The Witch Born to Ignite

by Tanya Milne

  I was ready. I put my bloodstained finger in the rose oil, and one by one I touched every object in front of me, saying the words I’d memorised. ‘Great Mother, Great Father, I ask you to join me as I consecrate these tools for magical work. My intention here tonight is to create a potion to help people forget witches they’ve met.’

  I picked up the wrapped sage that I’d made into a wand, and held it under the flame of the candle until it caught fire. I picked up the tools and smudged each of them in the sage smoke, saying, ‘I consecrate these tools for magical purposes. May they be released from all their worldly energy to carry the energy of the elements.’

  When I was done, I put the sage wand to the side and started to prepare the potion using the ingredients that were laid out in front of me. In they went, a pinch here and there, and finally I added the river water.

  Using my finger, I stirred the potion. Butterflies fluttered in the base of my stomach. There was only one more thing to do. I had to cast a spell. If it didn’t work, the potion would just be a whole lot of ingredients and nothing more. But if it worked, magic would enter the water and bring forth the essence from each of the plants, the herbs, the roots, so that together, they would combine and produce their own magic.

  I swallowed the lump that sat in the back of my throat. The words from Ethel came back to me then. What had she written? ‘Follow your nose.’ I raised the potion to my nose and inhaled. I could smell beyond the scents of what was there, to the secrets and power beyond. The words that I had read, over and over again, night after night came back to my lips, and I whispered them now.

  ‘Here I stand

  under the light of the wiccan moon

  presenting gifts in both my hands.

  Tonight,

  shine your magic,

  shine your light.

  Cast a spell

  to make mortals forget

  that witches live as well.

  One little drop

  to forget our kind

  and make the hate stop.

  I ask you to cast away, cast away, cast away

  under the light from the wiccan moon

  and the sun from all the days.

  Cast your magic away.’

  I put the chalice down and held my breath. Nothing happened. The potion stayed exactly as it was. The spell didn’t say what would happen, but just to stand back. I peered into it, but nothing was different – at all.

  What had I done wrong?

  Panic gripped me, and my mind raced ahead to think about how I could help Elijah without the potion, but it came up blank.

  I put my head into my hands.

  NO! NO! NO!

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  A pungent smell wafted up towards me. I moved my hands away from my face and there, in front of me, was smoke rising from the chalice. When I leant in closer, a massive cloud of smoke exploded from the chalice – all over my face.

  Coughing, I swiped at the air until it cleared, and then I started laughing – laughing at the warning I didn’t heed, laughing because the spell had actually worked – and for a split second, I forgot to worry about everything and everyone and relished the feeling of being a witch.

  My footsteps crunched loudly on the leaves as I approached my bike. The excitement of creating my first spell had faded the moment I’d left the circle of trees. The moon was now riding down the hill towards the horizon, and the enormity of what I was about to attempt weighed heavily on my shoulders.

  I put my hand on Boy’s head. ‘Lucky I’ve got you, hey, Boy?’

  Boy nuzzled his head against my hand.

  ‘My knight in furry armour.’

  The moment I’d left the circle of trees, Boy had been by my side.

  ‘It won’t be safe for you, Boy, down at Orpheus’s house.’

  Boy raised his head, his golden eyes contemplating me.

  ‘Once I’m on my bike, you’d better get going. I don’t want anyone to see you.’

  I shuddered just thinking what might happen to Boy if he was found. Wolves had been feared in the hearts and minds of the people from Melas before Orpheus arrived. I could only imagine the hunt that would take place if people knew a wolf lived in the woods.

  ‘I’m serious,’ I said as I reached my bike. I took my hand from Boy’s head and clapped my hands. ‘Go on, Boy.’

  Boy didn’t move.

  ‘Come on, Boy – you can’t stay here.’

  I groaned.

  If only animals could understand English!

  I checked my phone again, but still there were no messages from my family. Only five from Jet wanting to know where I was, whether I was okay, and the last, that he was sorry, that he had been angry at me and didn’t expect anything bad to happen.

  ‘Sorry,’ I mumbled. ‘You will be sorry, arsehole.’

  I shoved my phone back into my pocket and grabbed my bike, then walked it to the clearing. I swallowed as I looked around, but there was only a stillness under the light of the moon.

  ‘Thanks, Boy,’ I said. ‘Stay safe, okay?’

  He nodded. I cocked my head to the side. He couldn’t understand me, could he?

  Every noise from the bike was amplified in the stillness as I pushed it onto the road, but what choice did I have? It would take too long to walk, and there was no one to drive me.

  Come on, Eva, you can do this!

  I climbed onto the bike and set off down the road that would lead me to my brother…and Orpheus.

  The roads were empty, thankfully, as I rode my bike down the long road to Orpheus’s house. The light from the moon cast a silvery silk blanket over the world, which was still fast asleep. Every now and then I would glance into the woods and see Boy’s golden eyes as he followed me, his presence filling me with untold comfort.

  My mind was racing as fast as my peddling feet. At home, my plan had made sense and I’d reasoned that, with a bit of luck, I could pull it off. But now, even with the magic potion safely tucked into my backpack, my plan felt sketchy at best, pathetic at worst.

  My legs started to wobble. What had I been thinking? It wasn’t as if I could just waltz in there, hand out my potion and get Elijah the hell outta there. There would be cameras following my every move, not to mention security. Max!

  My body felt cold, so cold. Only hours ago, Max had been in my house, in my bedroom, and he’d very nearly found me. What would he have done if he had? The answer flashed through my mind before I could block it. I went numb. Could I have fought him off? My hands, which felt like icicles, started to heat up. Of course! My hands. If they could stop a panther, surely they could stop a sick and twisted man like Max.

  I was so lost in thought that it took me a few moments to realise there were headlights in the distance, coming in my direction.

  Crap!

  I was in the middle of the road and felt like a deer seeing a cougar. I turned my handlebars and peddled hard to get off the road, then pushed my bike behind a tree and stood as still as could be. In the distance, I saw Boy’s unblinking eyes.

  ‘Stay there, Boy,’ I whispered as the car approached.

  Is it slowing down?

  Shit! Shit! Shit!

  It is.

  The car drew closer, the sounds of its tyres crunching against the gravel becoming louder. My heart raced in my chest, and I quietly sucked in air. I looked over to Boy, who’d disappeared. Good decision.

  The car stopped less than ten meters from where I stood. My legs trembled; my body trembled.

  ‘What did you see, boss?’ asked an unfamiliar voice.

  ‘I don’t know what I saw, dingbat,’ said Max, his voice making me grab hold of the bark on the tree. ‘It dashed across the road too quickly.’

  ‘An animal, you reckon?’

  ‘Perhaps,’ said Max, and I imagined him rubbing his stubbly jaw. ‘Or a person.’

  ‘Really? I mean, what would someone be doing out on these roads at night?’

  ‘I can think of a few things,’ said Max
. ‘Don’t forget who we have locked up in the cellar, doofus.’

  ‘I know that, boss, but she’s not going to come out on her own now, is she?’

  ‘She’s unpredictable. I wouldn’t put anything past her.’ He sounded hungry –

  hungry for me. I closed my eyes, concentrated on breathing.

  ‘Well, let’s go see if she’s home,’ said his sidekick. ‘It’s not like her parents can call anyone when we’ve got their phones.’ He started to laugh, a stupid, gasping laugh that made me want to put my hands on him.

  ‘I have a better idea,’ said Max before opening his car door.

  It took every ounce of strength in me not to bolt.

  He walked towards me, but Boy, hidden safely in the woods, began to howl.

  ‘Holy shit,’ said Max’s sidekick, who got out of the car. ‘Wanna go hunting?’

  Chapter Thirty

  I heard Max fumble with something, and it took me a few moments to realise what he was doing. Before I could scream, before I could warn Boy, Max – gutless, heartless Max – had shot three rounds into the bushes, his bullets flying all around me and into the tree behind me. I sat down on the ground, no longer able to support myself.

  ‘You get him, boss?’

  ‘I don’t know, idiot, but he’s not the one. Let’s go hunting the game I really want.’

  They got back into the car and their radio buzzed, the voice on the other end telling them to come back to Orpheus’s house, saying he’d be awake in two hours and all police officers were to meet back there now.

  ‘Coming,’ said Max, and then he slammed the transmitter down. ‘Shit.’

  ‘Better head back,’ said the sidekick. ‘Check on Eva later.’

  ‘She won’t know what’s coming for her,’ said Max, his voice bitter.

  The car turned around, its spotlights lighting up the forest before it sped off, sending rocks flying.

  I called out for Boy, over and over, but he didn’t come.

  All my strength and resolve left me and I lay down on the ground, on the cool earth, and I cried – cried for my brother locked up in the cellar, cried for Boy, who may have sacrificed his life for mine, cried for my parents, who had no way of reaching anyone and who must have been beside themselves with worry.

  A big wet nose nuzzled my neck, and I sat up to see Boy’s golden eyes looking at mine.

  ‘Boy,’ I yelled, checking him over before I threw my arms around him.

  He stepped in closer and I stayed hugging him, crying and laughing that he was okay and there was still hope that I could get Elijah out safely. I looked at my watch. It was 4.30. I had two hours before Orpheus would wake up and be led to my brother.

  I slowed down before I reached the gated entrance to Orpheus Blackthorn’s residence. I stowed my bike in the woods, took a deep breath and dialled Ezra’s number.

  I barely breathed as the phone rang on and on.

  ‘Pick up,’ I muttered. ‘Pick up.’

  ‘Eva,’ came the sleepy voice of a boy who made my heart do a leap, even now.

  ‘Ezra,’ I whispered.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ he said, sharper.

  ‘Are you alone? Can you speak privately?’

  ‘Yes. What’s going on?’

  ‘I need your help,’ I said, my words crumbling.

  ‘Where are you?’

  I looked around into the woods, which were slowly leaving the night and entering the day. I put my free hand on Boy’s head.

  ‘Would you believe that I’m outside the gates to your house, in the woods?’

  ‘You’re what? What’s going on?’

  I found my voice and, in fits and starts, told him about Elijah’s arrest and a little about Max, leaving out any reference to witchcraft and the specifics of what help I needed from him.

  ‘Stay where you are,’ he said.

  ‘No one can know I’m here.’

  ‘Don’t move,’ he said and the phone went dead.

  ‘You’d better go, Boy,’ I said, patting his soft fur on the top of his head.

  But Boy didn’t move. I wondered whether he’d still be by my side when Ezra arrived. I pictured Ezra’s face when he saw the white wolf. I squashed my fear of what he might do to Boy. I had no reason not to trust him, even if he was the son of the man who hunted my kind.

  I took a deep, steadying breath and glanced out through the woods, which were slowly filling with the same insipid green light from under the ocean. Up high on the hill was the entrance to Orpheus’s house, where Elijah was being held in the cellar. My heart started to ache and I wiped my tired eyes, trying to imagine how I would get him out of there when every single police officer from Melas was in the same building.

  I was so busy watching the house that I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard footsteps to my right. I looked over and there, emerging from the sea-green misty light, was the only guy I’d ever truly liked. My heart did a little star jump before I managed to pull myself together, reminding myself that we could never be – he had even told me that himself.

  ‘Eva,’ he said, stopping, his eyes wide and his whole body on edge as he watched Boy.

  ‘This is Boy.’ I put my hand on Boy’s head. ‘He’s been taking care of me.’

  Ezra blinked a few times. ‘Boy,’ he said, putting out his hand.

  Boy left my side and took a few slow steps towards Ezra.

  My heart leapt in my chest. Just how protective was Boy?

  Ezra’s eyes didn’t leave Boy for a second.

  ‘Be nice, Boy. Ezra is a friend,’ I said as Boy stopped before Ezra and locked eyes with him. Seconds ticked by, and all that was nearby in the woods held its breath. Boy walked forward and put his head under Ezra’s hands.

  ‘Good boy,’ said Ezra, gently patting him. ‘Can I see Eva now?’

  Boy moved to the side and Ezra chuckled. ‘Clever boy.’

  Ezra walked forward, his emerald eyes taking me in. I imagined what he saw. A young woman whose hair was wild, her eyes tear-stained, her body covered in ash, her whole being riddled with fear.

  ‘You okay?’ he asked, his gaze darting to Boy.

  ‘It’s a long story, but yes. Boy saved me tonight.’

  ‘From what?’

  ‘A panther,’ I said, realising how far-fetched that sounded. ‘And then Max.’

  ‘What?’

  I nodded. ‘It’s been a long night. I’ll explain when we have more time. I’m sorry to bring you into this, but I didn’t know what else to do.’

  A flash of pain passed through Ezra’s eyes before they turned to stone. ‘I’m so sorry, for what my dad and Max are putting you and your family through. It’s awful and I hate him for it.’

  Before I realised what I was doing, I’d placed my hand on his arm. ‘You can hate Max, but don’t hate your dad. No matter what, he’s your dad and nothing good can come from hate, trust me.’

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  ‘On the phone I said I needed your help, and I do,’ I said.

  He opened his eyes and looked at me as though uncertain whether I was a friend or foe.

  ‘What do you need?’ he asked.

  ‘I need you to help Elijah escape.’

  He gasped.

  ‘I know it’s a lot to ask, I do, but I don’t have a choice. Elijah is my brother, my twin. I am…nothing without him…nothing.’

  ‘They have Elijah? What in the hell happened?’

  I told Ezra the abridged version. When I finished, Ezra ran his hand through his hair.

  ‘What about Max? He’s harassing you, isn’t he?’

  I looked away. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Of course it matters,’ he said, his hands balling into fists. ‘I reported that weasel to my father, you know, after the dance, and do you know what he did? He laughed.’

  I could picture the scene inside my mind. ‘I’m sorry, that’s awful, but I don’t think you should talk to your father about me. It gets you into more tr
ouble, and that’s the last thing you need.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter what trouble I get in – what matters is your safety. Tell me everything that happened.’

  I felt like a cornered animal, and I knew that Ezra wouldn’t let up until I’d told him everything. I tried to hold back the tears that kept sneaking from my eyes as I told him what Max had done.

  ‘I’ll make sure he stops,’ said Ezra, the ice back in his eyes.

  ‘You know, you really don’t have to do anything. I can take care of myself, and besides, I have a plan.’ I looked up at the sky, which was baby pink. ‘We can talk more about Max later if we must, but right now I really need your help.’

  ‘You do realise that every single officer is at my place right now, waiting for their master to wake so they can report on the night’s activities?’ he said.

  I sighed, the situation felt impossible.

  ‘It might be difficult, but we can do this. What do you need?’ he said.

  As we stood on the edge of the woods near Ezra’s house, waiting for the police to congregate for their seven o’clock meeting with Orpheus, Ezra quietly tried to talk me out of what I wanted to do.

  ‘It makes no sense. Even if by some miracle we pull this off, it makes no difference. They’ll just come and arrest Elijah again, and probably you as well.’ His voice broke up.

  I turned towards him, biting my lip. ‘If this goes to plan, they won’t want to arrest Elijah, or me for that matter. In fact, they’ll forget all about us being…people of interest.’

  ‘How so?’ he asked, his body tensing.

  ‘Well, it’s kind of a long story, but the short version is that I have a drink that will make them forget all about me, Elijah and my family.’

  I expected him to laugh or at least erupt in disbelief. Instead, he narrowed his eyes a fraction. ‘Go on.’