The Blue Witch

by Alane Adams

  The spider waved one hairy leg at her. “The Great Mother has forgotten us. We live here in the nothingness, neither here nor there. Why would we care what she thinks?”

  Abigail gave a little shrug. “Then I suppose you don’t want to hear about how much she misses you and wishes you’d come for a visit. She sent along a very special gift just for you, but if you don’t want it, go ahead. Eat me.” She closed her eyes and waited.

  There was a soft rasp as the queen slid closer. “Show me this gift,” she crooned. “It must be valuable for the Great Mother to send you all this way.”

  Abigail almost smiled. Baba Nana was right. The Arachnia weren’t very smart.

  She opened her eyes. “Well, the Great Mother said you were the most beautiful spider in all the realms.”

  “I am?” The queen sounded awed. “I knew it, of course, but to have the Great Mother say it . . .”

  “She sent you a gift so you could see for yourself.” Abigail began to pull out the mirror, then hesitated. “If I give it to you, you have to promise to let us go home so we can tell her how you liked her gift.”

  Queen Octonia waved one leg impatiently. “Yes, yes, I give you my word.” Her eyes flashed hungrily. “Show me now before I change my mind and devour you.”

  “First I’m going to free my friends.”

  Abigail sent witchfire over the cocooned figure at the feet of Octonia, cutting away the thick webbing.

  Endera sat up, ripping at the silky wisps and gasping for air as she looked around.

  “Mother? Did you come for me?” When she saw Abigail, her face curdled with rage. “You! This is all your fault. I swear, I will get you for this.”

  “Just play along,” Abigail whispered. “You have to trust me. Go free Glorian and Nelly.”

  Endera peeled off the rest of her cocoon and backed away, stomping angrily across the thick webbing. A few quick blasts of witchfire and the other two witchlings were out of their cocoons.

  “Is it lunchtime?” Glorian moaned, wiping away sticky strands.

  “I . . . I think we’re about to be lunch.” Nelly’s normally nasty voice quivered with fear.

  Abigail turned back to the queen. “And now your majesty, here is the gift sent by the Great Mother.” She pulled the mirror out with a flourish.

  The spider murmured in delight. “What deliciousness is this?” She reached out a leg and snatched the object, holding it up close and moving it around to all her eyes. “Such beauty! Such perfection!”

  “So we can go then,” Abigail said. She backed away, stepping across the webbing until she joined the other three witchlings.

  “This will never work,” Endera spat. “I say we start blasting them.”

  “No, just keep backing away,” Abigail said.

  They stepped backward, making their way toward the tunnel entrance.

  And then Queen Octonia chuckled. The sound echoed in the giant cavern as she gave a great belly laugh. She tossed the mirror aside and began to crawl across the web toward them. It swayed with her weight.

  “You didn’t really think I would let you go, did you? Why do you think the Great Mother banished me here in the first place? Because she was jealous of my beauty. So I know she didn’t send me that mirror. Which means you’re lying.”

  “I told you it wouldn’t work,” Endera said, backing away.

  The queen crawled closer, her eyes roving over the foursome. “I must say, you’re the freshest morsels we’ve had come along in ages. Better than those sour dragonflies we’ve been stuck dining on for all these centuries.”

  Chapter 32

  Hugo and Calla were seated under a giant fern. The dragonflies had carried them down to a mossy clearing. There were several cocoons clinging to the underside of the fronds. Dragonflies perched on every bough, listening in while their leader, King Karran, explained how they had come to be in the netherworld.

  “Our colony was sent here eons ago,” he began. “We were banished to the netherworld by Odin for biting the neck of his wife Queen Freya. It was a mistake,” he explained. “My great-great-grandfather thought Freya was going to kill his mate, but she was just admiring her beauty. Odin exiled our entire colony.”

  “That sounds terrible,” Hugo said, “but we really need your help. We’re looking for some witchlings. My friend cast a spell and sent them here. If we don’t get them back, she’ll be exiled from her coven, just like you were exiled.”

  “That’s not any business of ours. I suggest you leave this place as quickly as possible before the Arachnia find you and you join in their fate.”

  “But she’ll kill them if we don’t rescue them,” Hugo said.

  “You think we don’t know that?” King Karran’s wings bristled. “We barricade ourselves in here, but those nasty Arachnia burrow in through the walls. They steal our younglings, and we can’t stop them.”

  Calla leaned forward. “Then why not fight back—show them you won’t take it anymore?”

  The royal dragonfly hung his head. “We tried that many years ago,” he said softly. “We mounted an attack. We lost many dragonflies that day. There are too many of them. We have no hope of winning.”

  “You can’t give up,” Calla said. “You have to keep trying. Everyone tells me I’m just a glitch-witch with no powers, but I’ll never give up trying to get my magic.”

  “Calla’s right,” Hugo said. “You must stand up for yourself, or they’re going to keep on destroying your colony. Please, help us.”

  The dragonflies in the ferns began buzzing loudly. Karran nodded his head several times as he listened. Finally, he said, “The colony has spoken. We accept that we cannot defeat the Arachnia.”

  Hugo sagged. So that was it. They were on their own.

  “But we can help you rescue your friends,” Karran added. “Then perhaps the gods will see fit to forgive us and release us from this place.”

  Chapter 33

  Abigail’s attempt at rescuing Endera and her side-kicks was not going well. In fact, things had gone from bad to worse.

  Queen Octonia loomed over them, snapping her pincers. Poisonous venom dripped from her fangs.

  “I should blast you to bits,” Endera sniped, glancing angrily at Abigail. “Turn you into a pile of ashes.”

  “I get it, you’re mad,” Abigail said. “But right now, we have to focus.”

  The spiders were drawing closer on every side. The web strained to hold their weight and Queen Octonia’s.

  Nelly and Glorian spat witchfire, scattering any spider that got too close.

  “What’s the plan, Endera?” Nelly asked.

  “Yeah, you’ve always got something up your sleeve,” Glorian added.

  “Just use the spellbook and take us home,” Endera snapped at Abigail, sending twin blasts at a hissing spider.

  “I don’t have it.”

  “What? Then why are you here?”

  “I know the spell to get home,” Abigail said. “But we can’t leave Hugo and Calla behind.”

  Endera snorted in disbelief. “Hugo and Calla? You don’t mean that smelly Balfin boy that follows you around? What can he do? And Calla is a glitch-witch, what good is she? I say take us home now!”

  Nelly and Glorian chimed in their support.

  “You know what? I’m starting to think I should have left you wrapped up in that cocoon,” Abigail muttered.

  “Enough chatter,” Queen Octonia purred. “Which one of you would like to be devoured first? Perhaps the plump one.” She shot out a blob of webbing at Glorian, but Endera moved fast. She zapped the clump, disintegrating it to ash.

  “Say the spell, Abigail, or we’re doomed.”

  Endera was right. Any second, the spiders would overcome them. The web swayed as they were steadily surrounded.

  The web. That was it.

  “We have to send our witchfire down at the webbing,” she said softly.

  “What?” Endera looked at Abigail as if she were crazy. “But we’ll fall and break ou
r necks.”

  “You want to stay here and have them suck your bones dry? Go ahead. I say we get rid of Octonia once and for all.”

  Endera grumbled but didn’t object. The four witch-lings began blasting the webbing, burning great swaths of it.

  Octonia realized the danger too late. She squealed as the web collapsed.

  Abigail grabbed onto dangling strands, trying to stop her fall. The webbing slipped from her fingers and the ground came zooming into view. Surely, they were going to smash into a pile of broken bones.

  A buzzing sound came from below them, and a swarm of purplish insects appeared from a tunnel. At the front was the largest dragonfly Abigail had ever seen. It wore a golden crown, but the strangest thing by far was the person who rode on its back.

  Hugo.

  Calla appeared riding on the back of another dragonfly and flew it directly under Abigail.

  “I’ve got you,” Calla said, grabbing her. Abigail landed with a thud on its back.

  The other three girls each landed on a dragonfly. Glorian sent hers into a nosedive, but it fluttered its wings mightily and evened out.

  “Hugo, you rescued us!” Abigail said.

  “Calla helped,” Hugo said, blushing. “Abigail, meet King Karran.”

  “No time for chitchat. Let’s get out of here,” Endera said, turning her dragonfly toward the tunnel.

  For once Abigail agreed with her, especially since her plan to destroy Octonia had failed. The spiders had quickly shot out webbing to save their queen, who dangled safely in the web above them.

  “After them,” Octonia bellowed as the dragonfly squadron headed for the tunnel. The army of spiders dropped like rocks to the floor of the cavern.

  Hugo and the girls whizzed down the tunnel on the backs of their dragonflies. Behind them, the skittering, clicking sounds of spiders giving chase bounced off the walls. After some daredevil flying at breakneck speed, they emerged into a large cavern. The dragonflies pulled up, fluttering and trembling with exhaustion as the kids dismounted.

  “What now, Hugo?” Abigail said.

  “Use your magic to block the tunnel.”

  Abigail lined up with Endera, Glorian, and Nelly. They began blasting the entrance with bright bursts of witchfire. The clattering sounds of the spiders got closer. Abigail could see their red eyes glowing in the darkness. The tunnel wasn’t crumbling.

  “Come on, everyone, more!” Abigail cried.

  Endera dug her feet in and sent out twin blasts, grunting with effort. Each girl gave it everything she had, but it still wasn’t enough. A pair of spiders burst into the cavern.

  Hugo and Calla were ready, pelting rocks at the intruders and driving them back into the tunnel. Finally, with a loud crash, boulders tumbled over the entrance, sealing off the horde of Arachnia.

  The witchlings dropped their hands, spent.

  King Karran landed next to them.

  “Thank you,” Hugo said. “I will make sure Odin hears of your bravery.”

  The majestic dragonfly nodded his head gravely, and then he and his subjects lifted as one and flew out of the chamber.

  “Let’s go home,” Calla said.

  Abigail began to recite the return spell.

  “Dominus delirias daloros.”

  Cold air swirled around them.

  “Dominus delirias daloros,” she repeated.

  Abigail’s skin tingled with electricity.

  She opened her mouth to repeat the spell a third time, but before she could get the words out, Queen Octonia burst out of the tunnel, sending rocks flying.

  “Going somewhere?” she cried.

  Fangs glinting, the giant spider lunged straight for Endera, but the witchling pulled Calla in front of her. Octonia bit down on Calla’s arm, quickly backing away and dragging her into the tunnel.

  “Calla!” Hugo picked up another rock and heaved it at one of Queen Octonia’s eyes. The spider screamed, releasing Calla as yellowish goo poured from her injured socket. Hugo caught Calla in his arms.

  “Say the spell, Abigail!” Endera shouted.

  Abigail said the spell one last time, and the nether-world disappeared, replaced by a stinging blackness, and then they were back in the clearing outside Baba Nana’s hut. It was nighttime, the air cool and damp. Stars lit up the sky.

  Abigail checked to see that they were all there. “We made it,” she said, sagging in relief.

  “Calla?” Hugo bent over the girl. “Wake up. Say something.”

  Calla’s face was pale as milk. Her eyes were closed. She didn’t appear to be breathing.

  Abigail glared at Endera. “You let her get bit.”

  The witchling sneered back. “This is all your fault, Abigail. From now until the day we die, we will be sworn enemies.” She rushed off into the woods, followed closely by her pals.

  “Endera, wait!” Abigail said.

  Baba Nana’s voice came from the darkness. “Let her go, child. There’s no time. Help me get Calla inside.”

  Hugo and Abigail lifted the girl and followed Baba Nana into her shack. She cleared off the kitchen table, and they laid Calla on it.

  Baba Nana grasped Abigail by the shoulders. “It’s up to you, Abigail. Endera will be bringing Melistra back here. I didn’t find anything in the book that can help Calla find her magic, but you can use it to heal her.” She held out the spellbook.

  Abigail took it hesitantly. “What do you mean?”

  Baba Nana nodded at the book in Abigail’s hands. “Command the spellbook to give you what you need. Your magic will provide the rest.”

  Abigail opened the book. The words on the page were a jumble. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Yes, you do,” Hugo said. “Trust your magic.”

  “What do you know?” Abigail said irritably, wishing it were that simple.

  He put a hand on her shoulder. “I know you, Abigail Tarkana. And I know you can do anything you put your mind to.”

  Abigail took a deep breath and let the spellbook fall open. The words on the page came into focus.

  Try this one, dark witch. You’ll like it.

  An icy shiver ran up her spine. For a moment she was tempted, and then she shook it off.

  “No. A different spell,” she commanded.

  The page blew over. She studied the new page. Again, tempting but somehow wrong.

  “No! I demand that you give me the spell I need!”

  The book riffled through several pages until Abigail suddenly stabbed her finger down on the parchment. The book resisted, as it were fighting her.

  She pressed her finger down harder and the words swam into view.

  This one is right.

  She didn’t know how she knew it, but it was right. She stood over Calla, putting one hand over the girl’s heart as she held the book open.

  “Cora vivina, cara estima, cura malada.” At her words, a bolt of azure fire shot from her hand into Calla’s chest. It was deeper and bluer than any witchfire she had used before.

  “What are you doing?” Hugo shouted. “You’ll incinerate her!”

  “I don’t know!” She started to draw her hand back, but Baba Nana grasped her shoulder.

  “Don’t stop. It’s working.”

  Oddly, Calla didn’t seem affected by the powerful witchfire. She lay still and serene as the deep blue fire went into her. Abigail’s arm began to shake with the effort. She was getting tired.

  “A little longer,” Baba Nana said.

  “I can’t,” Abigail cried, feeling her magic running out. Her arms were shaking so badly she dropped the spell-book. One last spark of light went into Calla, and then the witchfire sputtered out. Abigail dropped to her knees, gasping for air.

  “Did it work?” she asked.

  Hugo put his ear to Calla’s heart, listened, then shook his head.

  Chapter 34

  Baba Nana wailed. “It has to work. Dear girl.” She cradled the limp witchling. “Come back to your Baba Nana.”

  Abigail p
ulled herself up and stared at Calla’s pale face. What had she done wrong? Why hadn’t it worked?

  She pushed Baba Nana away and put one hand on Calla’s chest. She needed a heartbeat. A solid thump. She pressed harder and sent every bit of energy she had into her palm.

  Just one thump, Calla.

  Just one thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Calla gasped as her eyes flew open, and Abigail fell backward.

  “What happened?” Calla asked, looking from Baba Nana to Hugo.

  “You were bitten by Queen Octonia, but Abigail brought you back,” Hugo said, grinning.

  Calla blinked, sitting up. “I feel funny.”

  At that moment the door to the shack flew open, and Melistra stood in the doorway.

  “Give me my spellbook,” Melistra commanded.

  When Abigail hesitated, she shot out her hand, and Abigail clutched at her throat, choking for air. But Baba Nana stepped forward, shedding her pile of rags and drawing herself up to reveal a lean figure that was much taller than she appeared.

  “Let the girl alone, Melistra, or you’ll have me to deal with.” A nasty looking ball of witchfire hovered over one hand. She didn’t look anything like the hapless creature they had first seen.

  “Balastero. How dare you interfere?” Melistra hissed. “I should have reduced you to cinders years ago. This girl nearly killed my daughter. She will be punished.”

  “Like you punished Lissandra?” Baba Nana said. “I’m not afraid of you, Melistra. And from now on, I won’t be silent. Be warned.”

  Melistra’s eyes widened in shock, then the ice returned to them. “This isn’t over.”

  She snapped her fingers, and the spellbook flew across the room into her hands. In a burst of purple smoke, she vanished.

  “What was that about?” Abigail asked.

  “Never you mind, child,” Baba Nana said. She lifted her cloak of rags and wrapped it around her shoulders, becoming a stooped, huddling figure again.

  “Tell me about my mother,” Abigail pleaded. “How did she die?”

  Pain crossed Baba Nana’s face. “It was a terrible night. She was running away from the Tarkanas for good, taking you with her.”