Witch's Brew - Spellspinners 1 (Spellspinners of Melas County) (34 page)

I nodded, a lump in my throat.

“You
know
what must be done here, honey. This is your chance to prove to everyone once and for all we were right to choose you to lead the Daughters of Light. And even if you want to ignore my meant-to-be inspirational diatribe at least hear this. For once in my life I’m not exaggerating a mono-syllable when I say that you, Lily—you’re our coven’s final hope.”

Lily

I stood in the center of a ring of chanting girls.

The moon, pooling down on me, shone through shadows of dense trees. Wisps of hair breezed around my face as my friends’ voices floated up into the universe.

Outside of their song, the forest was quiet. Eerily quiet. If anyone wandered onto this scene, they would cry witch for sure and suspect correctly.

I was being enchanted.

“Welcome,” Camellia said as the chanting calmed. Bathed in golden sparkles like she’d borrowed starlight to sprinkle on her skin. “Welcome to the Enchantment of Lily.”

Because the ancients kept the ceremonial details a secret, I had no idea what was about to happen to me. Even Iris, in her rushed preparation, hadn’t clued me in about anything. Much like last night on the beach with Logan, my stomach fluttered with anticipation.

Dressed in silk gowns like mine, exchanging fairy pastels for white, the other girls stood barefoot. Toes grazing soft grass, they clutched each other’s hands.

“As we all know,” Camellia explained, “Lily’s mission tonight is of the utmost importance. The very existence of our magic is at stake. We are searching for a sign, a mark of the syzygy we suspect marks a Son of Darkness. We chose Lily, as your Leader of Light, for the task. Lily, are you in agreement that you will fulfill your coven’s mission to the best of your abilities?”

“I am.” I thought I was, anyway.

“Then let’s begin. You are to keep the blindfold over your eyes for the duration of the ceremony. Your Mind’s Eye is allowed to watch. Remain calm. Do not resist the enchantment. If you do, you could cause a reversal, and tonight’s mission will be aborted. Is the magnitude understood?”

“Yes, Mistress.”

The dark forest abruptly filled with noises, strange and rabid, as if the animals too knew about the significance of the gathering. Coyotes howled, squirrels scurried up crackling branches, and I sucked in a breath as a white owl landed on Camellia’s shoulder.

“Greetings,” Camellia said to the bird. The owl twisted its neck in response. “Snow will be your totem animal tonight. She will guide you on your journey.”

I nodded. The bird’s lavender eyes flashed like stars.

Camellia had only begun to instruct me on the next step when a rush of wind entered our circle, and a red-tailed hawk that looked just like Logan’s Clay swooped through the circle and landed firmly on Iris’ shoulder.

What the…?

Camellia’s eyes flashed in my mother’s direction.

“I’d like to present an alternative to the Snow Owl,” Iris said. “This hawk.”

“Our totem creature has already been chosen,” Camellia said firmly.

“I’d like to present a substitute,” Iris repeated.

The breeze picked up, cool and strong. “It seems the Seven Sisters agree,” Iris said, knowingly.

Camellia looked highly irritated, but she reached out a forearm and accepted the bird’s talons onto her skin. Clay’s neck bent in a respectful nod.

I glanced at my mom, questions in my eyes. Hers were unyielding, a resounding
don’t question this
. So I didn’t. “Sister Iris, perhaps you’d like to take the helm of the circle and lead your substitute?”

Iris held out a palm. “Please proceed, Mistress of Light.”

Camellia’s indigo eyes were steely as she turned back to me, “Brace yourself, Daughter of Light. Sing our mantra high into the heavens, reach the Universe with your praises and magical song.”

Feet rooted to moist earth, I did what I was told.

The hawk screeched once before levitating. Spinning around the circle, dizzying me with its red-black feathers, blur of talons, vast shadows of wings. “He is your totem animal. Your friend. Close your eyes and listen to him, learn from him as he guides you on your Spirit Journey.”

Under the blindfold, I closed my eyes and tried to fight the questions peppering my brain. Why would Logan’s hawk—who attacked me on Black Mountain—join our circle? And why was Iris so familiar with him? Iris’ voice in my head implored me to focus. So I did. On my guide’s wide wingspan, black beady eyes, soft plush of tail feathers. I pictured us soaring over the expansion of forest, the towering granite cliffs guarding the sea. And then I sucked in a gasp as I felt myself rise off the ground, the cool earth under my bare toes now dozens of feet below my body. I rose higher and higher until I was actually flying through the midnight sky like I had wings of a bird.

Had I shrunk or had the hawk grown tenfold his original size?

Don’t question it. Just experience it.
Iris’ voice in my head anchored me as we ascended, soaring over black-tipped trees, wildfire-scarred hills, and finally, over the ocean. Suddenly, we dipped, plummeting toward the inky water. My stomach fell. I tasted saltwater on my lips. I longed to reach out and touch the frothing white curls of water.

Do not open your eyes.

I wanted to see all this with my real eyes too! I longed to open them—to know if I was really flying or if this was a trick of the mind. The air around me no longer smelled of earth, but rather salty sea with a wet-metal smell of high altitude.

I bent forward, clutching a handful of warm neck feathers in my fist, like it was the mane of a horse.

If I were standing in the circle, this couldn’t be happening. Right?

Hunching farther, I stretched closer to the great bird’s head. The wings of the hawk tilted into the breeze as we flew together over Melas, the Boardwalk, the Witch’s Brew and Melas High. Over the ocean that blanketed the shipwreck and the warlock totem creatures lurking in its depths. We climbed higher and higher, reaching the clouds, plump with rain, nearly reaching the moon.

Wind whispered through my hair. The thin gown swirled around my hips and ankles, caressing my skin.

The sensation was comparable only to the way I’d felt last night with Logan in the sand, his lips on mine… Abruptly, we dipped again. I screamed, clutching on to head-feathers as the hawk nose-dived, lower and lower until its belly skimmed the top of the waves. Water splashed all around us, sparkling like diamonds. The wide wings of the hawk were reflected on the glassy sea.

Now open your eyes.

Camellia’s voice was a crass intruder, jerking me to a stop. My head slammed forward. I didn’t want to wake.

“Lily, your journey is complete. Remove your blindfold.”

Wrinkling my nose, I felt cold, still air on my cheeks. Mud squished between my toes. I untied the white cloth, opening my eyes ever so slightly; I stared down at my bare feet. Sure enough they were back on the earth.

My heart plummeted until I noticed wet spots all over my thin gown. Rubbing my arms, I felt water drops. Salty water drops glowing like fireflies.

“It was real,” I said under my breath.

“Look at yourself, Lily Rose.”

With trembling fingers, I accepted a silver-handled mirror from Camellia.

Glistening with silver and gold flakes, my skin sparkled in the moonlight. My eyes glowed like the most precious stones. My whole body shimmered, glittered, danced. I was like Camellia. I was beautiful.

“You are enchanted, my dear.”

Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes when she grinned at me. Then, the younger witches, my fellow Daughters of Light, gathered around me, petting my skin, admiring my angel-dust hair, the golden glitter that danced on my bare arms.

For the first time in my life, I felt not only like a warrior, but like a princess.

Logan

Logan crept past Father’s room and slipped down the wide round staircase. He’d thought about mentioning his plan to Chance earlier, but then thought better of it. If anything happened, if Father should wake and find him not in his bed, he didn’t want Chance to have to lie for him. Chance was safer remaining ignorant of Logan’s disobedience.

So under the cover of a black hooded sweatshirt, he ducked into the forest and ran. Past the mansion, past the barn that held his weapons, past the Solstice Stones that stood eerily empty, a ring of craggy shadows under the silver moon. The rocks were soaking up the moon’s magic, like he should be, preparing for the Gleaning. But after Chance left him with the voodoo doll, Clay swooped in with a message in his beak from Lily—to meet him at the grove as soon as night fell.

Sprinting harder, he pushed himself up tall-grassed hills, between shrubs, beneath ominous euca trees that hid him in their shadows. He changed his mind. He had to find Lily and give her back her charm. Someone was trying to hurt her, and she needed the protection of her amulet.

He picked up his pace, feet tearing through the ground cover. The air smelled like salt and earth. It smelled like hope. The harder he ran, the more energy he had. Strong legs beat the dirt into submission. Sweating, he yanked off his sweatshirt, roping it around his waist before breaking into another sprint.

If caught, he risked punishment—losing his place as Leader of the Sons of Darkness, his reputation with Congression, his brothers, with Father…

Lily was worth it.

Lily

I slipped into the moon-washed clearing in the forbidden euca grove and waited for Logan. I felt poised. Even. Ready to forget the uncertain moments before and move forward from here.

Every moment we had shared up to this point flashed through my head. The secret confessions and clandestine smiles.

I looked down at my sparkling fingers, my glowing legs.

And suddenly everything just felt…wrong.

I didn’t want to trick Logan into showing me his mark. I didn’t have to. If it existed, if we were meant to be together, I wouldn’t have to be enchanted in order to see it.

So why was I going along with this?

Logan wasn’t here yet. I could just go back to the coven gathering, make Iris and Camellia remove the enchantment and return to the clearing as myself.

As Lily.

I’d search for the mark without bewitching lies.

Ducking through the brush, I re-entered the clearing outside the forbidden grove where I was enchanted. Even though it made perfect sense, I was surprised to find it empty. Why would my coven hang around waiting for me to chicken out? They trusted me to do my mission and, as planned, would be waiting back home for information on how it went.

Mom?
I used my inner voice.
Camellia? Where are you?

Lily? Is Logan with you?
Camellia asked.

No. I—I can’t go through with it, Mistress. I want you to take away my enchantment.

Take away your enchantment?

Yes. Please. I know he will reveal the mark to me on his own. In his own time. I don’t want to deceive him in order to make that happen.

Why in the universe would he reveal his mark to you without an external influence?

Because. Um…I just know he will.

Lily Rose. Return to the grove and complete your mission.

But I can’t. I don’t want to.

I was standing in the center of the grove now, looking up at the tips of the treetops. The curled branches bent over me like claws. Their shadows whirling on the dry leaves. I started to feel dizzy.

Please, Camellia! I believe he is the Chosen, but to deceive him like this? He’d never trust me again.

You don’t need him to trust you.

Yes. Yes, I do.

The dirt under my feet shifted. Melted into the consistency of boiling chocolate. The heat nipped at my ankles. The heat wasn’t the only problem. I was sinking into it like quicksand. Within seconds, my calves were submerged.
Camellia! Help!

Silence.

The mud hardened into clay, rooting me into the earth. Stifling a scream, I spun a quick spell. The clay softened and began to retreat, but then it condensed around me again, harder. Trapping me.

Help me! I can’t move!

Silence.

Mom! Mom, help!

Sparkling dust rose around me, twinkling on the breeze. A pastel powder leaked puffs of poison. I covered my face, tried not to breathe in the intoxicating scent.

Scratching.

Digging.

The moldy musk of wet feathers.

I tried to open my heavy lidded eyes. Everything was blurry. Blurry and…wrong.

Had my Mistress trapped me in this clearing? If not her, then who?

And why?

When my vision finally cleared, a wild dog with sharp glowing eyes stared back at me.

Instinctively, my swordfinger flared, and I shot the creature. It slammed into a tree with a painful howl, and a loud crack as its back snapped against the trunk. I winced as the creature landed limp on the dirt.

When I moved to go to him, I was surprised to find my feet weren’t trapped anymore. Mounds of dirt lay all around me like anthills. The scratching, digging. Had the poor dog dug me out?

From his throat came a low whine. He was still alive.

I scampered to him, and lay his fox-like matted head in my lap.

Petting his muzzle, I murmured a healing spell. I lay my palm on his back, ran it up and down his spine until I heard it snap back into place. “I’m so sorry,” I said, as he healed in my arms.

Soon his whining turned into a sort of purring. I couldn’t tell if he was a fox, a coyote, or what, but with his glowing eyes and fluorescent frothing mouth it was clear he was a totem creature. Only whose, I had no idea.