Chapter 15

Dahlia

The air crackled with an otherworldly energy as we stood in a loose circle. We were mesmerized by the shimmering temporal disturbance that hung before us like a veiled portal to another realm. Adele's words made me take a small step back. I had no desire to get sucked into that thing. It was as if a tear in the fabric of reality itself had opened up behind the house, distorting the air around us with its eerie presence. Who knew what we would encounter on the other end.

Usually a serene space with its overgrown vines and ancient trees, the backyard now seemed transformed by the strange phenomenon before us. I noted the well hadn't changed the feel of the place as much as this did.

Moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting patterns on the ground that added to the spooky feel of our surroundings. I glanced at Dani, whose eyes reflected a mix of apprehension and curiosity. "What do you make of this, Dani?" I asked in a voice barely audible over the strange hum emanating from the disturbance.

Dani shook her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "It"s terrifying. And unlike anything we"ve ever seen," she replied, her gaze fixed on the shifting colors within the anomaly. "Adele, you mentioned that temporal disturbances can be unstable. Is this related to Agnes and her curse?" she asked our familiar aloud for our benefit.

Adele wasn't there in person but was always available for us to call on. We were still getting used to using her as a resource. "It is not a coincidence that this appeared while you were searching. However, I cannot say what the connection is or how Agnes is using this to further her plans."

Dea, her connection to the spiritual realm heightened, closed her eyes briefly as if communing with unseen forces. "The spirits are restless," she murmured, her voice carrying an undercurrent of concern. "This disturbance feels... ancient. Definitely related to Agnes."

Phi, always eager to delve into the unknown, stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "There's something in there. I swear I saw a face," she mused aloud.

Before anyone could respond, Phi took another step forward, drawn inexplicably towards the anomaly. The air around her seemed to shimmer, and then in an instant, a tendril shot out of the temporal disturbance. Several things happened at once then.

"Phi!" I shouted, panic rising in my chest as a swirling vortex moved toward her.

Reacting with lightning speed, Dre lunged forward, reaching out and grabbing Phi"s hand just in time. The rest of us were already in motion and I latched onto Dre. Dani had hold of me and Kota clasped Dani's hand. Dea's hand closed around Kota's and we formed a human chain. We dug our feet into the ground to anchor ourselves against the relentless pull of the temporal anomaly.

The air crackled with energy as we fought against the force of the disturbance. Time seemed to lose all meaning as colors swirled around us. Reality bent and warped with every passing second. It was disorienting as hell.

Adele"s voice echoed in our minds once more, a beacon of guidance in the chaos. "Hold on tight," she advised, her tone urgent yet reassuring. "The disturbance may try to disorient you, but stay focused." Her voice trailed away as the wind increased.

Dea was focused on something I couldn't see as she fought against the pull with us. "There are dangerous spirits in there," she said, her voice barely audible over the cacophony of noise.

Kota glanced around on high alert as she summoned all of her energy to keep from being pulled in there. "We have to remain together. I don't want to get lost in there alone," she said in a voice that wavered as she lost her footing. It made me slip and slide forward. A scream lodged itself in my throat.

As we struggled against the relentless pull of the temporal disturbance, the park faded away, replaced by a kaleidoscope of shifting colors and fractured realities. Between one blink and the next, we were adrift in the unknown. Our fate was now intertwined with the mysteries of this enigmatic force.

Through the swirling vortex, glimpses of otherworldly landscapes and distorted visions flashed before us like fragments of a shattered mirror. Time itself seemed to stretch and contract, leaving us disoriented. I thanked the gods that I wasn't alone in this. My grip tightened on my sisters' hands, so we traversed this journey together.

With each passing moment, the temporal disturbance intensified. Its energies pulsated around us like a living entity. We clung to each other, our bonds of sisterhood my only anchor in this uncharted sea of time and space.

And then, in a sudden surge of energy, the temporal disturbance seemed to reach a crescendo. The world around us spun, and with a final burst of light, we were thrust deeper into the heart of the anomaly. I couldn't tell what was going on. My head was spinning, and it made me nauseous to try and concentrate.

The transition through the temporal disturbance was disorienting. It was like being caught in a whirlwind of colors and sensations. As the chaos subsided, I found myself standing with my sisters on unstable ground. The world around us was cloaked in a thick, swirling fog that seemed to shift and writhe like living tendrils.

"This is creepy," I whispered. Shadows danced at the edges of my vision, and the air felt heavy with a palpable sense of unease as if the very atmosphere here was alive with malevolent intent.

"Completely," Drea agreed. "Dea? Kota?" she called out, her voice sounding distant and muted in the eerie silence that enveloped us. Slowly, the shapes of our sisters emerged from the mist. They were only two steps away from us, but we couldn't see them before.

Dea whistled and shook her head as she scanned our surroundings. "I sense... something here. Probably ghosts," she murmured, her words barely audible above the low moan of the fog. That noise and her words made my feet itch to take off and escape the danger.

Before anyone could respond, a spectral figure materialized before us, her form translucent yet unmistakably imposing. It was Agnes, her presence a chilling reminder of the dark magic that had ensnared the city with her vile curse on the wishing well. How did that relate to this limbo-like realm?

"You were stupid to trespass in my domain," Agnes said. Her voice echoed through the fog as each word was laced with malevolent intent. "You will not leave here alive."

With a flick of her ethereal hand, Agnes summoned spirits from the mist. Their ghostly forms coalesced into semi-corporeal entities. They advanced towards us with eerie determination, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

"We have to fight them," Dani said the obvious. At least her voice was steady despite the tension that gripped us.

Kota summoned elemental energies, unleashing bursts of fire and wind against the approaching spirits. The flames licked at the spectral figures, momentarily driving them back, but they regrouped with chilling efficiency.

Dea extended her senses. She shook her head and looked over at us. "I can't commune with them. Agnes"s influence is too pervasive. She's somehow clouding the spiritual realm with her malice."

"Dammit," I cursed.

Dre stepped forward with an unwavering gaze. "We need to find a way out of here," she said, her tone resolute. "Before this place traps us forever."

I gaped at her and then ducked beneath a ghostly arm. "How do we do that?"

"No idea yet," Dre replied. "Keep your eyes peeled for an exit."

Kota snorted and said, "A glowing green sign should be easy to spot."

We ignored her sarcasm as the battle raged around us. I joined my sisters in confronting the malevolent spirits. Our collective strength was the only defense against the dark magic that threatened to consume us. We used everything we had and with every strike and incantation, we sought to push back against Agnes"s hold over this spectral realm.

Dea"s voice rose above the chaos. "Release them," she implored, her hands raised in a gesture of supplication. "They did nothing to deserve this. You didn't like being trapped. They don't either." Her words were a haunting melody that resonated with the spiritual forces at play and tried to reach Agnes's cold, black heart.

In response the fog thickened, further obscuring our surroundings. But determination burned bright within us. We would not be defeated. Not in this ethereal labyrinth where time itself held no sway.

Together, we fought with a unity born of sisterhood. Our resilience was a testament to our shared resolve. With each passing moment, the spirits became more tangible, their attacks more focused. That made it easier to fight against them.

"How do they have substance? It makes no sense," Kota observed as she threw a ball of fire at a spirit.

"The laws of nature on Earth no longer apply," Dre said as she shoved a ghost back with a gust of wind while another grabbed her ponytail from behind.

Running forward, I jumped and kicked out. Instead of the graceful strike I had planned, my entire body slammed into the spirit, and we fell to the ground awkwardly. Cold washed through me and nearly froze me in place. My limbs started shaking from the extreme temperature, and it took all of my effort to roll away. The second I got free, the chill vanished and I was able to move freely. Climbing to my feet, I lashed out and sent the spirit spiraling away.

The battle in the misty limbo was intense, the air crackling with magical energy and the echoes of spectral warfare. As the ghosts closed in around us, my sisters and I stood back-to-back. Many considered us insane. I didn't mind because the fact that our resolve remained unyielding despite the odds stacked against us helped in every battle we encountered.

Kota conjured gusts of wind, using the swirling debris to ward off the advancing spirits. Dre wielded her telekinetic abilities to throw their spectral forms. Dea"s spiritual connection allowed her to commune with the ethereal entities. Not that it did much to help her. All of her attempts to reason with them amounted to nothing.

"We need to find that way out of here," Dre declared, her voice cutting through the cacophony of battle. "Phi, didn"t you tell us something about sacrifice helping a witch out of a pickle in one of the books you read a few weeks ago?"

I was struggling to remember the information when Phi"s eyes widened with recognition. "Yes, I remember. The book talked about using sacrifice to break free from magical entrapments possibly. It's not a guarantee," she replied, her brow furrowing with concentration. "And it has to be something significant."

Dre nodded, scanning our surroundings for any clues or opportunities. "We don"t have much time. We need to think of something we"re willing to sacrifice...something important but not life-threatening."

My mind raced as I considered Dre"s question. Sacrifice was a powerful magical concept. I didn't want my sisters to give up anything if I could do this for them. What could I offer that would make a difference in this dire situation? My mind raced through several possibilities and then it struck me.

"My pendant," I said, fingering the heirloom necklace around my neck. It was a family keepsake from Leo's family. It had been passed down through generations, and he gave it to me when we married. I tried to give it back after he died, but his mother refused, saying Leo wanted me to have it. It meant the world to me, and it hurt to think of parting with it. The sentimental value to me was priceless. "I"ll sacrifice my pendant."

Dre gasped along with Dani. I could hear shocked noises from the others as they continued to fight. Before they could protest or dissuade me, I unclasped the pendant and held it aloft. "I"m doing this," I declared, my voice steady despite the pang of loss I felt. If we could get home, it was worth the sacrifice.

Dre"s expression softened momentarily before hardening with determination. "Alright, Lia. Do it."

With a deep breath, I focused my will, channeling the essence of sacrifice into the pendant. I followed that up with a chant. The pendant glowed briefly, emitting a soft, golden light before disintegrating into sparkling motes of energy that dispersed into the mist.

As the last remnants of Leo's family heirloom faded, a surge of energy pulsed through the air. It momentarily halted the advance of the spectral foes. The spirits wavered, their forms flickering with uncertainty.

"It"s working," Dea exclaimed, her eyes wide with realization. "Keep going, Lia!"

Encouraged by the initial success, I steeled myself for what lay ahead. Sacrificing my pendant was just the beginning. We needed to get out of this spectral realm before it consumed us completely.

Unfortunately, the battle resumed with renewed vigor and stole some of my concentration. My sisters pressed forward and it snapped me into action. As I resumed fighting, I did so with a new sense of hope. Sacrifice had bought us a moment of respite, but our journey through this twisted limbo was far from over.

Our way out, aka my sacrifice, painted the battleground with an otherworldly luminescence that reminded me we weren't doomed. The glow cast eerie shadows that danced in the crackling air. Dea did something and suddenly there was a lingering scent of burnt herbs mingled with the stench of spoiled milk. It created an atmosphere both haunting and charged with raw power.

Dre"s eyes reflected the swirling lights as she kicked and pushed back the spirits closing in on her. "How is that coming, Lia? Any closer to getting us out of here?"

My heart sped up, and my breath caught. "No! I have no idea how to make it open an exit for us."

Phi"s skin seemed to be adorned with softly glowing sigils. When I looked closer, I noticed they were reflections from the fog. I hadn't seen them inside the mist until then. "This isn"t just a sacrifice. It"s a tapestry of magic, woven with Lia"s spirit. The very ground we stand on bears the imprint of your courage. You need to direct it."

Dea, her form seemingly melding with the surrounding shadows, spoke in hushed tones that carried through the charged air. "The spirits are pissed off and agitated, yet they approve of our efforts. They're trying to fight Agnes's compulsions."

Kota conjured a sword and thrust it into the mystical earth like she was staking a claim. It sent shockwaves through my feet. She spoke with a resounding voice that echoed across the transformed battleground. "This place needs to give up on following Agnes. She"s an evil bitch with nothing good planned. Where's the justice in giving into someone like her?"

Dani chuckled as her flames flickered on her fingertips. "There is no justice in that, but you know better than I do that there rarely is."

Dre looked down at the ground beneath her feet. "It's a damn good thing we're good at dealing with supernatural chaos."

Phi punched the air like she was boxing with nothing. Each of her jabs carried a magical punch that sent the spirits flying backward. "We can thank mama for that. Growing up with ten of us made us impervious to shit going sideways. Rolling with it is easier for us than ninety-nine percent of the population."

"Score one for being born into a madhouse," I replied and then grunted when a cold fist wrapped around my neck.

A yelp left me, and I clawed at the offending appendage when Dea said, "The spirits are whispering about Lia"s sacrifice. It binds us to a larger narrative. The power behind what she gave up should be enough."

Kota's back brushed mine as she added, "Specific instructions on what to do next would be welcomed. Is it too much to ask for something direct?"

Dani's flames intensified with her grin as she shared her optimism. "Let that beeotch over there throw her worst at us. We"ve got Lia"s sacrifice lighting our way. It doesn't get much more powerful than being born from love and loss."

As I focused on the intricate patterns etched into the battleground, I tried to push back what I'd lost. Leo's necklace was gone. I needed to use it to get us out. "The changing images on the ground mean something. But what?"

Kota"s hands glowed with her power. She wove my sacrifice into a sword of pure fire. It made me think of a celestial weapon that cast a radiant light across the spectral landscape, illuminating swirling shadows like living embers.

"It means it's time to end this," Kota said. "Agnes, you won"t escape us this time!" her voice echoed with a fierce challenge aimed at our elusive foe. Agnes merely sneered at us. At least the threat hadn't pissed the dead witch off.

Dre and I continued holding off spirits while Phi and Dea conjured protective sigils in tandem. Their hands traced intricate patterns in the air. "Direct the energy, Lia! We"re amplifying the channel!" Phi shouted, her eyes ablaze with focused concentration.

The spectral mist swirled around us. It concealed Agnes"s form as she evaded our strikes with supernatural agility. Although, her malevolent presence was still palpable in the charged atmosphere.

"Keep her distracted, Dre!" I called urgently as an idea came to me. Dre responded by conjuring swirling gusts of wind that buffeted Agnes, momentarily disrupting her spectral form.

Focusing solely on Agnes, I extended my hand to Kota. She handed over the weapon and I gripped the hilt of the fiery sword. I was going to make this witch pay for messing with my city. I'd always had a strong sense of right and wrong and I couldn't stand it when someone got away with shit.

With a swift lunge, I aimed a decisive blow at the heart of the malevolent spirit. Just as the fiery sword was about to strike, the ground beneath us trembled violently. The blade encountered a block. The clash of opposing energies triggered a cataclysmic reaction, and a sudden rift tore open beneath our feet, swallowing us whole.

"Dani! Dre! Dea! Phi! Kota!" I cried out, reaching desperately for my sisters as I plummeted into the abyss below us.

In the chaos of our fall, hands grasped mine in the darkness. I held on tightly, wanting to keep my sisters close. No freaking way did I want to end up somewhere without them. It was a relief when our bodies intertwined in a dizzying spiral through the void.

With an abrupt jolt, we landed in a tangled heap. Our limbs intertwined and hearts pounding. We lay there momentarily, catching our breath and taking stock of our surroundings.

"We survived a terrifying... fall," Dani gasped, her voice filled with relief and disbelief.

"Where... where are we?" Dre wondered aloud, her gaze darting around the unfamiliar terrain.

Dea reached out to touch the ground. "This place feels... displaced. It"s like we"ve entered a realm outside of time and space," she murmured, her voice carrying a mystical resonance.

Kota stood up with a determined expression. "Whatever this place is, we"re in it together. It's got to be easier to get out of than that temporal disturbance, so let"s find a way out." Her voice carried a certainty that made you want to agree with her.

As we unraveled ourselves from the tangled heap. My back ached and my hips were screaming at me from the landing. Kota helped Dre up and Phi helped me. We grabbed Dani and the others heaved Dea to her feet. It was the perfect example of how we supported one another without needing to ask.

"Kota is right. There will be a way out somewhere. We just need to find it," Phi said as she, too, scanned the eerie landscape.

Dre nodded. Her eyes narrowed with determination. "Stay close and be ready for anything. We won't be dealing with half-baked spirits here. Wherever we are, it's not a realm in between the real world and spirit one."

As we ventured forth, the ground beneath our feet felt unstable. Shadows danced around us, and faint whispers filled the air, adding to the surreal atmosphere. The smell of plants and something sweet added to the mystery.

We were in some kind of amphitheater. The air shimmered above us with remnants of the temporal disturbance. The sky above displayed hues unknown to earthly spectrums. One was a blend of oranges and blues. I wish I could send my oldest daughter, Mack a picture. She could use them in some of her designs. I stared at the swirling tapestry of iridescent colors that mirrored the magical threads weaving together to mend the fabric of reality.

"We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto," I quipped as I looked around.

As we caught our breath, a choir of what sounded like cicadas and distant echoes of some type of animal replaced the tumult of battle. The ground beneath us was a mosaic of otherworldly patterns. Intricate designs were etched by the ebb and flow of divergent energies. It was a lot to decipher and understand.

"No, we aren't. But I can still smell the sweet smell of victory," Dreya quipped as she spun slowly in a circle. "I think I"ll name this fragrance "Eau de Sealed Breach." Now, we need to figure out where we landed. Does anyone have any idea?"

Phi examined the lingering traces of magic in the air. "The energy signatures are stabilizing. Do you think Agnes came through before us and is here?"

Dea shuddered and shook out her arms. "Gods, I hope not. There's a magical fingerprint here but it doesn't feel like Agnes, exactly."

I considered what Dea said. "I think we"ve left our mark on the fabric of dimensions."

Kota pointed to the sky. "That's probably a price for closing that temporal bullshit. Which was no small feat, so this place should be throwing us a parade."

Dani chuckled as we moved through the space carefully. "Our magical symphony has resonated across dimensions. We"ve played our part in a larger, cosmic ballet."

I gazed at the sealed breach, a now-faded scar above us. "A cosmic dance indeed. Who knew we"d become choreographers of interdimensional closure? That's one to add to our resumes."

Phi shook her head and gave me a look. "Our victory here might have sent shockwaves through the supernatural community, but it also paints a target on our backs."

Dea nodded in agreement. "Other factions will take even more notice. We"re not just Twisted Sisters. We"re now a bigger threat."

Kota lifted a shoulder and smiled wickedly. "Our reputation is hard-earned. We're problem solvers, event planners, and defenders of the weak. That will draw allies and adversaries alike."

I sighed, feeling the weight of the responsibility settling on our shoulders. "So, our encore will likely involve dealing with the fallout of our magical performance. Fantastic."

Dre stepped over a stack of rocks that defied logic. "Fantastic indeed. But hey, at least we"re not still stuck in that temporal limbo. And now we"re supernatural guardians with a touch of style."

Phi stuck her head out of a door and gestured us forward. "It looks like we're about to find out where we are. I just hope these creatures are friendly."

My eyes widened when I caught sight of the variety of strange and alluring creatures that inhabited this mysterious landscape. We could be walking from the frying pan into a raging fire. Who was I kidding? We were knee-deep in the flames.