Snow Witching White, page 16
After sending Stone a one-way message that I was going with him, Mistress Lita convinced me I should attend classes in the morning to learn what I could before leaving the coven. She’d tried a tepid attempt at convincing me to stay, but she must’ve recognized I’d made up my mind. Stubbornness must run in the family.
Of course, Stone couldn’t respond to my message so I didn’t know what he thought about my decision. My gut twinged. I’m sure he was thrilled. Stone and I needed to stay together. Too much of our lives had been spent apart.
Miss Shadowmend, the Arts of Alchemy teacher, had sent us on a scavenger hunt to find a rare plant called Death Weed which can be dried and used in potions. The prize was a unique magic potion book that I really wanted to win.
Remembering the plant from Mistress Lita’s office, I described it to Lavender and she agreed it was the same item. We worked as a team trying to gather the plant with black flowers. I’d miss her when I left. The thought weighed me down. According to Mistress Lita, the coven would die. Did that mean she would die too? What about Lavender and even Raven, Astrid, and Arabella? What about Damien and the warlocks? What about Cassia and her family?
I didn’t want the witches and warlocks to die. Why couldn’t they pick a new leader? Why did it have to be me? I didn’t even know these people a few days ago. Why should it be my responsibility to stay?
We picked the plants close to where the Dark Angel’s Veil waterfall cascaded into the river below. The green, scrub brush plant with black petals stood out and grew in abundance. None of the other witches from class had picked this location. Maybe they didn’t have inside information.
“There’s a bunch over there.” The potion book prize would help me teach myself about alchemy. It was something I wanted to bring with me when I left.
“Not a good idea, Destiny.” Lavender’s voice quivered. She hadn’t wanted to come anywhere near the waterfall and I’d had to convince her.
This morning it was finally sunny and I was happy to be outside.
She shook the basket to get my attention. “We’re not supposed to get close to the Dark Angel’s home.”
“The Dark what?” I sucked in a breath so intense my ribs pierced my lungs. Cassia had told me it was an old legend.
“The Dark Angel guards the Gates of the Underworld.” Lavender trembled, fearful of saying his name.
“I thought the coven guarded—” My words stopped and bitterness flooded my mouth. I couldn’t speak of it because of the Secretum Bond. Maybe the bond was not about me sharing secrets. Maybe it was about me not asking questions and learning more than I was supposed to. “Tell me more.”
Her gaze danced around confirming we were alone. “He’s a guiding leader of the coven.”
I paused my picking. “He’s a leader?”
“Not a leader exactly. It’s a coven secret.” My friend ducked her head. “I’m not supposed to know much, but my mother… I can’t talk about him.”
I wonder if she’d agreed to a Secretum Bond.
“So the Dark Angel is real?” I had to know if Cassia had lied about the file being a joke.
“Of course, he’s real.” Lavender chuckled darkly. “Once upon a time he was a warlock from our coven.”
“How long ago?” I picked another plant. Might as well learn truthful history while I worked.
“A long, long time ago.” She picked another plant. “A new Dark Angel is chosen when the current one’s Death Mate dies and joins him in the Underworld.”
I stared at her. “You know about the…the…”
She angled her head. “The Underworld? Sure. The current Dark Angel has held the position for at least a century. I don’t know who his Death Mate is but she’s lived an impossibly long time or something in the process went wrong. The warlocks have been competing for the position for decades. No one new has been chosen.”
“Only a warlock can become the Dark Angel?” When she answered yes, I let out a breath. I needed to focus on winning, not legends. “I really want to win this prize. I could use the book when I leave.”
“I can’t believe Mistress Lita is allowing you to go.”
“She doesn’t have a choice.” This was my decision.
I waved Lavender over to a spot where the plants grew in large bunches right next to the edge. The steep drop had me getting on my knees to keep my balance. I didn't want to fall in like my grandmother had. Spray from the waterfall hit my uniform.
“The water doesn’t burn you?” Lavender levitated the large basket holding the plants we’d collected so far. She didn’t step any closer.
“We’ll be careful.” I pulled the plants. “Bring the basket over here.”
She took a step and used her wand to bring the basket closer to me. I dropped the plants in. “Should be plenty to win.” She grabbed hold of the basket. “We should head back.”
The water rushing down the falls grew stronger and louder. Steam started to rise. The water at the bottom bubbled in an ugly brown brew.
Fascinated, I stood and watched.
The bubbles grew bigger and bigger. Some of them took on a darker color, almost black. They began to form a shape. Or was a shape emerging from beneath the waterfall?
Instead of stepping away, I stepped closer. An urge drew me toward the edge.
The shape became a man. Or part man. He had long gray hair and small horns protruded from the sides of his head. His nose was flat with wide nostrils and his pupils glowed with flames. He didn’t wear a shirt and his sagging center showed that at one time he’d been muscular. Now he just looked old. He wore a ragged cloth around his waist and his legs were covered in hair.
“Destiny, run!” Lavender grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away.
“Who steals from the Dark Angel?” The man roared and his body seared with heat.
My bare legs and face roasted.
Lavender’s fingers slipped off my arm and her body stilled.
My mouth opened to speak and nothing came out. Peering at an unmoving Lavender, I tried again. “We weren’t stealing. We were picking plants for class.”
The Dark Angel’s expression darkened. His horns glowed red. “Witches from the academy?”
I began to nod and a lump formed in my throat. Maybe I shouldn’t tell him anything. “I didn’t know the plants were yours.” Although Lavender had warned me to stay away. “I didn’t realize…”
Fear boiled inside me like the water below. A plan formed in my mind. Probably a stupid plan but I had to protect Lavender and myself. Slipping the Obsidian’s Fire wand from my pocket, I didn’t know a spell to use. But he didn’t know that.
“Leave us alone.” My hands trembled as I pointed the wand at the man.
The water bubbled more and steam rose around the Dark Angel. His angry frown deepened and he raised his hand to strike.
If he was dark, I needed to try light. “Lux.”
The tip of my wand lit. Nothing scary or formidable. The stupid spell and my false bravado failed.
“Have you learned how to use my wand after only a day?” His voice thundered. Heat licked off his body and tried to wrap itself around me.
His wand? My mind swirled. How could this be his wand? And how did he know I’d only had it for a day? I’d told Stone and the mistress I could protect myself. Maybe I was wrong.
The Dark Angel controlled his laughter. “For that miserable attempt, I’ll want payment for my Death Weed.”
“Okay, Mr. Dark Angel.” Rubbing my hands on my skirt, I didn’t know what to call the man. “How much do you want?”
He laughed again at my confusion and panic. How could the man know me so well? Could he read my thoughts?
“She’s holding my plants. She stole them.” His finger snaked out and he pointed at Lavender holding the basket. “I’ll take her.”
Before I could react, a brown wave of water swept from the river and wrapped around Lavender. The strength of the wave, or the magic, carried her down beneath the flow of water. She never moved or screamed.
My eyes popped. My heart hammered. My pulse sped around and around my body.
“No!” I screamed for her. It was my fault we were near the falls. She’d warned me to stay away. “Don’t take her! Take me instead.”
The Dark Angel gave me a mysterious smirk as he began to sink beneath the river with his payment in tow. His black gaze pierced mine. “We’ll meet again, Destiny. Soon. Very soon.”
Chapter sixteen
The Dark Angel’s parting statement chilled even though everything was blazing hot. A promise from someone called the Dark Angel was definitely a threat.
I stood frozen to the spot for a few seconds before panic crept into my consciousness. My new friend was gone. My breath came out in shallow pants. She’d been taken and I’d been threatened. I’d tried to use magic. My shoulders dropped. I’d been defenseless.
If I was so powerful, why did I feel so helpless?
Provost Morgane apparated with a group of five witches. “What happened? An alarm went off.”
Blinking a couple of times, I processed what she said. “You have alarms in case someone falls in the river?”
“There’s more than water in the river.” The provost peered over the edge. She swiveled around to face me and her eyes bugged out of her head. “Where’s my daughter?”
“I don’t know. Who’s your daughter?” I didn’t care about her daughter, unless…unless—no time for conjecture. “We were picking Death Weed for class,” I heaved, “a bit too close to the edge,” I heaved again admitting the last part, “and the Dark Angel took Lavender into the river.”
She could have drowned or boiled to death. Panic bubbled like the river. My insides scalded and baked about to burst with fear and sorrow. Lavender might be dead and it would be my fault.
Provost Morgane’s expression went pale. She wavered as if blown by the wind. Sinking to her knees, she grabbed her head in her hands. “Lavender!”
My mouth dropped. Lavender was Provost Morgane’s daughter.
The other witches didn’t move. They must not know what to do. Their expressions held disbelief and fear.
“Do something!” I dropped to my knees beside the provost. Desperation flayed me on the inside. “You’re a powerful witch. Can’t you zap this Dark Angel with a spell? Conjure or apparate Lavender back?”
The provost wept, rocking back and forth. “My daughter!”
I lifted my hand to pat her back, wanting to comfort. I wasn’t sure how or if she wanted my touch. She was a leader in the coven. Surely, she knew how to deal with this situation. “There must be something we can do.” When she didn’t answer, I raised my head to the other witches. “Isn’t there something we can do?”
One witch shook her head. The others stared at the ground.
I processed their reactions. Were they giving up without a fight? If witches were so powerful, they should be able to do something against this Dark Angel. I was told my grandmother had fallen into the falls. Was that a lie? Had she been taken too?
Mistress Lita apparated in front of us, her tulle cape blowing in the wind. She wore a black leather corset with straps. The tulle repeated in the wispy skirt and beneath were black lace stockings and short boots. A few strands of white hair loosened from a bun. I’d never seen her hair up before and couldn’t get a good look at the full color.
My chest lessened its constriction. Thank the elves she’d arrived.
“Mistress Lita.” At her stern glance, I used the nickname she’d wanted. “Gigi, we need your help. Lavender was taken by the Dark Angel. Provost Morgane is inconsolable. None of them know what to do.” I waved at the unhelpful witches standing there. “I don’t know what to do. How can we get Lavender back?”
“We won’t be doing anything.” The provost lifted her head and scowled. “You’ve done enough, haven’t you Destiny?”
The provost automatically blamed me. I hung my head. She was right. This was my fault. My pulse beat faster and sweat formed on my brow. Lavender had tried to tell me not to get too close and I didn’t listen. I’d antagonized the Dark Angel by attempting a spell.
“We’ll place blame later.” Mistress Lita stepped to the edge of the falls and peered down. Her body wavered and she appeared leaner and shorter than last night.
“Do you see anything?” I scurried beside her, not caring if I fell in or got in more trouble. “Is Lavender alive?”
“She’s alive for now.” The mistress expressed no emotion. “I’ll need a clear account of everything that happened.”
As a leader, she must not be able to express her feelings.
She hobbled beside the provost. She didn’t bend down or kneel beside her. “You must pull yourself together, Provost Morgane. I’ll start discussions with the Dark Angel. This has happened before.”
I gasped. My great grandmother could just pick up a phone or send a message and talk to the scary half man? I thought Regent Theobald had dark vibes, but this man’s aura was obsidian black.
The provost raised her head slowly. She glared at the mistress. “We both know how this ends.”
My pulse skyrocketed. More secrets.
My great grandmother’s eyes hardened. “You can put together an extraction team.”
“What can I do?”
“You’re leaving this afternoon.” Mistress Lita’s voice chilled, sending a shiver through me. She’d never acted so cold. “Is this what you do, Destiny? Create problems and then leave?”
I faltered back. Did I create problems? After the rescue from the dungeon, I’d planned to fight against the regent. It wasn’t my fault I’d been kidnapped and Stone and my friends had left to find me. I’d left the banshee clan with better leadership even though they wanted me to stay. And now, I planned to leave the coven while Lavender was in danger. If I was truly a protector, how could I leave now?
Provost Morgane stood and stepped into Mistress Lita’s space. “While you’re negotiating, don’t give away all our secrets.”
How many other secrets did the Inferis Coven have?
I was in a daze of guilt and disbelief. I couldn’t get rid of the image of the Dark Angel grabbing Lavender with a wave and taking her. How could she survive the boiling temperature and being underwater for so long? Was this a rescue or recovery mission? Classes had been canceled while the provost put together a rescue team. I wanted to do something. I wasn’t used to sitting idly by while someone else did the rescuing. Now, I understood how Stone felt staying at the coven.
My ribs constricted around my lungs so tight I couldn’t exhale. I couldn’t leave the coven now. I had to find Stone and tell him.
Using the secret passage Cassia had shown me, I made my way to where Stone and Lukas were staying. No acolytes were posted out front so I hurried inside. “Stone?”
“What’s wrong?” The question was one he often greeted me with. He always believed I was in trouble. Is that why he stuck around?
I ran into his arms and they wrapped around me. How much longer would I receive his comfort? “I can’t leave the coven.”
His body tensed and he held me back slightly. His gaze narrowed in suspicion. “Why? Are the witches stopping you?”
“No.” I stiffened, slightly insulted he’d suggest that. “I did something terrible.”
He hugged me closer. “You’d never do anything terrible, on purpose.”
His doubt poked me. “Of course not. But Lavender…” My chest tightened and my complex breath labored remembering how she’d been taken. “Lavender…” I took another harsh breath refusing to cry. “Lavender was taken by the Dark Angel.”
“The what?” Stone tilted away to stare at me. “And who is Lavender?”
“She’s a witch and we were working on a class assignment.” I gave him a summary of what happened. “The Dark Angel is…” I licked my lips trying to stop the bitter taste in my mouth. “My great grandmother is going to negotiate with him and Provost Morgane is putting together an extraction team and I…I…”
“I’m sure your new friend will be okay.” Stone kissed the top of my head and rubbed my back. “Powerful witches are working to find her.”
“She was taken and it’s my fault.” The wail morphed into a determined thread. There had to be a way I could help. I was resourceful. I’d rescued others before.
His arms wrapped around me like a trap. “What’re you thinking?”
“Nothing.”
“I know you. You’re plotting something.” Keeping his arms around me, he pulled back to stare and analyze my expression.
I ducked my head, hating how he knew me so well. If there was something I could do, I’d find it. He’d do the same thing, he just didn’t want me doing anything rash. “I can’t leave the coven right now.”
“Because you’re going to do something stupid.” He inferred I’d attempt a rescue.
“No!” Lifting my head, I looked straight at him. I didn’t know what I was going to do. But I couldn’t sit around and wait for others to do the work of finding Lavender. I couldn’t abandon her. “I can’t leave because I messed up again. I can’t go out into the kingdom without learning to control my powers.”
Without knowing what happened to Lavender.
I thought I could leave. Between the books I could take from the coven and the assistance of Professor Nilsen at the palace, I thought I could learn outside the coven. Seeing the Dark Angel made me realize I knew next to nothing.
“It wasn’t your magic that got this girl kidnapped.” Stone’s logic didn’t matter.
“It was my fault we were by the waterfall and I have to stay until I know she’s okay. And clearly, I haven’t learned enough to stop being taught by powerful witches.” I was even more convinced. I couldn’t go out into the world, lose control, and get my friends in more trouble. I had to know what I could do with my magic and how to control it. I had to learn the secrets of the coven.
His eyes flashed with a million emotions as if fighting with himself. “You understand, I have to leave.”
My heart cracked in two. I’d hoped he might delay. “Could you ask King—”
“No.” The single hard word cut through my hope. “I’ve delayed my appointment long enough. King Zacharye needs me. I can be useful there. Here, I’m doing nothing. I can’t even protect you, especially if I rarely see you.”
