Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Everyone chuckles with me, and I continue.
“When you reach the center of the spiral, I want you to come together as one. Hug each other and continue to chant the spell as the energy builds. If you’re claustrophobic, you might want to be one of the last to go in so you’re toward the outside.”
Several people grin, and I begin speaking the spell while they all listen, ready to follow my lead.
“I call on the wind, water, fire, and earth to follow us down this path of rebirth. Gods and ancestors, guide us we plead, show us the way to free those we seek.”
As they learn the spell, their voices join mine, and the first of the coven begins their walk down the spiral path as they speak loudly.
The wind kicks up around us, gently at first and then with more energy as our voices grow. The six of us hang back and form a circle on the outside of the outer rim of the spiral, lifting our arms and beginning the words once more, with more force and strength this time.
The tapestry begins glowing as witches reach it, hug it, and then each other, coming together in power and love, in perfect trust, lifting each other up. The beads and shells in the fabric glimmer in the glowing light.
I physically feel my third eye open as color surrounds us. Bright blues and purples start as our crown and third eye chakras open, then down farther through our heart and solar plexus, surrounding us in green and yellow. Finally, our sacral and root chakras open with orange and red, joining the other colors around us. Suddenly, it’s a symphony of color, as if we’re inside the aurora borealis.
“It’s opening,” Lucy calls out, her familiar, Nera, dancing at her side.
With one look at the bridge, I can see the portal opening like something out of a science fiction movie, with sparks moving in a clockwise direction and a bright, glowing yellow light in the middle.
“Let’s go,” I call out. “We’ll keep the portal open. Don’t be afraid.”
Without hesitation, everyone moves to the bridge and over to the edge of Hallows End. They don’t question whether or not we might become trapped there. They simply trust. That, in and of itself, is possibly the most humbling experience of my life.
“No freaking way,” Giles breathes, his hands on his hips. “I mean, I knew it was real, but—”
“I understand,” Jonas replies and steps forward, then turns back to us. “Please stay a few steps behind me. You don’t have to hide here but let me go ahead and enter first.”
“The five of us are right behind you,” I reply to the other man, who nods. I can see the reassurance on his face that we’re all with him as I turn to the others. “The six of us will be in the lead, and I’d like for you all to stay close behind.”
“We know what to do,” Percy assures me. “Let’s get going.”
Jonas’s steps are sure and quick as we make our way into the small village. I hear gasps and chatter rise behind me, and I understand the nervous energy coming from the coven. The fact that this village, and all the people who live here, have been mere yards away from Salem for more than three hundred years is unbelievable.
And yet, here it is.
“I’m going to run to each of the homes and ask them to come out to us,” Jonas says, already walking to the first house. “This is Louisa’s house. I want to start here.”
“Whatever you think is best,” Lorelei assures him.
I narrow my eyes and watch as Jonas comes back out with a frown. He says nothing, just hurries to another home and then another and another before returning to us.
“No one is inside their houses,” he says, shaking his head. “This is completely new. They should all be asleep.”
“I hear noises coming from that building,” Breena says, pointing down the dirt road.
“That’s the tavern,” Jonas replies, and we all begin walking that way. “There’s no reason for everyone to be there.”
“Let’s check it out.”
Something tells me to stick close to Jonas as he approaches the door of the tavern. When he opens it, we see at least fifty people inside, all standing together but not speaking.
Not moving.
Protect yourself, I immediately say to Lorelei, and I can hear her telling the others behind me.
“What is the meaning of this?” Jonas demands.
As a collective, all of them turn in unison to look at us.
And all of them have black eyes.
“Out,” I command Jonas and immediately begin a spell to trap all of them inside the tavern.
Jonas joins me, adding his magic to mine.
“Erect a wall, this ward we place. Keep darkness in this central space. Let nothing out ‘til we say okay, our powers are greater than evil this day.”