Crown of Magic

by TJ Green

  Avery had barely taken two steps towards him when Kit’s malevolent spirit appeared before her, reaching out to squeeze his icy-cold hands around her neck.

  She immediately dropped to her knees, shocked at how corporeal he was. Within seconds she started to choke, and she summoned her power, desperate to fend him off. But a blast of magic caught Kit from behind, and he vanished as quickly as he’d arrived, leaving her gasping for air.

  “Avery!” Alex yelled. “Get in here. Now!”

  She staggered to her feet and clambered onto the stage, and Alex pulled her into the circle, raising the protection again immediately.

  “Shit! He caught me by surprise!” Avery’s hands flew to her neck, already feeling it start to swell, and she quickly said a healing spell to ease the bruising. “Has he been like that since you arrived?”

  “Sort of,” Alex said ruefully. “I had a few minutes of blissful peace, long enough to start my protection spell, when he seemed to realise what I was doing. At that point, I had a bit of a problem getting it finished, but I managed to buy myself some time to get it done.”

  “You should have called me.”

  “No. It was important you did what you needed to out there.” Alex took a deep breath and exhaled heavily as he looked at the series of circles before them. “As soon as my main circle was up, I was able to finish these.”

  Avery noted that within the large outer circle edged with candles was a complex series of interlinked designs, the centre one a double circle, the ring of which was filled with runes. A series of sigils was drawn in the middle, and she realised one of them was the same as the one on his chest. “What does that sign mean?”

  “It enhances my power, and I’m going to need it.”

  A long, wooden stick was lying on the floor, carved with rudimentary symbols, and Avery frowned. “You need your staff?”

  Alex grinned. “I rarely use it, but I decided I needed it for something that Kit won’t like.”

  As if he’d heard his name, the air crackled around them and the temperature plummeted, and Kit appeared at the edge of the stage. He sent out of bolt of energy that hit the protective shield around them and bounced back.

  “You won’t get through that!” Alex shouted. “I’m a flesh and blood witch, and that makes me far stronger than you!”

  Kit paced around them, as if looking for a way to breach the circle, silent and brooding.

  Alex continued to goad him. “Have you noticed that Yvonne has gone?”

  Kit shot him a look of pure loathing. “You were lucky.”

  “I was cleverer than you!”

  “But are you?” Kit stared at Alex, an ugly smile creasing his face. “You haven’t broken my spell, have you? I can feel it working right now. The cast are being eaten by it. I feel their anger and betrayal, even though they are halfway across the town!”

  “In that case, you can feel the atmosphere in the town, too,” Alex said. “They aren’t so angry anymore. Their petty jealousies are disappearing. Your spell is failing.”

  Kit shrugged dismissively. “Not with the cast. It’s too strong. It will take weeks to wear off.” Kit sent another blast of energy towards them, but again his magic was deflected easily and he resumed his pacing. “Remember Yvonne? It was weeks before she killed herself. The spell continued to work all that time. And on Charles. It’s the beauty of the interlocking magic.”

  “Keep congratulating yourself, Kit. You won’t win.”

  Without waiting for a response Alex pulled Avery into the centre circle, swiftly picked up the wooden staff, and cracked it hard off the floor, uttering an incantation as he did so. The candles’ flames shot higher and the runes blazed with fiery light as the protective spell around the double-edged circle snapped into place. With another crack of the staff, Alex dropped the outer protective circle completely, allowing Kit to come closer.

  Avery looked at Alex, surprised. That was clever magic. What was he planning? Alex’s power was so different to her own. She never attempted conjuring or necromancy. It was a skill she didn’t possess and never would, but Alex did, and she’d noticed that his abilities grew stronger every time he tested them. And he looked sure of himself now.

  Kit glanced warily at the floor. “Devil’s traps?” His head snapped up. “You think I’m foolish enough to step on those?

  Alex shook his head. “No. But you’re weak enough that you won’t resist them.”He turned to Avery. “Sit in the centre of the circle, and lend me your magic when I need it.”

  Avery nodded, and quickly moved into place.

  Alex cracked the staff again and again, and Avery felt energy thrum through her. She watched as with each crack, the other circles flared to life, the runes blazing, until the air around them was illuminated with runes that seemed to be projected from the floor.

  Kit stepped back a pace, his eyes narrowing, as he tried to work out what Alex was doing. He must have decided that attacking was the best form of defence, because he unleashed a barrage of magic at the runes. They flickered momentarily, and then returned.

  Alex ignored him and started an incantation, his voice becoming stronger with each word he uttered, and with every bang of the staff. The runes shimmered and glowed, and the marks drawn on his body blazed to life, too. It was at this point that Avery felt him draw on her power, and she willing joined it with his, watching with amazement as the runes started to multiply, seeming to tumble out of the air so quickly that they surrounded Kit.

  Panic crossed Kit’s face and he vanished, and Avery turned in alarm, her eyes darting around the theatre as she looked for him. But Alex didn’t stop, and soon the fiery runes had not only filled the stage, but had filled the auditorium too.

  In seconds they caught up with Kit. He manifested again, this time unwillingly. His spirit was in the middle of the theatre, caught within a spider’s web of magic. The runes were binding him, crawling over his body and beneath his spirit-skin until he glowed from within.

  “What are you doing?” Kit shouted, looking at his arms.

  Alex continued to bang the staff rhythmically but stopped his incantation, and Avery was suddenly sure it was combining with the drums on the streets. “I am binding you to the spirit world, Kit. You will never be able to cross here again. You will never be able to roam the spirit world, either. Your spirit is now imprisoned for eternity.”

  Kit writhed as he tried to break his rune bonds, his face ugly with fury. “No! It isn’t possible. My spirit is bound here—with the play!”

  “We found the original copy, the one that anchors the others. Even as we speak, it is burning in the Beltane fire, part of the cleansing of White Haven. You are bones and dust, Kit Bonneville, and I now banish you from the Earth forever.”

  Alex uttered a final spell, and on the last word brought the staff crashing down. The crack resounded through Avery and the theatre, and the runes and Kit vanished with the sound of thunder, leaving them alone in candlelight. For a brief moment, the sigils drawn on Alex’s body continued to glow, before vanishing completely.

  Avery looked at Alex admiringly, her gaze running across his half-naked body. “Just when I didn’t think you could surprise me any more, you go and do that!”

  He stood with his arms outstretched, a teasing smile on his face. “Impressed?”

  “Very.” As they spoke, Avery felt rather heard a boom, and in seconds a wave of magic raced through her. Her fingers started to tingle, and the scent of herbs filled the theatre. “Did you feel that?” she asked as she stood up.

  Alex nodded. “The cleansing spell—that wasn’t what I was expecting!”

  Avery’s eyes widened. “What has El done?”

  “Seems like it’s the night for unexpected spells,” Alex said, grinning. He pulled her close and kissed her. “Sorry, I might have smudged your makeup.”

  “I’ll forgive you,” she said, resting her hands on his chest. “I’ve smudged your sigils.”

  “I don’t need them anymore. Let’s get t
his cleared up and go and join the party.”

  “Can you cope with witch-flight? It will be quicker.”

  “I can cope with anything right now! I’ve just pulled off the biggest spell of my life.”

  When Avery and Alex arrived in the middle of the dunes on Spriggan Beach, the sound of drums and shouting filled the air.

  “Come on,” Alex said, grabbing her hand. “This way.”

  “What’s going on?” Avery asked. “You’re not sick!”

  “I know! My adrenalin is keeping it at bay. And probably also my awesome magic.”

  Alex didn’t wait, pulling her along behind him, and when they reached the top of the dune, Spriggan Beach was spread out before them.

  The Beltane fire was blazing, and on a low stage a short distance away were the May Queen and the Green Man, seated on their thrones in a bower of flowers. Surrounding them was the rest of the procession—the May Queen’s maidens, the fire-jugglers, drummers, tumblers, and acrobats, and other costumed characters. And all around them was the crowd, dancing and celebrating the night away.

  “What the hell is El doing?” Alex asked, pointing down to the sand where they could see El leaping around like she was possessed. Her hair was flying and she was grinning from ear to ear as she kept time with the primal drumming.

  Avery was unable to suppress a giggle. “It looks like she’s dancing!”

  “Holy shit. So is Reuben!”

  Avery saw Reuben cavorting around the fire wearing his Herne mask, and then through a break in the crowd she saw Hunter wearing his wolf-head mask, and Briar next to him, barefoot and wild, her hair seeming to snake in the firelight like the Medusa.

  “What are they doing?”

  “Having fun!” Alex turned to her. “Can you feel it? All of that horrible, brooding undercurrent has gone!” He still had her hand in his, and he leaned forward and kissed her. “Come on, Ave, time to join in!”

  28

  It was dawn by the time the party on the beach finally ground to a halt, but Avery and her friends were still there, clustered around a small fire, the curve of the dunes behind them.

  Reuben was sipping whiskey, and his eyes were bloodshot. His mask was perched on the top of his head, the horns pointing up at an odd angle.

  “You’ll regret that later,” El told him.

  “I don’t care.” He lifted the whiskey bottle to his lips and took another slug. “Besides, a surf will get rid of a hangover.”

  “I’m with you,” Hunter said, refusing to be outdone, and he reached out and took the bottle from Reuben, swallowing a healthy gulp. He shuddered. “Yep. That will do it. Alex?”

  Alex grinned and took his turn, and when he’d finished, Avery laughed and reached her hand out, too. “It’s cold. I’m taking the medicinal approach.”

  After dancing for hours around the fire, they had made their own small one, watching as the crowd diminished. They’d been sitting and talking for a while about the spells they had used to banish Kit and cleanse the town, and after the week they’d had, everyone felt the need to celebrate.

  “I feel I’ve become nocturnal,” Avery said, pulling her cloak around her shoulders. “And maybe slightly feral.”

  “I like feral,” Hunter said with a wolfish grin. “Look at Briar. She’s definitely on the wild side now!”

  Briar rolled her eyes but looked pleased, self-consciously running her fingers through her tangled hair. “Bloody Green Man. He’s nothing but trouble.”

  A shout interrupted them, and they looked across the beach, seeing Newton and Dan approach. In minutes they were at their side, and Dan nudged Avery out of the way, making himself space around the fire, while Newton did the same on the other side of Alex.

  “You’re still up?” Avery asked, surprised.

  “I’ve been stuck at the station all night supporting Harry,” Dan said resentfully, “while you have clearly been having too much fun!” Dark shadows were etched beneath his eyes. “Harry’s wife was at home looking after the kids, but she was worried sick. It was the least I could do.”

  Feeling sorry for him, Avery passed him the whiskey. “You’re a good friend, Dan.”

  He grunted. “He bloody owes me for this.”

  “Thanks for the call,” Newton said. He took his jacket off and rolled his sleeves up as he reached his hands towards the fire. He jerked his head towards the beach. “This will take some clearing up.”

  The beach was strewn with litter, discarded masks, the remains of fires, and most of all the smouldering remnants of the main fire. The thrones had long gone, someone having hoisted them onto the fire to keep it going. The tide was coming in, and the soft shush of waves threatened to take the debris with them.

  “Not my problem!” Reuben said, squinting into the distance. “We did our part. Besides, I can see the volunteer clean-up crew is already out.” He pointed to a straggling line of people in the distance carrying large plastic rubbish bags. “How are the cast?”

  “Confused and disorientated, and wondering what the hell they’re doing in police cells.” Newton looked puzzled. “How did you do it?”

  Avery nodded at El. “The cleansing spell was her baby, not mine.”

  El laughed. “I won’t bore you with the complexities, Newton, but essentially it was as Avery said—a cleansing spell. I just tweaked it. Sort of put a magical stick of dynamite under the Beltane fire and let it roll through the town.”

  “Well, it worked,” Dan said as he wrested the whiskey out of Reuben’s hands and took another swig. “It was like flicking a switch. The cast literally just blinked and looked around like they’d been in a trance.”

  “What about Emma and Josh?” Briar asked.

  “Them too,” Newton said. “Although, they’ll both have some explaining to do to their partners.”

  “At least they’re alive,” Alex said. “For one horrible moment in the wood, I didn’t think we’d stop them.”

  “And Kit?” Newton asked.

  “I’ve bound his spirit with the biggest rune spell I could find. Bye-bye Granddad. Miserable bastard.”

  “Good,” Dan said with feeling. “Harry doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going.”

  “How are your police colleagues?” Alex asked. “Did they take the redirection to White Haven well?”

  Newton grimaced. “Not really, but I don’t care. I don’t think those cells have ever been so full. We had to put too many people in together, and it was highly irregular, but some of my colleagues have learned not to question me too much.”

  Avery shuffled, making herself more comfortable, and drew her knees into her chest. “What will you charge them with?”

  “For most it will be a warning. For others, there’ll be assault charges. Fortunately, the guy who was stabbed is doing fine. It was a minor wound and from what I can gather, he doesn’t want to press charges.”

  El looked up abruptly. “He won’t have had the benefit of the cleansing spell!”

  “No, he won’t,” Newton acknowledged, “but I think the shock of being stabbed cleared his head—or so I gather.”

  Avery gazed at the sea, her chin on her knees. At the moment it was a milky grey colour, and the horizon was a pale green. The air was still, and the shush of the waves was hypnotic. “You know, I’m sort of disappointed that Lyonesse didn’t appear.”

  Dan laughed. “Did you really think it would?”

  “I thought it might! Those two days of fog were weird, and Kit’s spell was so strong!” She shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what would happen.”

  “I like the idea, too,” Briar said as she looked to the horizon. “But to conjure a mythical island into being—well, wow, that would be something!”

  Newton groaned. “I am very pleased that didn’t happen! The play and Beltane have caused enough problems. I’m hoping that now it’s passed, everything will settle down.”

  Alex grinned at him. “There’ll always be something!” He paused, perplexed. “I’m surprised we didn’t see
Shadow last night.”

  “I saw her for a while,” El told him. “She was here with the Nephilim, partying away over there—” she gestured away to her left. “I think they left a couple of hours ago to finish the party at home. The boys wanted to fly!”

  “I feel really guilty,” Avery confessed. “We’ve been so busy that I haven’t called Genevieve, or checked in on Oswald!”

  “If there had been a problem, we’d have heard,” Alex reassured her. “And I’m sure Oswald managed to keep Ulysses in check.”

  Newton frowned. “Oswald is in Mevagissey, is that right?”

  “Yes, why?” Avery asked alarmed.

  “Oh, nothing much,” Newton said, unable to stop a smirk. “Things got a little fruity over there on Beltane Eve. I believe they had to issue a warning to a very large guy who ran naked down the main street.”

  The witches looked at each other, mouths open, and Avery asked, “How big was he?”

  “Are you asking about his height, or something else?”

  Reuben threw his head back with a raucous laugh as Avery said, “I meant his height!”

  “Oh, that.” Newton said, looking cheeky. “Long hair, massive guy, pretty fit from what I hear! I gather the female PC’s enjoyed that arrest.”

  “That was Ulysses! Was he locked up for long?”

  Newton shook his head. “Long enough for him to calm down, and for someone to bring him some clothes.”

  Alex shook his head. “Poor Ulysses!”

  “And how are you feeling, Alex,” Briar asked, “after banishing Kit? That must suck.”

  He shrugged. “It did and it didn’t. I never knew him. I wasn’t emotionally attached to him. I’m more disappointed that one of my family members could do what he did. But, it is what it is, and I did what I had to do.” He nudged Avery. “I’m surprised Helena didn’t intervene!”