by CC Solomon
“Phillip wins this round,” Ron announced. “Phillip, that was amazing. Our witch who made that ward has said that the fastest anyone has ever broken it was fourteen minutes. For most people it takes around thirty to forty minutes. You broke it in six minutes!”
The crowd erupted in a loud cheer. I looked down, not wanting to meet the eyes of my supporters. I knew they wouldn’t be disappointed in me but it would still hurt to see their faces.
“Okay, now we are at challenge three. Breaking a curse. We have two people. Both cursed to blindness. You must each break the curse, which will restore their sight. The first to do so wins.”
Who volunteered to do this? I wondered. Two men entered the gym, one with a limp being escorted by the blue-haired woman to Phillip. The other man walked with a stick towards me, unassisted.
“Both men were cursed with dark magic by someone who is not a part of this town. This witch is extremely powerful and we do not expect this to be an easy endeavor. These men understand the risks of volunteering for this and will be compensated well for their participation, regardless of the outcome.”
Clearly, these guys were in desperate situations to volunteer to be blinded for compensation of some sort. I wondered how they were being rewarded? I also wondered about this witch they happened upon who could cast a dark curse and then decided to split town. An edge of doubt and distrust of this competition played at the edge of my mind. It had always been there, and with Phillip’s seemingly easy win of round two, I was now more suspicious. However, I wasn’t so sure I had any real ground to contest anything.
“Round three begins…now.” Ron shouted and we began.
I had no time to ponder the fairness of this challenge. I moved to face the man I’d been given to help. “What’s your name?” I asked. It really didn’t matter I knew but it felt important to know him.
“Sam,” The man stated in a quiet voice. He was a young man, maybe early twenties, with cropped brown hair.
“I suppose you can’t tell me anything about the person who cursed you,” I said.
He shook his head. “I don’t know anything, actually. Sorry.”
I didn’t have any more time for chit-chat, not that it was helpful anyway. I reached out and touched his shoulder and employed my witch’s sight, unfocusing my eyes. A deep black smoke outlined his form. This was dark magic for sure. I was no expert in that arena. Shayla made me learn some for the challenge but we’d never practiced because that went beyond our boundaries. We were too afraid we’d open the door to something dark.
I also just assumed we would stay away from it because it usually consisted of some form of sacrifice. If you were cursing someone, the sacrifice usually required a death. I hoped that the death was not a human one, although I would never put it past this group. If the curse was based on a human sacrifice, then it would usually take a sacrifice to break it. That could take the form of killing someone. It could also take the form of cutting off a body part of a particularly strong being.
I frowned. The idea that this challenge could result in something so dark concerned me. Perhaps that was the point. Maybe Phillip knew that I would never hurt anyone to win.
But he would.
“I need an assistant to break this curse,” I heard Phillip announce. “May I be allowed to seek help from the audience?”
Seconds later, I heard Ron answer in the affirmative.
Shit.
“Xander. Can you help?” he asked in a neutral tone. Like Xander would say no.
A man who appeared to be in his late 20s, with curly blond hair and glasses moved down the bleachers without hesitating.
I knew where this was going. I was sure I could mind control someone in the crowd to help me too, but if that help meant killing or maiming them, then I wouldn’t do it. I could heal but growing back an arm or even a finger was beyond my magic. I wasn’t willing to hurt anyone to win. That wasn’t the way I wanted to succeed. Of course, the idea of grabbing Seth and breaking the curse with his sacrifice didn’t sound so bad.
Then again, I’m sure that wouldn’t do much for what Erik was trying to do with the pack and no one would believe Seth had volunteered of his own free will. They would never follow Erik if I took out their leader.
The only other option was for me to cut myself. Blindness was serious but I wasn’t experienced enough to know if it was take-a-life kind of serious or cut-off-a-limb type of serious. I didn’t want to cut off a hand, only to have really needed to kill someone.
There’s a sentence you don’t think of often.
I suddenly heard commotion from the crowd and looked up. Charles was standing near the judges and pointing at me. “I’m her volunteer,” he said. “Phillip gets one, so does she.”
“She didn’t ask for you,” Ron stated.
I shook my head. What was Charles up to? I suppose having someone by my side wouldn’t hurt. “Charles, will you be my volunteer?” I cried.
The judges agreed and Charles jogged over to me.
“What do you need me to do?” he asked, lifting his sunglasses to the top of his head.
“It’s dark magic. I need a sacrifice or a limb,” I replied, sighing and shaking my head again.
Charles shrugged. “I’m already dead. Use me. As long as you don’t cut off my head or damage my heart, I’ll come back. Or cut off my arm, I think it’ll grow back.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You think? I can’t risk that.”
“Then you’re going to lo—”
He stopped as the crowd gasped. He ran around the invisible barrier, grimaced, and came back to me.
“What happened?” I asked.
“The fucker sliced off dude’s arm with a machete,” Charles answered. “He didn’t even attempt to heal the guy, just went back to his table with the bloody arm. You have to do something now before you lose.”
I grimaced. “It’s dark magic, Charles. I can’t mess with that. You use it and it’s like a stench you can’t get rid of. Once is enough. It opens you up to do more bad things and lets evil get in you. Real evil, not figuratively. I don’t want to open that door.”
He frowned. “Then you’ll lose.”
I sucked in a breath. “I think I’ll have to be okay with that for this rou—”
“I can see!” shouted Phillip’s blind volunteer.
I could have vomited.
Perhaps he was lying.
Ron walked up to the man and tested him. He asked him how many fingers he was holding up and what certain people in the audience were wearing. The man got every answer right. Doubt crept into my mind again. I had no proof the man had actually been blind in the first place. Perhaps this was all a set up.
“The winner of round three is Phillip!” Ron shouted.
The crowd erupted in joy again.
I let out a sigh and my shoulders slumped. I looked to my blind guy. At least he had the decency to look sad. Although I’m sure it wasn’t for the same reason as me.
“It’s okay, you’ve got this next one!” I heard Felix shout out.
I looked over to him and gave him a sad smile as some in the crowd booed him. Erik smiled at me and nodded. I glanced over at Mae and she gave me a neutral look, as if she were watching a play. I wasn’t really sure who she was rooting for now. She certainly didn’t look bothered that I had just lost two challenges in a row.
“Okay, everyone, just two more challenges left. So far, it’s Amina one, and Phillip two. It’s still anyone’s game,” Ron announced. “For challenge number four, each of you will be given ingredients and directions for a potion that brings life.”
Two people walked into the room pushing carts towards Phillip and me.
Ron went on. “This may sound deceptively easy but it is not. Not just anyone can make the potion work. In fact, as of now, no one we know has succeeded in making it work. We believe it requires a certain level of power already in the witch. However, since you are both life mages, this might be a piece of cake. You know the drill. Whoeve
r gets this to work wins. Clock starts…now.”
We were life mages but we couldn’t bring life to something dead, only control anything living. I looked down at my tray. There was another wooden bowl, a motor to crush powder, a spoon, several unlabeled containers of ingredients, directions typed on a sheet of paper, and something the size of a large male shoe under a cloth. I lifted the cloth and grimaced. It was a dead, gray kitten with a white underbelly and paws.
There was a special place in hell for these people. Who were these monsters?
They must have killed the animals this morning because the kitten wasn’t yet decaying. That made it a little better. Zombie cat was creepy enough on its own without looking like it. Its eyes were closed and it looked like it was resting peacefully. I decided to name her Poppy, thinking naming it would bring it some identity or life on its own.
I picked up the directions and read.
One teaspoon each of the following:
Juniper
Fennel
Pine
Thyme
Ivy
Ginger
Clover
Sandalwood oil
Adders tongue
Angelica leaves
Burdock root
I cocked an eyebrow. Where were they getting all of these ingredients? Even in the Pre-world it would have been hard to find some of these things. I couldn’t imagine who was growing them. But then again, if you were a witch who relied on potions and spells, these would be things you’d want in your backyard just as much as vegetables. They’d also make great items for selling at the market.
I started dumping the ingredients into the bowl. I had to say I was a wee bit disappointed that there was no eye of newt, dragon claw, or bat wing needed. The herbs listed made magic seem so…practical. Which it was. Of course, the recipe highlighted even more that magic really was in the person who used it.
I took the motor and began to grind the powders, leaves, and oil together into a paste. This took some time but when done, I scooped some out and dropped it onto Poppy in a few places. I pursed my lips and rubbed the concoction into the stiff, furry animal. I would have loved some gloves but magic was in my skin and if this was going to work, I had to do it right. If I failed, there would be no round five. Phillip would be the automatic winner, having won three in a row out of five.
I massaged the animal and pushed my magic through my fingers. I envisioned the animal waking up and running around but when I looked down poor Poppy was still stiff as a board and unmoving.
“Come on, Poppy,” I whispered. “If you wake up, and don’t become a flesh-eating zombie kitty, I’ll get you all the fish you can eat.”
Poppy apparently wasn’t impressed because the kitty remained dead. I put more paste on the kitten.
I leaned in a bit, still giving the kitty a massage with my fingertips, rubbing the paste further in. “Look, Poppy, don’t embarrass me in front of these good people. This is your time to shine. Don’t let them beat us.”
I sighed and straightened up. This wasn’t good. Charles and Erik would fight before they’d let Phillip take me and they would die with no coming back this time.
I started to pat the cat with gentle strokes. “I promise we’ll be best friends forever if you wake up,” I told the kitten.
I felt movement under my fingers. The skin under the fur rippled and I fought the urge to take my hand away. It was creepy and kind of gross but I had to toughen up.
Soon, the kitten’s body moved up and down, breathing in and out. Poppy’s eyes opened. They were covered with a film at first but the kitten continued to blink and soon the eyes were regular yellow with large, black pupils. I heard some of the crowd that was close enough to see, gasp.
I smiled. “Come on Poppy, show off.”
As if she understood, Poppy the Kitty, stretched her whole body in one long line and then rose to her paws. She began to purr and she brushed her head against my hand before licking my fingers. “Oh, good girl, Poppy. We’re besties now.”
The crowd cried out.
I leaned over and picked up Poppy. The adorable cat, who I now decided was my new pet regardless of the outcome, snuggled her head into my neck and continued to loudly purr. I figured since she hadn’t bitten me she wasn’t a zombie cat, so all was well. Of course, if she had, I’d have been done for.
Note to self: don’t let cuteness fool you. I should have learned that from Phillip by now.
I walked over to the judges with Poppy and they looked on in awe. I placed her down on one of the judge’s desk as they crowded around and inspected the kitten. Poppy was none too pleased with the poking and prodding and swiped little kitten paws at them. She cried out and scratched at my jeans for me to pick her up. I smiled and picked the cat back up. One of the judges looked to Ron and nodded.
“Although it looks like Phillip just woke up his puppy. The winner for challenge four is…Amina!” Ron shouted.
My crew jumped up and shouted and a few others in the crowd gave polite applause.
“Okay, everyone, we now have a tie,” Ron stated on his microphone. “This is the final challenge. Whoever wins this one wins everything and will have final rule and the title of most powerful witch.”
I looked at Poppy. “Okay, kitty, let me give you to someone. I’ve got work to do,” I stated. I walked over to Charles, who raised an eyebrow. I shoved the kitten in his face. “Watch Poppy for me, please.”
“Poppy?” he asked, taking the cat, who sniffed his face. Deciding that she preferred me, Poppy wiggled out of his grasp and raced to my feet. She rubbed up against my ankles lazily.
“Poppy, listen to me. Go with Charles. I’ll get you as soon as I’m done. Okay?”
The kitten looked up at me and meowed before jumping into Charles’ lap.
“Did she actually listen to you?” he asked, patting the kitten on the head.
I shrugged.
“You’re doing good out there, Mina,” Erik said. His eyes were uncharacteristically soft and he gave me a slight smile.
“Thank you. Promise me you’ll both be good, regardless of how this last challenge ends.”
“Amina, are you ready?” Ron called in an impatient voice.
Erik pointed his head back to the center of the room. “Better get back there.”
I looked back at Poppy. “Make sure they behave, Poppy,” I stated, pointing at her.
The kitten meowed in response. I arched an eyebrow. Maybe she could understand me.
I walked back to my position.
A sudden wind blew through the gym, knocking me forward a few steps and I struggled to stay on my feet. The hair from my ponytail blew forward and I turned around to see the origin of the wind.
A thick cloud of smoke swirled near the back wall beside the doors between Phillip and I. Soon it dissipated, revealing the outline of a petite figure.
As the smoke cleared, I was able to see the figure more clearly.
“Lisa!” I cried.
Chapter 13
Lisa, to my relief, looked healthy and strong. Her black hair, with hot-pink tips now, hung to her chest and her bright, emerald eyes appeared energized. Her petite frame was covered in a robin’s-egg-blue ruffled sundress, exposing tan but unusually-sparkly skin.
“Hey, Mina!” She exclaimed, waving at me.
“‘Hey, Mina?’ Where have you been?” I asked.
She lost her smile. “I’ll tell you one day. I promise. But for now… Don’t hate me, okay? I’m really sorry but I have to do this.”
I frowned. “Huh?”
She put out her hand, palm up, and blew. And, I kid you not, glitter appeared. Or what looked like glitter. Little sparks of colorful lights moved in swirly lines towards Phillip and me. The lights wrapped around our bodies like a confetti explosion. I wrapped my arms around myself and squinted my eyes in confusion. Phillip batted at the swarm of glittery lights but it was useless. This colorful parade was not budging.
I tried to shout but couldn’t h
ear myself. There was no sound blocking my voice, rather, it was as if I’d lost my ability to hear. Through the glitter I could see an odd commotion all around me. Erik ran towards me but it seemed as if he were moving in slow motion.
My feet levitated off the ground and the floor quickly evaporated into white nothingness. Everything, except the glitter swarm and Phillip, was beginning to similarly fade to white. Outlines of bodies disappeared, until we were no longer in the gym or around the others. We were nowhere. We were now surrounded by a bare-white space with just the two of us and the damn glittery lights.
And then as suddenly as everything had disappeared, a scene grew around us. Only it wasn’t the gym.
Pavement appeared under my feet, buildings grew on either side of us, and a cloudy evening sky spread above us.
We were now in the middle of what appeared to be a city, surrounded by tall buildings. They were mostly shops, restaurants, bars, and offices. Tall grass grew in front of establishments and some of the buildings looked dilapidated, with boarded or broken windows and graffiti covering the outsides. Ahead, I spotted a short pedestrian bridge crossing a long canal littered with boats and debris. The area was filled with the stench of waste and decay and I grimaced as I took further inspection of my surroundings. A few cars and bikes were pushed against the sidewalk in random directions as if people haphazardly tried to clear the streets to go forward. The street was also full of trash and plant life that had broken through the asphalt.
This didn’t feel like America. There was something old about it. I looked for street signs but they didn’t appear familiar. Although I couldn’t see the signs too clearly in the dark, the shape, drawings, and writing on the signs seemed off.
Still, I felt like I’d been here before. I looked behind me and spotted a light rail or tram overturned in the middle of the street. The asphalt was broken up around the tram as if a strong earthquake had knocked it off course. The back end of the tram dipped into the pavement where the ground broke up underneath it.
