Page 56 of Witch's Fate

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The aether pulled at Sofia and blackness stole her vision. She tumbled to the ground, then scrambled up.

The dungeon was a small, stone-walled room, similar to the room they’d just been in. Kitty appeared next to her. Malcolm stood in the corner. Inara was lying on the ground, still wrapped in the chain.

“What the bloody hell was that?” Malcolm asked. “You weren’t enchanted, were you? Did you set us up?”

Inara scowled at him as she struggled to sit. “What do you think, moron? I’m chained up here, aren’t I?”

Malcolm growled, then said, “Fair point.”

“Why did you help us?” Sofia asked. “If that’s indeed what you did.”

“I had my reasons. I’m done with this coven.”

“Why?”

“You saw those crazy bitches. But there’s no way in hell I’m going into detail here. We need to get out.”

“We?” Malcolm asked.

“Do you want to know what we learned in your girlfriend’s mind? Because it’ll be news to her and I’m sure she wants to know it. And you’re not going to find out unless I get out of here with you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Sofia asked.

“You’re in a situation that’s bigger than you are. There’s more to it than even Sofia knows. But I’m not telling you unless I get out of here.”

“You mean there’s something in my mind I don’t know?” The idea freaked her the hell out.

“No. But you’re a bit famous. Not big time famous, but your situation is well known amongst witches. The High Witches are pulling quite a racket with you.”

Fates. Of course her life was more fucked up than she’d realized. She went to Inara and knelt down. It took a while, but she finally got the chain unwrapped. Malcolm was checking the walls.

“How do we get out of here?” She had spent too much time in dungeons lately. It was starting to piss her off.

Inara stood and rubbed her arms where the chain had cut into her skin. “We don’t. There’s no way out of here.”

Sofia glanced around. No doors. No windows.

She turned to Malcolm, her heart in her throat. The eleven witches in the Salem Coven had overpowered them once. They could do so again. Easily.

“There’s no way out from within,” Malcolm said.

“Nor without,” Inara said. “We can only escape if we’re freed by the coven.”

“Or if the building is destroyed.” Malcolm pounded on a wall. “Or even just a wall. Or the ceiling.”

“How the hell do you plan to do that if we’re locked in here?” Inara demanded. “Our magic is blocked. We’ve got nothing.”

“Not quite,” Malcolm said. “Are any of these walls exterior walls?”

Inara’s brow crinkled, but she looked around, then pointed. “That one, I believe.”

“Good.” He leaned back against the wall.

Though Sofia suspected what was coming next, it still surprised her to see his golden wolf burst from his chest. The animal gleamed in the dim light.

“Holy shit,” Inara breathed.

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