Chapter 61 - Something Wicked

Violet.

I stood near David as we arrived a half mile away from the covenstead, my eyes scanning the treeline, looking for someone to jump out and capture us all. Javid had gone ahead to scout things out while we waited.

With my comforting rock gone, doubt and bad feelings crept in.

I shouldn't have come back to this place. Sam's death was too fresh in my mind. Visiting the very scene which caused her to pass, made my stomach roil and my heart clench.

Sam--the male Sam--stumbled through the underbrush, his breath coming in short, hurried gasps. "We shouldn't be here," he whispered, confirming the fear I hadn't yet uttered out loud. His eyes darted around, almost rolling in their sockets.

I didn't know much about Sam except he could control lightning and was Jasmine's cousin… and yes, maybe he stared a little too long and a little too hard, but right then, I trusted in what he was saying. "Something feels off… something feels terribly wrong."

"I think Sam's right," I said, gathering my courage and speaking up. "Maybe we should turn back."

David stood tall, so self-assured that I became a little less frightened. His deep blues, met the gazes of each member of the group, ensuring their attention. "Listen up, fam," he whispered, "I know this ain't easy, but we gotta do this. We're in this together, and we got each other's backs. No one's gonna stop us from getting to the bottom of this." He looked at me and Sam who hovered close by. " Not even ourselves."

I felt a surge of courage as David's words sank in. His confidence was contagious, and I found myself standing a little taller.

At least until Javid came back, out of breath and cheeks flushed. "Somethings going on… something big."

David slapped him on the back, no longer angry at catching us kissing. In fact, he seemed almost fanatically happy. "Well, that's what we're here for right? To investigate." David continued in a football cheer type of tone. "Dig deep, guys. Who's with me?" In another nid at the game he loved, he stretched out his arm, hand facing the dirt. Jasmine placed hers on top of his before I could move. The others followed suit, then me, and lastly Sam touched my hand lightly before jerking his back.

We followed Javid who led the way. The closer we got, the more I felt a queasy sort of unease building in my stomach and rising to the back of my throat.

"Is it just me," Sam whispered, "or do you feel it too?"

I nodded. It was all I could do. It seemed all the air had left my lungs.

"Over here, guys."

Javid waved us over to an outbuilding. On the side were a few soggy boxes that looked like they'd been outside for a while and at one point it had rained. He dug into one of them and pulled out a dark robe, grinning. Javid seemed like he was enjoying playing recon. I wasn't. Far from it. "They're gathering in a circle in the clearing, We got lucky. Everyone is wearing one of these so we'll blend in."

When I received mine, I pulled the musty robe over my head, trying not to gag at the smell. Jasmine and Marla weren't so subtle.

"Ugh, this is disgusting," Jasmine whined, her nose wrinkled in disgust.

"This musty-ass robe stinks like my aunt after she eats asparagus." Marla added, her voice muffled by the fabric.

I wanted to complain too, but fear kept my mouth shut tighter than a drum.

Javid put his finger to his lips and silently we followed behind him. Sooner than I would've liked, the clearing came into view.

I stood rigid, my heart thrumming against my ribs, as I took in the scene before me. The Grand Hallow teemed with robed figures, their hushed whispers undulating in the air around them.

"Stay close," David murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "No matter what, we don't break apart."

I nodded, drawing strength from him and Javid who walked beside me, his eyes darting across the gathering.

As we approached the outer ring of the assembly, snippets of conversation reached my ears.

"He is coming," a witch said, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

"I can't wait to feel his power," a warlock added, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

My pulse skyrocketed as we positioned ourselves in a little huddle on the edge of the crowd. I tried to steady my breathing, but the air felt thick and heavy, like it was holding its breath.

"Just act natural," David whispered, his voice barely audible over the murmurs of the assembled witches and warlocks.

"Easy for you to say," Fergus muttered, shifting uncomfortably in his robe.

"Shh," Javid hissed, his eyes darting around nervously. "We can't draw attention to ourselves."

I nodded, trying to mimic the posture and movements of those around me. It was like a twisted game of follow the leader, and the stakes couldn't have been higher.

"What do you think they're waiting for?" Kiki asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"I don't know," Jasmine replied, her voice uncharacteristically serious. "But whatever it is, it can't be good."

I'd read about people being struck by lightning before. Their hair had stood up on their body as if sensing impending doom. I felt like that under the clear, starry sky and a glowing moon.

"Something's not right," Sam muttered behind me.

The air around us grew colder, an unnatural chill seeping into my bones. Tendrils of fog crept through the trees, casting an eerie haze over everyone gathered.

To make things worse and even more creepy, the witches and warlocks began to chant in soft, reverent tones.

"What's happening?" Kiki whispered, her voice trembling.

"I don't know," I replied, my own words sounding distant to my ears. The stench of the robe hit my nose head-on as an ill wind rushed through the gathering. I retched a little but managed to stay upright while Kiki moaned and fell to her knees. Fergus helped her up and held her close.

The atmosphere pressed down on us, heavy with a sense of impending doom. I shivered, pulling my robe tighter around my body.

The chanting grew louder, the words blurring together in a dizzying haze. I felt like I was drowning in every word. I wanted to put my hands over my ears to try and block out the sound.

I was too scared I would draw attention to myself.

Jasmine shivered in front of me, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Do you feel that? That power?"

"Yeah," Javid murmured, his eyes darting around the clearing. "It's like nothing I've ever felt before."

Kiki pressed closer to Fergus. "No..not good. Not good. Not good."

"We should leave… now," Sam urged. He took a step back. Then another.

"We wait," David said, pining him with his gaze. "And we watch."

Suddenly, the chanting stopped on a crescendo and in the silence that followed, my heart fell from my chest as a guy ripped into the open space, his whole vibe screaming "DANGER!" Power slammed off him like a hurricane, making the air crackle.

Sam choked out, "Is that...HIM?" His voice sounded like a scared rabbit's squeak.

I couldn't even begin to answer. My throat had slammed shut with a rusty lock. All I could do was stare at the shadowy figure, waiting for the explosion that was bound to happen.