
"Isn't that where the labyrinth is?" Noah asked.
I swallowed hard and looked down, ignoring the nag in my gut.
I hadn't considered going to the labyrinth today. Or any day any time soon.
It was best to leave it at rest right now, rather than inviting portals and gateways into our day.
I glanced at Hattie.
Her eyes were fixed on the circling crows.
She twitched, and then looked at me.
"We need to go see whatever it is," she said.
I nodded in slow motion, knowing she was right.
"Probably a dead animal or something," Noah said.
"They're not vultures," Clayton spat, shaking his head.
"Same difference. They're both birds of death."
Tucking my hands into my coat pockets, I felt a chill run through me as I hoped Noah was wrong. We needed to catch a break for a moment and regroup. Last thing we needed was an encounter with anything to do with death.
Without thinking, I moved ahead of the group and walked toward the open field. There was no way I'd turn around now without knowing what the heck the birds were circling.
"Hold up," Clayton called. "Are you sure?"
I shrugged. "I just need to look. That's all. What if there's something there that needs our help."
He exhaled, rolling his eyes, and I smirked. I couldn't help my curiosity or my desire to save whatever might need saving, no matter how much it irked him.
Feeling lighter in my soul, I stepped off the path into the clearing.
Scanning the area, my eyes landed on the entrance to the labyrinth. It pulled my attention to it, but I did my best to ignore it. Turning my focus away, my gaze landed on Hattie who came up right behind me as if feeling the same draw.
Then Piper called over to us.
"There!" She pointed to the far side of the labyrinth. "The birds are concentrated over there."
Without hesitation, we moved around the edge of the stone maze and wandered closer to the circling blackbirds. Their grating caws grew louder as we closed in under them.
As we stared up at the black blur of wings, they circled in tighter formation and dropped lower from the sky. Hovering over a patch of overgrowth, they cawed even louder.
"Shew," a small voice called from the brush. "Shew."
Stunned, I moved closer to the rustling and peered behind the shrubs.
"Chloe?"
"I'm sorryyyyyy..." Chloe whined from behind the bush.
"What the hell?" I gasped. "Come out from there. What are you doing sneaking around us?"
She lifted herself out of the brambles, brushing off thorns and dead leaves.
"I didn't want Josie to know I followed you," she said. "She made me promise allegiance to her group."
I glanced at Clayton.
"She's forming her own coven," I whispered. "That's confirmed now." I shook my head, knowing it to be true already, but hearing Chloe say it made it more real.
I looked back at Chloe's cowering form.
"Does she know you came to the garden?" I asked.
She shook her head rapidly. "No, she thinks I'm in my room."
I ran my hands through my hair and exhaled. "Okay, so why are you following us?"
She shrugged. "I thought maybe if I helped you, you'd let me join your coven."
Her desperate expression pulled at my heart strings. She was lost and desperate to find her place in this world.
"Chloe, our coven is complete right now. I mean, you can work with us, that's fine. But I just don't want you to misunderstand the situation."
I paused, noticing my elitist tone. For a second, I wondered if I was as bad as the next exclusive club. But to be honest, our coven formed itself. It wasn't something that had to be decided.
"I'm sorry," I added. "I don't mean to sound harsh. It's just that our coven came together naturally. I think we need to honor that for now. But unofficially, we'd be happy to have you join us."
She smiled and her eyes brightened.
She reached behind her back and pulled something out from under her jacket.
"I thought you'd want this," she said.
At first, I half-expected a weapon of some kind. No clue why. Probably because of her earlier conspiring with Josie. I still felt she couldn't be fully trusted.
But then my eyes nearly bugged out of my head as I stared at what she presented to us.
Balanced on her outstretched palms, she presented the Ouija Board.
Asher stepped back and patted his pocket to be sure the planchette was still in his possession. His relieved huff proved it was.
"Chloe, we don't want that thing," I said, stepping away.
She lowered it in surprise.
"But, but it can help you reach your parents," she said. "I thought you'd want to try."
I shook my head as if
the board held a contagious disease.
"Not that way, Chloe," I said, thinking of the creepy shadow man Josie had conjured. "I'd rather help you sharpen your skills as a medium, and maybe reach them that way."
This was everything I wondered to be possible when I heard of Chloe's original gift. But now that I knew the Ouija was involved, I wasn't sure how much of her gift was real.
"Do you really think I could do that?" she murmured.
"I don't know. You seem to have good communication with nature." I glanced up at the birds over her. "I was hoping maybe at the moon ritual, you might be able to make contact with them."
She stepped back, shaking her head. "I don't know. I don't think I'm that good."
"But Chancellor Kelly said..." Hattie blurted.
I cut her off before she could finish her accusation.
"Well, you have some time before the moon ritual to figure it out." I glanced into the labyrinth. "Maybe this is a good place to start."
Chapter 13
Walking into the labyrinth hadn't occurred to me until that very moment.
We were all here—my full coven, plus Chloe.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized the fact that the labyrinth might hold more answers for us, maybe even more than Hell's Gates did.
It held danger too, though.
I had to remember that.
The banshee had found us here before.
Hattie's gifts had been unleashed here too.
And this was the place when Clayton's beast was first revealed.
It seemed risky to tap into the power of the labyrinth, but with Chloe here, it seemed riskier to not try.
I stepped closer to Clayton.
"I think we should walk the labyrinth," I whispered. "With Chloe, we might be able to make contact with my family. Just enough to see what they need and if they're okay." I watched for his response. "I really need to know what I'm heading into if I go home."
He exhaled and looked away for a moment.
With a shrug, he said, "Makes sense. I guess."
I lifted my eyebrows, waiting for more.
He shifted his weight. "This place just makes me nervous. I don't fully understand it and we have no clue what it's capable of."
I nodded, knowing he was right.
It was a risk.
But it was one I was willing to take in order to be more prepared for what lay ahead.
A cool breeze brushed across my face, awakening every sense. I smelled the air and was sure I picked up on nutmeg and cinnamon.
Hattie and Asher inched closer to the entrance of the labyrinth.
Noah moved to Piper's side, fidgeting in his own skin.
She took one look at his nervous expression and apprehensive stance. "We'll stay out here and keep watch. We'll shout if anyone comes, particularly Josie."
I smiled. "Good idea. We could definitely use a lookout."
Poor Noah. It was clear the next level of our mission was too much for him.
"Can anyone else taste that pumpkin pie?" Noah breathed.
My eyes went wide, sensing the same thing.
"I smell it," I blasted. "Do you guys smell that?"
Everyone looked at me in confusion, sniffing the air.
"Nope," Clayton said, checking the air. "Nothing."
"Hmm. That's weird." I took another big breath, and pumpkin spices whirled through my senses like warm ecstasy.
Chloe placed the Ouija in the grass at the edge of the labyrinth and stepped closer to Hattie and Asher.
"I'll go first if you want me to," she said. "I've gone in before."
My head snapped in her direction.
I had no idea anyone else even knew about this place, let alone used it.
"And?" I pressed.
"And I definitely feel more open in there. Like a meditative trance," she said.
"Isn't that what labyrinths are for?" Noah shrugged.
She shook her head. "No, it's more than that. Like, a trance that helps me see past our own perception. It's like looking through a mirror to the other side."
Chills ran along my arms from her description. It made the labyrinth seem scarier than the past times I'd been there.
"Okay," I said. "You go first. I'll follow you."
"We can go too, right?" Asher begged.
I nodded, glancing at Clayton then.
He stepped behind Asher and Hattie, preparing to remain at the back.
I felt safer knowing he'd be able to keep an eye on them while I stayed close to Chloe.
But it was definitely necessary for the two of them to come. I needed Hattie to be a part of whatever might happen. Her memories of home were much stronger than mine, and she'd help me understand whatever we might encounter.
And Asher, well, his ability to help others cross over must mean that he'd have some sort of impact on a mission like this.
"Ready?" Chloe called back to us.
The entrance stones leading into labyrinth moved in a straight line at first, bringing us into the depths of the maze. Following the lichen-covered path, I took a deep breath to clear my mind. As I exhaled, the reality of the situation came crushing down on me.
What if we were able to make contact? What would it be like to see my family from a place where I couldn't reach them?
Doubt grew in my bones and I considered turning around.
Maybe it would be better to just use Hattie's portal and go home. I could figure out whatever I needed once I was there.
I glanced around me as worry settled into my creased brow.
With one more heavy exhale, I squared my shoulders in an attempt to continue moving forward.
As we moved through the stone pathway at a rhythmic gait, the smell of pumpkin spice grew stronger. It was as if someone were baking in the middle of the labyrinth, sending warm scents of home through the twisting turns.
I looked up from my steady gaze at the stones under my feet and nearly bumped right into Chloe. She'd stopped short on the winding trail without a word.
The others slowed behind me, and we all watched her with trepidation.
Then she turned.
"I smell it," she said.
My eyes widened, frozen on her.
"Pumpkin pie?" she whispered.
"Yes!" I gasped.
She turned back ahead and took a few more steps. Then her pace quickened.
"It must be because you're here, all of you," she called back. "Your presence has agitated something within." She moved even faster. "I feel it, too. Your energy is invigorating my own senses." She lifted her gaze, searching all around her. "Something's different."
And then, a strange ripple vibrated over us, sending chills through my veins. It was an iridescent wave creating a wobble in our steady realm.
"Keep moving," Clayton called from the back. "Something's happening. Don't stop."
Chloe shot her eyes to him, then moved even faster.
I followed close behind, panting from our unexpected exertion and my pumping adrenalin.
"I feel it," Chloe called back. "My third eye is opening."
I gasped in fear, but didn't slow my fast pace.
Our energies combined within me, sending me to the highest form of myself. If all of us were feeling the same way, then anything would be possible in this moment.
"Keep going," I called to everyone.
In a uniform line, we barreled through the winding path without any falter or hesitation. Each one of us feeling the energy rising and our focus remained on one thing—reaching a point of new enlightenment.
Excitement mounted within me as I started to believe I'd get a glimpse of my family. The iridescent ripple would open the mirror and give us access to seeing through to the other side. Chloe's gift was greater than I'd ever fathomed.
"Wait!" Clayton shouted from the back of the line. "There's something in the center."
I glanced ahead in the direction he was staring.
The center of the labyrinth wasn't far off a
nd I noticed a concentration of the iridescent shimmer, like an orb around the area. It was similar to what we'd seen last time and I hesitated.
"I don't think we're ready," I called to him, keeping watch on Chloe.
I had no idea what might be inside the orb but my gut told me it was bigger than any of us could fathom.
Chloe moved along the stone path, getting closer to the orb.
"I think it's a ball of our energy. We can use it," she said, holding her eyes on it.
The look of awe that washed over her face frightened me. It was as if she were caught in a spell, willing to take any leap that presented itself. She was an amateur, and I had to remember that she was desperate to access her gifts, as well. It made her a liability to the coven.
"Don't go too close to it, Chloe," I demanded. "And don't touch it!"
Her curious pace didn't slow, and she continued her approach to the wobble.
Jumping ahead, I grabbed onto her arm and pulled her.
At first, she resisted, as if being led by something other than her own free will. But then, she stopped.
"What are you doing?" She turned to me. "This is what we came for."
"No, Chloe." I gripped her arm tighter, half-expecting her to bolt. "It's more than we came for. I feel an intensity vibrating through my cells. Like something's shifting. We need to use caution."
As I spoke the last word, the others caught up to us.
Hattie lifted her face into the air and took a deep breath. Her eyes widened larger than I'd ever seen them.
"Mother?" She cried.
I released Chloe and reached for Hattie this time. Holding onto her shoulders, I studied her face as her eyes searched wildly at nothing.
"Hattie, what are you seeing?" I pressed.
She hesitated, then looked me in the eye.
"No, I smell it. Mother's pie. It's my favorite."
And just as the words left her mouth, a whirl of energy rushed around us. Losing sight of the labyrinth and the shimmering orb, the blast that surged around us lifted me off my feet.
Squinting into the chaos, I kept hold of Hattie and reached for the others.
"Hold on to each other," I screamed into the rushing torrent. "Don't let go!"
Terror filled me as I lost control over my surroundings.
Mystic Coven: Winter Wiccan (Supernatural Academy Graduates Book 2) Page 11