The coven before us, the UMAs, had been able to change the course of history by traveling through the portal at just the right time. They had stopped my mother's murder before it had a chance to start. They'd accomplished their mission in order to bring peace and balance back to the modern day—to stop the cursed ripple that coursed through time, to stop the hauntings of the Dark Witch.
But then Laney Rosco couldn't live with that outcome.
The Dark Witch was her ancestor, and therefore, when she was stopped, Laney's bloodline gifts were also stopped. Unfortunately, Laney had already tapped into dark magic. She had tampered with the sinister spells of the Dark Witch, and without that power any longer, she fixated on getting it back any way possible. She spiraled into the madness of her own living hell.
I closed my eyes, resisting the next parts of the story, but they refused to be silenced.
Laney spent years trying to reawaken her gifts. With the help of another supernatural, she was finally able to conjure the Dark Witch once again. It was Josie's face in the images—her conspirator. The two of them together held enough power to resurrect the Dark Witch in an attempt to re-tap into her power.
And Laney's short-sighted craving for domination had placed my mother back in direct harm of the hysteria of the witch hunts.
And Ms. Reed had seen it first hand when she was trapped in the abyss. Her observations from the beyond confirmed what we now saw in Chancellor Kelly's talisman.
My parents were being attacked.
Attacked for harboring witches.
For protecting their own daughters.
So, the mission of my coven was now positioned to begin.
It was my responsibility to save my mother's soul.
And it had to be returned to her before the mob destroyed her.
It would take my entire coven to get the job done.
At the end of the ritual, Ms. Reed was the first to step off the pentagram. She moved to the altar with her eyes fixed on the journals.
“The final motion in securing the coven is returning our written history to the secret vault.” She turned to Chancellor Kelly with lifted eyebrows.
The chancellor looked to me and said, “Those who removed them must be the ones to return them.”
Those were the words I’d hoped to not hear. But of course, it made sense that it would be our responsibility to return the ancient books to their rightful place. We were the ones who’d removed them in the first place.”
Without a word, Piper and Noah moved to the altar and took their stacks.
“We’ll carry them,” Piper said. “Since we’re the ones who took them.”
I nodded in agreement. Not that Piper and Noah were any more guilty than the rest of us for taking the books. We had all agreed to do so. But it made sense to leave the rest of us with our hands free in case something unusual occurred.
With my lips pressed tightly together, I glanced down the dark passageway into the catacombs. A waft of stale air hit my face, making my nose itch.
“I’ll go first,” Clayton said, shimmying past me. “I’ll push the stone slab open, then the rest of you can catch up. Doesn’t make sense to have you lingering down there unnecessarily.”
“I’ll go, too,” I said. “The rest of you, give us a minute or two head start.”
Before any of them could resist the plan, Clayton and I took the first steps down the dark, tunnel-like stairwell. Like moving down the gullet of a demon, we descended farther into the depths of the catacombs.
Using the flashlights on our phones, we shot beams of light across the engraved stone slabs as we moved closer to the secret door. Coffins lined the walls, settled into the stonework with permanency that could last centuries to come.
Clayton moved to the cold stone wall and pressed his fingers along the edge, searching for the seam. As he located the point of entry, he pushed with his full body weight. With a crunching gravel sound, the wall shifted on itself, creating a small gap. He pushed again, opening it enough to be able to slip through.
I turned and called to the others to join us.
“You can come now.”
I listened for their movement on the stairs, but there was no sound.
“Guys, bring the journals now. The archive door is open,” I called again.
The sound of more scraping stone turned my attention back to Clayton. I stared in confusion as the stone wall to the vault closed on itself with a bang. A distant echo of Clayton’s voice bounced around me as he called out as if trapped.
Before my mind could make sense of what was happening, a chill filled the air around me and my breath blew from my mouth as white fog. The temperature had dropped to near freezing.
As terror rose within me, I launched to the archive door and heaved. Pushing with all my effort, I called to Clayton and then up to the others.
“Clayton!” I screamed. “Noah! Piper!”
As their names left my lips, a deep sense of being alone overwhelmed me.
I shot my light in every direction as my hand shook uncontrollably. Aiming for the stairs, I decided to make a break for it, and get help.
As I turned to the steps, a dark cloak flapped all around. It swatted at me from every direction, attempting to smother me.
The smell of charred flesh turned my stomach as the stench of death filled the catacombs.
“Show yourself,” I shouted. “Coward!”
I had no idea where my courage came from, but for the first time ever, I wasn’t afraid.
The Dark Witch was my mother, and having my moment to confront her was now.
The flap of the dark cloak settled around me, and as I shot my light in every direction, it jolted in my hand as it landed on her gruesome face, only inches from mine.
A scream escaped my lips as I jumped back. Her foul breath made me grimace as she moved closer. Her bony fingers reached for my throat in slow motion and I took a final inhale.
“Mother.”
Her reaching fingers hesitated in their search for my life force, and her eyes awakened with flames dancing within the pupils.
“Mother,” I repeated. “I am here to end you. To stop your evil reign and send you to oblivion.”
The words gutted me, but as I spoke them, I knew them to be necessary.
I was there to end her.
And now she knew it.
Her fingers stretched farther as she reached for my throat again. This time, the flames in her eyes grew more intense, sending smoke into my lungs.
Coughing, I struggled to get a clean breath, and grew light-headed as smoke overtook me.
“Mother,” I choked. “You cannot stop me. It is my duty to the coven to remove you from existence.”
The words constricted my throat as tears threatened to fall from my eyes. I was here to kill my mother. To end her gruesome existence. The notion sickened me as I understood my true mission.
As the words swirled around her, she shifted as if preparing for a final attack. A strange look in her eye proved she’d been caught off guard for a moment, though, and she examined me, staring straight into my soul.
Just as her guard lowered and her eyes widened with a moment of recognition, I screamed.
“Asher!”
My scream echoed through the catacombs and burst up the stairs.
Pounding from within the archives grew louder as Clayton fought to break free.
Then a sound from the dark passageway caused me to gasp.
“Shaye!” Asher’s voice filled the catacombs.
He flew down the stairs and his focus immediately shot to the Dark Witch.
“Asher, now!” I commanded.
Her defenses were down as she gazed upon me with recognition. For a brief moment, I felt my mother’s love. But almost immediately, it turned back to twisted vengeance and evil.
It was what she had become.
What the world had turned her into.
But I forgave her.
In our brief exchange of mother and dau
ghter, she saw that I’d forgiven her. And it was her redemption.
Asher took a strong stance and lifted his arms. In a voice that sounded far older and wiser than his own, he blasted, “Cross over, Millicent Dawson. Do no resist. You will find peace on the other side.”
Tears fell from my eyes as I watched her turn to him in horror. She lifted her cloak around her, preparing to pounce on him.
“Cross over, Millicent Dawson. Do not resist. You will find peace on the other side.” Asher’s voice grew louder as yellow light shone from his eyes.
She tried to pull away from his stare, but she’d already been sucked into the mesmerizing light. She leaned in, studying his face in awe.
“Mother,” I called to her.
She turned and looked at me as a sense of peace washed over her face. She was leaving.
“Mother,” I cried. “You are no longer the Dark Witch.” My voice cracked as sobs caught in my throat. “Your redemption has at last arrived. Release your chains. Return to who you are.” I took a huge inhale and shouted. “You will forever be the Winter Wiccan.”
And as the words left my mouth, a blast of blue energy shot from my hands, surrounding her with its light. Her arms dropped by her sides as her head fell back. In a strange shot of fresh air, her hair lifted all around as her beauty returned.
She gazed at me with the look of a mother’s love, and as she reached for me, the blue light surrounded her. Then, in a blast that shook my core, she was gone.
I stared in shock as the blue light faded around us. Asher’s eyes closed briefly, and when he opened them again, the yellow light of heaven was gone.
“You did it, Asher,” I gasped.
“No, Shaye. You did it.”
And as his words struck my heart, Clayton bombed out of the vault, as the others stormed down the stairs in a frantic rush.
But it was over.
The curse of the Dark Witch had come to a peaceful end.
Chapter 17
My mother’s tortured soul had finally crossed over. The Angel of Death had stood by me as I released her.
She was now the Winter Wiccan. A guiding force for the Mystic Coven.
Chancellor Kelly had assured me that her crossing over had redirected the time plane that carried her execution. She said it allowed for other realms to take over, and that was why I could still go home.
I took Hattie’s hand as we walked toward the terrace. Clayton and the others stood on the lawn outside the balustrade, waiting for us.
It was the eve of the Drawing Down of the Moon.
I couldn’t believe the day had finally arrived. I’d gone back and forth, wanting it to come and wanting to run from it. But now that it was here, I was open to whatever might occur.
“Big night,” Clayton said, stepping over to us.
His simple words held profound meaning.
He reached for my other hand, and the three of us walked with the rest of our coven onto the terrace.
Piper placed a jar of water near a potted topiary shrub and positioned it in the direct light of the full moon. A goddess statue loomed over it setting an appropriate tone to the small ritual.
“We’ll drink the moon water in the morning,” Piper whispered to me, wiggling her eyebrows.
I shot her a guilty grin as the entire academy filled the terrace area around us. Students and graduates lined the railings and sat on the tiled flooring. The Higher Order stood in command on the step by the tall glass doors.
Chloe bombed over to us, panting.
“I’m so nervous,” she chattered.
We pulled her into our circle.
“You got this, Chloe,” I said. “It’s your time to shine.”
She swallowed hard and nodded.
Then our attention moved to the Higher Order.
“Good evening students,” Chancellor Kelly began. “We come together to celebrate the longest night of the year. The winter solstice.” She gazed up at the sky. “The universe has aligned with our intension as the full moon shines down on us.” She scanned each and every one, acknowledging the presence of the entire house of Hazeldene. “And tonight, in the ritual of the Drawing Down of the Moon, we will attempt to communicate with The Goddess.”
Chloe looked at me with wide, unblinking eyes.
“Chloe Hayes,” the chancellor called. “Please join us.” She waved for her to go up.
Chloe held my eyes for as long as possible, then moved toward the terrace step. She climbed up to the Higher Order and turned to the crowd of students and graduates.
Everyone stared with excited anticipation of what might occur as Chloe gazed up at the full moon.
“What do you think she’ll do?” Asher whispered.
Clayton shrugged. “Tough to say. I’m not sure she’ll be able to do anything without the Ouija.”
“I feel bad for her right now,” I said. “She must be panicking.”
Chancellor Kelly stood tall at the center of the raised patio. Her long black suit reminded all of the formality of the event.
“Will the Mystic Coven please come up,” she called.
Without hesitation, the six of us moved to the step and listened for her next words. None of us, including the Higher Order, knew exactly how things would play out. The hope was that Hattie and I would have an opportunity to connect with home, in some form. We just had no idea what it would be like.
Still, I had to prepare myself for anything, including traveling back in time. Forever.
It was my duty as a daughter. And as a sister.
I glanced at Clayton and my heart stung. Tears threatened to swell in my eyes and I swallowed them down.
My High Priest.
I pulled my eyes away from him and watched as Chancellor Kelly directed Chloe in a chant.
Their voices rose in unison as they repeated the opening phrases.
“Welcome Goddess. We listen to thee. Share with us your wisdom. Guide us in the universe. We honor thee.”
Chloe lifted her palms high, repeating the chant in a monotone hum. She rolled her eyes back in a dramatic fashion, and I immediately choked.
“She’s faking,” I whispered.
“Yup,” Noah agreed. “Full of shit.”
I took a huge inhale and blew out my disappointment. There was too much at stake to just let this farce continue.
“Guys, pull together.” I waved them closer. “Come on. Let’s gather our collective energy and send it to Chloe. We can enhance her gift, and maybe she’ll be able to do this.”
Everyone shifted closer and we formed a tight circle. Within seconds, the sensation of our force moved through the group. As I felt each gift rush through me, they all combined then into a more powerful essence. I lifted my gaze, readying to redirect the circuit to Chloe, when a voice shrieked out from the spectators.
“She’s a fake!” The voice blasted.
And as we all stared in shock, Josie barreled out of the crowd holding the Ouija Board over her head.
“She uses this!” she cried. “A fraud.”
Chancellor Kelly went rigid. “Stop at once,” she called out. “What you hold in your possession is a threat to us all.”
Josie shot a smug grin her way.
“Oh, I’m aware,” she gloated. “And I haven’t wasted the opportunity of having access to the board.”
I shot my eyes to Asher, praying he still had the planchette.
He shrugged, baring his teeth. “I think it’s still in my room.”
Turning my attention back to Josie, I prayed she didn’t get her hands on the planchette.
“Now we can all communicate with The Goddess,” she laughed. “But I’ve found something much better. Someone who can make me a Goddess.”
She threw the board onto the tile flooring and it clattered with a crash.
Everyone stepped back as if it were going to explode.
Josie lifted her arms and dropped her head back. “I summon Solomon,” she bellowed. “Shadow Lord. Keeper of Souls.”
>
Clayton grabbed me and pulled me close. “It’s the demon I saw in your room,” he said. “Josie conjured the entity that stole her soul.”
“Is she crazy?” I blasted.
Shooting my attention to Chancellor Kelly, I hoped for direction on how to stop Josie.
The chancellor stared at the board like it had the power to ruin us all. And I believed her.
Without a second thought, I jumped toward the Ouija and lifted in my hands. Raising a knee, I prepared to snap it in two.
“Stop!” Ms. Reed screamed. “You must not damage the Ouija. You’ll only release further destruction.”
I stopped my swing in mid-air.
Josie let out a laugh. “There’s nothing you can do. It’s too late. He’s already been released.”
I turned and hurled the Ouija off the terrace, and it landed in the grass with a thump.
Josie lifted her arms high again. “Come to me Solomon. I open myself to thee.”
I stared in disbelief as she summoned the Shadow Lord.
“We need to get you out of here.” Clayton reached for Hattie and me. “That demon is after the two of you. I saw it that night. It was no dream.”
Just as his words struck fear in my heart, a strange dark cloud swirled over the terrace.
Chancellor Kelly lept to the center. “Everyone flee to the safety of the house. Gather in your cohorts and be sure no one is missing.” She swung her arms to get them moving.
The dark cloud continued to whirl ominously above us as the sound of a thousand tortured souls filled the air.
“He’s coming,” I gasped. “I feel him.”
It was the same sensation I had the night Clayton saw him hovering over me. He felt like power, seduction, and emptiness, all at the same time.
I stared as the dark cloud turned to a funnel that touched down in the middle of the terrace. As my eyes focused on the figure that formed within the smoke, terror shot through me.
“He’s coming for me,” I said. “He wants my soul.”
It was Josie’s swan song. Taking her place by Solomon’s side and causing my demise at the same time.
I shot my attention to Chloe, desperate for any chance at defeating him.
“Chloe, keep trying,” I begged. “Connect with The Goddess!”
Mystic Coven: Winter Wiccan (Supernatural Academy Graduates Book 2) Page 15