Page 77 of Magic Touch
Esme closes her eyes for a moment before she takes a deep breath and moves her chair to the inner circle. "I add my power to the cleansing if those here hold no fault."
Most of the witches each give one nod. Sylvia's nod comes after a long pause, but then she too, agrees.
Grim faced, Sara Beth sits. "Gathered here we witches. In light and in the sight of Goddess. Let none from without see or hear."
An odd pop sounds in my ears, and the noise of the street outside vanishes.
Sara Beth looks around the circle.
My skin tingles with magic.
Sara Beth begins, and her voice rises with each sentence. "This witch to cleanse of spells unkind. This witch to cleanse of evil minds. If forced by spell or possession be, Katrina Davidson. We beseech the light to set her free. Let Goddess fix all that is evil seen. As we will, so mote it be."
Magic pulses in the air.
The witches all lift their arms to the sides with their palms facing away left and right. They don’t touch, but light spreads from hand to hand around the circle. When it meets at Sara Beth, a bolt shoots into Trina.
Trina's back arches, her head is thrown back, and her mouth opens on a silent scream. Her brown eyes open and roll back as she convulses and tumbles to the floor.
I stand. Instinct tells me I can't cross the row of witches. Yet it's a struggle not to rush to help.
On the floor, Trina jerks and twists. She gags as if she is choking.
Henry is standing as well. The outer ring of witches looks on in varying states of awe and horror. It is clear that a cleansing spell doesn't happen often.
Trina rises off the floor. Her head moves upright, and when her eyes open, they are black and lifeless. The same presence I saw shows itself while she floats a foot from earth. "This one is mine. Your puny magic cannot root me out of those I own."
Sara Beth's eyes widen, and her skin pales. "Who has stolen this child?"
"You are not worthy to know my name." The voice is part Trina's but deeper and more guttural.
I'm struggling to keep my magic at bay. Everything inside me pushes me to do something to force this demon or witch, or whatever it is out.
Esme turns her head enough to look at me. "William, if you're going to try, do it now. We can only hold a few more moments."
I look from her loving eyes to Sara Beth's hopeless ones, and she nods.
I envision Katrina as a young innocent woman. Her magic pure and good. I don't know what her gifts are meant to be, but I let the image of her purity flow over me.
I reach out with my right hand and slink through the light of the inner circle. My head tingles, as when lightning comes too close.
Lifted from the floor by whatever possesses her, Trina is eye level with me when I grip her head in both my hands. "You were willing to kill her in the pool to get to me, let her go now."
"You are nothing." But the voice is strained.
Meeting the stare of the beast, I push the vision of my magic forth.
The room explodes with white light.
Chapter
Twenty
ESME
Blinding light emanates from William. My skin vibrates with magic. He's at once terrifying and magnificent. Even knowing the purity of his heart, it's staggering to see his magic unleashed.
I'm forced to close my eyes as the light of William's magic envelopes Trina, spreads, and cascades through the room. It takes me a moment to brave a look.
