“Ashton!” He groans from a few feet away and I want to rush to him, but I fear that if I move, they will advance. I know that I’m cornered. I can feel their eyes on me, their breaths breathing down my neck.
“Show yourselves!” I yell, balling my fists at my side.
A crackle of movement comes from behind me and I spin around, my heart in my throat. A sudden vibration erupts inside of my skull and I am bathed in a familiar presence. A voice whispers inside of my mind, words spread like a rapid flame, and I know that my Ancestor is guiding me.
In one smooth motion, I swipe a stick from the ground, my hands shaking as I hold it before me and I chant the words that echo inside my head, staring at the top, I concentrate. “Fire, Fire, Fire by the power of three. Give fire control to me. Fire shows the light, don’t let me see the night. Let me use my fire, the fire is my desire. Bring me my burning light. Don’t hurt my friends, don’t hurt me. Start a flame within me. So mote it be!”
My voice rises above the angry breeze, breaking against the darkness and as I repeat the words, more forcibly this time and blaze engulfs the stick, igniting a flame I am welcomed with satisfaction and a desire for this feeling to never end. A feeling of empowerment, being in control. The light glow kisses the ground beneath my feet, only covering a few feet around me. I curse, disappointed. Ashton drags himself from the ground and comes to a halt beside me, holding his side. “I can’t see them.”
“I can feel their magic. It’s like it’s calling out to me,” I admit, the last part, a whisper, hoping he didn’t hear but by the look on his face, I know he did.
“Again,” he demands.
I drop the stick and raise my hands above my head, the words coming out stronger than before, louder and a burst of flames emerges eating away at the looming tree’s around us, igniting the woods in a yellow glow, revealing the witches and their devilish gleam. They have us surrounded, their black cloaks hiding their faces.
Ashton looks up suddenly. “Hello, Laura,” he says.
“Hello son,” she replies.
There is no love between these two, that is painfully clear. Until now, I had never known Ashton’s mother’s name-- the woman who has been trying to kill me.
Pushing her cloak back, Ashton’s mother spoke, “Silly child. Your magic does nothing to us.” she turns to her son. “And you, I see you’ve chosen the wrong side...again.”
“Don’t speak to me like I’ve done wrong,” he growls. “I will not side with this. You’re trying to destroy the only world we’ve ever known!”
“Ah, it’s a means to an end, my darling. A necessary sacrifice.”
“You will pay for this,” he swears.
“And that is where you’re wrong.”
Ashton looks at me and with a slight nod, I know it’s time to turn the tables around. I call upon my ancestors to give me the strength that I need to do this, to destroy these witches once and for all.
I step forward, the breeze shifts, becoming more violent. A surge of energy radiates throughout my body, connecting to every fiber of my being. “Expulso!”
The blast of blue erupts from the palm of my hand, and with a cry of fury it hits Ashton’s mother square in the chest, sending her spiraling backward. The witches advance their voices chanting together in unison, the fire only thickens, bleeding around us. Their voices rise, breaking against my skull. The pressure consumes me and I find that I am unable to move, my body not connecting with my mind. I am frozen, stuck in their ruthless spell. “I can’t move,” I say through gritted teeth.
Ashton grunts, sweat coating his forehead, a pained expression across his face. “Fight it.”
“I can’t...” I stumble, my words failing.
They are gaining on us, their dark eyes taunting our sanity. “You can do this.”
I will myself to move, fighting against every restraint that is haunting me, pushing against their barrial, fighting to break free of this nightmare. I can’t get their voices out of my head; they’re wrapping around me like a blanket, making me weak and powerless. Please. I silently beg, Ancestors, give me the will to fight this. I can’t do this without you.
A hum kisses my mind. A power unlike any I have ever felt before breaks against my chest and with a breath of fresh air I will my legs forward and they follow. The witches break their unison, Ashtons mother advances and I meet her half way, her eyes blazing. She attacks, a ball of darkness blasting from her hand and wrapping around me, the air is drained from around me and I gasp my throat. I can’t get any air in. I’m suffocating!
Breathe. Just breath.
I will not let them win, they will fall to their knees before me if it means sacrificing myself to protect the world from their dark realm. “Stupefy!” I gasp.
The witch’s eyes go still, her spell fading and I gasp for the air that fills my lungs. I watch as she crumbles in front of me, unconscious. The sound of Ashton fighting off the others behind me doesn't go unnoticed but I don’t wait. I stand above the horrible woman. If it wasn’t for the darkness running through her veins, she’d look like a normal person. I shake the thoughts from my mind and kneel beside her; it won't be long before the magic wears off. I have to act fast.
A cry comes from somewhere in the distance, my mind must be playing tricks on me. It couldn’t be. The voice gets closer and my heart sinks, eyes bolting open.
“Adilyn!” Cameron yells.
I spot him just beyond the flames, and there with him, stands my parents, Aunt Everlyn, and Officer Chris. The fear I felt comes rushing back and I am to my feet within seconds, bolting toward them. “No!”
“Let them go!” I scream, my voice cracking.
The Black Witches don’t obey, Ashton is left slumped on the woods ground, unmoving. A groan escapes his parted lips and I know that he’s alive.
My feet pound against the ground, sliding through the trees. All I can see is them, my heart is breaking just by looking at them. I feel so small. “Please, Cameron!” the further I get, the further they seem. “Mom, dad! Aunt Everlyn!”
“Ebublio!” Ashtons mother's voice breaks against the trees.
My family's eyes haunt me, moments before I am afloat my body transporting from the ground and a bubble wraps around me like a blanket, preventing me from getting to the ones I love most in this world. She stalks closer, her devilish smirk corrupting me. “You are weak.” she stands inches from the bubble, and there’s nothing I can do. “You are weak and now your family will pay for your foolishness.”
My vision blurs, burning as tears stream down my face. “No!”
I watch as they drift away, dragging my family with them. “Ashton stop them!” I beg, but he only groans, rolling onto his back. “No, please. This can’t be happening.”
Their shadows depart, being swallowed whole, disappearing beyond the trees and out of my sight. The flames subside, dying out and engulfing me in the dark of the night and I fall to my knees, a strangled cry escaping my parted lips and a pain breaks against my chest, threatening to break my sanity. My fists beat at the bubble, but nothing happens, I am lost inside the witches’ wrath and they have stolen my very reason for fighting.
I am basked in rage, my soul shattering right before me and in a blink of an eye I am left with nothing but the voices of my ancestors.
16
What about now?
What happens now that my entire world is gone?
My breathing evens as I hear a voice inside my mind. Whispers tell me to be still.
To stop screaming and beating against the unbreakable barrier that holds me captive.
As much as I want to rage and cry, my body stills. I listen to the voices. For now, I understand the magic that is inside of me holds the power and souls of my ancestors before me.
Is this them guiding me?
I can only hope and pray that it is. Or else, I am losing my mind. Both scenarios could be accurate right now.
I feel as though I am awake, but the world around me is filled with
a gray fog. I’m lying on the ground, unable to detach myself from this dream like state.
Suddenly, my eyes shoot open and I realize I am inside of something. Slowly standing, I try to see through the heavy fog that blocks my view. I try to walk, but something stops me. My body bounces off of an invisible barrier and I realize they had trapped me. It all comes rushing back to me now.
The painful screams.
The visions of the witches.
As I stand in the center of the masked bubble, I watch the world outside.
It seems so peaceful in the still of the night. Gone are the voices of my family-- who were, only moments ago, screaming for me.
Gone are the demonic witches who stole everything I cared about.
As I scan the area, my eyes stop on something to my left. Squinting, I make out a body.
Ashton.
He is still here, but he is lying helpless on the ground.
I feel the surge of fear building up inside of me again, but the voices return.
Listening, I calm my breathing and stare at Ashton on the ground. In my mind and soul, I beg him to move. To let out a breath. But he remains unmoving.
My heart sputters against my chest, but I still remain frozen in place.
“Be still my child. For your magic will help you,” the voice says. It soothes me, like a warm caress.
I pay attention to my breathing now as I work to feel the magic inside of me.
I can feel the sparks ignite as I pry open the connection that makes me the strength of power I am. I know I possess the power to save the world, so how is it that I am trapped inside of here.
A vision comes to mind of shattering glass all around me. The surge of power builds from my toes to my head and suddenly, the invisible barrier holding me captive begins to shake.
The world underneath me shakes like an earthquake taking place.
I hold my hands out in front of me, pulling the magic through my fingertips and unleashing it out into the small space.
“Give the magic power,” the voice instructs me.
“Break the spell that holds me near, power form from which I bear, my dreams do hold the power to heal, help me seek what I know and possess,” I chant.
I have no idea how I know the words, but they came to my mind and out of my lips without thought.
Just then, the barrier shatters all around me, releasing me from the hold I was in.
Allowing my arms to fall at my side, I gasp for fresh air as I fall to my knees.
Thanking my ancestors, I smile, knowing that it was them who gave me the knowledge and power I needed in order to break free.
Maybe that was what I had been missing all along. The power was always inside of me, I just needed to tap into my ancestors to understand how to use it.
A slight groan echoes through the air and I swiftly turn and realize Ashton is still on the ground.
Standing, I rush over to him and fall at his side. Placing my hands upon him, I feel his chest moving and know that he is, in fact, still alive and breathing.
His eyes open slowly and a slight grin appears over his face.
“Took you long enough,” he says, his voice rough and groggy.
That arrogant attitude is back and I smile from relief.
“I’d like to see you break open an invisible barrier,” I snap back, offering a slight smile.
I help Ashton up onto his feet and we both scan our surroundings.
“They are gone,” I say, tears stinging my eyes.
“Yes, but not for long. The dark magic witches aren’t just evil, they are maniacal, too. This is a game to them. They are taunting you with your family,” he says.
I shudder from his words. We are dealing with true evil, and it terrifies me to my very core knowing that my family is at their mercy.
Anger floods me as the thought that they could harm any of my family in any way.
“What do I do?” I ask.
“You call to them. You are the Dream Seeker, the most powerful being on Earth. Call to the witches, demand them to return here to you,” Ashton says, power lifting his voice.
Turning to face him, I ask, “And when they return? Then what?”
I’m almost afraid of what his answer will be.
He pauses for a moment, leaving me hanging in suspense. Then, Ashton looks up at the full moon shining down on us. “Then, we kill them all,” he finishes.
I close my eyes and allow darkness to take over. To kill is permanent. Final.
I know I have the power to kill, but can I follow through? I guess I am about to find out.
17
The anticipation is eating me alive. It’s been hours and the longer that time ticks by, the more fear creeps up on me. The darkness completely coats the woods ground, making everything more eerie and my senses are on high alert. Ashton claims that the witches are toying with me, baiting me into their own reckless games of cat and mouse. But I won't fall for it; they will never have the upper hand. I am the strongest being, my power is far greater than they could ever imagine. I can feel it kissing every nerve ending of my soul, waiting to be released. The Ancestors whisper to me, offering their strength and guidance to do what is necessary to stop the end of the world as we know it.
We await their arrival and I pace the bush covered trail, my hands clasped behind me as my mind runs over the possible outcomes.
I fear that when the time comes, my own teenage mind will stop me from ripping those witches apart, stealing from them what they threaten to take from those I love the most of their lives.
Can I let myself become that person if it means saving the world?
Or will my own childness and naive heart become too weak at the thought?
I pull my lip between my teeth, a normal nervous habit. My hands become clammy and my mind races. Ashton leans against the tree, his hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes closed. I don’t know what it is, but the calm that I see on his face makes me angry. How can he be so calm at a time like this?
Ashton’s mother, Laura, kidnapped my family and wants to end the world as we know it, and here he is, calm. It’s irritating.
“What is your issue?” I snap.
He opens his eyes and stares at me blankly. “What?”
“Do you have no care in the world right now? Just a few hours ago we were going up against your mother and her ruthless clan of witches and now they have my family and you’re telling me we have to kill them, end it once and for all,” I wave my hands in front of me. “And here you are, all calm and carefree.”
I can practically feel steam coming out of my ears. “This isn’t the time to freak out. If I don’t remain calm, I am going to go off the deep end. This isn’t just hard for you Adilyn, that’s my mother for crying out loud.” he pinches his nose. “The thought of having to take her down with the rest of them is weighing down on my shoulders, just as much as it is you.”
My eyes soften and my anger dissolves. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
He shrugs. “I get it.”
“No, really. I didn’t consider how you must feel right now.”
“It’s fine. The main thing is that we focus. It’s only a matter of time before they come back, and we need to be ready. We need to come up with a stable plan; this is our one and only chance to take them down. If we don’t do it now, we may never have another opportunity.”
I nod, I couldn’t agree more. If we go in this without a solid plan, we could jeopardize the entire thing. It is the entire world on the line here, this isn’t something that needs to be taken lightly.
“Has your mother always been this -” I wave my hand. “I don’t know, evil?”
He chuckles, “My mother doesn’t have a single good bone in her body.”
“What made you change your mind about the clan?”
“I might be the son of a dark witch, but I don’t agree with their motives. I never asked for this. I thought that she was just going to take your magic or threaten you to j
oin the clan, but I never imagined it would come down to this. I thought that I was doing the right thing, leading you away from them, and preventing you from facing her like you should have done in the beginning, but soon I was proven wrong. I didn’t see the mother that raised me in those eyes anymore. She was and still is too consumed by the idea of ruling. “I’ve never seen him look more vulnerable than he does right now. “Destroying the earth is the sickest and most evil thing she could do, and I can’t sit there and watch as millions of innocent people die at her hand.”
“I couldn’t imagine being placed in that position,” I admit.
He tilts his head. “Let’s hope you never have to.”
We immediately get to work. The sooner we get a plan in place, the better chance we have at catching the witches by surprise, not allowing them the chance to fire back at us. One mistake will determine the future. Everything is on the line.
Ashton and I gathered around each other, spitting every possible option to make this work-- some sailed and others, well lets just say they were like walking the board. After coming up with what we hope is a solid plan, I concentrate on the witches, willing them to come back. It’s not long before I can feel my mind connecting with theirs and I demand their presence immediately. There’s really no pull or push, the minute my magic comes into contact with theirs, they oblige.
The darkness begins to fade, the sun peaking over the horizon, tempting the world below with its presence. I can’t let my own feelings cloud my judgement, not now.
Ashton looks toward me and with a slight nod, we edge forward. If we’re going to do this, they are doing it on my terms, not theirs. I take a deep steady breath, begging the ancestors to provide the strength I need to do this. My nerves settle and my stance tenses, for once I am no longer that sad little girl, worried about being the High School ‘freak.’ I am a great powerful being, A Dream Seeker and so much more. I have the power to protect the world from evil and that is exactly what I am going to do.
Dream Seeker (The Dream Catcher Series Book 3) Page 8
