The only sound breaking the silence was the crunch of gravel beneath our feet. I squinted in the late afternoon sun, trying not to think about the last time I’d been in this place.

“I still don’t quite understand why we have to come back here,” I complained, as I dug in my bag for sunglasses. “It’s not exactly my happy place.”

Ms. Lacusta regarded me patiently. “I told you, there is a congruence of power here. King itself is an epicenter of mystical forces, and this particular spot happens to be where it all surges.”

I scowled. “Well, you’ll excuse me if I don’t enjoy coming back to a spot where I was almost murdered.”

She didn’t respond as I followed her into the trees, walking along the familiar path. With a pang, I thought of Michael, remembering last year when he’d hoisted me on his back as we scrambled to save Amber from Nell. Suddenly I missed him even more, and I felt a twinge of guilt for the lie I’d told his parents only a few moments ago. Marly had been all concern and compassion when I told her that I was feeling a little under the weather. I pushed away the guilt and tried to pay attention to the path.

“You know, I’ve never really walked in here on my own. That first night I was on Michael’s back—“

“In your gown from the dance,” Ms. Lacusta finished for me. “Nell told me.”

“Yes. I loved that dress.” My mind wandered back to that evening; it had begun with such promise and ended in terror. Preoccupied, I jumped and gave a little screech when something skittered across the pine needles at my feet.

“It’s only a lizard.” Ms. Lacusta’s voice floated back to me.

“Hmmm.” I stepped carefully, paying more attention to the ground before me as I resumed my reminiscing. “And the second time I was here, Nell dragged me from the parking lot into the clearing. I had the bumps, bruises and cuts to prove it.”

Ms. Lacusta was several yards ahead of me, but I could hear her heavy sigh. “Tasmyn, if you’re trying to make me feel guilt about the part I played in both those incidents, you’re not succeeding. As I’ve told you, I had no idea that Nell would react that way. I didn’t know how unbalanced she was.”

I thought uneasily of the Nell I had met in these same woods last week. I wondered if somehow she knew I was here right now. Pushing the idea from my mind, I hurried to catch up with Ms. Lacusta.

The walk to the clearing was much easier in the daylight, and I was surprised when we quickly reached the boulder that marked the turn-off from the path.

“Here we are.” Ms. Lacusta strode confidently to the center of the clearing as I stood rooted at its edge. My eyes darted to the left, and I half-expected to see the ropes that had bound me during my last visit here.

“Tasmyn.” The patience was back in Ms. Lacusta’s voice. “Don’t be frightened. I came here and cleansed this spot of the residual energy from that day, and I made sure there was nothing here that would bring painful memories for you. Fear will only inhibit power at this stage. Try to relax.”

I almost snorted. If she wanted me to relax, this was the wrong place to be. But I took a tentative step inward.

Instantly a dizzying wave of—something enveloped me. My feet buzzed as though I’d stepped onto live electric wire. My heart began to race and my breath came in short puffs. The energy that surrounded me was palpable. If I lifted my hand, I could almost grip it.

And I could hear it, too--not with my ears but through my head. A steady humming rose and fell, and I winced, trying to concentrate in the midst of the noise and confusion.

Tasmyn, do you feel it? The power... it flows between us. This place facilitates it, allows us to be better conduits. Embrace it. Fall into it...

Startled, I gasped. I had never been able to clearly hear Ms. Lacusta’s mind, although I had picked up bits and pieces of her native language now and then, and I could consistently sense her moods. But just now I had heard her with amazing clarity. Was it truly the power of this spot, or was it merely that she was allowing me to hear her?

Stop fighting it. Tasmyn... close your eyes. Feel the energy. Allow it be part of you... become part of it.

Almost unwillingly, I shut my eyes and forced myself to lean into the grid of power around me. My breathing calmed, and my heart returned to its normal rate. Everything dimmed to an even thrum of vibration, and yet my senses were slowly expanding, unfurling quiet tentacles all around. It was as though I could feel the grass growing underneath me, count the individual molecules on the breeze that skimmed my cheek. I could hear the insects crawling in the nearby trees, and as I sank even further into the energy, my mind flooded with voices and images. I could hear Ms. Lacusta, yes, but above her I heard so many other voices that it was impossible to distinguish any of them.

Yet it wasn’t a cacophony of noise the way it usually was when I opened myself so completely. For the moment I concentrated on any one, it became all I could hear. I smiled involuntarily; this was what I had always wished I could do.

Now, Tasmyn, reach out. With your mind, reach out to me, and see what we can do together.

I focused more, ignoring all the voices in my head. I imagined stretching my hand toward her, toward Marica—it didn’t seem odd to think of her that way now—and in my mind, I saw that hand touch hers. At the moment we touched, a tremendous spark flew up, and the energy flared around me. It wasn’t painful, but it was startling, and I sucked in a fast breath.

Yes! See, Tasmyn. My mystical daughter, what heights of power we will know! This is only the start, and yet we are so connected—

“STOP!”

I whirled from where I was, and all at once my heart was pounding again. Reverend Pryce stood on the edge of the clearing, a mixture of revulsion and fanatical triumph on his face.

“I knew it,” he hissed. “Witches. Everyone scoffed at me, thinks I’m seeing demons under every rock, but I knew. I watched. And now you can’t deny it.”

I shivered under his accusing glare and ventured a quick glance over my shoulder at Marica. She remained where she was, inscrutable and calm. Not a trace of panic or guilt was on her face. With the connection and my concentration broken, I could no longer hear her thoughts.

Reverend Pryce’s mind was a mixed up jumble of prayers and his fevered attempts to keep me at bay. I felt a twinge of apprehension, remembering Nell’s words from last week. She’d told me that he knew my secret. It seemed that she was right.

“Tasmyn.” Marica’s voice drew my attention back to her. “Come back over here. Step away from him.”

“No!” Reverend Pryce lunged to grab my arm, but I sidestepped him carefully, staying just beyond his reach. He seemed unwilling to come any further into the clearing, and I wondered if he too could feel the energy here.

“Come to me, Tasmyn!” Marica didn’t wait to see if I would obey her; she threw back her head, eyes closed, and shouted out words that were foreign to me.

Instantly a circle of flame shot up, encircling her. My mouth dropped open and I gaped, trying to remember how to breathe.

Reverend Pryce took advantage of my distraction and seized my arm. He pulled me back before I could react.

“I can save you. It’s not your fault. I can see that now. Come with me. It’s not too late. You can be redeemed.”

Redemption. Wasn’t that what Nell had said? She had wondered if redemption would be more painful than... acquiescence. And hadn’t I been on the verge of just that before Reverend Pryce appeared?

Beyond the flames, I could still see Marica. Her arms were outstretched, and her eyes were intensely seeking mine.

I couldn’t think clearly. What I had just experienced here was incredible, and the idea of learning more, tapping into the power. . I couldn’t deny that it was tempting. But at the same time, I wasn’t sure that Reverend Pryce was wrong. And if I refused to leave with him, there was no telling what he might do. Now that he had guessed the truth about me, he was almost as dangerous as Marica.

I turned to meet her eyes again. Her face glowed in the fire, and with her hair falling loose around her face, she had an almost unearthly beauty. I hesitated only a moment.

“I have to go with him,” I said quietly, trying to communicate my real meaning to her. “If I don’t—I just have to go.”

Her lips hardly moved as she answered me. “Do what you must.”

I remained rooted to the ground, unable to make a decisive step. The circle of flames suddenly flared higher, obliterating Marica from my sight. Reverend Pryce pulled me toward him, and unwillingly I stumbled out of the clearing.