“She will die, won’t she?” I ask. “If it’s like the history books have claimed it to be, it means one strike at Moyer and Sarmira will be released, but at the sacrifice of Maura Moyer.”
“I’m afraid so. I see no other option. Do you?”
“No. But her spirit will be released, will it not? Will her soul be saved? I see my grandmother locked away within her own mind. I can hear her and feel her.”
“Yes, Moyer’s soul will release, along with Sarmira’s. Unfortunately, we cannot perform an immortality spell on Maura, or it will also transfer to Sarmira.”
I don’t know why, but for some reason, I feel sorry for Maura Moyer now, knowing what I know. It’s like Sarmira had chosen her long before she had a chance to make a choice.
“It must have frustrated Sarmira, when she failed to capture Maura as a child?” I ask, and I begin to think of ways of how I can defeat this evil witch.
“That is your soul looking to forgive—to have empathy where others cannot find it possible to pardon such heinous acts Moyer has committed.”
I’m brought back forcefully again at how I’ve come to this being my fate. My destiny. My mind begins to reel with fury, knowing that Sarmira has ruined my family. I will get revenge if it’s the last thing I do.
Chapter 17
Maura Moyer
Present Day:
Storm River Manor
I laugh at her attempts. “It seems you fail at every effort to thwart my family from succeeding in getting Wynter to her destiny. You may have me in your clutches, Sarmira, but you won’t get hold of her.”
“You think so?” Sarmira, questions. “I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I got you, didn’t I? And you…you were so easy. I’m thankful your father never destroyed that mirror after I killed your mother. Poor soul, she didn’t have a chance. And why your father, he hadn’t a clue what really happened to her. They all thought she died of natural causes.” Sarmira gives a wicked laugh. “Now, I have you exactly where I want you. Your body works for me…for the time being, anyway. I imagine once I have Wynter where I want her, you’ll have served your purpose.”
“You failed to acquire her gifts at eighteen,” I scoff.
I’m joyful my granddaughter escaped. When Sarmira planted the dream stamp on Wynter, I was able to get somewhat of an upper hand. I knew Isalora would find Wynter and try to rescue her. Sarmira may have gotten all my past thoughts and history, but something I discovered while under Sarmira’s possession was she couldn’t get into my mind for any present or future thoughts. I might be forced to endure her evil, but at least she cannot gain my plans for escape. I know I will die. I don’t fear it: I embrace it. For I will finally be released from the shackles Sarmira has placed upon my soul.
“What are you doing? Why are you quiet?” Sarmira demands.
“Nothing,” I riposte. “What is it exactly that I can do? Oh, that’s right…nothing. Nothing but sit here and watch you wreak havoc upon my family. I’ve grown numb to your threats, Sarmira. Not only have I grown tired and bored of you, but I’ve grown to see that you are possibly dispensable after all. I have faith that my granddaughter will pull this off.”
“You dare speak to me that way? I could kill you at any moment.”
“Go ahead. I see a dagger over there on your nightstand. At least I’d be free. We both know you won’t do it. You have too much to lose. I have nothing but time, but you?” I laugh at the irony. “You haven’t much time before they destroy you. They’ll find the sword, Sarmira, and when they do, you will become nothing…the past…dead…gone forever to the hell you came from.” I laugh out loud so hard that it escapes my body Sarmira possesses, and the people around her take notice.
“Is everything all right, Madame Moyer?” Cole asks.
“Fine. I was visualizing something,” Sarmira hisses.
I give Sarmira a smirk. “See, I told you. You’re weakening as we speak.”
“Shut up!” she screams aloud. Her servants scamper and hide from her odd behavior.
“What? Have I gotten under your skin, Sarmira? Or shall I say…mine?”
Sarmira paces the floor, as her servants watch in wonder. I bet they think she’s gone mad, although they have thought that for a while now.
“Madame Moyer, is there something you need?” Cole asks.
“Yes! I need some sustenance. Bring me some food, and I don’t want just any soul. I want a human.”
Chapter 18
Rory Fernshadow
The Past:
The Cottage at Strom River Manor
We take our seats around the fire, except Stella; she wanders to a chair near a window. I notice the snow begins to fall` again but not as forceful as before. We watch as Isalora adds another log to the hearth. I’m furious that the weather and Isalora’s candid dinner party has thrown us off the timeline. We should be out there now, hunting every predator we can find.
Isalora asks, “Would anyone care for more refreshments?”
“I’m about done with the caffeine intake.” I raise my half-filled mug of coffee. “Can we just get this party started already, please? The weather has let up, and we’re days away from the first full moon. We have a task to accomplish, and I feel like you’re dawdling. Are you hiding something? Is this why you continue to keep us waiting?”
Silence commences around the room, and Thom breaks the tension, saying, “Ale would be nice, ma’am.” He glares at me, as though my comments were out of line.
Isalora purses her lips. “Right.” Shooting a brief glance at him, she paces toward me. “Did it ever occur to you, Rory, that there are others beside yourself in this room. Do you have a death wish? Because my dear”–she points towards the window where it’s now pitch black, except for the outside lights that illuminate the drizzle of flakes landing on the back deck—“if you go into this without so much as a plan, I’ll tell you: You…will…fail.”
She turns to the rest of the group. “In the meantime, there are other pressing matters to tell you.” She glares at all of us, as though not to dare interrupt her again. “Stella, be a dear, would you accommodate our friends with hardy drinks?”
“My pleasure.” She stands and snaps her fingers. Appearing at Akira’s feet is a bowl of milk, and ales for the dwarves are set upon the coffee table.
I furrow my brow. Isalora has gotten under my skin. “Hmm. Magic tricks now, huh?” I’m not amused.
The others give wide-eyed looks.
Raising an eyebrow, Isalora lips curve into a proud smile. “She’s been practicing simple things for now. Stella will become better in time.”
I’m about to ask what that means when a glow appears from the loft, drawing our attention, and we watch as two figures appear.
“Welcome home, boys,” Isalora says. “Gather around, the festivities are just getting started.”
“Wait,” Zak speaks. “We have something to share first.”
“Please don’t tell me you ran into my grandmother?” Isalora huffs a laugh.
“What? No, but we did run into the four Elementals,” Cory remarks.
That grabs Isalora’s attention. “Say what?” She pops to the loft, startling both Cory and Zak. “This goes a little deeper than I thought. What did they say?”
“What does this mean, Isalora?” Stella calls.
“The Council it appears have gotten their noses in the matter.” Isalora zaps to the fireplace.
Her movements begin to irritate me. “Would you please stop that?”
“Stop what?” She disappears again. “Oh, you mean this?” she asks, standing behind me, as she taps my shoulder.
I jump. “Yes!”
Chuckles flit around the living room.
“Can you at least try and act like you’re alive while we’re here?” I ask, annoyed.
Isalora smiles. “Fine. You spoil all the fun.” She paces back to the fireplace, saying, “If what you say is true, and you two were visited by the four Elementals, then there is more encompassing
issues at stake than the mere defeat of both Moyer and Sarmira.”
“But the Elementals are not part of the Council,” Zak interrupts.
“No, but it means my father is involved, though,” Isalora admits.
“Your father? But didn’t he die long ago, when our family escaped Moyer’s wrath?” Cory asks.
Isalora doesn’t elaborate. She disappears into a ball of light, zooms up to the loft, and vanishes.
The rest of us all stare at each other, clueless.
“What’s that all about? She leaves, at a time like this?” Arryn asks.
“Okay, so now what?” I ask. “She abandons us here without so much as a warning. You know we can’t wait for her. I say we go now, get the Storms, my sister, and leave here as soon as possible.”
“I agree. We keep going without her,” Cory adds. He turns to look at Stella, sitting next to one of the dwarves, and asks, “What can you tell us about the compound? Has it changed?”
“Well, as you know, Cory, it’s heavily guarded. More so, after you and Wynter escaped.”
“Has anything new altered, besides Moyer producing more Shadow Walkers?”
“Well, other than what Isalora mentioned before about Aoes jumping back time, Nora will be brought to a cross, where they will pile the books from the library, and burn her, along with many Storm family members. Including Blair, Chad, Cole, and Derek.”
“What about Redmae?” I ask. “What happened to her? Can you remember before time was reset?”
“It’s hard to recall,” Stella muses. “It’s like bits of a past that didn’t really happen. You know, like déjàvu or a faded dream. I barely remember what happens to the Storms, let alone anything else.
“Try,” I probe. “Think. It’s important. We need to know how to approach this mission. To keep history from repeating itself.”
Stella closes her eyes. She crosses her arms over her chest and hunches in on herself, rocking back and forth, as though she’s in a trance. We watch her closed eyes, and she winces a few times. “Casey is riding upon Redmae’s back, holding a torch. He’s about to light everyone tied to a stake,” Stella says.
My stomach churns with bile, knowing my sister is bonded so tightly with Casey already.
Stella goes on, “I see Daniel watching and feel the evil within him fester with satisfaction. He stands next to Moyer, grinning. The others remain in the distance, away from the flames, acting as shaded beings rather than Shadow Walkers. Her stare ignites some of the piles.”
I watch as Stella’s eyes grow big, and she bursts out saying, “She sees me observing.” Stella shakes her head, whispering, “No.” In the next second, she falls against Thom’s shoulder.
“What happened? Is Stella okay?” I ask
Cory checks her pulse. “She’s alive but knocked out cold. We should probably lay her down.” He feels her forehead. “She’s burning up. But then again, I have a different temperature than some of you.”
I, too, feel her forehead. “Someone grab me a cold washcloth. Cory’s right—she is hot to the touch.”
“What do you suppose happened?” Zak asks.
“My guess?” Cory says. “She encountered one of Moyer’s dream stamps.”
“Dream stamp? That’s what you think this is?” I ask. "How is that possible? This cottage is protected.”
Arryn finds a fresh cloth and wets it, saying, “This cottage may be protected, yes, but Stella’s mind is not. If she’s who I think she is, Moyer knows she’s here on the grounds somewhere now and will come looking. We need to get her to the Hall of Secrets where she cannot be touched.”
“But isn’t she safe here?” I ask.
“To a point, yes,” Cory adds, “but the longer she sleeps, the more vulnerable we become. Moyer will find this cottage. She will see Stella here, and she will figure out it’s hidden by magic. Once she’s figured that out, all Moyer has to do is counter the magic that protects this house.”
“We need to wake her up,” Dom says, his tone urgent. “I hate dream stamps.”
I begin to worry. “If someone gave her a dream stamp, it’s going to be next to impossible to wake her.” We hear wolves begin to howl.
I look around to see the worry on everyone’s faces. “The wolves know. They’re on the hunt now, aren’t they?” I ask. “This is my fault. If I hadn’t asked her to dig deeper, none of this would have happened.”
“Rory, you couldn’t have known. None of us saw this coming,” Cory says, trying to reassure me.
Arryn begins to pat Stella’s cheeks, hoping to wake her. “Get some cold water. Cold snow from outside, maybe?”
Cory elevates the back of her neck and prepares to lift Stella off the couch. “Better yet,” he says. “Put her in the shower.”
Arryn and I look at him as though he’s’ crazy.
“No, Cory’s right,” Dom says, “it might work. We need to wake her as fast as possible.”
The howls of wolves feel like they’re getting closer, and Akira begins to appear restless. He starts pacing the living room floor and his tail twitches. “Still,” Arryn insists, “one of you go out and grab a bucket of snow and fill it.”
The dwarves dart glances at each other.
“Hurry up, before they find us!” she says.
“Be careful with her,” I warn, as I watch Cory dash to the back hall towards the bathroom.
He ignores my remark as we follow him. Zak turns on the cold shower, and Cory places Stella in the tub. Thom and his brother come in a few minutes later with a bucket of snow and dumps it over the young girl. It takes a few seconds before she awakens.
“What the hell?” Water splashes her face. She sits up, soaked. “What’s going on?” Stella cries, wiping her face with her hands. The howls begin again, and she looks around. “Wolves.”
“Yes, but you’re awake now. They’ve lost your location.”
“It doesn’t mean they don’t know the vicinity. Moyer will be looking,” Arryn interrupts. She stares Stella down, appearing anxious. “You were knocked out cold. How do you feel? We needed to cool you down. You were burning up with a fever.”
I feel her forehead, and it’s cold to the touch.
Stella’s lips twist down in irritation, and she begins to get up. Zak holds her left arm to help. “Well, it appears I’m fine now.” She looks up at Zak and smiles. “Thank you.” She takes in a deep breath. “I should get out of these wet clothes. I’ll meet you by the fireplace in a few minutes.”
I make my way back to the living room with Cory, asking, “What do you think this all means?”
“It means Moyer won’t take long to catch on. The next time Stella falls asleep, she will find us, now that she has had a dream stamp placed on her.”
“Then we have to get her out of here tonight,” Thom says. “You can’t expect her to sleep here, now do ye? That malevolent witch will find us all.”
We don’t wait long before Isalora pops back in the loft.
“Did you miss me?” she jokes.
“Actually, yes we did,” I snap. “We think Moyer might have placed a dream stamp on Stella.”
“That’s impossible, unless Moyer has had the chance to compel her. She hasn’t left the cabin, has she? What happened when I was gone?”
We all keep quiet, staring at each other.
“No, she hasn’t left the cabin…” I begin.
“Then nothing to worry,” Isalora adds, coming down the steps and bringing a basket filled with fresh herbs.
“Where did you get those?” I can clearly see they are from our world.
“I met with someone on the ghostly plane who gave me this basket. We were out of a few items.”
I can see Isalora isn’t telling us everything.
She peers at each of us, giving us a suspicious look. “Am I missing something? You all appear guilty. What are you up to?”
“Well,” Cory starts, “Stella was telling us about the past, before Aoes turned back time, and what took place when Nora was
put to death.”
“But something strange happened,” I cut in, “I asked Stella to dig deeper into what happened to Redmae.”
“You didn’t?” Isalora drops the basket she’s carrying. “Where is she now?”
“Getting dressed.”
“Did she acquire a fever?” she asks, looking at Cory.
“Yes. And we couldn’t wake her, but the cold shower did it.”
Isalora glides down the hall to the girl’s bedroom and knocks. “Stella? Please open up.”
A few seconds later, Stella emerges dressed, with a towel in her hand, patting her head and drying her brown, curly locks. “Isalora what’s wrong?” she asks.
“Tell me what happened?” Isalora pulls at Stella’s hand, guiding her to the living room and bringing her near the fire.
“Isalora, I’m fine, really,” Stella insists.
“Did she get to your dreams?”
“Who, Moyer? Why would she be able to do that? What do you know?” Stella’s face shows fear.
“Listen to me,” Isalora presses, “when you were trying to help, what exactly did you see?”
“It’s a little foggy right now, but I remember telling them something about the Storms burning at the stake.”
I step in, saying, “It wasn’t until I asked about Redmae that Stella screamed.”
Isalora asks, looking directly into Stella’s eyes, “Did Moyer see you?”
“I—I don’t know. I can’t remember.”
“Stella said, ‘she sees me,’ before she screamed and fainted,” I say.
“Cory, you need to compel her now,” Isalora insists. “Moyer has placed a dream stamp. I’m sure of it.”
“That’s what we thought, too,” Thom says. “We immediately heard the sounds of wolves after Stella went unconscious.”
“What do you want me to say?” Cory asks.
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