| |
This derelict area of Emberwick Crossing was rundown and dilapidated, with broken windows and graffiti covering the walls. The abandoned buildings and overgrown foliage covered everything in thick vines and weeds. The afternoon sun beat down on the cracked pavement. Dark and foreboding shadows lined the alleys, as if warning us of the danger ahead. In the distance, a large, looming structure stood tall—the abandoned lab of the dark witch, the Archmage.
I led twenty-three members of the magical community, including Agatha, Evie and my boyfriend Brad. Holly hell, I loved calling him my boyfriend. But right now, I needed to focus. We were here to confront the Archmage once and for all.
“I hope this surprise assault on the Archmage works,” I said, a charged magical current running through my veins.
Brad squeezed my hand, his blue eyes steadfast. “We trust you, Sage. If anyone can pull off an unprecedented attack, it’s you.”
Evie tossed her black hair over her shoulder, giving me a grin. “And if things go belly up, I’ve got potions that’ll turn the lot of us into squirrels. Quick getaway.”
Agatha sat atop my shoulder, her yellow eyes glinting. “Charming optimism, Evie. But let’s not hedge our bets on turning tail.”
As we neared the lab, a chill crept over my skin. Guarding the entrance stood six stone gargoyles, their eyes glowing with a sinister red light. I felt the thrum of dark magic in the air.
I tilted my head, my gaze zeroing in on the crystals dangling from necklaces around their stony necks. “Those necklaces. They’re the source of their animation.”
“Distraction then destruction.” Evie reached inside her pouch strapped to her belt and then uncorked a vial filled with shimmering liquid and tossed it at the feet of the nearest gargoyle. As it erupted into a cloud of glittering mist, the creature’s head swung around, momentarily transfixed.
The other magical residents stood back and watched.
Brad rubbed his hands together, calling forth his magic. “Time to loosen those necklaces.” His hands glowed with an amber hue as his magic worked through the stone structure.
“Go!” I urged.
Brad sprang forward, manipulating the stone with deft precision. The gargoyle’s grip on its crystal necklace slackened. I darted between claws and snapping jaws, everything narrowing to the pulse of the crystal in my grasp. With a surge of willpower, I channeled my energy into my palm. The crystal cracked, its light extinguished.
I darted between stone claws and snapping jaws, the world narrowing to the pulse of the crystal in my grasp. With a surge of will, I channeled my energy into the palm of my hand, and the crystal cracked, its light extinguished.
“Left flank, Sage! Don’t dilly-dally!” Agatha said.
I nodded, pivoting just in time to see Brad shatter another crystal. “Cover me!” I called out as I lunged for another gargoyle.
Evie retaliated by throwing another vial at a different guardian. The liquid exploded into a dazzling haze that swirled around the creature’s head like confetti gone wrong at a parade. “That’s it! Keep ‘em disoriented!”
Agatha melded into shadow, darting between our adversaries like a phantom. She emerged behind one gargoyle and swatted at its necklace with her paw, causing it to swing precariously.
“Sage! A little help here?” Brad’s voice was strained as he wrestled with a particularly stubborn guardian.
I waved my hand in intricate patterns while murmuring an incantation under my breath. A burst of energy shot forth and struck the necklace on Brad’s foe. It shattered into fragments that scattered like fallen stars.
“Another one down!” Brad hollered.
One of the gargoyles lunged at Evie. She barely had time to react before it closed in on her but managed to pull out another vial and smashed it on its foot. The liquid glowed bright green and sprouted vines that wrapped around its limbs.
“Don’t you just love nature’s fury?” Evie winked as she dodged its snapping jaws.
Brad summoned more magic, molding stone beneath his fingers like clay until yet another crystal came loose and clattered to the ground. “That makes four, if anyone’s keeping score!”
“Did you think this was some kind of game?” Agatha quipped while batting away at another necklace with surprising agility for a cat.
“Always so serious,” Evie remarked, distracted by yet another blast from her pouch as she tossed it toward an encroaching gargoyle.
Ducking under a massive stone claw, I grabbed hold of one more necklace and poured all my energy into breaking it apart. My strength melded with the crystal until it cracked and dimmed. “That’s five!”
The remaining gargoyle roared in defiance but was quickly subdued by our combined efforts—a final vial from Evie erupted in its face while Brad manipulated its joints until it could no longer move freely. And their threat was reduced to mere sculptures once again.
“Nice work.” Brad panted heavily.
Evie punched him lightly on the shoulder. “I’d say we make quite the team—when we’re not bickering over potion ingredients.”
“I’d prefer less excitement next time.” Agatha reappeared from her shadow form beside me and licked her paw nonchalantly.
“Let’s keep moving,” I said, adrenaline singing in my veins. “The Archmage won’t wait for us to catch our breath.”
Pushing forward, we moved further into the abandoned section of the city, the sun high in the cloudless blue sky.
We advanced through the overgrown foliage towards The Archmage’s lab, each step resounding with a sense of foreboding. As we neared, the trees, their branches seemed to turn against us, twisting into monstrous shapes, and deadly vines reaching out like serpents poised to strike. The foliage attacked our group.
The sight of nature turning against us made my hands clench. I’d always found solace in the forest, but now it felt like a disloyalty. The Archmage’s influence had corrupted even the most innocent of things. Anger flashed through me.
“Figures she’d animate the greenery,” I said
I watched as the twenty residents who had volunteered to help us take down The Archmage, Councilman Voss, and the High Witch, used their magic and staffs, to fight the foliage with various incantations. The sound of spells clashing against nature gone wild filled the air.
I felt a twinge of pride for our makeshift army. These were ordinary witches and warlocks, stepping up to face extraordinary danger. Their bravery bolstered my own resolve.
Evie threw a shimmering concoction that turned the thorns sprouting from a vine into harmless dandelion fluff before they could impale anyone. “Careful!”
Agatha’s form melded into my shadow. “Watch it, young witch! Your left!”
I whipped around, casting a shield just in time to deflect a swinging branch. Brad was beside me, and his hands shaped invisible blocks of force, constructing barriers to protect our group.
My heart hammered. I realized how close that branch had come. Agatha’s warning had saved me from a nasty blow.
My muscles strained. “Keep pushing through!”
We carved a path toward the lab, the sound of battle outside receding as we entered the darkened threshold. Inside, the air was stagnant and leaden with the noxious smell of old magic and dust.
The sudden quiet was unnerving. The lab’s interior felt like a tomb, preserved in time since The Archmage’s disappearance. I had the bad feeling that we were disturbing something that should have remained buried. But we had no choice. The fate of our community hung in the balance.
Agatha’s tail twitched. “Trap ahead.”
I took the lead down the hall that opened into a large chamber. “Everyone, stay alert.”
My breath caught as I spotted it—a room clouded with swirling, noxious gas.
I’d heard whispers of The Archmage’s experiments, but seeing the evidence firsthand was chilling. How many innocent magical beings had suffered for her twisted ambitions?
Evie peered over my shoulder. “The Archmage’s been busy. I heard she’s studied ancient alchemical texts. This brew targets magical beings specifically. Nasty stuff.”
I grimaced. “This is annoying.”
Brad’s face etched with concern. “Can you clear it?”
I focused on the currents around us. “Air manipulation. Brad, we’ll need your shields too.”
This was what I’d trained for—creating new spells on the fly, adapting to impossible situations.
Brad stepped forward. “Right behind you.”
Agatha leapt gracefully onto my shoulder, digging her claws in slightly for purchase. “Don’t get any ideas about making this a permanent arrangement.”
I smirked. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” My expression turned serious. “Ready?”
Evie gripped my free hand. “Let’s do it.”
Brad took my other, and together we formed an unbreakable chain. As our hands connected, I felt a surge of energy. It wasn’t just magic, it was trust, friendship, and shared purpose.
Momentarily, my doubts faded away. We might be outnumbered and outgunned, but we had something The Archmage and her cohorts could never understand—genuine friendships forged through loyalty and love.
I closed my eyes, calling upon my power over the elements. Air swirled at my command, rushing to create a sphere of breathable space amidst the poison. Simultaneously, Brad’s magic surged, reinforcing the bubble with a lattice of protective energy.
“Move,” I instructed, and we stepped forward into the haze.
“Feels like walking through a swamp.” Evie coughed, the pressure of the gas pressing against our makeshift barrier.
“Keep going,” Brad urged, his voice steady even as his brow furrowed in concentration.
We shuffled through the toxic cloud, every step a testament to our will and combined strength. Finally, we emerged on the other side, gasping for the cleaner air of the following chamber.
“Nice work.” Brad exhaled, releasing my hand. “But don’t relax yet. The Archmage isn’t one for easy paths.”
“Who needs easy when you’ve got ingenuity and good company?” I quipped, trying to lighten the mood as I brushed off Agatha from my shoulder.
“Speak for yourself,” Agatha grumbled, but there was a hint of relief in her tone.
The next room was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere. It didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t just poor lighting, illusions flickered in and out of existence, disorienting and surreal.
Brad was squinting as he tried to discern reality from mirage. “The Archmage has harnessed ancient illusion spells. From forgotten realms, no less. This is a devious nightmare.”
With a deep breath, I drew on my magic to see beyond the deception. Hidden within the deception, a pattern emerged. A sequence of symbols acting as breadcrumbs through the illusions.
“Agatha, your instincts are sharp, even sharper than her illusions. And Brad, use that analytical mind of yours. Evie, stay close. We need to decode these symbols,” I instructed, pointing towards the shifting images.
Evie nodded, her gaze sharpening. “Between the four of us, we’ve got this.”
Brad identified the first symbol, and we followed the pattern he traced with his finger.
“Next one’s there.” I stepped carefully to align with the symbol that pulsed faintly under my gaze.
“Got another one.” Evie pointed.
“Two more to go, young witch.” Agatha rubbed her cheek against my chin.
Methodically, we decoded the sequence until we reached the far side of the room, untouched by the illusions’ dizzying effects.
I blew out a breath, a smile on my lips. “Now let’s find The Archmage and the Echoing Locket.”
The door to The Archmage’s lab creaked open, revealing a scene that was both fascinating and sinister. Shelves lined with spell components and ancient tomes surrounded us, but it was the woman at the center of the room who commanded our attention. The Archmage Nightspire stood before an altar, the Echoing Locket clasped tightly in her pale hand, its surface pulsing with captured spells.
“Archmage!” I called out, my voice steady despite the unease knotting my stomach. “This ends now.”
“Ah, Sage Holland,” she replied, her tone smooth as ice, “do you really believe you can stop me?”
I could feel the energy coursing through me, the air around me thrumming. “Actually, yes. We’re not playing by your rules anymore.”
Brad stepped forward. “You’re outnumbered, and we’re not backing down.”
“Outnumbered, perhaps,” Archmage said coolly. “But outmatched? Hardly.”
Evie’s hand found mine, squeezing it briefly before she flung a vial to the ground. A thick purple fog rolled across the floor, obscuring our vision, but more importantly, disrupting The Archmage’s concentration.
The evil witch narrowed her gaze and extended her free hand. Crackling energy surged from her fingertips, aiming to dispel the fog. “Pathetic tricks,” she muttered.
“Shadow bind,” Agatha hissed, leaping from my shoulder.
The room dimmed further as tendrils of darkness coiled around The Archmage, eliciting a snarl of frustration from her. She twirled with surprising agility, manipulating the shadows to constrict and then snap back at Agatha.
“Enough!” She flicked her wrist sharply. Agatha yelped and retreated but remained vigilant.
“Try this on for size!” Brad shouted, his hands moving swiftly as he conjured a lattice of glowing runes around The Archmage, each one designed to disarm and disorient.
She glared at Brad without losing focus on dissolving his runes with delicate precision. “Runes?” She smirked. “Child’s play.”
I focused all my power, feeling the elemental magic at my fingertips responding to my will. With a flick of my hand, I sent a gust of wind toward the locket, attempting to wrench it from The Archmage’s grasp.
“Persistent, aren’t you?” Her voice wavered slightly as she reinforced her grip on the locket with an incantation. Lightning flickered around her as she struggled to maintain control.
“Sonofabitch,” I muttered. She was tougher than we anticipated.
Brad slammed his foot into the ground, and stone spikes erupted beneath The Archmage’s feet. She jumped nimbly aside but stumbled as one caught her ankle.
“I don’t need spells to deal with amateurs!” Her voice broke into a shout.
Evie’s fingers danced in complex motions as she prepared another elixir. “Sage! Now!”
Drawing upon my magical energy, I thrust both hands forward and unleashed a torrent of magic aimed directly at The Archmage’s defenses.
She winced but held firm against our combined assault. “You think, you can beat me?” The icy composure in her voice cracked.
“We think we already have,” Brad replied calmly.
The Archmage managed to maintain her grip, but her voice had lost some of its composure. “But I’ve planned for every contingency.”
“Did you plan for this?” I said, weaving together a new spell—the product of countless sleepless nights. It was untested, but I trusted my instincts.
Forming a complex pattern with my hands, I channeled pure creative energy into the air.
A radiant lattice of spell work coiled around The Archmage, tightening like an ethereal serpent. She gasped, a flicker of fear rippling across her otherwise impassive face, as the lattice started to unravel her defenses piece by piece.
“Impossible!” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“Hate to break it to you,” I said, feeling a surge of confidence. “But this spell rewrites your contingencies.”
The dark witch struggled against the luminescent bonds, her movements becoming frantic. As the magic took hold, the ground beneath us thrummed with power. Her expression morphed from disbelief to sheer rage.
“I will not be undone by the likes of you,” The Archmage spat.
“Funny,” Brad said, stepping closer. “Looks like you already are.”
I had to hand it to Brad—his one-liners were on point tonight. Maybe I should start taking notes.
The Archmage’s final barrier cracked audibly before shattering completely under the weight of my spell. Her defiance faded into frantic desperation as she tried to summon more energy but found none left to conjure.
“You’ve underestimated us,” I said quietly.
My friends and I were like the magical Avengers minus the cool outfits and billion-dollar budget.
Her response was a guttural growl of frustration, but for the first time since this all began, it sounded more like surrender than defiance.
Agatha purred from the shadows. “Let’s wrap this up. My dinnertime is sacred, and I hate being late.”
Ah, Agatha. Always keeping our priorities straight. Who needed to save the world when there was a can of tuna waiting at home?
“Always about your stomach, eh, Agatha?” Evie said, lobbing another potion that exploded into a dazzling display of light and sound, momentarily stunning The Archmage.
With a cruel smile, the evil witch vanished into thin air, taking the Echoing Locket with her. Her laughter echoed from the walls, mocking us even in her retreat.
Just when I thought we had her. Typical villain move, always ruining a perfectly good climax with their disappearing acts.
I frowned. “Damn it! She got away.”
The air sizzled with dark energy, and Councilman Voss teleported before us, his face twisted in fury.
“Meddling children,” he spat, his voice dripping with condescension. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Voss roared, raising his hand to unleash a torrent of magical energy.
“Shield up!” Brad yelled, throwing up a barrier just in time to absorb the brunt of the attack.
“Evie, I need those potions now! Agatha, shadows—blind him if you can!” I called out, drawing on every ounce of strength left in me.
Nothing like a little teamwork to really bring out the best in people. Or cats, in Agatha’s case.
“You’re being bossy, young witch.” Agatha darted through the room like a wraith, her shadowy form a blur.
“Here, catch!” Evie tossed a handful of vials that exploded around Councilman Voss, releasing clouds of smoke and bursts of light that caused him to stagger.
“Let’s see how you like being trapped,” Brad growled, and he constructed an intricate maze of magical walls around Voss.
Brad’s architectural skills never ceased to amaze me.
“Your tricks won’t hold me forever!” Councilman Voss bellowed, struggling against the constraints.
With a determined expression, Brad manipulated the stone beneath Voss’ feet. Cracks began to form rapidly before spiraling into a jagged pit that consumed Voss up to his waist. Brad didn’t relent. My boyfriend condensed the stone around Councilman Voss like a vise, crushing and suffocating the warlock’s fire spells until his cries turned into weak gasps. Blood gurgled up and out of his mouth.
“Is this the part where you beg for mercy?” Agatha circled the trapped Councilman, her yellow stare keen.
Voss coughed, his voice little more than a whisper now. “No...but, Sage, I must confess something.”
“Confess what?” I watched him struggle for each shallow breath.
“It was me...” He drew in a ragged gulp of air. “I killed your parents...because of Ingrid.” His blue eyes, ice-cold and remorseless even now, met mine.
I stared at Voss, my mind reeling from his confession. The world seemed to tilt on its axis, and I struggled to breathe. “You...what?” My voice came out as a strangled whisper.
Voss coughed, blood splattering his chin. “Ingrid...I loved her. I did it for her, even though I knew she never loved me back. Your parents...they were in the way.”
Rage surged through me, hot and violent. “You monster!” I lunged forward, but Brad caught me, holding me back.
“Let me go!” I thrashed against his grip. “I’ll kill him myself!”
“Sage, don’t,” Brad said, his voice pained. “He’s not worth it.”
Agatha prowled closer to Voss, her tail lashing. “Well, well. The truth comes out at last. How deliciously tragic.”
Evie knelt beside me, her face a mask of concern. “Sage, I’m so sorry, but at least you know the full truth now.”
Councilman Voss wheezed, his breaths growing more labored. “Ingrid...I did it...all for her.”
“You took everything from me,” I snarled, tears streaming down my face. “And for what? A woman who never loved you back?”
“Love makes fools of us all,” Voss gasped, a bitter smile twisting his bloodied lips.
I wrenched free from Brad’s grasp, stumbling towards Voss. “Tell me why. Why them? Why not just...just...”
“Your father...was going to expose Ingrid’s plans,” Voss rasped. “Your mother...collateral damage.”
I sobbed, my voice rising hysterically. “She was a person! They both were!”
Agatha’s fur bristled. “Young witch, step back. Let the bastard die in peace.”
I whirled on her. “He doesn’t deserve peace!”
“No,” Voss agreed, his voice fading. “I don’t. But I’m sorry. For what it’s worth.”
I laughed bitterly. “It’s worth nothing.”
The Councilman’s gaze grew distant, unfocused. “Tell Ingrid...I always loved her. Even now.”
With a final, rattling breath, Councilman Alden Voss slumped in his stone prison. The light faded from his gaze, leaving behind empty, glassy orbs staring at nothing.
I stumbled back, my legs giving out. Brad caught me, lowering us both to the ground.
“He’s gone.” Evie checked Voss’s pulse. “His life is over.”
But it wasn’t over. Not for me. The truth of my parents’ deaths, hidden for so long, now lay exposed like a raw nerve. I curled into Brad’s chest, sobs wracking my body.
“Shh, I’ve got you,” Brad murmured, stroking my hair. “Let it out, Sage. I’m here.”
Evie knelt beside us, wrapping her arms around us both. “We’re all here, Sage. You’re not alone.”
Agatha padded over. “Well, this is a fine mess. What now, young witch?”
I lifted my head, wiping my tears. “Now? We find Ingrid. And we make her pay.”
Brad tensed. “Sage, revenge won’t bring them back.”
“I know that,” I snapped, then softened. “I’m sorry.”
Evie squeezed my hand. “And we’ll get justice for their deaths.”
Agatha snorted. “How heartwarming. Now, can we please get out of this dreary lab? The stench of death is ruining my appetite.”
Through the sniffles and tears, I found myself laughing. It was a broken, hysterical sound, but it was something. “Only you could think about food at a time like this,” I said, shaking my head.
Agatha preened. “What can I say? I’m a cat of simple pleasures.”
Brad helped me to my feet, his arm steady around my waist. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
As we made our way out of The Archmage’s lab, leaving Voss’s body behind, Ingrid was still out there, and now I knew the truth about her involvement in my parents’ deaths.
Agatha trotted ahead, her tail held high. “Now, about that food...”
I rolled my eyes, grateful for the distraction. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I prefer ‘charmingly persistent’.” Agatha lifted her chin.
Outside, the enchanted foliage writhed and twisted around the magical residents fighting valiantly.
I closed my eyes for a moment, reaching deep within. “Folium cessare!” I chanted, my hands weaving a new pattern in the air. A pulse of clear energy radiated from me, calming the violent greenery until it lay dormant at our feet.
“The Archmage has fled, but this isn’t over!” I declared, turning to face the crowd.
Their cheers and applause warmed me, but the ache in my heart remained.
Everyone left the lab and headed back towards our homes.
“I can’t believe it,” I murmured as we walked. “All this time...Voss was their killer...”
“So, what’s the plan?” Evie asked, her voice tentative.
I squared my shoulders. “We find Ingrid and her psychopathic, crazy sister.”
Agatha looked up at me. “Sage, are you sure that’s wise? Those two are dangerous.”
“I know,” I said, my voice hardening. “But so am I.”
Agatha chuckled darkly. “Now that’s what I like to hear. A little revenge never hurt anyone.”
“Except, you know, the person we’re taking revenge on,” Evie pointed out.
I shook my head. “This isn’t about revenge. It’s about justice. For my parents and for anyone else Ingrid and The Archmage have hurt.”
Brad sighed but nodded. “All right. But we do this smart. No rushing in half-cocked.”
“Okay, yeah,” I said, then smiled.
As we made our way back to my house, I felt a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me. Grief, anger, determination, and underneath it all, a fierce love for the makeshift family surrounding me.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “All of you. I couldn’t do this without you.”
Evie squeezed my arm. “That’s what friends are for, bestie.”
Brad kissed the top of my head. “You’re my everything, Sage. And I won’t let you do this alone.”
Agatha predictably ruined the moment. “Yes, yes, we’re all very devoted. Now, about that meal...”
I laughed. “Fine, you glutton feline. We’ll stop for takeout on the way home.”
As we walked, I felt a transformation within me. Something had changed today beyond just learning the truth about my parents. I’d always known I was strong, but now...now I felt dangerous.
Ingrid had no idea what was coming for her. And neither did The Archmage.
For the first time since this whole mess started, I felt a glimmer of hope. We were going to take them down, and we were going to do it soon.
Well the three of us, plus one very demanding cat.
“If you don’t feed me soon, I may have to resort to cannibalism,” Agatha announced dramatically.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re a cat. Technically, that would be humanibalism.”
“Whatever.” Agatha sniffed.
We rounded the corner and the sight of our favorite takeout place came into view. For a weird moment everything felt normal again.
But I knew better. Nothing would ever be normal again. And strangely, I was okay with that.
Because normal had never included justice for my parents. And now, finally, I had a chance to get it.
Watch out, Ingrid. I’m coming for you.