Shenaya’s POV
The atmosphere around us was clearly evil and the wind grew stronger to become a tornado that could lash like angry devils. The witches’ magic just kept building, and the hair on the back of my neck was all standing straight on end, but now I didn’t care. I felt Zoey standing next to me, she made me feel secure in a manner that I gained some power. We weren’t alone. We had each other and that is what it meant when two people decided they would fight together.
Zoey is the main character, she’s just a pup, and she begins to glow with her eyes turning a deep blue. She was panting slightly and sat up, lifting her hands to call into being the magic that ran through her body. I could sense the primal energy rising within her to combat the evil, I could hear probing at us for weakness.
The witches began to emit a terrifying version of cackling, giving off the darkness that materialized in and out of their bodies like lightning striking on a dark night. Some of them rushed forward, they grabbed at our chests and stomachs with their hands curled into hooks, and their eyes were burning to see us die; they glared, chain-smoking and drooling with hate.
“Mama, you heave to take my hand,” Zoey mouthed the words as she tensed and looked utterly determined.
I pulled her by the arm, to prepare for any move that she would make next. A pulse of darkness swept towards us, ridged and icy. And the pain…; I could feel it poking into my skin, struggling to pull me into the complete oblivion. But Zoey did not move, she had her hands up high and she chanted,
‘Avada Kedavra’ in a whisper.
She divided a finger and her magic erupted from her palms, knocking the witches and momentarily stopping their attack. Some backed away, shrieking in pain; they resembled pale emotionless flames in appearance.
“We need to weaken them!” Zoey gritted through clenched teeth, sweat forming on her brow.
She waved her hands in a graceful but deadly dance, and the ground beneath the witches cracked open. Vines of white energy snaked up from the fissures, wrapping around the witches’ shadowy bodies, and binding them. Their screams pierced through the darkness, but Zoey didn’t waver. She twisted her fingers, tightening the binds, and trapped the witches in place.
One witch, her face half-formed in the mist, spat venomous words, her voice was low and terrifying,
“You cannot defeat us, little girl. We are eternal. We will claim you both.”
Zoey turned to face her with her eyes blazing with an inner fire.
“You had your time, witch. This is *our* world now.” She extended her hand toward the witch, and with a single word, a vortex appeared in her palm, pulling the witch in piece by piece, her body disintegrating into nothingness.
The rest of the witches shrieked in terror, but one by one, Zoey trapped them, binding some into tiny jars that appeared out of thin air. It was incredible, watching her magic at work. It was like she was born for this moment. Even though she was still so young, still so new to her powers, Zoey fought with the strength of someone who had lived through centuries of battles.
But something felt off. My heart thudded in my chest as I realized it-this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Zoey’s face was pale, her energy drained from the fight.
“Mama,” she gasped, her voice breaking, “I can’t hold them all. I’ve trapped most of them, but some got away. We need to leave now.”
We ran, the darkness chasing us as we raced through the twisted landscape of the spirit world. I could sense the stiffness in my bones and I could literally see the witches’ spells chasing us but my girl, Zoey did not give up, she was panting heavily but she was consistent, and then fatigue kicked in and only after we stopped I had a thought and froze on the spot. Zoey’s soul was here in the spirit world with me, although her physical body was not. Panic clawed at my chest.
“Zoey,” I said in shock grabbing her upper arm. “Where’s your body? If something happens and you don’t make it, I can’t return you to life if your body is not with us.”
I saw Zoey frowning as she looked at me, but she stepped back and her face turned pale.
“I don’t… I don’t know. I was taken from the cave, but there is one place -” She stopped again, but, I saw her eyes flit back to recognition. “I think somewhere in the woods, a woman with gray hair owns the house. Elara or something is her name.”
“Elara…” The name came out of my mouth like profanity and then I could remember Elara, the woman who had saved me when Skylar tried to kill me by throwing me off the cliff.
“Elara had never been what she seemed.” Zoey’s words hung heavy in the air.
“She’s Andrew’s godmother,” Zoey whispered, her eyes wide with realization. “Andrew… he must have taken me to her after he captured me.”
I clenched my fists, rage bubbling beneath my skin. Of course. Andrew. The man who had been haunting me ever since this nightmare began.
“Then that’s where we need to go,” I said, determination flooding through me. “We’ll find your body there.”
Zoey nodded, her expression resolute.
As we pressed on through the spirit realm, I could feel the pull of the physical world growing stronger. Aunt Belle’s magic was still tethering me to my body, and I could sense that the connection was thinning. I had to get back soon, or I’d be lost here forever.
We found the boundary between the two realms-a faint shimmer in the air, like the veil between life and death. I reached out, pulling Zoey’s hand toward it. As we crossed through, I felt the sudden rush of air around me as my spirit snapped back into my body.
I only opened my eyes, and I started intake of oxygen. The pine scent of the woods was in my mouth to remind me that I was alive again, alive in the real world. Aunt Belle was kneeling beside me, the palms of her hands now only slightly red from the ceremony which was done. Ethan and Aiden were standing near me, concern and relief highlighted on their faces.
“She’s back!” Ethan yelled, he quickly followed me and came running towards me. “Emily, are you okay? What happened? Did you find her?”
Aiden kept his eyes fixed on me, his gaze weighing me with intensity.
“What did you see in there?” he asked his next words a growl.
My chest rose and fell as I endeavored to gather my wits and all I could articulate was,
“I saved her. Zoey’s soul is safe, and I know where her body is. We need to go get her. Now.”
There, I lay frozen among thrown accusative glances, listening to more questions while staring in numbness at them. There was only one thing on my mind, and that was Zoey’s body. I knew I had to get to her before things were too far gone. The witches may have been weakened by this, but I was aware that they wouldn’t give her a breathing space. They were still out there somewhere and like predators they were simply biding their time for the next opportunity.
Aiden then crouched beside me his stare penetrating through my eyes.
“Where is she, Shenaya? Where’s Zoey?”
“Elara’s house,” I whispered, my voice trembling with anger. “Andrew took her there. And we’re going to get her back.”
Aiden stood up, his jaw clenched.
“Then let’s move. We’re not leaving anyone behind.”
I nodded, standing to my feet. As we began to gather the warriors and prepare to leave, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was still yet to come. The witches were gone, but their presence lingered in the back of my mind, whispering their promises of revenge.
But I pushed those thoughts aside. Zoey needed me, and I would stop at nothing to bring her home.
We could take down anyone in the world-together.