Chapter 45
Enid
Istalked through the marshy land of my bog, staring ahead at the invisible barrier that blanketed my home.
Humans dotted the land in the distance, their torchlights flickering, their shouts ringing out.
In about twenty paces, I would face them, and I would never return to Fairwitch Isle again. My heart clenched, but I couldn’t let myself think about that right now. I had a job to do. I had to save this little city. Save Nevan.
But it wasn’t just about Nevan. It was about Fiona. About Niamh. About Ceri and Harriet and Margaret and the man I’d helped heal today, who had thanked me when he saw me in town later.
This place that I’d hated so much had become a home, and I was going to miss it. But I had to be the one to do this. It was my fault these people were here, and there was no way I was going to let Nevan risk his life for me.
He’d be furious when he woke up. He’d also be devastated, and that part broke my heart into a million little pieces.
I stopped right before the barrier. There was a slight shimmer to it that signaled I’d be leaving the city’s protection. I turned and took in the sight before me.
The Cragh and Fairwitch Isle stretched out, the sun shining behind the castle, illuminating all the stained-glass windows and making their colors pop.
I normally wasn’t a fan of the bright, glaring sun, but in this moment, as it bathed the town in its resplendent light, I couldn’t help but want to stay here a little longer.
Something poked my leg, and I looked down to see Vine coiled at my feet. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
It rose until it was eye level with me.
I huffed and crossed my arms. “I have to do this.” It reached around my back and lifted the satchel strung over both shoulders. “I’m not planning on coming back, Vine,” I said softly.
Its head hung.
“I didn’t want to leave you behind, but I also didn’t want to make you choose between going with me and staying in Fairwitch Isle. You love it here, and Fairwitch Isle loves you. You’ve found a home.”
Vine pointed at my heart.
My heart clenched. “You’re my home too,” I said, trying to hold back my tears.
“But these humans won’t stop. They’ll keep coming back.
They’ll keep poking until, eventually, they discover this hidden city, and then everyone will be in danger.
I can’t let that happen. I finally have a chance to do something good. Truly good.”
Vine shook its head, this time jabbing my chest.
“I’m glad you think I’ve always been good. I’m not so sure. But I do know that I want to be.”
It wrapped around my neck, tightening like it wanted to choke me, but I understood what it was trying to say.
“I’m not going to let them kill me,” I said darkly as Vine released me. “I’m going to the Otherworld, and they’re all going to see me leave this world and move on to the next one.”
Vine stilled.
“I’ve thought and thought about this, and it’s the only way.
I’ll lead them on a chase to the nearest burial mound.
I know this bog better than anyone. I know the mud pits to avoid, the waterlogged areas, the divots and cracks.
I’ll have no problem getting ahead. When we arrive, I’ll tell them the truth.
Tell them exactly who I am before I disappear through the mound.
They won’t be able to follow, and they’ll know that I’m gone for good.
All questions will be answered, and they’ll have no reason to ever return to this bog. Fairwitch Isle will be safe.”
Vine hesitated but nodded, finally resigned to my plan. It knew as well as I did that this was the best solution.
“I love you,” I said softly. “Thank you for being the best friend I could ever ask for. Take care of Nevan for me?”
Vine slunk to the ground, its form motionless, and I swallowed. If I stayed here much longer, I’d lose my nerve and never be able to leave.
“Goodbye, Vine,” I said and stepped through the barrier.
* * *
It wasn’t hard to find the humans, not with all their hollering and clamoring about.
“Looking for me?” I called.
The group, around fifty if I had to estimate, all turned, silence descending upon them as they gaped at me.
“What?” I planted my hands on my hips. “Nothing to say now? You’ve only been shouting my name for the better part of three hours. I expected a grander reception than this.”
“Where did you come from?” someone shouted from the back of the crowd.
The man with the broken nose I’d seen several times now stepped forward. “You just appeared out of nowhere. Same way you disappeared right before our eyes a few weeks ago with that man. How is that possible, witch?”
I gave them my most terrifying smile, and a few of the townspeople stepped back, shooting each other unsure glances.
“Follow me, and you’ll have all the answers you seek.”
Before anyone could respond, I turned and took off through the bog.
“Get her!” a feminine voice called from behind me, the crowd of people roaring in response and the pounding of feet hammering the ground.
I jumped over a smaller channel, landing easily on the other side. A few garbled yells and the splashing of water told me some of the townspeople hadn’t been so lucky.
This was already far too easy.
My feet flew over the damp land, boots sinking into the soft ground only momentarily before I was yanking them out and moving forward.
Another scream echoed over the bog. “I think I broke my ankle,” someone yelled.
Fools. They were all fools if they thought they could actually capture me. They had no idea what I was capable of, but if they tried to hurt me or Fairwitch Isle, they’d find out.
I leapt over a log that was hidden behind tall grass, remembering its positioning from previous encounters. The townspeople, however . . .
“Oh, godwitches! I’ve twisted something.”
A few more yells rang out, and I glanced over my shoulder to see a group of the townspeople piled on top of each other after tripping over the log.
The burial mound was still a good distance away, and that meant I had a lot more tricks up my sleeves. So many ways I could show these humans that they would regret ever setting foot in the Cragh. So many ways to ensure they’d never do it again.
I approached the mud pit where Nevan had gotten trapped, and I sped up, gaining momentum before I leapt into the air and sailed over it. I didn’t have to look behind me this time to know that several of the townspeople had gotten trapped.
“Pull him out!”
“I’m trying!”
“He’s sinking!”
This was actually far more fun than I’d anticipated. It couldn’t take away the pain of leaving those I loved, but it could temporarily dull it. That wasn’t nothing.
Soon the familiar mound of green land with the portal appeared in the distance.
I looked over my shoulder, confirming my suspicions that the townspeople were far, far behind.
At this rate, I’d be waiting at the mound for ages.
I didn’t even see them anymore among the tall grass and cattails.
They were probably still at the mud pits, trying to pull out those who had fallen in.
I slowed as I came upon the hole cut into the mound, completely black. I didn’t actually know what would happen when I went through. I didn’t know how long I’d have to climb in the dark or how it would feel when I was pulled into the Otherworld.
After all these years, I was finally going home.
I thought of Fairwitch Isle. Except it wouldn’t be home.
Not really. I reminded myself I was doing this to protect Fairwitch Isle.
To protect Nevan. It would be worth it. Besides, I couldn’t wait to shove all the helpful uses of my plants in my mother’s face.
It would be fun showing them how wrong they’d been about me all along.
I’d find a quiet corner of the Otherworld, plant a garden, and live out my days in peace. The thought was far more depressing than I’d expected, and I had to shove it to the far reaches of my mind.
“There she is!” Bald Man stood thirty or so paces away, jabbing a finger at me. “Get her!”
“Good luck!” I wiggled my fingers. It was obnoxious and petty, but I didn’t care.
I moved my foot back into the hole, but it hit a wall. The townspeople inched closer, almost like they were afraid I’d use this magic they were convinced I had.
I wanted to tell them that since they were such idiots, I hadn’t needed to. I glanced behind me, frowning to see my foot pressed against the black hole. I should’ve been able to enter. I kicked out my leg again, but it hit some kind of barrier.
“She thinks she can escape us and go to the Otherworld,” someone said, and everyone laughed.
All mortals knew about the burial mounds. They also knew they couldn’t enter without an invitation or magic.
The question was: why couldn’t I enter? Panic filled me as the townspeople closed in, swords and stakes and torches pointed at me. An icy dread crept up my spine. I reached to grip for my amulet, wondering if I’d somehow drained my magic. It shouldn’t have been possible, but—
My hand hit air. I looked down to see there was no amulet hanging around my neck. Impossible. It couldn’t have fallen off. In thousands of years, it never had. It only came off if someone took it off.
Then it hit me. Oh my godwitches. Vine. Vine had slithered up around my neck.
It must’ve taken my amulet in an attempt to stop me from following through with this plan.
And in the process, it had doomed me. I’d never taken the amulet off so I’d never known the consequences.
I also had never wanted to risk finding out.
I held out my hand toward a tree that hung over the townspeople, willing it to bend over and grab them. It didn’t budge. I was well and truly dead. I couldn’t use magic. I couldn’t slip into the portal without my amulet. I couldn’t do anything but run.
I scrambled to the top of the mound, snatching a fallen branch and jabbing at the townspeople as they came closer. Maybe I could make a quick escape. Running had been an effective deterrent the first time around.
I shifted my body to move when I realized I was surrounded.
Bald Man now stood in front of me, pointing his pitchfork at my stomach. “Now you’re going to tell us exactly how you disappeared.”
It was in that moment I realized I’d made a very, very terrible mistake.