Bewitched

by Mark Jay Harris

  CHAPTER 16

  Sister’s Keeper

  Samantha lay face down on the stone floor. The pain that had seemed beyond imagining, that had sucked the air out of her and made her feel as if an arc-welder had gone to work on her internal organs, had just suddenly stopped. The change from unbearable torture to sudden and complete relief had left her weak and limp and grateful. She doubted the pain had lasted very long, but the ferocity of the fire in her belly had been so intense she was certain if it had continued much longer, her body would have simply expired. There didn’t seem to be any lasting damage, nothing had actually cooked or burned. If the highly corrosive stomach acids had been seeping through her system, she was sure there would have been ongoing injury and residual pain. But there wasn’t. It had been as if a switch turned on the agony and then shut it off.

  Serena was lying in front of her against the wall. She was still conscious, but her eyes looked watery, and her dark skin had a chalky color to it. Samantha shared a look with her, but no thought floated between them. What was there to say?

  Andrea and Mike shared similar looks of wear and tear, but thank the heavens they were still alive, breathing and grateful for small miracles.

  Near the doorway lay Darren in a heap of loose clothes, as if the strain of the night had actually caused him to burn off weight. He was breathing, but he looked horrible; if possible, worse than the rest of them. In front of his inert form, the Grimoire lay open.

  Samantha started to piece together what must have happened. Darren had discovered Warder’s Fire and freed himself. He’d found the room they were in and had killed the warlocks and witch. No, for sure he’d killed Bhantu, but the others... had he killed them? No, she’d felt spells cast. They had used magic.

  Wait, what was it they were talking about before Bhantu cast that spell of pain? That was it! They had all looked over a spell from the Grimoire that explained how to do Quantric Transference, or stepping, as it used to be called anciently when all witches knew the spell. They had stepped from Moloch’s Cavern to another location—someplace safe and far away from the Warder who now knew how to wield the fire. Yes, that was what had happened.

  And Darren, he didn’t know how to control his power. He must have drained himself. Samantha had heard that Warders could literally burn themselves out if they weren’t careful. From the look of him, Darren must have come dangerously close.

  Mike was using the wall to get to his feet. He reached out to Serena and pulled her up. Samantha stood shakily on her own while Mike helped Andrea to her feet.

  “I’d like to go home now.” Andrea looked smaller than ever, her makeup was gone, but she was still cute without it. The Belly Fire, however, had left her looking like a limp rag—just like Samantha felt.

  Samantha stood over Darren. The poor guy must’ve given everything he had to save them. Kneeling down, she examined him closely. His bloody hand had been completely healed. Other than exhausted and smelling like a septic tank, he appeared to be okay. She ran a hand across his cheek.

  Inside her mind, Serena said, “The Grimoire!”

  Samantha picked it up. She would’ve loved to take it over to the table and comb through it, but now was not the time. She was both too tired and too obligated to get Darren and the others back to the relative safety of their homes.

  Mike was standing beside her, looking tiredly down at his friend. Serena was next to him looking as if she might fall over herself at any second. Andrea knelt down next to Darren’s sleeping form and brushed back his hair.

  “We’re out of here, right?” Mike asked.

  Samantha nodded. “You look like you could use some stitches.”

  “Fine. After that Belly Fire ordeal, they can stitch me up without anesthesia; but first, I want to sleep for about week.”

  Samantha nodded. She was going to ask Andrea to step away from Darren, but she was already gone. Looking down at his sleeping form, Samantha said, “Consurgio!” His body gently began to rise from the ground. It stopped at about three feet and hovered.

  “How about you consurgio me out of here as well?” Mike quipped.

  She reached up, smiling weakly, and patted him on the shoulder. “Next time.”

  Andrea came and stood next to Serena who was still next to Mike. Without saying a word, she headed for the doorway. Darren’s floating form followed her, and the others fell in line behind him.

  As they made their way down the hallway toward the cross-hall where the staircase led out of the cavern, Andrea stepped up and walked alongside Darren’s floating form. She looked lovingly down at him and touched his face, leaving shadowy dust trails across his cheeks.

  Samantha dropped back, feeling as if she owed the girl some privacy with him, such as it was possible to give under the circumstances. She took up alongside Serena and let the body float in front of her. Mike quietly followed the two of them.

  The hallway opened up to the cross hall, and they could see the stairs up ahead. Samantha tucked the book under her arm and changed the direction of Darren’s supine form so he headed toward the stairway.

  “Hold up a second,” Andrea said. They came to a halt right before the staircase. She opened her purse, reached inside, and pulled out a little white mouse. It walked about nervously on the palm of her hand.

  “Lili, correct?” Serena asked. “I was certain I smelled a mouse. You lied; it was with you the whole time.”

  “Yes, she’s been with me this whole time.” Andrea stroked its little head. Its whiskers twitched about in pleasure.

  “But it’s not just a mouse.” Andrea set the little white rodent down on the ground beside her. By now Samantha was wondering what this little show-and-tell was about. Her answer bolted up from the ground suddenly in the form of Lindsey. It appeared as if she’d simply been sitting on the ground and stood up.

  “Lindsey?” Mike said. “How did you do that?” His mind must have been working slowly. Samantha noticed hers too was making connections lethargically, but this one she made immediately: Lili and Lindsey were the same being. She was a familiar, and Andrea was a witch.

  “Andrea?” she managed to say. Why hadn’t she revealed herself before now?

  “I should have known you were a witch!” Mike griped.

  Andrea stood over Darren and brushed his cheek, leaving a dark trail of black soot. Samantha watched dumbfounded as Andrea’s fingernails grew to the length of steak knives, which she held against Darren’s throat.

  “I thought it might be easier to have you get the Grimoire for me, then simply take it from you.” She brushed the sharp gleaming nails gently across Darren’s jaw line. “But there was nothing easy about it. I was sick of pretending to be this fear-riddled sot!”

  At the sound of the word fear, Samantha remembered the warning and the spell Moloch had given her.

  “Uh, uh, uh,” Andrea warned. With her other hand she reached for a thin chain around her neck, pulling it up and out of her shirt. Dangling from her fingers was the blackened Tergiversatio that Bhantu had been wearing earlier in the evening. “You remember how this works?”

  Samantha couldn’t believe it. The ashes on Andrea’s fingers were clear evidence she’d taken the amulet from the dead remains of the warlock. Why hadn’t she seen it sooner?

  “I thought so,” taunted Andrea. “I knew you were the only one who could retrieve the Grimoire. My original plan didn’t involve me coming along. That stupid little girl had to insist I come with you. It’s her fault I suffered that Belly Fire. I’ll make sure she gets to feel that before she dies.

  “You might have guessed by now that I am not Andrea. The Northern Coven suspected that Endor had sent someone from the Appensus, and they were correct. I’ve been here in this backward valley for four years. Four years pretending to be in love with one Stevens brother after another, but it has all been worth it!” Her nails continued to stroke back and forth along Darren’s neck.

  Lindsey walked toward Mike and Serena. Glaring at Serena, she sniffed.
She turned to Mike and said, “Really? I could have had you, but as it turned out, it wasn’t necessary; your loss sweetheart.”

  Mike knew that with his enhanced reflexes he could take her down before she could utter a spell, but he was afraid of what Andrea would do to Darren, so he simply glared back at Lindsey.

  Andrea smiled wickedly. “Now, if you’ll give Lindsey the Grimoire, I won’t cut Darren’s throat.”

  Samantha couldn’t believe she was going to be forced to hand the Grimoire over for a second time. No way could this be happening. How could they not have realized Andrea was a witch?

  “If you’re an agent of Endor’s, you should know I’m Endor’s daughter,” Samantha said.

  Andrea laughed, and the vile sound of it echoed through the chamber. “Why should that matter to me? You have no idea who I am!” Again a sound meant to imitate laughter snarled from her lips, making Samantha’s skin crawl.

  “Now give it to Lindsey. You have no choice. No one can harm me but the Warder, and he’s,” she looked down on him cruelly, “sleeping.”

  Lindsey took the book from Samantha’s hands. Samantha didn’t release it freely, but at last let it go. Lindsey handed it to her mistress. Andrea took the Grimoire in her hands much like Bhantu had done, touching it lovingly. “Do you realize how powerful this book is?” She glared back at Samantha. “We’ll rule the world with this. It will tell us where the other parts of the Licentia Infectus spell are located. Endor will be overjoyed, and so will Baal.”

  “It was you,” Samantha said. “You’re the one who put the bewitchment on Darren.”

  “Of course it was me. I needed him to love me, not that he needed much prompting, and not that it mattered much because he developed strong feelings for me without the bewitchment. I’ve been curious how you undid that bewitchment. The next day when I kissed him I discovered it was removed and I couldn’t replace it.”

  “It wasn’t me.” Samantha maintained eye contact with the witch. “Darren’s grandfather did that.”

  “That crafty old geezer. When I arrived here, Endor was surprised when I told her about Atavus. She warned me to keep my distance. For a sick old man, he sure has managed to cause trouble for everyone.” Andrea shifted her weight and pressed her nails into Darren’s skin, leaving dents in his throat. “Oh, he was fun to kiss, wouldn’t you agree? But, the time has come.”

  “No!” Samantha shouted. Mike and Serena leaned forward as if they could stop what was about to happen.

  Andrea looked up at Samantha, delaying her coup-de-grâce in order to enjoy Samantha’s distress. “You don’t think I should?” Her concern was so mocking that Samantha wanted to risk the death spell anyway.

  “You can’t kill me because of the Tergiversatio, and I can’t kill you because of the prophecy and I don’t wish to die. But you know who could kill you?” She looked down at Darren’s peacefully slumbering face.

  “Ever heard of the Navitas Accendo?”

  Samantha’s breath caught. “No! That could kill him!”

  Pursing her lips, Andrea shook her head. “No, it won’t kill him. But, if he were to use his power on you and kill you after I give him this temporary energy...” She nodded her head in agreement. “That would kill him. Just think. I take care of him and you at the same time.”

  Lindsey chuckled.

  “Shut up, Lindsey, you worthless vermin!” Mike couldn’t take it anymore.

  Lindsey stalked across the hall and back handed him hard across the face. “You’ve been promised to me. I have horrible things planned that your charm and wit won’t save you from. I’ve been thinking about letting you live, but so damaged you’ll barely be able to drool on yourself without help. I’m going to use that Belly Fire spell on you, then release you before you die, then do it again and again, not letting you die. I’m thinking three, no more than four times, and your mind will be gone. You are the smuggest mortal I’ve ever—”

  “Enough!” Andrea commanded roughly. “Just take them away and do what you will with them. But I don’t want their screams to be heard.”

  Lindsey put Serena and Mike in the Poupée spell. The same spell Mike had found so amusing when used on Samuelson now controlled his body. He looked over at Serena and saw in her beautiful dark eyes the fear that gnawed at him. Lindsey laughed wickedly as she marched them down the corridor.

  Samantha was the only one who remained, and she glared warily back at Andrea. The short, dark haired witch waved a long sharp nail over Darren’s head. “Of course after all that has happened, he’ll need a little re-educating. I can’t bewitch him, thanks to Atavus, but I can give him different memories, like, Samantha and her familiar were with the Northern Coven when you entered the chamber. Recordatio!”

  Samantha heard the chiming sound of the spell as it entered Darren’s mind.

  “And, Samantha killed the witches of the Northern Coven and took the book for herself. Recordatio!”

  Andrea smiled and looked back at Samantha. “Did you know memories are very closely related to emotions? It’s true, and so often we act upon our feelings regardless of the facts.”

  She looked back at Darren and continued, “For some time you have doubted that Samantha’s intentions have been true. You’ve actually believed she has every intention of using the Grimoire to promote herself and rule over the witches of all covens. In fact, her personality has been all about control, bossing others around, taking charge. You believe she is actually power hungry. Recordatio!”

  The chime in her head made Samantha cringe.

  “When your best friend, Mike, tried to save you and take the Grimoire from Samantha, she killed him with a spell she learned from the evil book. Recordatio!”

  Samantha was in tears and shaking her head. This was going to be so painful for Darren when Andrea revived him. And he would be so full of anger, he would kill Samantha and in doing so, kill himself.

  Andrea looked up the staircase and tossed the Grimoire upward. It floated away and out of sight. “Now, just one last memory. You and I ran and were stopped by Samantha here in the hall as we tried to escape. You know what you must do. Recordatio!” Andrea tipped Darren’s floating body so his feet stood on the ground. “Discerpo!”

  A tremor passed through Samantha as Andrea severed the hovering spell cast on Darren. It might have held if Samantha had fought it, but she’d been caught unaware and overwhelmed by this agent of her mother’s.

  As gravity took hold of Darren, Andrea re-energized him with her final spell. “Navitas Accendo!”

  ***

  Darren’s legs buckled, but before he crumpled to the ground, he caught himself and stood upright. He looked horrified at Samantha, his hand grabbing Andrea’s. His strength was being summoned magically from his cells, quickly killing him. He was damaging his body merely by being conscious.

  “Stay back!” he growled, his other arm stretched toward Samantha ready to strike. “You know what I’m capable of!”

  “Darren.” Samantha tried to sound soothing and hoped her stricken expression would penetrate.

  “Don’t!” he commanded. “You killed Mike!” Pain wrenched his voice. “Is that book worth it? I thought you were different!”

  “Kill her, Darren!” Andrea’s panic sounded authentic. “Or she’s going to kill us!”

  Darren pointed at Samantha’s heart. Sweat poured down him unnaturally. His eyes were so red he looked like he was possessed. He breathed hard and blinked back tears as he struggled to understand what he believed were recent events.

  Despite all Samantha had done, he couldn’t believe he still had feelings for her. How? She had killed for power; he knew that now. She was not what she pretended to be. Atavus was right about witches; they couldn’t be trusted. What was it he had said?

  If you ever find yourself in a position to destroy one of them, you cannot think twice. You cannot consider any good you think they might have done; whatever it was, it was a deception. And if given the chance, they will kill you and think no
thing of it.

  He grimaced in confusion as he realized it was Samantha who had told him that. It was Samantha who had warned him.

  Softly and beseechingly Samantha appealed to him, “Why does Andrea wear that amulet, Darren? It’s so I can’t stop her. Ask her to remove it.”

  “She’s playing with your mind again, Darren. Please, stop her! She wants us dead!” Andrea stood sobbing behind him, grabbing his arm and shaking with fear. “She killed Mike!”

  She had killed Mike! Why was he hesitating? “Why did you kill him?” His tired voice was practically a sob.

  Samantha’s eyes filled with tears. “I could never kill Mike. Darren, please, just rip that amulet from Andrea’s neck.”

  With his arm still outstretched toward Samantha, he quickly glanced at Andrea and the amulet. He whipped back around toward Samantha, fearful she might try something.

  “Try to remember,” Samantha sobbed, dropping to her knees. “Am I trying to kill you? Would I really kill Mike? Andrea’s a witch. She’s the one who bewitched you.”

  “Darren!” Andrea shrieked. “She’s doing it to you again! Kill her, and let’s get out of here!”

  Darren bared his teeth at the blonde witch kneeling on the ground in front of him. He raised his arm prepared to strike her down with fire. Powerful memories fueled his decision. He’d seen her kill Mike. Samantha was evil and only wanted power.

  “I’m so sorry for everything I’ve put you through, Darren,” Samantha lamented in a small voice from the floor. “And that it has cost the lives of so many in your family, Atavus and Ethan and now you.”

  He felt the power surge and focus in his now glowing upraised hand. It was ready to explode from him and turn this girl on the ground to cinders. He was furious! Sickness rose up in him, his body taxed beyond endurance. He turned at the last moment and stared at Andrea.

  “Kill her for Ethan!” Andrea coaxed, only her fear was gone, replaced with...excitement?

  His knee gave out, and he almost tripped forward. Bile rose in his throat, and he was sure he was going to be sick. His brother’s name kept swimming around in his head. Ethan. Somehow Ethan was the answer to all this.