Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

“ N o!” I screamed as Lyra stepped toward a portal.

She paused and looked back at us. The clearing grew colder, and everything went still as we faced the witch standing before us. She was perfectly visible while her form was also shadowed. It went beyond the dark robes she was wearing as well. It was the fact that her eyes looked like liquid night. They were dark, fathomless, and glinted with a malevolent light as she surveyed us. A cruel smile played on her lips. There was something far more unnerving about her than almost any other being I’d ever encountered. Some of the Titans in Tartarus were worse. The sense of dread that seeped into my bones made my stomach ache.

Aidon's hand tightened around mine in a silent gesture of solidarity and support. Beside us, Stella radiated determination. Her jaw was set in a firm line as she prepared for what was to come. And Nana's eyes blazed with resolve. She might be ninety, but her stance was one of unyielding strength. Having these three by my side made facing Lyra so much easier .

Lyra vanished into the shimmering portal, and another witch took her place. My hands clenched into fists, and I took a step toward the witch. “Who are you?” I demanded, my voice steady despite the fear curling in my chest. “Where did Lyra go?”

The witch smiled, revealing sharp, white teeth. “I am one of Lyra's Tainted witches,” she declared, her voice dripping with contempt. “She has given me a gift beyond comprehension. You cannot beat us.”

I rolled my eyes. Another delusional freak of nature. “That’s what they all say before they succumb to our might.”

The witch sneered at us. “Our allegiance lies with forces far beyond your understanding. I have been enhanced so I can prevent intruders such as yourselves from meddling in our affairs.”

None of what she said was all that surprising. Lyra had these witches fooled. Not that they were all that bright to begin with. Siding with her was a huge mistake. The one thing this conversation did tell me was that Lyra's influence was even more far-reaching than we had anticipated. I exchanged a glance with Aidon and Stella.

Stella stepped forward, her eyes blazing with defiance. “What have you guys done with my mother, Rosemary?" she demanded. I'd never heard such cold anger coming from my friend. Yes, even with enemies we’d faced in the past. “Where is she?” she thundered.

The witch laughed a sound devoid of warmth. “Rosemary serves a purpose,” she said cryptically. “But that is not for you to know. Leave now... while you still can.”

The tension in the air was thick and suffocating. This was not a fight we had anticipated, but there was no turning back now. “We won't leave without answers,” I said firmly, stepping forward. “And we won't leave without Rosemary. ”

The witch's expression darkened, and her eyes narrowed. “Then you leave me no choice,” she hissed, raising her hands. Dark energy crackled around her fingers. Our surroundings grew heavy with impending danger. Was she calling others to join her?

Aidon squeezed my hand one last time before letting go and stepping forward to stand in front of me. "We're ready," he murmured, his voice a steady anchor. He was responding to the fear I had about my ninety-year-old grandmother being in the middle of a fight. Fear for her and my babies would have paralyzed me if not for him.

Nana had always been my pillar of strength. I was in awe of her strength as she moved to my side, and her eyes locked on the witch. “You've messed with the wrong people.”

The witch's eyes flashed with fury as she began to chant. Her voice was a dark incantation that resonated through the clearing. Shadows began to coalesce around her. Before any of us could utter a word, her spell took on twisted, menacing forms. They had clubs for hands and spines running down their backs.

A surge of anger welled up within me. I was getting damn tired of these assholes taking what didn’t belong to them and attacking those I loved. “Stay strong,” I whispered to my companions. “We can do this.”

As the shadows lunged toward us, we braced ourselves for the clash. I called upon my Pleiades heritage and the witch energy coursed through me. I cast a radiant light hoping to push back against the darkness. Aidon summoned his own power. His was a fierce, protective aura that enveloped us. Nana and Stella's magic crackled with intensity before they each threw spells at the shadows.

The clearing was filled with fire, shadows, and enough magic to power a small city. I tried to keep my eyes on the witch, but I lost her amid the shadows she had summoned at one point. There was no doubt she was going to use that to try and get me to race around searching for her. Instead, I remained put and continued throwing everything I could at her shadows.

A Dark spell hit my shoulder from behind. The force of it stunned me, but it didn’t get its hook in me, thanks to my babies and their protective barrier. My eyes bugged out of my head, and my heart stuttered to a stop when I caught sight of Lyra while I was in motion. Had she never actually left? Or did she come back after we were distracted?

The answer didn’t matter. “Lyra’s back,” I yelled the warning as I stopped my momentum and turned to face her. Dark magic crackled around her, making her look even more menacing. Her presence alone seemed to twist the very fabric of the forest, warping it into a nightmarish realm. That answered one question. She had returned.

Aidon, Stella, Nana, and I shared a quick, determined glance. We were ready, but so was she. “Let's do this,” I murmured. Aidon threw magic at the shadows, closing in with Nana and Stella helping.

Without uttering a word, Lyra launched an attack. I tried to duck but didn’t get as low as I should have, and the smell of burning hair made me choke. Her power had burned my hair. More shadows erupted from the ground behind me. I shuddered to think about what it would have done to me if it had hit me like she intended. The darkness twisted and writhed as they lunged toward us. Aidon stepped forward, his protective aura flaring to life. He got there in time to shield us from another onslaught.

Lyra’s eyes gleamed with malevolent intent. She knew she had to weaken Aidon first. I lurched forward at the same time she unleashed a bolt of dark energy aimed directly at Aidon's chest. The spell hit him with a force that sent him staggering back. Horror washed over me when I saw his skin starting to turn black where the Dark magic made contact. I gasped as panic threatened to stop my heart. Aidon clutched his chest, grimacing in pain as the Dark magic spread like poison.

"Aidon!" I shouted. Stella and Nana moved to intercept Lyra. Their magic clashed with hers in a spectacular display of light and shadow.

“You'll pay for that,” Stella hissed. Her eyes blazed with the fury I would feel if I wasn’t so frightened. She conjured a whirlwind of fire, sending it spiraling toward Lyra which forced her to retreat a few steps.

I got to Aidon right as his knees buckled. “No. Help them,” he insisted. I fought the urge to stay with him and find a way out of that damn clearing. I needed Clio to heal him. If she even could. He was a god. Lyra shouldn’t be capable of really harming him. It was the last thought that made me release him and swivel to help Stella and Nana. He was going to be okay. He had to be.

I added power to the barrier of elemental energy Nana summoned to protect us from being hit. “We need to keep her at bay until Tsekani and the others arrive," she said. “I texted them the first time she appeared.” I could have kissed Nana for her foresight.

Lyra’s laughter echoed through the clearing, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. “You think reinforcements will save you? I bested your god ,” she taunted. “And my followers, come forth!”

Right then, figures emerged from the shadows. They were twisted, dark beings that radiated the same malevolent energy as Lyra. Her minions surrounded us, their eyes glowing with unholy light. The odds had just shifted dramatically against us.

I turned my attention back to Aidon, my heart pounding. “ Hang in there, Aidon,” I whispered. Something wonderful happened then. Energy flowed from our babies and reached out to him. I had to go on the offensive and started throwing spells at Lyra so I missed some of what happened but I did feel how the dark magic resisted their efforts to push it out of Aidon.

“We need to break her defenses!" Stella yelled, bringing me back to the moment. I’d been tossing spells, and she was no longer in my line of fire. I had hit her creatures, though, so it wasn’t a total loss.

Aidon grimaced and nodded at me. “I'll be okay. Focus on Lyra. She’s the key.”

I nodded, my resolve hardening. I stood up, channeling the power Hattie had gifted me. Beams of light shot from my palms, slicing through the shadows and illuminating the forest. She combated my power, and each clash of our magic against her sent shockwaves rippling through the clearing. The force of our spells made everything tremble around us.

The witch who had been there in the interim tried to sneak up on Nana. I spun and threw a magical bomb at her. Her eyes blazed with rage as she summoned a torrent of shadowy tendrils. Each one lashed out at us with deadly intent. Nana dodged and weaved, countering with magic that shattered the tendrils upon contact. Stella conjured a whirlwind of fire, sending it spiraling toward Lyra. I joined Stella when I saw Nana had things under control. Together, we forced her to retreat a few steps.

“Keep pushing!” Aidon urged. His voice sounded stronger, making it easier for me to pour all of my energy into fighting the witch.

The forest was a battlefield and our magic clashed with Lyra’s in a dazzling display of light and darkness. We fought with everything we had. Lyra seemed to have a never-ending supply of minions. I’d lost track of the witch, but I had no doubt she was helping Lyra conjure more shadow creatures. Just as it seemed we might be overwhelmed, a thunderous roar echoed through the clearing. I glanced up to see Tsekani soaring through the sky. Layla and Murtagh were clinging to his back. Yes! Our reinforcements had arrived.

Tsekani landed with a mighty thud. His powerful wings stirred up a gust of wind that sent the shadows scattering. Layla and Murtagh jumped down, their expressions fierce and ready for battle.

Layla and Murtagh both shifted and started shredding shadows with their claws. The wolves were formidable allies, as was Tseki’s dragon. I laughed when I heard the witch’s shriek cut off. I looked over to see Tseki shaking her in his massive jaws. I didn’t even get sick when her body parts went flying. It was astonishing what rage could overcome. The chaos of battle swirled around us like a storm. I had to remain focused on Lyra. Every spell and counter-spell cast brilliant flashes through the clearing.

I barely had time to catch my breath between attacks. The intensity of the fight demanded every ounce of my focus and energy. Still weakened but refusing to stand by any longer, Aidon joined me. Stella and Nana had joined Layla, Tseki, and Murtagh in combating the monsters Lyra brought to bear against us.

I had just crouched to avoid one of Lyra’s spells when I noticed Stella's eyes dart around. Her gaze locked onto something half-hidden in the underbrush near Lyra’s feet. With a swift and agile move, Stella ran forward, dodging Dark spells and rolling forward. I increased my attacks on Lyra, unsure what my bestie was up to. I was grateful Stella had such keen vision when she snatched up a scroll.

“Phoebe!” Stella shouted when she stopped rolling a couple of feet away. “I found something!”

My heart pounded when Lyra's eyes narrowed with fury. She hurled a bolt of dark energy directly at Stella, but Aidon intercepted it with a burst of his power. His black lightning was enough to deflect the spell away from my best friend.

“Read it!” Aidon urged in a strained voice. “It might be the key we need!”

Stella nodded, quickly unfurling the scroll. Her eyes darted over the intricate symbols, her brow furrowing in concentration. “This... this is written in an ancient language. I only recognize some of the symbols from my studies,” she replied frantically.

“Can you decipher it?” Nana asked as she threw spells from around Tseki’s front leg. He’d perched himself above her to protect her from harm. Nana might not have helped raise the others like she did me, but she had become as important to them.

“I'm trying,” Stella replied. “It's a spell or... no, a message. It speaks of a hidden power, buried deep within the shadows. A key to unlocking secrets... and a warning. Maybe.”

“A warning about what?” I asked. My heart raced with a mix of hope and fear. Aidon and I continued battering Lyra with our magic, but nothing seemed to have touched the Dark Witch.

“Something about the balance of power,” Stella said, her voice tinged with urgency. “Lyra is after something more than just chaos. She wants to control... to dominate the realms. This scroll could be the key to understanding her true plans.”

“Close, but not quite,” Lyra replied with a smirk before she snapped her fingers and stepped back into the portal as it formed. I threw myself at the thing, but it snapped shut less than an inch from my nose.

“Son of a bitch!” I snarled while my loved ones continued fighting the shadow creatures. Layla launched her wolf body at the shadow hoping to catch me off guard. After shredding the thing, she nosed the side of my belly. Nodding, I joined the fight. It didn’t take long for us to gain the upper hand on the shadow creatures. A few minutes later, Tseki dispatched the last of them.

Aidon held his hand up. “There’s still residual energy from her portal.”

Nana brushed the dust from her jacket and looked up at Aidon. “Can you activate it so we can follow her?”

He cocked his head to the side and evaluated the magic in front of him. “I can try. I can teleport in the Underworld, but it’s impossible for me here, so it will be a matter of reactivating her Dark power.” Aidon stood tall despite the lingering pain from Lyra’s dark spell. He gripped my hand tightly. His touch was a reassuring anchor in the sea of uncertainty.

I frowned at my mate. “That sounds dangerous.”

“He will need to be careful,” Nana said. “We need to find Rosemary while Lyra is slowed down.”

Shaking my head, I scoffed. “She wasn’t slowed in the least.”

Nana rolled her eyes and patted Tseki’s leg as he moved closer to her. “That’s because you let her fool you. Aidon’s magic hurt her. She left rather than trying to take that scroll back because she was close to succumbing.”

I nodded and took a deep breath to steady my nerves. “Fair enough.” Extending my hand, I felt the power of the portal. I sent my magical feelers beyond. “I can sense the danger. It feels... alive, almost sentient.”

Stella glanced at me with her heart in her gaze. “We have to go through no matter what is on the other side. My mom could be there.”

Aidon’s expression was fierce as he activated the portal. “Keep your eyes peeled and stick together.”

With that, we stepped forward. The air around the portal crackled with energy. The barrier between worlds buzzed with an electric intensity. I reached out and my fingers brushed the shimmering surface. It felt both solid and liquid. It was an impossible contradiction that sent a shiver down my spine.

“I don’t like this," I said and looked over at Nana. “I don’t suppose I can talk you into staying here with Layla or Murtagh.”

Nana scowled and kept her gaze fixed on the portal. “I'm in this until we find Rosemary.” That’s what I thought.

Tseki shifted and grabbed a bag but didn’t bother dressing as he joined us. Layla sidled up to me and Murtagh took up the rear. We moved as one and stepped through the portal. The sensation was disorienting. It was like being pulled through a vortex of light and sound. Colors and shapes blurred around us. And for a moment, it felt as though we were suspended in a void.

Then, with a jarring abruptness, we found ourselves standing in a new landscape. The forest clearing had been replaced by a field that felt both alien and familiar. The air was thick with magic, and the ground beneath our feet hummed with power. There was danger all around us. I felt it in my bones even if I couldn’t see it.

Aidon’s grip on my hand tightened. “Stay alert. We don’t know what’s lurking here or where they are. They could be hiding right in front of us,” he said as if he’d read my mind.

The sense of danger intensified when we took our first cautious steps forward. Shadows moved at the edge of my vision. Everything vibrated with a sinister energy, and every instinct in my body screamed at me to turn back. I pushed those fears aside. We had come too far to turn back now.

A sudden rustling sound made us all freeze. Out of the shadows stepped figures cloaked in darkness. Their eyes glowed with hatred and envy. My heart pounded as I recognized their power. They were more of Lyra’s followers. It was disgusting to see so many had been corrupted and twisted to her will.

“I told you she was hurt,” Nana said grimly. “She was expecting us because she couldn’t eradicate her trail like usual and knew we would follow.”

The leader of the group stepped forward, his face partially obscured by a hood. “This is where your journey ends.” Hearing a male voice was startling. Sure, Lyra had used them in the past, but those in her closest group were usually women.

I exchanged a look with Aidon, and then with Stella and Nana. Yeah, this was bad. I threaded my fingers into the fur of Layla’s neck. We were ready for this. Whatever lay ahead, we would face it together.

“That’s where you’re wrong. We’re here to put an end to Lyra’s plans,” I informed him.

The figure laughed, a cold, hollow sound. “We’ll see about that.”

With a wave of his hand, the others lunged at us. Their forms shifted and melded with the shadows. The battle began anew, but this time, we were exhausted and still recovering. Aidon was better, but I could see some blackened flesh lingering on his shoulder.

I kept my focus on the portal behind us as spells flew and magic crackled in the air. I didn’t trust Lyra not to send something through after us. My heart pounded as I turned to see a pack of snarling wolves joining the fight. Were they shifters? Their feral eyes gleamed with malice, telling me they probably were. And they were far bigger than normal wolves. Their muscles rippled beneath matted fur. They were clearly afflicted with Dark magic.

Aidon immediately stepped in front of me as his protective instincts kicked in. “Stay behind me, Phoebe,” he said, his voice a mix of determination and concern.

“I’m not helpless, Aidon,” I reminded him as I soaked up the moonlight. It always invigorated me.

Stella and Nana moved to flank us, with Layla and Murtagh on the outside of them. “These aren’t ordinary shifters,” Stella echoed my thoughts. “They reek of Dark magic.”

Nana nodded, her hands already glowing with the beginnings of a spell. “No doubt more loyal servants of Lyra who won’t stop until we’re dead.”

The lead shifter let out a bone-chilling howl, and the pack advanced. There was no time for hesitation. Tseki dropped his bag and shifted to his dragon form before taking to the skies. I summoned my magic and relished the familiar hum coursing through me. Despite the pain from his earlier wound, Aidon stood tall and ready. His divine power crackled around him.

The first wolf lunged at Aidon. Its jaws snapped closed an inch from his face. Aidon countered with a burst of Underworld energy that sent the creature flying back. Another shifter darted toward Stella, but she was ready. Her spell released a burst of light that momentarily blinded the beast. She followed it up with a magical bomb that tore it to pieces. My stomach lurched at that one.

Murtagh moved closer to Nana, who unleashed a torrent of magic. She conjured a wall of her witch fire that forced the pack to halt their advance. The flames cast flickering shadows across the field. All of Lyra’s minions snarled in frustration and began circling us like predators biding their time.

“We can’t let them surround us!” I yelled as I launched a magical bomb at the nearest wolf. The creature yelped in pain but quickly recovered, its eyes now locked onto me with a deadly focus. Layla leaped through the air and landed on the thing’s back. Her teeth sank into its neck and tore. I looked away when blood gushed from the wound.

Despite his injury, Aidon fought with relentless ferocity. “Phoebe, stay close!” he called out.

I couldn’t move anywhere at the moment. I was surrounded. Stella, on the other hand, used her agility to dodge the attacks from the wolves and Lyra's other witches. I was the size of a Jersey cow and waddled everywhere I went. I was only twenty weeks along but carrying three babies made me as big as I ever got with my other two pregnancies.

“We need to break their formation!” Nana shouted. She channeled her magic into a new spell that summoned a gust of wind. It knocked several wolves off their feet. The shifters backed off and regrouped while the magic wielders closed in. They were relentless, and I could see the toll the battle was taking on all of us. But especially Aidon. He hadn’t yet healed, and his face was pale from the effort of maintaining his defenses while depleted.

As I watched Layla silently direct Murtagh and Tsekani, who flew above us, an idea struck me. “Aim for the leader!” I shouted to Stella and Nana. “If we take him down, the others might falter!”

Nana nodded, her eyes narrowing in determination. She focused her magic on the lead wolf while I focused on the warlock who had greeted us upon arrival. We each sent a bolt of lightning crackling through the air at our targets. Stella followed suit. Her bolt hit the warlock while Murtagh took the lead wolf down.

The combined force of our magic made them falter. Hope ignited, and I redoubled my efforts, increasing the power that hit the warlock. Stella and Nana did the same. Aidon joined us, and the pair went down. The remaining pack members were disoriented and leaderless. They retreated into the shadows with the other witches not far behind.

Breathing heavily, we regrouped. The adrenaline of the battle still coursed through my veins as I sent out my magical feelers. I didn’t want to get stuck here, so we needed to act fast if we were going to save Stella’s mom and get home. I knew all too well how adept Lyra was at keeping one captive and cut off from their magic.