Chapter 22
The Blackmoore kitchen buzzed with electricity as they prepared for another trip into the forest.
Fiona paced before the granite countertops, her curls bouncing with each step. She held up a burlap bag. ”I have the stones that will mute the powers of the yellow crystals. Celeste has the lumiscope that will hopefully lead us to the epicenter.” She paused and turned to the rest of them. ”But what about those portals? We can”t just wander into the woods blind.”
Jolene stood by the window, her gaze piercing through to the woods beyond. ”Last time I fell into one of those things, I ended up taking an unplanned swim. I”m not eager to find out where I”d land next.”
Calvin leaned against the island, his glasses reflecting the overhead lights as he studied an array of maps spread out before him. ”We could try to predict their locations,” he suggested. ”Map out safe paths based on where they appeared last.”
Celeste nibbled on her lip, a habit when she was deep in thought. ”And if new ones open up? We can”t possibly map them all. The clock is ticking, and we need to get back in there before nightfall. We need a way to protect ourselves from the portals.”
”Astrid said we”d need spells, sticks, and stones. Maybe a spell?” Mateo suggested.
”Meow!” Belladonna stood in front of the door, her gaze wavering between it and the humans.
Morgan let her out, and the cat bounded over to the herb garden. The plants had grown a good foot since the morning. Belladonna went straight for the overgrown agrimony, rolling ecstatically among the fragrant leaves and yellow blooms and looking back at Morgan every few seconds.
”She seems very interested in that herb,” Fiona murmured, moving closer to the window. ”She was rolling in it the other day too.”
Belladonna looked back at Morgan, and their eyes locked. A realization sparked in Morgan”s mind. ”It must be the agrimony!”
”Huh?” Jolene joined them at the window.
”Belladonna could walk right over the portals. I think the agrimony she”d rolled in right before protected her.”
Jolene”s eyes widened. ”Guess we”d better go join her.”
Morgan burst through the back door, her sisters and the guys close behind. The pungent aroma of the overgrown agrimony washed over them as they raced into the garden.
”Hurry, grab as much as you can!” Morgan called out, already yanking up handfuls of the yellow-flowered herb and stuffing the leaves and blooms into her pockets.
The others fanned out, following her lead. Fiona tore off sprigs with quick, deft movements while Jolene simply scooped up entire plants, roots dangling. Calvin and Celeste gathered carefully, trying not to damage the growth.
Within minutes, they were all laden with the fragrant bundles. Morgan brushed her hands off on her jeans, smiling. ”Looks like we”ve got plenty now. It”s lucky the garden has been growing like crazy.”
Jolene inhaled deeply from a bunch she held. ”Yeah, perfect timing. But how much do we actually need for protection?”
”Good question.” Morgan glanced at Belladonna, who sat nearby, grooming her agrimony-dusted fur. ”She just rolled around in it. I”m guessing if we rub some on exposed skin and fill our pockets, it should work the same for us.”
”Let”s hope so,” Calvin said, eyeing the dark woods. ”Otherwise, this expedition is going to get dicey fast.”
The group followed Morgan”s example, crushing leaves and flowers between their hands before smoothing the juices and oils over any bare skin.
Once their pockets bulged with bundles and they were sufficiently coated, Morgan did a final check. ”All right, I think we”re ready.”
Morgan looked around at everyone. They all nodded, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension.
”Okay, let”s do this,” she said, her voice sounding steady despite the knot of nerves in her stomach.
They gathered up the rope, lumiscope, and celestrolabe. The woods seemed darker and creepier than ever, the trees looming and casting dark shadows. Belladonna trotted ahead, her white fur glowing faintly in the shadows.
The air was thick with tension, the silence broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, and the scurrying sounds of something just out of their line of vision.
Suddenly, a giant portal opened in front of them, a swirling vortex of darkness that seemed to suck in the very light around it. Belladonna barely hesitated before trotting right over it. She stopped on the other side and looked back at them.
Morgan”s heart pounded. She knew they had to follow, but the thought of stepping into that portal filled her with dread.
Jolene took a step forward. ”I”ll go first,” she said.
Morgan grabbed her arm, pulling her back. ”No, I”ll go first.”
Jolene protested, but Morgan shook her head. ”I”m the oldest. It”s my responsibility.”
Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto the edge of the portal. The swirling darkness seemed to reach up for her, but she resisted its pull. She closed her eyes and took a step forward.
Nothing happened.
She opened her eyes, surprised to find herself still there, standing on top of the portal as if it didn’t even exist. Belladonna watched from other side, her tail swishing impatiently.
”I guess the agrimony works,” she said and went to join the cat.
One by one, they stepped across the portal. Everyone made it through safely.
Belladonna trotted ahead again, leading them through the woods. They followed her, their eyes darting from side to side, half expecting something to jump out at them from the shadows.
Celeste worked the celestrolabe and lumiscope, following the faint glimmering trails of the ley lines through the dark woods. The instruments led them deeper into the forest, past gnarled oaks and shadowy undergrowth.
Nature”s rules seemed inverted here. A raccoon with luminous feathers instead of fur waddled curiously toward them, its gaze glowing green in the dark. Nearby, a chorus of frogs croaked in what sounded eerily like harmony, all while a crow with a long, peacock-like tail flew overhead, cawing melodically. The trees themselves seemed to shift and elongate as the group walked by, stretching impossibly high.
The hair on Morgan”s neck prickled as the shadows around them swayed and rippled, though there was no wind. She gripped her amulet tightly, the obsidian smooth and reassuring against her palm.
Celeste peered through the celestrolabe as she held the lumiscope before her, brows drawn in concentration as she worked to focus on the ley lines. But Morgan could see beads of sweat on her sister”s forehead. The effort of trying to keep the lines straight while navigating the forest was taking its toll.
Energy snapped all around them, and the air grew thick. Walking became more difficult, like trudging through waist-high water.
”It”s too much,” Celeste said through gritted teeth. ”It”s like the magic is fighting us.”
As if in response, a tree branch directly above them splintered with a deafening crack. Cal pulled Celeste back just before it crashed down where she had stood.
The energetic hum in the air increased. Morgan raised her arm against the powerful wind, squinting to see through the leaves and debris whipping past.
”I can sense that we are close. If we can just push through and make it beyond that clump of twisted oak trees up ahead!” She glanced back at Celeste, who was clutching the lumiscope in a white-knuckled grip. Celeste gave a subtle nod, confirming they were nearing their destination.
The wind swelled, pushing them back with an almost physical force. Morgan”s hair lashed at her face like whips. She gritted her teeth and bowed her head as she forced one foot in front of the other.
”This must be the time we need a spell!” Jolene yelled.
Celeste began reciting a spell, her voice rising to carry over the roar of the wind. Morgan felt a surge of magical energy release from her sister. But instead of propelling them forward, it ricocheted back, slamming them against the trees behind them.
Morgan grunted as her back hit rough bark. They were pinned there, unable to take another step forward against the wind and misdirected magic.
”It”s the wrong incantation!” Celeste yelled over the gale. ”My magic is just bouncing back at us!”
Morgan craned her neck to peer through the trees. She could just make out a pulsing aura—the epicenter. It had to be. They were so close!
If they could only get past these blasted trees...
Morgan shifted against the tree, trying to wiggle free, but the force was too strong. They were stuck. She looked back at the others plastered against their own trees. Fiona”s curls thrashed wildly across her face. Jolene had her eyes squeezed shut.
They had to retreat, regroup, and try again. Morgan turned her head toward Celeste and yelled, ”We have to fall back! It”s too much!”
Celeste gave a frustrated nod and stopped chanting. The wind seemed to let up ever so slightly without her spell pushing against it.
Together, they managed to stumble away from the trees and back down the path. The wind died down with each step until they were able to stop and catch their breath.
Morgan glanced back once more at the area they”d nearly breached. So close...
”What was that all about?” Jolene asked.
”Something doesn”t want us to get to the epicenter,” Mateo said.
Fiona clutched the burlap bag and looked back behind them. ”Should we try again?”
It was getting dark in the woods. Morgan looked at her watch. It would soon be night. Facing whatever lay ahead in this forest at night was not a risk they could take. ”I think we need to retreat and regroup. I don”t know about you guys, but I”m tired and weak. We”ll need all our strength when we reach the epicenter.”
The others nodded, weariness and frustration evident on their faces.
The journey home remained fraught with odd occurrences and supernatural obstacles, but the agrimony allowed them to bypass the mystifying portals. They finally emerged from the tree line, the Blackmoore house a welcome sight.
Inside, they collapsed in the sitting room, the day”s exhaustion settling heavily on their shoulders. Belladonna trotted around to each person, sniffing them as if to ensure they were okay.
”We were so close this time,” Fiona said, dropping her head into her hands.
”We”re going to have to figure out how to get past all of that,” Jake said. ”Maybe more herbs or stones?”
”We already have those two parts, so it”s the spell, I think.” Celeste shrugged. ”Sorry, guys. I thought I had that nailed.”
”It”s not your fault,” Morgan rushed to console her. ”Besides, that might not even be where we need the spell.”
Celeste frowned. ”What do you mean?”
”I”m not sure. I think all the chaos in there stems from Maynard and Sofie fighting against each other with the ley lines.”
”Good point,” Luke said. ”We need to broaden our thinking.”
Johanna bustled into the sitting room bearing a tray laden with still-warm chocolate chip cookies and steaming mugs of hot cocoa topped with mini marshmallows.
”You all look exhausted,” she tutted, setting the tray on the table. ”What happened out there?”
They brought Johanna up to speed as they sipped the cocoa.
”I”m glad you”re all okay,” Johanna said. ”Sounds like you need to figure out what to do to get further into the woods.”
Celeste shook her head slowly. ”I still think a spell can help. But I tried a transportation spell earlier, and the wind practically ripped it out of my hands. It felt like a warning.”
Luke leaned forward to grab another cookie. ”Maybe we”re overthinking this now. We”re exhausted. I say we all get some rest and revisit it tomorrow with fresh eyes. Sometimes, the subconscious works things out while we sleep.”
Morgan nodded, the wisdom in Luke”s words settling over her. The day”s events had drained them, both physically and mentally. Even now, her thoughts felt sluggish, as if wading through molasses.
Glancing around, she saw the same bone-weary exhaustion mirrored on the others” faces. Fiona slumped on the sofa, eyes half-closed as she picked at a loose thread on a throw pillow. Mateo stared blankly into the fire, chin propped in his hand. Only Belladonna seemed unfazed as she napped peacefully in her plush cat bed.
Calvin set his empty mug on the coffee table. ”Luke”s right. We need sleep more than anything now. My brain feels fried after everything we just went through.”
”Mine too,” Celeste murmured through a yawn. ”I can barely keep my eyes open.”
Johanna started to gather up the mugs and plates. ”You should all get some rest. Things will look clearer in the morning.”
Morgan met her mother”s eyes, reading the concern there. Johanna was worried for them but knew better than to discourage their efforts. All Johanna could do was to have faith in them and provide grounding when they needed it most.
Morgan tried to offer a reassuring smile. ”We”ll figure it out. Don”t worry. A good night”s sleep is probably the best thing for us right now.”
Her mother smiled softly in return before disappearing down the hall toward the kitchen. The others began shuffling tiredly toward their rooms.
Morgan stood, joints creaking in protest. She stretched her arms over her head. ”All right. Let”s pick this up again in the morning. I think we could all use a good night”s sleep.”
The others murmured agreement, slowly getting to their feet.
They filed sleepily out of the sitting room toward their bedrooms, each lost in thought. Morgan paused in the hallway, watching Celeste continue on, still frowning slightly in concentration. She clearly wasn”t ready to let the spell question go yet.
With a sigh, Morgan entered her own bedroom. She peeled off her jeans and sweatshirt and dropped them on the floor before collapsing into bed. The soft mattress enveloped her tired body. She was asleep almost instantly.