“You think so?”
Will nodded, “Yeah, definitely! You know how she is. If you want, I can take you around the block, but then we have to go. Something here doesn’t feel right,” Will asserted, peering through the front windshield.
I thought I saw an odd flash so I leaned forward to get a closer look.
CRASH!!!!
“What was that?”
Will was sitting up brushing something off his seat. “It was a huge icicle! Didn’t you see it? It came blasting in through your open window, brushed against the back of my neck and smashed against my window.” Will ran his hand over a crack in the window. “It even caused it to crack.”
“What?” I leaned in to look at his neck. There was a red streak along the back. Then I noticed the pieces of ice on his seat and all over the floor. I quickly rolled up my window before looking out. I couldn’t really see anything through the mist and the snow. “It’s lucky we were leaning toward the front windshield because it just missed us. Let’s go!”
Will shifted into gear and we headed back down Capen Street toward the armory. Suddenly we saw a mob of people, their long coats flapping, striding rapidly through the mist and snow in our direction. They were spread across the street, completely blocking it off. Something told me they weren’t our friends. Will immediately reversed the jeep and headed down another street that crossed Capen. Oh, God! Another mob, purposely striding toward us, waving something high. What was it?
“Will, what are they waving around? It looks like javelins, or some kind of spear.”
“It is. They’re spears made of ice. That was what was thrown into the jeep. They’re trying to threaten us.”
The jeep screeched and whined in protest while Will backed it up and turned around again, heading in the opposite direction. As we passed Capen Street, we saw that the mob was getting closer. They were also carrying huge frozen daggers of ice. Suddenly, two of them flew at the back window. CRACKKK…I turned around to see that another huge crack had formed in the window. Then, the jeep started swerving around.
“What’s wrong? Is it getting harder to control the jeep in the snow?”
Will answered through gritted teeth, hanging onto the steering wheel with both hands. “No, that’s not it. It’s the wind. It got really bad when we were near that mob. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were doing something. They seem to be able to affect weather and after all, wind is weather related.”
We went around a curve to see another line of people trying to block it. Fortunately, there were only seven of them.
“I’m gonna go for it. I’ll try to plow right through them. We really have no choice.”
“But I thought this was a dead end road, Will. Won’t we get stuck here?” I shuddered, thinking about that.
“Here, take this.” Will bent down and reached under his seat. It was a gun!!
“What, are you crazy?”
He undid the safety. “You just point toward them, aim over their heads and pull the trigger. As soon as they hear a gun, they’ll back off.”
“Actually, I do know a little about how to shoot. Uncle Frank made us take lessons. Where’d you get this thing, anyway?”
“It’s my dad’s and it’s registered, and I know how to use it. I put it in the jeep yesterday when I thought stuff might start happening.”
We were getting closer to them. I knew they were diaboles, because even through the snow I could see a cloud of black and dark red whirling around their heads in the headlights. That signaled hatred, evil intent. The closer we got, the more they waved their long, glittering spears of ice.
“Get ready,” Will shouted. I could tell he was having trouble controlling the jeep because both of his hands gripped the steering wheel and he wouldn’t take his eyes off the road for a second. The wind was howling so loudly it sounded like a wounded animal and the back of the car started jerking around. Will suddenly shifted into the next gear and sped forward, aiming at the side of the group where there was a small gap between them.
“OK, Tess, time to start shooting.”
I stuck the gun out the window and aimed toward them but a little up. I squeezed the trigger. BANG! It didn’t seem to faze them because they didn’t even break stride. Maybe they thought it was a tree cracking. Suddenly, a large dagger of ice nailed the front windshield. It didn’t break through, but a huge crack formed with many smaller cracks radiating from the center. The windshield resembled a giant spider web. They were really pissing me off.
I leaned out the window again and aimed. Only this time I didn’t raise the gun. BANG …. BANG …. BANG … BANG. “Do you think they heard it THAT time?”
Will answered, while staring grimly ahead, “Yep, I believe they did.”
Will suddenly swerved to the left and sped through a gap in the line. By then, I realized that some of them were on the ground, obviously shot. I couldn’t make myself feel bad about it. I didn’t ask for this fight! I couldn’t afford to dwell on those bodies on the ground right now. We just had to survive this.
Will turned onto someone’s driveway that merged into a narrow bumpy road.
“Where’re we going?”
“I know the guy that lives here. We’re both volunteer fireman for Woodley. This dirt road takes you to a branch fire station. He’s also the caretaker of the place. The road is partially paved because of the emergency status of the fire station.
“Do you think the place is open now?”
“I highly doubt it. The firemen on staff tonight are probably up at the main station.”
“So, what good does it do us? How do we get in?”
Will picked up a giant set of keys and held it up. “All the volunteers have keys to the three stations in town. We have to be able to get in at all hours.” He glanced over at me before adding, “It’ll be a good place to hole up until we can get some help. It’s too risky to try and get back to the armory right now. Too many of those creeps are around here. There could be hundreds of them for all we know.”
“Will, I have to say. You’re unbelievable. You always have a back-up plan.”
He looked over at me with a wry grin. “Yeah, I know.”
61. Thunder Snow
When we got to the fire station, Will was able to open the garage door and drive the jeep right in. We immediately went around and locked everything up.
“What should we do now? I think those diaboles will eventually find us,” I asked.
“We need help. We have to alert our friends and other luminars that things are starting up, although I have a feeling that most of them already know. The diaboles won’t stop until they get the fight they’re asking for. That’s the only way to end this,” Will stated grimly.
“I think I know how to do that,” I asserted.
“How’s that?” Will asked, frowning.
“Have you ever heard of thunder snow?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought I heard some on the way here, although it was a little hard to tell with all the wind noise. Anyway, I want to attract the lightning here. Luminars will know what’s up if they see a show of lightning.”
Will’s eyebrows rose. “So you’re a lightning spinner? I’ve heard about witches that can control lightning.”
I nodded. “I discovered it by accident only recently. It can be a mighty fine weapon. Did you know that good witches have a natural affinity to lightning because of their positive ionic nature?”
“Really?” Will scratched his head. “You know, I’ve been struck by lightning twice in my life and I’ve never suffered any negative after affects. In fact, I felt as if it increased my special abilities afterward. At the time, I figured I was just darn lucky.”
“It wasn’t in your head, Will. Let’s see what you can do.”
We got onto the roof by climbing up a fire ladder through a high window. Once we were up, I took a moment to view my surroundings. The strangeness of it all was unnerving; the endless falling snow and the beautiful trees covered in a deadly bl
anket of whiteness. Will grabbed my hand and pointed toward distant flashing lights in the sky.
I tried to sound confidant, even though I wasn’t feeling it. “The lightning’s not very close, so it may take some concentration and a little time, but I know we can get it to come. We just have to stand back to back, and lean against each other.”
I went to back up against Will when he quickly grabbed me, swung me around and held my face. “Tess, let me say something before we go on. I know there’s hardly any time, but I just want to tell you this will come out all right for us. I can feel it. There’s so much at stake here.” Then he pulled me against him. I rested my head against his neck, and then I leaned in and kissed him just under his ear. He bent over to kiss me when suddenly we heard the sound of thunder. It was closer. I cleared my throat and we quickly scrambled to lean back to back. “Now, rub your hands together rapidly as if you’re trying to stay warm, close your eyes, and concentrate on your inner light.”
We stood there for a quite a while, rubbing our hands and focusing. I gradually felt the heat building. At one point, I glanced down and saw sparks flying off my hands. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash followed by a loud …. BANG!
“Will, look up. It’s almost here!” I held out my hand and a streak of lightning touched my palm. A jolt of heat moved up my arm. It was a good heat, like sitting in the hot sun heat.
At first, Will looked surprised. Then, he held out his hand and lightning shot across the sky, touching his fingertips. I knew he found it to be a comfortable sensation because he simply smiled.
I shouted over the wind, “We have to continue drawing in the lightning. Our main goal is to put on a real show so that the luminars know that it is time. Just keep it up.” We continued rubbing our hands together and pointing toward the sky. In short order, the thunder was booming and the lightning was flashing and arcing all around. I threw a ball of lightning into the air and a huge bolt came down and struck it, showering streaks of lightning offshoots to the ground. It was fantastic! We were conductors of a crazy light show dancing all over the sky.
After several minutes, Will touched my arm, “I know you’re having fun but we have to stop this. We’re alerting the luminars, but we’re also telling the bad ones where we are. We’re sitting ducks up here. We have to leave.”
I rolled my eyes at him, “I guess.” I flicked my wrist to watch one more flash and then stopped. Will nodded toward the ladder and we climbed down.
“I hate to say this, but I don’t think we should take the jeep, nor should we head for the armory. It’s too obvious. No sense making it easy for them.”
“I have something else in mind,” I told Will.
“What’s that?” Will asked.
“We’re going to the tree, you know, the old hanging tree.”
“You mean Old Kiley’s Meadow, where they hung the witches? Why are we going there?
I grabbed Will by the wrist. “You have to trust me on this. I just know that we have to go there. It’s the only place we can have some protection from the diaboles.”
Will stared at me for a moment and then nodded, “I believe you, Tess. By the way, do you know what that tree has been called for as long as I can remember?”
I shrugged, “No, what?”
“The Tree of the Living Spirits.”
62. Fire and Ice
As we struggled through the deep snow, I saw those strange flashes of lights again. “Did you see that?”
“Yeah. What do you think?”
“I have a bad feeling about them. They remind me of electric sparks. Let’s see what it is.” Something about it was giving me a sick feeling.
We floundered toward the place where we had last seen the lights; seemed like it took forever to get there. “Wasn’t it around here someplace?”
Will took out his flashlight and waved it around. “What’s that?” He pointed it at a shiny spot. Snow had been cleared off some ice. “I think that’s Fisher Pond.”
“What’s in there? Is that a face? Will, someone is IN that ice. How could this happen?” I cried.
Will paused and said quietly, “The diaboles. That’s what makes sense with their cold and their snow.”
“Yeah, and think about it. We saw sparks earlier. I bet it was a fight,” I gasped.
“A fight with sparks?”
“Yeah, Will, someone was trying to raise the lightning and they weren’t successful. Either they were overpowered, or they just didn’t have enough time.”
Will said in a tired voice, “It makes sense, Tess. You think you know who he is?” He nodded toward the ice.
Silent tears ran down my cheeks. “I think he’s Abe, one of the luminars that recently came to town. He and his sister helped me out in school one day.”
Will grabbed my arm and looked me in the eye. “I know just what you’re thinking, Tess; that YOU caused his death. Listen to me. This is not your fault. THEY killed him.” He shook his fist outward. “And we’ve got to keep moving or we’ll be next.”
For a while, I let Will lead me through deep drifts. We finally managed to get to a side street that was partially plowed. It was easier going, but we were more exposed so we had to be really careful.
“Tess, check that out.” Will pointed to some flashing lights off to the right. “And there, more lights,” he pointed in front of us. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think it was thunder snow gone wild. It’s the diaboles and the luminars, isn’t it?”
I felt sick thinking about what was going on. “Yeah, they’re fighting. What do we do?”
Will’s face lit up for a second as lightning flashed across the sky. “We have to help them.”
We strode toward what looked like moving strobe lights behind some trees. I gasped in amazement when I got a clearer view. Two beautiful women with curly dark hair were conducting the lightning with their hands. I was mesmerized by the grace and precision of their movement. As I continued toward them, Will reached out to stop me.
“Wait,” he insisted.
“What?” I asked, puzzled at his action. Then I noticed an odd stink in the air. I was horrified when I found its source. There were several bodies sizzling and writhing in the snow, the unfortunate recipients of the high voltage storm. The smell was the stench of their burning flesh.
The women turned their luminous and triumphant eyes on us. It was Dika and Nadya Petrov, the gypsy witches. They approached us, their long black coats flowing behind them. They each hugged me in turn.
“Sorry for you to see such a spectacle. Earlier, we saw the lightning in the sky and we knew you needed us. We were on our way to you and these creatures,” Nadya waved disdainfully at the blackened bodies, “thought they could harm us. They learned otherwise.”
Dika stuck out her hand to Will. “So, I presume you are Will.” She glanced at me sideways, with a sly look in her eye. “I’ve heard of you.”
“You have?” Will looked over at me, his right eyebrow raised.
“So, Tess,” Nadya said in a more serious tone. “We are here for you. What would desire of us?”
“We’re making our way over to Old Kiley’s meadow. Do you know of the place?”
“Yes, of course. We all know of The Tree of the Living Spirits.”
Will touched my arm. “Tess, if I may. I suggest that we split up to maximize our usefulness to other luminars.” He nodded toward Dika and Nadya. “It’s apparent that both of you are talented and resourceful fighters. Follow the flashing lights to find the luminars and tell them to go to The Tree. How about if you head in that direction and we’ll head in the opposite? We’ll eventually meet up at the field.”
Nadya and Dika both nodded in agreement. Nadya turned to me, eyes glowing, “Don’t worry, Tess. We have been anticipating this for a very long time. It will result in a great victory. We will see you soon.” They quickly turned and strode away with their coats flapping and hair blowing, vanishing into the black void.
63. Sam and Doug
> “Will, I’m so cold and tired. I wish I could curl up and go to sleep.”
He put his arm around my shoulder and hugged me close. “Tess, we have to go.”
“I know, I know,” I grumbled.
We headed in the other direction, sticking to the side roads. We could still see flashing lights around us. As we turned the corner, we came upon a large tree that had smashed right on top of a vehicle, almost cutting it in half.
Will was shaking his head. “Oh, God. That might be Sam’s SUV.” Will looked around and added, “And you know what? We’re back on Capen Street. I told him and Doug to come here in an hour if we didn’t show up. This has gotta be his truck.”
As we approached, we noticed that the side windows were smashed out. There was also a huge load of snow dumped on the car.
Will started nervously running his fingers through his hair. “I guess I can understand how a tree fell down on the middle of their SUV, but it’s also buried! How did all that snow get in? The back window has that strange bulls eye mark on it, like my jeep.”
I looked darkly at Will. “It was struck by one of those nasty ice harpoons. They were attacked by one of those diabole gangs we saw earlier. I bet they caused that tree to fall on their car. I wonder if Sam and Doug crawled out or if they were taken.”
We started moving as fast as we could, following the quickly vanishing footprints in the snow. After we got through some trees to a small clearing, we almost ran right into the backs of several diaboles, hands raised, waving huge ice daggers and yelling. Fortunately, they didn’t see us. Even in the gloom of night, I observed the blood red auras churning around their heads. I saw hate, fury. And I knew who they were after.
Will and I immediately started rubbing our hands together. Since lightning had already been in the vicinity and we were still partially charged, I knew it wouldn’t take long. Soon, we were crackling and sparking.
A Girl Beyond (War of the Witches Book 2) Page 31