Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

“ T here’s no time to lollygag,” Nana chided us and swiveled a finger in front of Aidon. “Turn around, Big Boy. We will move faster with me on your back.”

We all laughed as Aidon inclined his head and then gave Nana his back. He crouched so she could climb on. The howls had us moving again. We ran through the forest with the sounds of the wolf shifter pack echoing behind us. Each cry sent a shiver down my spine. My heart pounded in my chest and my breaths were now coming in ragged gasps as I pushed myself to keep up with the others. Well, Stella was keeping pace with me. Layla and Murtagh were right behind us. It was Aidon and Tsekani who were ahead of us with Nana.

“Just a little further!” Aidon encouraged. “There's a cave up ahead. We can take shelter there.”

The forest around us was a blur of dark shapes and shadows. Moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, shining on us every once in a while. Under other circumstances, I would enjoy the scent of pine and damp earth joined with the sounds of the night creatures. Our frantic flight made it hard for me to think about much but getting somewhere safe until Aidon could heal and we could rest. My center of gravity was off, and a few seconds later, I stumbled over a root. I barely caught myself before hitting the ground. Stella's hand shot out to steady me. Layla’s wolf nudged my side as if she were there to keep me from being hurt as well.

“Thanks,” I said between breaths.

She nodded and smiled at me, saying, “We’re almost there, Pheebs.” Her eyes darted between the trees for any sign of wolves. The howls grew louder and closer. We shared a panicked look. Her expression said what I was feeling. The sound of those paws pounding against the forest floor was right on our heels.

Just when I thought I couldn't run any further, Aidon pointed ahead. “There!” he shouted. “Do you see it?”

Stella and I nodded as we headed for the dark opening looming ahead. It was barely visible among the thick underbrush. We sprinted towards it with the promise of safety spurring us on. As we reached the cave entrance, Aidon ushered us inside. His gaze darted back the way we’d come to ensure we hadn't been followed too closely.

I grabbed Stella before she got too far inside. “We need to mask our scent and hide this cave.”

“Good thinking,” she panted.

Nana slid off of Aidon’s back and grabbed my hand. “I cast a diversion while we were running, so we have time before they find our scent.” Grateful she thought to do that, I took a few deep breaths and centered myself. I had to dispel the frantic energy, or I would muck up the spell. I could cast under duress. However, it was always better to be as focused as possible. When Stella squeezed my fingers, we chanted and cast the enchantment. I sighed when the magic rippled out of us and traveled out of the cave opening.

Trusting our power to hide us, we ventured inside the cave. It was cool and damp, which was a stark contrast to the chaotic night outside. The walls were rough and uneven beneath the palm that I steadied myself with when I became dizzy. Water dripped from the ceiling and pooled on the rocky floor. I considered opening my mouth beneath the stream to get some hydration. It wasn’t long before the faint light from outside barely penetrated the darkness. I conjured a ball of my witch fire to light our way.

We entered a cavern of sorts, and Nana collapsed onto a nearby rock. She was the only one of us not panting heavily. “We should be safe here for a while,” she said. “But we can't stay too long. They'll find us eventually.” Tseki finally pulled clothes out and got dressed while Layla and Murtagh shifted back and did the same.

Stella nodded. Her eyes reflected the same resolve I felt. “We need a plan. We can't keep running forever.”

I swiped the sweat from my brow, trying to calm my racing heart. “We know Lyra is behind this,” I said as I ran a hand over my stomach to soothe my babies. “She's got countless Tainted witches on her side. And she’s done some Dark magic on the shifters so she can control them and use them as weapons.”

Aidon was standing near the entrance to the cavern and turned to face us. “We need to figure out if she’s anywhere near here. She could have sent us somewhere else but if she is here, we might be able to predict her movements. Then we might stay one step ahead.”

“We know she's been all along the East Coast,” Stella added, her brow furrowed in thought. “From Maine to North Carolina. And there was that island where she held Mollie and the others captive.”

Nana’s expression was grim as she took a water bottle from Layla. “She's left a trail of chaos and destruction in her wake while somehow always getting away. Wherever she goes, she convinces witches to follow her down the dark path. Or she turns creatures into tribreds. And she bends most of them to her will. We need to find a way to stop her before she creates more of these things that can’t control themselves.”

Aidon sat down beside where I was standing. The warmth of his body was a stark contrast to the cool cave air. “How can we piece together her pattern? That’ll be the key to predicting her next move.”

“She's been methodical,” I said as my mind raced. “There's got to be a reason behind each location and attack. We just need to figure out what that reason is.”

Aidon's gaze turned thoughtful. “We know she has a network of followers. That island... it was remote and hidden. If we can find more places like that, we might find her.”

“We’re spinning in circles. I can’t escape the feeling that the answer is just out of reach,” Stella added. “We need to try and rest. We'll need all our energy for what's to come.”

Nana nodded and settled herself more comfortably on the rock with Tseki behind her. “Just a short rest. We will need to find food when we move. Phoebe and the babies need it.” Murtagh sat behind Stella and Layla acting as their cushion.

I sat down beside Aidon and felt the tension slowly drain from my body. The cave might have been a temporary refuge, but it was enough to allow us to regroup. “Can you conjure anything? I know on the island you were cut off from your powers, but it might be worth a try now,” Aidon pointed out.

Stella sat up abruptly and pointed at me. “Yes, you should. We know the average witch can’t do that unless she has that special power, but there’s a chance you can.”

I sighed and straightened my spine. “Alright. Here goes nothing.” I held my hand out and poured all of my power into creating a double cheeseburger with extra pickles. There was a flicker, but nothing happened. Closing my eyes, I pictured exactly what I wanted and focused only on that. My lids snapped open when a weight settled into my palm. The smell hit me next. I started laughing as I held the burger high. “I did it!” I crowed triumphantly. I took a bite and groaned. It was freaking delicious.

Stella rubbed her hands together. “Can you conjure me a lobster roll? Or maybe a chicken pizza?”

I chuckled and handed Layla the cheeseburger. “I’m going to try for a platter of burgers or maybe tacos. No, wait, sub sandwiches.”

Layla frowned at me. “Finishing this might help you conjure better.”

I shook my head. “You go ahead. I’m going to try again.” Concentrating my intent, I pictured a big platter filled with all of the food I’d just rattled off. My hands dropped when a heavy weight settled on them.

“That’s a handy trick,” Nana replied as she grabbed a sandwich. “No doubt it comes with a cost. But what I really want to know is how the magic works. Does it make all of this? Or take it from somewhere else?”

My stomach roiled when I considered her question. The bite of taco soured in my mouth. “Magic for personal gain is a big no-no.” I set the food down.

Aidon shook his head. “Except this is not for personal gain. You are helping us survive and fight an evil witch. Nothing about that is for your benefit alone. Eat. You and the babies need the sustenance.”

He was right. I would be of no use if I didn’t get some food. I picked up the taco and finished it. Stella, Murtagh, and Tseki dug in as well. Nana grabbed the water bottle from Tseki’s bag, reminding me we needed more. I conjured more while Stella asked, “Why do you think she's doing all of this? What drives someone to such evil?”

“Power,” Nana answered around a mouthful. “Control. She wants to create an army of followers who will do her bidding without question. The more powerful the witches she transforms, the stronger her hold becomes.”

“And the more chaos she can create, the easier it will be for her to take control,” Aidon added. “She's not just gathering power. She's also spreading fear and destruction. We need to stop her before she can do any more damage.”

The cavern fell silent as we ate and absorbed that little nugget of information. Something didn’t sit right with me. Everything they’d said was true, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were missing something. A crucial piece of the puzzle that would make everything clear.

“Phoebe,” Stella said softly, breaking the silence. “What do we do now? If Lyra's out there, still transforming witches and she has my mom.”

I took a deep breath and finished the sandwich I was eating. “First, we locate your mom and get her to safety. After that, we need to find Lyra and confront her. We stop her from creating any more tribreds or turning any other witches. But we have to be careful. She's dangerous and won't hesitate to use any means necessary to protect herself.”

Nana nodded. Her eyes were steely with determination. “We’ve got to come at this sideways. Despite our many lessons, she hasn’t learned yet that she’s messed with the wrong family. We will find Stella's mom, but stopping Lyra's reign of terror once and for all is going to take all of us.”

Stella cocked her head to the side as dawning crossed her face. “It helps to stop trying to figure out how we were going to find and stop her when we don’t have anything with us. We will need everyone we know. ”

I held up a hand. “And some creative potions only Mom can cook up. She isn’t going down easily.”

Aidon shook his head. “She’s far more powerful than any witch I’ve ever encountered. She shouldn’t have been able to hurt me even temporarily, yet she did.”

I ran a hand over his chest and grimaced when I felt him recoil. He was still healing. That fact drove the point home, and we all fell silent. Nana broke it a few seconds later when she said, “We aren’t going to sit here and stew. We haven’t looked at the scroll Stella found. That could hold a clue to something.”

Stella pulled the parchment from Tseki’s bag. It was aged and brittle. I held my breath as if merely breathing on it might make it crumble to dust. Aidon and I moved closer and looked over the ancient symbols on the outside. As she unrolled the scroll, the delicate sound of the parchment crackling echoed in the otherwise silent cavern. Her brow furrowed in concentration, and her fingers traced the intricate patterns of the symbols.

“I have no idea what any of this means,” Stella said, her voice tinged with determination.

Aidon leaned in with me and studied the page. The symbols were unlike anything I had ever seen. They were a complex tapestry of swirling lines and geometric shapes that seemed to pulse with latent magic.

“These symbols,” Nana began, “are from an ancient language. I recall seeing something about it during one of my research sessions with Nina. Thank the gods we’ve had to look up a lot of shit for you guys in the past. This has been lost to most modern witches. Let’s see if I can remember what any of them mean.” She paused as she moved around Stella and looked over her shoulder. “This seems to be a mix of old and new magic. Not entirely one or the other. Whoever wrote this was incredibly powerful. ”

“Can you understand any of it?” I asked, unable to contain my impatience.

Nana glanced at me. “It's a warning,” she said slowly. “And a guide. At least, I think it is.”

Aidon moved closer, his presence a steadying force. “A guide to what?” he asked, his voice low and steady.

“I’m hoping to Lyra's next move,” Nana replied. “It's a map, but not a physical one. It's a map of her intentions, her plans. She’s been activating these ancient wards along the East Coast, from Maine to North Carolina. Each symbol represents a location where she's been active, places she's marked with her Dark magic.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “She’s working to something bigger. And I can see why she’s been using others like Zaleria. They were convenient tools. Knowing this, can we use it to predict where she'll strike next?”

Nana nodded. “If we can decipher the rest of it. Something tells me it's not just about the locations. Knowing what I do about magic, we have to consider the timing and the nature of the power she's using. What doesn’t seem to fit for me is this here,” she pointed to a particularly intricate symbol. “It refers to a remote island. I’m betting it’s the same island where she held you captive.”

My mind raced as I tried to connect the dots. “That island... was remote. Unless it's in the Atlantic and would form a triangle with the East Coast, I can’t see how it comes into play. What if she's using it as a base of operations?”

“It’s possible,” Aidon said, his eyes narrowing in thought. “We know she was using the place as a battery of sorts. That would fit with whatever big plan she’s got cooking. I don’t like not knowing what she’s up to.”

Stella continued to study the scroll. “We dealt her little battery a blow before we left. She can’t use it to help her make tribreds anymore. Maybe she’s not turning as many into powerful creatures under her control.”

I shook my head. “I think her recent BS has been about finding another way. She has Mom’s blood and is going to use it to her advantage.”

Nana pursed her lips and cocked her head. “She already had a hold on the island once. She could be planning something there. That could be the location of her next move.”

Aidon nodded. “Agreed. But we can’t go in blind. We need to understand as much of this message as possible.”

Nana nodded in agreement. “I’ll keep working on it. There’s still a lot I don’t understand and won’t until we get back home.

I smiled at Nana. “We will get there as soon as we have Rosemary. But every piece of information helps, so the more you can study it and try to recall, the better.”

Nana continued to pore over the ancient scroll. “These aren't just warnings,” Nana said, her voice tinged with realization. “They're riddles and clues. I bet each one points to a hidden location where she’s got some hold on the power of the ley lines. That bitch has been leaving a trail. We just need to solve these riddles so we can deal her another blow. She’s clearly scrambling after you escaped the island and interrupted her connection. It’s why we were able to follow her portal.”

Aidon and I exchanged glances. “What do the riddles say?” I crossed my fingers that she could interpret more.

Nana squinted at the scroll as her finger traced the delicate lines of one set of symbols. “I think this one says: ‘In the place where shadows dance, and whispers hide seek the heart where secrets bide.' That is a reference to a specific location... maybe a place known for its darkness and hidden truths,” she mused.

“The descriptions could be metaphorical,” Aidon suggested. “A place where darkness thrives, and secrets are kept... it might not be a physical location but rather a place of influence or power.”

Stella nodded thoughtfully. “That would fit Lyra and the riddle.”

Nana sighed and said, “The question is whether that helps us determine where we need to go next. Here’s another one: 'Beneath the stars where water flows, find the gate that no one knows.' This one seems more literal. Could it reference an actual gate near a body of water?”

I frowned, trying to piece together the fragments. “Hmmm. We know Lyra’s been active along the East Coast. She’s been active at countless places with water. Including the house where she was holding Mom. But the stars... that suggests a place open to the night sky. It would have to be somewhere remote and away from city lights.”

Aidon’s brow furrowed in concentration. “There are places with mystical significance, often tied to natural elements.”

“Maybe we can piece it together better if I interpret more,” Nana said as she continued to decipher the riddles. She read for several silent seconds. “This one says: 'Where fire meets the storm, and earth gives way to air, the path will be laid bare.' That’s four elements. Could it be a convergence point of elemental magic?”

Layla, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up. “Lyra’s magic is complex, but it’s not like yours. She doesn’t know how to weave it with elemental forces. She will need a site that does it for her. Somewhere that will amplify her powers.”

My gaze widened. “And there can’t be that many places around like that.”

Aidon’s expression was grim. “You’re right about that. When we get cell service, we should have Mollie and Nina start looking for them.”

Nana looked up from the scroll. “There’s one more riddle here: 'On the isle where time stands still, the final truth lies waiting still.' That has to be the island where she held you guys. It’s remote and fits the description perfectly.”

The pieces were starting to come together, each clue pointing us toward a deeper understanding of Lyra’s intentions. But the more we uncovered, the more questions we had. My mind was pulled into even more directions making it difficult to pick a direction and go with it. “We need to cross-reference these clues with what we know about her past activities,” I said, my mind racing. “If we can pinpoint the exact locations, we might be able to stop her before she completes whatever she’s planning.”

Aidon’s hand tightened around mine. “We’ll get through this, Phoebe.”

Nana's eyes held a steely resolve. “If we’re rested enough, we should head out. The longer we linger, the more chance she has to do whatever she plans with Rosemary.”

That got us all up and moving. We packed the water bottles into Tseki’s bag. Layla and Murtagh stripped and shifted. At the cave opening, Tseki did the same. I stuffed the clothes into the bag and looped it over his large dragon head. Nana started walking and yelped when Tsekani picked her up on a wing. “Next time, warn a woman, or I will make you impotent. You could have given me a heart attack. I am an old lady. Don’t let my good looks and spry step fool you. My heart isn’t as strong as it used to be.”

Tseki turned his triangular head and looked at her through one of his eyes, then snorted. Smoke left his nostril as she clambered onto the middle of his back. “You’re riding like a queen,” Stella told Nana.

She sniffed and lifted her chin as the rest of us stepped out into the forest. We began the search for any of the clues from the scroll, a hint of Lyra’s presence, or that of Rosemary. The sigils from the message were etched into our minds. Although I doubted we would see anything so straightforward, one could always hope.

We traveled through the forest in search of anything that resembled the clues. I hadn’t forgotten about the wolves and kept an ear out for them. I guessed they’d retired for the night, given how close to dawn it seemed to be. We came across a clump of trees where shadows were dancing. The area beyond the cluster was obscured by fog. As we approached the hidden location, the ground beneath our feet vibrated with Dark magic.

Stella paused, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “Feel that? We’re close to something.”

Aidon’s grip on my hand tightened. “We need to breach that barrier. Be on alert. We don’t know what we’ll face once we do.”

Nana kicked Tseki’s side and led the way. From the dragon’s back, she started chanting and tracing symbols in the air with her fingers. Stella looked at me, and we joined her. She was unraveling the first of the enchantments. There was a faint shimmer as it started to dissipate under our assault. Time seemed to distort before the veil peeled away.

With the barrier gone, we moved forward cautiously. We made it past the fog, and the forest disappeared, leaving us with a difficult choice. “Which way do we go?” I asked as I looked over the options. A sense of foreboding overwhelmed me as we contemplated which way to go.