For the first time in her life, June found herself intimidated by the sight of Fortune’s Books.
She hesitated on the footpath across the road, her gaze fixed on the windows. The quaint shop seemed to pulse with a life of its own, full of books, stories, and adventures past.
“Come on,” she muttered, summoning the same courage that’d seen her face down malevolent spirits and submerged elemental blobs. “It’s just Harriet.”
With a deep breath that did little to steady the pounding in her chest, June crossed the street, allowing a car to pass before darting across the yellow line and onto the cobblestone footpath.
An a-frame sign out the front displayed the poster for the book fair, with a subheading that they were looking for volunteers. She hesitated again, eyeing the words, and almost turned around, but she thought better of it.
Pull yourself together, June. Squaring her shoulders, she strode toward the shop.
The bell above the door jangled as June stepped into the familiar scent of paper and fragrant candles. Her gaze darted around, searching for Harriet, but she didn’t seem to be there and her racing heart eased up a little.
“Can I help you?” an employee asked, pulling June from her thoughts. The man was new—or at least, new to her.
“Actually, yeah,” she replied. “I saw you’re having a book fair soon. I’d like to volunteer.”
“Really?” He seemed surprised. “That’s great. We can use all the help we can get. After what happened at the Christmas market, people aren’t that willing to put themselves forward.”
“Oh,” June said, her eyebrows rising. “Really? That was just a freak accident. No one was hurt.”
“I know.” He shrugged and handed her a clipboard and pen. “But people will make any excuse these days.”
June smiled, signing her name on the volunteer list. “Well, I’m not afraid of a little adventure,” she said, handing back the clipboard.
“Harriet will be happy to see you’re helping,” he commented as he stashed the clipboard behind the counter, oblivious to the ripple of magic that ebbed across June’s skin.
“Will she?”
“Sure,” he said with an absentminded smile. “She’s always going on about how the community should come together more often.”
June had barely registered what he’d said when the bell on the door chimed again. Her heart lurched as Harriet stepped inside, her arms laden with a stack of boxes and packages that obscured her face, but her curly chestnut hair instantly gave her away. June straightened up, bracing herself.
“Post office busy?” the same employee called out.
“Yep!” came the muffled reply. “The miserable sods couldn’t even loan me a crate.” Harriet shuffled forward, carefully navigating between shelves and tables until she reached the counter and unloaded her cargo. It was only then that she noticed June standing there.
“What are you doing here?” Harriet’s voice held a note of surprise that didn’t quite mask an undertone of resentment.
“Volunteering for the book fair,” June replied, meeting her gaze.
“Really?” Her response was polite but cold, just as June had expected it to be.
“Yeah.”
“Good for you,” Harriet said, the words coming out clipped. “It’s nice to see you taking an interest.”
“Thanks,” June said, choosing to ignore the passive-aggressive edge. “I think it’ll be fun. And it’s for a good cause, right?”
Harriet pursed her lips, already turning her attention back to the stack of packages, rearranging them with unnecessary force. She picked up a box cutter and unsheathed the blade, stabbing the sharp edge through the tape of the nearest package.
“Okay, well,” June hesitated, then continued, “I should get going. Lots to do. But I’ll see you at the fair.”
“Sure,” Harriet said without looking up. “Whatever.”
As June pushed the door open and stepped out onto the street, she allowed herself a small, hopeful smile. The first step was always the hardest, and now all she had to do was follow through.
Looking back into the shop, she grimaced as she saw Harriet stabbing the boxcutter into one of the packages. Maybe she should ask Alistair for a protective charm, just in case.
June’s slender fingers brushed against the rough bark of a tree as she passed, the touch grounding her uneasy thoughts. She took in a breath of fresh, spring air and exhaled slowly, trying to dislodge the discomfort that clung to her like morning dew.
Her tense encounter with Harriet still stung, and probably would for a while yet. But the surrounding peace soothed her anxiety, and the presence she’d felt in the woods during winter was long gone. There was nothing out here but the lure of adventure—the good kind.
Lydia waited for her ahead, sending inside a natural clearing just beyond where the town’s grasp faded into dense forest.
“Ready to get going?” the witch asked, shouldering her backpack.
“Absolutely,” June replied. The memory of Harriet’s guarded expression lingered, but the promise of an afternoon in the woods searching for the Shadow’s Embrace lightened her mind a little.
“I know a few places where we can start,” Lydia was saying. “Ancient places where I’ve seen other magic-altered plants grow.”
“That sounds promising. Let’s go.”
They set off through the woods, the midday sun peering through the leaves overhead, casting a dappled light on their path.
June could see the signs of spring all around them. Shoots of green pushed through rich, dark soil, and flowers unfurled amongst the foliage. Birds sung rich songs as they flitted from branch to branch, while squirrels scurried up trees and across the path, their bushy tails flicking with each agile leap.
“I just love spring,” Lydia said, her voice soft. “There’s just so much going on.”
June nodded. There was magic here, not just the kind that pooled at her fingertips or hummed in the ground beneath her feet, but a simpler sort that existed without spells or incantations—a magic born of nature. This is where the balance originated.
Despite the serenity of the forest, a prickling sensation crept up June’s spine. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see a pair of eyes fixed on her, but there was nothing except the shivering leaves and the occasional startled bird taking flight. The sensation was familiar, reminding her of the elemental entity at the bottom of the lake—a presence that watched without being seen.
“Feel it too?” Lydia asked, catching June’s uneasy expression.
June nodded. “I thought I was just being paranoid. I mean, I thought I was done with all of this.”
“Old magic sometimes leaves an echo,” Lydia murmured, brushing a strand of mousy hair from her face. “Even after it’s gone, the forest remembers.”
“Is that what this is? An echo?”
“Could be,” Lydia said thoughtfully. “Or maybe it’s just the woods being protective of their secrets.”
“Like the Shadow’s Embrace.”
“Exactly,” Lydia replied, her gaze focused on the path ahead. “This forest has sheltered magical creatures and plants for centuries. It’s not going to part with them easily.”
June’s gaze returning to the path. It made sense. The wood was as alive as any creature or plant that dwelled within it, teeming with its own sort of primal, ancient magic.
The two witches continued deeper into the forest, their boots crunching on a carpet of fallen leaves. Occasionally, Lydia would halt, scanning the underbrush as if in search of a sign. Each time she would shake her head and lead them further onward.
The next time Lydia halted, she held up a hand to silence June. She closed her eyes and muttered an incantation under her breath.
Just glanced around, her skin prickling. There was a hum in the air, a radiance that reminded her of a hot summer’s day.
The forest seemed to pulse in response, the shadowy canopies of leaves above them vibrating as if alive. She could practically see the currents of power sweeping around them, feeling its tangible push and pull against her senses. This magic was ancient, powerful—it had to be one of the old places Lydia had mentioned.
June’s heart leapt in excitement as she began searching for any signs of the Shadow’s Embrace, though she wasn’t quite sure what they were.
Lydia opened her eyes, a look of concentration etched across her face.
“I think it’s close,” she murmured, excitement shining in her eyes as she looked back at June. “I think we’ve got a lead.”
“That easily?” she wondered. “I thought we’d be searching for weeks.”
“It must be close to blooming,” Lydia mused, spinning slowly as she surveyed the clearing. “Or it already is.”
“So, what do we do now?”
“Now, we start searching. Remember the notes on its growth patterns—a shady spot, likely with moss and curling ferns, near fresh water.”
“And the absence of wind and sound.”
Suddenly, a rustle in the undergrowth startled them both. Out of the thicket, a fox emerged, its red coat standing out against the dense green of the grove. It didn’t seem afraid, but it looked at them with intelligent, knowing eyes before disappearing into the forest again.
June’s hand flew to her heart. “Bloody thing scared me half to death.”
“Even the animals are part of this place’s magic,” Lydia whispered, her eyes following the fox’s path.
“Should we follow it?” June asked, her pulse still racing.
Lydia shook her head. “Quite the opposite.” She headed in the direction the fox had come from, not where it was going. “As above, so below. Our guide is the inverse mirror. The fox traces our steps backward to lead us forward.”
June swallowed hard, her eyes darting around the dense undergrowth. The forest suddenly seemed a lot more alive and alert. “Inverse mirror? What does that mean?”
“Magic is linear in many things we do, but in a place like this, where magic is so ingrained in the essence of nature, it rarely plays by the rules. It twists in unexpected ways.” Seeing June’s confusion, Lydia smiled. “Don’t worry, it’ll make sense in time. When I first moved here, it really messed with me. I’d never seen or felt magic like it before.”
“And even though I was born here, I never really paid attention,” June said with a frown. “Well, I’m here now, I guess. Better late than never.”
As they moved deeper into the thicket, June found herself questioning once more the sanity of their venture.
The forest grew denser with each step. Brambles snagged at her jeans, roots rose from the ground like gnarled hands trying to trip them up, and she almost slipped in more than one muddy puddle.
The air was alive with the rustling of leaves and the chattering of birds, and ahead, the unmistakable bubbling of running water.
“Watch your step,” Lydia cautioned as they came upon a stream that cut through their path, its waters gushing over rocks and fallen branches. “We need to cross here.”
“Are you sure?” She hesitated at the water’s edge, steadying herself with a hand on a low-hanging branch. The shore was soft and her boots were already sinking into the mud.
“Yep.” Lydia stepped onto a slick stone, her balance perfect. “Did Elaine teach you about grounding? Use it now. Feel the earth beneath you, become part of it. It’ll tell you where to put your feet if your intent is pure.”
“Pure?” June snorted. “How pure do they have to be, exactly?”
“Pure enough that you won’t fall in,” Lydia replied with a smirk, easily hopping onto the next stone in the stream.
Closing her eyes for a moment, June took a deep breath. She envisioned roots extending from the soles of her feet, intertwining with the earth’s core, anchoring her.
Here goes nothing… She carefully stepped onto the first stone, maintaining her balance with surprising ease, then followed the same path as Lydia.
She stepped from stone to stone, the current tugging at her boots. At the last jump, she teetered, arms flailing at her sides, but the guidance of the grounding spell held true.
“Grab my hand,” Lydia called out from the other side of the stream. “You’re almost there.”
June reached out, stretching her arm as far as she could, until her fingers brushed against Lydia’s. With a final leap, she made it to the other side. Her boots squelched in the mud, and she released a heavy breath.
“See?” Lydia patted June’s shoulder. “You’re a natural.”
“If you say so.” She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile that found its way into her face, but as she looked back the way they’d come, a heaviness settled in her thoughts again. “Do you really think we’re on the right path? I mean, we’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“Every sign points to yes,” Lydia replied, her gaze scanning the trees ahead. “The way the animals move, the shape of the leaves, the scent on the wind. It’s all leading us somewhere.”
“Somewhere or to something?” She stepped away from the muddy shore and scraped her boots on a fallen log. “We’re looking for the Shadow’s Embrace, but what if the forest…” She couldn’t finish her thought.
“Well, I think it’s probably both.” Lydia looked back at her. “But we should be prepared for anything. This plant is far from ordinary.”
“Oh, I know,” June muttered, swiping the back of her hand across her sweaty forehead. She was about to speak again when a sudden shiver shot through her body and her head snapped up.
Lydia’s eyes flashed with recognition, and she turned sharply toward June, her expression tight.
“Did you feel that?” June whispered, her voice barely carrying over the rustle of leaves.
“Magic,” Lydia murmured, her hand reaching into her pocket. “But not friendly.”
Another witch? Another shadow entity? Or something else?
They stood motionless, listening. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the usual chatter of wildlife falling eerily silent around them. June felt the air grow thick, as if the trees were waiting for something to happen…or to pass.
“Remember what you’ve been taught,” Lydia said, her voice low and steady. “Close your eyes. Feel the surrounding energy. Focus on distinguishing the patterns.”
June closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she’d been taught in her lessons with Alistair, Elaine, and now Lydia.
Beneath the fear and uncertainty, she reached for the calm centre of her being. There was power here, a pulsing undercurrent beneath the surface of the earth. She could sense the life force of the plants, the insects, the rippling streams. But amid the natural splendour, there was a thread that was distinctly different—an imprint that didn’t belong.
She opened her eyes, but couldn’t see anything amiss.
“Can you tell what it is?” Lydia asked, her green eyes scanning the shadows between the trunks.
June’s brow furrowed as she concentrated, teasing apart the layers of magic. “It’s…deliberate. Like a witch, but darker?”
“I thought so. That signature is crafted. Someone else is here.”
“Could they be after the Shadow’s Embrace, too?”
“Probably,” Lydia replied. “We’ve got to find it first.”
They moved away from the stream, stepping lightly over gnarled roots and ducking under low-hanging branches. Their eyes darted back and forth, searching for any hint of the elusive plant and the unknown presence that lurked just beyond their knowing.
“Stay alert,” Lydia whispered. “If we’re close, we can’t afford any mistakes.”
“Got it.” June nodded, her senses heightened.
Every step felt purposeful, every breath a part of something greater. Magic thickened around them, making the air soupy and hard to breathe. She could feel tendrils of it curling around her fingers, sliding over her skin. A prickle of anticipation, a tremor of something foreboding. Goosebumps spread across her skin and a familiar taste bloomed on her tongue—acrid and metallic.
“Lydia,” June hissed, pointing ahead where a patch of unusual darkness loomed. “There.”
“Shadow and silence.”
They exchanged a wary look before approaching, their footsteps muffled by the mossy undergrowth. The forest seemed to lean in, branches parting as if compelled by an unseen force, revealing a clearing shrouded in a mist that swirled lazily above the ground.
And there, at its heart, stood the Shadow’s Embrace.
Its petals were a deep violet that verged on black, and they shimmered with an eerie luminescence against the stark contrast of the green underbrush, but the bulk of the plant was hidden amongst the shadows it needed to grow.
“It’s beautiful,” June murmured, unable to tear her gaze away.
“Beauty often masks danger.” Lydia held a finger up to her lips as she began to swirl with magic that silenced her every movement.
June followed her into the clearing, weaving her own magic. Her senses remained on alert for any sign of the presence that’d lingered in the forest, but magic hung heavily around the Shadow’s Embrace, obscuring everything but the bloom that seemed to turn to face them.
She could feel the flower tugging at the edges of her consciousness, whispering poisoned promises of power.
There you are, it whispered. I’ve been waiting for you.