Page 19 of Witch Please
We stepped through the heavy carved wooden door into a large circular chamber with a high domed ceiling and small circular windows that glowed softly from the blood red moon outside. A huge table dominated the center of the room and around it sat five hooded figures in deep meditation.
My heart began to beat faster when I noticed their eyes burning ice cold underneath their cowls – they all seemed to have sensed our presence and were now facing us, only their glowing irises were visible from deep within the hoods.
They looked ready to attack at any minute.
I motioned to Sissily towards the far side of the room where I spotted an ornate pedestal surrounded by small black candles flickering in a circle on the ground. Fluorescent green flames danced mockingly as we started inching closer to them. It was the only barrier we could place between us and whatever magic the creatures were going to pelt us with; so, I wanted to reach it yesterday.
We quickly increased our speed and dragged River away from the sight of the demons and towards the mysterious looking column while they watched us silently - their eyes tracking us diligently, never leaving us for even a second as we moved closer and closer towards cover.
Standing right in front of the pedestal had my eyes widening when I saw what lay on top of it. Three red crystal keys were placed next to a vial of shimmering liquid, which had all the colors of the rainbow flickering through it. The air around them shimmered with an eerie green light warning me that it could melt my face off if I dared to touch the objects. This must be what they were guarding or praying to for all I cared, but one thing was certain, if I controlled the objects I could - probably would - control the demons. Or get us all killed.
One or the other.
“Whose idea was it to go find Leviathan?” I chuckled nervously under my breath and pointed my chin behind the pedestal to tell her to take cover. “That person should get fired!”
“I really want to punch you right now, Hazel.” Sissily told me earnestly while panting but followed direction like a champ.
“If it makes you feel better, I really want to punch myself too.” I meant every word of it. It couldn’t be normal to get myself in these types of situations all the time, was it? I must be cursed or something just like the Mazzikin. At least they were safe now; and we were crouched behind the column while I was peaking sideways at the demons who have not moved yet.
Gathering all my courage though, I popped my head up, reached out my hand and made a grab for the vial and keys only to find myself frozen in place by some kind of invisible force field surrounding it. It felt like tiny needles were pricking my skin every time I attempted to touch the objects, making me gasp in pain. On the bright side, my face did not melt off. I’d take that as a win. Clenching my teeth and ignoring Sissily hissing at me to stop, I snatched the keys and tiny bottle.
The moment they were in my hand the world around us exploded.
Hands the size of my body stuck out of the stone walls, stretching above our heads toward the ceiling. Talon-like fingernails scraped at the stone floor and sides, making grooves that glazed over with a pale pink liquid that hissed and spat as it gurgled through them. The five robed figures lifted off their seats as one and glided around the table where they lined up shoulder to shoulder, standing taller than any man I'd ever seen; each of them had pallid skin as white as bone and eyes like burning ice that never left our hiding place for a second.
I felt my heart pounding in my chest as one of them stepped forward and raised its arms above its head with an eerie chanting noise that reverberated around us. The others joined and their deep voices curdled the blood in my veins. Sigils as red as blood burst into existence swirling around each hand of the demon, gaining in speed with each word out of their mouths. My feet started moving before my brain could think and soon, I was sprinting right at them, my magic gathering at the center of my chest.
There was a second where I worried, I might harm Sissily and River, but the nerve-wracking glares of the demons removed all of my doubts. I had to do something, or we all would die anyway. The chanting grew louder and more intense until it became so loud, I thought my head was about to burst like a grape from the pressure between my ears.
“Hazel, no!”
Sissily bellowed from behind the podium no doubt torn between following me and guarding River’s unconscious form. I counted on my friend doing the right thing as always and not leaving anyone that was defenseless in the face of danger. That way if my insanity backfired, she would at least be safe. River, too.
Halfway to the five demons was all the time I had to reach when they decided to attack. The one with a burning sigil around each hand, the leader was my guess, lowered his arms and after tracking me for a few seconds, threw one of the spells my way. The sigil whistled in the air as it flew at me, spinning and swirling in an almost beautiful, mesmerizing way.
The thick scent of rotting flesh clogged my nose and whatever contents I had left in my stomach rushed to come out. Bile burned the back of my throat, but I summoned enough strength to warn Sissily to stay hidden.
“Stay there. I’ll be fine,” I ordered as coughing and gagging followed my brave declaration and I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand hoping that would make the disgusting taste go away.
I faced the demon leader, his eyes locked in a deadly battle for supremacy with mine. I hoped he could read the 'fuck you' I was sending his way too. He was determined to end me, and I was equally determined not to let him. Steeling myself, I focused on controlling my magic as it gathered in the center of my chest and ignored the stench that came from the hell spawn. With a roar, sparks exploded from both my hands and kept flying straight towards the demon leader who stood his ground with arms still raised above his head, glowing sigils spinning around them in a feral dance.
The other demons joined him now; two on each side forming a line ready to attack me in case their leader failed while other deep voices chanted spells from somewhere behind them like an invisible choir of backup singers. If the threat on my life was less, I would've laughed at the crazy images my mind was displaying about the situation. With that, my heart raced faster as each second passed but somehow a calmness drowned out all my fear and doubts that were trying to take me down. I didn't know what the future held but this much was clear - if these monsters won, everything I have gone through so far would have been for nothing.
My magic collided with the demon’s sigil causing an explosion so strong that it knocked us both several feet in the air and away from each other - me landing on top of some sharp rock while the demon slammed into one of his buddies sending them both crashing into the table behind them and leaving an ugly dent the size of a giant fist in it. The chanting stopped abruptly as the other three stared at me in shock - it seemed none expected me to pack a good punch and if I was being honest neither did I, which was why I gaped at them like an idiot through clumps of my hair. A quick glance confirmed Sissily and River were alive and safe behind the platform, so with great effort I attempted to stand up and keep fighting.
"That's enough." A booming shout cut through the air like a blade, the words reverberating off the damp walls of the chamber. The voice that had haunted my nightmares echoed across the chamber, cutting through the silence like a storm. It was familiar, yet distant, and its power chilled me to the bone. Those two words sent shivers down my spine. All heads snapped to attention as the figure stepped out of the shadows like it was his right to own them. "What is the meaning of this?" the figure demanded.
I heard Sissily gasp in horror but thankfully she stayed hidden from view. The demon didn’t need an introduction for me to know who he was. The vertical pupil and the sharp cheekbones which could cut glass announced him loud and clear. As Danika would like to say. Speak of the devil, and he would appear.
“Leviathan.” I drawled and pushed off the floor so I could face him standing and not prostrate at his feet; although he enjoyed me being there by the look of his smirk. Not that it would help me much if I was on my feet. The top of my head would barely reach his pectorals. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“A Byrne witch in my domain. One that can recognize who I am at that.” He stepped down the two stone stairs and moved toward me while folding his hands at the small of his back. “What a pleasant surprise.”
There was something in his tone. I couldn’t really tell what tipped me off, but it was as clear as day. All of it. Charon, the little devil, chained River, and our crazy adventures through cheesy decorated chambers and creepy hallways…all of it was staged and it was all for his amusement. The gloating sparkling in his irises was not concealed as it should’ve been.
“Entertained yet?” dusting off my pants I glared at him. “Just to be clear I don’t find any of this amusing at all. As a matter of fact, it kind of rubs me wrong.”
“Is that so?” he murmured and circled me like a vulture would circle roadkill.
