Well, that’s the bright side I surmised now. I opened my mouth to say more.
At the same moment, I was pulled back with such force that my head whiplashed. When I landed, the air had been pushed out of my lungs and the back of my head was bleeding. I coughed and struggled for air. When I was straightened out, I looked around me. The landscape was crazier than before. The sandstorm was so thick and abrasive it scratched my skin and made it hard to see. I could feel sand in my teeth and eyes. Just when I began to panic and thought I was lost in hell, the storm died right down, and everything went still and so silent it was almost deafening. I stood up and looked around; nothing was familiar. It was concrete and dark, cool and damp. My heart began to pick up speed. I was getting scared. I took a few cautious steps. Where was I?
“Nicky…”
It was like a breath more than two syllables. The sound came from all around me. I turned a corner and saw the last thing in my life I ever wanted to see again.
It was the cell Lou had kept me in for a year.
No!
I stepped closer until my hands were on the bars, and I felt their cold, unyielding hardness. I could smell that familiar smell of mould and dampness and defeat. Tears rolled down my face.
No.
I closed my eyes.
“Don’t you miss home, my love?” It was Jasper’s voice in my ear behind me. I whipped around and was now face-to-face with Lady Veronica. She let her head fall back as she laughed that horrible cackle of hers. I went to push her from me, but she was gone before I could make contact. I stumbled back and landed in a chair. I looked around and realized it wasn’t any old chair.
It was the Chair. I scrambled to get up, but the buckles were fastening around my arms and legs instantly. I screamed as loudly as I could. I was met with the sound of needles scraping windows, the sharp slicing sound of scissors cutting nothing but air.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
The Needle Twins stepped around the doorway of the cell on either side, the corners of their grins high on their cheeks, their arms behind their backs. Their toes pointed to each step they made as they drew closer to me. Soon they were on either side of me, and I was defenseless. I thought hard about what I could do with my body detained.
Before I had the chance to try something—anything—the twins ran away screaming.
Hmm; Maybe they remembered what I’d done to them last time they had me in this chair.
Then I heard it. The sounds of heavy steps—hooves, even.
Lou was at the doorway.
We stared at each other for what seemed like forever. He seemed curious, looking at me, and I was trying to gauge his next play.
“So you felt like a vacation, did you, Nic?” He smiled sweetly and walked into the room. I sat up straighter, on edge. What was he up to?
“Well, you know me; I like to walk the unbeaten path,” he answered my thoughts. I struggled around in the Chair, trying to loosen the straps.
“Oh, stop this; let me help you.” He waved a hand, and the buckles and straps fell to scraps on the floor. I rubbed my wrists and stood up, keeping him on the other side of the room from me. He smiled again, strolling around with his hands in his pockets.
“I’ve missed you.” He stopped and looked at me. He had the seriousness of a saint.
“Lou, you haven’t missed me. God, we aren’t even really here.”
“No?” He cleared his throat. “We can be anywhere we want to be, as long as we are together.” He clicked his fingers, and suddenly we were in the gardens of Autumn Moors. I was home again! It was summertime, and bees were flying around all the blooming flowers. Trees swayed gently, letting the sun stream down between their branches. I gasped. Oh, how I missed my home.
“Nic, I’m willing to forgive you and everyone for betraying me.” Lou was at my back, his breath sweet like wine in my ear. I felt lazy all of a sudden. “I just want you back. I promise I will even leave Jasper alone. You know what, I will not harm any of them. I swear.”
Wow, that sounded so nice. Perfect. Then I wouldn’t have to battle anyone or have to decide whether I should kill myself or go into exile for two hundred years with no powers.
But—
I thought of Jasper. I had all the strength I needed now.
I pulled off the veil he was wrapping me in. I would not fall for this shit ever again. “Hell no, Lou. Get the fuck off me.” I lifted a hand, and the force I drew with it pushed him back off me so he landed smack into one of the largest trees on our property. The same one I’d laid my hands on so long ago when Lou had wanted to hear the trees. I turned around to him. I held him there with the force of wind.
“Lou, you have got to leave us alone. Go back to whatever hell you crawled out of, because you cannot win. You will not steal the elements, or me, or Jasper. This is futile for you.” I stalked toward him. “I am giving you one last chance to get out this. This will not end well for you.” I realized he couldn’t talk, so I laid off the wind but grew vines around his wrists to hold him there.
He struggled and then looked at me with piercing black eyes. He seethed with anger. “I will kill all of you!” His voice was deep and growling. It was frightening, but I let my head fall back with disappointment.
Damn. Well, it had been worth a shot. I stepped closer to him so my breath was on his cheek. I spoke low and hard. “Then I’m coming for you, Lou.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
I felt the sensation of falling, and when I opened my eyes, I was back at the bonfire with the trio and the wolves. Lupa was sitting on her haunches in front of me, cocking her head and looking at me quizzically. I shook off the remnants of the vision and stood. I needed to walk around to feel sure I was in the real world in real time. I took a few deep breaths, and soon the creepy-crawly sensation was gone. I was still shaking, though. The shock of the cold helped to straighten me out. Lupa watched me as I paced around. Laura eyed me sadly. The trio did not breathe a word yet.
I thought about Lou. Damn; that had been too close for comfort. I thought in the end I’d handled that relatively well. I resolved and looked to Lupa and Laura. Thank you, Lupa. Thank you, Laura.
“So!” Anna Belle was shivering slightly, teeth chattering and vibrating with suspense and cold. “Tell us what happened! What did you see?” I stared at her for a moment.
But Laura answered before I could. “None of our business, that’s what! Now start packing up here. We can’t stay out in this cold all night.”
Lupa stood on all fours and walked around, circling the fire. She stopped suddenly and let out a short howl.
Another wolf had joined her. He too was white, but with a mix of grey. They stood facing each other but looking over each other’s shoulders, then around the area for some time.
“That is Lyall,” Anna Belle whispered. “He is the strongest shield wolf next to Lupa.”
I was again in awe at the beauty of these animals. I promised myself I would never forget this night as long as I lived. I was not even cold anymore. I felt as if I were a part of winter instead of a foreign body not made to spend any time in its extreme temperatures and harsh terrain. The fire still blazed, and the moon came out fully to light up the world in its slumber.
Tonight was all magic. The events encouraged anyone to believe that anything was possible. I felt the stars in my eyes; I felt my breath join the winter breeze; I felt the blanket of snow protect what lay dormant underneath, waiting to one day grow again in its turn. I looked at the wolves, so ancient and powerful. I felt the tie of kinship we had with all animals. Many of us seemed to forget it most of our lives, the simple fact that we were all connected in this universe. We had all shared this earth throughout time and history. We had all come from the same place and would one day return to the same maker, whoever that was. In the meantime, we had to be patient and kind to one another. We had to help each other to survive and thrive.
And we had to stop evil in its tracks.
“How did i
t go?” Katerina asked me calmly, more in hoping I was okay than being nosy.
“Good, I guess.” I thought about the feelings I’d had when coming face-to-face with a vision of Lou. It had been so real. I was a big talker, but when in his presence, my first reaction I was not proud of. I didn’t want to tell them any of it. I’d learned I was still bound to Lou in some sick way. I hadn’t cut my ties with him yet for some reason. Perhaps that was another curse of the Lightning Witch: to be bound to my destiny. To forever be tied to the one who would bring my demise.
I hoped I hadn’t let Lupa down.
“Guess Lupa can’t help me more now that she has seen the same vision.”
“Looks like she already has.” Laura gestured to my hands.
I looked down and saw what she’d left on my hand. On the flesh near the crook between my thumb and forefinger was a tattoo-like mark in the shape of a crescent moon and a sprinkling of silver stars. The moon changed now to mimic the round orb in the sky tonight. It would change nightly as the moon changed during its cycle throughout the months of the year.
“Lupa has blessed you with the will to choose your fate as the Lightning Witch. She has offered the power to call on the creatures of the woods when you need their assistance as this Daoi affects all life forms and a new balance must be achieved,” Katerina told me now, her tone soft. “The final piece of your Earth element has been returned to you and confirmed by the universe. It is a very high honour, especially for a stranger. We honestly didn’t think Lupa would agree to it, but she has seen your story in your eyes and is giving you this very special chance. She believes in you.” Katerina had tears in her eyes.
“Don’t let her down, princess.” Laura looked down her nose at me. I didn’t care that she was calling me that name again. I felt so much gratitude and honour at that moment; Lou couldn’t even have spoiled this for me. I made another promise to the world: I would never let Lupa down or abuse this power, no matter what the future held. I thought again to the vision. I prayed I would never falter in Lou’s presence again. I prayed this would all be enough to destroy him.
That I would be enough.
That I would make the right choice when I had to.
Lupa looked back at me for a moment, and I nodded. Then she was gone as the last of the northern lights swept up back to their resting places in the sky. The rest of the pack followed through the forest, which reclaimed them all behind the tree line.
An animal I couldn’t exactly speak to or reason with had seen something in me that she trusted, and she had accompanied me through a dreamscape to aid my mission. And even after what she had witnessed there, she still believed in me enough to grant me this gift. I thought about Lou again.
Evil, evil, evil…keep saying it.
“Katerina, what did you say earlier? The Daoi? What did you mean by that?” She had wandered off from our group to close the circle she’d created earlier.
“Daoi means wicked man or demon.” Katerina spoke in a hushed tone of utmost seriousness. Her eyes flashed at her mother. I understood; no one liked to talk about Lou out loud.
The vision with Lou and Lupa still swam through my mind. I thought about the sacrifice that Laura had made. I wouldn’t have to die in the end. I would live a normal life with no powers, but I could certainly handle that! Could it be so easy? After all of his torments and all of the games and tortures he has put us through, could it all come down to this? I had to be rid of him. He was still tormenting me, even from my dreams.
I felt like time was running out suddenly. I felt fear that he would be coming soon in the depths of my heart.
Remember this, princess: to forego your powers may not be your sacrifice. It is different for every Lightning Witch. Only time will tell what you will be forced to choose: death or letting go of something precious to you. Laura looked at me from the corner of her eye.
I sighed. So really, I don’t know that much more about what will happen if I defeat Lou.
Laura cleared her throat and started talking to Katerina, who had knelt down to make sure her mother was warm enough. I looked to the stars for answers, but they were silent now, fading off into the depth of night. I brought my gaze to the trio. Anna Belle was now making Laura laugh, and Katerina was now rocking and humming softly. I realized then how much I cared for these women. I realized I would soon be finished here in the mountains with these three women. It was bittersweet. On one hand I was so blessed and a completely different woman now than I’d ever been. I was so proud of myself, and I finally felt comfortable in my skin as a witch, and I was fully repaired. I would be going home to see my family, which made me want to jump for joy! But alas, it meant I would be leaving Anna Belle and Katerina and even craggy old Laura, who evidently could surprise me in more ways than one.
“We can’t leave yet, Grandmama. We must enjoy the present moment now, before our paths must part,” Anna Belle cooed as she nestled in close next to me. She too realized our time together was coming to an end. I smiled through unabashed tears.
Laura pressed her lips together and lightly smiled at the two of us. “I suppose we can stay a little while longer.” And with that, Laura poked at the fire with a stick, and Katerina began softly singing again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I stood at the train station. Summer was finally here now, in all its growing bloom and sunny weather, pushing spring into the background for another year. The snowy night in the forest with the Canadian shield wolves seemed all but a dream now in comparison. The breeze now was warm and tickled its way through the platform, rustling the skirts and hair of the women saying their good-byes to other families. The trio of witches had escorted me to wish me well on my journey back home. I felt melancholy in my heart as I looked at them. They had become more than healers and mentors to me. I now considered them part of my family, like three spinster aunts from afar that you would go to visit every so often, just to rejoin them in their own crazy world when you began to feel yourself getting crazy in the real world.
Anna Belle was the first to come and hug me. We embraced hard and long, feeling a kinship that I would hold dear to my heart forever. When she released me, she stood back, holding my shoulders. She had tears building up in her blue eyes, which looked like liquid crystal from the north.
She smiled and laughed at herself, which I found so endearing. “Don’t forget about us.” She then backed away, blowing me a two-handed kiss.
“Never.” I smiled.
Katerina stepped in next, proud and smiling like a mother sending her child off to school. We embraced lightly, and I kissed her cheek.
She was mildly surprised at the gesture and placed her fingers there to hold it safe. “Well, you just—you take care of yourself, okay?”
“I will, Katerina.”
“Enough, now.” Laura broke in between us. “She will miss her train.” I watched her as she shimmied around us, seeming to separate us, but I could see now it was because she just wanted in.
“I will miss you most of all, you old bat.” I grabbed her then, before she could call me a princess for the nine-hundredth time, and I held her close.
“How will I know what the sacrifice will be?” I whispered.
“You won’t know until it is too late, I’m afraid.” She held me at arm’s length and looked sadly in my eyes. “And by then, you will give anything you can in this world to extinguish him and save your coven.” She took a breath and smiled. “It’s not all bad, really, losing your power, if that is what your sacrifice will be. I can still speak with and conjure spirits—and knit at the speed of light.” We both laughed.
“You never miss what you had to give up?” I asked her.
She thought about this for a moment, and then looked over at Katerina and Anna Belle, who were hand in hand, looking back at us. “Of course I miss it, but not often. Not as often as I would miss them if I didn’t have them in my life.” She gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. “But just because this was my sacrifice doesn’t necessari
ly mean this will also be your fate.”
That notion didn’t really make me feel better. I was now worried for the unknown. “Thank you, Laura. Thank you for everything.” I squeezed her tightly to me. She returned the squeeze as much as her frail bones would allow. She had aged a lot since I’d arrived at the cottage. My heart ached.
Then she held me back. Her eyes were intense on mine. “Don’t forget anything—I mean absolutely anything—you have learned here. Don’t forget who you found out you are, and never, ever let him get it.”
I was slightly stunned at her intensity. I felt the weight of the burden more than I had since I had discovered my capabilities. I struggled to reply. “I—uh, I promise, Laura. I won’t.”
“Good girl. Now go get your train.”
I turned and ran for the train. I stood up on the step and waved before I disappeared inside. I found my seat and could see the three of them still there on the platform, waiting to truly send me off. Katerina was waving her arms slowly, and I could see her mouth moving as she blessed my train and a safe travel. I smiled. Anna Belle was jumping up and down, waving and smiling. Laura was standing there, looking down at the ground, lost in some deep thought. I watched her for a minute and then saw her face transform into more of a worried knot than usual. She looked around like she was lost; then she spotted me in the window. She raised her hand and leaned forward, mouthing something to me. I shook my head; I couldn’t understand her. She looked so upset that I placed my palm on the window, hoping to hear what she was trying to say somehow through my hand.
She came closer and was only able to let the tip of her finger touch the glass to match my palm. I heard her then. She had seen something; she needed to warn me. But I didn’t understand what her warning had meant.
Beware the hunter coming…
Beware the what? The hunter?
The Lightning Witch (Elements Book 2) Page 12