Page 71 of Witch's Fate

The empty, glowing doorway pulsed, its light going from bright yellow to pure white. Malcolm’s skin prickled from the power that radiated outward.

The pulsing glow ceased, halting on pure white. A figure approached the door, cloaked in black and appearing as a Crone. She shimmered slightly. She was a soul given form,not an actual body. She stepped through the door and out into the jungle.

“Mother,” Sofia said, joy in her voice.

“Daughter. How I’ve missed you.” Sofia’s mother’s voice was warm, loving.

Another figure stepped through the door and took up her position next to Sofia’s mother. She also wore a dark cloak and the Crone’s visage.

“Grandmother” Sofia said. Her voice was still joyful, though more respectful. As Malcolm recalled, Sofia had never met her grandmother.

“Child,” the grandmother’s voice was also warm.

Four other figures stepped out of the portal, one by one. All appeared as black-cloaked Crones. Sofia greeted each of them and was greeted in turn.

The last Crone to step out—Oriva, she’d been called—spoke in a voice heavy with power. “Why have you called us forth?”

“I’ve learned something troubling,” Sofia said. Quickly, she explained their situation with the High Witches. “And I understand that you originally made the deal with the High Witches that bound us to this. In exchange for magical power for our line, you tied your progeny to the High Witches, forcing us to provide tributes or be responsible for the destruction of our village.”

The souls that stood next to her gasped, their heads whipping toward her in shock. They hadn’t known. He’d suspected as much.

Oriva’s brows rose. Her gaze was a sharp black that sent a chill down Malcolm’s spine. Her voice was like ice. “You do not enjoy the gift of power?”

“Yes,” Sofia said. “But not at the expense of my village.”

“That is not your decision to make. You are too young to understand. Or perhaps you are too stupid.”

Malcolm stepped forward, but Sofia’s hissed warning stopped him.

“Either way,” Sofia said. “The High Witches are going to destroy our village.”

Oriva nodded her head. “Yes. I am not surprised. They thrive on destruction.”

“You knew that and still made the deal?” Sofia asked.

“Yes.” Her voice cracked like a whip. “I’ve never been terribly concerned with my progeny. It suited me, therefore I did it.”

Bloody hell, and he’d thought his sorcerer clan was bad.

Sofia’s mouth twisted in disgust, but she spoke evenly. “The council members are resisting abandoning the village. But we cannot fight the High Witches and win. They’re too powerful. And because you made this deal with them, fate is on their side.”

“I fail to see how you expect me to solve your problem.”

“Agree that we can’t win and convince the council that we should abandon the village.”

The other souls were rustling agitatedly now, as if they didn’t like what Oriva was saying, or possibly the position in which she’d placed Sofia and the village. Malcolm didn’t blame them. They’d been caught in the same trap Sofia was, spending their entire lives in the role of Protector.

“Why?” Oriva asked, her voice emotionless. “It is not the place that is cursed. It is the people. A place is nothing without the people who live within it. The High Witches thrive on the destruction of lives more so than they do on thedestruction of property. All the descendants of the original villagers are cursed.”

Sofia stepped back, shock on her face. There were gasps from behind them.

“How? That’s not possible,” Sofia said.

“Of course it is. It would take time, but the High Witches are talented and strong. You can all run, scatter to the far ends of the earth, but the High Witches will still find you.”

“But—why? Gods, that’s awful. How could you do that?” Sofia’s voice shook.

She shrugged. “It was not difficult. Thousands of years ago, my father died. He’d founded the village. As his progeny, I became its leader. When the High Witches approached me, offering me immense power in exchange for lives other than my own, it was easy to agree.” There was no remorse in her voice.

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