Chapter 294

Toya jumped over the table at me, but I was ready. She shifted her hands as she tried to tackle me, but I jumped out of the way. She sailed past me, and I wrapped my hands in her braids and yanked her back. She flew off her feet with a snarl. “I’ll kill you!” She snarled again, but I was already moving.

I slammed her to the ground as I slipped my hand into the bag Micca brought down. I pulled the first length of rope out and turned to the girls. They had grabbed Micca by the arms and were holding her. “Get her into a chair!” I called back to them and slid a spool of rope to them. “Tie her to it!” Toya tried to slice at my throat. Whatever had eaten away at her was digging in deep, removing any and all love she had for me, and left only anger and fear. I pulled my hand back and punched her as hard as I could without breaking anything, dazing her.

“Amy…” Hanna looked back at Toya. “Are you sure?” I could see the doubt trying to push forward, but she shook her head again. I watched her as her eyes refocused on me. “We have to hurry. Whatever this is, it’s chipping away at me.”

I nodded towards the rope.

“Please don’t do this. Toya is right. She is going to use magic on us to hurt us, or make us her mindless drones.” Micca started to fight, trying her hardest to break free from Hanna and Wendy, but they held her firm. They pulled her towards the table and sat her in a chair, grabbing the rope and tied her there.

Toya had finally recovered enough to take another swing, this time catching my cheek, opening a thin slice across it. I hissed as I felt the blood start to trickle. Toya smirked and swung again. I dodged this one and struck out, knocking her out this time. “Stupid,” I hissed as I touched my cheek. The cut was already healed, but the blood had turned a little tacky. I picked up Toya and slid her into a chair. Then I used the second spool of rope to tie her to the chair. Finally, I was able to step back, and I looked at Micca. The hatred in her eyes had me taking a step back, but I shook my head and pushed it away. This wasn’t them.

“What’s wrong with them?” Wendy sat across from Toya, worry on her face.

Hanna shook her head again. “Someone is attacking us.” She looked at me, panic on her face. “I can hear a whisper. It’s not loud. I can barely make out most of the words, but it’s there.”

“What’s it saying?” Wendy leaned in. “I can hear something, but it’s not words to me.”

I grabbed the bag and pulled everything out, seeing what I had to work with. “Is it getting louder?” I glanced up and watched as Wendy focused for a minute.

She nodded. “When I focus on it, it seems to gain power from attention.” She shook her head, clearing it, and focused on me. “What is going on?”

“I’m not sure yet, but we are going to find out.” I stood and placed the candles around the table, grabbed the chalk piece from the bag, and closed my eyes. I thought to my book, and I paged through it, finding what I needed. I drew a circle on the table and drew a few sigils in front of each of us.

“What are you doing?” Hanna sounded a little scared. I looked, and I saw the doubt creeping back in.

“Focus on me, Hanna. Listen to my voice.” I smiled softly at her. “You are one of my closest friends, and I would never do anything to hurt you. It’s against the very gifts I received from the goddess. We do not harm the innocent.” She nodded, and her eyes cleared a little. “I am drawing a circle of power, linking all of us together, and allowing me to trace any magic that has been placed on you. That way I can break it, if there is something.”

Hanna stuck her finger in her mouth and bit down. “Hanna!” Wendy cried, jumping towards her, but Hanna just shook her head.

“I need the pain to clear my mind. The voice is so loud now!” She turned to me. “Hurry.”

I nodded and lit the candles around the table, and then closed my eyes. “Ista ni wa clo nox ben tau shorna lit blaugh do ka ni sta.” The room seemed to grow darker as a bright cord of light shot out of my chest and into Wendy’s. From Wendy, it shot to Hanna, then to Micca, and Toya, and then back to me.

Toya’s eyes flew open, and she shrieked. “Stop!”