The Witches of the Glass Castle (The Witches of the Glass Castle Series Book 1) (19 page)

‘Hmm…hard to say.
As long as I can remember, that’s for sure.’

‘But, what about your family?’ Mia tried to broach the subject as delicately as possible.

‘The Hunters are my family. Lotan, Roc and Siren.’

‘But…your parents?’

‘Oh,’ Colt registered her point. He ambled over to his dressing table and lifted a framed photograph, which he handed to Mia for inspection. ‘There she is,’ he said. ‘That’s my mother. I believe she was a civilian.’ He pointed to the woman in the photo with the pride of a dutiful son, although it was clear that he had no extensive knowledge of her.

‘You don’t remember her?’
Mia tried to conceal her bewilderment. She knew that Colt’s world was a complex one, but this was unfathomable to her.

‘No. But I like the picture, don’t you?’ He gazed lovingly at the photograph.

The woman smiled back at them. She sat beneath a willow tree, wearing a white embroidered dress. She had long blonde hair and forest-green eyes.

‘Yes,’ Mia replied truthfully, ‘it’s lovely. What about your father?’

‘I understand that he was a Hunter. But he belonged to another coven,’ Colt explained. ‘I’ve never met him.’

‘Is he still married to your mother?’

Colt laughed. ‘Of course not! He was a Hunter! I’m sure they were not married or romantically in love like you would wish it to be. Most likely my mother was needed to carry a child for the new generation of Hunters. It’s a fairly common procedure. It’s the cycle of life.’

Mia couldn’t hide her shock at the coldness of his words.
Her jaw dropped. ‘What about the others?’ she asked. ‘Do they know their parents?’

Colt laughed again
. ‘Oh, no! You wouldn’t be a Hunter if you had a family outside of your coven. The whole point is that we are detached from human emotion. Detached from humanity itself. We are bred only as warriors.’

Mia watched as he stared fondly at the framed photograph. His was not an expression of someone detached from humanity. In fact, his was more an expression of someone in the clutches of it.

‘What about you?’ he returned the question, placing the photo back in its spot. ‘You have parents.’

‘Yes. Well,’ she corrected herself, ‘I have a mother and an aunt. And Dino.’

‘Where is your father?’

Mia shrugged. ‘He’s around somewhere, but I’ve never met him. My mother doesn’t like to speak about him. I guess their relationship didn’t end so well.’

‘But that doesn’t deter you from love?’ Colt noticed.

Mia’s cheeks flushed pink, and she was glad that the poor lighting hid her blushes.

‘I suppose love isn’t something you can choose,’ she said. ‘It’s out of your control.’

‘Like anger?’

‘No, not really. Love is something that consumes you. Anger is a reaction.’

Colt studied her curiously. ‘And what do you know of lo
ve and anger?’ he challenged.

‘I know that I’ve experienced both.’

‘And you’re still alive to tell the tale,’ he joked cheerfully.

She grinned.
‘What can I say? I’m invincible.’

‘Aren’t you just,’ Colt remarked wryly. ‘Care to test that theory?’ As he spoke, he lifted a small dagger from an altar-like table covered in a purple cloth.

‘The Athame!’ Mia murmured.

‘
My
Athame,’ Colt amended. ‘My personal tool.’

Mia edged forward to get a better look. ‘What do you use it for?’

‘Mostly to develop my powers, or for ritual. Although I’ve never really been one for rituals.’ He rotated the blade to allow Mia a thorough look.

‘It’s beautiful,’ she breathed, examining the detail of its engraved symbols and the sharpness of its pointed tip.

Colt nodded his head. ‘Shall we begin?’

‘Now?’ She looked up at him timidly.

‘Yes. I’m not sure how much longer I can have you in my bedchamber without making advances on you,’ he teased. ‘I believe it’s mandatory. Or at least customary.’

Mia tu
tted. ‘It baffles me how you can think you are anything other than a normal guy!’

Colt shrugged
playfully. ‘Take a seat,’ he said, gesturing vaguely at the floor.

Mia complied, sitting cross-legged on the crimson carpet. ‘What if I can’t control it? What if it’s like the last time I tried?’

‘I’ll be your anchor,’ Colt told her. ‘I’ll pull you out at any time.’ He systematically arranged four candles around her, caging her in. ‘North, south, east and west,’ he indicated to the candles. ‘Earth, fire, air and water.’ Striking a match, he ignited the wick of the north candle. A blue flame twitched but finally settled down as a modest amber teardrop.

Mia looked at the candles. They were unlike any she had ever seen before: smooth black cylinders adorned with a cascade of dripping wax.

‘May I join you?’ Colt asked cordially.

‘Please do.’

Colt stepped through the candles, crossing the invisible barrier that he had created for her. He sat down opposite Mia.

‘Are you ready?’

‘I think so,’ she told him. But her trembling voice gave a different answer.

Colt focused his gaze on the solitary north candle flame, and in an almighty blaze the flame leapt upwards. It circled them, connecting with the other candle wicks as it went. Soon Mia and Colt were imprisoned in a ring of fire.

Mia squeezed her eyes shut.

‘Don’t be scared,’ Colt said in a soothing tone. ‘I’m in complete control. This is my fire, and you are perfectly safe.’

Tentatively opening her eyes, Mia nodded, but she could feel her pulse rate accelerating. The heat radiating from the ring of fire began to warm her skin.

In front of her, Colt held the Athame. Serenely, he was both servant to and master of its power. His eyes locked on Mia’s.

‘Take my hand.’

She did as he requested. His fingers closed aro
und hers, and his hand felt hot as though it were charged with electricity. With his other hand, he gripped the dagger.

Colt spoke again. ‘Envision yourself and your connection to nature. Earth, fire, air and water,’ he said between shallow breaths. ‘Don’t forget, nature is a part of all of us. It is who you are.’

Mia closed her eyes. She could hear the crackle of fire as it looped around her in constant flow. But for once she was not intimidated by it, simply respectful of it. Something cold touched the skin of her free hand. Colt had slipped the Athame into her grasp. Her other hand closed around his even tighter than it had before.

‘I’m scared,’ she whispered urgently.

‘You have no reason to be.’

‘You won’t let go of my hand, will you?’

‘I won’t,’ he promised.

Mia held the ceremonial dagger in her palm. She felt its energy shoot along her arm like an electric shock. It coursed through her body with a burning heat, swelling like fire around her lungs.

‘I don’t think I can do this,’ she gasped, short of breath.

‘You’re OK,’ Colt
reminded her. ‘The Athame’s powers are true. Calm yourself. Take a deep breath.’

Mia drew in several slow breaths, inhaling and exhaling in a soothing rhythm
.

‘Shall I take the Athame away?’ Colt asked.

Mia took another breath. The energy seemed different now – warm rather than hot. ‘No,’ she replied.

Little by little, the magic of the Athame flooded her with a wonderful strength and understanding. It was as though everything had suddenly become clear: she knew who she was and what her capabilities were – both as a witch and as a young woman. She felt strong, beautiful and wise. It was a glimpse of who she was and who she would one day become. And in that instant, she knew that she was a part of everything – the air she breathed and the fire that surrounded her, so alive and imperative in its own right.

Somewhere in the back of her consciousness, she could feel Colt’s hand. It was a relief to know he was there with her. Then, very carefully, she felt him take the Athame from her.

As it left her grasp
, the dagger’s essence rushed away from her. She slumped forward and Colt caught her, guiding her to lean against him. He placed the Athame on the carpet and cradled Mia’s head to his chest.

‘There
,’ he said, stroking the hair from her face. ‘You are a witch.’

‘Am I?’ Mia murmured, drained by the experience.

Colt smiled affectionately. ‘Oh, yes. You are a magnificent witch.’ He radiated a certain admiration, honoured to have shared such a significant moment with her. The use of an Athame was a momentous step, and he was privileged to have been a part of it.

‘It was the strangest feeling,’ she whispered. ‘I saw my powe
rs. I think I understand…They’re not separate from me – they
are
me.’

‘I seem to remember telling you that weeks ago,’ Colt teased gently.

Mia smiled.

‘Your powers are born from the substance
that you’ve possessed all along,’ Colt added. ‘They are the fruits of your life. And they will grow as you do. You did well today. The Athame shared with you its magic and you were able to contain it. That shows a great strength.’

‘I f
eel so tired, though,’ Mia murmured. She leaned closer into his body.

‘That’s normal.
I forgot how exhausting it can be.’ Colt absent-mindedly began rocking her back and forth.

‘Why is it so tiring?’

‘Because it’s ancient magic. Magic that you’ve never really been exposed to before. It took all of your energy to embody it.’

‘I feel like I’m falling asleep,’ she slurred, glad to have him to prop herself up against.

‘Then sleep,’ Colt said. He rose to his feet, lifting Mia in his arms. Through the command of his eyes he directed the ring of fire to break, and the blazing flames returned to being tiny pyramids dancing atop the candlewicks.

Colt stepped out of the circle and carried Mia to the bed. He placed her down gently and draped a blanket over her. Then he lay down beside her, watching with amorous curiosity as she drifted in and out of sleep.

‘Are you dreaming?’ he asked her quietly.

‘Maybe,’ she replied softly. ‘
I don’t know the difference anymore.’

Colt grinned. ‘I can relate to that. You know, you were very brave today.’

‘Brave?’ Mia mumbled. ‘You told me I was safe.’ She managed a weak smile.

Colt laughed
. ‘You
were
safe. Next time you won’t find it so draining. And you won’t need me around, either.’

‘I don’t think I could do it without you. I wouldn’t want to.’

‘Oh, don’t underestimate yourself. You are more than prepared, girl.’

Mia opened her eyes hazily. ‘Do
you know my name?’ It was a strange question, but a valid one nonetheless. Even after all this time, she had never introduced herself, nor had she ever heard him use her name.

Colt’s eyes widened
in amusement. ‘Do you think I would go through all of this without finding out your name?’

‘I don’t know,’ she jibed. ‘It wouldn’t surprise m
e.’ From where she lay she gazed at him, his face resting on the pillow beside her.

Colt rolled onto his back and smiled up at the roof of the canopied bed
. ‘I know your name, Mia,’ he said. ‘I knew your name before I knew you.’

She watched his profile.
‘How?’

He
turned back to face her and touched her nose with his index finger. ‘I heard Wendolyn mention you once and I liked the sound of it. I remembered it. I should have known then that things would go awry,’ he joked.

‘Things haven’t been so bad though, have they?’

‘Oh, no, darling. Quite the opposite.’

That was the last thing Mia heard before she fell into a much needed slumber.

Colt lay at her side for some time after that, observing her steady breathing, until eventually he too fell into a comfortable sleep.

An hour passed before Colt was awoken again. A deafening cry jolted him into alertness. He glanced at Mia, who continued to sleep soundly beside him.

The cry grew louder and more agonising. Colt recognised the call at once.

The death of a Hunter.

He sprang to his feet, and in a blur he was gone.

Colt sped through the grounds, his legs moving with the wind at a speed that tripled that of a normal human. The night sky was dark and layered with an opaque purple fog. Such a congested sky was never a good sign. It meant that heavy magic was at play.

In the depths of his mind, Colt heard the unmistakable cry of a Hunter. Innately, he knew which direction to head. At a nail-biting speed, he weaved in and out of the forest’s pine trees, closing in on Lotan.

‘Brother!’ Colt called out to Lotan, who lay crumpled on the forest floor. ‘I am here.’ He dropped dutifully to his friend’s side.

‘Colt,’ Lotan responded in a strained breath. ‘Where have you been?’ His dark eyes were harsh, but not condemning.

‘I’ve been in my chamber,’ Colt replied, as honestly as possible. Of course, he had no intention of mentioning his Arcana companion.

‘The coven was struck,’ Lotan informed him. ‘We were attacked by the rival Hunters.’ He let out a throaty cough and a trickle of blood spilt over his lips.

Colt staggered for words. He was racked with guilt. He should never have abandoned his coven at such a crucial time. ‘And the outcome?’ he asked, in barely a whisper.

‘They are strong and fast. They picked us off, one by one.’

Colt’s heart hammered in his chest. ‘They made a kill?’ He already knew the answer.

‘They took down Roc,’ Lotan confirmed. ‘I could not stop it.’

The world seemed to move in slow motion as Colt realised that his brother, Roc, was dead.

‘A
nd Siren?’ he asked frantically.

‘Siren set off in pursuit, but he is no match for them. They will slaug
hter him.’

‘I’ll go,’ Colt snarled. ‘I’ll take them down myself.’ Avenging Roc’s death would not only be an obligation, but a tribute.

‘No. You will not survive,’ Lotan stated flatly. ‘Colt, their leader is in the first stages of ascension.’

Colt was taken aback
. ‘How can a Hunter perform an ascension? The ritual is protected by the Arcana.’

‘They run with an Arcana.
A boy from the castle. Dino.’

Dino
. Colt’s stomach knotted at the mention of the name.
Mia’s brother
.

‘Their leader is beyond powerful,’ Lotan went on. ‘I read his thoughts and felt his capabilities. He has begun the ascension and it has heightened his power. He will render you useless in one strike.’

Colt took a steady breath. ‘Then I won’t let him get a strike in.’

‘You cannot face him alone,’ Lotan cautioned.

‘OK. When you’re sufficiently healed, we’ll attack…’

‘I won’t heal,’ Lotan cut him off bluntly.

Colt stopped dead. ‘What? Of course you will heal. Where are you hurt?’ He looked him up and down, scanning for possible injury. There was a small puncture wound just below Lotan’s rib cage.

‘I’ve been infected with a poisoned tip. It’
s spreading quickly, I have held on for your arrival. I needed to warn you not to go up against them.’ Lotan clenched his fists in the throes of agony. ‘If you try, you will fail. Flee from the forest,’ he commanded.

Colt
stammered for words. ‘No!’ He shook his head firmly. ‘I will
never
flee. I will track them down and bring you the blood of their coven. It will remedy the poison.’ His thoughts returned to his own narrow escape and how effective blood of the coven had been in aiding his recovery.

‘They’re too powerful,’ Lotan argued, struggling to speak as his pain worsened. ‘You won’t get close enough to make a kill.’

‘Then I’ll take the boy,’ Colt said callously, referring to Dino. As he uttered the proclamation, something tugged at his heart, but he immediately blocked it out. His weakness for Mia was what had distracted him from his duty in the first place. Perhaps if he had blocked her out sooner, he could have prevented this. Or at least he would have been at his coven’s side during the attack, like a true soldier.

‘No. They protect the boy,’ Lotan divulged. ‘The leader goes by the name of Tol. I listene
d to his thoughts. He holds an Enticement over the Arcana, which drew him into their coven. If they seal him as their fourth, Tol will be able to complete the ascension. He will be unstoppable.’

‘So I’ll kill the boy and they’ll lose their fourth,’ Colt deduced simply. ‘The leader cannot ascend without a full coven.’

‘True,’ Lotan agreed. ‘But they guard him. They’ve almost turned him, and no doubt they’ll be anticipating your retaliation.’

‘Well, I have to do something!’ Colt exclaimed. He felt utterly helpless, and that wasn’t a feeling he was used to. He hated it. He’d sooner die with his coven than stand back and watch.

‘Foolhardy retaliation will be suicide. Go to Wendolyn and tell her of the Hunters’ siege. Tell her they need the boy to join the coven in order to complete the ascension. The boy is the key,’ Lotan wheezed. ‘Go!’

Colt wanted to obey, but he found that he could not move.

‘Go!’ Lotan rasped again.

‘I…’ Colt swallowed. He knew that his next words would sound pathetic to Lotan. ‘I want t
o stay with you,’ he said.

Lotan let out a broken laugh. ‘My boy! What has she done to you?’ Despite his cold words,
their delivery was surprisingly warm.

Colt’s lips twitched into a grudging smile.
‘Nothing, brother. I wish to stay with you in your final hour. It would be an honour.’ He bowed his head as a show of respect.

Lotan smiled curiously. ‘Respect is a fine quality, but attachment will be your demise.’

‘And if I am attached to you?’

‘Then you are truly in a sorry state!’

‘Well, then, it’s a good thing I consider you expendable,’ Colt teased. However, his humour was but an unconvincing mask for the grief that tore him up inside. Although only a few years his senior, Lotan had raised Colt from the day he had arrived at the Glass Castle. Lotan had been a father, brother, leader and friend.

Colt resented being witness to such a distressing end, but nevertheless he refused to leave Lotan’s side. It was one last act of devoted loyalty.

‘Forgive me,’ Colt implored. ‘Forgive me for not being with the coven when the enemy attacked.’

‘I’m glad you were not with us,’ Lotan replied. His body lay limp and
his lips had turned pale.

‘Why?’

‘Because you would have been killed, too.’

‘Be careful, Lotan,’ Colt smiled sadly. ‘That sounded like a trace of humanity.’

Lotan smirked. ‘Disgusting! It must be airborne.’ He paused. ‘Although, I dare say, you wear it well.’

Colt sighed. There was something he needed to do
. ‘I have lied to you,’ he confessed.

Lotan
continued to smile passively. ‘I quite enjoy your lies, Colt.’

Colt frowned. ‘You don’t know them all yet!’

‘Don’t I?’ Lotan toyed with him like a cat with a mouse.

‘No! You would exile me if you knew the treachery I have done!’

‘Go on,’ Lotan goaded him. ‘Surprise me.’

‘I…’ Colt clos
ed his eyes. ‘I gave the girl blood of the coven.’

Lotan laughed
. ‘The most absurd thing is that you thought I would not know.’

‘You knew?’

‘Of course I knew!’

Colt winced
. ‘Do the others know?’

‘No. Only myself.’

‘How did you…?’ he trailed off. Lotan was a Reader, but Colt had lived with him long enough to adeptly block his power – just as Dino had done with Wendolyn.

‘You may think you can fool me,’ Lotan chuckled, ‘but I know you too well.’

‘Why didn’t you tell Roc and Siren?’

‘Because my loyalty is to you, foremost.’

‘I am a traitor.’ Colt hung his head in shame.

‘Yes, you are,’ Lotan taunted him with a smile. ‘But you are a born protector, also.’

‘And yet I could not protect my brothers.’

‘Nor could I,’ Lotan spoke regretfully. ‘But, my boy, you are strong and you will carry on without us. Soon you will find a new coven, and this time
you
shall lead.’

‘I can’t lead,’ Colt choked. ‘You are my leader; I follow you. If you die, then so should I. I can’t live knowing that you are not here.’

‘Brother, take courage.’

‘I can’t do this without you.’ Colt pounded his fist against the soil, and the ground shuddered beneath him.

‘My boy, it is your time to lead. I have every faith in you. After all, you learned from a great warrior,’ Lotan boasted in jest.

‘I will never be the Hunter you are.’

‘Probably not,’ Lotan joked. ‘But you’ll outlive me at least.’

Colt didn’t laugh. He slumped to the ground and lay beside his friend, looking up into the towering trees. ‘I don’t want to outlive you,’ he muttered desolately.

‘You’re a born Hunter, and yet you’re affected by humanity,’ Lotan commented, baffled by the juxtaposition.

‘Why me?’ Colt grumbled. ‘What did I do to deserve such a fate?’

‘None are exempt from fate,’ Lotan pointed out shrewdly.

‘I hate it,’ Colt growled. ‘You were right – I should not have allowed her to do this to me. She ruins me.’

‘Your heart was awakened,’ Lotan replied. ‘I understand it is a powerful thing.’

Colt grimaced. ‘Yes. It’s repulsive.’

‘Perhaps not,’ Lotan murmured, the life slowly leaving him. ‘In a way I envy you.’

‘Liar!’ Colt snorted.

Lotan chuckled and closed his eyes. ‘Take care, my boy.’

‘Lotan,’ Colt snapped fiercely. ‘Not yet. Hold on for just a little while longer,’ he pleaded desperately. He wasn’t ready to lose him. In fact, he supposed he never would be.

‘Courage, boy,’ Lotan repeated, before his final breath of air escaped him.

Colt froze. Time stood still for him as he mourned his loss. In a mixture of sorrow and rage, Colt let out a shattering howl. Above him, the sky echoed with a strident clap of thunder – a storm commanded by his own will.

As Colt stood beneath his vengeful sky, the rain poured down over him like never before. It was Colt’s rain – terrifying, viscous and merciless.

Yes
, Colt thought venomously,
now it is my reign
.

The rumble of thunder awoke Mia from her sleep. For a moment she forgot where she was.
The unlit room was unfamiliar to her. But then the memories of the eventful evening came flooding back.

She rolled over in the bed, her eyes slowly adjusting to her dim surroundings. The four candles remained on the floor where she had sat amidst their confines just hours earlier.

Mia shuddered as she listened to the thrashing of the rain outside. High up in the turret room, it sounded as though the roof would cave in from the onslaught.

‘Colt?’ she called into the darkness.

When there was no response, she sat upright, still clutching the blanket to her chest.

‘Colt?’ she tried again.

A rupture of lightning illuminated the room in a flash.

Mia crawled out of bed and stood before the vast windo
w, looking out at the violent storm. She had never seen such torrential weather before.

All of a sudden, the bedroom door burst open.

Mia gasped. The person shadowed in the doorway was not Colt.

It was Dino.

‘What are you doing here?’ Mia asked with a start.

‘Come wi
th me,’ Dino ordered. He strode into the room, kicking away the arrangement of candles.

Mia backed away from him. ‘How did you know I was here?’

‘I tracked you.’ His expression was blank.

‘You
tracked me?’ Her brow creased her brow. As far as she was aware, only a Hunter had the ability to track a person.

‘Yes,’ he said in a dull voice
. ‘Now, come!’ He extended his hand to her.

Mia stared at his outstretched hand. ‘What’s wrong with you?’

‘Nothing is wrong. I need you to come with me.’ Dino’s eyes were hollow and unblinking.

‘Where?’ Mia asked guardedly. She hardly recognised him. He looked worn and detached – almost inhuman.

‘I need you,’ Dino said in that unnerving, robotic voice.

She took a step closer to him. ‘Why? What’s wrong?’

‘I need you,’ he repeated. ‘It won’t take long.’

Questioning him was getting her nowhere.
The bottom line was that he needed her. The only real question that remained was, would she go?

‘Follow me.’ He turned and stalked out of the room with a stride that would crush anything in its path.