Witch's Fire Read online

  Witch’s Fire

  Hawthorne Chronicles - Book Two

  Valia Lind

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Next in the Hawthorne Chronicles

  Note from the Author

  About the Author

  Also by Valia Lind

  Copyright © 2019 by Valia Lind

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover by Anika at Ravenborn Covers

  Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.

  Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights

  1

  The smoke bellows out in front of me, obscuring my vision. I cough, waving my hand in front of my face, frustration running through my veins. Taking a deep breath, I pull more herbs out of the pouch, before collecting them in the bowl. I wave my hand over it, concentrating.

  "Ah!" I scream, when the concoction blows up once again. The desire to throw something against the wall almost overtakes me, but instead, I focus my breathing, trying to calm my nerves.

  "I'm completely useless," I mutter taking a step back and leaning against the table. I've been working on a protection spell for hours and all I've come up with is a burnt mess.

  Ever since the Ancients began waking up around our small town of Hawthorne, everyone has been on high alert. Theirs was a story told to misbehaving children, a fairytale of darkness used as a lesson. Powerful magical beings who were the beginning to all supernatural creatures and have slumbered for centuries. Now, they have awakened and our town has become a battleground between good and evil. The fairytale has become the reality we have to live with every day.

  The coven is doing their best to come up with protection for all citizens, but we're not finding much. I said I would do research, but so far, nothing is working.

  Pushing the hair out of my face, I take another deep breath. With the way this is going, I need to do extra breathing exercises and maybe some meditation.

  The bell over the door dings and I know it's Harper before she rounds the shelves set up at the front. There's a particular determination in her step these days. Ever since she found Connor and went up against one of the Ancients.

  "How's it going?" Harper asks, stopping on the other side of the table. She seems to glow in the low light of the shop, and I know it's because of her soulmate magic.

  "I'm a failure."

  "Bri, don't say that."

  "It's true. I can't get any of this right. How am I supposed to become the next coven's leader if I can't even figure out a protection spell?"

  "Oh, Bri," Harper begins, but stops before she can finish. There's really nothing to say. Instead, she walks around the table and puts her arms around my shoulders. I lean my head against her forehead for just a second, before I straighten.

  "It's okay. I'm okay. I'll figure it out," I take a step away from my sister, pushing all the emotions away. If I don't, I'll start crying. I'm not a cryer by trade and I refuse to become one now. "Any news from Papa?"

  Harper doesn't miss my change of subject, but she doesn't comment. Walking back around the counter, she begins absentmindedly picking up herbs and putting them down.

  "Mama said she was able to reach him and give him a heads up on what's been going on around here, but that's all she'll say. You know how tightlipped she is about everything right now."

  I do. Even as the next in line to take over as the coven leader, I'm only privy to certain information. It's partly why I'm trying to prove myself with coming up with a protection spell that can withstand Ancient's magic. But at the rate this is going, I might have to consider a different calling.

  "Bri, don't worry," Harper's voice breaks through my musings, and when I glance up I find her concerned gaze on me. She's not a Reader like her best friend Krista is, but I'm probably projecting strong enough emotions for her to pick them up.

  "I'm not worried. I'm...concerned."

  "I don't need magic to know when my big sister is lying to me." Harper leans over the counter, forcing me to look up. "We'll get through this."

  "How can you be so sure?" I whisper, because I'm not sure of anything anymore.

  "Because I have faith," Harper replies, dropping down to the soles of her feet. "There's nothing we Hawthorne witches can't handle."

  I smile, my heart warming from the truth behind her words. There is a reason why this town is named after our ancestors. We've been up against some crazy things in the past. Now, it's my generation's turn to prove ourselves and I don't want to fail. My phone rings before either of us can say anything else.

  "Hello," I answer, motioning for Harper to come closer.

  "Brianna," my mother's voice reaches me through the phone. "Please come by the library. And bring your sister."

  She doesn't wait for a response, having already hung up. Harper and I look at each other, and I see my own concern mirrored in my sister's eyes.

  That doesn't sound good.

  It takes us ten minutes to get to the library and in that time, my mind has gone over every terrible scenario. Okay, maybe not every, but a very good number. All my years of studies have made me very well versed in good and bad scenarios.

  "Are you worried? I'm worried. We should be worried, right? I mean..."

  "Harper!" I turn to my sister, stopping her dead in her tracks. "Breathe. Freaking out isn't going to help us."

  My sister takes a few deep breaths, as she looks into my eyes. She's one of the strongest people I know, but our recent ordeal has shaken the foundation in all of our lives. Harper nods, reaching for my hand and gripping it tightly. Whatever crazy scenarios I've come up with in my head, I need to be strong for her. That faith she keeps throwing my way, I need to share with her now.

  "We're good, Harper. Let's go see what Mama wants, before we jump into crazy conclusions."

  "Right. Right. Of course."

  We start walking again, passing a group of tourists. I'm surprised any humans are still visiting our town, but the whole erasing ourselves from people's memories plan takes a long time. Maybe this meeting is an update on that. Our father has been out of town for weeks, traveling to other cities and hoping to find some kind of help for us. Our youngest sister Maddie is away at a boarding school, and for that I am thankful. At least some of our family is away from this crazy mess.

  "I'm not sure what came over me. I haven't had a panic attack in weeks." Harper mumbles, gripping my hand tighter.

  "I think we're all entitled to those right now, Harper," I reply, trying to reassure her. And myself. "Every day we may handle things a little bit differently. We'll get through this though. You know it."

  She gives me a weak smile and I suppress my concern before we talk into the library. I don't need a Reader picking up on my intensified emotions. And I'm worried about everything right now, no matter how calm I may appear.

  When we step inside the main hall, I don't have to be a Reader to feel the amount of nervous energy currently flowing through the space arou
nd us. Hand in hand, Harper and I make our way to the rest of the individuals gathered on the main floor of the library. The moment we are noticed, Connor breaks off from his pack and makes his way toward Harper. I feel the relief in her the moment she sees him, and she lets go of my hand to take his. They both look as if they haven't seen each other in ages, and it brings a quick smile to my face. I can check worrying about Harper off my list.

  "Brianna, Harper. Welcome," Mama says, from her position in front of the people gathered. As per protocol, I step over to her right side, as Harper and Connor move beside me.

  "Thank you for coming everyone," Mama continues, looking each person or creature in the eye. "I'm afraid we have some bad news."

  There's a moment of silence, where all of the bad scenarios rush into my mind. But I stay calm, gripping the necklace I wear around my neck. It's a small locket, filled with rosemary and mint leaves and it helps me center myself.

  "We are having a difficult time closing the borders to Hawthorne," Mama continues, her voice strong, as if this is just another meeting. She's always a pillar of confidence and something I don't know that I can ever be. "The forest is fighting us, which must only mean one thing. More Ancients have woken up and has taken the power for their own. The packs are being extra careful, but we don't know how long they can stay, if this continues. Peter has been in touch, and he has found us some help. We are the first line of defense in this war, and we need to be prepared for the worst. Because, I believe we haven't seen anything yet."

  There is a complete silence when she stops speaking. This is exactly what we've been afraid of. The Ancients know magic so much better than we do. They created most of what we use and how we use it. Nature may enhance our magic, but it does the same to them. The fact that our protection spells aren't working as fast or as well as we were hoping just shows how dire our situation is.

  I look up at my Mother, the leader of our coven, the most fearless person I know, and I can see that she's scared. Maybe the others can't, but I know her well enough to know she's is. She's worried about us, she's worried about dad, she's worried that whatever we may do won't be enough.

  "What do you want us to do?" I ask, taking the lead, just as is my place. Mother glances over at me, the mask in place for the rest of the world, but I read the sorrow in her eyes.

  "We do more," she replies, turning back to the crowd. "This library is filled with knowledge of a thousand years of magic. We study, we practice our battle magic, and we fight when the time comes. I want to reinstate training for all creatures. We don't know when the Ancients will attack and we don't know how. The best thing we can do is train together, so we can play off our strengths and learn our weaknesses."

  There's a small murmur in the crowd and Mother raises her hand to silence it.

  "I understand that we have survived for generations staying in our corners. But we can no longer be the way we were. Now, more than ever, we have to learn how to work together. Reach out to your contacts across the world, see if you can gleam anything helpful. We will continue to work on the erasing spell, and we hope that it will at least minimize the casualties. Don't give up hope," she adds, pausing to look everyone in the eye once more. "We are not helpless. We will learn. We will adapt. And we will fight, with our whole beings to protect the town and the people we love."

  I understand what this meeting was about now. I see why we were called here. She didn't tell us anything we didn't already know or suspect. We have lived for generations in a peaceful bliss of ignorance. There have been wars across the world, fought to keep our secret or because of our secret getting out. But we, in Hawthorne, have been protected from the brunt of it. That's why this town was created. A safe haven, a place where creatures can live in peace. All of that is shattered now.

  The magical nexus of power that resides within the boundaries of the forest may have been the strongest protection at one time. Now, it may be our downfall. The Ancients have slept for ages, soaking up the power within that forest.

  Now, more than ever, I am determined to get that protection spell figured out. Even if I have to enter the forest. This town, my family, they are way more important than my own life.

  2

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Harper asks, for what is probably the tenth time. She's standing behind the counter, a worried look on her face.

  “I’m sure. Connor said it will be okay if I stay within the boundary and I need to try, Harper. This town is getting more dangerous by the minute."

  I can see that she's resigned to the fact, so she concedes. After the meeting yesterday, we have all been on edge and I know Harper feels it. Coming from around the counter, she places her hands on my shoulders, looking straight into my eyes.

  “Please be careful," she says, and I nod. Grabbing my bag full of supplies, I turn and walk out the back door. Harper's gaze follows me out, and I don't have to look to know she's even more worried now.

  We've been so careful about going anywhere alone. So careful about going near the woods. But I need them if I'm to harness extra power for this spell. And being distracted by customers in the store isn't exactly helpful either. Mother will be outraged when she finds out, which she will. No doubt about that. But I need this for me. If I'm to become the next leader, I need to lead.

  I make my way between two houses on the outskirts of the Main Street, following the little path that leads to the woods. Since the Ancients have begun waking up, rules have been created to minimize the danger as much as possible. Going anywhere near the trees is beyond frowned upon. The texts we've been able to find talk about creatures who are beyond shape shifting, who come through the plants and trees. I don't understand it, but I do fear it.

  When I'm mere five feet away from the edge of the forest, I stop. I can feel the drop in the temperature from where I'm standing. That ominous presence is there, just beyond my reach. Our powers are stronger the closer we are to nature, so I pull my bag off my shoulder and begin to make preparations.

  The bushes on the side of the trail will hide me from any potential passerby's but I'm not concerned about discovery. I'm more worried about what might come out of the trees. I learned battle magic as a kid, but since I have no active magic, I came prepared. I sprinkle a few pinches of Angelica mixed with cinnamon around the area I'll be sitting, casting a circle of protection. It might not be enough against an Ancient, but it might buy me a second or two to get away.

  When that is done, I sit in the midst of the grass, pulling out my trusty journal. Flipping to the page I was last working on, I run my finger over the ingredients. If we are to protect the town of Hawthorne, I need something stronger than mere angel's herb and cinnamon. I need something that'll carry a punch. Which is why I came out here, away from everything and as close to the forest as I can get. If this doesn't work, I'll have to venture in and even though I already decided I'll do whatever it takes, it's not my first choice.

  Next, I pull out my bolline, followed by a few pouches filled with herbs, and then a few fresh plants. Laying it all out in front of me, I stare at the items like they're a puzzle. Which technically they are.

  Picking up the mixing bowl, I place it in front of me before reaching for fresh Angelica archangelica. Cutting the fragrant plant quickly with my bolline, I drop it in the bowl. Next come the fresh Laurus bobilis. The bay leaves are soft to the touch and I reach for a pen to write the manifestation on them. After that is finished, I place them to the side, to burn at the end.

  Then, I pick up the container with Ruta graveolens. It's been ages since I've use rue in protection spells, as it is very potent and finicky at times. Dropping a few leaves into the bowl, I mix it all together. Now, comes the hard part. I can add quite a few different ingredients to the mixture, before adding and burning the bay leaves. But none of them are conventional and many are not safe.

  Resigned to my fate, and the fact that I'm putting myself in danger, I reach for the henbane.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were yo
u," a deep male voice startles me, and I grab for the bolline before spinning around. My eyes zero in on the deepest brown eyes I have ever seen, mesmerizing me for a moment. I feel, more than see, his lips curl up in a smile and I tear my gaze away to study the rest of him. Tall, dark brown hair, dark brown eyes. His sharp navy blue suit is offset by the slightly long hair, that's falling barely over his eyes. I realize I'm staring, so I sit up a little straighter, still gripping the knife.

  "Is there something I can help you with?" I ask, years of instilled manners making their appearance, even as my heart continues to race. Technically, he won't be able to reach me if he comes any closer, and I should have time to get away if need be. As I wait for him to reply, I uncurl my legs, putting them discreetly under me.

  "More like is there something I can help you with? Because if you mixed those two ingredients together, you'll just make a big boom. And char that pretty face of yours."

  His tone overpowers his compliment, and forgetting my manners, I go on the defensive.

  "Excuse me?" I say, getting up, to face him on more equal ground. "Who are you to tell me what to do with my...plants?"

  "Someone who clearly knows more about them than you do."

  Now, I'm completely outraged. No one in this town knows more about this than I do. I am the lead green witch and there is a reason for it. I taught myself everything and then some. He's not wrong in that the combination could be lethal, but I was adding an extra ingredient to offset the usual outcome. And he has no right to question what I'm doing.

  "Well, I'm not sure who you think you are, but I am perfectly capable handling whatever comes my way. Including my own herb compilations."