Page 28 of Witch Please
“Almost.” Sissily said pulling me out of my internal conflict.
“I’m ready.”
The harpy spiraled in the air, and instead of coming right at us, she pulled her body back and stretched her talons at River’s wings. The claws grabbed a hold of the white feathers and yanked him hard to try and dislodge him from us. Sissily screamed in anger, while I tightened my fingers on his painfully, just so I don’t release my hold. It threw us in a breakneck spin through the air. I almost let go of both of them. Luckily, I didn’t ,and Sissily managed to release a stream of fire at the harpy while missing Blackman’s wings.
Screeching, the demon reared back and flew away shedding burning feathers in her wake. Her screams were echoing around us, but I was more focused on the door above our heads than the harpy. If we reached it, the demon will be of no concern.
“We need to spin.” I yelled, so Sissily could hear me. “It’s the only way to hit it.”
She looked up once before nodding at me. Adjusting our hold now that she didn’t need to use her magic, we swung our legs to start the swirl. All three of our bodies turned into a circle, moving faster with each new round as if we were catapulted from a spinner. Holding my breath and recalling the water, when I was trying to reach the door, I prayed not to touch this one either.
We hit it full force, hard enough I was left dazed on my knees on the stone floor of the chamber. River and Sissily hit the ground too next to me, but this time I didn’t release their hands.
Who said I don’t learn my lessons?
Lesson number 20: if at first you don’t succeed, try again. And again. If that doesn’t work, kill anything that stands in your way.
“We made it.” Sissily breathed. “Don’t move so you don’t touch anything.” She rushed to warn me.
I nodded. And then my foot kicked at something hard, and we were sucked through another door.
Seriously!
CHAPTER16
My knees and hands buried themselves in soft moist soil, twigs and rocks digging through the fabric of my pants and breaking the skin of my palms. Immediately, my head snapped up and I searched for Sissily and River because I knew I didn’t release my hold on either of them before we were pulled through the next door.
I was fed up with the bullshit!
This had nothing to do with me proving my worth and everything to do with wasting time until there was no saving, River. Leviathan was buying time until the transformation was over. I knew it as well as I knew my own name. On the bright side, Sissily and River both landed on the forest floor next to me. I don’t have to worry about if I will find them.
This ominous woodland is cloaked in perpetual shadow, shrouded in an eerie mist that swirls around ancient, gnarled trees that seem to be twisted by the malevolence that pervades the air. Goosebumps covered me from head to toe and I shivered as I looked around.
Staying silent, I helped Sissily and River up while holding Blackman between us so we could support his weight. We start moving forward.
As we venture deeper into the accursed forest, I notice the trees taking on unnatural shapes, their branches resembling skeletal claws reaching out for unsuspecting prey, stretching in our direction. Shrinking back, I tuck myself closer to River and pull Sissily the same way, as well. The ground is carpeted with thick, thorny vines that seem to writhe and move of their own accord, eagerly ensnaring those who dare to tread too close.
The silence is broken by the haunting cries of nocturnal creatures—werewolves howl at the blood red moon, their eyes gleaming with a savage hunger for flesh through the foliage everywhere I turn. When I catch a sight of them my heart skips a beat. These are no packs I had ever seen. These were some sort of distorted versions, specifically made for Leviathan’s pleasure. I was sure of it, as we roamed around this place. Their fur was matted and dark, and their elongated fangs glistened with fresh blood. These cursed beings are not mere shifters, but hybrids of a demon and wolf, bound to a distorted lycanthropic curse under the malevolent influence of the Underworld’s sinister energy.
Among the trees, demonic figures lurked in the shadows, too, their forms ever-changing and elusive. Horned creatures with glowing eyes and sharp claws wait to torment any hapless souls who wander too far from the safety of the path. They are the denizens of the dark, embodiments of malice who feed on fear and despair. How I knew this I had no clue, but I refused to question it. Keeping Sissily and River close, I pushed forward hoping beyond hope we would see the door soon. I was tired of the games, tired of fighting.
I was simply drained.
The air was heavy with a foul stench that was clogging my chest—a mixture of decay, sulfur, and the unmistakable scent of maleficent magic was flooding my nostrils and filling me with dread. Strange wisps of unnatural light flickered around through the branches, hinting at the presence of mischievous spirits that delight in leading travelers astray.
Aware of the ethereal wails that echoed through the forest, I had a feeling they were tormented spirits of those who lost their way and fell prey to the forest's stillness. Their anguished cries filled the space with a haunting reminder of the price one pays for venturing into this cursed domain.
“Am I the only one that has dramatic thoughts that don’t sound like me, or do you guys have the same?” Sissily leaned over to glance at me across Blackman. “It’s almost as if I have a twilight narrator guiding me through the damn forest.”
Now that she mentioned it, I shook my head and dispelled the horrible thoughts. Heavy fog was crowding my head, building a tension headache behind my eyes.
“Good catch.” I mumbled rubbing at my gritty eyelids that felt like sandpaper. “I’m so tired right now I don’t pay attention to anything that’s not trying to kill me immediately.”
“Same.” Sissily’s chirp was followed by a mournful howl too close for my liking.
“How are you doing, River?” Tucking my shoulder deeper under his arm I peeked at him.
“I have been better but I’m alive.” His voice was raspy and low like it took everything in him to say those words. “You should leave me here. It’ll be safer for you.”
