by Jaci Miller
Celeste had done well. She’d gathered the strongest and most experienced Coven members, all of which had some sort of physical power—kinetics, pyromancers, and windwitches. She’d also brought a handful of healers. Although he was appreciative of their help, the mortal witches were a mere distraction against the ancient powers of the incubus and the ancient dark. And if Dane was still in their clutches there would be nothing that could stop her from destroying them all.
His heart ached as he thought about his daughter. The loss of her mother had been such a devastating blow that she’d been easily manipulated by a darker power. He should’ve been the one to find Ella. If he’d been in town, maybe things would be different.
Celeste walked over to him and placed a hand on his forearm.
“You can’t blame yourself, Nathan. Fate has a way of making its own path whether we intervene or not. Dane’s destiny is her own as is the darkness that was fated to find her. We must pray to the goddess that her inner strength can defeat it.”
Her uncanny ability to read him had always slightly unnerved him. “You need to stay out of my head, Celeste.”
“That was not necessary. You have been carrying this guilt with you ever since Dane disappeared and it’s shifted your aura tremendously. Now we’re here and you’re about to come face to face. You are not that difficult to read, my dear friend.”
Nathan straightened. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will, and so will she. Have faith.”
Celeste squeezed his arm again before turning to the others. “Take a room and get some sleep. Tomorrow you will need all your strength, courage, and determination.”
As the witches bustled around unpacking the cars she turned back to Nathan. “What time are we to meet the celestial.”
“Midnight.” He checked his watch. “We should leave soon. Her store is in the shopping district in the center of town. It will take about twenty minutes to get there.”
“I’ll be right back, and then we can go.”
Nathan watched Celeste as she walked over to a tall, Asian witch with long, sleek, black hair. He leaned in, listened intently, and then walked away.
Returning to Nathan she said. “Kiro will ensure the readiness of the plans we discussed while we’re gone. Every witch will know their task by sunrise. Nothing will be left to chance.”
Nathan knew Kiro, but only from Coven meetings and reputation. He was an influential seer with the ability to assess future outcomes and scenarios. It made him a superb tactician. While it was difficult to lay plans for a scenario where the opponents were unpredictable and the future changed by the minute, Nathan knew he would evaluate every scenario he observed to the fullest, factoring in as many variations as possible.
The witches would be ready.
They pulled up to Gabby’s shop at ten minutes to midnight. The storefront was dark, but Nathan noticed a small light flickered in one of the back windows.
He knocked three times and waited.
A few moments later the lock clicked, and Gabby opened the door.
“Come in, quickly,” she urged stepping back and allowing them access. The bolt slid back into place as she locked the door behind them, and then led them to the supply room in the rear of the store.
An array of weapons was laid out on a long table.
Nathan whistled in appreciation.
“Take what you like. These come from the armories of Etheriem and Dywen. They have been enchanted to recognize any type of magical blood, making them easier to wield by a mortal. Unfortunately, without the blood of each witch in your party to enchant the weapons specifically too, the spell is wide-ranging. If any of these weapons are seized by a daemon, it will shift its power to the new blood.”
“Understood. Most of our elite witches are trained in hand-to-hand combat and will use the swords effectively. I have also brought a half-dozen sharpshooters who will engage from the perimeter. The bullets have been manufactured to specific specifications by our alchemists and engineers. We are hoping this design will take down a daemon with one bullet to the head.”
“And the elixirs you mentioned,” Nathan asked.
The celestial pulled a small vial from her coat pocket. A bright red liquid sloshed inside as she placed it on the table. “This is made from the poppies of Kaizi. It is a deadly tonic and can be used in multiple ways. I suggest for any who can shoot a bow, they dip the tips of their arrows. There are crates of them on their way to the mill as we speak.”
“I will spread the word,” Celeste said. “The Coven witches are the strongest New York City has. They won’t disappoint.”
“I have full confidence in them,” Gabriella responded. Her eyes flicked to Nathan. “Are you prepared to stay near town.”
He locked eyes with the celestial his mouth set in a grim line. He knew what she referred too. They’d decided he would stay with many of the witches on the outskirts of Brighton Hill as a second line of defense. He’d initially protested the idea but Gabby, in no uncertain terms, reminded him he was too close to the situation and if Dane did not come back to them, her future was dire. He’d reluctantly agreed because deep down he knew his presence there could complicate matters. If his daughter could not be saved, she would need to die.
“I am.”
Gabriella pulled a tightly rolled piece of paper from a cabinet and spread it out on another table. “These are the battle plans. We have already set the protective dome, the concealment spell, and marked the quarters with magical altars. These plans will show you how we are dividing up the elemental powers so you can decide where your people with be most effective.”
Nathan moved closer ready for a long night of preparation. Tomorrow the prophecy would pass, and they would either be victorious, or they’d watch the world fall into darkness.
Chapter 35
March 23, 2016, eve of the full moon
And from the ashes of the old world, chaos, destruction, sickness, and death will rise. Time will stand still, and the world will cease to breathe. At that moment only the fate of one will matter.
–The final entry in The Book of Realms
Rafe stood on the back deck watching what may be the final sunset disappear behind the horizon. After tonight, the world could exist in endless darkness. A river of pain and suffering washing over those unlucky enough not to have died.
He thought about Dane.
Had Adaridge reached her?
He could not let himself believe her destiny was one of darkness. She would find a way back to the light and come back to him.
His mind shifted to Lucien Beck and his hands began to tremble. The incubus needed to die at Dane’s hand or another’s it did not matter for he deserved nothing less than death. If Dane failed, Rafe would find a way to seal his fate.
Sebastian’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “We have mere hours before the moon is at its peak and the prophecy either comes to pass or a new day will be born upon this earth. Let us prepare.”
As he entered the kitchen, he found the others waiting. They stood around the large table, a rough blueprint of the old flour mill and its surrounding property, laid out on top.
“We must contain the daemons and the battle to the mill’s property. A protective dome surrounds the perimeter indicated by the red circle.” Sebastian pointed to the map.
“The dome encircles about seven acres of property including a portion of the lake,” Stevie interjected glancing at Kai.
The elder warrior continued. “Stone altars have been built at the quarters. These altars control the dome, and each will contain one of the portal stones. The stones will act as a conduit for the elemental magic of the Thanissia Universe. Your powers are effective on earth but as there is no elemental magic contained within this world, they may weaken over time. Using the portal stones to infuse the dome with ancient elemental energy from the ether
will sustain the strength of your powers.”
They spent the next hour going over their battle plan, formations, tactics, and use of magic.
“Everyone knows their task, yes?” Sebastian asked.
Gabriella spread her wings. Her iridescent eyes sparkled in the light of the rising moon. “This night will be our last stand. Pray we do not fail otherwise tomorrow will be bleak and our future unbearable.”
“Well, that was encouraging, Gabby,” Stevie said, shaking her head.
Kai agreed. “Not sure you should be giving the pep talks anymore.”
Her feathers ruffled. “We have battled the ancient dark before and lost. You must not underestimate the task ahead. It is dire.”
“Understood,” Elyse said, redirecting the building tension. “Shall we go? It will take time to prepare the site.”
The others agreed.
“The Book of Realms. Where is it?” said Sebastian. “We need to ensure its safety. If the prophecy fails and this world succumbs to evil, it must be destroyed. The book cannot fall into the hands of the ancient dark or his minions.”
“Hidden. In the forest,” said Stevie pointing toward the back yard. “We thought it best not to leave it lying around. I’ll retrieve it and meet you at the mill.”
Sebastian nodded. “Hurry, we will need all the powers of the ancients but most definitely yours.”
“I will be there long before midnight with the book,” Stevie said running from the house. Like a wisp of smoke in the wind, she faded into the darkness.
Deep within the woods behind her house was a small pond. It was surrounded by a dense grove of pine trees and therefore hidden from view and not easily accessible. Not many knew of its existence. A few years ago, Stevie discovered the trees grew in a specific formation around the pond and if you moved in the correct direction you would find a small path winding through their trunks like a maze.
The pond’s surface lay still, frozen by a thin sheet of ice. Its breathtaking serenity still captivated her even after all this time. The water had a magical way of sparkling under both the sunlight and moonlight even on cloudy days or when it was ice-covered as it is now.
It was her secret spot and the perfect place to hide the Book of Realms.
Snow crystals crunched underfoot as she walked to the edge. It was colder here, deep in the woods, and she shivered. Somewhere under the muddy snow-dusted shoreline, the Book of Realms called to her, its magic reaching forth luring her toward it. She crouched down. Placing her palm on top of the muddy earth she moved it back and forth until she felt the magical energy pulsing underneath.
Using a small garden tool hidden behind a rock, Stevie dug up the ancient tome. Pulling it from its hiding place she brushed off the mud and debris and unwrapped it from the plastic bag protecting it.
The book felt warm to the touch and the moonlight cascading through the pines ignited the leather in a spectral light.
In her haste to exit the clearing, she stumbled on a tree root. The Book of Realms sailed from her grasp as she landed face down on the cold soil. Picking herself up she walked to where the book lay, open. Wind swirled through the trees ruffling the sheets of paper and flipping them back and forth. The light of the rising moon caught the pages, and they quieted. Squatting, she ran her fingers lightly over the words the moonlight had revealed. She studied them for a moment before picking up the book and running as fast as she could back through the woods.
The abandoned flour mill was silhouetted against the full moon and the fields were awash with its silvery light.
Stevie checked her watch as she climbed from her vehicle.
It was almost eleven.
Diego ran ahead, nose to the ground as she glanced around at the hectic scene before her. The others were busy setting up traps and barriers to both contain and destroy the daemons, which would certainly emerge from the pods at any time.
She grabbed the Book of Realms and walked over to Sebastian.
“Here,” she said handing the heavy tome to him.
His eyes narrowed as he took it from her and placed it atop a pile of rocks, covering it with a white cloth. From his tunic, he pulled an ampoule of clear liquid and placed it atop the book.
“If we cannot defeat the ancient dark this vial must be broken, and the book set on fire. The liquid it contains is the one thing that can destroy the magic contained within.”
Stevie nodded. “About the book. There was something—”
She was interrupted by a group arriving from the darkness.
A tall, mocha-skinned woman cloaked in dark green walked to where they stood. Holding out her hand she smiled. “I’m Celeste.”
Sebastian took it in both his own. “A pleasure. Nathan told us of your arrival. Thank you for your assistance. I am Sebastian and this is Stevie.”
Celeste’s eyes flicked between the two immortals. “While this may not be our fight one of our own has affected the prophecy’s course. For this, we are responsible and will stand with you until the end.”
His green eyes crinkled at the corners as he squinted at the small delegation of witches behind Celeste. “And the others?”
“There are over a hundred more on the outskirts of town. Nathan is with them and will ensure the town’s defense should we fail to contain them here. Whatever may come, we won’t falter. Not while at least one witch stands.”
“Good. I will be just a moment and then I will show you the grounds and the battle plan.”
He returned to the task of covering the pile of rocks with boughs of greenery, camouflaging the Book of Realms from sight.
“Remember where this is Stevie for you are the only one with the power to ignite it from afar.”
A brazier stood a few feet away, and he lit the kindling inside setting it ablaze.
As the fire ignited a line in the dirt a trench of flames snaked toward the next brazier, which in turn lit another until the entire perimeter was ablaze in a ring of fire.
“This will make it easier to contain the daemons. It will also give you fuel for your elemental magic.”
“And the dragons?”
Sebastian glanced at her as a haunting memory passed over his eyes.
“Let them reign down destruction on the mill itself. We must destroy the portal Lucien has created for the ancient dark. Once it rises, the dragons might be our most effective weapon against it, especially if we cannot access the power Dane holds.”
Sebastian walked away leading the witches of New York across the expanse of the mill’s grounds.
She stood with Diego at the edge of the property watching as immortals, witches, and her friends scurried around, turning the abandoned mill into a battleground. There would be no time to tell any of them what she’d seen in the book—the strange words that revealed themselves to her under the light of the full moon.
Nor was there time to decipher their meaning.
Chapter 36
The time was almost upon them.
Each immortal took a group of modern witches and prepared each quadrant for the fight ahead. The initial battle plan was designed to thin the herd of daemons which would surely flood the mill’s grounds once their pods broke. If they could minimize the early threat, they might have a chance.
Celeste, Jon, and Alistair were key to this succeeding.
Using her necromancer powers and a reverse incantation Celeste would fell as many as she could while Jon cloaked her from the daemons’ sight. As both their powers required total concentration, Alistair would protect them from any threats.
Currently, the three of them were stationed near the loading dock hidden by a row of old dumpsters. Behind them and to the right of the mill, Kai and Tauria had taken refuge by the water’s edge near an old oak tree. Three witches from the New York Coven were with them.
Stevie and Rafe were positioned near the Boo
k of Realms at the back of the property closest to the road. The pyromancers surrounded the outer edges ready to manipulate the fire in the braziers as necessary. Together, Brannon, Sebastian, and Killenn stood ready for battle. Drow had taken up the left flank with Marlee and Elyse and the windwitches.
The kinetics stood at different points around the mill ready to fling sharpened sticks, heavy boulders, and vials of a toxic flammable elixir Stevie had created from the Kaizi poppies. With their minds, these witches could direct their weapons wherever they wanted with impressive precision.
Kiro moved among them, his eyes glazed to white and his hands shifting as if moving unseen chess pieces across a board.
The full moon ebbed in and out as gray clouds sprinted through the night sky. The air was tinged with late winter crispness and a light dusting of snow covered the open field.
In the distance, across the lake, a rumble could be heard echoing through the dark.
Is it supposed to rain? Stevie thought to herself as the late-night sky shifted and rolled above her. Her reaction to something so mundane and normal as the weather surprised her but as she looked around the field at the others, she supposed it may be an involuntary reaction to the fact that nothing about this night was normal or mundane.
The brightness of the moon had a calming effect by veiling the approaching evil. Her eyes followed the subtle shimmer that rippled across the dome as the cloaking spell invoked by Jon was infused with ancient magic. The braziers burned brightly and the altars, set at each quarter, glowed with the light of the portal stones.
Everything seemed serene but the shifting feet of the witches and the anxious energy surrounding them said otherwise.
Two shadowy figures emerged from the side of the mill both wrapped in long black cloaks.
The hackles on Diego’s back raised as he emitted a warning growl.
“Dane,” whispered Stevie as they left the shadows and moonlight illuminated their faces.
