Page 48 of Twilight Echoes
“This way,” a man said, standing near a willow tree.
“Who are you?” she asked, following him down a path that led to a small cabin. She had to be sure this wasn’t some trick in this weird place that didn’t really exist.
“I’m the keeper of secrets,” he said with an eerie smile. “I have what you seek.”
“Where?”
“Why don’t you visit with me for a while. It gets lonely in the dark world.”
“I can’t. Wizards and werewolves are dying.” She wanted to add she was too, but she wasn’t sure that would help.
“We can take a walk by the pond. It’s so pretty there. It’s right on the way,” the man said.
“I need to get to the book,” she said, taking a few steps forward, but she had no idea if the cabin in front of her was the cabin.
“I know,” the man said with a long sigh. “I can tell you have resolve for your quest.” He waved his finger at the building, which seemed to move closer and closer. “Be sure you get the right one, or more unthinkable things will happen.”
She took off running until she stood at the door. She could no longer hear her father.
Or feel Darrell.
That had to be bad.
Pushing back the front door, she entered the cabin, shocked by the number of Shadow books on the shelves. She scanned them, going from left to right, top to bottom. Tears welled in her eyes as she came to the last shelf, but she still hadn’t found the one she needed.
She was about to start scanning again, when she noticed a desk in the corner with an old, dusty book sitting on top, the Witches of the Willows crest embedded on its leather case. When she took the book in her hands, her skin prickled with fire.
“Out of the cauldron, out of the empty space, cast this mix of wizard and witch back to the right place. Keep this book safe through the passage of time and ease the locks that bind the rhyme.”
Her body shook as the cabin she stood in crumbled to the ground. The man she’d seen waved to her, but she ignored him, looking for the safe passage from this nonexistent plane. Merlin said she would know it when she saw it. Turning in a full circle, she could see the school to the east. Running as fast as she could, she approached the front door. She raced through the corridors, clutching the book tight until she found the room that housed her body.
And the man she loved.
She busted through the door but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Darrell sprawled out on the floor, foaming at the mouth.
No!
She raced to her body.
“Out of the cauldron and into the witch’s meme. Reverse the spell and return the witch to her frame. Bring the Book of Shadows to the wizard of logic, giving him permission to seek the one who can break the cursed magic.”
The room spun around her as if she were the sun and the lab the earth. Her stomach twisted and knotted. Flames coated her skin as she snapped into her body.
“Avery,” her father said.
But she couldn’t answer. Nor could she see anything but blurred images. She blinked a few times, but nothing helped.
She licked her dry, cracked lips and tried to speak again. “Darrell,” she croaked out.
“He’s very weak.” Her father gave her a kiss on the cheek before helping her to the ground. “Lie next to him. Hold him. Let your fairy dust fly. It will help.”
“Dad, did I do it?” She rested her head and hand on Darrell’s chest. His breathing was shallow and his heart beat so slow she could barely feel it.
“You did,” he said. “Now, I need you to rest so I can do my part. Can you do that, my little girl? Can you let yourself sleep?”
“Will it help Darrell?”
“Yes,” her father said.
