The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga by Taliesin Govannon (top 10 novels of all time .txt) 📗

very, very long time ago. I think purple fits me.” She brushed at her long hair. “I should get some clothes to match it.”

                We laughed, and Rini walked up to us. “Annabelle, Angelique… so good to see you!” she said, smiling broadly.

                “Hello, old friend.” Angelique said. “We’re grateful that you’re doing us this favor.”

                “For friends? It is nothing.” Rini replied with a bow. “Here, my friends… and don’t be strangers!”

                She opened a portal, and we could see the back patio of the mansion on the other side. A quick hug from each of us to Rini, and we stepped through. The portal closed behind us.

                Something’s wrong. I felt it as soon as we stepped over the Fae gate threshold onto the patio. Angelique must have felt it, too, because I felt her lift me and speed the both of us inside.

                We settled in the parlor, where Jack was just finishing up wheeling in a big-screen TV on a wheeled cart. He connected it to power as everyone else settled into seats.

                It was really the first time we had all been in the same place for some time. The three Fae sisters, their human glamours dropped, sat in a cluster in the back. Katsu sat next to her sister Hatsu, a third seat obviously for Jack next to her on her other side. Raina and Tiffany sat on a two-seater sofa, while the Hawkins siblings sat on another one next to them. Gaia and Vincent were on yet another sofa, this one with room in between them for me. I sat, and Angelique stood behind me, her hand on my shoulder.

                “This happened Saturday.” Jack said, his voice grim. He pointed a remote at the TV and it sprung to life. He pulled up a local news program and hit play.

                A serious looking news-woman appeared on the screen. "A grizzly discovery in Summit county as the remains of three children have been discovered near the  Clinton National Forest." she said. "Details are sketchy as we await identification of the remains and the notification of next of kin. The children are said to be pre-teen in age, and may have been attacked by wild animals. Authorities are recommending that parents not allow their children to explore any forests until a definite cause of death can be determined. Anyone with information about this horrendous crime is encouraged to call the Summit County Sheriff's office."

                Jack pointed the remote at the TV and the video was replaced with a map of the property. Three red dots sat just outside of our property line along the back.

                Not far from the lake.

                “I hacked the county coroner’s records.” Jack continued. “It seems that the victims were… bitten in half.”

                A wave of shock and disgust rolled through the room. Jack raised his voice to continue.

                “County officials are saying that the bite marks happened after death,” he said, “from scavengers, but the teeth marks are too big. The closest thing that my sources can come up with is that it looks like a great white shark.”

                “Have they identified the victims yet?” Tiffany asked.

                “Yes.” Jack replied. He hit a few buttons on the remote and a face flashed on the screen. “This is Anthony Darrow, nine years old. His parents reported him missing on Thursday, but nobody had seen… “

                His voice trailed off and grew distant in my head. The face looking back at me from the screen, a smiling school picture, from the looks of it, triggered a series of memories.

                A frightened nine-year-old boy… bullies standing over him. He was the first one I helped with sending bees at his attackers…

                Another picture on the screen. “This is Mohammad Aziz,” Jack said, “fourteen years old. He went missing Friday morning… “

                I saw him, too. Cowering under the abuse of the bullies, looking relieved yet confused when the wasps came to chase his tormentors away…

                The third and final picture. “Dylan Hess, ten years old.” Jack said. “Missing since Wednesday… “

                A frightened little boy, held down by two bullies… I sent hornets after his attackers…

                Dead. They were dead. Those bright little faces, stilled forever. All because I tried to help them! I thought, anguish welling up inside. They were targeted because of their connection to ME! They were placed just outside of our property to taunt us!

                That fucking lake. It was to blame, I just knew it! It chose when we left to strike. It did the worst things connected to me during the week of my greatest joys.

                I saw purple all around me… purple energy flowing, crackling around me. My rage was making me strong.

                “This ends, NOW!” I said, and my voice boomed in the room. Several people were knocked backward as I stalked towards the door.

                I could hear voices behind me… begging, pleading with me to stop. I tuned them out, however… I couldn’t get the faces of the children out of my mind!

                Anthony, Mohammad, Dylan… I’m sorry! I thought. I am going to avenge you!

                I walked through the back doors, and they shattered and disintegrated around me. I strode out onto the patio, and then to the lawn.

                All I’ve ever wanted to do is to help people! I thought. I want to bring relief and justice to people! Those children did nothing wrong… they were victims! And they’re dead because of that fucking lake… “

                I heard people moving behind me, but I wouldn't let them get close. I put a handout, and twenty feet all around me opened up, my friends held outside.

                “You all should wait in the house.” I said to nobody in particular. “I may have to do some disturbing things, and I’d rather you not watch.”

                I walked into, and through, the woods until I came to the shores of the lake. I raised my hands and shot a bolt of pure energy into the water.