Clearwater Witches Boxset

by Madeline Freeman

  Dad nods once. “You should get started.”

  “Griffin, have you got the knife?” My stomach dips at the word. In my mind, of course, I’ve realized that by the very nature of a blood lock, blood will be an element of the spell that will take us across the town line. But as Griffin steps toward me, I find myself wishing there was any other way to do this.

  After touching each of his pants- and jacket pockets twice, Griffin frowns. “Um.”

  “Are you serious?” West snaps. “You had one job, Griffin.”

  Griffin gives him the finger and pulls the device from his front pocket. “Relax. Just trying to lighten the mood.” He offers a half smile as he flips open the blade and hands the knife to me.

  Taking it from him, I turn toward the barrier. I’m not sure that it’s strictly necessary, but it feels right. “I freely give this blood and allow these people to pass.” I feel more than a little silly addressing what appears to be thin air, but I want to make my intention as clear as possible. Gritting my teeth, I press the blade into the flesh of my palm and drag it. My breath catches as the cool metal slices through my skin.

  I turn back to the circle, holding up my fist. A fat drop of crimson blood clings to my hand. “Okay, guys. Let’s get this done. I don’t want to bleed any more than I have to.”

  Felix is the first to step forward. He locks his eyes on mine as he holds his open palm beneath the drop about to fall. “This isn’t gross at all.” His lip curls as it falls onto his skin. We both gasp as it disappears, like a raindrop soaked up by parched earth. “Is that it?”

  I glance at my dad for verification and when he nods, so do I. “All right, then. Next.”

  One by one, each member comes to me to receive a sample of my blood. The only one who puts up any resistance is Lexie.

  “I don’t know if I’ve ever told you guys this,” she says as Bria and Felix press her toward me, “but I have this thing with blood. It makes me kind of… vomit.”

  “Close your eyes,” Bria grumbles. “It’ll be over before you know it.”

  Lexie closes her eyes but cringes as Bria forces her hand out toward me. It takes Bria and Felix’s combined effort to unfurl her fingers. As she flails, two drops of blood fall to the ground.

  “Lexie, come on. This could be over already.” Although my hand doesn’t hurt anymore, I’m looking forward to the moment Bria can heal the wound.

  When the next drop falls, it lands on Lexie’s upturned palm. She lets out a little squeak as it dissolves into her hand. “Is it over?”

  I roll my eyes. “Yes, now let’s get going. The elder council could be starting their spell to unbind us right now, for all we know.”

  “That was so traumatic,” Lexie mutters as we all head back to the van.

  “Let’s all hope that’s the most traumatic thing that happens tonight,” Dad says as he climbs behind the wheel.

  I can’t help silently seconding his sentiment as the van crosses over the town line. I try to take comfort in the fact that Anya has seen visions of what’s about to happen. She must be confident that Dad will be strong enough to beat Seth, because otherwise, what have the last five years been worth? Still, even Anya admits that her visions don’t always reveal everything. What if she’s wrong about this?

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The van eases toward a boxy building that looms like a sleeping dragon on the horizon. Even in the darkness, I can tell it’s seen better days—graffiti adorns much of the brick front and many of the glass panes are broken. The only hint that it’s not abandoned comes in the form of light winking out from behind tarps tacked up in the windows.

  “This is the guy’s bat-cave?” West asks, sounding somewhat disappointed. “So not what I was expecting.”

  “See that river behind the warehouse?” Dad asks. “It’s the same one that runs through town. Probably why he chose this place—for the connection to Clearwater.”

  I watch him, waiting for the order to go ahead, but it doesn’t come. “You ready, Dad?”

  He reaches over and squeezes my hand. “For my part, yes. But in all the time I spent planning this, I never imagined you’d be here. I left for five years to keep you safe, not to have you in the middle of this.”

  I return pressure in his fingers. “Oh, Dad. I don’t know if there’s a force on earth that could keep me out of the middle of this.”

  He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it. “You should go.”

  Before I open the door, I turn to Lexie. “Do the glamor.”

  “Of course,” she says from her spot on the bench seat behind me. She slashes her arm downward and my father disappears behind a wall of shimmering air. Somehow, him being invisible makes it easier for me to step out of the van.

  Once we’re all out, I walk with purpose toward the front door of the factory. Two men in their early thirties perk up as we approach. “I’m here to see Seth,” I say, proud that there’s no tremor in my voice.

  The two exchange glances before the one on the left grumbles, “You’re late.”

  Griffin edges to the front of the group. “Didn’t realize we were punching a clock. Now, you gonna let us in or not?”

  The man on the right opens the door, allowing us to pass. “He’s ready for you.”

  Although his words chill me, I suppress a shiver. Coming here under the pretense of wanting to join Seth is a calculated risk, but a risk nonetheless. What if he decided the conditions I gave were too unacceptable and plans to simply take our energy from us? The binding spell provides protection against that, sure, but if Seth is siphoning power from his followers or exploiting the full moon for more energy, there’s no reason he couldn’t break it and help himself to our abilities.

  This suddenly seems like a horrible idea.

  Owen grabs my hand and presses a thought into my mind. Better put up your defenses now. We want Seth to believe you’re sincere.

  Translucent sheets of plastic hung several yards from the door we entered form a kind of antechamber separating us from the main part of the building. When I hesitate, Griffin pushes past me and separates two sheets, revealing the area beyond.

  The space is open and empty, dominated by large support pillars set at intervals. The low-hanging lights overhead cast a yellow glow on our surroundings.

  And then, there he is. Seth looks almost the same as he did last time I saw him, except he’s let his hair grow out. There’s no way he didn’t employ magic—it’s much longer than it could be otherwise, brushing against his shoulders. As hard as it is to see him and not recall our last interaction, somewhere in the back of my mind, I also remember him as the friend, the distant relative who worked at Jodi’s shop and wanted to help me. I focus on these thoughts, just in case one of the dozen or so Devoted around the room is scanning my intentions.

  Seth grins broadly, opening his arms wide as if to embrace us all. “Welcome. I’m glad you’ve come.”

  I swallow. “I assume Elliot filled you in on why we’re here.”

  His eyes go skyward for an instant. “Full moon’s tonight. Should give the elder council more than enough of a boost to break your binding spell.”

  I nod. “And you should also know that they have the same plan as the council from your day—to rid Clearwater of all abilities. They think they’re too dangerous.”

  “And you don’t?”

  I glance at Griffin, who’s still beside me. “I know we don’t want to be without our abilities. We were hoping you could help us with that.”

  “Of course. Come, sit. We have much to discuss.”

  With a flick of his wrists, a long table accompanied by high-backed wooden chairs appears before him. He sits at the chair at the head of the table, nodding for us to join him.

  I take in a breath, trying not to allow in a wave of panic that threatens. A conjuring spell like that isn’t an easy task. He’s much stronger than last time we met. I can only hope that the combined power of the circle is stronger.

  Slowly, the eleven
of us take seats around the table.

  “Elliot told me about your… conditions.” A smile plays about the corners of Seth’s mouth as he says the last word. “Tell me, what makes you think you’re in any position to make demands?”

  I’ve prepared for this question. “We want to keep our abilities, sure, but we’re not like you. We still have attachments—people we love who don’t have abilities. We want to make sure they’re safe.”

  He raises a shrewd eyebrow. “And as for you wanting to lead alongside me?”

  I fix my haughtiest look on my face. I’m ready for this question, too. “That’s my birthright. I’m a psychic witch from the Whitaker and Barnette lines, just like you. The strongest in generations, just like you. And, let’s face it, I know more about the world today than you do. I can be an asset.”

  His brow furrows as he scrutinizes me. I square my shoulders and hold his gaze, refusing to show weakness. After what feels like minutes, a smile breaks across his face, revealing the friendly gap between his front teeth. “You sound… well-practiced. It’s too bad I don’t believe you.”

  My jaw drops. This isn’t what we expected at all. I’ve been going through the mental exercises Anya taught me to keep the truth concealed from him, and I haven’t sensed him breaking down my defenses. I’m still formulating a response when Crystal stands. I’m too surprised by her sudden motion to come up with anything to say.

  Seth, too, stands and crosses to Crystal. “Soon, everything we hoped for will be realized.”

  A wave of confusion washes through the circle.

  “Her father is somewhere nearby,” Crystal says, her voice lower than usual. “Check the second floor. He planned to be somewhere out of the way.”

  “Crystal,” Lexie hisses. “What are you doing?”

  “It’s not her,” Tucker murmurs. “Can’t you guys feel it? She’s not Crystal anymore.”

  “He plans to trap you again with a stone he carries,” Crystal continues.

  Seth smiles. “He’ll not succeed.” He lifts his chin and a half dozen men and women take off, presumably to search for my father. As soon as they’re gone, Seth’s hands cup the sides of Crystal’s face and in an instant, the two are kissing like lovers reunited.

  Which, I realize by degrees, they are.

  “Bess.” I murmur. Seth told me once of the girl he loved, who died. Bess. Last time Seth and I were together, he mentioned that Crystal looked a lot like her distant relative. He talked about being reunited with her, but it’s not until this moment that I understand what he intended. No wonder Crystal’s been acting strange, why Tucker’s had trouble connecting with her. Somehow, Seth has done something to Crystal, implanted Bess’s consciousness into her mind, perhaps. When I mentioned to Elliot our plan against Seth had been thwarted, it was genuine surprise I saw on his face. He wasn’t behind the fire that burned the Althea, it was Bess.

  We have to get out of here. Seth knows we’re not here to join him, so it’s only a matter of time before he does with us whatever he plans. Stealing our power, at the very least. I stand, as does the rest of the circle, but we all hesitate. We can’t leave Crystal here.

  That moment of hesitation is all it takes. The remaining Devoted in the room close in around us.

  We have to fight. If we can, we have to rescue Crystal, and we certainly have to find my dad. But we have to get out first.

  The Devoted strike first. One sends an energy pulse, knocking over West, Fox, Bridget, and Bria. I want to run straight to them to make sure they’re all right, but instead I send out a pulse of my own. The twenty-something blonde woman I aim for deflects it, causing a nearby chair to upend. Before I can mount a second attack, Lexie launches herself bodily at the woman, and the two collapse to the floor.

  Griffin fires off spells at a nearby man while Felix and Owen face off against two guys trying to leave the room.

  As I rush to check on West, Fox, Bridget, and Bria, I keep my eye on Seth and Crystal who survey the chaotic scene with pleasure but make no move to leave. They’re both waiting for something.

  I reach for Bridget, who’s closest. She’s dazed but not unconscious. I shake her shoulder and her eyes focus on me, but only briefly.

  How are we supposed to get out of here now?

  I sense the attacker approaching behind me too late and am unable to turn before an arm snakes around my neck. I jab my elbows backward, and even though they smash into the torso of my captor, the arm stays firm. No matter how hard I struggle, I can’t break free.

  I was in a similar situation once before, in my own reality, with Tucker outside the bookstore. I was able to knock him backward with a concentrated blast of energy from my core. I replicate that shockwave now and manage to break the choke hold. In the split second I’m released, I round on the forty-something man and send another blast of energy straight toward his chest. He falls backward, his head slamming against the concrete floor. I rush back to Bridget, scanning the vicinity for more threats. Crystal whispers something in Seth’s ear and he nods, a smile curling his lips. I don’t hear what he says, but when he raises his chin, it’s as if I’ve been lassoed around the middle. An invisible force draws me irresistibly back. I’m not the only one affected. Every member of the circle, except Crystal, is being dragged toward a nearby pillar. Seth snaps his fingers and ropes close around my wrists, tethering me to the post. On instinct, I attempt to get out, both by twisting my arms and by using my abilities, but these aren’t ordinary ropes. Seth must have somehow spelled them against the use of magic.

  As I’m fastened into place, there’s a commotion on the far side of the room. My stomach drops as I watch my father being hauled into the room by three Devoted. He fights as best he can, but it’s no use. Slowly, they drag him toward where Seth and Crystal stand.

  She nods. “He’s the only other one.”

  Seth cocks his head as he studies my father. “He’s the one they planned to have trap me in another stone? But he’s powerless.” He turns to Crystal. “Are you sure there are no others?”

  Her eyelids flutter and her mouth twitches. “I… There are no others. He was going to cast the spell… or get the stone to the others…”

  I glance at Griffin, who is locked up beside me, but his expression is just as confused as my own. Crystal knows the plan. Why can’t Bess explain it?

  She’s fighting it. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Whatever spell Seth enacted on Crystal, it hasn’t fully taken hold. Crystal’s still in there somewhere, and she’s fighting.

  “We didn’t tell her,” my dad says quickly. He’s smart enough to put together something’s wrong. “We knew there was someone close to us giving away important information about our plan, so we kept things from them. I’m the only one who knows everything.”

  Seth eyes him from head to toe. “Then I’ll know it all presently. You’ll not provide much challenge.”

  I feel it happening before I hear the words come from my father’s mouth. The vessel spell. It’s like having my energy channeled by other members of the circle, but it’s also nothing like that. The power inside me pours out, heading in a steady stream for my father. Seth looks around wildly, not sure what’s happening and completely unable to stop it.

  My magic disappears first, followed by my psychic abilities. Just before the last of it passes from me, I latch onto the magic in the ropes that hold me, sending that power to my father as well. When everything is gone, there’s an emptiness in my core. My abilities make me who I am; without them, there’s a hole in my being. But the separation will be worth it.

  I watch my father expectantly, waiting for him to take advantage of Seth’s confusion. But Dad stands stock still, eyes wide, body rigid.

  Something’s wrong. I was afraid of this. He’s prepared holding in and using abilities for the past five years, but it’s never been anything of this magnitude. It’s too much for him.

  With a groan, Dad collapses in a heap.

  In an instant, my abilities floo
d back to me, causing pinpricks of light to burst across my vision. The magic I siphoned from the spelled ropes races back toward them but I hold it back for an instant—just long enough to use my abilities to sever the knots that bind me.

  I know it without having to be told. Anya didn’t see everything, she didn’t know Dad wouldn’t be able to handle all the power. He just had to convince everyone that one person wielding all the abilities is the only way, so no one would fight it. It’s on me now. I’ll have to hope my energy combined with that of the circle is enough to overcome Seth. And that I can trap him in a crystal once more before I do any permanent damage to my friends.

  They sense my plan without my needing to relay it, and their collective energy surges into my body. I’ve felt this limitless only once before, back when I was holding the piece of quartz that contained all Seth’s powers. But this time, instead of clouding my mind with thoughts of desire, my purpose clarifies. My senses are all heightened, and I know the Devoted are descending on me without having to look. With a thought, I knock them back. I push Crystal away from Seth, keeping her at a safe distance, but making sure not to hurt her. I raise my right hand, imagining the stone my father carries finding its way there, and in an instant it’s enclosed in my fist.

  Seth is recovering from his surprise. His eyes narrow at the quartz in my hand. “You cannot do it,” he murmurs. “You do not possess the power.”

  “I guess we’re about to find out.”

  Without warning, an invisible force pushes me backward. I pinwheel, trying both to keep hold of the stone and keep my balance. Seth stalks toward me but I stay his progress. With all this power inside me, any task is as simple as thinking. But I know I can’t keep this up indefinitely. The longer I use these abilities, the bigger the chance of me harming someone—especially one of the psychics, since their supply of power is limited. I focus my mind on my goal: trapping Seth—his soul, his abilities—in this stone. The quartz heats in my hand as Seth doubles over.