Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

A s we moved from one section of the forest to what felt like a hidden glade, we were immediately confronted by what appeared to be forest spirits. Their forms floated like will-o'-the-wisps only they were erratic and agitated. And their luminous, fiery eyes were fixed upon us. They exuded an aura of ancient power, wisdom, and simmering aggression that set my nerves on edge.

“Are those elementals?” Layla's voice cut through the tense silence. Her canine eyes narrowed as she assessed the creatures.

“Of a sort, yes. They're the spirit of this forest come to life,” Aidon explained. He was so calm despite the unsettling presence around us.

“What is wrong with them?” I asked softly. My gaze flickered between the spirits and my companions. My heart started racing when I noted there was no way out of the glade. I could see the tips of what looked like a circle of standing stones, but they were obscured by trees and shrubs.

Nana's expression darkened with concern. “Lyra’s taint is at work on this natural wonder,” she muttered as she scanned the flickering forms with a mix of apprehension and determination.

“We should try to get through to them,” Stella suggested, her voice carrying a hint of urgency.

"How?" I whispered, feeling overwhelmed by the charged atmosphere. “How do you communicate with entities so ancient and powerful?”

Before anyone could respond, Stella took a deep breath to steady herself before she said, “Great spirits of the forest,” she began in a voice that projected confidence. “We come in peace and seek to understand the mysteries that lie within this sacred place.”

The spirits exchanged glances, and their forms flickered with deliberation. One of them floated closer. “Why do you seek to enter this glade, mortal? What do you hope to find?” Its voice resonated in my mind rather than my ears. Based on the reactions of the others, they heard it in the same way.

Gathering my thoughts, I met the spirit's gaze squarely. “We are searching for captives who are being held by Lyra. She's a witch who uses Dark magic. She takes innocent beings and uses her power to twist them into creatures she controls,” I explained, choosing my words carefully. “We believe she may be hiding nearby, hurting others to further her dark ambitions.”

The spirits' forms flickered more intensely. “Lyra's influence stains these woods,” another spirit chimed in. My heart ached when I heard its voice echo with a hint of sorrow and anger. “Why should we trust you to enter when so many have sought to exploit our power?”

“We understand your caution,” Stella replied sincerely. “But we are not here to exploit. We want to find those she has taken. My mother is among them. But that’s not all. We also want to restore the balance and purity in these woods.”

I nodded in agreement and gestured around us. “If you grant us passage and knowledge, we can work together to cleanse this place of her darkness.”

The spirits murmured among themselves. It was an odd experience as their voices blended into a harmonious hum that resonated through the glade. Finally, the leading spirit spoke again. Its tone was thoughtful yet cautious. “Your words hold sincerity, mortals. We sense your intentions are true. Normally, we would test your resolve.”

I shared a look with my loved ones and then held my breath. Of course, they wanted to test us. Life couldn’t be that easy. Aidon’s tension ramped mine up. Sometimes sharing a bond and knowing what he was feeling wasn’t a good thing. The spirits began to part, creating a narrow path through the glade.

“Unfortunately, it is taking all of our energy to combat the Darkness that threatens our borders. Lyra damaged us fundamentally. Her influence has Tainted the very essence of our home,” the leading spirit intoned. “But remember that we are guardians of this forest. We cannot do what we would usually but that does not mean we are helpless.”

I wondered what Lyra had done to them and almost asked before catching myself. “Thank you,” I said gratefully, bowing deeply. “We will not let you down.”

Stella held up a hand. “Before we go, can you tell us where Lyra is located? We can remove her influence from your forest if we can find her.”

The spirit sighed, its form flickering. “Lyra's corruption runs deep. She has twisted the natural magic of the forest, bending it to her dark will. Creatures that once lived in harmony now turn against each other. Trees wither and die, their life force drained to fuel her malevolent spells.”

Stella's eyes widened with horror. "But why? What could she possibly gain from destroying such a beautiful, ancient place? "

Another spirit floated forward and added, “Power. Control. Lyra seeks to dominate all forms of magic, and the forest is rich with the ancient energies she craves. Her Blood experiments have unleashed unnatural phenomena. We’ve seen storms that rage without end, rivers that run dry, and plants that grow twisted and monstrous.”

Aidon clenched his fists, his expression grim. “She's not just corrupting the forest. She's trying to break its very spirit. This isn't just about power. It's about destroying something that might stand in her way.”

A surge of anger and determination swelled within me. “We can't let this continue. We have to stop her before she destroys everything.”

The first spirit nodded, its eyes filled with a deep sadness. “It will not be easy. Lyra's magic is strong, and her infection has spread far. You must find the source of her power within the forest and sever it. Only then can balance here be restored.”

Stella stepped forward, her resolve clear in her eyes. “We'll do whatever it takes. Tell us where to start.” I squeezed her hand, trying to tell her we would not forget about her mother in the process.

The spirits exchanged glances. Their forms flickered as if they were communicating silently. Finally, the tall spirit spoke again. “We cannot locate her. She used Blood magic to hide herself from us. That is how she was able to attack us in the first place. But there was a place deep within the forest. We cannot say for sure if it is still there, but before she cut us off, we felt a nexus of power. We believe it is where Lyra has anchored her Dark magic. The last thing we felt were enchantments going up around it. You must be prepared for a great challenge.”

Nana scowled and clenched her hands into fists. “That sounds like the evil witch’s work. She thrives on destroying everything good. And she’s beginning to really piss me off. She might have been at this longer, but we’re smarter. We will make her pay for what she has done.”

I grabbed Nana’s hand and started down the now-open path in front of us before the spirits changed their minds. Ahead of us was the edge of the stone circle I had seen over the barrier created by the forest spirits. It was similar to the one we’d traveled from. The stones here were just as weathered yet were far more imposing. They were also arranged differently. At least, it seemed that way. I couldn’t discern the pattern, given the plant barrier obscuring my view. There was also a different energy, quieter yet more profound than the corrupted grove we had left behind.

“They're protecting the stone circle," Aidon murmured, his voice filled with reverence. “This is why they didn’t want to let us pass. I can feel their energy attached to the structure.”

Stella stepped closer, her fingers tracing the intricate runes etched into the stones. “The magic feels... purer,” she remarked softly.

Tseki shifted back to his human form so he could pass through the space between stones. “They've kept her from tarnishing the magic here completely,” he observed before he shifted back into his dragon.

“Let’s see if we can find Rosemary,” I interjected. “Can one of you mark our journey? I want to be able to get back here later. This will probably be our best way home.”

Layla inclined her head. “I would be more than happy to oblige.” With that, she shifted into her wolf form and trotted beyond the stones and lifted her leg to pee on a tree.

I shook my head and muttered, “I sure hope that doesn’t hurt the spirits further. The last thing we need is to make them an enemy.”

Murtagh chuckled and shifted as Aidon patted my shoulder. “ Animals are part of the forest. That won’t even register with them. C’mon, we’ve got a dark nexus to find.”

Stella nodded, her eyes shining with determination. “Once we find that nexus and destroy it. Lyra's reign of terror here ends. I just hope we locate my mom in the process.”

Aidon conjured his sword this time before he was distracted by a battle. The black blade gleamed in the moonlight. “Let's move. We have a forest to save.”

We ventured into the forest, and practically right away, an oppressive energy weighed us down. Each step felt like it took us closer to a looming danger. We had just left the grove behind when Nana suddenly halted. Her eyes widened as she scanned the surrounding trees.

“Nana, what's wrong?” I asked as a chill crept up my spine.

The ground beneath us trembled before she could answer. Trees shook, and the earth seemed to come alive. It split open with a low, rumbling growl. My breath caught in my throat when I felt the malevolent energy. Could a demon tear a hole in the veil and bypass the Hellmouths? I was about to ask Aidon when something moved.

I clung to him and watched a massive form begin to rise from the gaping fissure. That was no demon that I’d ever seen. Its body was composed of roots, stones, and clumps of earth. “It’s a powerful earth elemental,” Aidon murmured. He’d likely felt my curiosity through our bond as strongly as he did my fear.

The elemental’s eyes glowed with an ancient, yet fierce intelligence. And it towered above us. “How do we deal with an elemental?” Nana asked as she stepped forward with a steely resolve in her eyes. “And is it with the forest spirits or Lyra?”

The creature opened its mouth and roared. The sound was like boulders slamming together. The elemental’s presence was overwhelming, and its massive limbs creaked as it lunged for us. Each step it took shook the ground, and its form shifted and solidified with a terrifying fluidity. Nana raised her hands and said, “I think we can safely assume it’s on the Dark side.” Her fingers traced intricate patterns in the air as she chanted. I couldn’t hear what she said, and I had no idea which runes she was calling upon. The movements didn’t give me enough details.

A soft, shimmering light began to emanate from Nana’s finger. It grew brighter as she called upon her magic. “You may have been summoned by Lyra,” she told the elemental, “but I will not let you stand in our way!” Her voice echoed with a power that matched the elemental’s own.

This was not the Nana I had grown up baking cookies and watching crime shows with. She’d changed a lot since she developed her magic. But she was no less the kickass woman I loved with all my heart. She showed me how to own my power and wield it confidently like she had when she taught me how to apply makeup.

The creature raised a massive arm to strike. I moved to grab her, but Nana moved with grace and precision. Tseki was there to lift her on one of his wings. She created a shield of magical energy that absorbed the impact at the same time she slid into place on Tseki’s back. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through the air, making Aidon, Stella and I stumble. Nana didn’t twitch so much as a muscle. Her eyes didn’t even leave the elemental.

“Go, Nana!” Stella called out. Her voice was filled with the pride I felt.

Nana responded with a fierce nod while her focus remained unbroken. She began to chant in a language other than Latin. While any language worked when a witch cast her spells, Latin was traditional. Most still used it. What mattered was intent. Nana’s words resonated with the essence of the earth. I could feel it responding to her magic. Layla and Murtagh snarled and lunged for the Elemental’s legs. The creature batted them away as if they were nothing more than flies. They got up on shaky feet and started back for the elemental but stopped when it hesitated. They joined us when its movements became slower and more deliberate. It was as if it were struggling against an unseen force.

“She's binding it,” Aidon told us with wide eyes. “She's using its own power against it.”

I didn’t even know that was possible. I really needed to join Nana and Nina on the research ventures. Nana’s chant grew louder, and the light around her intensified. The elemental let out another roar, and its form started to destabilize. Aidon picked me up and stepped to the side as chunks of earth and stone fell away. It was crumbling into dust at the same time the elemental fought to maintain its cohesion.

“You are a guardian of the earth,” Nana informed it. There was no denying the authority in her voice. “You are not a weapon for destruction. Return to the ground from whence you came and be at peace.”

The elemental fought Nana’s command, and she renewed her efforts, this time standing between the ridges on Tsekani’s back. They battled for several seconds. And then the elemental collapsed with a final, agonizing roar. Its body disintegrated into a pile of rubble and soil. The ground stopped shaking, and a profound silence fell over the forest. Nana lowered her hands, and the light around her faded. She looked down at us and took a deep, steadying breath.

“Nana, that was incredible,” I said, rushing to Tseki’s side. “Are you okay?” I blurted when she wavered. That would be a long fall from the back of Tseki’s dragon.

Nana steadied herself and smiled at me, though her face was pale with exhaustion. “I'll be fine, Phoebe. It took a lot out of me. I wasn’t sure the spell would work because I’d never done it, but Nina came across a passage somewhere that talked about elementals and their role in the magical world. I took a chance from that information and made up a spell."

Stella stepped forward, her expression a mix of awe and gratitude. “That was unreal, Nana. We would have been battered without you.” Given how it had tossed two large wolves aside like gnats, she wasn’t wrong.

Aidon smiled up at Nana. “You were amazing. Our babies are damn lucky to have a grandmother like you in their lives.”

Nana beamed down at us and collapsed to her normal position between Tseki’s wings. “We're in for some serious fights if that’s what Lyra’s sending against us.”