Witch Emerging (High Witch Book 2) Read online

  “No!” Hallie exclaimed. “No, no, no! I’ll never, ever do that again! And you can’t make me!”

  “Hallie, tapping into nature is part of who we are. If you don’t learn to control it, it could control you. Please, listen to me….”

  But Hallie shook her head. “You don’t understand. You haven’t been through something like I went through. You said your magic came out when you were upset, but I nearly killed people, Ariel! I don’t want to tap into nature and I’m not trying it. You don’t know what it’s like to cast such a destructive spell.”

  Ariel looked at her sadly, then nodded. “You’re right, I don’t know what it’s like. I can’t pretend to understand the trauma of what happened. I’m so sorry you went through that, Hallie. I really am. But, to be honest, I think I did cast a destructive spell at one stage. I just don’t remember it.”

  Hallie looked at her in confusion, and Ariel carefully sat down on the ground, motioning for her to join her. Hallie waited for her to speak as she sat cross-legged on the grass.

  “When Brayden and I were first together, we were wondering how Julius found out I was a High Witch. While Brayden could tell what I was by seeing me use my magic when he first tried to help me, the only way Julius could have found out about me is by asking others and hearing stories about witches with unusual power. I’d never met him before, so he couldn’t have seen me use my magic. And while my magic did come out without my control sometimes, I never really did anything I think others would have remembered. But there was the day my parents died.”

  Ariel looked at her hands, going silent for quite a while. She finally spoke again. “I was three when my parents were killed. We were in a carriage accident, but somehow I survived. I don’t remember it at all, and my uncle, who raised me after that, didn’t know much about what happened. But maybe, given how distressed I would have been… maybe I accidentally cast a huge spell then. I wouldn’t have known what I was doing, but if my power used to come out if someone laughed at me, imagine seeing my parents die in front of me. My magic might have poured out of me in a huge way, in a way someone would have remembered. It’s all I can think of. It hurts not knowing. And I’ll never know.”

  Ariel met her gaze, and Hallie felt so sad for her. She hadn’t known Ariel was an orphan. It made her fractured relationship with her parents not seem so bad, since at least they had each other.

  Hallie reached out and touched Ariel’s hand. “I’m sorry your parents passed away,” she said. “That must have been horrible for you. You’re going to start a new family, though. You can have the family you missed out on. Your child will be very lucky with you and Brayden as her parents. She might be a witch too, or a warlock. That would be lovely!” Hallie smiled, but her expression changed when she saw the look in Ariel’s eyes. She grew worried. “What is it? Is your baby alright?”

  “Yes, she’s fine, but it’s complicated. I don’t want to worry you—you have so much to deal with already.”

  “No, tell me. We can’t keep secrets from each other, especially with what we’re going to face.”

  Ariel chewed on her lip for a moment, then nodded. “Alright,” she said. “It’s strange, though. I can hardly believe it myself. It’s both sad and wonderful.” Then Ariel told Hallie about her child. That she was a High Witch. How Brayden thought that was possible. That the baby had been able to use magic from within the womb. That when Ariel had cast the locating spell, her child’s magic mixed with her own. And, finally, Ariel told her about her decision to bind her child’s powers, to prevent her magic from causing danger.

  “So my magic is actually weaker than normal,” Ariel said. “I’ve still been able to train you, show you a lot of spells, but I haven’t cast a spell with my full strength because I can’t. And I can’t heal myself. I was seasick on the ship, but normally I can use my magic to make my pain go away or speed up the healing process if I’m hurt. I can’t do that now.

  “I’m sorry—I should have told you—but you’ve had to take in so much information, I didn’t want to overwhelm you in the first couple of days. I’m still strong. Together we’ll win. But I’m not at my most powerful. I’ll be relying on a you a little.”

  Hallie’s hands flew to her mouth. “And I told you about my vision, and all this time you knew you couldn’t heal yourself? I don’t know what I really saw, Ariel, but there was a weapon and you were hurt. What if it’s real? You have to be okay—you have to be!” Hallie hugged Ariel, so desperate for her to be alright. Then she sat back, something occurring to her. Ariel’s child was a High Witch? But… how… “What about when your child is born, Ariel?” Hallie asked. “There’ll be four of us then. How can there be four?”

  Ariel gazed at her in sadness. “I have no idea.”

  Chapter 18

  A few more days went by until it was a week since Hallie had first met Ariel and Brayden. Ariel kept training her, and Hallie was astounded at how quickly she was learning. She really did gain a tighter grasp on her magic, but she still wasn’t willing to cast any spells with the weather. She wasn’t ready for that. She didn’t think she ever would be.

  The group had long talks when there was a break from training, and Hallie learned about when Ariel and Brayden first met and how scary those first weeks were. Ariel talked about how happy she was to be pregnant, the joy she felt, and the bond she’d already formed with her child. Her pregnancy was steadily growing; Hallie saw a change in the short time they’d known each other. Ariel had said she didn’t show for the first four months of her pregnancy, but now that she was nearly six months along, it was obvious she was heavy with child.

  None of them knew what would happen when Ariel gave birth or what it meant for the existing three High Witches. Hallie was scared and confused, trying to take in so much information at once she could barely stand it. But one thing that brought light to her heart was when Ariel told her more about her vision.

  Hallie could easily see Ariel talking with her young daughter, a beautiful six-year-old girl. She could see the little girl with light-brown curls and blue eyes hugging her mother and talking about her magic. Hallie hoped more than anything that what Ariel saw would happen, and what she saw wouldn’t. She prayed for that with all her heart. They just had to wait and see.

  It occurred to Hallie that she might not survive this. She tried to cast the thought out, but there could only be three High Witches—what if she didn’t make it? That the reason Erica was going to exist is because she wouldn’t be alive? She felt so frightened but had to be strong. They were going to stop Nicholas, like Ariel said.

  But there were so many things working against them.

  On the evening of the seventh day, Hallie sat with Sean on the settee, while Ariel and Brayden sat on the armchairs. Brayden had his face rested on his palm, looking at Ariel fondly.

  She smiled at him, then nodded. “We think you’re ready,” Ariel said to Hallie. “I’m scared and nervous, but I think we should confront Nicholas tomorrow. Brayden and I will come over early tomorrow morning, and then I want you to transport us all to Nicholas’ home. We’ll face him together and end this once and for all. We don’t know if he’s still staying in the same place, but we’ll at least start there and then search for him if need be.

  “I know this won’t be easy—he’s had over a month to prepare since you last saw him. But he might still be weakened from when you hurt him, and he doesn’t know I’ll be with you. It’ll be alright. We just have to work together and not panic. I think we’ll be okay.” Ariel smiled at her, but her eyes looked worried.

  Hallie looked at her hands, not knowing what to say. “Do we… do we need to kill him?” she asked. “I know we probably have to. I know we have to save ourselves. But it’s so… I don’t want to hurt anyone. I feel terrible about hurting him the first time, even though I had to. It’s a horrible feeling. I just wish he’d leave us alone.”

  “But he won’t, Hallie,” Sean said, turning and looking at her. He grasped her hands. “He
won’t. We’re not safe while he lives, none of us are. When he captured me, I couldn’t fight back—he was invisible, all I felt was someone grabbing me, then I was somewhere else and he knocked me out. I can beat the skinny idiot in a fight, but how can you beat someone you can’t see? He was quick and silent, and I wasn’t ready. If he attempts to hurt me again, I’ll try and wring his neck, but I’ll admit I’m no match for a warlock. His power is controlling fire—all he has to do is touch me and he could burn me. And you can’t protect me every second, Hallie. You’re so kind and sweet, but Nicholas needs to die. I’m not going to spend my life—our lives—in fear.” Sean touched Hallie’s face and brushed her cheek with his thumb, looking at her closely.

  Hallie stared at him, then nodded and looked down. Sean was right, but it broke her heart.

  “Is there anything else you want to talk about, Hallie?” Brayden asked. “Any more questions? Anything else you need to know?”

  She shook her head, enough information in her head already.

  Brayden clasped his hands together. “Alright. Ariel and I will get going now. We’ll come back at first light tomorrow, so we’re not wasting any time. I, for one, want to have a good night’s rest. You’ve done so well. You’re so much better at using your magic, and I’m really proud of you. I don’t think anything will be able to stop you and Ariel.” He smiled, then rose, Ariel joining him. The duo said good-bye to Hallie and Sean at the door, then headed back to the tavern where they were staying.

  Hallie shut the heavy door and leaned against it, looking up at Sean.

  He reached out and touched her face again. “I love you. You’re the strongest, bravest woman I’ve ever met. I’ll always love you. You’re everything to me.”

  Hallie felt her eyes become moist, reached up, and kissed him. “I love you too,” she said, a few tears slipping down her face. She wanted to tell him something just in case everything went wrong tomorrow. Wanted to tell him what he meant to her in case she didn’t come back.

  “I’m so happy you’re with me, Sean,” she began. “I wouldn’t be able to face all this without you. You say I’m strong, but it’s because you love me. I know I had to survive without you, and I know I needed to become my own person. And I am. But your love has been with me my whole life, and that—our relationship, our years together—has given me the heart I have. Who am I without love? Who are we without someone to nurture us, support us, someone for us to love back? You’re my friend, you’re my family, and I don’t ever want to be without you. You’re my heart and my soul and I love you. I have since we were children, since I met the little boy at school who pulled my hair and fought anyone who teased me. You’re part of me, Sean. You’re half of me. I’m yours.”

  He stared at her, and Hallie was surprised to find tears in his eyes. He placed his hands on her waist, just staring. She gazed back, her chest rising and falling. He looked at her for the longest time, not speaking. Then a tear fell down his cheek, and he brought her into a huge hug and crashed his lips down onto hers. He kissed her long and hard, pressing her against him, the embrace filled with love and passion and pain. Hallie felt more connected to him than ever before, her heart aching, her soul on fire. She clung to him, feeling like this might be their last moment together, the last time they would hold each other like this. She never wanted to stop kissing him; she never wanted to let go of him.

  Sean lifted her up, pressing her up against the door, and then kissed her again. Hallie instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist and held on to him while he kissed her neck. She gasped, sinking her fingers into his hair, feeling his arousal against her. And then he stopped and looked at her, his eyes darker than she’d ever seen them. He slipped his hands beneath her dress, supporting her by his thighs. Her eyes were locked to his, their breath harsh and loud. Oh, how she wanted him.

  “Hallie,” he rasped, undoing his trousers, then caressing her beneath her skirt to see if she was ready.

  She hissed in his ear for him to take her, and he groaned, burying himself inside of her. To her surprise she nearly climaxed straight away, the feeling so intense. They held onto each other, Sean moving inside her, his breath rough against her neck. Hallie was so in love with him. So enthralled by him. She never, ever wanted to stop making love to him.

  They just had to get through tomorrow.

  ***

  Brayden walked with Ariel down the street towards Hallie’s house at dawn. He held her hand, neither of them speaking. They’d barely spoken last night, both of them exhausted after such a busy, stressful week. Brayden felt nervous, worried, anxious—for both Ariel and Hallie. He was frightened of confronting Nicholas, but it had to happen. They had to get rid of this danger and then they could get on with their lives. Brayden was so proud of Ariel, training Hallie so well and being brave and strong despite the danger. Proud of her for dealing with her pregnancy, for being willing to fight even in her condition. He wished he could fight this for her, wished she and Hallie didn’t need to do this. But it was their battle. He and Sean had no powers, no way to protect those they loved in a magical battle.

  They neared Hallie’s home, arrived at the neat wooden house, and walked up to the door. That’s when they heard it.

  Wailing.

  Ariel looked at him in surprise, then banged on the door. “Hallie! Open the door! Hallie!”

  The door was thrown open and Hallie was standing there, a horrified look in her eyes. She handed Ariel a crumpled piece of paper stained with tears. Ariel took it and looked at Brayden in alarm.

  “He’s gone!” Hallie said. “Sean’s gone! Nicholas took him. I didn’t even realize—I was asleep. How could I not realize! How could this happen! I just found the note a few moments ago. Ariel, I love him! I have to save him!”

  Ariel handed Brayden the note after reading it, and they walked inside. Brayden shut the door and read the piece of paper.

  Hallie

  I’ve been watching you the last few days. I know Ariel is with you. Bring her to me, and Sean will live. He’s my prisoner, but I won’t harm him if you bring me Ariel. I don’t wish you or Sean any harm. It’s her I want. Come quickly—Sean is in a delicate predicament and won’t last in his state long.

  Nicholas

  “What do we do?” Hallie asked. “I have to save him! What do we do?”

  Ariel clenched her fists at her side. “We do what we were always going to do. We fight.”

  Chapter 19

  Click, click, click.

  Click, click, click.

  Click, click, click.

  ***

  “You won’t get away with it.”

  “They’ll stop you.”

  “You’re nothing compared to them.”

  Hallie, save me.

  ***

  Hallie took both Ariel and Brayden’s hands in hers. She took a deep breath, shut her eyes, and imagined Nicholas’ home in her mind. There was the spinning sensation, the pull in her stomach, and then their feet were on solid ground again. They’d arrived in the hallway near the stairs. There was a deathly silence, except for one sound.

  Click, click, click.

  It seemed to be coming from behind the house. Hallie released everyone’s hands and tried to steel her nerves. She took a step forward, but Ariel grasped her arm.

  “We go together. We do everything together.”

  Hallie nodded. They followed the sound, walking through the house until they found the back door. Ariel opened it and they walked into the garden behind the house.

  Click, click, click.

  Hallie screamed.

  ***

  “Sean! Oh, my love… SEAN!”

  Hallie had never seen anything so horrific. It was a monstrosity, an invention so barbaric she could barely contain her terror. And her love was in the middle of it.

  The contraption stood to one side of the large, empty garden surrounded by tall hedges. It was over eight feet tall, with a large wooden platform and tall beams rising from the corners. Metal r
ings were attached to the beams at the back, with heavy knotted ropes tied to them stretched taut and firm. The ropes were tied to Sean’s arms and legs, holding him suspended in the air at the back of the device, his limbs stretched wide apart. A wide leather belt was wrapped around his waist, also fastened to the beams to hold him in place.

  But that wasn’t the bad part. Sean being in a vulnerable, dangerous pose wasn’t the bad part. His limbs becoming sore, his face contorted in horror, her love splayed out waiting for death wasn’t the bad part.

  It was that damn clicking.

  Because there was another part to the contraption. The front beams held an enormous clock, the gears and wheels on the back of it clicking away as weights attached to them dropped lower and lower. As the weights dropped, a huge spinning metal disc, fastened to the workings at the back of the clock, inched towards Sean’s stomach. The disc had dozens of long razor-sharp spikes sticking out of it, with piercing edges which would rip a man to shreds. The spinning disc screeched loudly, metal whining and sparks flying. It was only a foot away from Sean, coming ever closer.

  The clock was set to stop when the hand reached twelve, when the weights reached the floor.

  They only had moments to go.

  ***

  “I’ll kill you!” Hallie screamed at Nicholas. “Sean!”

  Nicholas stood near the machine, several feet away from them, still and waiting. He didn’t flinch despite his contraption screaming beside him.

  Hallie glared at him, horrified.

  “I’m the only one who knows how to free him,” Nicholas called out loudly. “I’m the only one who knows how to switch the device off. You could try to free him, but you’ll never get him out in time. Ariel, come to me and this ends.”

  Brayden cursed wildly. Ariel stood silently beside him, but Hallie could see she was shaking.