High Witch Box Set

by Mona Hanna

  Hallie could easily see Ariel talking with her young daughter, a beautiful six-year-old girl. She could see the little girl with light-brown curls and blue eyes hugging her mother and talking about her magic. Hallie hoped more than anything that what Ariel saw would happen, and what she saw wouldn’t. She prayed for that with all her heart. They just had to wait and see.

  It occurred to Hallie that she might not survive this. She tried to cast the thought out, but there could only be three High Witches—what if she didn’t make it? That the reason Erica was going to exist is because she wouldn’t be alive? She felt so frightened but had to be strong. They were going to stop Nicholas, like Ariel said.

  But there were so many things working against them.

  On the evening of the seventh day, Hallie sat with Sean on the settee, while Ariel and Brayden sat on the armchairs. Brayden had his face rested on his palm, looking at Ariel fondly.

  She smiled at him, then nodded. “We think you’re ready,” Ariel said to Hallie. “I’m scared and nervous, but I think we should confront Nicholas tomorrow. Brayden and I will come over early tomorrow morning, and then I want you to transport us all to Nicholas’ home. We’ll face him together and end this once and for all. We don’t know if he’s still staying in the same place, but we’ll at least start there and then search for him if need be.

  “I know this won’t be easy—he’s had over a month to prepare since you last saw him. But he might still be weakened from when you hurt him, and he doesn’t know I’ll be with you. It’ll be alright. We just have to work together and not panic. I think we’ll be okay.” Ariel smiled at her, but her eyes looked worried.

  Hallie looked at her hands, not knowing what to say. “Do we… do we need to kill him?” she asked. “I know we probably have to. I know we have to save ourselves. But it’s so… I don’t want to hurt anyone. I feel terrible about hurting him the first time, even though I had to. It’s a horrible feeling. I just wish he’d leave us alone.”

  “But he won’t, Hallie,” Sean said, turning and looking at her. He grasped her hands. “He won’t. We’re not safe while he lives, none of us are. When he captured me, I couldn’t fight back—he was invisible, all I felt was someone grabbing me, then I was somewhere else and he knocked me out. I can beat the skinny idiot in a fight, but how can you beat someone you can’t see? He was quick and silent, and I wasn’t ready. If he attempts to hurt me again, I’ll try and wring his neck, but I’ll admit I’m no match for a warlock. His power is controlling fire—all he has to do is touch me and he could burn me. And you can’t protect me every second, Hallie. You’re so kind and sweet, but Nicholas needs to die. I’m not going to spend my life—our lives—in fear.” Sean touched Hallie’s face and brushed her cheek with his thumb, looking at her closely.

  Hallie stared at him, then nodded and looked down. Sean was right, but it broke her heart.

  “Is there anything else you want to talk about, Hallie?” Brayden asked. “Any more questions? Anything else you need to know?”

  She shook her head, enough information in her head already.

  Brayden clasped his hands together. “Alright. Ariel and I will get going now. We’ll come back at first light tomorrow, so we’re not wasting any time. I, for one, want to have a good night’s rest. You’ve done so well. You’re so much better at using your magic, and I’m really proud of you. I don’t think anything will be able to stop you and Ariel.” He smiled, then rose, Ariel joining him. The duo said good-bye to Hallie and Sean at the door, then headed back to the tavern where they were staying.

  Hallie shut the heavy door and leaned against it, looking up at Sean.

  He reached out and touched her face again. “I love you. You’re the strongest, bravest woman I’ve ever met. I’ll always love you. You’re everything to me.”

  Hallie felt her eyes become moist, reached up, and kissed him. “I love you too,” she said, a few tears slipping down her face. She wanted to tell him something just in case everything went wrong tomorrow. Wanted to tell him what he meant to her in case she didn’t come back.

  “I’m so happy you’re with me, Sean,” she began. “I wouldn’t be able to face all this without you. You say I’m strong, but it’s because you love me. I know I had to survive without you, and I know I needed to become my own person. And I am. But your love has been with me my whole life, and that—our relationship, our years together—has given me the heart I have. Who am I without love? Who are we without someone to nurture us, support us, someone for us to love back? You’re my friend, you’re my family, and I don’t ever want to be without you. You’re my heart and my soul and I love you. I have since we were children, since I met the little boy at school who pulled my hair and fought anyone who teased me. You’re part of me, Sean. You’re half of me. I’m yours.”

  He stared at her, and Hallie was surprised to find tears in his eyes. He placed his hands on her waist, just staring. She gazed back, her chest rising and falling. He looked at her for the longest time, not speaking. Then a tear fell down his cheek, and he brought her into a huge hug and crashed his lips down onto hers. He kissed her long and hard, pressing her against him, the embrace filled with love and passion and pain. Hallie felt more connected to him than ever before, her heart aching, her soul on fire. She clung to him, feeling like this might be their last moment together, the last time they would hold each other like this. She never wanted to stop kissing him; she never wanted to let go of him.

  Sean lifted her up, pressing her up against the door, and then kissed her again. Hallie instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist and held on to him while he kissed her neck. She gasped, sinking her fingers into his hair, feeling his arousal against her. And then he stopped and looked at her, his eyes darker than she’d ever seen them. He slipped his hands beneath her dress, supporting her by his thighs. Her eyes were locked to his, their breath harsh and loud. Oh, how she wanted him.

  “Hallie,” he rasped, undoing his trousers, then caressing her beneath her skirt to see if she was ready.

  She hissed in his ear for him to take her, and he groaned, burying himself inside of her. To her surprise she nearly climaxed straight away, the feeling so intense. They held onto each other, Sean moving inside her, his breath rough against her neck. Hallie was so in love with him. So enthralled by him. She never, ever wanted to stop making love to him.

  They just had to get through tomorrow.

  ***

  Brayden walked with Ariel down the street towards Hallie’s house at dawn. He held her hand, neither of them speaking. They’d barely spoken last night, both of them exhausted after such a busy, stressful week. Brayden felt nervous, worried, anxious—for both Ariel and Hallie. He was frightened of confronting Nicholas, but it had to happen. They had to get rid of this danger and then they could get on with their lives. Brayden was so proud of Ariel, training Hallie so well and being brave and strong despite the danger. Proud of her for dealing with her pregnancy, for being willing to fight even in her condition. He wished he could fight this for her, wished she and Hallie didn’t need to do this. But it was their battle. He and Sean had no powers, no way to protect those they loved in a magical battle.

  They neared Hallie’s home, arrived at the neat wooden house, and walked up to the door. That’s when they heard it.

  Wailing.

  Ariel looked at him in surprise, then banged on the door. “Hallie! Open the door! Hallie!”

  The door was thrown open and Hallie was standing there, a horrified look in her eyes. She handed Ariel a crumpled piece of paper stained with tears. Ariel took it and looked at Brayden in alarm.

  “He’s gone!” Hallie said. “Sean’s gone! Nicholas took him. I didn’t even realize—I was asleep. How could I not realize! How could this happen! I just found the note a few moments ago. Ariel, I love him! I have to save him!”

  Ariel handed Brayden the note after reading it, and they walked inside. Brayden shut the door and read the piece of paper.

  Hallie


  I’ve been watching you the last few days. I know Ariel is with you. Bring her to me, and Sean will live. He’s my prisoner, but I won’t harm him if you bring me Ariel. I don’t wish you or Sean any harm. It’s her I want. Come quickly—Sean is in a delicate predicament and won’t last in his state long.

  Nicholas

  “What do we do?” Hallie asked. “I have to save him! What do we do?”

  Ariel clenched her fists at her side. “We do what we were always going to do. We fight.”

  Chapter 19

  Click, click, click.

  Click, click, click.

  Click, click, click.

  ***

  “You won’t get away with it.”

  “They’ll stop you.”

  “You’re nothing compared to them.”

  Hallie, save me.

  ***

  Hallie took both Ariel and Brayden’s hands in hers. She took a deep breath, shut her eyes, and imagined Nicholas’ home in her mind. There was the spinning sensation, the pull in her stomach, and then their feet were on solid ground again. They’d arrived in the hallway near the stairs. There was a deathly silence, except for one sound.

  Click, click, click.

  It seemed to be coming from behind the house. Hallie released everyone’s hands and tried to steel her nerves. She took a step forward, but Ariel grasped her arm.

  “We go together. We do everything together.”

  Hallie nodded. They followed the sound, walking through the house until they found the back door. Ariel opened it and they walked into the garden behind the house.

  Click, click, click.

  Hallie screamed.

  ***

  “Sean! Oh, my love… SEAN!”

  Hallie had never seen anything so horrific. It was a monstrosity, an invention so barbaric she could barely contain her terror. And her love was in the middle of it.

  The contraption stood to one side of the large, empty garden surrounded by tall hedges. It was over eight feet tall, with a large wooden platform and tall beams rising from the corners. Metal rings were attached to the beams at the back, with heavy knotted ropes tied to them stretched taut and firm. The ropes were tied to Sean’s arms and legs, holding him suspended in the air at the back of the device, his limbs stretched wide apart. A wide leather belt was wrapped around his waist, also fastened to the beams to hold him in place.

  But that wasn’t the bad part. Sean being in a vulnerable, dangerous pose wasn’t the bad part. His limbs becoming sore, his face contorted in horror, her love splayed out waiting for death wasn’t the bad part.

  It was that damn clicking.

  Because there was another part to the contraption. The front beams held an enormous clock, the gears and wheels on the back of it clicking away as weights attached to them dropped lower and lower. As the weights dropped, a huge spinning metal disc, fastened to the workings at the back of the clock, inched towards Sean’s stomach. The disc had dozens of long razor-sharp spikes sticking out of it, with piercing edges which would rip a man to shreds. The spinning disc screeched loudly, metal whining and sparks flying. It was only a foot away from Sean, coming ever closer.

  The clock was set to stop when the hand reached twelve, when the weights reached the floor.

  They only had moments to go.

  ***

  “I’ll kill you!” Hallie screamed at Nicholas. “Sean!”

  Nicholas stood near the machine, several feet away from them, still and waiting. He didn’t flinch despite his contraption screaming beside him.

  Hallie glared at him, horrified.

  “I’m the only one who knows how to free him,” Nicholas called out loudly. “I’m the only one who knows how to switch the device off. You could try to free him, but you’ll never get him out in time. Ariel, come to me and this ends.”

  Brayden cursed wildly. Ariel stood silently beside him, but Hallie could see she was shaking.

  Hallie clenched her fists. “He’s going to die,” she whispered. “He’s going to die.”

  “No,” Ariel seethed under her breath. “No one’s dying today but Nicholas.” Ariel took a resolute step forward, taking a huge breath. “This won’t bring Nadia back,” she said firmly. “Killing me won’t bring her back.”

  “Stalling won’t save Sean,” Nicholas said. “But you don’t care about Sean, do you, Ariel? You don’t love him, so you don’t care. He’s not your family, so you don’t care. Everyone else is nothing, pawns to be played and used. You let people die so your family is safe. That’s how you play it.”

  “I was strapped to the machine when Julius killed Nadia!” Ariel cried. “How could I have stopped him? How could I have saved her?”

  “You could have killed him before he bound you to it!” he yelled. “You could have slaughtered him and everyone would have lived! Didn’t you see Ariel? Didn’t you think?” Nicholas clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He was shaking in anger. “You think that if you’d killed Julius while Nadia was still alive, she would have killed Brayden’s mother, but didn’t you stop to think that maybe my mother’s bond to Julius would have been broken? Didn’t you think that if you killed Julius, maybe my mother could have been free? She could have lived—you all could have lived! She could have survived, and the only death would have been that filth, that pig of a man who deserved it. But you didn’t think, you just let your blind love drive you into a stupid plan you could have escaped. You’re so stupid, Ariel, and for that, you must die. You didn’t think. You didn’t care. You didn’t even bury her!”

  Nicholas stood there, the whites of his eyes showing, spittle in the corner of his mouth, his entire body rigid. Ariel was frozen, silent. Hallie frantically looked at Sean, his eyes filled with horror as the spikes drew ever closer to him.

  Click, click, click.

  “That’s not how it works, Nicholas,” Ariel called. “Once you’re turned, you’re forever turned.”

  “Do you know that for a fact? Do you know that for sure?”

  Once again Ariel was silent. Hallie grasped her arm, looking at her with pleading eyes. They had to do something. Anything. Ariel stared at her, stood still for a long while, her expression unreadable. She frowned, then seemed to come to a decision within herself. She leaned close to Hallie and whispered something in her ear.

  Hallie was shocked. “Ariel! Are you sure?”

  “It’s the only way,” she said. “I have to believe in what you and I saw. You can play your part?”

  Hallie gulped. “Yes. I’ll do anything.”

  “Good.” Ariel shut her eyes for a moment, putting her hand on her stomach and seeming to concentrate. Then she looked at Hallie and nodded.

  Hallie glanced at the clock—it was so close—and nodded back.

  Ariel drew herself up and stepped forward. “Alright,” she called loudly to Nicholas. “I’ll go to you. You have to release Sean once this is over.”

  “Ariel!” Brayden yelled. “No! What are you doing!”

  Ariel turned to him and gave him a hug, whispering quickly in his ear.

  “Ariel,” Brayden pleaded when she’d stepped back. “Ariel, please.”

  Ariel gazed at him—Hallie hoped Brayden would be able to survive the next few moments—then Ariel faced Nicholas again. “Promise me you’ll release him.”

  “Yes,” Nicholas said. “I will.”

  Ariel remained still for a moment, taking deep breaths, then she stepped forward. “Work with me, my darling,” she whispered as she walked towards Nicholas.

  ***

  Hallie swallowed loudly, frightened and nervous and anxious and she didn’t want to do this. But she had to. To save Sean. To save Ariel. She looked at the sky while Ariel continued walking. She held out her arms, calling her magic from within her. Letting it out, she focused on the fluffy white clouds in the sunny sky, on the gentle breeze wafting around them, and on the sun and the dirt and all of nature. She spread out her magic to the elements, reached out, and took hold of the fo
rces around her.

  The breeze grew colder, the clouds started to grow bigger and darker, and the air filled with moisture. Hallie knew she couldn’t hold back. She had to do this, had to do the one thing she’d dreaded her whole life in order for Ariel’s plan to work. She gritted her teeth and began the storm.

  The wind howled around them as Ariel reached Nicholas. Hallie glanced at the clock and saw it was nearly at twelve. The sky became very dark, lightning streaking across it, and then the thunder came.

  Nicholas grabbed Ariel’s arm and forced her to her knees. He pulled a blade from his clothing and held it before her.

  “Not my stomach,” Ariel cried. “Please. My last request.”

  Nicholas glared at her and forced her to turn around, holding her by the hair. Hallie saw him press the blade against her back.

  Keep the storm building.

  “Ariel!” Brayden screamed, hysterical. “Ariel!”

  Nicholas tightened his grip on the knife, hesitated, started to shake, and then he looked at Hallie. He seemed concerned, but then he looked back at Ariel. He shook his head and gritted his teeth. “Say you’re sorry,” he hissed. “Say you’re sorry you let her die.”

  Ariel shook as she knelt there. “Please, Nicholas. Please.”

  “Say you’re sorry! Say you’re nothing, you only care about those you love, you let Nadia die to save who you cared about!”

  “I’m sorry, Nicholas!” Ariel cried, weeping. “You don’t have to do this. Please, it won’t bring her back!”

  “I know it won’t bring her back!” Nicholas screamed. “Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think I know it’s all over? But that’s just it Ariel—it’s all over. I’ll never be with her. I’ll never see what she was like without being turned. And I’ll never experience that because of you!”

  Nicholas pressed the blade farther into Ariel’s back, and she cried out. He screamed himself, shaking, hesitating. Brayden began to run towards Ariel, yelling her name. Nicholas watched him, and then he made a final scream in agony.