Eight

Alex was lost in his own thoughts after their fruitless conversation with Charlie. He and Avery were barely ten minutes out of Polzeath, traveling along the B3314 on a lonely stretch of road, and Avery was also silent as she gazed out of the window. They were getting nowhere with finding the missing witches, and Alex wondered what they should do next.

Suddenly, the engine of his Alfa Romeo Spider Boat Tail stopped.

“What the hell’s going on?” he muttered as he rolled the car to the edge of the lane. “It’s just been serviced!”

“Shit!” Avery pointed to the fields on either side. It was a clear night, the sun having not long set, but around them a thick mist was gathering. “This isn’t normal.”

“That bastard, Charlie, is behind this!” Alex exclaimed. “Who the hell else would know we’re on this road? He knew we’d drive home!” Alex kept trying the engine, but nothing happened, even when he used a spark of magic. “Stay here,” he instructed, about to get out of the car.

Avery glared at him. “Not a chance.”

But before either of them could do anything, the thick mist outside start to seep through Alex’s open window, coming in tendrils that reached around his hands, binding them to the wheel. More wrapped around his throat like steel fingers. Alex wrestled to free himself, but they were too strong. Without hesitating, Avery blasted fire right past him, but it disappeared into the mist, swallowed whole.

As the tendrils tightened, Alex started to choke. “Avery. I can’t breathe,” he managed to stutter.

Avery tried to tear the fingers of mist from his neck, but it was as if they’d solidified, and Alex could see the fear in her eyes. “Alex, it won’t budge!”

Alex rarely gave in to panic, but as the sinewy ropes of mist tightened their grip, he found it harder and harder to concentrate. Spells raced through his mind, none of them seeming suitable. He struggled to speak, his voice rough. “Avery, how are they doing this? They must be close!”

Avery didn’t answer, instead leaping out of the car, and he heard her call up the wind. In seconds the car shuddered as a blast of air hit them, leaving Avery standing in the middle of a mini tornado. It gathered the mist up, but it wasn’t dispersing it. If anything, the mist was turning into one big knot made of thousands of whipping tendrils. Avery was keeping it at bay, but she wasn’t banishing it, and although the tendril wrapping around his neck wasn’t getting any tighter, it wasn’t going away, either.

He wasn’t sure if he was delusional because of the lack of oxygen, but Alex thought if someone was attacking them from close by, then perhaps he could find them by spirit-walking. He would never normally spirit-walk in this situation; he liked to be safe within his own four walls before leaving his body. But, if someone was close, he needed to find them. Now.

Already deprived of oxygen, he should be able to slip into the necessary state. He closed his eyes, leaned against the seat, fought back his panic, and slowed his breathing. Within seconds he was floating free of his body.

The magical energy surrounding them was a deep, murky red, and as he rose out of the car, the astral energy pummelled him. He extended his magic, throwing a powerful wall of protection around himself, and spent a few seconds strengthening it before rising higher.

Avery’s aura shone with a golden light, her magic vibrant in the murk. The dark magic was desperately trying to engulf her, but couldn’t get close. But just as on the earthly plane, he could see that the thick, sticky energy wasn’t budging.

Alex shot upwards and emerged into the clear night sky. With a jolt of surprise, he saw a silvery figure a short distance away manipulating the energy, the cord connecting them to their body streaming behind. It was an astral attack! Without even knowing who it was, Alex sent a blast of magic which hit the attacker in the chest and spun them away. Using magic on this plane was quite different. It was wilder, more visceral, but he gave chase, releasing another jagged blast of white-hot energy like a spear.

His opponent counterattacked, sending a bolt of energy at him.

Alex threw up a shield, and the bolt struck it and glanced away. He advanced again, desperate to see who his attacker was, and with a shock realised it wasn’t Mariah or Zane. It was Lowen, his eyes gleaming with mischief. Alex pummelled him with wave after wave of jagged energy, and under the onslaught, Lowen fled.

In seconds he had disappeared, and Alex knew there was no way he could follow him in his current state. Below him, the dark mass was already dissipating, and he could see Avery lowering her arms. He waited for a moment more just to make sure Lowen wasn’t coming back, and then returned to his body.

With a jolt he woke up, and a wave of nausea passed over him. He clutched his neck, but the grasping fingers of mist had gone, and he staggered out of the car and leaned against the door, desperate for air.

Avery ran to his side, her eyes sweeping over him. “Alex! Are you okay?”

“I think so. Are you?”

Her hand stroked his cheek. “I am now. What happened?”

“I spirit-walked. It was Lowen. I saw him.” Alex felt suddenly dizzy and took another deep breath. “Remind me not to do it like that again.”

“Like you’d listen to me! Although,” she added, squeezing his hand, “I’m glad you did. Perhaps I should drive home, though.”

As another wave of nausea passed over him, Alex glanced up at the night sky. “They’re watching us, and I don’t like it.”

Avery hustled him around to the passenger door and made him take a seat, and then laying her hand to the bonnet, she uttered a spell and the engine fired into life. “You phone the others and let them know we’ve been attacked while I drive. They might be next.”

Reuben tried to focus on the road, but it was hard after El’s news about Avery and Alex. “But they’re okay now?”

“They’re fine,” El said, trying to reassure him. But a quick glance at her face revealed her tight expression. “I feel so helpless! If he attacks us, neither of us can spirit-walk.”

“Protect the car, then. It should make it harder to attack us. And,” he added as another thought struck him, “let’s visit his house. We’re almost at Bodmin. I really want to see where these two bastards live.”

El shuffled in her seat to stare at him. “But Briar already went there. She said their basement room was cleared out.”

“But she was with Moore and wouldn’t have had time to search properly. We might be able to find something to point us to where they are.”

“You’re clutching at straws! And I know you’re worried—”

“I am not worried. I’m angry. In fact, I’m pissed off! I spent last week injured and sheltering in my house like it was a prison, and I am not doing it again. I do not want my friends doing it, either.” He spotted the sign for the turn off to Bodmin centre. “Phone Briar and get their address.”

Reuben was furious and getting more so by the second. He kept thinking on what Nancy had told them, and was beginning to suspect that last week’s actions were going to be minor in comparison to what might happen next. “Maybe we should call Genevieve, too. The whole coven needs to be on alert. I can’t see why they’d stop at just us.”

“I know. Alex is already updating her.”

He fell silent while El called Briar, pulling over to the side of the road until they had directions, and not really listening to the conversation as he thought about the attack. It was too convenient that they’d just been to see Charlie. Surely he wasn’t that stupid to tell Lowen where they were so soon after visiting him. Unless, of course, he hoped they wouldn’t survive.

“I’ve got the address,” El said, interrupting his thoughts and ending her call. “But there’s something else going on, too. Hurlers Stone Circles are gathering energy.”

“What?” he turned to look at her properly, her face striped under the streetlights and her eyes huge with worry. “How?”

“Briar’s not sure, but she’s there now with Ghost OPS.”

“In the open? They’re vulnerable to attack if Lowen’s still circling like a bloody vulture!”

“I know. She’s taking precautions.” She squeezed his arm, her expression settling into grim determination. “Let’s go and turn their place upside down.”

Cassie looked at Briar after she ended her phone conversation and knew something was wrong. Something worse than they had already discovered.

“What’s happened?” she asked, not really sure if she wanted to know the answer.

It was cool on Bodmin Moor now, the sharp wind tugging at her clothes. And it was eerie standing in the middle of the stone circles in the dark. There were no warm yellow streetlights, or lights from houses. Instead, there were just endless stretches of darkness until they crested the rise, allowing them to see the scant lights of Minions.

“We need to head back to the cars and go home,” Briar said, her lips tightening into a thin line.

Dylan lifted his head and lowered his camera. “Why? I want to get more footage of the final circle.”

“It’s not safe out here. Alex and Avery were just attacked by Lowen.”

“Oh, no!” Cassie clutched her coat to her throat. “Are they okay?”

Briar was already pulling her boots on. “They’re both fine, now, but things got a bit hairy. I can’t risk us being attacked here.”

“But they’re miles away,” Ben pointed out. “How are we at risk?”

Briar straightened. “Lowen spirit-walked, which means he can cover large distances quickly. Alex struck back, but couldn’t pursue him. If he finds us…”

Her words hung between them, and with a worried glance at each other, the team hurriedly packed their gear away, except for Dylan and his camera.

“I’m hanging on to this,” he said, catching Cassie’s troubled look. “I might be able to see Lowen’s energy.”

“No, you won’t.” Briar shook her head. “It’s highly unlikely you’ll pick it up. It’s on another plane—the astral plane.”

“Ghosts can’t always be seen with the naked eye or your magic, and yet I can pick them up.” As he finished speaking, he lifted his camera and focussed above them, sweeping around the sky.

Dylan was very good at what he did, but all Cassie wanted to do was get moving. “Not now, please, Dylan!”

Briar grabbed him by the elbow and steered him across the tussock-filled grass, a witch-light bobbing ahead of them and their own torches trained on the uneven ground. “Come on. You’ll have to look and walk at the same time.”

However, they were still striding across the last circle on the buried stone path when the air started to shift around them. It was an odd sensation, as they couldn’t really see anything, but Cassie felt a brush of energy across her skin.

“Something’s happening!” she said, quickening her pace.

“Run!” Briar instructed, picking up her skirts.

But they had only advanced a few feet when the charged air stopped them, and Cassie felt like a fly trapped on sticky paper.

Briar froze, arms raised. “Get close to me, now!”

They didn’t hesitate, even Dylan lowering his camera as they huddled around Briar. She had planted her feet firmly, and her lips moved soundlessly. With a whoosh they were suddenly encased within a bubble of protection. The charged air and cool night breeze vanished, replaced by warmth and utter silence.

“Whoa! What’s this?” Ben asked, alarmed.

“A protection spell, dummy!” Dylan said, lifting his video camera again. “Bloody hell! We’re surrounded by red-hot magic.”

On the screen they could see it swirling around them, blocked only by Briar’s spell.

“What would that do if we weren’t protected, Briar?” Ben asked, fumbling for his EMF meter again.

Briar scanned their surroundings. “Good question. Suck our lifeforce out, perhaps? Or overwhelm us so that we collapse? It’s hard to say. Whatever happens, do not move. This protection spell is not as effective as I would like.”

She had barely finished her sentence when something hit them from above. It rebounded off the shield, and a bluish-white flash sizzled around them.

“Shit!” Cassie exclaimed, her heart racing. “What was that?”

“Pure energy, I suspect,” Briar said, staring above them. “Magic on the astral plane works slightly differently, but I’d guess Lowen is pretty comfortable there. Did anyone see where that came from?”

Cassie shook her head, but Dylan was adjusting his video equipment. “If I can tweak this—make it more refined—I might be able to spot him.”

“Nothing yet, then?” Ben asked, peering over his shoulder.

While they conferred, Cassie rummaged in her pack. “We brought some of your spells with us, Briar. Do you think one of them might help?”

Before Briar could answer, another blast hit them, and she again raised her hands. Cassie felt power radiate from her as she strengthened their protection.

Cassie had another idea. “Briar, we’re on the ritual path—the one made from quartz. Could that help you?”

Briar grinned. “Yes, it certainly could! That’s a brilliant suggestion!”

Briar kicked her boots off again, and as her feet met the ground, it started to churn. In seconds the stones that lay inches beneath the surface were exposed, and Briar stood directly on them.

“I’ve got him!” Dylan yelled triumphantly. “I see a shape to the north. See?”

He pointed to the screen, where a silvery-blue shape hung in the air like a bird. It swelled, and a jagged burst of energy showered over them, but their safe bubble held.

“Is he still there?” Briar asked, her eyes narrowed in concentration.

“He’s moving clockwise above us…trying to spot a weakness in our protection, I suspect,” Dylan said, following Lowen’s route.

“Show me.”

Without taking his eyes off the screen, Dylan angled towards her so she could see the image. “It’s faint, but I’m sure that’s him.”

Briar nodded. “I can’t see his cord, but that will be too small from down here. I think you’re right, Dylan. Well done! In a second I’m going to drop the protection spell, and I want you all to run to the van.”

“Not a chance!” Ben said immediately.

“Trust me! What I’m about to release will knock you off your feet and hopefully catapult him back to his body. Quartz’s natural element is aether, and it not only offers protection as part of its properties, but assists in banishing spells and projects energy.” Briar’s eyes lit up with green fire, her excitement palpable. “Hold steady—he’s attacking again!”

A white light flashed across the video screen, and simultaneously smacked into Briar’s shield. She threw back her shoulders and the circle of protection flashed in response. Lowen, however, hit them several more times.

Cassie winced under the onslaught, but Briar didn’t. “Almost time,” she said, readying herself. “I’m going hit back hard when he finishes. He’ll be temporarily weakened, and you must run! Agreed?” she asked, staring at them, especially Ben. They nodded, and after what seemed an eternity, Lowen’s attack finally stopped. Briar dropped her protection and shouted, “Now!”

Cassie, Ben, and Dylan raced across the stone circle as an explosion of white light radiated behind them, illuminating the moor with blinding brilliance. Cassie felt a wave of power hit her, knocking her over, and she landed face-down on the ground with Ben and Dylan next to her. Winded, she rolled over to look behind her.

The sight was terrifying.

Briar was lit up in a column of brilliant white light that she directed towards a patch of sky above, and with a shock, Cassie saw the quartz path light up beneath the grass. Fortunately, they were no longer on it, and for a heart-stopping moment, she couldn’t work out where she was. But then the light faded, leaving Briar bathed in an unearthly glow.

Briar picked up her boots and ran to catch up, yelling, “Keep going!”

Cassie dragged herself to her feet, terrified that another blast of power would hit them from above, and ran so fast that she almost fell again. She finally stumbled on to the car park, heaving for breath, and leaned against the van. Ben was already fumbling to open the door, while Dylan leaned on his knees, the camera still clutched in his hand.

Briar arrived seconds later, and Cassie stared at her. “Briar! What the hell was that?”

Despite her exertions, Briar looked energised. Her hair was wild, her feet were dirty, and her eyes glowed green. “A mixture of the Green Man and magnified quartz energies! Amazing, wasn’t it?”

“That’s one word for it,” Ben said, chest still heaving. “It was like a bloody supernova!”

“Dylan,” Briar said, still smiling, “never let me doubt your abilities again! You made all the difference. Now, go home and stay safe, guys! Although, you don’t need to worry. It was me he wanted.”

Cassie hugged Briar, feeling the power still radiating from her. “You be careful, too! Will he be back?”

“Not tonight. I set a bomb off under him.” Raised voices at the edge of the car park made them whirl around.

“Shit. We’ve roused the village,” Dylan said, straightening up and heading to the passenger door. “Let’s go.”

With final wave at Briar as she followed them out of the car park, Cassie leaned back in the seat, wondering what response that would elicit.