Chapter 33
KHLOE GILES
Elona and I sat across from each other. Our hands were pressed together, and the written spell was between us.
“I will begin, you follow.” Elona ordered. With the comfort of the circle around us, her voice sounded distant and luring. I nodded.
“Magicae tenet ibi nominatur,
Luna tenet quaeritur
A peccatis nos ex inferno evocet:
Olim ab antiquis.”
The spell begins and a tightness filled my chest. My eyes opened and searched the room, something wasn’t right. I watched as shadows danced on the walls and I swore they are moving. Enola opened her eyes.
“We are calling upon dark magic. It won’t feel natural to a normal witch.” She explained before closing her eyes, her gripped on my hand tightening. ““Just repeat the spell Khloe. We have begun now, and we cannot stop. We must complete the spell to rid ourselves of the darkness and weaken Hades’ spirit.”
“Excita in desideriis animae suae,
Persephone mittimus ad infernos,
Et ex innocentia, comminutus es, mitte nos.”
HADES
MAXX EVERGREEN
Hades sat in his office, laid back in his chair as he surveyed the giant chess board laid out in front of him. Anger seethed through his body, rolling off him in waves. He had just finished a meeting with the queen of the Summer Fairies and the news wasn’t the best. So Khloe thought she had a plan now? He tapped his chin, eyeing the black and white pieces on the board, unaware of the growing dark tendrils that lashed out from the walls. Shaping, Forming.
The blood of a fairy to awaken Avalon. “She thinks she can win.” He laughed. “She thinks she can kill a god.”
“Maybe she does not intend to kill my love.” Persephone’s voice cut through his thoughts. He wasn’t surprised. He looked up, unaware that the dark tendrils have formed the image before him. So when her smile was dark and ravishing, far from her innocent love, his look was one of surprise.
“Maybe,” Persephone suggested quite calmly, “She wishes to punish.”
KHLOE GILES
The lights in the cabin room flickered and burst out. We were cast into darkness, voices chanting together now. The dark tendrils have encircled me now and I felt a strange sense of dirtiness. Normal. I reminded myself as I continued to chant, Enola said this was normal. Don’t be afraid.
“De actibus autem tenet quaeram,
Tortam vota fluentibus,
Sol aureus ex spississimam noctem
Fac quod bonum est malum. “
HADES
MAXXEVERGREEN
The look of surprise was masked with one of amusement as Hades placed a hand on Persephone’s hips, humming at the touch of cold skin. Persephone smiled, though her smile is empty and cold. She extended a long, pointed index finger and ran it along his chest slowly.
“You killed me.” She said.
Hades eyes flashed upward in confusion. “I did not! Your arrogant, ungrateful sister did!”
“My sister loves me!” Her voice raised so that her shouts echoed off the wall. “She was protecting me from you and your filth!””
“No!” His cry was broken, anguished, and denying. “No Persephone! I love you.”
“You are a monster. A diseased and disgraceful god. And now it is time for you to face your punishment!”
KHLOE GILES
I could see everything. I could feel everything. Hades sat in his office chair. Persephone leaning into his chest. Cold, darkness radiating from both of them. Something didn’t feel right. Something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t stop. I had to finish the spell and there was only one more verse.
“Repel cordis intima cum odium,
Et in iniquitate sua, sine fine,
Donec requiescat ut opera non intelliguntur.”
HADES
Punishment? What punishment? Hades had no time to ask. Before the words could form from his lips, Persephone’s hand formed into a fist above where a man’s heart would be. The look she gave him with her sky-blue eyes was dark, dangerous, and coursed through Hades very being.
With only a smirk as she stared down at him, she slammed her fist forward, gripping tight his heart or rather, Maxx’s heart. The meat was warm and fleshy to the touch. She could feel it beating in his chest. She squeezed around it, watching as Hades screamed, his cries shaking the buildings very foundation. She squeezed harder and harder until the organ collapsed and burst in her hand. Hades fell to the ground, body collapsing and convulsing.
When she pulled her hand back, it is covered in red blood and drops of gold liquid. A cold wind shifted through the room and the dark tendrils lashed at Hades weakening body before vanishing. The spell was done, and Hades laid on the floor, gasping for air.
KHLOE GILES
The spell ended and I could hear Enola casting the spell to close the circle. I gasped as the tendrils lost their grip and dissipated. The lights returned and peace surrounded the room again. Enola uttered a curse that I couldn’t make out and the trembling feeling of my body stopped.
“Are you alright?” She asked quietly.
“No! Something is wrong, something went wrong.” I gasped out. She looked at me in confusion.
“Everything went just fine. I watched it; I saw.” She corrected with a shake of her head.
“No. I saw it. I saw her, I felt her. When she squeezed his heart, Maxx’s heart, it was still alive.”
Her eyes went wide.
“But a human soul cannot rest in the vessel of a god. There is no way that Maxx could or would survive that kind of torture.”
“I am telling you that the heart was warm. It was still beating. When she pulled her hand back there was blood!”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded.
“Maxx Evergreen is still alive, and we might’ve just killed him.”
“How? How is it possible?” Enola’s eyes were wide. Before I could respond, she was moving around the room, shuffling through things.
“Enola.” Keith said, but she didn’t respond.
“I know what we must do to fix this.” She muttered, more to herself then anyone in the room. I watched her in confusion, never having seen her so thrown by something.
“Enola!” Keith’s voice boomed throughout the room.
She stopped in her tracks, looking up at him with wide brown eyes. “This isn’t like before; you didn’t intend for him to die.”
“We don’t know if he is dead yet. There still may be time to save him.” Enola glared and returned to her task.
“Enola, she squeezed his heart until it burst. I felt it in my hand.”
“No. What you felt was Persephone pulling out his Mana. His source of strength. His heart could still be intact. He might be severely injured. It’ll take some energy and time, but I can heal him, make him stronger. Help him fight Hades and kick him out. Remember the quest? Two dwell where one can survive? Maxx has a chance to survive and I’m his chance.”
I looked between her and Keith. “Is she right?”
“It’s a possibility.” He shrugged. “It’s going to take most of her energy. We’ll need massive protection spells. She’ll be out of it for a couple of days.”
“What about the dark spell?” I asked, “You said we cast a dark spell, and someone will suffer because of it. What if that person is you?””
“I’m okay with that. I want to do this.” Enola said without hesitation. “Maxx is innocent this is our job. This is what we are supposed to do.”
“The party is wrapping up; your mom is being the debrief for new arrivals.” Scotty announced.
“Have them ready to go in half an hour. If Maxx has a fighting chance, we have to be there to save him.”
“On it.” Keith and Scotty headed outside. I looked over at Enola.
“You are sure you can do this?” I looked at her skeptically.
“I can do it. I’m strong enough.”
“I’m going to have Sonia and Will stay with you. Just for extra protection.” I told her.
“Of course. I appreciate the assistance.” She gave a nod.
“Be careful Enola.”
“I am a high priestess of the great goddess. I am well aware of my limitations and what I am capable of.” The smile she gave me is warm, but I wasn’t so sure I trust her. I gave her a small smile and step outside into the crowd. I spied Sonia and Will and made my way over to them, explaining the situation.
“We would be happy to assist Enola in her magic.” Sonia bowed.
“Great. Do me a favor and keep a close watch on her. I don’t want her over doing herself. If anything starts to look off, stop her. Any means necessary”
“Of course.” Sonia and Will bowed again. My mom was ending the debriefing, I looked out across the club. There was almost no room as people listened and each hallway was packed with even more people. Scotty somehow managed to shuffle up to me.
“We’re ready to go. We think we might know the location of Avalon as well.” He whispered in my ear.
I leaned into him to hear better. “Great. Where?”
“The wild apple orchard behind your house.”
I pulled back in surprise. “What? Are you serious?”
He nodded. “It’s one location we’re looking at, but it seems to be the best location. Sara cast a location spell. It took a few tries to narrow it down to a location close to us, but the apple orchard seems to be the most accurate spot. If we’re right. If we’re wrong, we’ve got three more locations to work off of.”
“Excellent. Everything’s falling into place.” I mumbled into his chest.
“Is that a good thing?” He asked, rubbing circles into my back. I shook my head.
“No idea. Guess we’ll find out.” He laughed, placing a kiss to my forehead. Mom gave the last few lines of the debriefing and informs everyone to prepare to leave. It’s time. I look up at Scotty and take a breath.
“Khloe.” My mom’s voice boomed through the crowd. “Would you like to say a few words?” She asked, looking directly at me. I stared up at her, unsure what to say, but I nodded anyway. Somehow the crowd managed to part, and I joined my mom at the front of the club.
“Our intention today is not to kill innocent people. Our intention today is to save lives. As we all know, in our world that act comes with a price. Rejoicing in the death of our enemies is no act of heroism. In fact, it doesn’t make us any better than them. Instead when you look back on today, mourn for the loss that evil took from this world. Mourn for the loved ones who died needlessly. Look forward to the days ahead when we will live free, but always mourn this day as a great loss of human and magical life. We are witches. We must take and will take whatever measures are necessary to insure our freedom. The sun is falling and soon we will be leaving. Prepare yourselves to leave. It’s time for war.”