The Broken Witch
The Coven: Elemental Magic Book Four
Chandelle Lavaun
Wanderlost Publishing
So, what had happened was…you pushed me.
For Megan,
Thanks for being the Watson to my Sherlock. The Yin to my Yang. My partner-in-crime. My soul sister. My bestest friend. Thanks for obsessing over all the things I obsess over, my OCD appreciates it. You may not be the reason I started writing, but you’re the reason I never gave up.
P.S. I hope you like this book, I’ve only made you wait five years for it…
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
About the Author
Chapter One
Tegan
“Emperor…you’ve been missing for five weeks.”
“WHAT?” all eight of us shouted in perfect, accidental unison.
I blinked and tried to think of what he could’ve said…because there was no way I heard him correctly. Right?
“Um…” Daniel cleared his throat. His light blue eyes were dark and bloodshot, like perhaps he hadn’t slept in a while. His skin was ashy and pale, and his five-o-clock shadow didn’t look like a fashion statement. He sighed. “The eight of you left Eden for the Old Lands on August 26, yes?”
Tennessee frowned. His face was grimy and caked with dried blood. “Correct.”
Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose. “Today is October 1. It’s been five weeks.”
My heart sank. No. No, that can’t be true. We couldn’t afford to lose any time. Salem’s Prophecy said we had to close the gaps by Samhain, which was Halloween. I thought we had two months to figure it out, but this meant we had only a few weeks. My pulse quickened. I clutched the Book of Shadows to my chest. The answer is in here. I just needed time to read through it.
I gasped. HENLEY.
“Henley…” Royce whispered at the same time I’d thought it. He groaned and tugged at his black hair. “No. No, five weeks is too long. She needed us. We failed her.”
Oh my Goddess. Henley. Oh no. Those images from my visions slammed back into my mind completely against my will. I tried not to think of them at all. It was too painful, but I was helpless to stop them. There was darkness, blood, and screaming. So much screaming. Her cries would haunt me for the rest of my life. When I first saw the visions, I couldn’t figure out why they tortured her since they already had her in their possession. But then it dawned on me. Henley was fighting them. Even now I saw it in perfect, horrible clarity. She’d glare at them with her sapphire eyes that matched her brothers’…then they’d hit her with that thing and her eyes would flicker bright red.
Deacon wrapped his arm around his cousin’s shoulders and squeezed. His blond hair looked pink in spots from blood. “Hey, we don’t know that yet.”
“It’s been five weeks, D!” Royce cried. Tears pooled in his eyes.
“Deacon is right,” I said softly.
Royce spun to face me. “What aren’t you telling us? Please just tell me.”
I shook my head. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. I would bear that torture for him. If we got Henley back—when we got her back—she could decide whether or not to disclose what had happened to her. For now, it would only break Royce in ways I wasn’t sure we could fix.
But I had to tell him something. I licked my lips, and my stomach turned at the taste of blood. “The demons are planning something, and they need Henley to do it. That’s why they took her. For a purpose. That purpose hasn’t been completed yet.”
“Daniel.” Tennessee’s warm, velvety voice made goose bumps spread over my skin. “Has a new Moon Card been chosen?”
“No.” Daniel shook his head then scratched his jaw. “Kenneth told me this morning our young Hierophant had a vision of her, so he’s confident Henley is still alive.”
I sighed. Bentley. I desperately needed to talk to my little brother, and to Kenneth. The Book of Shadows needed our attention.
I reached out and squeezed Royce’s arm. “I promise you I have not forgotten about her. We have the Book of Shadows now. Let’s go home and get her back. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Hope is not lost,” Tennessee whispered.
Daniel pulled out his phone. “I have strict orders from the Leaders to get you back in Tampa as soon as you’ve returned. Come with me.”
With that, he turned and walked away from us. My Coven-mates looked to Tennessee.
Tenn waved his non-injured arm toward Daniel’s back. “Follow the Headmaster.”
Cooper nodded and jogged to catch up with Daniel. The rest of us followed at a normal, exhausted, I-haven’t-eaten-in-five-weeks pace.
I hugged the Book of Shadows to my chest. It was roughly the size of a textbook with at least nine hundred pages, yet it weighed as light as a feather. I wished it were smaller, though, so I could carry it around with me. The idea of setting it down anywhere made my stomach turn. Maybe there’s a spell inside I can use.
“We should’ve had Lonan give us a ride,” Royce grumbled from in front of me. His shoulders were hunched over, and his fingers twitched. “We’re going to waste too much time driving!”
“Royce, they’ll have fixed the plane by now,” Tennessee said from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder at my soulmate. He hadn’t said much since we’d returned, and it made me nervous. I was afraid of what was going on inside his head. He was an absolute disaster on the outside. Blood and dirt covered every inch of his skin and clothing. His hair was a tangled mess. But the worst part was his shoulder. The belt holding his arm up in a makeshift sling wasn’t going to last much longer. Most people looked weaker when severely injured…but not Tennessee. He looked dangerously lethal.
“Tennessee is correct,” Daniel said as he led us under a brick archway and around one of the school buildings. He typed feverishly on his phone while walking. “Your plane has been replaced, and it is ready for your immediate departure.”
When we rounded the corner, my jaw dropped. In the setting sunlight was a shiny, private plane. The door was open, and a narrow staircase sat ready for us.
Do they have their own landing strip here?
“Wait, what?” Willow cried and jumped back, but Emersyn
caught her. “No way. Are you nuts? We almost died in that plane!”
She had a point, and part of me was afraid to fly, too. But Royce also had a point. Driving would waste far too much time that Henley couldn’t afford to lose.
“Tennessee and I landed it then. We could do it again if we had to,” I said.
“Besides, we’re prepared now.” Emersyn squeezed Willow’s shoulders. Her long, blood-stained blonde hair was so knotted it looked like she’d braided it.
“Not to worry. The plane now has every protective spell and charm imaginable on it. No demon will be able to take you down.” Daniel shoved his phone in his back pocket. “We’ve also had it stocked with food and medical supplies. Best you get going. Good luck.”
Tennessee stepped forward and held out his hand. “Thank you, Daniel. I’ll do my best to get Constance back here as soon as possible.”
The Headmaster looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and I knew it had everything to do with Constance being away from him. Having a soulmate had that kind of effect. I knew firsthand. He was trying to keep it together in front of us, and I wanted to let him out of his misery.
“Come on, guys. Let’s get home.” I hugged the Book to my chest and led the way to the plane. When I got to the staircase, I didn’t pause to look back. Footsteps thumped on the pavement. I felt their nervous energy on my back like pinpricks. My own nerves were rattled, but mostly from how much time we’d lost. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. I climbed up the steps into the small private plane and took the first window seat. If things went down again, I wanted to be near the cockpit.
Tennessee was the last to board the plane, though I knew that was intentional. No one would linger if he was behind them. When my soulmate finally stepped inside, he eyed the plane like he was checking the spells—maybe he was.
The cockpit door opened, and a middle-aged man stepped out. I recognized him instantly. WALTER.
“Walter!” Tennessee smiled and greeted our pilot with a hug. “You’re okay?”
Walter grinned and smoothed his white button-down shirt. He’d definitely lost some weight since we’d last seen him, but his smile was as cheery as ever and his mustache was still going strong. His chocolate-colored skin looked a shade darker, like maybe he’d spent some time in the sun.
“Thanks to you guys, yes, I am. Especially to you, Deacon. Thanks for that call,” Walter said.
“You’re welcome, man.” Deacon smiled back. “I’m glad you’re with us still.”
“I was hoping you’d like to be my co-pilot today?”
Deacon looked to Tennessee with his blond eyebrows raised. “May I?”
Tennessee smiled. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter Two
Tennessee
“Walter, how much longer?” I leaned in the doorway of the cockpit, trying to rein in the chaotic, nervous energy rattling inside of me. Something was wrong. I just couldn’t put my finger on it. At first, I assumed I was uncomfortable with flying so soon after we’d almost died in a plane crash. That was what my friends were afraid of. Except the longer we were in the air, the more relaxed my crew got. But I only grew more and more weary.
“About twenty minutes, boss.”
Deacon looked over his shoulder at me and smiled. “Tenn, really, please sit down. Eat something. We’re good up here. The spells are working.”
I sighed and nodded. Daniel had stocked the plane with snacks, and everyone else had dipped into them already. My stomach rolled at the idea of eating. When we landed and got back home, I’d let myself relax. It didn’t help that my shoulder throbbed hard enough to make my arm twitch. I turned and my gaze landed immediately on Tegan. She had the Book of Shadows open on her lap, and I was fairly certain she hadn’t taken her eyes off those pages since she’d sat down. Emersyn sat beside her holding Walter’s phone up so Kenneth could see the book via Facetime.
A smile pulled at the corner of my lips. Tegan was a beautiful disaster. Her hair was windblown and sticking out in every direction. There was blood splattered on her face and neck like freckles. She had fresh cuts everywhere her bare skin was exposed, and even some new gouges in her black jeans. Yet she still took my breath away.
“THIS IS IT!” Tegan shouted.
Everyone rushed over and leaned as far over the seats as possible. Willow and Chutney kneeled on the ground in front of her. Tegan’s light green eyes widened. She traced her finger along the page, and her lips moved as she read. Her golden wave ring sparkled in the soft light of the plane.
I walked over and sat in the seat across from her. Her gaze jumped up to mine then went back to the book.
“Yo, D, come here,” Royce yelled.
“What are we looking at exactly?” Emersyn frowned and leaned closer, holding the phone for Kenneth to get a better look. Her eyes flickered to something behind me then back.
“What is it?” Deacon’s voice rumbled over my shoulder.
Tegan pointed to the page. Her black nail polish was chipped. “This is the spell we need to lure the demon inside Henley back to our realm.”
Cooper cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “It’s a standard summoning spell. It won’t be strong enough.”
“No, no, no.” Tegan tapped her ring-clad finger on the page. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright. “I can see writing in here you can’t.”
“What the hell?” Royce shook his head. “Why?”
“Because the Book of Shadows always belongs to the High Priestess,” Kenneth said through the phone. “Much like the Hierophant and the locket. Now, Tegan, if you concentrate and press your finger to that spell, you can make it visible for us.”
Tegan pressed her finger to the page. A second later, words and little drawings appeared in black ink. Everyone leaned in closer. I tried to see, but Emersyn held the phone in my way.
Kenneth cursed. “This is dangerous and can go horribly, horribly wrong in countless ways. It can’t even guarantee we get Henley back. As a Coven, we have to ask ourselves if one witch is worth the risk when a replacement Card will be chosen quickly. Look at Deacon.”
I nodded and licked my lips. “Then let’s vote. All in favor of doing this spell, raise your hand.”
I expected hesitation, maybe even some persuasion from Royce…but everyone threw their hand in the air without a sliver of concern or doubt. Including me. I looked at the phone and found Kenneth’s hand raised in front of the screen.
“Hey, boss.” Walter’s voice broke through the silent cabin. “We’re descending in Tampa now. Where do they want us to go?”
“Tell Walter to land at Hidden Kingdom,” Kenneth said before I could question our pilot.
I frowned as that cold chill I’d felt the whole flight slithered down my spine. My pulse quickened. “What’s going on, Kenneth?”
Kenneth cursed again. There was a loud bang and rumbles, with flashes of light as something exploded behind him. Voices screamed through the phone.
“Bentley, get back behind me, NOW!” Kenneth shouted and ducked down. The screen on his end wobbled. For a moment, everything was a blur of movement.
I grabbed the phone out of Emersyn’s hand with my heart in my throat. “Kenneth, what’s going on?”
Our Hermit’s pale white-blue eyes met mine. “We’re under attack. We need you. I’ll get everything ready for the spell. Just get here. Fast.”
Chapter Three
Tegan
I’d already seen a fair share of battles with demons at Hidden Kingdom, but nothing prepared me for what we found when we rounded the corner into the courtyard. Lightning flashed every other second. Things flew through the air and exploded. Our entire Coven was in the courtyard, spread out and barely visible. At least half of the theme park’s lights had been shattered, casting a dark shadow over everything. Lily’s sunlight shined out of her hand, but she was too busy fighting for her life to be all that helpful.
There were demons everywhere. Oozers, crawlers, and
my personal favorite: spiders. Black blood coated every surface. Their sickeningly sweet maple syrup scent burned my nose.
We skidded to a stop just beyond the battle lines. I clutched the Book of Shadows to my chest. Kenneth had told us to meet him and Bentley by the French café, but there had to be fifty demons between us and them.
Tennessee turned his back to the fight and looked at us. Unlike the rest of us, he hadn’t bothered to wash any of the blood or grime off his body. He adjusted the strap on his sling then pulled his sword out of his holster. “Guys, I know we’re beat up and tired as all hell. But our family needs us. So let’s get in there and give it everything we’ve got. Keep your ears open for Tegan’s cue.”
Without another word, he spun and charged into the fight. Despite being one-handed, he dominated the moment he stepped foot into the courtyard. He jumped up in the air and brought his sword down right on a spider demon’s back. It sliced in half.
Braison’s eyes widened, and a huge grin spread over his face. “TENNESSEE!”
Tenn spun in a circle, chopping three oozers in half in the blink of an eye. Without losing a beat, he dropped to one knee and placed his fist on the cement. The ground rumbled and wobbled. Demons stumbled and tripped. Tenn jumped back up and threw his sword. It flew through the air then turned and soared right back to his open hand like a boomerang. At least a dozen demons turned to ash.
The Broken Witch (The Coven: Elemental Magic Book 4) Page 1
