The Witches of the Dark Power

by Gabriella Lepore

Blue was trotting to keep in stride with him. ‘I’m right here.’

  Dino glanced fleetingly at Blue. ‘Oh, sorry,’ he said, blinking. ‘I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to Mia.’

  Blue’s eyes flickered to the embankment, then back to the dark forest behind them. ‘She’s not here.’

  Dino’s brow furrowed. ‘I know, but I can sense her. Her emotions are high.’

  ‘In a good way?’ Blue asked hopefully.

  Dino’s silence answered the question.

  ‘Do you know where she is?’ Blue’s voice reflected his concern.

  Dino shook his head. ‘No.’

  As they continued towards the castle, Dino felt his heart begin to race.

  ‘What’s she feeling?’ Blue pressed.

  Dino rubbed his temples. ‘It’s all a jumble, but she’s feeling like . . . I don’t know . . . it’s weird, but I think she’s calling me. It sounds like she’s scared.’

  Wordlessly, they picked up their pace, moving quickly beneath the moonlight. As they crossed into the gardens, Dino stopped in his tracks. ‘It’s getting louder,’ he told Blue. ‘We must be getting close.’

  They began weaving in and out of the tall hedges, following a sound that only Dino could hear. After a while, he paused.

  ‘Come on, Mia,’ he willed. ‘Don’t cut out on me now.’

  Suddenly, he glanced to his left.

  ‘There,’ he said triumphantly, pointing. He broke into a jog, and Blue set off after him.

  A short distance away, just out of sight from the main path, Mia was peeking out from behind a hedge wall. When she saw them approach, she stepped out into the open.

  Dino paced forward. ‘What happened?’ he asked breathlessly.

  ‘Jonathan’s dead,’ she blurted out. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering.

  Dino’s eyes widened.

  ‘H-h-how do you know?’ Blue stuttered.

  ‘I heard Demetrius and the new Hunters talking,’ she explained, pressing her hand to her brow.

  ‘Colt,’ Dino spat, then cursed under his breath. ‘You know, he almost had me fooled.’

  ‘Poor Jonathan,’ Blue murmured.

  Mia bit her lip, tears pooling in her eyes. ‘Demetrius went inside to tell the others.’

  ‘Right,’ said Dino, thinly. ‘Then we need to go inside, too.’

  He took Mia’s arm, but she squirmed out of his grasp.

  ‘No!’ she cried in a tearful voice. ‘I can’t go in there.’

  Dino and Blue exchanged a troubled glance.

  ‘Why not?’ Blue asked.

  ‘Because they all think Colt did it!’

  Dino’s jaw dropped and a look of dismay crossed his face. ‘He did do it! Please tell me you’re not still defending him.’

  ‘Colt didn’t do it,’ Mia insisted. ‘He couldn’t have.’

  ‘How can you believe that?’ Dino exclaimed.

  ‘Because I know Colt,’ she choked. ‘And he promised me.’

  Dino groaned. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re still buying his act? Think about it, Mia—who else would have done this?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘But, please, Dino, it wasn’t Colt. You have to believe me.’

  ‘He’s got you brainwashed!’ Dino snapped. ‘You’re not thinking straight. Colt killed Jonathan—and if you’re not careful, you’ll be next.’

  ‘You’re wrong,’ she shot back. ‘I swear to you, Dino, Colt isn’t the one behind this.’

  ‘Think about what you’re saying,’ he beseeched her.

  ‘You think about it.’

  They stared at each other, neither one willing to waver.

  At last, Blue cleared his throat. ‘Can I say something?’ When only the moan of the wind responded, Blue continued. ‘It’s just my opinion,’ he said. ‘And I know my opinion doesn’t count for much, and I’m not taking sides or anything. And I’m probably wrong . . .’

  ‘Go on,’ Dino prompted. ‘Tell her.’

  ‘Okay.’ Blue cleared his throat again. ‘My opinion is,’ he began, wincing as he prepared to say the words, ‘Colt isn’t the one behind this.’ He took a quick step away from Dino, adding, ‘Don’t hate me.’

  As Mia exhaled in relief, Dino slapped his hand to his brow. ‘Are you two freaking insane?’

  ‘No,’ Mia jumped in. ‘You are. We’re not falling for the scare mongering, that’s all. We’re not sheep.’

  ‘You are sheep,’ Dino spluttered. ‘Colt’s sheep.’

  Blue held up his hands in a gesture of peace. ‘Let me explain,’ he said. ‘I’m not siding with Colt. Far from it. You know he makes me n-n-nervous. But this is about more than Colt. It’s bigger than him. There’s a b-b-bigger picture, Dino. I know there is.’

  Dino knotted his fingers through his hair. ‘What’s the bigger picture, Blue? Spell it out for me. Because, I’ve got to tell you, I’m having a hard time seeing what you guys are seeing.’

  ‘If Colt is responsible,’ Blue began calmly, ‘then I admit we’re all doomed.’

  Dino groaned loudly.

  ‘But if he’s not,’ Blue went on quickly, ‘then whoever is responsible has got us all playing right into their hands. They’re picking off all our best defences one by one. First Colt, then Siren, and now Jonathan,’ Blue ticked them off on his fingers. ‘Okay, so Jonathan wasn’t the brawn, but his mind was outstanding.’

  Mia’s eyelids dropped.

  For a moment, Dino took stock, chewing over Blue’s theory. ‘Say you’re right,’ he said at last. ‘Say there’s logic to what you’re saying. Then who exactly is behind this? If it’s not Colt and Siren, then who the hell is it? It’s got to be someone at the castle, or someone close to the castle, because they got to Jonathan. They’re on our land.’

  Blue drew in a deep breath. ‘I think it’s Isaac.’

  Mia gasped. ‘Why?’

  ‘I don’t trust him.’ Blue looked furtively along the hedge walls, casting a brief glance into the moonlit garden.

  Mia followed his gaze. ‘Look,’ she reasoned in a hushed voice, ‘we all have a tendency to accuse people based on our personal feelings. Right, Dino?’ she asked pointedly. When Dino didn’t respond, she continued. ‘Isaac’s a jerk, sure. But he’s not capable of . . .’ she lowered her voice, ‘murder.’

  ‘How can we be so sure?’ Blue argued.

  ‘Wait a second,’ said Dino, exasperated. ‘We can’t jump from Colt, to Isaac, to whoever else we feel like pointing the finger at. There’s no evidence to suggest that it’s anyone other than Colt right now—’

  ‘To hell with the evidence!’ Mia cried. There was a catch in her voice. ‘Jonathan is dead. This is real. And whoever did it is walking free, laughing at us.’

  ‘I think we should go back and speak to Colt,’ Blue said. ‘If he isn’t behind this, then we really need his h-h-help.’

  Dino ran his hand over his brow. ‘And if he is behind this? Then what? We’ll be walking right into his trap.’

  ‘To be honest with you, I’m terrified,’ answered Blue, his voice suddenly assured in spite of his grim words. ‘Terrified that I’m wrong, and terrified that I’m right. But if there’s someone out there who’s more frightening than Colt, then I’d at least want Colt on our side when we face it.’

  A heavy silence hung between them for a moment.

  ‘Dino,’ Mia implored, ‘either come with us or step out of our way.’

  Dino closed his eyes and laughed bitterly.

  What choice did he have? Of course he would go with them. But as far as he was concerned, they were all lambs to the slaughter.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lost and Found

  Colt leaned back against the rough tree trunk. Perched on a sturdy branch high in the treetops, he was hidden from view behind heavy boughs. Of all the places in the world, this one felt most like home to him.

  Idly, Colt plucked at the pine needles and sprinkled them onto the forest floor below. They sank into the mist and
disappeared from sight.

  ‘How long do you suppose we’ll be out here for?’ came Siren’s forlorn voice from the tree adjacent to Colt’s.

  ‘Not much longer,’ Colt replied. ‘I’m in the process of devising a plan to get us back into the castle where we belong.’

  ‘Alright. Hurry.’

  ‘I will.’

  There was a pause, and then a rustle in Siren’s tree. ‘Do you remember when we were children and the forest seemed so vast and endless?’

  Colt smiled wistfully. ‘Yes.’

  ‘It seems small now,’ Siren mused. ‘And quieter, too, now that it’s just the two of us.’

  Colt’s teeth clenched. He tried to ignore the sudden pain that stirred within him. The Glass Castle forest did seem small now. Colt knew every tree, every rock, every single inch of the land. And now here he was on the outside, looking in, and everyone was gone. Everyone but . . .

  ‘Siren?’ he called.

  ‘Yes, brother?’

  ‘You’ve been loyal to stand beside me through my exile.’

  ‘I don’t exactly have a choice in the matter, since I appear to be exiled, too.’ Siren was silent for a long moment. ‘Do you think those two Arcana squealed on me, even though I did as they asked?’

  Colt thought about it. ‘No, I doubt it. You know how infuriatingly moral Arcana are.’

  ‘Regardless, since I can’t get past the castle boundary anymore, I suppose I’m stuck out here for who-knows-how-long.’

  ‘All the same,’ Colt pressed on, feeling melancholic. ‘You know, I shall not forget your loyalty. Even in death I shall remember you. You are an honourable brother and friend.’ He paused to sigh deeply. ‘If I am to die here, perhaps in this very tree, I want you to carry on the coven without me. You’ll be leader, and I only ask for you to speak my name every now and then—every day would suffice—so that the generations that follow can know of my tragic and inspiring story. They will remember me as a fine and noble warrior—’

  There was another rustle from Siren’s tree, and a pinecone landed with a clunk on Colt’s head.

  Colt frowned and rubbed the affected area, then continued. ‘A fine and noble warrior who—’

  He was struck by another pinecone missile.

  ‘Siren, cease fire!’ Colt ordered. ‘This is my parting speech. As such, I’d appreciate it if you would refrain from assaulting me with pinecones during the delivery of these heartfelt words.’

  Siren groaned. ‘Colt, my friend, when it is our inevitable time to leave this earth, I sincerely hope it is I who departs first, because I cannot sit through another farewell monologue. I have endured at least ten this week alone! I’m growing fervently tired of our long goodbyes—only to find that, lo and behold, you live to fight another day!’

  ‘Life is short, Siren,’ Colt snapped. ‘And death can be quite unexpected. I just want to ensure that I’ve had a sufficient farewell to you, before I no longer have the chance to honour you with my words.’

  Siren snorted. ‘Rest assured, your precautionary farewells have been more than adequate.’ He hesitated. When he spoke again, his tone had softened. ‘Brother, forgive me if I’m wrong, but I suspect it is not I whom you wish to bid farewell.’

  Colt was silent.

  ‘I have said goodbye to them,’ Siren went on candidly. ‘To Lotan and Roc, I mean.’

  Colt went rigid at his words.

  ‘Yes—I speak their names aloud!’ Siren proclaimed. ‘Oh, how you must envy me! I’ve said their names, and yet, by some miracle, I’m not tortured by their deaths. Not like you are, anyway.’

  Colt clenched his fists. How could Siren taunt him with the names of their fallen coven? How could he talk so lightly of their brothers who’d been murdered in cold blood?

  ‘Don’t mention them in front of me,’ he snarled.

  ‘Lotan and Roc,’ Siren repeated. ‘Say their names, Colt. Say their names and say goodbye, and let us all finally be free. Do you think I don’t hear your torment? I’m not just a Sententia—I’m your brother as well. And I know you better than you dare imagine.’

  ‘Enough,’ Colt warned through clenched teeth.

  ‘You’re foolish to suffer pain when it’s in your power to cure it,’ Siren went on, ignoring him. ‘Say your long goodbyes to them, not me. I’m still here with you, and I suspect I’ll be here with you for many years to come.’

  Colt kicked the branches, making pine needles scatter to the ground below. ‘You’re wrong,’ he said tightly. ‘I know nothing of pain. Pain doesn’t touch me. Anger at their murder, yes. But pain is weakness—and I am not weak.’

  ‘Aha! The weak one doth protest too much,’ Siren quoted. There was a hint of a teasing smile in his voice.

  Colt opened his mouth to protest some more, but just as he did so, he detected a new scent travelling on the breeze. It was slowly drifting up into the treetops.

  They had company.

  ‘Colt?’ Mia’s voice called softly through the forest.

  ‘Speak of the devil,’ Siren murmured. ‘Here comes the very root of your weakness, right on cue.’

  ‘To hell with you,’ Colt muttered as he swung his legs over the branch and dropped down through the mist, landing on the ground below with ease.

  Mia, Dino, and Blue jumped, startled by his entrance.

  ‘To what do I owe the pleasure?’ Colt asked them in a silken tone. ‘Is this a social call or purely business?’

  ‘Business,’ Dino replied bluntly.

  Colt smiled a little. This one is wasted as an Arcana, he decided. ‘Go on, then,’ he said aloud. ‘What is it now?’

  ‘It’s Jonathan,’ Mia began in a fragile voice.

  Colt rolled his eyes at the mention of the Arcana’s name. ‘Oh, him again.’

  ‘He’s . . .’ Mia took a deep breath. ‘He’s dead.’

  For a moment, Colt was taken aback. ‘Oh,’ he said, surprised. ‘Really? How strange.’

  ‘How strange?’ Dino echoed in disbelief. ‘A boy is dead, and all you can say is, how strange?’

  Colt pressed his knuckles to his mouth, deep in thought. ‘Yes. How strange,’ he muttered again.

  ‘You killed him, didn’t you?’ Dino demanded.

  Colt looked only at Mia, staring intently into her stone-grey eyes. Does she doubt me, too? he wondered. This does look suspiciously like something I might do. Come to think of it, did I do it? He had to think back for a second. No, he finally decided. I definitely would remember if I’d done it.

  ‘I didn’t kill the boy,’ Colt answered at last. His gaze locked on Mia’s, watching for her reaction. She still trusted him—he could feel it.

  The Conjurer spoke up now. ‘If you d-d-didn’t k-k-kill Jonathan, then who d-d-d-d—’

  Colt sighed impatiently.

  ‘—d-d-did?’ Blue finished.

  ‘Someone with motive,’ Colt mused.

  ‘You have motive,’ Dino pointed out.

  ‘You do have motive,’ Mia agreed, shocking him. ‘So prove to them it wasn’t you.’

  She may have asked him to prove it to them, but Colt sensed that deep down she was really asking him to prove it to her.

  ‘I can’t prove it,’ Colt replied simply. ‘All I can give you is my word.’

  Dino scoffed.

  ‘You thought Jonathan was the one trying to steal the Arx,’ Mia reminded him.

  Colt frowned. ‘Now I’m thinking that perhaps I was mistaken.’

  ‘What about . . .’ Dino lowered his voice, ‘Siren?’

  ‘It wasn’t me!’ boomed an outraged voice from above.

  Blue jumped and a small squawk escaped from his throat.

  There was a rustle in the treetops as Siren dropped down from his perch. He brushed the pine needles from his clothes and glared at Dino. ‘Who’s to say it wasn’t you?’

  ‘Of course it wasn’t me!’ Dino spluttered at the accusation.

  ‘But it could be,’ Colt argued. ‘It could be any one of us. And I have no w
ay of figuring it out unless I can get back into the castle.’

  ‘You’re bound from coming back,’ said Blue. ‘It would require a c-c-coven of four strong Arcana to break the exile spell.’

  Siren pressed his index finger to his chin, pretending to think. ‘Hmm,’ he mused. ‘One, two, three,’ he counted, pointing to the three Arcana before him. ‘One more and we’ll have a full house.’

  ‘Don’t include me in this!’ Dino fumed. ‘I’m not helping you. And you can forget about convincing any of the others to help—’

  ‘Perfect,’ Colt cut him off. ‘That’s what I need you to do—speak to the elders. If not Wendolyn, then Amos and the other women. Convince them they’ve made a mistake. Convince them to end this exile.’

  Mia sighed. ‘How can we possibly convince them?’

  ‘Try,’ Colt implored her. ‘I’m useless out here. I need to get back in—and then we can finish this, once and for all.’

  When Mia, Dino, and Blue arrived at the castle, their mood was low. They hadn’t spoken much on the walk back, and the atmosphere between them was tense.

  Dino heaved open the arched oak door and they trudged inside the cavernous castle. They found Cassandra pacing anxiously along the candlelit corridor, trailing smoke from a burning cluster of sage that she held in her grasp.

  She gasped when she saw them. ‘What are you three doing out of bed?’

  They looked between one another for an answer.

  ‘We couldn’t sleep,’ Mia responded feebly.

  As luck would have it, Cassandra was too preoccupied to question it. She let the sage burn to ashes and scattered it at the entrance. ‘We need all the protection we can get,’ she muttered. ‘Since you’re all awake,’ she said a little louder, addressing the trio now, ‘I suppose you should come with me. There’s something I need to tell you.’

  They looked between each other again, already knowing what she intended to tell them.

  She led them into the drawing room, where they found seats and listened sadly as Cassandra relayed the news of Jonathan’s death. Dino and Blue pretended to be shocked by her announcement to keep up their cover story, but Mia’s tears were for real. Cassandra went on to tell them that Wendolyn was still unconscious, and that Amos and Madeline had taken the station wagon to return Jonathan’s body to the Lighthouse.