Witch Avenue Series (The Complete Set)

by Bolton, Karice

  Logan finished casting his spell, and Trevor became limp as the sorcerers converged on Logan, hauling him off of Trevor. My breath caught as I watched Logan struggle against the sheer number of sorcerers. I couldn’t let him get hauled off into the forest. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in as I steadied myself in the kneeling position. Raising my bow, my fingers touched the string bringing another arrow into my sight. The shot was close, too close. If I missed, I very well could take out Logan, but I had no choice.

  Drawing back the recurve, my back muscles tightened and released as I let go of the string once more, watching as the arrow struck my intended target. This first arrow was silent and deadly. I got my shot, and Logan’s left side had been freed. Quickly, raising my bow back up to the ready position, I uttered, “Fragor Sagitta,” releasing the flaming arrow toward my next victim. The sorcerer holding Logan down saw the flames coming toward him but it was too late. He dropped instantly, allowing Logan to jump up and regain control.

  One of the sorcerers pointed his wand in my direction, and I dove out of the way as the stump that was my shield exploded from the thundering spell that was meant to destroy me. Holding my bow, I stayed low through the brush, as Logan pounced on the sorcerer who cast harm my way. The screams echoed through the air as Logan made it a painful process warning the others.

  Trevor was still lifeless in the clearing, and I wondered what spell Logan had cast on him and if it was deadly. Shaking the last thought, I saw the opening that was waiting for me. I needed to get near Logan. Now was the time to finish as a team.

  Logan was casting spell after spell, creating fires in between him and his targets throwing them off just enough. The strategy behind it was brilliant. Once he extinguished the flame they’d all be lined up waiting for us. I didn’t know if he intended for me to be part of the equation, but I was going to be. I ran in between one of the walls of fire that he was about to extinguish.

  The heat from the fire was intense as I stood next to him, breathless from all of the running and adrenaline.

  “Nice work, but we aren’t quite there yet,” he replied, not looking into my eyes, and I knew why. He didn’t want me to see the darkness, and now wasn’t the time to tell him it was okay. That I understood.

  “I’m ready,” I whispered, readying my stance.

  The flames vanished instantly, and I began my assault as the low hum of the black sorcerer’s chants began reaching me. Arrow after arrow flung toward the intended victims, and I was relieved at how many of them I hit even though I was starting to feel like I did at the covenstead. I knew time wasn’t on my side. The sorcerer closest to Logan lunged at him, and Logan disappeared before my eyes only to reappear in between two of the sorcerers coming behind me.

  “Whoa,” I whispered.

  Logan cast a spell on the sorcerer to his right, while he grabbed the sorcerer’s neck to his left, crushing it with an ease that under normal circumstances would have scared me.

  Looking around the field, I realized we had almost completely destroyed them all. One last pair of glowing eyes began running towards me as it threw sparks my direction. Dodging each spell, the exhilaration was running through my veins when Logan’s voice shouted, “Non Impetus.” as I saw my pursuer freeze in place. It was an awesome sight.

  “I noticed you didn’t make it temporary,” I laughed, looking around the meadow seeing absolutely nothing. “I can’t believe this just happened.” I was still in complete disbelief that I didn’t crumple under the pressure. In fact, I’d say under the circumstances I soared.

  “What do you want to do with this one?” Logan’s voice was almost back to normal.

  “I think I’ve gotten enough target practice for a lifetime, so can you just send him back to where he came from?” I asked, not really sure if that was a possibility but after seeing Logan vanish before my eyes, I had no idea.

  “Sure thing, Triss,” he nodded and rambled off a spell I didn’t want to hear.

  “We make a pretty good team, baby,” Logan’s words sang to me as I spun around to see him.

  “No, Logan!” I screamed, seeing Trevor come up behind him, wrapping his arm strategically around Logan’s neck, crushing him. The quickness of Trevor’s grasp rendered Logan helpless as he collapsed to the ground.

  “No,” I screamed, the tears flooding down my face.

  Logan’s body went completely limp as my cries met Trevor’s laughter.

  My world was spinning, as my eyes looked into Trevor’s seeing nothing but evil. I had finally allowed myself to experience the love I had been trying to hide from, and the moments I had with Logan were worth every second of despair I was experiencing now.

  “Baby, what’s the matter? You thought your little hero would save you?” Trevor snarled.

  Straightening my arm, my grip tightened on the handle of my bow as I looked into Trevor’s soulless eyes. This was something I doubted I would be able to forgive myself for, but I wasn’t going to allow myself to become brainwashed. My mother still needed saving, and I wasn’t going to let Logan’s sacrifice be for nothing.

  “He already did,” I whispered, raising my bow up in front of me, centering Trevor in my line of sight. “You just wouldn’t get it.”

  My fingers wrapped around the bowstring as I prepared to draw it back when Logan’s eyes opened quickly. Not wanting to give anything away, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath steadying myself. He was alive!

  “You aren’t going to try to shoot me are you?” Trevor said laughing. “You don’t have the guts.”

  “The more you keep talking, surprisingly, my courage level raises,” I barked.

  I knew Logan was up to something, but I felt I was still entitled to some fun with Trevor since he threatened to take away my happiness more than once.

  “Do you want an arrowhead, flames, or electricity?” I asked innocently, drawing the bow back, hoping Logan would be able to finish him off for me instead.

  Trevor closed his eyes and shook his head, “You are ridiculous, Triss.”

  “Am I?” I laughed as Logan jumped up, forgoing magic and just landing a right hook to Trevor’s sweet spot, rendering him unconscious.

  Dropping my bow, I ran over to Logan hopping into his arms, kissing every exposed part of him with tears streaming down my face. Experiencing the magical highs and the desperate lows was worth it in every sense imaginable. I would never allow myself to become a Lonely Soul. Experiencing this love was worth every circumstance and emotion that might follow.

  “I love you so much. I thought I’d lost you,” I sniffled.

  “I told you not to worry,” he whispered. “But my throat is a little sore.” He made a little coughing sound, with his eyes sparkling mischievously. I placed my lips gently on his neck and began following my way up to his lips.

  “Let me help you out a little,” I murmured, kissing him once more.

  The darkness of the night was being replaced with the morning light, making way for new beginnings. I was ready for whatever the future held as long as I had Logan by my side. We knew where my mom was, and it was time to bring her home. We were ready for the battle in front of us. I’d gotten a taste of the fight, and I was going to be okay.

  “I think it’s time I teach you a few of those healing spells,” I offered, breaking away from his embrace.

  “Agreed,” Logan said, touching my cheek ever so softly. “I’m really proud of you.”

  “Thank you for the snake. You were right,” I said, looking into his eyes. “Maybe I am more than a healer.”

  “I’d say so,” Logan replied, smiling.

  “What should we do with him?” I asked, looking down at Trevor.

  “I’ve got some ideas. I think he’ll come in handy,” Logan grinned, with the devilish look in his eyes that I so loved.

  I looked down at Trevor partially wishing he wasn’t still breathing, and I scolded myself for thinking such thoughts. I finally began to understand the taste of power that Logan had spoken abou
t, and I promised myself I wouldn’t fall victim to the dark side as we began our journey together.

  ***

  ***

  ***

  “Alienam Imagines ex Anima,” I whispered, as I hovered over the concoction of herbs I was grinding with my wand. One of the many things I couldn’t let Logan catch me doing. The fragrance of the crushed marigolds, honeysuckle, and lemon grass was almost intoxicating, but the thought of what this mixture might be able to produce was even more so. Eyeing the large, black spider I had captured in the jar gave me the creeps as it wiggled around trying to climb up the glass before falling back down over and over again. I felt marginally bad about the spider’s fate. Who was I kidding? No, I didn’t.

  After adding the grape seed oil and quickly stirring the mixture, I needed to release and hide everything before Logan came back to the cottage. I didn’t think he’d approve of this, but I wasn’t looking for his approval, only answers.

  Shaking the spider into the herb mixture, I ran down the hall careful to not spill anything as I made my way to the staircase. Yanking on the chain, the ladder released, and I quickly climbed up into the attic. Peeking around the darkened space, it looked as if Trevor was sleeping, which was perfect. I quickly crawled in, and shook out the contents of the container behind one of the wooden rafters.

  Taking a deep breath in I whispered once more, “Alienam Imagines ex Anima,” and headed quickly back down the steps trying my hardest to push the staircase back up into the ceiling. Curse my shortness! Propping myself onto the closet shelves, I was able to give the attic steps one more push and then it locked.

  Having just closed the closet door, I heard the click of the front door as Logan stepped inside with the latest bundle of wood for the fire. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. I was finally allowing myself to truly think of a future with him, and I enjoyed what I envisioned, especially when he wore those particular jeans.

  “What have you been up to?” Logan asked, eyeing me playfully. His hair was flopped to the side from the storm that was brewing outside. Knowing what I was hiding from him caused me to freeze as the guilt ran through me.

  “I’ve got lasagna in the oven,” I replied, kicking myself for lying to him, but it wasn’t really lying just omitting a few things.

  “And?” he asked grinning, “did you go check on—”

  “What are we going to do with him? We can’t keep him in the attic forever,” I asked Logan, trying to stifle my giggle and avoid what I had just done. “Or can we?”

  Logan’s laughter filled the air as he tended to the flames in the fireplace. It was still hard for me to swallow that not only did one my friends from high school try to kidnap me, but my father was the one who sent him. My father was one of the few in the world who would have been able to send anyone through the protection spell that Logan had cast around our property. It did little to comfort me that my father would go to so much trouble to try to steal me away like my mother. I couldn’t fathom his sudden interest in me, considering he had abandoned both my mom and me over eighteen years ago.

  I sat on the couch, grabbing our family’s spell book to keep my mind occupied. Flipping page after page, my mind kept wandering to how everything turned upside down in my world. Maybe I would let Logan in on my little secret.

  “Are you okay over there?” Logan asked, turning from the flames to face me. His brilliant blue eyes were completely void of darkness, and it was difficult to resist the urges running through me.

  I nodded as my eyes landed back on the spell that seemed too perfect to ignore. The one I had just perfected in the kitchen. Should I share it with Logan?

  “This might be something we could try,” I spoke softly, tapping the page with my finger and gesturing for Logan to come sit next to me. I knew Trevor couldn’t hear anything up in the attic, but I felt more comfortable discussing his fate in a hushed voice.

  “Did you know there were things out there like this?” I asked, as Logan sat down next to me.

  Placing the book on his lap, I watched him carefully, hoping to gauge his reaction, and of course he didn’t give me one as he stared at the picture of a spider feeding on someone’s flesh.

  “I think we should give it a shot,” I tried again, hoping to let him in on my little secret.

  Logan’s lips barely began moving. They looked deliciously soft, but I couldn’t get caught up in that right now, especially with our captive only one floor above our heads. It would be wrong on so many levels.

  “Triss,” he began, while closing the spell book and turning to face me. “That’s not exactly what I’d call white magic.”

  Looking into his eyes, I saw mischief stirring behind them. I grabbed the book from him and placed it on the couch. Climbing onto his lap, I watched the smile spread across his lips as he wrapped his arms around my waist. It felt so good being in his embrace.

  “I wouldn’t exactly call it black magic, either,” I replied wryly, “under the circumstances.”

  “So you were hesitant about the snake spell, but you’re willing to jump on a spider spell?” he asked, his voice low.

  “It’s getting chilly, isn’t it?” I asked innocently, squirming my way deeper into his hold.

  His lips were inches from mine and they parted slowly, but not for the reason I hoped.

  “It’s really distracting being this close to you,” he whispered, his jaw tightening.

  “It is, huh?” I smiled, trying to take control of the situation. “I think this could be a really good spell for me to take a stab at.”

  I let my fingers slowly glide through his dark hair, making my way down his neck landing on his shoulders. I couldn’t help but smile, seeing the effect I had on him.

  “I know your plan, Miss Spires, and I’m not going to be swayed based on what you’re trying to do to me,” he smiled coyly.

  “I’m not trying to do anything to you,” I whispered in his ear.

  Propping myself back up I tried again, “I was just thinking since Trevor tried to kill you, it’s only fair. Not to mention his failed kidnap attempt on me. I mean we’ve got to do something with him, and I’d like to get him off our property as quickly as possible. This would get us the answers, and then we could be done with him.”

  He was silent.

  I plunged ahead. “I think under the circumstances, it wouldn’t be considered black magic. Have you ever used anything like this?”

  He shook his head. “No. I haven’t. And Triss, don’t fool yourself. You’re very much on the edge with this spell.” His stare was intense, ensuring I fully understood what he was telling me.

  “I know, but I think when people’s lives are in danger it changes things a little bit,” I countered.

  “Our lives were in danger. They aren’t any more.” Logan’s voice was strained. He was rubbing his eyes, and my guilt was multiplying by the second.

  I knew he was right, but this spell was so easy. It was so perfect. No detail, no memory would be missed. It would only take one tiny spider bite, and we’d have so many answers.

  “Besides,” Logan continued, “I think Trevor’s coming around naturally. The longer he’s out of your father’s grasp, the more his senses are coming back.”

  The fact that Logan was saying these things when only days earlier he wanted to pulverize Trevor made me take notice. Then the panic started to spread. What had I done by releasing the spider up in the attic?

  “You know,” Logan squinted his eyes at me, “we could just ask him. I think he’s starting to feel more like himself and guilty for what he tried to do to you.”

  I jumped off Logan’s lap, almost falling over the coffee table as I ran to the hallway.

  “Where are you going?” Logan hollered after me.

  “I already let the spider loose up there. I’ve got to catch it before it’s too late,” I yelled back. My insides were tightening at the thought of the spider reaching Trevor. I never intended to invite black magic into my world so easily. What was I
doing? Was this how so many fell into it?

  Logan was right behind me, reaching up for the attic stairs, and I refused to look in his eyes. I was so disappointed in myself, and I didn’t want to see it reflected in his as well.

  “Where’d you release it?” Logan’s voice was completely calm.

  “Right behind the beam to the right,” I whispered. “Here’s the jar.”

  “Listen, he might let us use this on him. You never know. If he gives us permission all is not lost,” he said, touching my chin. “It’s okay. I know you were only trying to help get answers.”

  Watching Logan climb into the attic began to put things in perspective. I needed to get control of my emotions. If Logan could keep his darkness in check, the least I could do was not unleash mine.

  The attic seemed as unfriendly as it did when I was a child. It was like the wonderful memories that Logan and I had shared up here only weeks before had been completely erased. The darkness didn’t lend itself well to trying to find a black spider in the shadows either. The air was cold and musty, which made me feel slightly guilty for keeping Trevor up here — that was until the memories of him attempting to kill Logan reemerged.

  “Got it,” Logan whispered, while he attempted to push the spider back into the jar.

  “That’s too bad,” I murmured only half joking.

  “Got what?” Trevor’s voice startled me.

  “Nothing,” I snapped, not wanting to discuss anything with him. “Let’s get downstairs.”

  Moving back towards the steps, Logan nodded and followed me carrying the jar of hope that was quickly diminishing. Putting my foot on the first step, I stopped.

  “Trevor, I’ll bring dinner up a little later,” I said.

  “Yeah, no problem,” Trevor’s voice was completely defeated, and I tried not to let it get to me as I made my way back down the stairs.

  Waiting down the hall for Logan to close up the attic door, I paced back and forth with all sorts of thoughts racing through my mind. I wanted Trevor out of here, but I needed to get the answers first. I didn’t want to waste any more time.