The cage door opened and I held my breath.
Tyler crawled out and then stood up, facing Mark. “What are you waiting for?” he asked with a cocky grin.
Mark put his wand back into his pocket and before I could blink, launched himself at Tyler, knocking him backwards and onto the wood-paneled floor.
“You think I need magic to break you, smartass?” growled Mark, who was now on top of Tyler and pulling his fist back. “Think again!”
Before Mark could follow through with his punch, Tyler reached up, grabbed him by the neck, and shoved his aside with more strength than I would have thought he had. Then he moved behind Mark, slid his arm around his neck, and put him in a choke-hold. After a few seconds, Mark’s eyes rolled into the back of his head and he went limp.
“Oh, my God,” I gasped, still in shock. “Is he dead?”
“No, just unconscious for a bit. Here, take his wand,” he said, holding it out to me.
I grabbed it. Fortunately, it didn’t try bonding with me. “What now?”
“Cast a spell.”
My eyes widened. “Can’t you?”
He frowned. “No, remember they’ve put some kind of spell on me. My powers aren’t working at the moment.”
“But you can use a wand, can’t you?”
He shook his head. “A wand will only work for a true witch.”
“But you’re half witch, aren’t you?”
“Half warlock, but I’ve never been able to use a wand. They just don’t seem to work for me.”
“Oh.” I held out my own wand and pointed it towards Mark. “Uh, disappear!?”
Nothing happened.
“Be gone!” I called out, shrilly.
Tyler rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You really don’t know what you’re doing, do you?”
“Obviously, no,” I said, suddenly angry. “This is all new to me. I mean, I haven’t had any training, none whatsoever. So guess what?” I raised my voice. “I’m freaken’ winging it!”
“Sorry,” he said, looking embarrassed and hurt.
I closed my eyes and sighed. “No, I’m sorry,” I said. “You didn’t deserve that.”
Just then, Mark opened his eyes and reached for Tyler. I pointed my wand at him and hollered, “Depart, dark warlock!”
This time, he disappeared into thin air.
“Where’d he go?” I whispered.
Tyler stood up and brushed off his pants. “Does it really matter?”
“I guess not.”
Bailey started moaning again. I turned around and stared at him, feeling so helpless. “Tyler, we have to help those two. I almost forgot.”
“Try using Mark’s wand,” he said, moving towards Trixie, who now appeared to have passed out from whatever pain she was feeling. “Since he’s Vivian’s son, you might be able to somehow reverse the spell.”
“Can you actually do that? Reverse someone else’s spell?”
“I don’t really know. But, it’s worth a shot.”
I stared at Mark’s wand and bit the side of my lower lip. “His wand is probably used for Black magic, though, don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. You should still be able to use it.”
I was about to tell him about my wand and what a mistake it would be if anyone else tried using it when Vivian materialized next to Tyler. Fortunately, I was still invisible.
“How did you get out of the cage, and where in the world is Mark?” she snarled, her blue eyes blazing with fury.
“He let me out,” smirked Tyler, “and then left to get us some tacos. If you’re nice, I’ll share some with you.”
She scowled. “You think you’re pretty funny, don’t you? Well, something is definitely amiss, here… but,” she smiled triumphantly. “I know how to correct it.” She then snapped her fingers.
“Mother!” hollered Tyler, as Rebecca and Kala materialized with their captors, four of Vivian’s witches.
“Tyler,” she replied, her eyes filling with tears. “Thank goodness, you’re okay.”
“What happened to them?” gasped Kala, staring at Bailey and Trixie, who were now both, apparently, unconscious.
“The same thing that’s going to happen to you if you don’t tell me where your meddling sister is,” snarled Vivian.
“I… I really don’t know,” said Kala, taking a step backwards.
Vivian moved closer and grabbed her by the jaw. She grinned evilly. “Do you think that just because we’re family, I’d hesitate to kill you?”
Kala’s eyes filled with tears. “No, I’d never make any assumptions about you. I swear.”
Vivian stared at Kala for a few more seconds and then released her chin. “Good girl, now tell me where she is or I’ll kill your friends, starting with… him,” she said, pointing towards Tyler. She wrinkled her nose. “He’s already giving me a headache.”
“Don’t you dare touch him,” snapped Rebecca.
“Oh, and what are you going to do about it?” asked Vivian, moving towards her. She put her hands on her hips, and with a haughty look, snarled, “You pathetic little twit. You can’t save him or anyone else in this room. You couldn’t even save your husband,” she smiled coldly, “could you?”
Tyler roared in rage and launched at Vivian, who immediately held out her hand and hollered, “Freeze!” stopping him before he could reach her.
“Tyler,” choked Rebecca, breaking away from one of the witches and rushing to his side. Unfortunately, he was frozen in place, his face turning a frosty white and his lips a deep blue.
“Oh, my God!” cried Kala, putting her hand over her lips.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I aimed my wand at Vivian and cried, “Depart!”
She disappeared.
“It worked?” I laughed, not quite believing my eyes. “Seriously?”
The other four witches raised their own wands in retaliation, but I’d been prepared for that. I pointed Chloe at them and hollered, “Depart!” They too disappeared and I squealed in joy.
Rebecca shook her head. “No, it can’t be that easy.”
“Maybe it can,” I said excitedly. “Now, I just have to figure out a way to become visible.” I pointed the wand at myself and said, “Materialize.”
Nothing happened.
“Try ‘Appear’,” said Rebecca, who was now crouched down next to Bailey and Trixie.
“Appear.”
“Kendra,” smiled Kala, rushing over and throwing her arms around me. “I was so worried about you.”
“You should be more worried about yourself,” cackled Vivian, materializing next to her.
“No!” gasped Kala.
Vivian turned to me and smiled coldly. “Did you think you could get rid of me that easily, child? You obviously don’t know what you’re doing.”
I glared at her. “The one thing I do know is that you’re an evil woman and obviously didn’t deserve our father.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s enough from you.”
I raised my wand and yelled “Depart” once more, but this time, nothing happened.
She patted her long, red hair and smiled. “You’re such a novice.”
Rebecca pulled out a wand from her jacket, pointed it towards Vivian, and cried, “Terminate.”
Nothing happened.
“See, your powers are useless here. What interests me, however,” said Vivian, moving towards me. “Is how you were able to cast a spell?”
My heart began to race as set my plan in motion. I took a step backwards. “I’m not going to tell you unless you release our mother from your curse, as well as the Shape-shifters.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Clearly, you must be joking!”
“No, I’m serious,” I said, raising my wand again. “Be seated!” I cried.
“How?!” she raged, her butt now planted in one of the gold chairs.
“The wand,” blurted my sister, obviously knowing where I was going with this. “It’s better than yours.
”
“Nonsense,” hissed Vivian, getting up from the chair. She raised her own wand. “My wand was created by the great Isadora. There is nothing more powerful than this wand, I assure you.”
“Well, her wand was made by a powerful wizard,” said Kala. “And we can assure you that there is nothing like it in all the world.”
I held my breath, wondering if there really were wizards and if Vivian would actually fall for it.
Her eyes searched mine and I tried not to blink. “A wizard created it, you say? How do you girls know this?” asked Vivian.
“The wand told me,” I said.
Her eyebrows shot up. “Your wand speaks?”
“Yes. All the time.” I smiled. “It tells me…. secrets.”
“Secrets?” She held out her hand and snapped her fingers. “Give it to me and… I’ll let you leave here unscathed.”
I smiled coldly. “The only way I’m giving you this wand is if you remove all of the curses, including my mother’s.”
She snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
I shrugged. “You know, I think this wand is much too powerful for you anyway.”
“Ignorant girl, nothing is too powerful for me.”
I made no move to give her the wand.
She sighed. “Okay, fine… hand me the wand and I’ll let you leave here with your friends.”
I leaned forward. “Release our mother from your curse and I’ll give you the wand.”
She pointed her wand at Kala. “Enough of these games – say goodbye to your sister.”
“No!” I shrieked, holding up my hand. “Wait!”
Vivian lowered her wand.
“Uh, take the curse off of the Shape-shifters and Tyler, and I’ll give you the wand freely.”
She stared at the wand in my hand and swore under her breath. “Okay, fine.” Then she aimed her own wand at Bailey and Trixie. “Release!”
The Shape-shifters’ faces both relaxed, as did their bodies. Seconds later, they were both on their feet, looking exhausted and confused, but no longer in pain.
“Are you okay?” I asked Trixie, as Bailey held her up. She was much paler than her brother, and obviously not quite as resilient.
She smiled weakly. “Nothing a few cups of coffee couldn’t cure. Thank you, Kendra.”
“Or a few dead witches,” said Bailey, glaring at Vivian.
“Don’t test me, shifter,” snapped Vivian. “If you want to keep that gorgeous face of yours.”
He frowned but didn’t answer.
“What about Tyler?” I asked.
Sighing, Vivian aimed the wand towards him and bellowed, “Defrost!”
“Thank goodness,” Rebecca cried, rushing to his side as he began to thaw. She threw her arms around him and began rubbing his pale cheeks, bringing color to his face.
“Mom,” he mumbled. “Too tight.”
“Sorry,” she said, loosening her grip.
“You okay?” I asked him.
“Other than being as cold as her heart, I’m doing okay,” he answered.
Vivian ignored his snide comment. “Now, give me the wand,” she demanded.
I took a deep breath and held it out to her. “Take it, it’s yours.”
Chapter Thirty
Vivian stepped forward and took the wand from me. Within seconds, it began to glow in her hand. She smiled, triumphantly. “Ah… it’s a bonding wand, just like mine.”
Kala and I glanced at each other.
“Yes,” breathed Vivian, her blue eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “The power inside of this wand is great; I can feel it coursing through my veins.”
“How does that feel?” I asked, wondering if I’d made a horrible mistake. Was it possible that the wand would add to her strength? Had I been misled?
“It feels…” her eyes widened in surprise. “What…what’s happening?”
I didn’t say anything, just watched in wonder as her hand began to glow. Unlike mine, however, it was a bright, crimson color.
“No,” she gasped, now trying to shake the wand out of her hand. “No!”
The red light started to spread, traveling up her arm, into her face, and from what I guessed, throughout the rest of her body.
“What have you done?!” she bellowed. “What’s happening to me?”
I watched her face contort in pain and anguish as the wand’s magic continued its assault and my feelings were muddled. As evil as she was, Vivian was still my mother’s twin, and watching her go through so much agony was unsettling.
“Help me!” she screeched, falling to her knees. She reached up and began pulling at her long, red hair. “Please,” she sobbed, “someone, stop this!”
Seeing her so helpless and frightened reminded me of my mother and my heart suddenly cried out for her. No matter how much pain she’d already caused everyone else, she was still part of my family and mom’s twin sister. There was no way I could stand by and watch her suffer this way anymore.
There had to be another way.
My eyes welled up with tears and I took a step forward to try and help her, when Rebecca placed a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t.”
“But she’s dying!” I cried.
“So is your mother,” she reminded me. “Listen.” She moved until she was blocking my view of Vivian. “There is no other way to save your mom. It’s Vivian’s fate or your mom’s. If she survives, your mother will most certainly die, and eventually, Vivian will come for all of us.”
I turned towards Kala, who, surprisingly, looked very calm. She caught me staring and smiled grimly. “It has to be this way. For mom’s sake.”
Letting out a ragged sigh, I nodded and wiped my tears.
Tyler moved closer to me and put an arm around my shoulders. “Hey,” he whispered into my ear. “I think it’s over.”
Sighing, I stepped around Rebecca and looked down at Vivian, whose eyes were now closed. I watched as the red glow receded from her skin. From the stillness of her body, it was obvious there was no life left inside of her.
“Let’s go check on mom,” I said, wiping a few more stray tears. “Hopefully, this worked, and she’s been set free from the curse.”
Just then, three more witches materialized in the room.
“What have you done?” cried the blonde I’d seen in the hallway earlier. She rushed to Vivian’s side and kneeled down. “Vivian?”
Rebecca raised her wand and whispered, “This is our cue to leave.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” said the dark-haired witch with the bun, her wand raised threateningly.
“She’s dead!” screeched the blonde witch, her eyes filled with rage. “Vivian’s dead!”
“Who killed her?” asked the third witch, an older woman with grayish-black hair and a broad nose.
“None of us,” I said, raising my chin. “It was the wand.”
The older witch walked over to my wand, which now lay on the floor, and her face turned pale. “I know this wand. It used to be Adrianne’s. I’m surprised Vivian didn’t notice that.”
The blonde reached for it.
“Don’t touch it!” hollered the older witch, stepping back.
She pulled her hand away. “Why not, Semora?”
“It’s dangerous, Bella,” she said, her eyes wide. She pointed towards Vivian. “You see what it did to her.”
Bella stood up and backed away from the wand. “So, it really was the wand that killed her?”
“I told you,” I said. “Only those who aren’t out for personal gain can handle the wand. Obviously, Vivian was only out for herself.”
Semora turned towards me. “You two,” she said, glancing at Kala as well, “are Adrianne’s daughters, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” we both replied.
Her lips thinned and she nodded. “Very well. I, personally, never had anything against Adrianne. In fact, your aunt probably had what was coming to her.”
“What?!” gasped Bella. “How can you say that? She was the h
ead of our coven!”
Semora sighed. “Oh, come on. We were just talking about how unstable Vivian was getting.”
“No,” she snapped. “Vivian wasn’t just our leader, she was my best friend.” She looked at me and scowled. “Wand or not, I’m going to make sure all of you pay for her death. Come on, Beldora, let’s go tell the others!”
Beldora nodded and then both witches disappeared.
“You’d better leave,” said Semora. “They’ll return with the others and you won’t have a chance against that many wands.” She then disappeared.
“Grab yours,” said Rebecca, pointing towards Chloe.
I stared at the wand in fear. “Uh, what if...”
“What if what?”
“I wanted Vivian to die,” I said, looking down in shame. “That means that my heart isn’t pure anymore. I guess I’m just too frightened to touch the wand now.”
“Did you really want to destroy Vivian, or did you just want your mother safe?” asked Rebecca.
I glanced over towards Vivian. “I guess I would have rather had nobody die, and my mother safe.”
She touched my shoulder and smiled. “That’s what I thought. You’re still a good person, Kendra, and in my heart I know there’s nothing to worry about. Now, grab the wand. You’re going to need it.”
I walked over to the wand and bent down. Still struggling with uncertainty and fear, I took a deep breath and picked it up.
“It’s okay, child,” said the wand as my hand began to glow a warm yellow. “Don’t be frightened.”
I closed my eyes and released a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Chloe.”
“You’re welcome.”
Tyler walked over to me and grinned. “You do realize now that you’re claiming this wand as yours, you’re going to need proper training?”
“Actually, I’m not claiming it as mine,” I said. “It’s my mother’s and I’m going to make sure that she gets it back.”
“No, it’s yours now.”
I gasped and turned towards the sound of her voice. “Mom?”
She smiled and it seemed to light up the room. “Surprise,” she said, opening up her arms.
“Mom!” gasped Kala, flinging herself at her.
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