Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

I swiped the sweat from my brow, the dampness clinging to my skin despite the coolness of the underground dungeon's air. A sense of foreboding settled over me like a heavy cloak when we stepped into the dimly lit chamber where we had rescued the captive witches. The bodies of Lyra’s guards and the empty cages stood as a reminder of what the evil the Tainted witch is capable of doing. The torches lining the walls flickered with a feeble light and cast long shadows that danced in the corners of the room.

Nana's footsteps echoed behind me. The sound reverberated off the stone walls as she prowled looking for something. She refused to leave with the other witches, saying she was going to help find Stella's mom. My mom would have come with us, but Rosemary’s disappearance hit too close to home for her. She’d been in a similar situation not too long ago and came away from the experience as a tribred.

Nana’s eyes were sharp and alert as she scanned the darkness ahead. “Where the hell is she hiding? She’s either a genius or a coward,” she whispered like she was talking to herself more than anything.

Stella moved ahead and trailed her fingers along the rough stone as she searched for hidden passages or secret compartments. It was the last place we had to check underground. Her brow furrowed with concentration with faint lines of worry etched into her features. “There has to be something here,” she muttered, her voice echoing in the cavernous space. “There is no way Lyra would leave so many victims behind. She needs them for whatever it is she is doing.”

“She’s building an army,” Aidon replied. “It might seem like she stopped after we rescued Mollie and the others, but she hasn’t. She failed to control Mollie’s mind, but she knows that most aren’t as strong as the Dieudonne women.” Aidon's presence beside me was a reassuring anchor in the darkness, even if his words chilled me to the bone.

“I kinda hoped she’d moved on and was doing something different. I know it was stupid,” I admitted and leaned into his side. I relied on his solid presence to support me. His eyes glowed faintly with his power. It was always simmering just beneath the surface and flared as he swept the room with a keen gaze.

We fell silent as we finished sweeping the walls and floor of the dungeon. Unfortunately, we didn’t find a damn thing. Our search yielded no clues as to the whereabouts of Rosemary or Lyra. With heavy hearts, we retreated into the forest. The weight of our failure pressed down on me like a ten-ton truck. I wanted to find Stella’s mom safe and sound. The longer she was with Lyra, the higher the chances that something bad was going to happen to her.

The setting sun painted the trees with shades of gold and crimson when we emerged from the underground chamber and returned to the forest's edge. “We have to keep looking,” Stella said desperately. “Lyra has to be around here.”

Nana nodded in agreement. “We're clearly missing something,” she said while scanning the trees for any hint of movement. “There’s no doubt the stone altar is used for rituals. Bad guys never go far from places like that. It takes too much time to set them up and enchant them with the proper energy.”

Aidon's jaw clenched with frustration, and his hands curled into fists at his sides. “Let’s keep looking then.”

I twined my fingers with him, and we pressed on. Each step was fueled by the hope that we would soon uncover the truth and bring Stella's mom home safely. We walked for what felt like forever before we came across a secluded cabin. It wasn’t because it was all that far from the cave and underground dungeon. It was because we’d checked other areas first and went in that direction last.

The cabin was nestled in a small clearing. It looked like it had seen better days. Its wooden walls were covered in moss and ivy. The windows were dark and covered in enough grime to obscure the glass. It was impossible to see if anyone was inside just by looking at them. Aidon and I exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to use our powers to scan for any presence inside.

Aidon closed his eyes and extended his senses, his brow furrowing with concentration. I did the same, reaching out with my Pleiades heritage to feel for any trace of magic or life within the cabin. After a few moments, we both opened our eyes and shook our heads.

“I'm getting nothing," Aidon said. His voice was laced with relief and frustration.

“Neither do I,” I confirmed. “Let's check it out.”

We approached the cabin cautiously. The wooden steps creaked under our weight and made me hold my breath. I didn’t want to fall through and hurt myself. Luckily, they held and I got to the porch as Aidon pushed the door open. My hand flew to my nose when we stepped inside together. The dust tickled my nostrils and the musty smell didn't help any.

The interior of the cabin was small and rustic. It had a single room serving as both living space and kitchen. A stone fireplace dominated one wall. Its hearth was cold and empty. A worn wooden table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by mismatched chairs. Against the far wall, a threadbare couch sagged under the weight of years of use.

Nana crossed the room and collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. Exhaustion was evident in the lines of her face. “I need a break,” she said wearily. “Just for a few minutes.”

Stella nodded. Her own fatigue was as apparent. “We all do,” she said, sinking into one of the chairs at the table. “It's been a long day.”

"We'll take a moment to regroup," Aidon said, his voice steady. “I’ll keep watch while you three sleep. And before you argue, I’m a god and can afford to lose some sleep.”

“I don’t need sleep just yet,” Nana said as she got up and joined us at the table. She proceeded to spread out a series of documents. “We should talk this through. Lyra's been careful. Bring up that map Mollie started.” I did as she asked and handed her my cell phone. My mom had been documenting areas where Lyra had been active. Nana traced a finger over a map marked with various locations. “There's a pattern here if you look closely enough.”

Stella leaned in so she could study the small screen, her brow furrowing. “She's not just a power-hungry witch looking to dominate others. She's changing witches into powerful creatures she can control and doing it right under our noses.”

“Exactly,” I replied as I noticed what Nana had seen. “ She’s going to try and use her army to force me to give her my powers.”

Nana nodded, her expression grim. “We've tracked her movements up and down the East Coast, from Maine to North Carolina. We don’t know exactly where the remote island where she held you and Stella captive is located, but it might not be far away. She's been active in all these locations, transforming countless witches into her loyal followers.”

The revelation sent a shiver down my spine. Facing an enemy driven by pure evil was one thing, but this... this was different. She was cunning and devious. “So, she's not just the enemy we thought she was. She's worse. She's building an army of powerful beings under her command.”

What she’d done blurred the lines between enemy and ally. We couldn’t be sure who was on our side and who was working for Lyra. “If Lyra's goal is to control, why is she targeting these specific areas? And why did she hold us on that island?”

“She wanted you out of the way so she could send her army after your family. With those you love in danger, you’re far more likely to give up your power. And if you still refuse, she could kill them and make you watch until you give in,” Aidon postulated.

“That’s horrendous,” I said, making a face. “And probably true.” I ran a hand over my stomach. Feeling my babies safe and sound in my womb soothed some of the horrors that washed over me. I would give her whatever she wanted to save anyone I loved.

Nana sighed and leaned back in her chair. “We won’t let that happen. Now, she must believe these locations are strategically important. Maybe there's something about the East Coast and that island that makes it easier for her to operate undetected. Or perhaps she's using these places to gather more power. ”

“My gut tells me it’s both, which makes it easier for her to target me,” I replied. “I can’t think of a better explanation.”

No one had a better theory and the room fell into a heavy silence as we absorbed the implications of our discoveries. Aidon went out and gathered wood before starting a fire in the hearth. While he did that, I tried to look at this from all angles. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were missing something. Like a crucial piece of the puzzle that would make everything clear.

“Phoebe,” Stella said softly, breaking the silence. “What do we do now? If we know her pattern, can we predict where she'll be next?”

“Being able to stop her before she hurts anyone else is the goal,” I replied. “I agree with Nana that she has to be close, so let’s think about the house and the forest. There might be a clue there.”

We spent the rest of the night planning our next steps. Our minds raced with possibilities and we shared strategies until it got so late none of us wanted to leave. We would want to be back out there to resume our search in the morning. Aidon kept the fire crackling in the hearth, and he brought the snacks he had in his car. It was a dinner of protein bars, beef jerky, crackers, and candy. And it hit all of my pregnancy cravings, so I was happy. Nana kept complaining about needing a real meal.

Aidon put the fire out when dawn broke the horizon and we headed out to search more for Lyra. The fresh morning air was a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere of the previous night. It was enough to fill me with a renewed sense of purpose. We set off in a direction that would hopefully lead us to Lyra. The forest around us was alive and active, while the ancient trees stood as silent witnesses to our journey.

Nana began to chant the ancient incantation that would hopefully unlock Lyra's secrets. We’d discussed doing this the night before and decided it was worth a try, with Aidon adding his power to try and hide her spell. I took Nana’s hand, and we formed a tight circle. We joined in a web of shared energy.

With each word of Nana's incantation, the air around us began to hum with more power. The atmosphere shimmered with latent power as mine rose in response and tingled beneath my skin. And then, as Nana's voice reached a crescendo, the flowers before us began to glow with an otherworldly light. The petals came alive. Their colors shifted and swirled. My heart raced with excitement as the spell took hold. Each pulse of energy sent shivers of anticipation down my spine.

In a burst of dazzling light, the spell showed us a hidden magical signature. It was faint but unmistakable, dancing across the petals of the bouquet like a constellation in the night sky. The flowers around us seemed to come to life, their petals lifting gently into the air and floating away, forming a delicate trail. Lyra was definitely in the area.

I watched the petals with wide eyes. “This could be the ticket. It might be the way to stopping her.”

We set out to follow the trail of floating petals. It seemed as if they were going to lead us to the rest of the secrets. Hopefully, they would lead us to the truth behind Rosemary's disappearance so we could find her. The forest enveloped us in a symphony of nature's whispers as we ventured deeper into its embrace. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above and cast a dappled mosaic of light and shadow upon the moss-covered ground.

We made our way through the labyrinth of twisted roots and tangled undergrowth. Our eyes were sharp and keen as we all scanned the surroundings with unwavering focus. If this was leading us to Lyra, the chances were high that there would be guards before we reached her. We searched for any sign of Lyra or her followers. I was prepared in case anyone jumped out at us.

With each passing moment, I became more and more tense. My nerves were strung so tight that I thought they might snap. It didn’t help that the essence of the woods tingled with Dark magic. It made it seem as if we were surrounded. And we very well might be. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I dribbled witch fire for a few seconds before I got myself under control.

The forest gradually began to thin. It gave way to a secluded clearing bathed in the soft glow of filtered sunlight. Dark energies hummed around us and danced on the edges of our perception. Taking in what was in front of us, I noted the clearing itself was a verdant oasis. It looked like a sanctuary untouched by the hand of man. I didn’t trust what I could see.

A surge of anticipation coursed through me as we stepped into the clearing. Aidon's grip tightened on my hand. I could feel his desire to push me behind his body. He had a hard time with me being in danger. I understood, which was why I asked him to join us. And I was really glad he’d come.

Stella's gaze swept across the clearing with steely determination. “Let's proceed with caution.” Her voice trembled as she held herself in check. I could see the desire to race through the clearing and search for her mother.

We ventured further into the heart of the clearing with bated breath. My senses were on alert for any sign of danger or hidden clues. The air shimmered with latent magic. The Dark energy pulsed with the rhythm of the forest itself. My mind processed that information and what it might mean. Lyra was entangled with the natural world, which was giving her even more power. That wasn’t a good thing.

Aidon's voice broke the silence as he whispered, “What do you think we'll find here, Phoebe?” The situations I found myself in challenged him because they were so out of his scope of experience. Dealing with demons was far different.

I shook my head as a sense of worry coursed through me. “I'm not sure,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I have a feeling it's going to be big. And it’s something that will lead us one step closer to finding Rosemary.” I said the last for Stella’s benefit. We all had to believe it, or every time we came up empty, the urge to give up would became stronger. Hope was the only way to combat that.

Stella's voice cut through the stillness. “Then let's not waste any time,” she declared, her eyes ablaze with resolve. “We have a Dark witch to find.”

The heart of the clearing pulsed with an unearthly energy. It was almost as if the magic behind the scenes was our way of arrival. As if those thoughts conjured her, Lyra appeared from out of thin air. The powerful evil witch looked over our group, and a smirk lifted the corner of her mouth. Her presence was imposing. She was a dark silhouette against the backdrop of the verdant glade. It felt as if the plants should start dying just because she was there. Her eyes were pools of obsidian that seemed to pierce through the depths of my soul. She bore into me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

The witch's voice sliced through the silence like a blade. Her tone was cold and commanding. “How did you find my sanctuary?” she demanded, her words laced with a potent mixture of curiosity and menace.

Aidon's hand tightened around mine. His touch was a comforting reassurance that I wasn’t facing her alone. Stella's expression was a mask of determination. Her gaze didn't waver as she squared her shoulders. Nana stood tall and resolute in the face of the vile witch.

I snorted and shook my head. “You aren't as clever as you think,” I replied. “We’re here to get our friend back. You’ve overstepped by taking Rosemary. There’s a cell in Coldwater Creek with your name on it.”

The witch's lips curved into a cruel smile. Her eyes gleamed with malevolent intent. “Ah, Rosemary,” she mused. Her voice was a chilling whisper that made my stomach churn. “She was a thorn in my side, that one. But no matter. She serves her purpose now.”

My heart ached when I heard her words. Anger and fear rose within me. Rosemary, Stella’s mom, was reduced to nothing more than a pawn in this witch's twisted game. It wasn’t right. My magic wanted to lash out. There was no time for despair or rash actions. We had to find and save Rosemary no matter what had already been done to her.

With a silent exchange of nods, we braced ourselves for the fight that was to come. We would do what it took. For Rosemary's sake and for the sake of all who had fallen victim to the darkness that lurked within Lyra. I ran a hand over my obviously pregnant belly, silently telling my kids, “Protect yourselves while mommy fights the evil bitch.”