Page 53 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
“But Ashley, you do not understand—”
“Understand what? That the wizards hoard rocks of pure arcana because they believe it’s theirs to keep?” She glares at meand steps forward. “Well, now it is my time. I control you, and I am going to take back the power, for all witches.” She smirks. “The wizards have always believed that might makes right. So I will show them what true power can be.”
When she raises the dagger, I gulp. She waves the blade in front of me and raises her bleeding hand. “Now tell me, Jade Lion: how do I get from here to the Union of Mages?”
The dark magic crawls up my spine, and I try to fight it. I need to bide my time, to get the agents or the others to stop her. But resisting is futile.
I grit my teeth as the words are wrenched out of my mouth. “The…basement…the portal…uses magic…it will take us there.”
Ashley steps back with a sinister grin. “Good. Now lead me there.”
Ten minutes later, we’re walking through the portal. I use extra arcana to keep it open for an hour in case Seb trails us. I do not wish for him to be in danger, but Ashley’s plan could devastate the magical world at large. I feel her desire to kill the wizards, but perhaps the coven can talk her down.She must be stopped.
The Union is darker now, considering it is early morning in Scotland. Businesses must not be open yet, because almost no wizards mull about. One security guard appears to be asleep to our left, but he promptly wakes up after two steps.
“Good morning. Clearance?” He rubs his eyes, and I fear for his life.
“Wizard gatekeeper, huh? Typical,” Ashley says in a chilling tone. She waves the dagger at me and commands, “Kill him.”
My arm rises, and I try to subdue my magic as best as I can. I don’t want to kill him, but the compulsion is too strong.
“Hey, what are you on about?” The guard startles and raises his badge, lined with geo arcanum. Before he can shoot any magic, I slash his chest. The man slumps over, and blood trailsdown his chest. He is no longer a threat, and if other wizards find him, he may survive.
Regardless, nausea and guilt fill my stomach; I know this was not my fault, but his blood is on my hands.
“Not bad,” she says with a smirk. She turns and strides forward. “But I want you to do to them what they allowed to happen to my ancestors. If you see another wizard, make them burn.” She shrugs and continues walking. “Come, we have much to do.”
Panic rises in my throat, but I can’t say a word. I grit my teeth and follow her. The main hub is nearly empty, and Ashley promptly finds the route down to the source rock of geo arcanum. We walk down the stairs, and, without her command, I launch green fire at two wizard guards, but instead of burning them, the flames simply put them to sleep. If Ashley notices that I’m using nonlethal force, she doesn’t care. Her attention is only focused on one thing. She wants the source of geo arcanum, and it seems she’s going to get it.
When I stand next to her, I notice her eyes shining with victorious greed. How could someone with such a great thirst for vengeance be friends with Seb? “Beautiful. So much power. Mine for the taking.” She slowly raises her hand until it’s inches from the glowing rock before us.
“Carve me a piece,” she mutters. One claw juts out of my hand, and I do what she says, then hand her the shard. She gazes in awe at the geo arcanum, a jagged sphere about fifteen centimeters in diameter. The witch closes her eyes and breathes in the power. Glowing red tendrils sneak from the geo up her arm.
She’s quiet for a few moments, and I hope she lets me go. No such luck when she turns around and raises her hands. With the geo, she carves runes into the air. Shining scars float forward, and I know she’s not finished.
“What are you…?” I murmur. Apparently I can talk now.
“I’m a protection witch after all. I’ve finally fulfilled what my ancestors never could. I have true power, and I can protect us.”
“Protect us?”
She turns and grins at me. “We don’t want those pesky wizards to interrupt us, after all. As much fun as it would be to have you carve out their throats, we have more important matters at hand.”
My mouth goes dry. “What do you mean? You already have geo arcanum.”
“This is but a piece. These wizards have hoarded this wealth of magic like the pompous tyrants they are.” She steps forward. “I command you to break it all. The world will have no more geo arcanum. Except for me, of course.”
“What?!” My jaw drops. “Ashley, the agents use the geo to stop magical threats. They protect all of us.”
“I don’tcare!” she shouts in a fit of rage. “They did nothing to protect my kind for generations. We have been slighted for too long. I wanted to share in your abilities, but you left us. So, now I have a new plan.” She lifts up a piece of the rock. “With this source, I’ll lead the witches. My first order of business will be to burn the wizard community down.”
“You would destabilize the Union, and thereby allow monsters to run rampant on this world, our world, all because you have been the victim of injustice? Innocent people will suffer because of your vengeance. That is equal parts cruel and asinine!”
“Silence.” She frowns and raises the dagger. “I don’t remember asking for a lecture.” With that, my mouth shuts. “When the source is depleted, equity will finally be restored in the magical world. My witch ancestors will be avenged.” Ashley steps forward and stares at the source rock in awe. “And afterI’m done killing the wizards, I will be the only one to wield geo arcanum.”
Fear creeps up my spine at her words. I can say nothing, and I have to help her destroy the greatest source of magic in our dimension. We’ll be thrust into chaos. She will dispose of anyone who gets in her way, starting with wizards. Innocent people will get hurt. And if Seb disagrees, he could get hurt too.
She steps back and waves the dagger. “Now get to work, Jade Lion. Destroy it all, and leave the shards for me.”
