“He knew it was coming. He died for this,” Brite said. “Sorry, that was blunt.”
“It’s the truth,” Annie said.
Callum turned and observed the river and the distance they had come. “We are far enough from any potential massacre and far enough from…” he looked in the direction of Everard’s cottage. “There will be plenty of demons to choose from here.”
Annie agreed and stepped back inside the trees, scanning the landscape for a smallish creature that would be easy to control should they need to. Callum followed Annie as they sidestepped a demon; Brite and Rhys walked through the trees farther northeast while Byrony and Gibbs walked southwest. They observed the demons breathing and snoring, watching for any that might be stirring, ready to wake.
Annie and Callum both pointed to one demon at the same time. He glanced at Annie, sighed, and motioned to the others. Byrony and Rhys nodded, held their palms up and froze the area. The spell was tricky, and only worked on nonmagicals and non-humans. And while they could attempt the spell during an attack, it was much harder to contain the magic when the objects of the spell were not stationary. In this case, hidden well inside the trees, they were able to freeze all creatures that were inside, leaving the witches and wizards free to work.
Once Annie and Callum observed the frozen creatures, Callum reached for the demon’s wrist and pulled it up for Annie.
“Ready?” Annie asked.
He nodded quickly and summoned water from the river, holding it above his palm and warming the liquid.
Annie pulled out a bottle, twisted off the lid, and cut across a blue vein in the demon’s wrist. She held the bottle against the cut and summoned the blood to the container. Callum blanched beside her. Annie’s stomach churned. When she felt she had enough, she put the lid back on.
“Your turn,” she said.
Callum placed the water on the demon’s wrist, sending a healing spell to the open wound. Beside them, a demon snored softly. Annie turned and watched its chest rise and fall with each breath. “Hurry! The spell is wearing off,” Annie whispered loudly.
Flustered, his hand shook wildly spilling some of the puddle. When the skin healed, he dropped the water, grabbed Annie’s forearm, and teleported her from the forest.
They arrived to the fire pit and were pelted with the wicked storm.
Brite arrived with Rhys next.
“Well?” Annie asked.
Gibbs and Byrony arrived minutes later.
“It’s done.” Rhys said as he walked to his cottage and slammed his door. Byrony pursed her lips as the village was blanketed with pouring rain.
“And why are you worried?” Annie shouted over the thunder.
“They are his children. Everard will know.” Bryony turned and marched across the village, entering her cottage, and leaving them alone in the rain.
*
“That was the first thing that went well,” Annie said. She glanced at the new protection spell. It was not as strong as the first but would be secure enough to keep the demons inside the trees.
“It definitely helped having their magic.” Brite passed Annie a sandwich.
She took it but didn’t eat right away, choosing instead to watch the forest. Water found its way through the window moistening her hair and skin. She let it hang on her; the closest to a shower she had since they arrived.
Absently, she bit into the sandwich as she met a demon’s stare through the window. “They’re waking up,” Annie said. She turned toward the other window facing the coven and glanced out. Rain didn’t hinder the coven from their chores as they crisscrossed the wet earth with baskets or carcasses. As always, Etheldreda and Bega tended the fire that allowed Annie, Gibbs, and Brite to communicate with the coven and the Vikings.
Annie wadded up the plastic wrap and held the ball. She closed her eyes, her mind wandering to Jorvik, to Sturtagaard and his missing wife, to the missing princess.
“So, how do you want to work this?” Brite asked.
Annie glanced at Brite and summoned her crystal. She touched the crevices and stared at the center. “I’ll pour the blood on here and say a linking spell. When that’s done, I’ll set fire to the blood.” Still holding the crystal, she wrapped herself in a heavy blanket, sat on the bed, and returned her attention to Everard’s Book of Shadows. While she believed in her plan, she hoped he might offer a clue on how to kill his “babies.”
“We need a safe place for you to perform it,” Gibbs said.
“Uh-huh,” Annie said as she turned another page.
“You listening… Annie?” Gibbs asked.
She held up the Book of Shadows. “Sorry, engrossed in the coven black. I heard you. We need a safe place to perform the spell. I’m thinking the longhouse,” she said.
“Byrony said Everard knows. I suspect he’ll be there,” Brite said.
“If we were home, I wouldn’t doubt you and Gibbs could take him easily. He’s old. But his magic is strong and we aren’t consistently at full power,” Annie said.
Gibbs summoned a vial of clear liquid and stared at it. “Graham Lightner gave this to all wizard guards to use in those instances we come across a vampire attack victim close to death. Just one drop,” he said.
Brite looked at him with his jaw opened.
“No. Find another way to keep him from me,” Annie said.
Gibbs pocketed the poison. “Fine, we’ll rely on protection charms and spells. And what’s your plan if it doesn’t work?”
“I don’t know.” She dropped the book and closed her eyes. Zola’s protection charm rested between her breasts and she pulled it out of her shirt.
“Zola told you to summon her when you arrived,” Brite said.
“Wizard council restrictions,” Gibbs reminded him.
“Yes and no. Besides the restrictions, you two were a surprise they hadn’t expected, but are well aware of now. They know we aren’t at full strength, and I stupidly hinted about Gila Donaldson’s secret. I have no secrets, no way to protect myself from Gila’s plan. Zola is my secret weapon, and I want to bring her in when it would impact us the most.” Annie pulled the necklace off and held the charm in her palm. “I think it’s time to summon her.”
Chapter 29
It was well past sunset. Gibbs stood like a sentry at the open cottage door and glanced around the empty village. It had been two hours since any coven member had ventured outside and an hour since Etheldreda and Bega had switched places with a coven member, Henry Debenham, at the fire. Periodically, he’d look to the cottage, see all was well and return to keeping the fire burning strong.
“Only Henry Debenham at the fire. You’re good to go,” Gibbs said.
“Okay. Wish me luck,” Annie said. She held the necklace and stared at the design. “I should have called her sooner.”
“Don’t second-guess your decision. Just call for her,” Gibbs said as he watched Henry carefully.
Annie wrapped the necklace around her hand and held the amulet in her palm. She closed her eyes and pictured Zola, her petite frame, her golden hair, her bright green eyes. She said, “Zola. I need you. Zola, please come and help me.”
It took very little time for young Zola to come from the fairy region of Spain to the small cottage in Northumbria.
Unfazed, Zola glanced at the woman who summoned her. She smiled politely. “May I ask who you are?” Her bright green eyes sparkled with happiness in a way that was so familiar to Annie. The fairy unfurled delicate, transparent fairy wings that sparkled in the firelight. She placed her hands together and stared at Annie.
Annie handed Zola the amulet. Zola held her necklace in her palm and stared at her insignia stamped in the center.
“Where did you get this?” Zola asked in a gentle, yet mildly accusing tone.
Annie stared at Zola, the same fairy she would know and love in the future and yet who now didn’t know her.
“You give that to me in eleven hundred years,” Annie said. Her hands shook slightly at the stran
geness of having Zola here, and yet, she didn’t really have her Zola. This Zola had yet to witness the Black Plague, the discovery of the new world, the Revolutionary War, even Desert Storm. She didn’t know Annie or have any feelings for her. Annie held her breath as she observed Zola and wondered if summoning her was a good idea.
“You are my charge,” Zola said.
Annie nodded. “I’m Annie Pearce.”
Zola’s wings flapped wildly, as she processed the news.
“I felt something… odd for the last few days. How long have you been here?” Zola asked.
Annie explained the last two days. In the telling of it, she felt dizzy and weak. If she hadn’t lived through it, she might have believed the storyteller was lying or crazy.
“I only have one charm. I can feel my magic running through it,” Zola said. She kept focused on her protection charm, her mouth twitching as she attempted to piece together what Annie had told her. “Why you?”
Annie summoned the written prophecy, the seal still attached to one side of the parchment scroll, and handed it to her.
Zola read quickly and said, “Most know that when Aloja fairies are born, they are linked to their future charges.” She looked at Annie. “But that’s not quite what it is. Even if a medium or the Fates see the future, the future is fluid and can change for any big or small reason. As an example, I might be linked to a future charge, but if the parent dies before my charge is born, then the future changes.”
“What does that have to do with Annie?” Brite asked.
Zola chuckled. “I’ve known from my birth that Annie was one of my charges. But had one of her parents passed before she was born, the future would change and I would receive a new charge.” The protection amulet swayed as Zola looked at it. “I am very glad to meet you now. It’s just… I wasn’t expecting to meet you for another eleven hundred years, give or take.” She placed the necklace back around Annie’s neck. “You must be in grave danger if I sent you back with this.”
Annie’s lip trembled and her eyes welled with tears. Instinctively, Zola reached for Annie and wrapped her arms around her future charge. Annie hadn’t expected the rush of emotion at seeing her Aloja fairy, especially a version of her that didn’t know her, but in that moment she was overcome. She took in Zola’s familiar scent—wildflowers on a spring breeze, so familiar to her. Annie shook and cried.
Zola held her tightly, like she would in her future after her mother’s funeral or when her father died, or even when Dave broke up with her their senior year of school. Annie’s pain and fear were Zola’s pain and fear; the fairy understood her more than anyone.
“You will be okay. I feel this,” Zola said.
Annie pulled away and wiped her eyes. “It’s weird. I’ve been smelling Dad’s scent when the thunder roars. Like he’s here with me. But seeing you and touching you is so much more comforting.”
Zola placed her hand on Annie’s cheek. “How can I help?”
“I wasn’t sure what to expect when we came here. I’m restricted in what I’m allowed to do and who I speak with, including you.” Annie chuckled, her nerves brittle as she wrung her hands. “I only trust John Gibbs and Michael Brite. Which, if we were at home and at full strength, would be more than enough. But our magic didn’t come through the time portal at full strength. We’re back to almost normal, but performing magic is so draining and it’s depleting the coven of necessary magical energy. I think I could complete the spell fine, but there’s some things that are a bit troublesome.”
Annie explained what they had learned while in the coven, about Everard and the demons and the future coven.
“And I didn’t tell you any of this?” Zola asked.
“No. You only told me you were supposed to do something for me but were unable to do so. You warned me not to tell you what that was for fear of changing the future,” Annie said.
Zola paced along the window, deep in thought. “You should be angry with me too.” She stopped and leaned against the fireplace. “I can see why you do not trust this coven. Had they done their job, none of this wouldn’t have happened.”
“You didn’t record anything for Annie,” Brite reminded her.
Zola looked at Annie. “I guess I thought the charm would be enough. That I should only help you with this.” She bit her perfectly curved and plump bubble-gum-pink lips. “I’m sorry you were forced to clean up someone else’s mess. You need protection. All of you. And you will need help getting through the portal.”
Zola waved her hand across the table, summoning their three field packs.
“What do you need?” Gibbs asked.
“Herbs and crystals. Seeing that you are all feeling the ill effects of the magic while here, I should create a protection spell for you,” Zola said.
Each emptied their packs of crystals and herbs and watched as Zola searched for specific ingredients. She pulled sprigs of Angelica from Gibbs’s pack, sage and rosemary from Brite’s, and bound them together with the spine of a mug wort plant from Annie’s. “You do keep yourselves well stocked,” Zola commented.
Zola summoned their crystals and broke off a small piece from each. She placed the pea-sized shards into the cooking pot that hung above the flames and dropped the herb bundle inside, covering it all with water. The water bubbled and smoked and turned the crystal from light pink to a dark green. Zola stirred the potion, examined the rocks, and pulled them off the fire when they turned black. She cooled them with a flick of her wrist and held them in the palm of her hand. “They’ll be more effective if you swallow them,” Zola said.
Annie glanced at Gibbs and Brite, who looked at her in return. They each swallowed the hard rock. It rolled down Annie’s throat slowly. She felt the rock hit her stomach and sit there. The magic quickly warmed her, spreading from her middle to her arms and legs to her head.
“And you feel good?” Zola asked them.
“I’m warm and tingly,” Brite said.
Gibbs cast a large fireball and held it above his palm. He made the flames dance and move before dropping the magic. “Good here,” he said.
Zola looked at Annie. “And you, my sweet?”
“All warm and protected,” Annie said. “You’ll stay with me?”
“I’m not leaving you. I fear what will happen when you receive magic not meant for you. It may have been taken from someone else, it might not…” Zola stopped.
“What?” Annie asked anxiously. As her time in the past was rolling to a close, she felt her anxiety rise. “Zola, it’s almost over, please tell me before I have to do this.”
“Every magical person is born with that extra magical chromosome. And when the magic comes in, it is the magic that the witch or wizard was meant to receive. It forms to them, molds to their DNA.”
“We all know this,” Annie said.
“Magic isn’t given as a reward. You don’t receive additional magic as you get older. That magic you received as a child was yours. It was the only magic you were meant to receive. I fear the additional magic could harm you.”
“I never asked for it,” Annie whispered.
“I know.” Zola placed both hands on either side of Annie’s head and looked her in the eyes. “I will stay here until you go home. We will figure out what to do if there is a problem. The prophecy doesn’t say when you’ll get the magic or how. Just pay attention around yourself and your body. From all you’ve told me, I don’t trust any of them.”
Annie nodded. “I’ve already started getting new magic.”
Zola glanced at her, her eyes grayish-green with worry. “What magic?”
“Astral projection. I can see the magic spell in the trees,” Annie said.
Zola sighed. “That’s disconcerting.” She held on to Annie’s shoulders. “Can you pull yourself together and do this?”
Annie nodded again.
Zola kissed her charge on the forehead. Annie could feel herself calming. She breathed slowly. “You must sleep because, in the morning, everything w
ill change.” Annie felt a spark at the fairy’s touch and shivered.
“I was right to send you to me.” Zola smiled.
*
Annie tossed and turned through the night but, as she promised, Zola remained by her side, gently touching her cheek and calming her with kisses to her forehead. Still, Annie woke before dawn.
“I should have given you a sleeping draught,” Zola said when Annie sat up in bed.
“You’ll come to learn, I’m not a great sleeper,” Annie said. She summoned her field pack and pulled out an apple. When she finished, she tossed the core in the fire and reached inside for another item.
“I’ll stay beside you. Let your team do their jobs.”
Annie nodded and reached for a sandwich. “I can’t wait for a shower and real food.”
“I’ll make you your favorites when you get back,” Zola said.
Annie chuckled. “I love you. You are very important to me. I don’t think I’ve ever told you that,” she said.
“I feel it. But it’s nice to hear,” Zola replied.
Annie took a bite of a sandwich, chewed slowly, and felt the food sit in her stomach. “I’m really scared.”
Zola sat beside Annie on the floor. “If you weren’t, I’d be worried.” She pulled Annie’s hair into her hands and combed it with her fingers, pulling out knots and smoothing the curls. Annie summoned her protection amulet, a gold barrette Zola would give her when she turned four, and handed it to Zola.
“Should I know where this comes from?” Zola asked as she clipped up Annie’s curly hair.
“No.” Annie lay her head on Zola’s shoulder. “You know what’s coming, don’t you?”
“I live with the Fates. I know enough. Just remember, I will always be there for you,” Zola said.
They sat on the floor in silence, waiting for the sun to come.
*
“It’s quiet,” Gibbs said as he continued to watch the village. He searched for the old man, Everard, for the coven members, for the demons.
“That’s positive,” Annie said as she gathered her supplies and repacked her bag. When she had what she needed, she took in a deep breath and looked at Gibbs.
Wizard Hall Chronicles Box Set Page 131
