Chapter 34
The scene on the street was chaos. The storm clouds roiled overhead, casting an eerie gray light over the confrontation. Rain began to patter on the pavement, the scent of wet asphalt mingling with the charged tension in the air.
“Hortense, don’t!” Sorcia’s voice rang out, her desperation cutting through the rising wind. “Your trees need you!”
Hortense stood her ground, her now-emerald-hued skin glowing brighter as if it were feeding off the storm itself. Her neon-green eyes blazed with fury as she faced Hazelton.
“You let her go!” Hazelton bellowed, his voice a guttural roar that reverberated down the empty street.
Behind him, Bethany moved carefully, her every step calculated as she edged closer to Jane and Zelda. The three witches were positioned nearly shoulder-to-shoulder, a temporary safety measure. But Sorcia knew the moment they moved to enact the spell, they’d be vulnerable.
Hortense ignored Sorcia’s plea, stepping closer to the demon, her voice cutting through the din. “You can’t hurt them!” she spat, her tone laced with betrayal.
Hazelton’s head snapped toward her, his fury palpable.
“I paid you a portion of our agreed fee!” he roared, his furiously red face glistening with rain.
He froze, suddenly aware of the other witches surrounding him.
His head whipped back and forth, his eyes narrowing as he tried to suppress his rage so he could concentrate, but Sorcia saw the cracks forming in his composure.
This was her chance.
“It doesn’t matter that Hortense released Bethany,” Sorcia said, stepping forward. She felt Marcus beside her, his steady presence a reassurance she desperately needed. Her love for him swelled in that moment, and she silently vowed to stand by him when he needed her.
Hazelton’s face contorted with rage. “Of course it matters!” he screamed, doubling over, bracing his hands on his knees as though his fury was a physical weight. “She was mine! I controlled her powers! She was my reward for all my hard work!”
“You needed my help to capture her!” Hortense shouted back, her voice rising above the storm’s growing intensity.
Thunder rumbled as if echoing her anger.
“You were too weak to catch her on your own. Without me and my trees, you never would have managed it. So, no, she wasn’t yours.
She was mine! I caught her for you and imprisoned her even though she’d done nothing to me.
And after everything I did, her friends still helped me heal my forest! ”
The elf stepped even closer to Hazelton, trembling with indignation. “And you? You didn’t hold up your side of the bargain! You’re a liar, Hazelton Birchsmire! A cheat!”
Hazelton’s face darkened, and for a moment, Sorcia thought his head might literally explode. His fiery red skin looked as though it might combust. She might have found it fascinating—if not for the real danger he posed.
Marcus shifted beside her, sending a small magical pulse to her right. She didn’t look but trusted he was setting the stage for their trap. Time was running out, and with humans beginning to stir nearby, the stakes were even higher. They had to finish this quickly.
Lightning cracked across the sky as Jane raised her hand, her eyes locking with Sorcia’s in a silent question: Tell me when.
Sorcia nodded slightly, her jaw set. “Hortense,” she said firmly, her voice cutting through the storm. “Step back now.”
The elf hesitated, her rage flickering like a candle in the wind. She glared at Hazelton one last time before retreating a few steps, her glowing form dimming slightly.
“Ladies,” Sorcia commanded, her voice steady and clear. “Now!”
The air was electric with tension. Zelda, Jane and Bethany moved in tandem with Sorcia, their focus razor-sharp.
Marcus stepped closer, his quiet strength radiating behind her like an anchor.
Sorcia's attention, however, was laser-focused on Hazelton. Overhead, a blinding light burst across the sky, illuminating the street in stark, dazzling clarity. She didn’t flinch.
The witches were unharmed, and Marcus was by her side. That was all that mattered.
“You can’t just lie and cheat, you bastard!
” Hortense yelled, her voice cutting through the crackling storm.
She raised her hand, calling on the nearby trees for aid.
But as she glanced upward, confusion flickered across her face—the trees were no longer visible, as if the storm itself had swallowed them.
Sorcia took another deliberate step forward, her hand lifting to signal her witches. One finger. Two fingers. Then a nod.
Zelda, Jane, and Bethany moved in perfect unison, their hands rising in graceful arcs. Sorcia bent her knees slightly, her hands cradling a swirling orb of light that pulsed with raw magic. The others mirrored her, their own glowing spheres shimmering with vibrant energy.
Hazelton's expression shifted from anger to confusion as he scanned his surroundings, finally realizing he was being encircled. His confusion deepened into panic, his eyes darting wildly. Sorcia might have laughed if she had the luxury of time, but she was too focused on the spell.
Slowly, she stood upright, channeling every ounce of her power into the light.
The orb in her hands spun faster, growing brighter, more intense, until it became almost impossible to look at.
Circling him, the others followed suit, their orbs whirling and merging into an intricate, glowing circle of light.
“Again!” Sorcia commanded, her voice sharp and decisive.
In perfect harmony, the four witches threw their circles of light toward Hazelton.
Sorcia’s circle was the first to strike, spinning faster as it neared its target.
Hazelton froze, his body rigid with shock.
If he’d understood what was happening, he might have dodged or countered.
Instead, he stood like a statue, mesmerized, as the shimmering circle enveloped him, locking into place.
Bethany’s circle came next, a glowing hue that overlapped with Sorcia’s.
It descended swiftly, tightening around him.
Then Jane’s circle wrapped him in its radiant grip.
Finally, Zelda’s circle hovered above, sparkling with an ethereal brilliance before snapping into position at the top of the glowing prison.
Hazelton roared, thrashing against the bands of light. “Let me go!” he bellowed, twisting and jerking his body. But the circles held firm, glowing brighter with every movement, their energy stronger than any steel.
The demon's frustration boiled over as he growled and clawed at the glowing rings. The effort was futile—he was completely immobilized. The circles shimmered like living chains, pulsing with the combined power of the witches.
Sorcia straightened, her chest rising with a deep breath. A smile spread across her face as relief washed over her. “It worked,” she whispered, her voice trembling with exhilaration. “It actually worked!”
Marcus stepped up beside her, his hand brushing her lower back in a reassuring gesture. “Of course it worked,” he said, his voice laced with admiration. “You led them perfectly.”
The storm overhead began to settle, the crackling tension in the air easing. The witches stood together, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and triumph.
Hazelton, trapped and fuming, glared at Sorcia. “You’ll regret this,” he spat, his voice low and venomous.
Sorcia tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer to the glowing prison. “No, Hazelton,” she said, her voice steady and full of resolve. “You’ll regret ever thinking you could take my coven, my friends, and my power. Your reign of chaos is over.”
The four women laughed, their voices echoing with triumph as they embraced.
Relief coursed through them, the tension of the fight finally melting away.
Sorcia glanced over her shoulder at the demon, now thoroughly trapped in his glowing, mummy-like prison of light.
He writhed and growled, his fury palpable, but it was futile.
The circles had tightened around him, leaving no room for escape.
Bethany was the first to recover. She stepped back, her smile radiant with Viktory.
Carefully, she approached the imprisoned demon, her tone calm but resolute.
“I’m taking you to join your brethren,” she announced.
She glanced back at Sorcia, her confidence shining.
“After hearing about the other demons being contained, I think it’s only fitting to send this one to join them. Any objections?”
Sorcia, her energy drained but her spirit lifted, shook her head with a tired smile.
Her own ring of light still burned the brightest, a testament to the power she’d poured into the spell.
“None,” she replied. “Let’s get him out of here before any humans stumble upon this. It would be... difficult to explain.”
Behind her, Marcus chuckled, his warm, steady presence grounding her. She turned to find him watching her with an affectionate glint in his eyes. “Don’t worry,” he said, gesturing upward.
Sorcia followed his gaze and gasped, laughter bubbling from her lips. A shimmering dome of magic stretched above them, concealing the scene from the outside world. It was a spell she often used for council meetings, but seeing Marcus wield it so effortlessly filled her chest with warmth.
“You’re brilliant,” she whispered, stepping closer. Without hesitation, she reached up and kissed him. “Thank you for always having my back.”
“Always,” Marcus growled, his arms sliding around her to deepen the kiss.
A polite cough broke the moment, and Sorcia groaned softly against Marcus’s chest before pulling back. She looked up at him, her forehead pressed to his. “We’d better deal with this,” she murmured.
Marcus sighed, his arm staying firm around her waist as they turned to face the others. “Guess so,” he said with mock reluctance.
On the ground, Hazelton had ceased his furious struggles. He now lay glaring up at the witches and the imposing figures around him. “You’ll regret this,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom.
“Doubtful,” Marcus quipped, his voice carrying an easy authority that seemed to irritate the demon even more.
“Priestess!” Althea’s voice rang out as she stepped into the dome, followed by several other witches. Their arrival sent a ripple of reassurance through Sorcia. Marcus must have adjusted the dome’s barrier to let them through, and the thought brought a soft smile to her lips.
She turned to Marcus, silently questioning if the humans outside could see anything. He shook his head with a subtle grin, and she relaxed. “Thank you,” she whispered before turning her attention back to Althea.
“Sorry, you were saying?”
Althea hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking between Sorcia and Marcus, before stepping forward with a determined smile. “I would be honored to take this demon to the prison,” she said, her tone steady. “If you trust me with the task.”
Bethany moved beside her, wrapping a supportive arm around the younger witch’s shoulders. “We’ll go together,” she said firmly. “We’ll protect each other until this demon,” she gestured to Hazelton, “is locked away for good.”
Sorcia leaned into Marcus, her heart swelling with pride. “That’s a perfect solution. Thank you both.”
As the two witches approached Hazelton, his defiance seemed to falter. His fiery glare turned into a flicker of fear. “What are you going to do with me now?” he hissed, his voice a mix of rage and desperation.
Bethany and Althea shared a laugh, lifting their hands in unison. Hazelton rose into the air, his glowing prison holding him firmly in place. Bethany turned back to Sorcia with a playful smile. “Flying okay?”
Sorcia nodded, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “This feels like the perfect time to break a few rules.”
The witches laughed, their spirits buoyed as they took to the skies, carrying the now thoroughly defeated Hazelton toward his eternal imprisonment.
Sorcia let out a breath, her hands still warm from the spell-work and her heart lighter than it had been in weeks.
“Well, that’s all done,” she said, her voice carrying to the gathered coven.
“Thank you, everyone, for your support!” She glanced around at the growing crowd of witches, their faces bright with relief and pride.
“Tell them!” Zelda called out, her voice bubbling with excitement. She clapped her hands and grinned, her joy infectious. Beside her, Jane joined in, jumping up and down like a child at a birthday party. “We all want to hear the news!”
Marcus, standing close, slid his arm around Sorcia’s waist and pulled her against him. He kissed her temple softly. “Should we tell them?” he asked, his deep voice carrying a hint of teasing.
Sorcia tilted her head back to look at him, her cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and nerves as she laced her fingers with his. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely,” he said with a grin that lit up his face.
Turning back to the crowd, Sorcia lifted their intertwined hands high into the air, her voice ringing out. “We’re getting married!”
The reaction was instantaneous. A loud cheer erupted from the witches, their hands flying up in celebration. Some whistled, others clapped, and a few even wiped away happy tears. The joy in the air was palpable, a reflection of the bond between their High Priestess and her love.
Marcus chuckled, his arm still around her, and leaned in close. “I think they like the idea,” he murmured.
Sorcia laughed, turning to wrap her arms around his neck.
“I like the idea,” she said, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him.
Rising on her toes, she kissed him, her lips soft and warm against his.
She barely registered the clapping and cheering behind her, so wrapped up in the moment.
“I love you,” she whispered. “I never stopped loving you. And I’m so sorry I didn’t trust you two years ago. ”
He lowered his head, his lips brushing over hers with tenderness and a promise that words couldn’t quite capture. “I love you too. And I don’t give a damn about two years ago, as long as you never leave me again.”
“Deal!” she laughed, only to squeal in surprise as he scooped her up into his arms, holding her tightly.
The coven cheered even louder, the joyous sound blending with Sorcia’s laughter as Marcus spun her around. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything felt right. The future was theirs, and they were ready to face it together.