Page 59 of Scarred

“Are you serious?” Jo groaned. “A pepesa?”

“What is that?” Ru demanded.

“It’s a witch who can move faster than the human eye can see. To the untrained eye, she will look like she appears and disappears,” Amma answered. “The only good thing is that power can’t be used too often.”

“Another good thing is a skilled person can predict where the witch will appear and attack while she is still vulnerable.” Jo’s eyes narrowed and her smile became menacing. Her voice was cold as she went on, “And I’m a skilled person.”

“The witches are here!” Mavuto shouted, thundering toward them from the armory.

“That’s how they moved faster. I should have known. I’m sorry.”

“You are not to blame.” Suni jumped to his feet and swung his morning star from his back. “It does not matter that they are a little early, we are ready and will destroy them.” His ears tilted toward the forest, and he could pick up the barely discernible sound of hooves crushing the underbrush. There wasn’t a Minotaur hunter or warrior who would make a sound moving like that and risk warning those they were attacking that they were near.

Ru held his hammer at the ready. “Tell everyone to wait for my signal. Today we will not be defeated.”

Ru and Suni charged to the gates. They arrived just in time to see the first witch step into view on the edge of the forest. She was a tall, thin female with white tipped horns wearing a flowing white skirt. Even the claws on her hands were painted white. That was normal, the matching claws. What wasn’t normal was the deadness in her eyes. It was an evil that oozed from her pores and into the space surrounding her. Suni understood what Amma had said about the dead area. The witch lifted her hand and crooked a finger, and five more stepped into view, all dressed the same way. Even in the stillness their dresses moved as if a gentle wind blew.

“My name is Daeva.” The first witch’s voice carried well across the open field. “We are here for the witch who killed our sisters.”

“Never!” Ru growled. “She is my mate.”

“That does not matter,” Daeva said. “She is one of us and must answer for the lives she has taken.”

Jo stepped forward and her power danced along her body in reds and greens. “I am nothing like you. I will not come willingly to be judged for protecting Qunic from your evil friends. You want me? Come and get me.”

“You speak as if you have a choice.” Daeva made a point to look at the warriors facing her. “We will destroy everyone in this village if you do not come with us. Either way, you will be brought before the High Priestess for the wrongs you have done.”

Suni roared and every warrior within hearing range did the same. Their displeasure and power rang through the air.

Ru snarled at Daeva, “You will have to go through us. We are not weak and will not fall easily.”

Jo’s magic darkened in color. “Go back to your coven and leave us alone. I will not tell you again.”

Daeva pushed her palms forward and the hair on Suni’s body stood on end. A burning sensation raced through his veins, and he shook his head to clear the feeling of being underwater. Against his will, he took a step forward, but locked his knees before he took another.

“No, you didn’t.” Amma stepped around him and stood next to her cousin. “Weren’t you taught proper manners? Never mess with another witch’s mate.”

Daeva stared. “This is a surprise. What is your power, little one?”

“First, I’m not a ‘little one.’ You can call me Amma. Second, you don’t need to know what my power is. All you need to know is Jo is my cousin and we have trained since we were children to kick mean girl’s asses.”

“What fire you have, Amma. You and your cousin should come with us. There is so much to learn about this planet, and we can teach you a lot of new ways to use your powers.”

“My mama also taught me not to be stupid. You are outmatched, even with your creepy mimics. The blood flowing through my veins has generations of power behind it. It will not fail to destroy you.”

Daeva’s lips pressed together as she glared at Amma. Suni wanted to put his body between the evil and his mate, but knew it was the wrong thing to do. The other witches needed to know his mate and Jo were powerful and could stand on their own.

“I am finished talking about this.” Daeva raised her hands. Before she could do anything, a flock of huks, a large predatory bird, dropped from the sky. They attacked all five, aiming specifically for their eyes. The witches tried to bat them away and dodge the attacks, but their white outfits were quickly covered in bloody splatters. Suni glanced at his mate in surprise, but her eyes were normal.

“Take that, bitches”

“Shelly!” Jo and Amma screamed. The girl slowly walked toward them from the direction of the housing area.

“Shelly,” Amma reached for her younger sister. “Why are you here? We told you to stay safe.”

“I am family.” Shelly’s eyes were void of color. “You think I was going to stay home?”

Amma made an impressive impression of a growl. “Tell the birds to stop. Right now, young lady.”

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