by Marta Szemik
“Your blood ties your fate to mine!” she bellowed.
“You have no body, witch; blood ties aren’t honored between the realms.”
Miranda tilted her head back and released a howl of frustration that rose to the opening in the roof of the cave and never came back. Foaming at the mouth, Miranda turned her back to Aseret and began humming a spell that sent waves of energy at the enclosure. Mrs. G’s and Xela’s muscles tensed as the blasts from Miranda’s chant struck the barrier, but their black eyes remained rolled back in their heads.
“One breathes, ssso does the other. One crafts, ssso does the other. One dies, ssso does the other,” Aseret repeated Mrs. G’s words.
My ghost trembled.
“That’sss right, Sarah. I will get the twins. Only one crafter will do to end you all. Their essence will be enough to rule beyond any ruler.” Hatred flared in his orange eyes.
He can see me, I whispered in my head.
Sarah, don’t listen to him, Eric warned, but his cautious tone sounded as if it were coming from another planet, and once again, I felt like the warlock and I were the only ones occupying the cave, the same way when he spoke to me the first time I’d met him.
“Sarah, you can ssstill save your children. Come.” He beckoned me with his twig-like index finger.
“Liar!” I yelled. “I will not fall for your tricks, and you will not touch my children.”
“Look at them.” He waved his hand. A red fog billowed forth, creating a screen. An image of Crystal and Ayer appeared, my children on their knees, bound by the light ropes. Aseret sat on his throne as they cried out in pain, bowing at his feet, except their voices were locked in their throats as their lips had been sown together. “Is this the future you want for them?”
“I know my children’s future, and you are not in it!” I escaped from between Eric and Xander and floated toward the warlock. Somewhere in the distance, I heard muffled voices, but all that mattered was getting Aseret.
As I passed my children, my ghost was yanked toward the hereafter. My family’s and friends’ feet were locked in place, but I was a ghost. No magic could keep me from being pulled. Now I understood why Eric had warned me to stay with him. Being connected was the only way to keep my ghost from entering the hereafter.
Eric, what’s happening? I asked.
But my evil-bender kept his eyes closed. The spikes on his neck lengthened, vibrating with his effort to bend. Another spike burst, pouring blood down his shirt. His skin had paled. It wouldn’t take before he was drained of energy. As they let Eric draw on their connected essences, Mira’s and Xander’s faces were taking on a greener shade.
Fighting the dragging sensation that drew me closer to the nearing hereafter I focused all my energy on escaping the gripping draft. It didn’t help. I was about to pass William, Mrs. G, and Xela. Once there, only few feet would remain. My husband’s brows narrowed in concern, eyes darting from the haul on my soul to the seekers he continued to shove to the ground, protecting the body that lay at his feet as well as the two witches behind him. His fangs gleamed, and veins swelled in his face, creating a bluish cast.
Aseret resumed his blasts at the invisible shield in front of Crystal and Ayer. My children stood still and waited like patient hunters. Miranda threw her own magic spells at the wall of the box that trapped her soul, bruising Xela and Mrs. G. Her ghost darted from one corner to another, growling and chanting relentlessly.
As I passed Miranda’s corpse I remembered Xela’s words: “It takes three witches.”
Was this where I was needed?
I grabbed Miranda’s body by the legs, my hands connecting like a fly to a glue trap. Holding on, I crawled along the corpse and entered her body. My lungs filled with the stench of rotten eggs and dirty socks, but I welcomed the air. My chest expanded, and the breath was disbursed through the body. The heart I remembered from four years ago began beating. Blood circulated through the veins, and warmth returned to the flesh. My eyes opened, and I saw my family for who they were. I was no longer a ghost.
“That’s my body!” Miranda rushed toward me but was stopped again by the magical wall.
Mrs. G’s face and arms became more mottled with purple. Surely the rest of her body, as well as Xela’s, matched the bruises on her face and limbs.
I sat up like an automaton. My new arms and legs pushed me up, and I took Mrs. G’s other hand. Her chants flew to me through our connection and spilled out of my mouth. My eyes were open, but I knew they’d become fully black orbs, just like the witches’. Through these eyes, I saw the outline of the box holding Miranda captive.
“No! She’s not a witch,” Miranda screamed.
Maybe not, but my ancestors were.
Miranda’s ghost fell to the floor. As we chanted, her enclosure drew along the ground toward the hereafter. She pressed her back against the far wall. “You can’t do this to me. Aseret, help me!”
The warlock’s focus didn’t falter as he continued his failed attempts at the twins. Crystal and Ayer waited patiently.
A few steps closer. I heard Crystal whisper to her brother.
Aseret neared the threshold of the stone wall. His face contorted, its usually emotionless expression twisted and tightened as the warlock ground his teeth and bit his lips until blood and saliva streamed from the sides of his mouth.
Crystal and Ayer’s tattoos danced around their wrists as if they were alive. The spheres spun energy that radiated outward to William, my watchers, and the protective shields.
The seekers stopped attacking William, who walked closer to the hereafter, toward the twins. The blue light under his feet alternated with each step. He looked like he was walking in gravity boots that held him grounded.
The spell I chanted with Xela and Mrs. G overtook my body, and I could only make out portions of the twins’ battle. Dust swirled behind Aseret when he stepped over the threshold that protected my family from his streams of fire. A grin stretched across his wrinkled face. The warlock lifted his arms. Sparkling energy encircled his entire body before gathering into one bulk at his front. He released the blow at the children. Crystal and Ayer caught the stream in their hands, absorbing Aseret’s wrath, and returned his blast in the form of a spell.
The warlock’s body trembled and morphed, reshaping itself, shrinking its contours, until his soul escaped. As the limp corpse thumped to the ground, the children refocused their stream of electricity on Aseret’s soul. The ribbons of light twined between their fingers, then flew at the ghost. Aseret ducked out of the way, but one strand of energy caught his wrist. Crystal pulled the stream in as if it were a rope, then whipped the warlock overhand toward Miranda’s box. The warlock’s spirit yelped and thrashed as it hurtled through the air.
“Now!” Ayer instructed.
William rushed to Aseret’s corpse. He picked up the body and threw it into the rippling mirror. Its flesh sizzled when it hit the hereafter.
Another strand of light from Ayer twined around Aseret’s left shoulder. The twins yanked, throwing his ghost into the magical box.
On her knees now, the Miranda looked at the warlock with hate in her eyes.
“If we work together, we can break through,” he said to Miranda.
“Our ties are cut. We are no longer bound by blood, remember? Your oath has been broken,” she said, all will gone from her soul, for the witch had to realize they were no contest to a triple threat of witches.
“You will not betray me!” he screamed at the witch as Eric, Xander, and Mira extended their hands forward and pushed the box toward the in-between.
“You have no choice. You are no longer a warlock. You are powerless and will soon be bound with no one to help you.” Miranda laughed as the invisible box slid toward their doom.
Eric fell to his knees, bleeding from all of the two dozen spikes on his neck. The seekers slowly backed out of the doorways, looking from side to side, then finally fixed their gazes on Crystal and Ayer before they left. Chills ran down my
new spine. The twins each had a new streak of gray hair woven into their auburn curls.
“We’ll hunt them down,” said William.
“We will.” I turned to my husband.
The witch who seemed so strong a few minutes earlier no longer fought our chant. Her cackles and Aseret’s hiss were the last of them to leave the cave as their spirits and the magical box began sinking into the in-between.
Before he’d left, I thought I’d heard Aseret say, “Silly, silly creaturesss. It’s not over! His time has come.” but Miranda’s laugh vibrated louder than his words.
Aseret and Miranda melted into the ripples of the mirror.
Chapter 15
A week had passed since our ordeal, and my family and I were taking some well-deserved time off.
“Cannonball!” Ayer tucked his knees up to his chest before plunging into the water.
Crystal followed her brother off the rock face into the emerald pond. The water from her splash hit my face.
I sat on the ledge of the mountain, in Miranda’s old body. It took a while to hike the back of the mountain, then repel on the ropes down the side of the cliff. With William’s help, it didn’t seem that difficult, though I was sure I’d fall into the pond had he not been holding me. I missed my vampire abilities and my old body that Xela still had. I hoped Xander didn’t lay a hand on it until she got her own host back.
Each time I tried to speak, my tongue caught on the nicks and chips of Miranda’s uneven teeth. Even with a quick makeover from my daughter and Mira, I still resembled a witch.
“How are you feeling?” William asked.
“Like I can finally live in peace.”
“Good. There’s only one thing left to do.” William twined his fingers into mine.
“I don’t think Eric is strong enough. You may be stuck with me this way for a while.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I know. But I’d love for the upheaval to settle down. To have a normal life.” I looked at the twins jumping out of the water like dolphins, flipping onto their backs.
William laughed. “I doubt we’ll ever have a normal life.”
“At least we’re still the only ones who can disappear under the water.” I pointed to Crystal’s silhouette as she streaked along underwater like a mermaid.
“Not until your body’s returned.” William placed his arm around me.
“Yeah. I really think Eric will be too weak to bend for a while.” I took a deep breath. Today was perfect—except for my new body, of course. The cloudless sky reflected turquoise in the water below. The smallest of the fish couldn’t hide in that water.
“This feels nice,” William murmured, shifting closer.
“It does.” I rested my head on his shoulder.
“Sort of like a family picnic.”
“Less the food.”
“Says who?” William pulled on a rope hanging over the cliff, lifting a basket into view. I tried to smell it, but Miranda’s nose wasn’t nearly as good as my vampire one.
“When did you do this?” I asked.
“Well, one thing that hasn’t changed is your need to know everything.”
“I do not!”
He cocked his head.
“All right, I do,” I admitted. “I guess I may have some control issues.”
“Some?” he teased.
“Fine, a lot. I like to do things by myself and my way.” Frowning, I crossed my arms.
“And that’s why I love you.” He kissed the tip of my nose.
Crystal and Ayer sprang out of the pond like penguins and sat beside us, one on each side. Water dripped from their dangling feet into the ripples below. They seemed to prefer remaining in their late teens.
“I figured you’d smell the food.” William laughed.
“Yup. What you got there?” Ayer wiggled his nose, dug into the basket and pulled out a grilled chicken sandwich. Three bites, and the sandwich was gone.
“Three for each of us,” William warned, passing me an apple.
“What am I, chopped liver?” I asked.
“Nope, I have something special for you.” He placed a container on my lap.
I opened the lid. “Pancakes! Thank you, thwank wou,” I mumbled around the forkful I’d shoved into my mouth.
“Hold on!” William pulled a bottle of maple syrup from the basket and poured it on top of the stack in my lap.
“Where did you get the recipe? These taste just like—”
“Your Aunt Helen’s?”
“Yes!”
“Now the recipe has been passed down to you.” He handed me a booklet. “Xela put in her goulash recipe, as well. Just in case you need to bribe Xander.”
“I have to memorize that one.” I let out a laugh.
Crystal took the fork from me and speared a piece of pancake. “Yummy.”
Ayer leaned back, resting against the rock. “We’ll need to leave for a while.”
“When?” I asked.
“After you’re bent back,” Crystal mumbled, chewing her food.
It seemed natural for the fledgling casters to go into the world to explore and fulfill their duty. I remained unusually calm, then noticed Crystal’s hand resting on mine. “Are you soothing my emotions?”
“Yes.” My daughter’s warmth oozed through me.
“You don’t need to.” I leaned against her shoulder.
“I thought you’d be upset we’re leaving.” Her head rested on top of mine.
“Sad, yes. Upset, no. I’m pretty sure you can handle anything.”
“We can,” she said. “It won’t be long. And we’ll visit.”
“You’d better.” I smiled as she sat up straight. “Your home will always be here for you.”
“We know, Mama.”
“Where will you live?” I asked the twins.
“We have some cleaning up to do. Aseret managed to build sects of demons all over the world.” The excitement in Ayer’s tone reminded me of William’s. “We will take up Uncle Eric’s home for a while.”
“I wish you weren’t the ones to clean up Aseret’s mess,” I said, my voice flat.
“It’s not just Aseret. The keepers need us. Don’t be sad, Mama. We’ll visit often.” Crystal placed her hand on top of mine again.
“Anything you need, we’re here,” William said.
“What I need right now is a swim.” I looked down at the reflection of four pairs of dangling feet. Miranda’s bulkier body released sweat in places I wasn’t used to. Drops trickled down my back, and today’s breezeless air didn’t help.
“Let’s go, then,” William encouraged.
“I’m not sure if this body can swim.” I felt the chill in my spine “What are you doing?” I exclaimed as Crystal took hold of my elbow and William the other.
“Taking you for a swim!” William laughed.
“No!”
But it was too late, and I hit the water with my behind. The sting of the contact singed my buttocks, and I found myself struggling to breathe. Miranda’s lungs weren’t as full as my vampire ones. William lifted me to the surface.
“A little warning next time would be nice,” I said wryly when we emerged.
“What, and ruin the surprise?” He laughed as he helped me out.
“I can’t wait to have my own body back,” I said.
“I can’t wait until you have your body, too.” William’s lust shone in his eyes.
“Sh, the kids.”
“Mama, we’re crafters, not kids,” Ayer yelled from above before plunging past us into the water. “Cannonball!”
“You will always be my kids.” My voice bounced against the cliff.
For the first time since I could remember, I actually had a family day to enjoy. Though not in my own body, I felt as comfortable in this skin as in my own. I treaded the water, enjoying its cooling effect as I tipped my face back to soak up the sun. Floating on my back, I outstretched my arms and closed my eyes. Stray clouds wandered across the sun, shading
the glow behind my eyelids every few minutes. William held my hand, floating at my side, the partially submerged parts of his body invisible, the same way mine would have been if I had my half-breed body back. I heard the twins finishing their lunch up on the cliff.
“I have a surprise for you,” William said.
“Another one?” I opened my eyes and turned my head to the side.
“Yes, but you’ll love this one. We need to get home.”
“Now? I’m really enjoying this.” I squinted when the sun hit my face.
“I know you are, but you’ll enjoy your gift even more.”
“I’m intrigued.” I picked up my head and looked around. “Is the surprise at home?”
“I’m not saying anything.”
“Hmm, you’re cute when you’re secretive. Now I really want to know.” I faced my husband’s bopping torso.
“Then let’s go.”
William lifted me over his shoulder and swam to the shore. He set me down and jumped over the wall of shrubs while I lifted a towel from a bench and wrapped it around Miranda’s black hair.
“OK, I’m ready.” I stepped from one foot to the other.
“Home, Sarah, home.” William took a step and disappeared.
“Are you forgetting I’m still human?” I shouted after him.
He reappeared at my side just long enough to say, “Not for long.”
I used Miranda’s legs to run as fast as they could go. The muscles ached, complaining with each step. My lungs wheezed, feeling they could work at only half capacity, and by the time I got to the clearing, I was heaving louder than a marathon newbie. I sat down on the front steps and stuck out my hand. William handed me a water bottle.
“I will never take being a half-breed for granted again.” I gasped before pressing my lips to the tip of the bottle to suck in water.
William handed me another one.
“Why is your Hummer parked there?” I pointed to the center of the clearing.
My husband shrugged. “I let Ekim take it for a spin.”
I finished the second bottle. “Okay, I’m ready for my surprise,” I announced, wiping drops of water off my chin.
“You will have your half-breed body soon enough,” Eric said as he stepped out of the cabin. The siblings and Xela followed.
