Page 6 of Hex You

“First, we breathe together three times in and out to ground ourselves.” Mercy breathed deeply and the mother and son joined her. “Next we set our intention, which is that these shadows expand and increase so much that they will cloak your cave from any demon searching for it. To do this you have to keep in mind that we are not afraid of shadows or the dark—that instead of fear we welcome their protection and concealment.”

“I can do that, Green Witch,” said Meryt.

“As can I,” added Khenti.

“Awesome! I’m going to set my intention, tap into the power of the plants around us, and then speak the words of the spell. When I nod, blow out your candles with me and imagine the shadows multiplying like crazy. We should see something that tells us the spell is set and working. Ready?” Meryt and Khenti nodded. “Okay—set your intention and I’ll begin casting the spell.”

Mercy closed her eyes and concentrated. First, she focused on her intention.The shadows under this amazing tree are going to multiply so much that they cloak this entire cave and keep Meryt safe.

Still keeping her eyes closed, Mercy opened herself to the plant life around her.Hello, beautiful, healthy growing things! This is Green Witch Mercy. Will you help me again by lending me some of your power?

This time Mercy’s mind wasn’t filled with the enthusiastic voices of eager young plants. Instead she felt the already familiar presence of the mighty sycamore tree reach out to her and fill her.

You may borrow my power, Green Witch and friend of Hathor’s blessed one. Take as you need. I have been greatly gifted by divine Hathor.

Thank you!Mercy was so overwhelmed by the magnanimous tree that her concentration was almost broken, but she grounded herself again and relaxed her shoulders, her face, and breathed deeply so that she remained intent upon her purpose—and then she began casting the cloaking spell.

“Come, shadows, cloak us from prying eyes

By your likeness we are disguised

In concealing darkness lent from Hathor’s tree

Neither seen nor heard nor found shall Meryt be!”

As Mercy spoke the final words of the spell, she opened her eyes and nodded before leaning forward and, with Khenti and Meryt, blew out the circle of black candle flames. Then Mercy reached out to the sycamore and was immediately filled with a rush of powerthat reminded her of the Goode family’s familiar ley lines, but this energy was denser. The sweet smell of figs surrounded her as Mercy channeled the tree’s power through herself and into the shadows nestled under the tree.

For a moment nothing happened and then the thick trunk of the tree appeared to ripple—and Mercy realized it wasn’t moving at all—it was the shadows that were moving, thickening, multiplying! With the sound of a forest of leaves rustling in a great wind, the shadows billowed up and up and up until they hit the magic ceiling—where they passed right through. Mercy closed her eyes again, tapped into the tree’s power, and concentrated on settling the shadows over the cave like a blanket.Thank you, ancient one.

It is a pleasure to serve those beloved of my goddess.

Mercy opened her eyes and grinned. “It worked! I can feel it! I know it worked.”

“Well done, Mercy! I knew you could do it!” Khenti rushed to her and lifted her from the ground into a hug.

And then his mom was there beside them, and Mercy allowed herself to relax into a much-needed mom embrace.

“What else must we do?” asked Meryt as she released Mercy and patted her cheek maternally.

“Nothing. Just leave the candles out here. The usual way to end the cloaking spell is to light the candles, but spells like this have a shelf life,” said Mercy.

Meryt’s brow furrowed. “Shelf life?”

“Oh, uh, sorry. That means that the spell will eventually just fizzle out when the power stops feeding it. So, you don’t need to do anything to end it.”

“Let us hope it lasts a long time,” said Khenti as the three of them began to walk back through the growing chamber.

“Well, the sycamore is super powerful,” said Mercy. “And that’s a good thing. It should be able to hold the spell in place for a couple days—however long that is here.” They’d come to the archedwooden bridge and Mercy paused in the middle of it. Khenti was beside her, with his mom next to him. Mother and son felt more relaxed, and Mercy was reminded of her mother with a sudden rush of longing. She blinked quickly as she stared down into the clear stream and fought back tears.

Then Khenti’s hand slid within hers. “All will be well. You will see. All will be well. There is nothing witches as powerful as you and your sister cannot do.”

Not trusting her voice not to break, Mercy only nodded and rested her elbows on the wooden rail of the bridge as she continued to will away her tears. Something caught her gaze as she blinked quickly—something gray and strange—and she realized the strange gray thing was her! Her hands were turning gray! Her gaze flew to her chest where Hathor’s mark had completely disappeared.We couldn’t save our mom. We haven’t healed the trees. We’ve basically been bickering babies instead of powerful witches. And now I’m going to die in this bloody awful place without even telling you how sorry I am!

Hunter, I miss you and love you so, so much!

Unable to stop her tears any longer, Mercy watched them fall from her cheeks into the stream.

Then the water below her began to change. Instead of flowing musically over smooth stones and a sandy bottom, it shifted, swirled, and became a mini-whirlpool from the center of which lifted three words shouted in a voice as familiar to Mercy as her own.