“She’s not the only one who can save Duke,” Mahdyia said. “But she wants you to believe that she is.”
“Why?” Her mother had the best interests of everyone else at heart, didn’t she? No, that wasn’t right…she could be self-serving too. Hazel knew that. She knew that with such certainty before they left Scotland, when she and Duke… Duke…who was dying. “Why would she lie to me about saving him?”
“Because she’s a selfish bitch.” Mahdyia coughed. “Sorry, I know she’s your mother.”
“She is selfish,” Hazel agreed, earning a startled look from Mahdyia. “I know she is thinking of herself most times. But she said that the spell Duke needs takes years to learn. She wouldn’t lie about that. He’s infected with a toxin.”
“Hazel.” Mahdyia leaned closer. “You really have no idea what you’re capable of, do you?”
“I don’t—”
“You know what that soothsayer said to me?” Mahdyia snapped, cutting her off. She paused, then spoke more softly. “She said that you would have a choice to make. Duty or love. Only one would fulfill your destiny.”
Hazel frowned. “This is duty and love…you must have misheard.”
“No, I didn’t. I heard it clearly. Duty or love, Hazel. She said you’d have to make the choice.”
“Why did she tell you? Why didn’t she say that to me?”
“Because you’re blinded by duty. Because my destiny is to be your eyes. Hazel.” She leaned closer. “I have always known your place is here, not in the Circle. Not fulfilling your mother’s fucked up sense of purpose. Not to keep her from sacrificing her own life to Healer-kind. Think about everything that’s happened. Think about everything you’ve learned. Everything you’ve accomplished. Can you honestly say to me that you can’t save Duke with your magic?”
Hazel closed her eyes. “Mads, I can’t take that chance.” And that’s what it really came down to. If there was a spell she didn’t know, if it took years to learn, she would rather hand over her power to her mother so that Duke would live.
“Yes, you can. I have faith in you. Duke has faith in you. Everyone, including Bridget, has faith in you. You can save the love of your life. You can do that. So stop being an idiot and fucking do it.”
Could she take the chance? Wasn’t that selfish? Cocky? And if she was wrong? If she was denying her destiny in favor of her heart’s desire?
Do not be led by the desires of others. To be selfless, sometimes you need to be selfish. Destiny is what you make it. It’s never set in stone. The soothsayer’s words echoed in her head.
She felt a flutter of something, a whisper of a touch against her cheek. She lifted her head, could have sworn she could feel him. Duke.
Stranger things had happened.
“I don’t have enough power on my own.” Hazel opened her eyes, shocked that she was even considering it. “I can’t do it alone.”
“You have us to bolster you.” Mahdyia released the bonds from Hazel, freeing her from the chair. “You have all of us behind you. Please, Hazel, have faith in yourself like we have faith in you.” She called behind her. “Guys, come in here.”
And the group filed in. Tate stood to greet them, his face a little red as he briefly glanced at Hazel. Chanda, smiling brightly. Even Bas, who looked sullen as usual, gave a nod to her as he entered.
“We’re all behind you. You can do this,” Mahdyia said.
“The spell—”
“I have it!” Bridget burst into the room, totally out of breath, a book in her hand. “This is it.” She thrust it toward Hazel. “Your mother is right behind—”
“Healer Rose! What are you doing?” Hazel’s mother swept into the room.
Hazel sucked in a deep breath, she flicked her eyes to Mahdyia for a second, then she let her breath out and stood up from the chair. Two steps to meet her mother. Eyes locked on hers.
No flinching.
Don’t show weakness.
“Mother,” Hazel started, straightening her spine. “I am not leaving Duke. I love him.”
Her mother’s stern look crumbled into one of pity and understanding. “Oh, darling girl, I know you do.”
Hazel frowned.
Her mother raised her hand to Hazel’s cheek and stroked her tenderly. “He made such a sacrifice for you. Cared enough to give up his life. Felt so strongly about your destiny—”
“No, Mother,” Hazel took a step away, creating a pocket of space between her mother’s hand and Hazel’s face. “That’s not what he did. We met, a year ago at Salem Village for the solstice. And we kept meeting, every few months. Sometimes every week. I’d sneak out, I’d meet him. I didn’t know who he was…” Her voice cracked. “He didn’t know who I was, but we fell in love. Mother.” She hated that her voice sounded like she was pleading. “We fell in love. He sacrificed himself to save me, yes, but he doesn’t believe that I am meant to fulfil the destiny you have laid out for me.”
Her mother’s hand curled, along with her lips. “You’ve been seeing Healer Hart? You’ve sullied yourself…with this man…’’ She covered her mouth for a moment. “If you had gotten pregnant…” Fury snapped in her eyes. She flattened her palm and then slapped Hazel full force.
Hazel’s head whipped back, her eye felt like it was about to explode. She didn’t fall. She didn’t dare fall.
“You crazy bitch! What the fuck—”
Hazel stopped Mahdyia from attacking with a wave of her hand, magic flowing like a wall. “No.” She made eye contact with her cousin, shared a nod, before straightening herself to face her mother again. “You will never touch me like that again.”
Her mother raised her hand to strike a second time and Hazel froze her in place with another wisp of magic. Her mother’s expression changed in an instant, realization dawning. “Darling, girl—”
“Mother, be silent.” Hazel froze her mother’s tongue, then glued her mouth shut. “It’s funny, all of a sudden, I feel like I have the surge of power, you know? Almost like for my whole life I’ve had a drain on me, siphoning off the top, making me weaker than I really am.” She moved around her mother’s frozen body. “Almost like someone has been keeping me from gaining full strength. And now, just this minute, I’ve realized how much power I have. Isn’t that strange, Mother? Who would do something like that? Take another witch’s magic?”
“A selfish, self-serving, bit—” Mahdyia started.
“Oh, yes,” Hazel interrupted. “Definitely self-serving. A person who perhaps was scared of what the younger generation may be able to do. A person who feared becoming irrelevant, less powerful, less esteemed.” She was back facing her mother now. “A person who would do anything to grasp at immortality, even at the expense of her only daughter.”
Her mother’s eyes were wide, fear replacing all else there. Her jaw was working, like she was struggling to speak. Hazel let the spell loosen her mouth and tongue.
“You have something to say, Mother?”
“Your destiny… I was only following what was predetermined. You can’t hold me responsible. I was only—”
“Oh Mother, things maybe would have gone a little differently if you’d only taken a fraction of responsibility.” She nodded toward Mahdyia. “I’m going to need as much power as I can get if I’m going to heal Duke.”
Mahdyia moved behind Hazel’s mother and gripped her arms. “I’ll escort her to the sacred vault.”
“What do you mean? I can’t go there. I’m the Great Mother. You can’t do this to me! You are nothing without me, Hazel. All of your power has come from me! My years of dedication to your training, my blood and sweat to get you to this point. My devotion to all Healer-kind to give up my only daughter so that we may all benefit.”
“That was not your choice to make! And you lied to me!” Hazel lashed her mother with another silencing spell. “You lied to me. You told me that I had only one destiny. That I was only fit for one purpose. You didn’t tell me you were stealing power from me through your amulet. You
didn’t tell me that you were controlling me in order to fulfill your needs. Your quest to live as long as you could. Your desperate need for power. The Great Mother who is so highly regarded for charity and strength, for skill and compassion. You lied to me for my whole life so that I could fulfill a destiny that was meant for you. You wanted me in your place so that you could live on. You didn’t do that for all Healer-kind. You did that for yourself!”
“You treated her like her only purpose was as a surrogate to you,” Mahdyia hissed. “I’ve watched it my whole life. Hazel being crushed by the weight of your expectation. Your disappointment. Your selfish decisions. She deserves better.”
Hazel swallowed the lump in her throat, tears burning the back of her eyes. Suck it up. Hold your ground. “Mother, I need your contribution to the Circle. Mahdyia will take you there to ensure you fulfill your destiny. It is always the role of the Great Mother to sacrifice herself when the time is right in order to supplement the next generation of Healers. You know, as well as I do, that the Board has a successor already chosen for you. Despite your attempts to live forever, they are always prepared with a backup just in case—”
Her mother’s eyes were tearing.
Hazel’s resolve began to shake.
“Oh Mother…” She motioned for Mahdyia to release her then moved in closer so that she could hug her tightly. But only for a second. She pulled back enough so that only her mother would hear her. “The time is right and you will do your duty. You will choose this or I will tell the Board about your treachery. I will share with them, and all who will hear, how you stole magic from your only daughter. I’m giving you the choice, to go to the Circle, rather than go to the Scrub. Which would you prefer?”
Hazel removed the silencing spell once again.
Her mother opened her mouth looking like she was going to rage, then closed it again, then opened it again, was nudged hard by Mahdyia, and closed it again. She gave Hazel a withering glare, closed her eyes, gulped, then finally spoke. “My daughter has laid a charge against me that I cannot dispute. It is my duty to fulfill my obligation to the Circle and join their ranks. I trust…” She cleared her throat. “I trust that Healer Rose will inform the Board of my decision immediately so that my successor can be notified.”
She didn’t spare another look at Hazel. She didn’t utter another word. She straightened her back, squared her shoulders and walked out of the room with Mahdyia right behind her.
There was stunned silence for a few seconds.
“Hazel, the book, the spell.” Bridget came toward her, flipping the ancient text open where she’d marked it with her hand. “Here, you need to do this now. Duke’s not breathing.”
28
Duke’s not breathing?
That was news to Duke. He’d been so enthralled by Hazel and the strength she showed, standing up to her mother like that. If possible, he loved her more for finally thinking of herself.
But she wasn’t just thinking of herself. She was thinking of him. And now she was doing her best to shove down the panic he could see threatening to derail her completely. He couldn’t feel her though, and the lack of her energy playing on his senses was enough to send him into a panic himself if he let it.
He was still out of his body. He could see everything playing out. He had no idea how to get back where he needed to be. In fact, it was harder to stay rooted at all.
Hazel had the book spread on his bed, her finger moving swiftly through the lines of text as her mouth moved silently.
Tate was pumping oxygen into his body, giving him zaps of power that make his body jolt and jitter but did nothing to get things working again. He felt like he was floating for real now. Like he was truly disconnecting from himself. And he was drifting.
Maybe it was too late.
He reached out to Hazel, willing himself with everything he had to be by her side like he had been while she’d stood her ground and defended her feelings for him. He moved slowly, excruciatingly so. Somehow, he managed and brushed his fingers against her cheek, his thumb to her lips, imagining that he was feeling them as she kept up her whispered practice.
When she looked up, it was like she was looking straight at him, the projection of him. Or was he a ghost now?
“I can do this,” she said.
He nodded, knowing she couldn’t actually see him.
“You can do this.” He cupped her chin, then let his hand slide down, her neck, her collarbone, her arm. “I’m right here with you.”
She sucked in a deep breath and she drew her blade. “I need our circle, guys, if you’ll help me. I need you.”
And without a word, each one of the witches in the room, from Bridget, to Tate, to Bas, all pulled their knives and bloodied their hands for her. For him.
They joined, palm to palm, a circle around him, giving him their power as Hazel ignited the spell that was supposed to bring him back.
As she spoke the first string of words, Duke felt himself fade, like the essence that gave him life outside of his body was draining away. He didn’t know what was happening or if this was his time but as his eyesight flickered, the image of Hazel going dark, he projected the last of his magic toward her with his thoughts, hoping the message got to her somehow.
“Whatever happens, Hazel, whatever come of this, I know that you’re the love of my life, so hold me in your heart and I’ll see you on the other side.”
29
There wasn’t enough power. She was starting the spell the second time, having already led them through once and nothing was happening.
“Not enough power!” She pulled and pulled, drawing from not only what her friends were giving her but from her own well, it wasn’t enough.
“I’m unifying our magic—it’s just not sticking to the spell,” Bas growled.
But that wasn’t the problem. Their circle was incomplete. Without Duke to help. Without Mahdyia, they just weren’t strong enough to defeat death.
“You are the love of my life.”
Words echoed to her. Duke’s words. His voice. Just there. She couldn’t open her eyes. Was he dead? Was he speaking to her from beyond the grave? Had she lost him in that moment?
Duke. Don’t leave me.
She needed something more. She couldn’t let him go. Not like this. Not right now. She had a lifetime to live with him. She’d made her choice. Love.
“I just found my forever,” she whispered. “I choose love!”
Who was listening? She, a Promised One no more, was supposed to be able to do anything. She could do anything.
But her hope was fading, along with her magic. Pouring everything into the spell was costing her and she knew it was draining the witches in her circle. Every word she spoke, every invocation of the spell was draining them all.
Had she made the wrong choice?
Please. Please. Please.
“Whatever happens, Hazel, whatever come of this, I know that you’re the love of my life, so hold me in your heart and I’ll see you on the other side.” Words echoed in her head again.
She opened her eyes and he was there. A fading silhouette floating above the bed like a ghost. The look on his face was one of resignation but also love.
“Nooooooo,” she heard herself moan, a mournful, pitiful sound that broke her own heart. “Nooooo, Duke, stay with me.”
She opened herself fully, willing to give until she had nothing left.
Her heart beat hard and fast, her blood flowed from her hands. She just needed…
Spark.
A spark.
A flare.
A flame.
She felt it. It was there. Like a beacon. She reached out and grasped it, pulling it greedily toward her, infusing her circle with this new power. It rushed up her arms, into her heart, fuelling her.
Mother.
Her mother had joined the Circle in the sacred vault. Her mother had claimed her rightful place and had directed her power toward Hazel. Dedicated power so she could save Duke. Her heart
melted all over again.
Mother.
She started the spell again. She tore the words from her memory, spoke them with a fevered dedication that came with the desperation only a battle with death could bring.
Another jolt came.
“I’m here,” Mahdyia said, power in her words. “This party ain’t over yet.”
And it came in a rush, all the power, all the words, all the magic, came to Hazel, through her, flowed out of her, and reached for Duke. The toxin in him wanted to fight her, wanted to keep eating at his poor body but she blanketed it with the counter spell, making it null as she swept through him, moving it from his cells, from his veins, from his blood and purging it from his system.
She opened her eyes to see the cloud of toxin coming from his mouth, spewing it out like a dust storm. His whole body heaved, a torrent of the stuff. She thought it would never stop. And when the last of it left and she continued to dose him, giving him whatever essence she could, pumping full of magic until he finally, finally drew in a strangled, gasping breath.
“He’s breathing.” Tate looked shocked, his eyes wide. “He’s alive!”
“He’s breathing but he’s not awake,” Hazel said, trying to keep the disappointment from overwhelming her.
“Give him a minute.” Mahdyia was on the other side of the bed, holding hands with Bridget and Bas, her eyes closed, clenched so tight it looked like it hurt. “Give him a minute.”
Hazel couldn’t cry any more. Could she? Was it possible? To get this close and never see those dark beautiful eyes—full of intelligence, full of love—look at her, be aware of her?
Mahdyia mumbled something, her frenzied words a hiss on her lips but otherwise indecipherable.
One blink. Two. A flutter of blinks. Hazel gasped.
His eyes were open.
“Duke!” Hazel unclasped the hands holding hers and shoved her way closer, draping her body onto his, her lips on his lips, her hands on his face. “Duke, Duke, Duke.”
The Witches of White Willow Page 22
