The blood witch, p.22
The Blood Witch, page 22
“Annalise,” Imani said. “We found no proof that—”
“Was she talking about me?” Reina asked Ekon. “When I hear someone being called a bitch, I automatically assume it’s me.”
Ekon remained silent.
“You attempted to take the Blood Witch,” Camilla said. “But we caught you. It’s over.”
“I don’t care,” Annalise said.
“That is enough,” Lakshmi said. The steel helmet she wore over her head engulfed her head entirely, and it muffled her voice to the point that each Ostara had to become completely silent to listen. It was also both unsettling and interesting for them to hear Lakshmi speak. She very rarely did.
“Yes?” Imani asked her.
“Annalise Torres will be executed. Seize—” No one could hear Lakshmi’s final word as Reina shrieked like a banshee, rushing Annalise with a speed that rivaled a shadow suddenly being exposed to the sun. Annalise prepared herself to finish Reina off for good, but she suddenly found herself in mid-air, staring up at the moon as her back inexplicably slammed against the ground. Her eyes shifted upwards to where Ekon had snuck behind. He was her friend no longer.
“I would normally have a familiar do this,” Reina cooed as she stabbed Annalise in the leg with a dagger. She ripped away at her muscles as she spoke softly. “But I wanted to savor this. I wanted to taste you before the flames had a lick.”
Annalise grit her teeth and kicked at Reina’s face, but Reina shifted to the side like a specter and stabbed Annalise’s other leg. Ekon began tying her hands together as Annalise began to cry. Her eyes lifted up, looking beyond her forehead towards the right corner of the dungeon’s wall. Looking out from behind a bush were the eyes of Madeline Chase, watching the takedown unfold.
Annalise frowned at her. She needed to run, or else this was all for nothing.
Madeline was about to mouth a few final words to Annalise for comfort, but then Ekon’s boot crushed Annalise’s right rib cage.
Madeline gasped and scurried away.
Chapter 74 – Nothing Will Be the Same
“Door shut!” Dinah yelled. Their dorm room closed off from the outside world. Riley fell to the floor as Madeline stumbled over to her desk, holding onto the back of the chair for support.
“Do you think we’re okay?” Riley asked.
“Who knows?” Dinah said, crossing her arms. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
“Why would she do that?” Madeline whispered under her breath. She clenched her jaw tight as she felt another wave come over her. She slammed the surface of her desk and then threw her chair to the side. She was sick of crying. She was sick of seeing people get hurt like this.
“Why would she do that?!” Madeline shouted.
“Keep it down,” Dinah said. “We’ll draw suspicion.”
“I don’t get it,” Riley said, sitting cross-legged on the floor. “An Ostara sacrificed her life for us? Why us?”
“She made it clear that she wouldn’t join us,” Madeline said, waving her hands wildly as she spoke. “She attacked us even after I told her everything. This doesn’t make sense.”
“I don’t know,” Dinah said. All of the emotions flying around the room were beginning to break her down. Her countenance fell as she tried to reason the event within herself. “Maybe she changed her mind.”
“She was adamant,” Madeline said.
“Maybe she heard what you said all along,” Dinah said. “But...she wasn’t sure what to do with the information. When the Ostara came for us, she had to make a choice and she chose us.”
“But why?”
“We may never know,” Dinah shrugged.
“I’m grateful,” Riley said. “I—I’ll never forget her.”
“She’s not dead yet,” Madeline said. “With her being a prominent figure, they will make an example of her.”
“No, Maddie.”
“She deserves our help!”
“NO!” Dinah snapped. “Not this time! Or you’ll have to do it alone!”
“Why, Dinah?” Madeline pleaded. “Why are you okay with letting her die?”
“Because it’s what she wants! By throwing herself before the Ostara, she got her win. She saved us, she may get to see her family, and she threw up a big middle finger to the Ostara. If we save her, she will suffer even more.”
“You’re right,” Madeline said. She turned around and threw her face into her hands. “But I don’t have to like it.”
“And you’re human,” Riley said.
Madeline dried her tears on her sleeve. “Yeah,” she laughed slightly. “Crazy, right?”
“You made it this far,” Riley scoffed. “And you’re a human.”
“Guilty,” Madeline laughed. “Is...that okay?”
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“After seeing what you can do...no. Not one bit. I might have been scared before, but, Maddie, we’ve known each other a long time and...somehow without powers, you saved me from Mr. Tate. I’m in your debt.”
“Not at all,” Madeline smiled. “We’re together in all this.”
“And what is this, exactly?” Riley asked.
Dinah chuckled under her breath. “We’re taking down the Ostara. One at a time.”
“To give the people their lives back?” Riley asked.
“No,” Dinah said, glancing at Madeline. “To give them a choice in how they want to live.”
TAYLOR GARNIER SNORED on the lazy river, baking in the sun. She was somewhat aware of her surroundings but not enough to awake her from her slumber. Until a few drops of water fell on her face. She blinked and came to, just as a few more drops fell on her arm. She sat up and adjusted in the rubber tube, looking up at the sky for rain. It was as cloudy as the desert was wet. She frowned and looked to her left.
Madeline beamed at her from the embankment.
“Maddie!” Taylor screamed. The frantic rocking toppled the rubber tube over and she fell into the river. Madeline laughed and ran into the river after her. Taylor spurted and snorted as she expelled the water from her nose. She stood up and kept her feet dug into the sand on the river floor. Standing tall, the river was only at her chest. Madeline was happy to know that she could stand and talk too, though she was sure Taylor could alter the world in their favor however she pleased.
“What are you doing here?” Taylor asked excitedly. She gave Madeline a quick hug and then studied her face, making sure that she was real.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” Madeline said. “Riley wanted to come too but Dinah wasn’t sure if she could send two people in.”
“This is so cool. You can visit me?”
“We weren’t 100% sure so we had to try it,” Madeline smiled.
“That’s awesome. I hope you visit me often.”
“I will do my absolute best.”
“Then...then that means you guys made it!”
“Yeah,” Madeline winced. She tried not to bring Taylor’s spirits down.
“It’s really cool here. It’s like I have my own workspace to alter how I see fit. I plan on venturing out sometime...see what else is out there, but...if I get lost, you can find me, right?”
“I think so,” Madeline said. “Dinah’s still improving her specialty. It might take some time, but I’m sure we can help you with whatever you need. Are you hungry at all?”
“Nah,” Taylor said. “Don’t need to eat here. Wait...does that mean I’ll fade away if my, uh, real body dies?”
“I think so,” Madeline scowled. “I’m not sure.”
“Were you able to get me out?”
Madeline took a deep breath. Finally, the big question had been asked. “No,” Madeline said. “We’re weren’t. You’re still in a coma, but we’re sure that only Dinah can bring you out. You’re safe.”
“But you’ll also have to find me all over again.”
“Yeah,” Madeline winced. “And I’m sure it’s going to be harder this time.”
“It’s okay,” Taylor said, stretching her arms out at her sides. “I can’t feel the pain anymore, and I’m in no hurry to get out of here.”
“We’ll keep searching for you, regardless,” Madeline said. “I think our best bet is to eventually search the minds of the Ostara. We’re just being cautious, in case they can sense our intrusion somehow.”
“No worries. This place is cool.”
“There is one more thing,” Madeline said shyly. “Something I wanted to ask you.”
“Anything,” Taylor smiled.
“When I visit, I want to hang out, but...I also want to help you improve your specialty as much as we can, so that you get stronger...and I was wondering if you could teach me too. As much as you know about it.”
“You want to become a Blood Witch?” Taylor frowned.
“Not exactly. The way I see it, you are one of the most unique witches out there. Because no one has been confirmed to be a Blood Witch before, you’re the closest thing to a Master of it that we have, and I want to be your pupil. I want knowledge that no one else has.”
“Done,” Taylor said. “Anything else?”
“One more,” Madeline laughed. She smiled and extended a hand towards Taylor. “How would you like to join our Coven?”
DINAH HUGGED MADELINE tight as she tried not drop her bags.
“You’re going to miss the bus,” Madeline whispered in her ear.
“It can wait,” Dinah said, taking a couple steps back. She glanced behind Madeline at the South End of Beltane Castle and smiled. “I can’t believe it will be different when we get back. I’ll sort of miss this place.”
“We didn’t even explore everything!” Madeline said.
“Oh, I know that’s killing you inside,” Dinah laughed. “Planning on making it right?”
“I won’t go exploring,” Madeline promised, raising her right hand. “Not without you and Riley.”
“You’re sure you want to stay behind?” Dinah asked. “Almost everyone left already. Even Leandra.”
“I need some time alone,” Madeline nodded, “and I want to be there for her at the end.”
“It’s a big risk,” Dinah said, adjusting the strap of her backpack. “What if Annalise changes her mind again? What if she decides to out you?”
“Like you said, it’s a risk, but I’ll be okay. You and Riley have done plenty. Go on home and rest.”
“There’s nothing else?” Dinah asked, squinting at her. “You seem anxious about something.”
“I just don’t want to see her die,” Madeline said, flashing Dinah a fake smile.
“Okay, then,” Dinah said, giving her one more hug. “Be safe then.”
“See you soon,” Madeline said. Dinah gave her a wave and ran down the hill towards the buses. Madeline smiled one more time and then she turned back to head into the castle, steeling her gaze.
It didn’t feel good lying to Dinah, but she had to do this for herself.
The announcement had come in a few hours into the morning, not long after Annalise’s capture—that she had attempted to take the Blood Witch for selfish gain, she had been caught, and she would be burned at the stake for her crimes. Anyone that wanted to watch the ceremony was permitted to do so, but it was not obligatory. For those that had already gone home and wanted to see the burning, they could catch it live on their television screens. Madeline was sure that the whole world would be watching. After all, this was a historic event.
She promised herself that she would attend in person.
To honor Annalise’s sacrifice.
And to stop her grandmother.
Trisha Chase was sure to be in attendance, gaining favor with the Ostara and possibly submitting her own application to take over in Annalise’s stead. This was an unprecedented event, but Madeline was sure a new Ostara would be named. The last thing she wanted was to be under her grandmother’s tutelage, especially since Annalise would no longer be around to act as a buffer. She wouldn’t survive a day.
Madeline headed back to her dorm and immediately closed the door. She rushed to her desk and began counting the candles inside. She had no magic within her to activate a spell circle but pretending to do so may throw Trisha off guard. All she needed was a brief distraction to save herself from Trisha’s hexes. Then, if she had to, she would use a bit of the Blood Vial. Just enough to temporarily remove her powers. Madeline would take it from there.
But could you kill her? Could you take the life of your grandmother when you couldn’t kill your enemy?
Madeline rubbed a hand down her face and groaned in frustration. Why did it always come down to killing? She supposed she could do it in self-defense, but time would tell. What was certain was that Trisha would attack her again.
She took a bottle of water from her desk and held it up as if it was a specimen. Could Taylor’s blood be diluted and still useful? What if she got a spray bottle to—
A knock came to the door.
“Door open,” Madeline said, not caring who it was. Amias stepped into the room and gave her a curt wave. Madeline smiled and stood up from the desk, running over to give him a hug.
“I needed that,” Amias laughed, hugging her back. “I was beginning to think you didn’t care about me anymore.”
“Why would you go and think a thing like that?” Madeline said, looking into his eyes.
“You didn’t come to visit.”
“I don’t even know where your dorm is, silly!”
“Oh, yeah,” Amias said. “I suppose you’re right.”
“I thought you had left for home already,” Madeline said.
“Without saying good-bye?”
“True.”
“You’re really new at this, aren’t you?”
“At what?”
“The whole dating thing.”
“Am I supposed to insinuate that you’re not?” Madeline said playfully.
“You’re my first girlfriend.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You think I’m lying?” Amias laughed.
“I’m just saying, how could I know the truth?”
“You could come with me,” Amias said.
“What?” Madeline scoffed. “To your hometown? Over break?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“I can’t,” Madeline said.
“Why not? You’ve got better things to do? More missions?”
“I do have one,” she muttered. Amias’ face fell in disappointment. “But, because I haven’t been the bestest girlfriend in the world, I’m thinking that I should spend break with you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“But first, you come with me.”
“To Kuldhara?” Amias asked. “You sure?”
“I have someone I’d like you to meet,” Madeline said. “And trust me, there is no greater honor I can bestow upon you than that.”
“Well, I think we have a deal,” Amias smiled. “I’ve got to go make some calls first, but I’ll stick around until you’re ready. How long do you think your mission will be?”
“We can leave for my home tonight.”
“Awesome. I’ll meet you back here.”
“Sure,” Madeline said. Amias rushed out the door, practically skipping in delight. Madeline shook her head and went back to her desk, this time inspecting the runes she had collected in childhood. Though she had to focus on the mission ahead, her thoughts fell upon Amias. He had been patient with her, far more patient than she would have thought anyone could be. He deserved to be rewarded, and if anyone could put up with her shenanigans and still love her, perhaps he was a keeper. Besides, she would get a kick out of seeing her grandfather’s face.
It all sounded...
Fun.
“There’s more to life than missions,” Madeline mused to herself, picking up a rune filled with lightning. The same kind she had used to knock out Mr. Tate’s bear. She laughed and continued rummaging through her supplies.
She did not notice that her dorm room had been left wide open.
Neither did she notice Kieran hovering in the air just outside of it with a rose in his hand, looking at Amias in contempt as headed out.
He saw Madeline’s smile clearly. A smile that, in that moment, he was sure would never be for him.
He crushed the rose petals in his hand, and balled up the stalk with the thorns.
He allowed his blood to spill down into the abyss.
And then he left for home.
Chapter 75 – Burned at the Stake
The ceremony felt private. It was like a funeral for an unloved person, in which only family who felt obligated to attend were present. Madeline stood in the back of the meager crowd, trying to keep her head down from the hot sun above. The entire Ostara Coven was present in the North End plains, dressed in their finest wardrobe. Madeline wore a pink sundress for the occasion and therefore she could claim the same. She wished she had packed more formal wear, but she didn’t imagine that she would find herself in a place like this, about to watch someone she cared about be destroyed.
It was strange.
To say that she cared about Annalise.
But the feelings were there.
Perhaps pity was the right word, but either way, it was clear that she did not want her to die.
A few other Besom attended out of curiosity, but as butlers dragged a beaten and bloody Annalise to the stake, they didn’t have the stomach to see it through. Not in person anyways. Madeline Chase and Natalie, the former #2 Arcana, were the only ones with the nerve to stay.
The butlers propped Annalise onto the stake as others checked the pile of sticks and wood beneath her, making sure that there was enough. Annalise’s head bobbed from left to right as if it were about to fall off. She managed to raise her head for a moment and scan the crowd, before it fell right back to her chest.
