Chapter 24 The Warning of the Witch
Amara’s POV
The chilly wind stung my face and caused my eyes to water as we rode fiercely through the night. Rowan rode a little ahead, his look focused on the horizon, and Kian sat beside me, silent and sombre. Nobody said much. Fear, rage, and the taste of blood filled the air between us, making it too heavy.
We noticed the smoke just as the sun was beginning to rise. It rose slowly in curls from behind the hills, thick and dark. My mark seared on my wrist, and my stomach knotted. I tightened my hold on the reins to slow my heartbeat.
My air left me in a searing rush as we topped the slope.
The village had vanished.
Houses were husks of darkness. Everything was blanketed with ash like snow. The bodies were twisted and charred beyond recognition as they lay in the mud. I could smell it even from a distance: fire, blood, and a sickly-sweet stench, like decaying meat.
Rowan suddenly halted his horse and leapt to the ground. His boots slammed into the ground. He didn't even hold out for Kian or me. He moved quickly—almost running—in the direction of the ruins.
"Rowan!" He didn't slow down when I called and slipped off my horse.
Kian took hold of my arm. "Give him up."
With fear and rage brewing in my gut, I turned on him. "Give him up? Perhaps there are survivors!”
Kian nodded despite his clenched jaw. "All right, let's go."
We chased after Rowan. It got worse the closer we came. There are bodies everywhere. The earth was covered with blood. House walls fell in on themselves. I noticed charred symbols I couldn't understand and claw marks burned into the ground.
Signs of witches.
My heart was racing. As if to warn me, my mark burned.
Rowan collapsed to his knees next to a corpse. It was a kid. Carefully, he lifted it and held it against his chest. His shoulders trembled. Despite his silence, I could see how hurt he was.
My back was touched by Kian's hand. Even though he remained silent, I could feel his strength and stability.
I forced myself not to cry as I gulped. Tears had no place here.
I made myself look at the sigils etched into the ground. Deep in the soil, they turned dark as they twisted and curled. The shapes were incorrect, resembling something that would cause eye strain if you stared at it too long.
I said, "She was here."
Kian spoke softly. "The Hollow Witch."
Rowan's eyes sprang up. He had crimson eyes. "Are you certain?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. "She owns these emblems. She is leaving notes.”
Rowan turned to look at the symbols. I was afraid his jaw would break from the force of his clenching.
Kian knelt next to one and rubbed his fingers across the charred earth. With grimness, he said, "Blood magic. Look at the smears. They served as fuel for her.”
I felt sick to my stomach.
I tried to concentrate and feel her magic by closing my eyes.
I heard it at that moment.
A voice on the breeze.
Cruel, cold, and feminine.
"You're going to kneel... or observe them burn.
My eyes popped open.
I went back and touched my searing mark with my hand.
I was caught before I fell by Kian. "Amara! What is it?”
I shuddered and shook my head. “She talked to me. She is present. She is observing.”
With unexpected gentleness, Rowan put the dead child back on the ground and gently stood up. An angry mask covered his face.
He asked to know what she had said.
I moistened my parched lips. "She uttered... "You'll either watch them burn or kneel." I'm being threatened by her. We. Everyone.”
Kian said an expletive. As though his body could protect me from that sound, he drew me very close.
Turning away, Rowan paced like an animal in a cage. “She is making fun of us. She is aware of our closeness.”
I gave a headshake. "No. She exudes confidence. She is aware of her strength.”
Rowan turned abruptly, his eyes burning. "Avoid saying that. You have no right to say that.”
My heart was racing as I scowled at him. "Take a look about you! She does this! She is a monster, not only a witch.”
Kian's hold on me became firmer. "Cease it. You two. Fighting isn't beneficial.”
I wasn't finished, though. I pushed Kian's arm away and turned to Rowan. "You believe I'd like this? Is there anything you think I'd want?”
Rowan's expression dimmed. There was something heartbreaking about the way he looked at me. He said, "I don't know what you want anymore."
I feared I might break because my chest hurt so much.
However, I was unable to cry. Not in this place. Not right now.
We made our way through the debris as we made our way forward into the settlement. There were sigils everywhere. The mere sight of them made me ill.
In the middle of the village, Rowan came to a stop.
"Kian. Amara. Here, over here.”
My stomach twisted with fear.
We approached.
Something that chilled my blood was there, in the midst of the charred earth.
A corpse.
Hung between two posts that had been burnt.
Arms extended. The head is drooping. Dripping blood onto the floor below.
Not just any body, though.
It was a fighter.
Rowan's pack member.
Rowan made a choked noise and dropped to his knees.
The man was devastated. Deep and accurate symbols were cut into his chest. Marks of blood magic.
My gut twisted. Gagging, I turned aside.
Kian silently rubbed my back.
Rowan's tone faltered. “I am to blame for this. I ought to have kept them safe. I ought to have prevented her.”
Slowly, I forced myself to look back.
The warrior's chest still had wet blood on it. A horrible light shone on the symbols.
I took a deep breath.
"She took advantage of him," I said.
With wild eyes, Rowan raised his head. "What?"
I pushed the words out. She didn't simply kill him. She took advantage of him. For magic. For a message.
Kian had a stony expression. "What's the message?"
I gestured at the symbols with a trembling finger. "They say... 'Bring me the Priestess.'" To etch that into his body, she killed him.
Rowan surprised us both by leaping up so quickly. He grabbed the posts and shook them with a shout. His wolf pushed at his flesh as his strength blazed.
He said, "I WILL KILL HER."
I winced.
With one hand on Rowan's chest, Kian moved in between us. "Enough. She wants this. To shatter us, to cause us to turn against one another.”
Rowan had silver fire in his eyes. "She's winning."
At last, I felt hot tears fall.
I said, "She's always one step ahead."
Rowan turned away, shoulders heaving, and made a choking sound.
Kian's face softened as he turned to face me. He took a tear from my face and wiped it away.
"We will prevent her," he pledged. He spoke in a raspy voice. "I promise it."
I wanted to think he was real.
However, the wind denounced once more, whispering icily in my ear.
‘You're going to kneel.’
‘Or observe them while they burn.’
I felt my mark burn hotter than ever as I shook and pressed a hand over it.
Dead eyes gazing at nothing, Rowan's warrior swung in the wind.
Time was not on our side.
My heart broke inside of me.
And I heard her giggle, down amid the ashes of the destroyed village.
Waiting was the Hollow Witch.
And she wouldn't give up until she had me.