Chapter 12

KHLOE GILES

“My wife is going to die!” Keith voice rose above a packed house. The Underground hideout was packed tonight. Witches from every corner of the Provincial had come out to hear the news and none of them liked the news I had to share. Especially me.

“I know, I know Keith! She’s like a sister to me, you really think I want to see her burn? I’m not doing this because I can’t, I’m doing this because she asked me not to!”

“Why would Lil, our Lil want to burn?” Keith demanded.

The crowd hushed around him, waiting for an answer. Even the music had stopped playing now.

“She said it’s written. She has to die so that the path to salvation can be made known for all witches. It’s the will of the goddess that something will happen tomorrow at the Burning. Something that will save us all.”

Keith stared blankly at me. “She’s been in there four days, Khloe. She can’t be in her right mind.”

I bit my lip, wondering how much to tell him. “She isn’t, not fully. But she was aware enough to tell me this. And…and there was something else.”

“Something else?” Keith perked up.

“Someone else was in the jail cell with us. Not a guard and not me or Lil.” I explained, trying to figure out the best way to say what I’d experienced.

“Then who?” Keith asked, frowning.

“I don’t know. Like a spirit or something. She called herself the Mother of Magic.” I quoted the words of the voice.

Keith straightened up. “The Mother of Magic spoke to you?” He demanded.

I blinked. “You know who she is?”

Keith took a shaky breath. “I have heard Lil mention her before.”

“Who is she?” I asked, a hundred more questions raced through my mind.

“Exactly that,” Keith explained. “The Mother of Magic. A Goddess. If she is speaking to us now, it must be important. What did she say?”

“Something about the Dark King being aware, his plans being nigh, and that salvation belongs with the Dark Prince.”

Keith made a face. “What in the hell does that mean?”

I shook my head. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“How do we know we can trust her?” A voice called out from the crowd, “She’s one of them. How do we know she isn’t lying?” A murmur of agreement rose from the crowd.

I turn and eye the dark-haired teen, wishing I could smack the perky, pink lipstick off of that smirk. I searched for a name and all I could remember is Jen-something, Jen-someone. I never liked her enough to actually learn her full name. I straightened up, ready with a snarky comeback, but Keith responds before I can.

“Khloe has done nothing to harm us. She’s protected every witch in this bar at some point, risking her life for us. If she could help Lil, she would.” Keith said, “And if the Goddess is speaking to her, then we must listen.”

“I still don’t trust her.” Jen-Someone narrowed a set of green eyes at me, hands on her hips.

“I don’t recall asking your opinion,” I snapped back.

“That’s enough.” Keith broke in, raising his hand to stop us. “I won’t have witches arguing in my bar. Now is not the time for falling apart. Lil says something will happen tomorrow; we wait for tomorrow. We handle what comes with the strength that the Goddess supplies.”

Jen- Someone glared at me but says nothing. One by one the crowd agreed and filtered off, leaving Keith alone at the bar. He turned his attention on me.

“Lil really doesn’t want to be saved?”

“She says she’ll thrash you for even trying. I’m sorry Keith.”

He looked away, eyes said and distant.

“The goddess is great and remains faithful to her servants. She will honor Lil’s servitude the way she sees fit.” His words were empty, and the pain was clear in his eyes. There was nothing left to say. I laid down cash for the unfinished soda and make my way back through the crowd, much thinner than it was before. I’m just about to reach the door when Jen-Someone stepped in my way.

“Lil told me a secret.” She sneered.

“Good for you. Move.” I tried to push past her, but she blocked my exit with her entire body.

“She told me someone here is a traitor.”

“Not much of a secret keeper are you?” I attempted to dodge around her again and failed.

“I know who the traitor is. When I can prove it, you’re going down.” Jen-Someone smirked, her dark eyes glinted in the dim light of the club and my body ran cold.

“I’m not a traitor. If you come after me, the only one going down will be you. Now move it.” I pushed her aside, watching as she stumbled into a group of guys by the entrance. I took the spiral stairs two at a time until I bumped into Seth again.

“How’d it go?” He asked, turning around to face me.

“How’d you think?”

“That well?”

“Someone tried to accuse me of being a traitor.”

He laughed. “You a traitor? Where’s the punchline?”

“Their face?” I smiled. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Anytime. Later Giles.” He swung the door open for me and stepped back to let me pass. I hurried down the alley, greeted by the warm summer night air. I paused at the corner, stopping to take a breath as a wave of guilt and sorrow washed over me. Seth’s question replayed itself again. How were we going to get through this? Worrying the answer, I tightened the black jacket around me, tossing my hood up once more and head for home. As I made my way onto the street, lightening lit up the sky around me and thunder shook the ground. The Earth shook with anger, and I understood. I too was angry tonight.