Chapter Nine

"Tell them what you told me." I tried to keep my voice calm, but my pulse raced as everyone gathered in the dining room. Although there were seven of us sitting around the table, the room felt empty without Warren and Verla.

Nadine sat at the head of the table. "Mandy came to me in a dream to tell me she and Tate are in trouble. I think she's been trying to get into my dreams for a while now. The priestesses have locked them up."

Talia's hands smacked against the table as a gasp traveled around the room. "What the hell are the priestesses doing with my sister!?"

Nadine shook her head. "I don't know much—just that we need to get them out."

Talia's fingers trembled. "I told Mom and Dad to leave and take Tyler and Tate with them, but they didn't want to go. Tyler said if they left, the priestesses had already won. My whole family wanted to stay to fight for us."

"Either Tate did something to piss them off, or the priestesses are targeting her for being our friend," I stated. "Either way, we need to get them out before the priestesses determine they aren't of any use and hang them for treason."

Miles drummed his fingers on the tabletop. "This could be a trap."

Nadine's eyes narrowed. "It isn't. Mandy's the only person I know who can enter someone else's dreams. She was begging for our help. When she touched me, I could feel her terror. You can't fake that kind of fear."

"She betrayed you," Miles reminded us harshly. "Mandy led the priestesses to the Gravestone, where we kept all our evidence of our plan to go up against the Imperium Council. If she hadn't ratted out our hideout, the priestesses would have nothing on you. It's her fault you were put on trial."

"I know that," Nadine bit. "But it doesn't matter what she did to us in the past. If we leave her at the hands of the priestesses, she will die. She doesn't deserve this."

Miles dropped his head. It didn't matter what he said. Nadine was determined to save our friends, no matter what, and I was with her.

"Do we know where they're being held?" Chloe asked.

"I saw them tied up in a basement somewhere," Nadine explained. "The walls were made of stone, and there was an archway outside a window covered by ivy. I know it's not much to go off."

Chloe's eyebrows pinched together as she processed the information. "Would you be able to draw this archway?"

Nadine nodded, and Chloe conjured a pen and paper. She set them in front of Nadine, who began sketching.

"It was arched like this, with two protruding stones on either side and a keystone in the center here…" Nadine drew the keystone at the top of the arch bigger than all the other stones around it. "There was ivy growing up the sides, but I'm not sure what kind. The leaves were really big."

"I know this arch," Chloe stated matter-of-factly. All eyes turned to her. "It's the entrance to my grandmother's garden."

"The priestesses are keeping prisoners in your grandmother's basement?" I asked, though I couldn't say I was surprised.

Chloe nodded. "It appears that way."

Grant crossed his arms. "How do we get in? We can't just waltz up to your grandmother's front door and ask her to hand over two prisoners."

"We'll have to break in, of course," Chloe said.

"If someone sees us, we're dead," Grant pointed out. "No one's going to stop to ask questions."

"We need to disguise ourselves," Onyx agreed.

"Hold on." Talia hurried out of the room. She shuffled around in the laundry room down the hall for a minute, then came back carrying a pile of hooded cloaks. "We still have these from the wedding."

Nadine picked up a cloak and wrapped it around herself. "It's a start, but it's not going to do us much good if someone recognizes us."

Talia passed out a cloak to each of us. I put mine on, but I agreed with Nadine. We needed more.

"Is there a potion we can use?" I asked.

Onyx bit her lower lip. "There's transformation potions. We could make ourselves look and sound like someone else… but you need the best Alchemists to brew it."

"Perfect. We've got two great Alchemists right here." I gestured to Grant and Onyx.

Grant shook his head. "It's not going to work without the right ingredients, and those are pretty damn expensive and hard to come by. It takes powerful fae herbs to pull off, and even if we could get into Malovia right now, you don't walk into any shop and find that stuff."

"We could turn ourselves into animals," Chloe suggested. "A potion to turn ourselves into toads shouldn't be too hard."

Grant frowned. "And we're just going to hop into Octavia Falls? We can't break Mandy and Tate out if we're toads."

"We need to do something… hold on! This might work!" Chloe conjured something, but it was so tiny and nearly invisible that I couldn't tell what it was at first. "We don't need to disguise ourselves. We just need to make people forget we were ever there in the first place!"

"Is that the whisker the glawackus gave you?" I asked.

"Yes." Chloe nodded proudly, before turning to the others to explain. "While we were in Hok'evale, a glawackus gifted me her powers with this whisker. As legend says, you'll lose your memory if you look into the eyes of a glawackus."

"How do we use it?" Nadine wondered.

"I'm a Mentalist, and even though my power lies in telekinesis, my Cast specialty is mind manipulation," Chloe said. "The Elementai have a word for harnessing magic from sources outside your own body. It's called intrafusion. Perhaps we can perform a similar magic. As long as I can overpower the magic in the whisker, I can combine it with my own. I can cast a spell over all of us so that when anyone looks at us, they immediately forget they saw us in the first place."

"That sounds like our best bet," I agreed. "Let's give it a shot."

Red magic swirled out of Chloe's fingers, and the tip of the whisker burned to ash. She didn't look any different.

"I don't think—" I glanced around the room and cut off.

"You don't think… what?" Miles asked.

I desperately tried to grasp at the memory of what I was saying, but I had no clue. "I'm not sure."

"That means it's working," Chloe said from beside me. I turned toward the sound of her voice and remembered she was there. It was definitely a jarring experience.

"You can see me and hear me, but once you look away, you forget I'm there, which is exactly what we need," Chloe said. "Even if we're spotted, the magic in the whisker will wipe the memory of us from whoever sees us once we're gone from their sight."

I offered her an approving nod, careful not to take my eyes off her, or I'd forget again. "Good job, Chloe. There is one catch, though. I still remember what you said when I wasn't looking, which means people will be able to hear us and remember what we said, so we'll have to keep our voices down."

She held up what remained of the whisker. "If I do the spell right, we won't forget each other, because we'll all be under the spell. Everyone ready?"

Magic swirled up her fingers, encompassing the whisker until it turned to ash in her palm. Her magic swelled throughout the room and gently settled over each of us, including the cats. The cats shook their heads, like the spell made them feel funny. My skin tingled, then returned to normal.

"The spell should get us through the night," Chloe said.

I flipped my hood up, then I lifted my hands. "I'm going to portal us a few blocks from Lilian's mansion. We'll have to survey the area first. Her house is likely warded, and we don't know how many Executors might be on the property."

Nadine nodded in approval. "Good idea."

A portal appeared at my command, and a dark forest came into view. Everyone followed me through, and my stomach flipped before my feet landed on solid ground. The portal shut behind us, leaving us in the quiet of the forest.

"I portaled us to the woods bordering Coven Park," I told them. "Lilian's house isn't far. Come on."

I started through the forest, but the cats stopped dead in front of me, their ears perking up.

"Hold on." Nadine grabbed my arm, and I paused to listen. The sound of distant drum beats broke through the silence… or was it footsteps? I could make out the sound of voices—a lot of them.

Onyx peered through the trees. "Something's going on in the park."

Chloe strolled forward, like she had no care in the world. "We have to cross the park anyway. Might as well see what's going on while we're at it."

A huge crowd had gathered. It was impossible to get to the main road without wading through a horde of people. It seemed as if the whole town was here. People looked our way, but no one seemed to recognize us thanks to Chloe's spell. I spotted a few other people in cloaks, so we blended in easily. Still, I kept my hood low as my eyes scanned the area.

Food vendors were scattered throughout the park, and people snacked on popcorn as they moved toward a large stage. Executors paced around in their black uniforms, but they didn't seem to be patrolling for trouble. Instead, they were laughing and eating candy apples like they were celebrating something. Several of them had painted their faces blood red.

On second thought… I didn't think that was paint.

A group of people passed in front of us, and I peeked from under my hood to step around them, but what I saw stalled my heart. Goat skulls had replaced their human features, and huge ram horns grew out of their heads. For a second, I thought I was seeing creatures of lore, until I realized they were masks. The horns were reminiscent of Santos in his godly form—as if these people had donned the masks to honor him.

We continued moving through the crowd, but I took cautious steps. This was all very strange, to say the least. There shouldn't be a festival going on right now, because the Halloween festival was only days ago. It had never been part of our customs to paint our faces with blood or wear ram horns like our god. It was like these people were trying to make a statement, though I didn't know what it was.

"Is anyone else majorly creeped out?" Onyx asked, shooting glances around the crowd.

"I wouldn't be lying if I said the hair on the back of my neck is standing up," Miles agreed.

Oliver rubbed against my leg and meowed. I turned in the direction he was looking, toward a long line of vendors. The closest was a tattoo booth with a big sign showing a five-pointed star. It was the mark of Miriam's Chosen—the priestess's cult they were trying to convert everyone to. A few months ago, they'd announced Miriam's Chosen as an elite group of witches and warlocks, and they'd advertised it as a revelation from Mother Miriam. Anyone who joined Miriam's Chosen had to follow strict rules, including leaving any intercast relationships. In return, members were promised more power and a place in Alora. Anyone who didn't join was subject to fines and ridicule. The priestesses were intent on separating those who would follow them blindly from those who would question them.

It seemed that things had only gotten worse since we'd left. People lined up to get their tattoos. It looked like a few people even had multiples.

Nausea swirled in my gut as we passed by more vendors. Professor Clarke and Professor Lewis handed out flyers at a booth with the school's crest. Professor Clarke was a Seer who taught Miriamic Law, and Professor Lewis was an Alchemist who taught Magical Plants and Herbs. I snagged a flyer and began reading it.

Across the top in big bold letters were the words School Reopened! It looked like it was meant to be hopeful, but this was the furthest thing from that. Due to limited space, enrollment is now open to elite members of Miriam's Chosen, to train the next generation of Executors.

I wanted to hurl. "It looks like the school has reopened to test people's loyalties."

Nadine scanned the page. "Tuition rates have gone up, too. And look at the fine print. Tuition must be paid in full by the first day of term. Scholarships will not be accepted."

"So only the people with money can afford to go?" Chloe asked rhetorically.

"Why do they say the next generation of Executors, as if we've ever had them before?" Grant spat. "It's like they're selling it as some prestigious tradition."

"They want it to seem honorable," Talia said sarcastically.

We slowly moved through the crowd. The next booth was a land development company. Big posters showed upcoming projects, and I noticed each new apartment complex was named for its Cast. It was an obvious ploy by the priestesses to divide the coven even further, by making each Cast live apart from each other.

We passed by another booth, where the bank had a big sign that read, Apply For a Relief Loan Here!

Ever since the priestesses turned the Casts against one another, businesses had begun failing, and a lot of people had lost their jobs. People were desperate for money just to put food on the table. A lot of families didn't have options other than to take out loans to cover their basic costs of living. I overheard the man behind the booth tell a woman the interest rates, and my soul just about left my body. It was like the priestesses were intentionally putting their people into debt. It was just another way to control them.

A line had formed near a booth advertising some new employment program. Oliver ducked through the crowd and came back with a pamphlet in his mouth. I took it from him and began reading.

At first glance, the employment program sounded like a good deal. The coven was promising that factory workers would be provided housing, food, healthcare, and all other essentials in addition to a salary. Then I got to the part where it outlined their mission, which spewed all kinds of nonsense about how the coven needed to manufacture magical objects so they could sell them and use the money to build their army.

The fae are knocking on our door, and we must heed the call!

The whole thing seemed targeted toward students who couldn't afford to attend Miriam College. The priestesses were going to make them work at their factories, or they'd be left on the streets. I caught sight of the fine print at the bottom, saying that all these perks would be immediately rescinded if you stopped working. People weren't allowed to change jobs, and they had no security if they fell ill or were injured.

My hands curled into fists, crushing the pamphlet between my fingers. I wasn't sure how much more of this I could stomach.

The next booth had a big banner that read Miriam's Chosen. I didn't want to hear what bullshit they were trying to sell, until I spotted a student I recognized speaking to an elderly woman behind the booth. It was Samantha Stone, a girl who'd been in most of my Mortana classes. She was always at the top of the class and usually kept to herself.

"I've been thinking about joining Miriam's Chosen," Samantha admitted to the older woman.

No, not Samantha, I thought. She had been against the priestesses" methods and had spoken up during the Burning. It didn't seem right that she would be swayed toward their side. Things were clearly worse than I could've ever imagined.

"Can you tell me more about the organization?" Samantha asked.

"Miriam's Chosen is not an organization in which you join, but a choice to devote yourself to our deity," the elderly woman said.

Her voice sounded familiar, and as I peered closer through the crowd, I realized I recognized her, too. It was Miss Leanne, my old kindergarten teacher. She'd long since retired, and she'd aged nearly twenty years since I last saw her, but she spoke with the same soft, kind voice I remembered. That was dangerous, because Miss Leanne's kindness was the type that made anyone feel welcome, no matter what rhetoric she was pushing. I didn't think she was trying to manipulate people on purpose, but I did believe the priestesses put her behind that booth for a reason.

"You are already a member of the coven, and therefore have already agreed to follow Mother Miriam," Miss Leanne continued. "Joining Miriam's Chosen is simply a declaration of your decision, one which will elevate you to your highest potential."

"That's why I haven't joined yet," Samantha said. "I've been struggling with my faith, because I don't understand why Mother Miriam would make this declaration now, when we've already devoted ourselves to her. We've all undergone our Evoking Ceremony to join the coven, so why do we need another ceremony?"

"We do not need to wonder why Mother Miriam asks this of us. We must simply hold to our faith and trust our mother, for we are merely her children, and there is much we cannot understand in our earthly forms. I implore you to cast out your doubt, for faith is all you need. It is not the nature of a good witch to question her goddess, but the nature of an apostate to doubt her will. Each of us must choose which path we will follow."

"I don't wish to be an apostate. I know where they go." Samantha apprehensively pointed downward, like speaking the word aloud was a sin itself.

Oh, for fuck's sake! The priestesses couldn't really be telling people that they'd be tortured in the Abyss if they didn't join the Chosen. Except… that's exactly what it sounded like.

"I wish to follow the Goddess," Samantha said. "I'm just struggling to understand all of this. We used to be able to marry within our Cast, but members of Miriam's Chosen aren't allowed to do that anymore."

"Times are changing, but the Goddess will always protect us," Miss Leanne said. "Mother Miriam has provided the priestesses with revelation that will restore our magic and lead us into a new age. The priestesses will protect us and never lead us astray."

Samantha shifted uncomfortably. "Some people say Mother Miriam is punishing us by taking away our magic, and that Miriam's Chosen is her plan to bring it to an end and lead us to salvation. But why would she cause suffering if we were already devoted to her?"

"The Waning is a test of our faith," Miss Leanne answered. "Many of us have lost our way, and Miriam's Chosen is the path that leads back to our Goddess."

"But those who join Miriam's Chosen are still affected by the Waning," Samantha pointed out.

"Mother Miriam will continue to test our faith, to ensure we are true believers. When we declare our devotion to the Goddess, she bestows her love upon us in ways we can't understand before undergoing this spiritual transition. It is through a simple ritual of prayer and marking ourselves with the Chosen tattoo that we become closer to our goddess, for those who are closest to her will receive answers. Miriam's Chosen will bring us together as one. We are not just a coven, but a family."

Samantha dropped her gaze. "I could really use a family. I feel like I've always struggled to find where I belong, and I think Miriam's Chosen could be it."

Miss Leanne gave Samantha a kind smile. "When you are ready, we will pray with you, and you will receive the mark of the Chosen. Pray, my dear, and the Goddess will show you the way."

Samantha pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you for the information. I'll be praying to the Goddess about my decision."

Samantha turned away from the booth and started toward another that was looking for volunteers to do work around the community. It was obvious the priestesses were trying to get free labor out of these people.

It broke my heart to hear Samantha's confession, because I hadn't realized how alone she felt. I recalled that she'd tried out for the dance team one year and didn't make it, then shortly after, she'd become addicted to nightshade and had to go into therapy after battling with the withdrawals. I realized now she was pressured into drugs because she'd been trying to make friends and find where she belonged. It didn't work then, and I feared she'd join Miriam's Chosen for the same reason. She'd only get hurt all over again.

I couldn't let that happen. I stepped toward her, but Nadine caught my arm. "Lucas, we can't interfere," she protested. "We came to rescue Mandy and Tate, and if we're caught before we get to them, we put them in even more danger."

"We came to rescue our friends," I emphasized. "I may not be able to get Samantha out of Octavia Falls, but I can't stand around and do nothing. I have to speak up, even if she doesn't remember."

I hurried in front of Samantha, and her eyes grew wide in shock when she saw me. I didn't give her a chance to react before I began speaking in a low voice. "You won't remember seeing me here, Samantha, but I need you to know you cannot join Miriam's Chosen. You're smarter than this, and you know better. That's why you asked all those questions. Your intuition is telling you that this is not the way."

Tears beaded at the corners of her eyes, like she knew I was right but wouldn't admit it to herself. Her voice wavered as she said, "I don't have a choice."

The crowd near the stage cheered loudly. The noise caught her attention, and she looked away from me. Her brow furrowed in confusion, but she shrugged it off. She'd forgotten I was standing there and didn't remember a thing I said.

I returned to my friends, feeling hopeless. "I want to help her, but I don't know how."

"The best way to help her is to find the rest of the Oaken Wands and bring an end to the priestesses' control," Nadine said, and I knew she was right.

The cheering near the stage grew louder, and we left the vendor area to see what was going on. We hung toward the back of the crowd.

Five women in black cloaks step onto the stage. Priestess Margaret and Priestess Lilian stood in the middle, their shoulders thrown back and their noses turned up to the crowd. Claudia—the latest Seer priestess—stood beside them, along with a tall woman I didn't recognize at first. When she turned, I realized it was Professor Hernandez, who taught Enchanting.

I'd never had much opinion on Professor Hernandez before. She was a good teacher, but I didn't know much about her outside of class. It appeared she had taken the priestesses' side and had stepped up to become the next Mortana priestess. I liked to think she'd joined them out of fear, but something told me otherwise.

The final priestess was Mira, who was pretending to be a Curse Breaker. Before Priestess Charlotte had fallen into the demon's pit, she'd told us Mira was really Mortana, but she'd lied so that the priestesses could throw Nadine off the council. Rage flared in my bones just looking at her. All I could think about was the night of the trial, when Nadine and I had lain in the mud, beaten and bruised while Mira proudly announced she was a Curse Breaker.

I wanted to throw a battle orb at the stage right now and end them all, but we were surrounded. Our magic may conceal us for now, but it wouldn't stop a spell from searing straight through us and ending our lives on the spot. We had to be careful, and I'd already risked being caught by speaking to Samantha.

Priestess Margaret gestured to a couple near the stage. "You have been chosen by the Goddess. Come. Proclaim your devotion to Mother Miriam, and join her elite children. We will speak our prayer to the Goddess, and you will be blessed with the mark of the Chosen."

The couple stepped onto the stage, and I realized I recognized the woman. It was Monica's sister, Meredith, who we'd met at Monica's fake funeral. She appeared confident as she approached the center of the stage. A tall man with a beard followed beside her, and I noticed they had matching Mentalist tattoos on the backs of their hands.

Priestess Margaret placed a white shawl across the couple's shoulders. My stomach tightened, because it reminded me all too much of the shroud we'd buried Helena in, which was meant to symbolize Mother Miriam's skirt and the love of a mother. It was twisted of them to use such symbolism in this initiation ceremony, because it indicated the end of one life and beginning of another, whether the participants realized it or not.

Priestess Lilian handed the couple each a daffodil, then turned to the crowd. "With this shawl, we encompass these coven members with our love, and we gift them each a daffodil to symbolize a new beginning. We praise Meredith and Max's unwavering and everlasting faith, as they join our ranks as elite members of Miriam's Chosen!"

Cheers rang out in the crowd, and Meredith looked near tears as the coven showered her and her husband with praise.

Or, at least, I thought it was her husband, until I heard someone call out from the crowd.

"Meredith, you can't do this!" a man shouted. "We've been married over fifteen years!"

Executors dragged the man on stage. He had an average build with blond hair and glasses. He shoved the Executors off and hurried over to Meredith. The eye tattoo near his elbow marked him as a Seer.

He fell to his knees and reached out for Meredith. "Please reconsider."

She pulled away. "I cannot return to this marriage, Scott. This is what Mother Miriam wants, and I must listen to my Goddess, even if it breaks my heart. If my goddess wishes me to marry Max, then I will. Max is a member of my own Cast, as well as one of the Chosen, as am I. You and I must go our separate ways now, Scott. I have faith you will find your perfect match within your Cast, if you choose to follow the Goddess and join Miriam's Chosen."

"How can I put my faith into a deity who would have us torn apart?" Scott demanded. "You are the love of my life, Meredith. What Mother Miriam is asking us to do is not love!"

"We cannot question our Goddess, or apostates we become," Meredith insisted. The words didn't seem like her own. It sounded like she was repeating a phrase she'd heard many times before. "Join us, Scott, for you cannot understand the true nature of Mother Miriam's love until you choose to surrender to her will. I see it all so clearly now, and you will gain insight once you join us."

"You know I can't do that," Scott insisted.

"Meredith has made her choice," Lilian sneered. "Give up your wedding ring and join her."

"You can't do this!" Scott raged. "Our marriage is legal in the state of Connecticut."

"Your marriage is not recognized in Octavia Falls," Margaret bit back. "Miriam's Chosen will find you a new wife, one whose magic is compatible with your own. Mother Miriam gave us a revelation. Our magic is dying, and we must preserve what we have by making new matches."

Grant lowered his voice and growled, "Cast magic isn't inherited. What do they think they're protecting? This is nonsensical."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "I think that's the point. If they can control people on this, they can control them on anything."

"Intimacy brings us closer to our Goddess," Margaret announced. "To strengthen your magic, you must copulate only with members of your own Cast."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "They can't be serious."

"They're punishing Scott because he hasn't joined Miriam's Chosen with his wife. They're making him an example," Nadine said hollowly.

Priestess Margaret raised her hands. "Let us pray for those with little faith."

"Mother Miriam," the crowd spoke at the same time, making me jump. This prayer had obviously been spoken many times, because the entire coven knew it by heart. Their voices came together as one. "We pray to you to bestow faith upon the non-believers. May their hearts be softened, and their love abound, as they surrender their doubts and embrace your blessings. So shall it be."

Scott took a step back, obviously not wanting to be a part of this.

"We must multiply our numbers to defeat the fae!" Margaret added. "Show your devotion to Mother Miriam, and disavow your marriage."

Scott stood tall. "I will not. Meredith, please…"

He reached for his wife again, but she took several steps back. She took Max's hand, driving in the knife of betrayal. "You could have been happy, Scott, but you chose the path of an apostate instead," Meredith said. "I will pray that Mother Miriam grants you mercy in the Abyss."

Lilian wore a mask of indifference. "If Scott chooses the path of an apostate, then he deserves his fate."

I wasn't sure what fate she was talking about.

"He doesn't deserve this!" a man in the crowd shouted. "He's only acting on love!"

A chorus of agreements rang throughout the crowd, though it wasn't as loud as the opposing protests. I didn't understand what the priestesses had in store for Scott, but the rest of the crowd seemed to understand. They'd certainly seen it before.

The Executors quickly found the person who'd spoken up and forced him onto the stage. He had the same blond hair as Scott and similar features. They looked like they were brothers.

"You shouldn't have spoken up, Simon," Scott insisted. "I will accept my fate, but I will not have my brother suffer the same."

Simon turned toward the priestesses. "Let my brother live and take me instead. I proclaim myself to be an apostate, and I will suffer the consequences in my brother's place."

"You have brought this on yourself," Lillian accused.

The Executors locked Simon's arms behind his back as the priestesses came forward. Margaret withdrew a potion vial out of her cloak and forced the liquid down Simon's throat. He gurgled and tried to spit the liquid out, but the poison had already taken hold. His body started to convulse as red veins spiderwebbed across his skin. The Executors dropped him, and his body slumped to the ground, yet a ghostly imprint of his features remained standing.

There was no life in those ghostly eyes, no indication that the soul of the man remained at all. The ghost moved forward like he was being controlled. He grabbed Scott and held him firmly in place. The potion was obviously very powerful, because his ghostly form was able to materialize to solid form.

Simon raised his voice to the crowd. "My brother will see the truth, or he shall join me in the Abyss."

"What's happening?" Talia's voice squeaked.

"It must be the potion the priestesses forced Hector to make with the Alchemy Wand before he died," Nadine said in horror. "It has the power for the priestesses to control whomever they administer it to, even in death. When I first heard about it, they said it was slow acting, but they must've modified it to make it even worse. The priestesses are controlling Simon's ghost."

"My brother shall receive the punishment he deserves for his lack of faith," Simon announced.

"Simon, no!" Scott protested, but the words halted on his tongue.

All at once, projectiles flew from the crowd and hit Scott from every angle. I realized with horror that they were stones. The coven was participating in this atrocity!

"Confess and beg the Goddess for forgiveness!" someone in the crowd shouted.

"This is what the non-believers deserve!" another person yelled.

So many people were on the priestesses' side, though I witnessed others hesitate to throw stones. Nobody dared utter another protest, though, or they would be killed the way Simon was.

Scott screamed as the stones hit him. Bruises bloomed over his skin, and blood trickled down the side of his face. Meredith simply watched. She was so deep into this cult mindset that she didn't even react when her husband of fifteen years was tortured in front of her. He hadn't joined Miriam's Chosen, and therefore, in her eyes, he deserved it.

I wanted to rush forward and stop this, but this wasn't the same as talking to Samantha. The second I got up on that stage I'd be executed for objecting, just as Simon had.

"We have to do something!" Talia hissed.

"If we do, we're dead," Chloe warned. "Our spell may cause people to forget we're here, but we're not invisible—nor invincible."

All we could do was stand there and let this take place. My stomach twisted, and I turned my gaze away from the stage. This was difficult to watch. I couldn't imagine agreeing to void my marriage with Nadine just because our magic differed, no matter the consequences.

Claudia pointed a wand at Scott. "Only members of Miriam's Chosen are afforded the privilege of their magic."

She was going to strip him of his powers! Except the Wand she held didn't look like the Seer Wand—it was too short and twisted on the end. Claudia couldn't even use the Seer Wand. It had rejected her before, but it didn't matter. The coven knew the Priestesses had at least two of the Oaken Wands. It'd been revealed during our trial. But the crowd didn't know whether it was the real Wand or not, and the threat was enough to force Scott to back down.

"All right! I was wrong!" he shouted.

Priestess Margaret raised a hand, and the sound of stones raining down on the stage stopped. A stillness settled over the park.

Scott staggered to his feet, though he could barely stand. He limped forward, leaving a trail of blood behind him. "You have shown me the error of my ways. It was wrong of me to question the Goddess. I put my faith in her, and I devote myself to her will."

Scott pulled his wedding ring from his finger and shakily handed it over to the priestesses. He shot one last longing glance at his wife, but she kept her eyes on the crowd.

Lilian wore a proud smirk. "Welcome to Miriam's Chosen!"

The crowd erupted into cheers. Simon's spirit walked off stage, only to return a moment later, escorting a woman with the mark of a Seer on her neck. Simon forced her beside Scott, and the priestesses draped another white shawl around their shoulders. Scott barely looked at the woman. All he could do was stare at his wife desperately, though she wouldn't return his gaze. He looked absolutely miserable.

Lilian raised her hands. "We will now recite the blessing for these new members of Miriam's Chosen!"

Together, the crowd began to speak in unison, and the couples on stage were forced to speak it as well. "Blessed be the Chosen, for we are Mother Miriam's true children. She is the single voice of truth, who speaks through the priestesses revelation. We devote our lives to her, in this life and the next. So shall it be."

A tattoo artist came on stage carrying an enchanted quill. Meredith and Max held out their arms willingly, to be marked with the symbol of the Chosen.

Onyx shook her head in disbelief. "All of this, just to fight the fae?"

Nadine's jaw tightened. "They aren't afraid of the fae. They're just using them as scapegoats to control the people. The priestesses are more afraid of coven members turning on them—afraid someone might take their place. They have to control their people to maintain their power. All this—dividing people into Cast neighborhoods, driving them into debt, and forcing them to work the factories—it isn't about money. It's about taking the power from the people. Taking their money and their magic away means they can't fight back. Worse, if they can't associate with members of other Casts, then they can't work together to make their magic stronger and revolt."

"I don't get it," Miles said. "Why harm your own people like this?"

"The priestesses believe they're on a holy mission, and they'll do anything to achieve it," I growled. "Once the Waning started, they lost control of the coven. If their magic could be taken away, so could their influence. They can't control the Waning, so they have to control the people."

"And they know exactly how to do it," Nadine stated bitterly. "I've watched enough cult documentaries to know this is exactly how they work. Cults always have charismatic leaders, who people are easily influenced by and willing to follow. The priestesses were already in the perfect position to lead a cult, because they already have the coven's trust and don't answer to any earthly authority. They're able to gain control over people's finances, living situations, and relationships, because people believe the priestesses alone have the single answer to salvation. Even if you wanted to question them, you can't, because you'll be labeled an apostate, and therefore deserving of whatever punishment the priestesses deem appropriate."

"Why would anyone join them?" Grant asked in disgust.

"Because when you aren't allowed to question them, you're easily convinced that the ends justify the means," Nadine answered. "Even if you did question it, the priestesses are tying people's lives to the Chosen by providing housing, food, and healthcare through them. It would take more than a question of faith to leave. Furthermore, the priestesses have made promises the people can't resist—the answer to salvation, as well as the promise of praise, love, and belonging. People think they will find purpose and meaning by being a part of this, and to truly be a part of this, they can't question what they're participating in, or they risk being cast out themselves. They believe anyone who does not join merely lacks understanding. Make no mistake, the priestesses didn't force Meredith to leave her husband because they are of different Casts. They forced her to leave him because she joined the Chosen and he didn't."

"The priestesses have taken their power too far and removed any and all autonomy from their people," Onyx said sadly.

"They may have this crowd convinced, but they're not going to get away with controlling our friends," Nadine insisted. "We can't save these people right now, but we have to get Mandy and Tate out while the priestesses are still distracted. Come on."

We left the park, and the sound of cheers faded behind us. Lilian's house was located on a wide street full of gothic mansions with large yards. We approached from the back and slowed before we reached her house. I expected Executors to be patrolling the property, but I didn't see a soul. The entire street was dead silent.

"We should send the cats to scout the perimeter," I suggested. At my word, the cats took off running, slinking through the darkness like shadows.

"I can feel a ward around the house," Nadine observed. "I can break it, but if I do, Lilian will know immediately. I'm not sure we can get in and out before we're caught."

"I know how we can get through without alerting her," Chloe said. "Wards like this work to protect families, and I'm still blood. My grandmother has probably warded the house against me already, so I can't get through myself. But if Nadine and I work together, she can manipulate the magic and we can trick the ward into letting us through safely. My grandmother will never know."

Nadine nodded. "We should be able to pull that off."

The cats returned. Oliver gave a confident nod, indicating it was safe to approach the house. We crept closer, until Nadine threw a hand out to stop us.

"Right here," she said. "I can feel the ward boundary."

Chloe stopped at her side. "Let's get to work."

The girls grabbed hands, then lifted their opposite palms to thin air. Magic swirled down their arms, becoming one at their joined hands. The ward began to shimmer beneath their fingers, appearing as a bubble surrounding the house.

Chloe suggested an incantation, and the girls spoke it together. "I am family; this is my home, too. Drop this ward and let us through."

A slit appeared in the ward, pulling back like a curtain to reveal an opening.

Chloe smiled proudly. "My grandmother messed with the wrong bitch."

"Quickly!" Nadine gestured everyone through, and we slipped past the ward with our cats. "This should stay open until we get out. Let's hurry."

We rushed across the lawn and through Lilian's gardens. The archway Nadine had seen in her dream stood before us, and we had to pass under it to reach the back door. It was unlocked, and we slipped inside. I bet Lilian thought the ward was enough to keep us out. Darkness blanketed the house. The smallest bit of light from town entered the windows, casting shadows across the mahogany.

The cats scurried down the hall, barely making a noise. They stopped at a door near the kitchen and pawed at it. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, but I saw no threats as I glanced around the house.

Chloe approached the door. "The basement is this way."

We descended a dark stairwell that creaked under our weight. I listened closely, as if expecting someone to hear us and come running. I was only met by silence. The air dropped a few degrees, making me shiver.

Chloe led us down a long hallway. The whole basement was made of stone and had various archways and doors leading in different directions. It reminded me of a dungeon, even though the rooms were probably just meant for food storage.

"Nadine saw the garden arch through the window in her dream. That means they must be in a room near the back of the house, which puts them… right here." Chloe stopped at a heavy wooden door.

Nadine ran her fingers over the frame, assessing it for magic.

Miles's eyes darted down the hall. "This is weird, isn't it? There aren't any guards. It's too easy."

"I'm certain my grandmother didn't expect us to get through the ward," Chloe said. "Even if Executors are normally around, the event in the park is too big for them to miss."

Nadine stepped back. "Your grandmother must've been very confident in the ward around the house, because there aren't any wards on this room."

A muffled sound came from behind the door. I grabbed the handle, but it was locked. Magic drifted out from my fingers, and the lock disengaged. I threw the door open.

What I saw made my stomach twist. Mandy and Tate were huddled in the corner, their hands bound together by ropes. Duct tape covered their mouths. Their hair was matted on the top of their heads, and bruises and cuts marred their faces. Their eyes were sunken in, and they'd both dropped a considerable amount of weight.

It looked like Tate had received the worst of the torture. Burn marks scarred her arms, and her fingers bled from where the priestesses had removed fingernails.

Tears of relief sprang to the girls' eyes when they saw us. I ran over to them and knelt down. I pulled the tape off their mouths, then got to work on the ropes.

"Thank the Goddess!" Mandy cried. "We've been down here for?—"

She cut off as she looked down at the rope. Her mouth bobbed open, and she blinked rapidly. Tate glanced at her, and confusion settled over her face, too.

"They're confused," Grant said. "The second they look away, they forget we're here."

"Fuck," I growled. I took Mandy's chin and guided her face back toward mine. "I need you to turn toward the wall. I'll explain everything."

Tears beaded in Mandy's eyes, but both girls turned away from me.

I started speaking quickly before they could look back. "Close your eyes. It's me, Lucas. We got Mandy's message, and we're all here, but we're under a spell to conceal us. If you look at us, you'll forget us the moment you look away. Focus on my voice so you don't forget."

Tate whimpered and nodded.

"I've been trying to contact you for weeks, but I can hardly access my magic," Mandy sobbed. "I overheard the priestesses talking about the festival, and I knew tonight was our best shot. I used everything I had to send you a message."

Nadine and Talia knelt beside me. Talia rubbed her sister's back, while Nadine took Mandy's hand.

"We're here," Nadine assured them. "All of us."

"Tal, is that you?" Tate asked, keeping her eyes shut tightly. Her hand shook as she reached out for her sister.

"It's me." Talia took Tate's hand.

"Thank the goddess you're alive!" Tate cried. "I didn't know if you were still out there, but the priestesses didn't believe me. They tortured me to get me to give up your location, but I didn't know where you'd gone. I never would have told them even if I knew. I swear it."

"We're here now, and the priestesses won't touch you again," Talia vowed. "How long have you been here?"

"It's hard to make sense of time down here," Tate admitted. "I feel like I've been here for a month, at least."

My stomach twisted into a ball of knots. I wished we'd gotten here sooner. We may have been able to spare these girls from the priestesses' torture.

"Things have gotten really bad in the coven," Mandy said. "The priestesses have bought up a bunch of businesses and are making people work for them. If you don't agree to work—or if you weren't selected to go to school—they strip you of your powers."

Which they could do, at least to Alchemists and Seers, because they had the Alchemy and Seer Wands. Last I knew, the Oaken Wands hadn't worked for the priestesses, though. They must be torturing others to use the Wands for them, whenever they saw fit.

Sobs broke from Tate's chest. "No one can afford anything anymore. They've raised rent and food prices. Independent businesses are shutting down. There's hardly any food in the grocery store. Mom has to buy potions from Alchemists that trick you into feeling full but don't nourish you, just to get to the next meal. Dad's sick from the factory work. They've got him making iron weapons to use against the fae. It's been nothing but hell since I got out of rehab."

"We're going to get you out, but we'll have to get outside the ward before I can cast a portal. If I cast a portal within the ward, they might be able to trace it, and we can't risk them locating our safe house." I finished untying the last knot. The ropes fell away, and both girls breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's get you back to the safe house."

I helped Mandy to her feet and supported her weight as we left the room. Her whole body quivered. Nadine and Talia draped Tate's arms over their shoulders and followed behind us. We helped the girls up the stairs and were almost to the door when my eyes landed upon a book sitting on a table in the hall. A symbol on the front caught my eye, and I stopped in my tracks.

"What is it?" Miles asked.

I couldn't take my eyes off the book. The symbol was in the shape of a teardrop with swirls inside of it. It was so familiar, yet it didn't belong in a witch's house. My pulse quickened.

"Help Mandy," I told Miles. "Something about this isn't right."

He supported her weight, and I took a step forward. I grabbed the book off the table and flipped the leather binding open to reveal handwriting on the inside. "It's a journal," I realized.

Nadine observed the journal, and her eyes went wide. "Lucas, this symbol belongs to an Elementai. A Toaqua elemental, a caster of Water."

"I know," I said. "Lilian wouldn't have kept this journal if it didn't contain something important."

I quickly flipped through the pages, and my heart stalled when I saw the words sprawled at the bottom of the page. Wands with Miriamic religious symbols carved into them…

This entry could only be referring to the Oaken Wands. I quickly scanned the entry, and I knew that's exactly what I was looking at. I wasn't about to spend a second longer in Lilian's house than I had to, though. I had to get my friends out, and then we could investigate what this all meant.

"We may have more investigating to do tonight than we thought," I said. "Onyx, Miles, I need you to take Mandy and Tate back to the safe house. Then the rest of us are going to investigate what's in this journal."

I didn't give anyone a chance to ask questions. I tucked the journal under my arm and hurried out of the house, gesturing to the others to follow. We passed the ward, and I waited until we were concealed in the trees behind Lilian's house before I cast a portal. The forest near the safe house appeared in front of us.

"We'll be back as soon as we can," I promised Onyx and Miles.

"Wait!" Chloe called. She grabbed Miles and pulled him into her arms, planting a passionate kiss on his lips. The two started making out, putting on quite the show, before they finally drew away from each other.

"Stay safe," Miles said.

Miles and Onyx led Mandy and Tate through the portal, their cats following behind them.

As soon as the portal closed, Chloe whirled on me. "All right, smart guy. Why'd you send my boyfriend away? You better have a damn good excuse why we aren't all returning to the safe house with them."

"Mandy and Tate need help, and I figured Miles and Onyx were the best equipped to care for them right now," I said. "What we've just found is going to require at least one member of each Cast."

"What exactly do you think you've found?" Talia asked.

I held up the journal. "This Elementai ran across something he shouldn't have, and the priestesses were going to execute him for it. I believe he found where the priestesses have hidden the Alchemy and Seer Wands, and using this journal, we're going to get them back."

"How do you know this guy?" Grant asked.

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. "Because Nadine and I saved his life."