The Witches of the Dark Power

by Gabriella Lepore

  Siren listened to the rhythm of her footsteps. Slow and steady—the trancelike movements of someone bewitched. Someone under an Enticement spell.

  And there she was, right on cue. She began down the staircase, staring into the vacant space around her. She didn’t see Siren; she didn’t even see Jonathan as she stepped over him.

  Siren opened the main door for her, and she swept straight through.

  His lips formed into a crocodile smile as he watched her cross the courtyard beneath the purple moon.

  ‘Bye, bye, little girl,’ he whispered. ‘Enjoy your trip.’

  He closed the door with a resounding thud.

  Chapter Ten

  Bewitched

  A dark bank of clouds rolled across the moon, veiling it. Mia crossed beneath the hedge archway, her eyes trained straight ahead.

  ‘Come to me,’ Colt whispered in her mind. He goaded her forward with his inescapable command.

  She felt nothing, saw nothing, heard nothing—only him. He flowed through her every fibre, intoxicating the furthest reaches of her mind, luring her to him until she existed only for him. Her limbs, alive with the desire to reach him, were no longer her own.

  ‘Come to me,’ he chanted again. His voice was different now, calmer and not quite so urgent. Almost as though he knew she was on her way. She had succumbed to him. She was under his spell, following his command.

  His voice was unafraid.

  She was his.

  Colt trembled under the strain of the magic. He had her—he could feel it. He could feel her moving closer towards him, the pound of her feet hitting the earth in time to the beat of his heart.

  ‘Come to me,’ he said into the mist. He squeezed his eyes shut as the vibrations of the magnetic pull jolted through him in electric waves.

  Even on the cold winter’s night, sweat had begun to bead on his brow. He rocked backwards as the weight of the dark enchantment coursed through him.

  ‘Come to me,’ Colt said again through clenched teeth. He stumbled backwards, crashing into a tree. The rough bark dug into his spine. The magic was proving to be stronger than he had ever imagined.

  But he wouldn’t stop now. He couldn’t. She was so close.

  His body began to tremor. He could feel the spell taking hold of him. It was too big. The distance between them had been too great to execute a ritual like this, and the struggle to maintain it for so long rocked through him.

  He fought back, holding on to her in his mind. He couldn’t release her yet; she was still on Glass Castle land. He couldn’t get to her there.

  He needed her here.

  Stop, a voice nagged at the back of his mind. This isn’t you.

  Colt blocked out the sound of his own subconscious. It was true, though. This wasn’t him. He didn’t do rituals—not rituals like this, anyway. The Enticement, the charmed mist . . . It wasn’t his way.

  How had it come to this?

  He’d lost control. Not in the same way that Mia had, as she moved robotically at his will. Colt had lost control of everything except the drive to hold on. The drive to keep going until he had her.

  ‘Come to me,’ he rasped again. His head rolled back, clipping the tree trunk. Above him, the braches began to sway wildly. They blurred before his eyes.

  Colt dug his feet into the dirt and braced himself against the tree trunk. He bowed his head and focused on the ground as it spun around him.

  All he had to do was hold on for a little while longer.

  Just a few more minutes and she’d be his.

  Chapter Eleven

  The Blame Game

  The voice grew louder in Mia’s mind. Vaguely she was aware that she was walking towards him. He’d been in her mind for too long, though. It felt cold, and dark, and . . . wrong. His words felt like snakes moving under her skin. Even in her incoherent state of semi-consciousness, she could feel his presence invading her. But the presence wasn’t the Colt she knew; it felt like a new, shadowy Colt who was casting the Enticement over her. She wanted to shake him out of her—to hear her Colt’s voice again, not the voice of this possession.

  Ahead, a wall of mist rose from the grass. Mia ventured into it, powerless to resist. All at once, his presence rushed out of her, as though it had evaporated in a sudden rush of smoke.

  Mia gasped. She opened her eyes wide, seeing clearly for the first time in hours, yet unable to see a single thing through the layer of mist engulfing her.

  She reached through the air, feeling her way amongst the tall trees.

  ‘Colt!’ she cried.

  The mist parted to reveal Colt leaning, exhausted, against a tree trunk. His head was dropped and his eyes were barely open.

  Mia rushed to him. She took his face in her hands and guided his gaze to hers. His eyes were unfocused, and the green hue had been eclipsed by bottomless black pupils encircled with rings of blood red.

  ‘I’m here,’ Mia whispered. She kissed his lips to draw him back to her, but he was unresponsive. He looked straight through her, as though she didn’t exist.

  ‘Come back to me,’ Mia urged. ‘Come on, Colt. Be . . . normal! Well, be you,’ she revised.

  ‘I am me,’ he murmured darkly.

  The tone of his voice sent a chill down her spine. But she refused to be afraid of him.

  She gently moved her arms around his waist, enveloping him. Then she eased him to the ground, where they sat entwined together at the base of the tree.

  ‘Wake up,’ she soothed. ‘This is all just a bad dream, and it’s time to wake up now.’ She kissed his cheek. He shied away from her, but she kept her arms around him all the same, preserving their connection.

  ‘Colt,’ she pleaded, ‘where are you? I know you’re in there somewhere.’ She looked into his eyes again. They were still black and dead.

  ‘Don’t you recognise me?’ she asked.

  He still didn’t respond.

  She leaned against him and wrapped her fingers around his. She stayed that way for a while, silent and contemplative in her own private thoughts.

  At long last, Colt spoke. ‘You’re here,’ he said weakly.

  ‘Of course I’m here!’ Mia exclaimed. She met his gaze; his eyes were green again, echoing the colours of the pine forest around them. ‘Where else would I be?’

  ‘In the castle,’ Colt said with a wry smile. ‘Blocking my Enticement.’

  Mia took a deep breath. ‘Is that why you took my blood that night, when we were in the nook in the castle wall?’ she asked openly. ‘Because you knew you’d need an Enticement over me?’

  ‘No! I didn’t . . . I wouldn’t . . .’

  She squeezed his fingers in response. ‘It doesn’t matter, anyway. I didn’t need an Enticement to come here. I only needed directions.’

  Colt raised an eyebrow. ‘Aren’t you afraid I brought you here to kill you?’

  ‘No.’ She frowned. ‘Did you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Exactly. So why would I be afraid?’

  He laughed quietly. ‘You’re too trusting.’

  ‘Don’t patronise me,’ Mia scolded. ‘I know who I can trust and who I can’t. And I’ll be damned if I can’t trust you.’

  Colt leaned in and kissed her.

  ‘I had to bring you here,’ he began. ‘I need you to know . . . About earlier, what I said when we were training outside. I didn’t mean it. At least, not in the way it sounded—’

  ‘It’s okay,’ Mia cut him off. She couldn’t bring herself to think about that right now, let alone talk about it. ‘None of that matters. We’ve got bigger things to worry about. Like, what were you doing with the spell to steal the Arx?’

  ‘I was guarding it,’ he professed. ‘I thought that would have been obvious to everyone.’

  The wind began to blow erratically through the branches overhead. Absentmindedly, Colt raised his palm, shielding them from the cold as he directed the breeze to bypass them.

  Mia sighed. ‘I believe you,’ she said. ‘But the others
aren’t so forthcoming.’

  ‘But the real conspirator is still out there,’ Colt reminded her. ‘And I think I know who it is.’

  Mia’s mouth went dry.

  ‘I have a theory,’ he said.

  ‘Go on,’ Mia prompted.

  ‘Jonathan.’

  ‘Jonathan?’ Mia laughed in spite of his seriousness. ‘It’s not Jonathan!’

  ‘Of course it’s Jonathan!’ Colt exclaimed. ‘He appeared out of nowhere, befriending you, gaining your trust . . .’ He grimaced. ‘It’s imperative that you stay away from him at all costs.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Don’t ever speak to him again. Ever.’

  Mia thought back to Dino’s remark earlier that evening. ‘You can’t accuse people just because you don’t like them,’ she told Colt.

  ‘Why not?’ he challenged. ‘If I don’t like them, then they’re usually not worth liking.’

  ‘Look, if it was Jonathan, or Demetrius, or anyone else from the castle, surely Amos and Wendolyn would have suspected something.’

  ‘Amos and Wendolyn are blinded by their outdated beliefs. They trust everyone.’

  ‘Except you,’ Mia pointed out.

  ‘Because they are blinded!’ Colt grew exasperated by her non-compliance to his theory. ‘Mark my words, Mia. Jonathan is to blame for all this. That’s why we need to get the Tome of Black Magic out of the castle and back where it belongs.’

  ‘And where’s that?’ Mia asked.

  ‘With me.’

  ‘Yeah, right!’ Mia spluttered. ‘That’ll really help your case!’

  Colt kicked the dry leaves around them.

  ‘Okay,’ Mia groaned, running her hands through her hair, ‘let’s just say, for argument’s sake, that it’s not Jonathan. How are we going to prove that it’s not you?’

  ‘By proving it’s Jonathan.’

  Mia let out an impatient sigh. ‘And if it’s not Jonathan?’

  ‘It is.’

  They had reached an impasse.

  ‘He can’t hurt you if he doesn’t have the spell to steal the Arx,’ Colt pointed out. ‘That’s why I need it here—and I’ll have it soon enough.’

  ‘What makes you so sure you can get it?’

  ‘I have my ways,’ he replied mysteriously.

  ‘So, Siren’s bringing it?’

  Colt frowned. ‘Why do you assume that Siren’s my only option? I have many ways of obtaining many things.’

  There was a beat of silence.

  ‘But, yes, Siren’s bringing it,’ Colt concluded.

  ‘You’re not doing yourself any favours,’ Mia warned him. ‘Siren could get in big trouble, and this won’t help clear your name.’

  ‘I shouldn’t have to clear my name!’ Colt shot back.

  Mia held up her hands in submission.

  Colt exhaled wearily and glanced to the moon overhead. ‘It’ll be dawn soon. You should head back to the castle before anyone wakes to find you gone—or else guess whose tarnished name they’ll be pointing the finger at?’

  ‘I hate thinking of you out here on your own,’ she said, lacing her fingers through his.

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ Colt assured her. ‘It’s you I’m worried for.’

  He rose to his feet, lifting her along with him, and they began through the mist towards the boundary of the Glass Castle forest. When they reached a small clearing that to Mia looked like any other, Colt stopped abruptly.

  ‘I’d walk you farther, but . . .’ Colt said regretfully as he gazed to the distant turrets of the castle, lit by gentle moonlight. He reached out and touched the air in front of him, then drew his hand back as though his fingers had been burned. ‘Yep. Access denied,’ he noted. ‘They must have already done the exile spell.’

  Mia hugged him.

  ‘Take care,’ Colt whispered into her hair. ‘And stay away from Jonathan.’

  She laughed softly.

  ‘You will, though, won’t you?’ he pressed. ‘Don’t spend any more time with him. It makes me . . .’ he trailed off, stumbling over his words. ‘I don’t like it,’ he finished.

  Understanding his meaning in a way that he couldn’t express, Mia nodded. She gave him one last kiss before setting off towards the castle, knowing that Colt’s eyes were on her the whole way.

  Mia heaved open the heavy oak door and crept into the dark castle, treading lightly so as not to disturb anyone. The sun still hadn’t risen, so she assumed that the rest of the inhabitants continued to sleep, completely unaware of her late-night encounter with Colt.

  She slunk towards the staircase.

  ‘Hi.’

  The voice startled her. She spun around on the bottom step. ‘Jonathan!’ she gasped. ‘I didn’t see you there.’

  Jonathan was standing in the shadows of the castle entrance. She must have passed right by him without noticing.

  ‘Where have you been?’ he pried. His eyes wandered over her, assessing her windswept hair.

  ‘Look, Jonathan,’ Mia began, clasping her hands together beseechingly, ‘you can’t tell anyone I left the castle. Please. They’ll kill me.’ Her inadvertent use of the word kill sent gooseflesh over her arms.

  Jonathan’s eyes stayed glued to her. Their pale blue hue was haunting in the castle’s dim light. His expression was not open and friendly as it usually was, but rather severe and condemning, as though he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  He took a step towards her.

  Mia found herself edging back, gripping the stair rail. ‘You won’t tell them, will you?’ she pressed. ‘Because I’m fine. Nothing bad happened. And now I’ll go straight to bed. I just had to . . .’

  Jonathan stalked towards the staircase. He moved his hand along the banister until his fingers touched Mia’s. She pulled her hand away.

  ‘You love that monster,’ Jonathan murmured, almost as though he were talking to himself.

  ‘Colt’s not a monster,’ Mia replied hoarsely.

  ‘Deceitful monster,’ Jonathan elaborated introspectively.

  ‘You don’t know him,’ Mia insisted. ‘He’s not the one trying to steal the Arx. You’ve got the wrong person.’

  He looked down at the runner carpeting the staircase. It was like a river of deep red flowing beneath his feet. ‘He’s the obvious culprit,’ Jonathan murmured. ‘Everyone thinks it’s him—’

  ‘But it’s not him,’ Mia interrupted.

  ‘Everyone thinks it’s him,’ Jonathan went on. His expression grew pensive. ‘And why wouldn’t they? He’s a Hunter. A monster.’ His eyes took on a faraway look as if he were recalling distant memories. When he spoke again, his voice was dark. ‘Anyone who could knowingly plot such a warped crime deserves to be exposed. Needs to be exposed, to stand as a lesson. If not, all witches might turn to vengeance and black magic once again, just like in the olden days . . .’

  Mia shivered. ‘Jonathan, you’re scaring me. You need to get some rest and—’

  He looked up, meeting her eyes again. ‘I am rested,’ he said. ‘In fact, tonight was the first night I’ve slept since . . .’

  Mia held her breath, afraid of what he would say next.

  ‘. . . since I first foresaw your death,’ he whispered.

  Her heart began to beat faster. ‘Why don’t you go back to bed?’ she suggested. ‘It’s been a long night.’

  Jonathan shook his head and let out a hollow laugh. ‘You’re right,’ he said, feigning an easy smile. ‘It has been a long night. I think I’ll head up to my chamber.’

  Mia released a tense breath. She turned and began ascending the staircase, then stopped. Jonathan still hadn’t moved from the downstairs hallway.

  ‘Aren’t you coming?’ she asked in a hushed voice.

  ‘In a minute,’ he replied vaguely.

  She summoned a smile. ‘Okay. Well, goodnight.’

  ‘Goodnight,’ he returned. ‘Oh, and Mia?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Don’t worry. One way or another, there’ll be justice.’

>   Chapter Twelve

  Lifeline

  Later that morning, Mia awoke to a stream of sunlight flooding in through the gap in her bed curtains. She groaned and rolled onto her stomach, hiding her face in the pillows.

  Had last night really happened? In the cold light of day, it seemed utterly unreal.

  Still submerged in bedding, she used one hand to draw her bed curtains apart. She peered out into the room. Dino’s curtains were open and his bed was empty and unmade.

  She guessed she’d overslept. Which was understandable, seeing as though she’d been up most of the night—not to mention the miles she’d walked to get to Colt.

  She curled into a ball beneath the sheets, feeling the ache of her calf muscles. Who needs a cross trainer when you’ve got an exiled boyfriend?

  There was a knock on the bedroom door.

  Mia peeked out from her nest. Her heart rate quickened. Did exiled boyfriends knock?

  ‘Who is it?’ she called.

  ‘Mia.’

  She frowned. ‘I’m Mia.’

  ‘Right. Mia, it’s me. Amos.’

  ‘Oh.’ She sat bolt upright. Amos was knocking on her bedchamber door? It must be serious, she decided. ‘Just a second!’

  She jumped out of bed and bounded across the room to the wardrobe. In a fumble, she threw on a smock dress and leggings, then combed her fingers through her hair.

  ‘Come in!’ she beckoned to the closed door.

  The brass handle twisted and Amos stepped into the room.

  ‘Hello, dear,’ he said sombrely, his round owl eyes nervous. ‘How are you feeling this morning?’

  ‘Fine!’ she said brightly.

  Oh, wait, she stopped herself. As far as Amos and the others were concerned, she’d been in bed asleep all night, having left the drawing room in a furious state. Assuming Jonathan hadn’t blabbed, that was.

  ‘I’m okay,’ she amended. ‘I’m sorry I walked out like that last night.’

  Amos sighed. ‘No need to apologise. Last night was difficult for all of us. I’m aware that you and Colt have become particularly fond of one another, and I can’t imagine how distressing it must have been for you to learn of his betrayal.’