Witch Hunter Olivia

by T. A. Kunz

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to see anyone in my whole life,” she says, sending me a wan smile.

  I take her by the arm and feel a heavy surge through my midsection, but do my best to ignore it since getting Angelica out of here is more important. I assist her the entire way until she’s safe and sound outside.

  When I emerge from the pile of sticks, I flop out onto the ground and lie there staring up at the night sky. A sense of calm washes over me at the thought that at least this part of the mess is over.

  “Olivia Adams.” I tilt my head back to see the two who just spoke. Their images are upside down, but there’s no mistaking who they are. The Torres twins. “It seems we meet again.”

  “You win. You got me. I surrender,” I say, throwing my hands up in the air and waiting for the silver cuffs to be slapped around my wrists. I’d argue, but it’s probably easier to give in and plead my case later.

  “Glad to see you’ve gotten smarter since than the last time we saw each other,” Lexi, the slightly taller twin, says as she draws out a pair of shiny cuffs from the pouch attached to her hip. The sound they make as they clasp around my wrists brings back fond memories of my first witch tag and bag … but that’s a story for another time.

  I’ve been in the holding chambers underneath Guild headquarters many times before, but this is the first time I’ve been on this side of the bars. Now I know why a lot of witches change their ways and clean up their acts after spending time down here in this dank and crummy place. It’s literally an underground dungeon complete with lit sconces lining the walls. If anyone needed any proof that this organization is stuck in the dark ages, all they’d need to do is take one good look around this place.

  Unfortunately, all of this alone time has done nothing but break my spirits more than they already were. Yeah, sure, Angelica’s safe, and so is my brother, but I’m still down a best friend. I’ve done everything I can to keep my chin up, but the immense guilt I feel is eating away at me. I guess I was a fool to think she’d never find out, and an even bigger fool for hoping she’d forgive me for what I did.

  The sound of a metal door creaking open and then slamming closed rings down the long corridor. It catches my attention and pulls me from my thoughts. The clicking of heels on the cement floor follows right after, sounding like they’re headed in my direction.

  “Olive?” I hear my mother’s voice call out as I see her round the corner from the hall. Her front is illuminated by the torch on the wall.

  “I’m here, Mom,” I say and she rushes over to me. We awkwardly hug each other through the bars lining my cell.

  “I heard about everything. Why didn’t you come to me with all this?” she asks in a chastising manner complete with some motherly worry as well.

  “Really? Do you have to even ask? What would’ve happened if I did?” I probe, knowing full well what her answer’s going to be.

  “A war would’ve broken out,” she answers honestly.

  “Exactly. Chalk that one up in the column of unselfish acts,” I joke, but it sounds hollow.

  “You saved your brother’s life, and the life of a High Priestess’s daughter,” she says with a weepy smile. “There’s no doubt at all you’re my daughter.”

  “That’s what they keep telling me,” I say with a soft laugh. “Is there any word on my case yet? They can’t still think after everything I’ve done that I killed Tobias, right?”

  She shakes her head with a concerned look on her face. “They let me in here so I could see you right before they bring you in front of the Elders. They said I only had a moment to talk.” She pauses before speaking again. “You gave them all the evidence, right?”

  “Yeah,” I sigh, “and it should be pretty open-and-shut, considering I practically dropped the entire case, complete with eyewitnesses, into their lap.”

  “I’m sure this is all going to work out for the best, my dear. I’m so proud of you for what you’ve done. You’ve shown great strength and willpower. You know that, right?”

  The only thing that enters my mind is Tara. I may have shown strength and willpower, but I also showed thoughtlessness.

  When I go to respond, the sound of the heavy metal door creaking open draws both of our attention. Multiple footsteps resonate throughout the hall and spill out into the cell space.

  I turn back to look at my mom. “I guess it’s time to go plead my case,” I mention, and a worried smile shows on her face.

  She pulls me in for one last hug before one of the Guild’s guards approaches to unlock my cell. My mother backs away as the door swings open and I’m ushered out of the holding pen by the arm.

  After trudging through a few hallways that all look like the holding pen area, complete with cave-like walls, we finally come to the stairs leading up to the main building. The air is much more pleasant up here on ground level as I’m marched toward the Elders’ meeting room where my hearing is going to take place. The sound of my boots clicking on the white marble floor echoes through the entire space, sounding loud in the stillness of the building. It’s like a ghost town up here.

  At the end of the corridor we’re walking down, a large dark wood door with ornate golden handles opens as we approach. A person I wasn’t expecting to see exits through it and waits there when she sees us.

  “Consider this your second favor,” Constance says as the guard holding onto my arm tries to pull me into the room past her.

  I tug back, trying to stay by Constance. “Give me a sec,” I tell the guard, tugging even harder.

  He glares at me, but ultimately eases up and allows me to stand there to chat with Constance, not letting go of my arm. “Did you testify on my behalf?”

  “Yes. I felt somewhat responsible for what happened, so I thought it was necessary to fill in some of the blanks to your case.”

  “Fill in the blanks?” I probe.

  “The reason Tobias was after Angelica, the reason I left Tobias, and what I found out about the bangle I thought was for protection.”

  The guard tugs on my arm. “Tug one more time and see what happens. Try me,” I fire at him and he stops. I turn back to face Constance. “And?”

  “I left Tobias when I found out he was only with me to get closer to my half-sister, Alana. He was a man obsessed with power, and when our relationship ended, he delved even deeper in with the dark witches. I wanted no part of it, nor did I want him a part of his daughter’s life,” she explains.

  “Angelica is Tobias’s daughter?”

  She nods. “The bangle wasn’t for protection. It was a part of his ritual to gain ultimate power for Alana. If he’d have killed Angelica while she had the bracelet on, her power would’ve been absorbed into it for him to use in his ritual. Apparently after his first two failed attempts, he decided to get a little more drastic with his methods. If memory serves me correctly, Tobias needed to finish the ritual before the rising of the moon on the fourth night after it’s begun. ” She pauses when she begins to get a little emotional. “I’m so sorry you were dragged into this, Olivia.”

  “I played my part, so don’t feel too sorry. I was a piece in Tobias’s revenge plot as well.”

  “Well, just know that the Guild is aware of everything now, and if they don’t let you go, I’ll be back, and I won’t be in a very good mood,” she says with a soft laugh.

  “Thank you, Constance.”

  “My pleasure. It was the least I could do since you saved my daughter’s life for a third time,” she says, placing her hand on my shoulder. “Oh, and one more thing.”

  I pull against the guard who’s trying to drag me into the room. “Yeah?”

  “What would you say to still looking after my Angelica for a little while? I need muscle, and you’re muscle,” she says with a smile.

  “As much as I’m probably going to regret this, I’d like that,” I say, which causes her smile to grow even wider.

  The guard finally succeeds in bringing me into the chamber of the Elders. He spins m
e around and plops me down into a stiff and highly uncomfortable wooden chair in front of a group of familiar faces framed by dark maroon velvet curtains covering the room’s large windows behind them. A polished, dark wood table is all that separates the seven Elders from me. Well, that and the shackles on my hands. Their questioning stares slam into me as I meet them eye to eye.

  “Is this really necessary?” I ask, raising my cuffed hands.

  The head Elder, Conrad Pierce, nods to the guard standing by the door. He comes over and removes the shackles. I rub my wrists to ward off the sudden itch and throbbing. “Thanks.”

  Conrad acknowledges my gratitude and then looks down at the paper in front of him. I assume it’s the official report filed by none other than the Torres twins.

  “So, explain to us in your own words what transpired at the bonfire last night,” he says while adjusting his glasses in order to get a better view of the document.

  I scan up and down the row of Elders seated behind the monstrous table, all eagerly awaiting my testimony. “You already know what happened and have every bit of evidence to prove that the little document in front of you is true. And you have the testimony of a High Priestess,” I reply, but Conrad seems to be displeased by my response.

  “I’ll admit that the report I have here is quite the compelling case, Ms. Adams. And the High Priestess Constance Delacour had some very interesting tidbits that were unknown to us. To be honest, we always suspected that Tobias Young was involved with some shady dealings, and now we have evidence to support that. Thankfully, the High Priestess was willing to let the truce stand, and we plan to do a full investigation into all parties that could possibly have ties to this matter.”

  “Good, because we wouldn’t want a war to break out or anything,” I say with a hint of sarcasm.

  He laughs to himself, but most of the Elders don’t seem to care for my comment, and it shows on their faces. “You haven’t changed a bit since your first year at the academy, Ms. Adams. We saw great potential in you then, and still do.” His remark surprises me. “You do realize what you prevented, right?”

  I shrug. “I thought we already covered this—war, right?”

  He nods. “But there’s something else. Tobias was using this possession amulet,” he says, drawing out the chained pendant from a file marked Evidence. “Do you know what this is used for?” Every one of the Elders leans forward with interrogative stares, waiting for me to answer.

  “To possess things?” I reply with more sarcasm.

  His laugh rings in my ears. “Yes, but this amulet isn’t just any amulet. It belonged to a powerful dark witch. To be specific, the very witch who caused this Guild to be formed. Tobias had his mortal body killed in a ritual to bond himself to this amulet. If he would’ve been successful in carrying out his plans, we’d have one serious problem on our hands right now. Worse than any war we could imagine.”

  “And what could be worse than a war?”

  “Well, for starters, your brother would be an extremely powerful dark witch with no trace of his former self. And there’s no way of knowing what Alana had in store for him, but you can rest assured it wouldn’t have been good.”

  “How did the bangle play into all of this?”

  He tips over the evidence folder and dumps the bracelet onto the table before picking it up. “This was a key ingredient to Tobias’s ritual. It required the sacrifice of self, which was Tobias’s suicide. The death of a person close to the one you possess with the amulet, which was you. And the sacrifice of light witch royalty while wearing this cursed bangle, which was Angelica. It’s a very specific ritual, and judging by what transpired, I’d say Tobias was close to achieving his goal. If it wasn’t for you, that is,” he explains with a smirk. “You’ve done a great service to your Guild, Olivia.”

  “My ex-Guild. And don’t for a second think I did this for you and what you stand for. I was in this for three reasons: my best friend, Tara, who died at the hands of this organization, my family, and to avoid the fallout from a war of epic proportions. There was nothing in me that was ever thinking of this Guild except when you sent out your little witch hunt to bring me in,” I answer pointedly. “And you’d better be planning on destroying both those items on that table.”

  “I assure you that we have every intention of destroying the bangle and the pendant.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  The two Elders sitting on either side of Conrad lean in close to his ear and whisper something. He nods his head while clasping his hands in front of him before resting them on the table, seeming to mull over everything he’s being told. I begin to twiddle my thumbs in my lap since there’s not much else I can do to pass the time while they deliberate.

  Conrad raises his hands, signaling the end of discussions, and the Elders relax back into their chairs. He clears his throat before he speaks. “It seems that we’ve reached a decision. Though your actions were not in the interests of the Guild, we can’t fault you for what you have done. No matter how you put it, you have shown great bravery and strong will, two qualities held in the highest regard within this Guild. This organization would be honored to have you amongst our ranks again, Olivia Adams.”

  “I appreciate what you’re doing here, Conrad, I really do, but no matter what you say, I’m not interested in coming back.” He quirks an eyebrow at my response.

  “Well, I’m very sorry to hear that.”

  “Does that mean I’m free to go?”

  “It would appear so, yes.”

  “Well, thanks for everything, but I hope our paths never have to cross again. No offense,” I say, sliding my chair back to stand.

  “So, are you absolutely sure we can’t convince you to rejoin the Guild?” Conrad asks. “You could prove to be a great asset, Olivia.”

  I laugh and surprise all the Elders sitting in front of me. “I guess I wasn’t clear enough with my previous answer. Let me put it in a way you’ll understand … no.”

  “Well, this is quite disappointing,” he says with a sigh.

  “Sorry to disappoint, but I’ve got no plans to return.”

  “Such a pity,” Conrad states.

  “This has been great fun, and I’m glad I could help stop a war and save a few lives, but if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a new life to get back to,” I say, moving toward the door.

  The guard goes to stand in my way as I try to exit, but he’s waved aside by Conrad. “Down, boy,” I comment, walking past the guard with a smirk.

  I finally feel like I’ve put the Guild behind me after leaving the room and shutting the door. They extended an offer to rejoin them and I turned them down. I’m freed from the shackles of my old life, and am looking forward to a life hopefully full of some kind of normalcy.

  “Liv,” my brother calls out, rising from one of several seats lined up against the wall in the hallway outside the room I left. He walks toward me with a sense of apprehension since our last few meet-ups were less than stellar in the brother-and-sister department. “I’m sorry for not believing you about all this.” I try to walk past him, but he moves to stand in my way, and I take a step back to put distance between us. “Liv, don’t shut me out.”

  “What, like you did to me?”

  “I’m sorry. I feel horrible for how I treated you, and even worse after how much you sacrificed to save my life.”

  “Well, you should.”

  “I know there’s not much I can say, but it’s you who I want to thank. I’m able to stand here in front of you because of what you did.”

  “Even though you weren’t exactly my favorite person in the world these past few days, we’re family, and I love you. I’d hope you’d do the same thing for me,” I say. “Do you remember doing anything while Tobias had his hold on you?”

  He shakes his head. “I remember pieces and chunks here and there when I was in control, but then the majority of this past week has been a giant blur to me. Like I was asleep for most of it. I only remember seeing you at the ba
r when you first told me about what happened at that party and then when we had our little fight at the tattoo parlor. I remember seeing Topher when I told him about letting you go, but nothing after or in between those three times. It’s scary to think of what I could’ve done during all that time, or what I could’ve become. But then you stopped me.”

  “Yeah, on more than one occasion,” I laugh. “And I’d do it over and over again if I had to because you’re my brother.”

  He releases a heavy sigh coupled with a slight smile. “I appreciate that, really. Hey, what you told me before about Tara? I honestly had no idea about that. I know how much she meant to you, so I guess I can’t blame you for what you did. Hell, if it would’ve been me, I might’ve even left the Guild too,” he mentions, which causes me to breathe an internal sigh of relief.

  “Thank you for saying that, Malcolm.”

  Before I know it, I’m wrapped up in my brother’s arms and he’s squeezing me like I’ll disappear if he lets go. A feeling of happiness fills me to the brim since I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while now. Truth be told, I thought it would come much later down the line.

  Malcolm lets me go and backs away. “I’ll always be here for you, Guild code or no Guild code. And I can’t express how sorry I am for not being a very good brother to you.” His eyes show the guilt he’s expressing with his words.

  I release a relieved sigh. “Well, I haven’t been the best sister either.”

  “Let’s put this all behind us now, okay?” he says with a soft smile. “Oh, and Dad will come around, don’t worry. Mom and I will keep working on him until he does.”

  The moment he says that, movement over his shoulder catches my eye. I see two people walking toward us. One of them is my mom … and the other is my father. He’s dressed in his official Guild uniform of black pants, shirt, and jacket with the emblem of the Witch Hunters Guild stitched into the breast pocket. He looks like a handsome secret agent as he approaches us with his wavy dark brown hair combed into a hairstyle fit for a politician. A stony expression is on his face when he reaches us. He stands there, staring at me, not saying a word.