by Alane Adams
“Friends?” She laughed, but her eyes remained cold. “Who said any of you were my friends? I am a witch, and a witch’s heart is made of stone.”
“You’re lying,” Safina said, tears sparkling in her eyes. “I know you don’t believe that. Whenever I say the code, you cringe.”
“Do I?” Abigail turned to face her, tossing the ball of witchfire in the air as if it were a toy. “Would you like me to prove it?”
“You wouldn’t hurt another witchling,” Safina said confidently.
Abigail wouldn’t, Hugo thought, moving slowly to the side, but this isn’t Abigail. Something had possessed her, some awful spell. He moved quietly behind her as she sneered at the young witchling.
“Watch me.” She cocked her arm back to throw the deadly witchfire as Safina flung her arms up to protect herself.
Hugo tackled her from behind, wrapping both arms around her waist and knocking her to the ground. The ball of witchfire hit the sarcophagus with a loud boom that shattered the stone into large chunks and collapsed the protective shield.
The impact of the fall made Abigail drop the severed head. It rolled to a stop in front of Endera.
“Gotcha.” She scooped it up. “Time to go.”
Endera made a run for it, Glorian and Nelly on her heels. The draugar, momentarily stunned by the commotion, quickly gave chase.
Abigail squirmed underneath Hugo, her face a mask of rage. “Get away from me!” she screamed, then shoved upward with the heel of her hand. Hugo crashed backward into the rubble of the sarcophagus, knocking his head hard enough to see double.
Robert took his place, landing on top of Abigail before she could get up. Abigail flung him aside as easily as Hugo. Robert rolled over and over as Abigail leaped to her feet, looking like a wild animal in a trap.
Safina rushed at her. “Abigail, please, you’re scaring me.”
Abigail thrust her hand out, murmuring words Hugo couldn’t hear. The girl froze, then lifted off the ground, clawing at her throat as if she couldn’t breathe.
“Stop it, Abigail,” Calla said. “You’re going to kill her.”
“I’d be doing the coven a favor,” Abigail said. “This mewling little firstling is nothing but a pest. Always tagging along and asking for help. She’ll never be a great witch.”
The girl’s face was turning blue as Abigail clenched her fist even tighter.
Robert quietly limped up behind Abigail, raised the hilt of his sword, and brought it down on her head. She collapsed in a heap, and Safina crumpled to the ground.
Calla rushed to Safina’s side. “Are you all right?”
The witchling nodded, rubbing at her throat. “Why did she do that?”
“That wasn’t Abigail,” Hugo said, kneeling at his friend’s side. “I think Rubicus cast a spell over her.” He gently patted her cheek. “Abigail. Wake up.”
“Wait.” Robert put a hand on Hugo’s arm, kneeling on the other side. “What if she’s still under his spell?”
“She won’t be,” Hugo said, mentally crossing his fingers.
Chapter 25
Abigail’s eyes fluttered open. The back of her head throbbed, and her mouth had a strange sour taste. She looked from Hugo to Robert. They were staring warily down at her.
“What … why are you staring at me? What happened?”
“You don’t remember?” The skin around Robert’s eyes tightened in anger. “You nearly killed that witchling.”
She struggled to sit up. “The last I remember, Calla and I were about to blast Rubicus to bits.” She looked at Safina. The girl’s eyes were bruised and accusing. “I swear, Safina, whatever happened, it wasn’t me.” Her gaze wandered the chamber. “Where is Rubicus? And the others?”
“Endera ran off with him,” Calla said.
“We need to go, Abigail,” Hugo said. “The draugar followed them, but they’ll be back soon.”
He helped her to her feet. She was a bit unsteady, but she drew strength from his arm under hers.
“The draugar are between us and the exit. We’ll never make it past them,” Calla said.
“That’s okay. I know another way. Follow me.” Hugo led them along the rows of sarcophagi, then turned at the end of a row and faced a blank wall, tracing his fingers over it until he found a small X marked in pencil. “If I could get some magic?” He drew out his medallion.
Calla cupped a handful of witchfire around the talisman since Abigail still hadn’t regained her wits, and then Hugo went back to stand in front of the wall, reciting a spell. The stone groaned and creaked, then shifted aside, like pieces of a puzzle, revealing an opening.
“Hugo, that’s amazing,” Abigail said.
Robert looked over his shoulder. “They’re coming. Get in now.”
Hugo lifted Safina up before climbing in, followed by Calla. Abigail blasted a pair of draugar scrabbling along the ceiling over their head, while Robert hacked at another two, driving them back.
“Hurry,” Hugo said, beckoning. “It’s about to close.”
Abigail sent out one last blast and then let Hugo pull her into the hole. Robert fended off the remaining draugar as he backed toward the entrance. At last, he turned and dove in, tucking his feet up to his chest as the hole sealed off. A draugar reached for him at the last second, and the arm became stuck in the wall, fingers grasping at air.
Following the pencil marks made finding their way to the exit easy, and in minutes they were outside in the gardens breathing fresh air.
Abigail grabbed Safina by the shoulders. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m not a baby.” She shrugged free and glared at Abigail. “You … you nearly killed me. Endera’s right, you are a traitor to this coven.” Then she turned and ran off.
“What’s with her?” Abigail asked.
“You did try and kill her,” Calla said gently.
Abigail sighed. “There’s no time to fix it now. We have to stop Melistra from creating the elixir of life and bringing Rubicus back.”
“But Madame Malaria said it was impossible,” Calla said.
“No. She said there wasn’t a power strong enough to do it.”
“But if Melistra unlocks the magic in Odin’s Stone,” said Hugo, “she might be able to.”
They were all silent a moment. Abigail finally said, “Robert, it’s time you told your father what’s going on.”
The boy’s shoulders slumped, but he nodded. “I suppose you’re right. Hugo, would you … that is … would you come with me?”
“Of course.” Hugo grabbed his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
“We still don’t know where Melistra is hiding the Stone,” Abigail said.
“Maybe Baba Nana has learned something,” Calla offered. “Abigail and I can go see her while you two get help.”
“Good idea,” Hugo agreed. “My guess is this is happening soon. Rubicus won’t last long without his preserving jar.”
Chapter 26
Hugo hurried along the path toward the town of Jadewick. Darkening shadows made it difficult to see more than a few steps ahead. Robert plodded gloomily alongside, head down, hands shoved in his pockets, as if he were marching to his own execution.
“What do you think your father will say?” Hugo asked to break the silence.
“He’ll say, ‘I’m so disappointed in you,’” Robert mimicked. “And then he’ll ask, ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’ Then he’ll probably cap it off with, ‘You’ll never be a great soldier now.’”
“Maybe if we fix things, it will be okay,” Hugo said.
Robert’s eyes lit up. “You think so?”
“Sure. If we get it back—” The snap of a twig made him freeze. “Did you hear that?”
The two boys looked around, but the shadows hid everything beyond the trees.
“Probably a jackrabbit,” Robert said, just as a figure materialized out of the bushes and pushed him to the ground. Another heavy form flattened Hugo, knocking the wind out of him.
Hugo rolled over. Oskar’s brutish face hovered over him.
“Figured you’d come back this way,” the Balfin boy sneered, pulling his fist back. “And now you’re going to get what’s coming to you.”
He landed a blow on Hugo’s cheek. Hugo put his hands on Oskar’s shoulders to shove him off, but another pair of boys pinned his arms back as Oskar rained blows down on him. Hugo could hear the same thing happening to Robert.
And then a blast of witchfire lit up the clearing, knocking Oskar sideways. The boy screamed, clutching at his arm.
“Be gone,” a voice said.
The Balfin boys scattered like leaves in the wind.
Hugo pulled his aching body up and looked straight into the glittering eyes of Melistra.
“Just the two boys I was looking for.”
Behind her, Safina’s guilty face appeared.
Chapter 27
Abigail and Calla hurried toward Baba Nana’s hovel. The outline was just visible through the trees. No welcoming smoke trickled from the chimney, and the windows were dark.
“Do you think she’s here?” Abigail asked.
“Where else would she be?”
Abigail grabbed Calla’s arm, stopping her. “Something’s wrong.” The front door stood ajar. She tilted her head and sniffed the air. “Someone used witchfire here.”
“Baba Nana’s in trouble!” Calla ran through the open door, Abigail close behind. The frantic girl shot a thin stream of witchfire to light the candles throughout the hovel. “Hello? Baba Nana? It’s me, Calla.”
A faint moan reached their ears. They rushed toward the back and nearly stumbled over the figure lying on the floor.
Baba Nana lay on her side, wrapped in her pile of rags.
“Baba Nana, what happened?” Calla asked.
The old witch blearily opened her eyes. “Calla, is that you?”
“Yes, Baba Nana. I’m here. And so is Abigail.”
Abigail knelt, taking Baba Nana’s hand, then gasped at how cold it was. “I’m here, Baba Nana.”
The old witch sighed. “Perfect. Just the ones … I need to see … before I die.”
“Die? You can’t die!” Calla looked stricken. “We can help you. Abigail will cast a spell. Like when she brought me back after the spider bit me.
“Dear child, it can’t be reversed,” Baba Nana gasped out. “Melistra found out I was snooping into her comings and goings. She cast a chill spell on my heart. It’s freezing me inch by inch. She was always looking for a reason to get rid of me.”
Abigail pressed the woman’s cold fingers. “Did you find out where she’s hiding the Stone?”
“No.” The old witch grimaced. “I’m sorry. Baba Nana let you down. We need to discuss your mother. There are things you should know.”
“I know she went to see Rubicus in his crypt,” Abigail said, feeling the guilt rise up to choke her. If only she had never touched that stupid spellbook, none of this would have happened. “I know he wanted her to hand me over to him.”
Baba Nana’s eyes flared. “You are … a clever girl. Just like Lissandra. Help me up.”
They helped her into a sitting position, putting a pillow behind her.
“Lissandra came to ask for my help. I could see the fear in her eyes. She wouldn’t tell Melistra what Rubicus had said. Melistra was convinced he had told her the secret for ending Odin’s curse, and she wanted it for herself. Your mother feared for your life, so I told her to go. She thought she could protect you from your fate.”
“But fate has a way of finding you,” Abigail said, repeating the words Vor had spoken.
“Indeed.” Baba Nana’s icy hands gripped Abigail’s. “You mustn’t let them win. There is something going on bigger than Rubicus. I’ve this strange feeling in my bones.” A rim of ice formed on her skin, crusting her eyelashes and stiffening her fingers. “I … can’t … figure it out … my head is … too cold … but you must…be careful … trust no one.”
And then Baba Nana went silent as ice coated her tongue.
“Baba Nana! Please, wake up.” Calla shook her, but the woman didn’t move. “Abigail, do something.”
Abigail tried the most powerful spell she knew, the spell she had used on Calla, but Baba Nana didn’t stir. “She’s gone, Calla.”
The witchling pressed her head to Baba Nana’s chest. “No, I can feel her in there. She’s not gone yet. There is still life.”
Abigail bit her lip, torn between wanting to stay and needing to go. “We’ll come back for her, I swear, but we have to stop Melistra before it’s too late.”
Calla clutched Baba Nana closer. “No! I can’t leave her.”
“Calla, you know what’s at stake. Please … I can’t do this alone.”
“Yes, you can.” Calla put her hand on Abigail’s. “You are a great witch, Abigail. I saw your witchfire in the catacombs. It wasn’t blue or green. It was deep purple. I think you are the Curse Breaker, which means you are far more powerful than Melistra. You can do this. You just have to remember who you are.”
“But what if Rubicus says that word and that’s it—I’m his puppet?”
“I have an idea.”
Chapter 28
Abigail stepped outside, shivering a bit in the night air. Her mind spun in a turmoil. She had no idea which way to go and no time to figure it out. Melistra could be creating the elixir of life at this exact moment. Or worse, Rubicus could already be back. It was hopeless.
A strange mechanical creaking made her look up. In a sliver of moonlight, she could see Hugo’s bird flapping awkwardly overhead, zigzagging, before it crashed into the ground at her feet. Reaching down, she pulled a curled note from its beak.
Her heart clenched as she realized it wasn’t written in Hugo’s neat print. This was Melistra’s flowing writing.
I have your friends. Come to the old fortress on the eastern shore. Tick tock.
The old fortress? Abigail racked her brain. Madame Greef had mentioned something in history class last year about an old Tarkana Fortress. It had been destroyed in one of their many battles with the Orkadians, and the witches had moved deeper into the swamps. It was the perfect place to hide the Stone.
Abigail put two fingers to her mouth and whistled sharply. It took ten agonizing minutes before Big Mama, the Omera Abigail had helped with a stubborn hatchling, landed next to her with a loud thump.
Big Mama nudged her playfully, and Abigail rubbed her snout. “Oh, Big Mama, I hope you’re willing to fly hard and fast.”
The Omera tossed her head and lowered a wing so Abigail could climb on board.
“Take me to the old Tarkana Fortress.”
The mighty beast sprung off its haunches and took to the night sky. The air was cold, and Abigail clutched the edges of the cloak Calla had given her before sending her off. The Omera beat her wings steadily as Abigail guided her east over the dark swamps. “Mother, I’m sorry,” she whispered. “None of this was your fault.” The wind wicked her tears away before they could dry.
It wasn’t long before Abigail could hear the sea crashing against rocks, and the outline of an abandoned fortress came into view. Under the light of the moon, she could make out crumbling towers and walls. Piles of stone littered the ground beneath gaping holes from a long-ago battle. One tower stood solid, high and imposing. A light burned in the open window. Big Mama set down, and Abigail slid to the ground, looking up at the flickering shadows.
The Omera whickered, as though she was asking if Abigail was okay.
“Yes, I’ll be fine. It’s nothing I can’t handle,” she said, faking confidence to hide her quaking knees.
With a nod goodbye, she turned and walked on wooden legs up the stone path that led to the castle. Massive double doors hung off their hinges. Rusted battle gear littered the ground alongside bleached bones and a stray skull or two.
In the ancient entryway, an unlit chandelier draped in cobwebs swayed slightly in the evening air. Abigail started as two figures ste
pped out of the shadows. Nelly and Glorian. They looked frightened, but Nelly put on her sneer. “They’re waiting for you upstairs.”
“Yeah,” Glorian added, but her voice wobbled a bit. “S-so don’t think you can ru-run away.”
“Go get Madame Hestera,” Abigail said quietly. “The coven is in danger.”
“We can’t leave,” Nelly said. “Melistra told us—”
“Oh, just once, use your head,” Abigail snapped. “This is going to end badly. Get help.”
The two witchlings looked at each other and then bolted for the front door.
Abigail climbed floor after floor until she reached the top. Light slipped out from underneath the crack in the door. She eased it open and stepped into a spacious circular room with a domed ceiling.
Hugo and Robert were gagged and bound to pillars, looking worse for wear: Hugo had a bruise on his cheek, and Robert had a split lip.
In the center of the room, bottles and jars littered a long table. A cast-iron cauldron sat next to Endera’s spellbook. Beside it, the head of Rubicus glared at her from atop a stone pedestal. He looked awful. His skin had turned completely gray, and a faint odor of decay filled the room.
Beside him, Melistra waited with her arms folded, looking pleased with herself. Endera hovered behind her, looking uncertain, as if she didn’t want to be there. Abigail was surprised and then saddened to see Safina staring out at her from the shadows. The girl looked guilty.
So that’s how Melistra found Robert and Hugo.
Ignoring the others, Abigail went straight to her friends. “Hugo, Robert, are you okay?”
Hugo nodded, unable to speak through his gag. His glasses were crooked, and one of the lenses was cracked. She straightened them gently and turned to Robert. His eyes told her how scared he was. She patted his arm before turning to face Melistra.
“You killed my mother. You are the traitor to this coven, not her.” The witch didn’t react, but Abigail felt stronger for having said the words. “Where is Odin’s Stone?”
