Magic Unleashed

by T J Green

  Avery tried to tune out everything else and just listened to Alex, the way his breath was rushed and shallow, the words falling from his mouth in a torrent. She realised as she sat quietly that he was repeating the same thing, over and over again, but she couldn’t work out what it was. Maybe she should call Genevieve or Rasmus, or Oswald. They were older, more experienced. They should know what to do. But as she watched Briar, Avery’s thoughts calmed, too. Avery could feel her magic binding around Alex, drawing out whatever it was that was inflaming his brain.

  Alex’s face turned white and for a brief second he looked terrified, his eyes staring and fixed, and then his eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep, his head falling to one side as his breathing became deeper and slower.

  Avery released a long-held breath she hadn’t even realised she was keeping in, and leaned her head on Alex’s arm, comforted by his warmth. Exhaustion now washed through her, and felt she could sleep for a week, but there was more to do. She sat up and looked at Briar, taking in her appearance properly since she’d arrived with Alex.

  Briar’s long hair was tied up loosely on top of her head, and stray strands tumbled down on either side of her face. Her face was stripped of makeup and she looked young and fresh-faced. She was wearing some loose cotton trousers and a t-shirt and it looked like she was ready to go to bed. “Sorry, Briar. I didn’t mean to disturb your evening.”

  Briar pursed her lips. “Don’t apologise, you know you can come anytime. And besides, I was doing some reading in here. You didn’t wake me up.”

  “I’m just relieved you’re here. You might have still been at the pub, or with Newton.”

  “He’s gone home—he’s really busy at work right now. So what happened?”

  Avery relayed as succinctly as possible what had happened in the Church. “It was super scary. I could feel it prowling round us.” She changed tack. “Is it over? Have you cured him?”

  Briar shook her head. “I doubt it. I’ve just calmed him enough to relax for now. Do you know what language that was?”

  “No. His eyes. Is that permanent?” Avery felt her chest tighten with fear. “Is he blind?”

  Briar placed a hand on Avery’s arm. “I don’t know. It’s hard to say until we understand what really happened tonight. Sometimes, when the eyes turn white, it denotes the Seer—a vision state. I’m hoping it’s that. The crystal ball will intensify such things, and it sounds as if the spirit, or whatever it was, trapped his gaze within the ball. The spell I’ve used is fairly general, just to calm him for now, but there’s another spell I need to check.”

  Briar rose swiftly to her feet and started searching through her grimoire, while Avery pulled a floor cushion over and made herself comfortable on it, turning her attention back to Alex. She took his warm, strong hand in her own, and stroked it as she watched him breathe. His colour had come back, and he looked healthier in the warm light of the candles. His hair was loose, and stubble grazed his chin and cheeks. She’d always thought of Alex as being unassailable. He was so strong and his magic so powerful, she’d always believed that nothing would get the better of him. And now look at him. She reached out and laid a hand on his cheek. All she wanted him to do was wake up, so she could hold him and tell him how much he meant to her. He would be okay. He had to be.

  Avery heard Briar whisper a spell behind her, and heard the pages of the grimoire swiftly turn. A finding spell, similar to one she’d used before.

  “There it is,” Briar exclaimed triumphantly.

  Avery turned. “What?”

  “A spell to rid the mind of a forceful vision. It’s not perfect, but if I tweak it…”

  Her voice faded as she started to assemble the spell’s ingredients, and Avery turned back to Alex and thought about the events of the night.

  The spirit was old and powerful. It had wings, like an angel or the devil. She paused as she thought of James’s question. It wasn’t the Devil. Not if there were two or more of them. A shudder ran through her as she thought of the spirit’s watchful presence stalking the outside of the circle. What did it want?

  A cool breeze eddied through the room, and she shivered, looking for a blanket. She rose to her feet, and pulled the door shut. “Do you mind if I close it, Briar?”

  Briar shook her head and went back to her spell. Avery locked them in, pulled a blanket over Alex, and then grabbed one to wrap around her shoulders, sitting on the floor cushion again. She noticed her phone on the floor. The recording. What would it say?

  She played the recording at a low volume so as not to disturb Briar, holding it close to her ear. The words were clear enough, but they meant nothing to her. However, there was a pattern to them. She had been right earlier. It was the same phrase repeated over and over again. Was there a spell she could use to help her understand it? She ran through the spells she knew, but none of them would work on this. However, there may well be something in either her own or one of the other grimoires. If—no, when—Alex awoke, maybe he would know.

  Avery’s throat felt like sandpaper. I need a drink. Leaving Alex sleeping, and Briar working on her spell, she headed to the kitchen and turned the kettle on. After making chamomile tea, in a vain effort to calm her racing mind, she headed to the living room and idly flicked on the TV, scrolling to the news. She needed a distraction. She collapsed on the couch, filtering through the events in her mind. The Witches Council, the lights in the sea, the threat of Mermaids, the restless ghosts, the church spirits, and the deaths. The magic they had released, their magic, had created so much unforeseen trouble. And then a news bulletin flashed across the screen and she stared in horror.

  There had been yet another death, in another church in St Just.

  A young woman had been in the church that evening to clean, and the vicar had found her dead. There were no details on how she had died, just the death, but it was clear to Avery that this death was linked to the others.

  Could this night get any worse?

  “Avery!” Briar’s voice broke her reverie, and she ran through to the conservatory.

  “What? Is Alex okay?”

  “No, but he’s talking again.”

  Alex was still lying down but he was restless beneath his blanket, and half of it was on the floor. A sweat had broken out again on his face, and his eyes were open wide, a wild look to them. His eyes were still completely white.

  Avery ran over and held his hand. “It’s okay, Alex, you’re fine. You’re not in danger. Can you hear me?”

  Alex’s grip was tight on her hand, but there was no hint of recognition in his behaviour.

  “I have a potion ready, so it’s good that he’s awake again,” Briar said. “Help him sit up, or even just raise his head,” she directed, seeing Avery struggle with him.

  Briar knelt next to Avery, holding a small chalice with a thimbleful of liquid in it. With Avery supporting Alex’s head, Briar tipped the liquid into his mouth, one dribble at a time, and as he drank, Briar said a spell.

  As soon as the spell was completed he fell back, unconscious, and Briar placed a lapis lazuli gemstone on each closed eye. “Good.” She smiled at Avery. “That should do it. Now we let him sleep. I’m pretty sure that he’s been gripped by a powerful image or vision. His mind is trying to process it, probably replaying it over and over again. This spell will banish it for good—hopefully without him forgetting it completely.”

  “Thank you, Briar.” Avery said, hugging her. “I was so scared. But,” she hesitated a moment. “There’s been another death. In St Just.”

  Briar’s triumphant expression faded. “There’ll be more, Avery. I can feel it. The earth itself is unsettled…it trembles. This is far from over.”

  13

  It was a long night.

  Briar had offered Avery a bed, but she didn’t want to be so far from Alex, so, like Briar, she slept on one of the sofas in the lounge. Unfortunately, the lounge was small and one sofa was only a two-seater, which Briar insisted on having because she was shorte
r, but they both hardly slept anyway, woken every hour by an alarm to check on Alex. Not that they really slept in between either.

  By the time dawn arrived, Avery felt grubby, her neck ached, and her eyes were gritty. But Alex was better. His breathing was regular and deep, and he had rolled over in the night, pulling the blanket close. The stones had slipped off his head and eyes and Briar collected them up. She smiled at Avery. “I’m pretty sure this is a normal sleep now, Avery. You can go if you want.”

  “No. Dan will open up. What will you do?”

  “My shop can stay closed for a couple of hours,” she said, reassuring her. “Let’s have some breakfast and coffee.”

  “Really strong coffee,” Avery said, blinking back tiredness.

  Briar headed for the fridge. “And really crispy bacon. And eggs. And crusty bread.”

  Briar had only just brewed the coffee, and the smell of bacon was filling the air, when there was a knock at the door. Briar raised an eyebrow at Avery. “I can feel him from here. Can you?”

  “Not like you can, but–” she raised her head and called the air to her, filtering the smells of the morning, “I smell Newton, and determination. I’ll go let him in.”

  When Avery opened the door, Newton looked at her in shock. “What are you doing here?”

  “Long story. Come in,” she said, turning and heading into the kitchen, Newton on her heels.

  “Bacon!” he said, his eyes gleaming. Avery wasn’t sure if it was the smell of bacon or the sight of Briar that had given him the bounce in his step. “Morning, Briar. How much you got there?”

  She smiled at him over her shoulder. “I’ve got plenty. Want some?”

  “Yes, please. I left the house in a rush, but suddenly I’m hungry.”

  He reached over to grab the coffee pot, searching in the cupboard above for a mug at the same time, and Avery tried to subdue a smirk as she realised just how familiar Newton was with Briar’s kitchen. Despite the early hour, he had dressed with care. His dark grey suit and light grey shirt were pristine, and he smelt of shower gel and was clean-shaven. Someone was making an effort. Although, to be fair, he was always impeccably dressed for work.

  Avery leaned against the kitchen units. “Well, you’re here early and quite jaunty.”

  “Not jaunty. I’m clinging to normality like a mad man.” He leaned back on the opposite counter, watching her. “You look like death. What happened?”

  Avery ran her hands self-consciously through her hair, and whispered the tiniest of spells to give herself a little beautification. Vain? Maybe. “We had a very unpleasant encounter last night with the spirit. Alex linked with it a little too strongly, so here we are.”

  Newton stood straighter. “Is he okay?”

  “We think so, now. Thanks to Briar.” Avery hesitated a second. “We saw the news late last night. There’s been another death.”

  Newton exhaled loudly. “Yes. I was out until two this morning. It looks the same as the others.”

  “Two!” Briar exclaimed. “And you’re up already?”

  “It’s the job, Briar. So, another broken body, drained, pale, found in the nave of the St Andrew’s Church in St Just. It’s one of the oldest churches in the town, just like here and Harecombe.” He paused for a second, thinking. “And there’s no sign of a break-in, no stolen items, and according to the vicar, an uncanny sense of something strange in the church in the last few days.”

  Briar turned away from the cooker where she’d been preparing eggs and sipping her coffee. Her expression was bleak. “There’ll be more. I can feel it in the earth, I told Avery last night. It’s like the earth is trembling, from either fear or because power is stirring. I can’t quite tell what yet. Maybe both.” She looked at Avery. “Take some time if you can today, Avery. See if you feel change in the air.”

  Before Avery could answer, they heard the door to the sunroom open and suddenly Alex was leaning on the frame. “Do I smell bacon and coffee?”

  Avery broke into a broad smile and rushed over, reaching up to hug him. “Alex! You’re awake! Are you all right?” She looked at him carefully, relieved to see his eyes had returned to their normal dark chocolate brown. “You scared the shit out of me.”

  He hugged her, too, releasing her reluctantly. “I scared the shit out of myself, too. My mind was gripped by…something…” he trailed off.

  “Coffee and breakfast first,” Briar said decisively. “It’s ready now, go sit,” she commanded, shooing everyone into the sunroom.

  Sitting at the wooden table with a strong coffee in her hands, Avery started to feel human again, especially now that Alex was all right. His experience certainly hadn’t damaged his hunger; he ate like he hadn’t been fed in months.

  “Thanks, Briar,” Avery said, finally finishing her bacon and egg sandwich. “That was awesome.”

  “Yeah, thanks Briar. But I have to get to work to investigate a murder, so tell me. What did you see last night?” Newton asked, narrowing his eyes at Alex.

  Alex paused for a few seconds, gazing at the table while he gathered his thoughts. When he finally looked up, he sighed. “The spell worked. The crystal ball helped to focus on the spirit and provided a way for us to communicate. It didn’t want to at first. It shied away, prowling around on the edge of my consciousness, until its curiosity got the better of it. I think the fact that we were locked within the protective circle annoyed it. So, I found out that it’s old, thousands of years old, and it’s been trapped beyond our plane for a long, long time. When we opened the door to their dimension, they saw their opportunity and forced their way out, as you saw, Avery. The rest of us were too engaged with the demon to notice.”

  “And I was spirit walking,” Avery reminded him. “That allowed me to see things you couldn’t.”

  “True. Anyway, unlike the other spirits there, they were powerful enough to break free. I don’t know how many of them crossed. It wouldn’t tell me at first. It liked having knowledge I didn’t, I could tell.”

  Briar leaned on the table. “You were talking in some strange language last night we couldn’t understand. Avery recorded it. It was as if you were repeating something over and over, like it was locked in your brain. Do you know what you were saying?”

  Alex didn’t answer straight away, instead picking up his cup and drinking more coffee.

  “You found out something bad, didn’t you?” Avery asked, her heart sinking into her stomach.

  Alex met her eyes and nodded, and then glanced at the others. “I don’t know if it’s bad or good, but Jasper was right. It is one of the Nephilim. Or rather they are. No wonder it feels old. It’s bloody ancient.”

  “So, what does this mean? What now?” Newton asked.

  “I have no idea. It was curious as to what I was, what we were. It didn’t like our power, but it respected us. And so, after this battle of the spirits, for want of a better word, it revealed its name.”

  “What do they want?” Avery asked. “I could sense you arguing with it.”

  “They want to return to what they see is their rightful place on Earth—to walk amongst men again.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Newton said, colour draining from him. “They’re old, they don’t belong here.”

  “That’s not what he thought,” Alex explained.

  “So why the deaths?” Avery asked, fearing she already knew why.

  “They need the energy. They need more to make them corporeal.”

  “And why stay in the churches?” Briar asked.

  “For our particular spirit, it was convenience, since it was where he escaped. But churches carry spiritual energy, which as we thought, is good to feed from. Plus, they’re also generally quiet places. The others fled to find their own churches to lurk in.”

  “So, what were you saying that had been blazed on your brain?” Briar asked.

  “We are the Nephilim, we are seven, and we will walk again. Try to stop us and you shall die.”

  ***

  Wh
en Avery got to work, all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and pretend last night had never happened, pretend one of the Nephilim did not inhabit her local church. At some point she would have to tell James, the vicar, but not now. She couldn’t face it. To top it off, Sally had taken a few days of annual leave, as it was now the summer holidays and her kids were off school.

  Dan was behind the main counter, his back to the room, leaning his tall frame over the music system when she walked in carrying two steaming lattes and two large, sticky

  pastries. He was wearing jeans and his university t-shirt, and he turned as she arrived, looked bright-eyed and rested. Ugh. That made Avery feel even worse.

  Dan took a coffee appreciatively as the sounds of John Lee Hooker filled the room. “Cheers, Ave. You’re up early.” He looked confused. “You’ve already been out and it’s barely nine. Are you really Avery Hamilton?”

  She grinned, despite her crappy night. “Funny. I do get up early sometimes.”

  “Sure you do. You keep telling yourself that.” He grabbed a pastry and took a bite. “So, go on. Why?”

  Avery groaned and looked around to make sure the shop was still empty. “We had an eventful night. Alex and I were trying to communicate with a spirit and it gripped Alex in some sort of Seer state. Anyway, thanks to Briar, he’s okay now.”

  “Wow. Your life is anything but boring lately. What spirit?”

  She briefly considered not elaborating, but Dan knew what she was and what had happened beneath All Souls, so it seemed only fair to come clean. “I’m not sure how much Sally told you about the death at the church and the spirits I saw escaping when we released our magic—“

  “I know it all,” Dan said, interrupting her.