Page 49 of Rogue Witch

“We know the witch found a way into Hell,” Zedkeil says.

“Then follow her there,” Damien shouts in a voice devoid of warmth.

A dozen shadows separate from him and attack the angels. Swords appear in their hands. Blinding light flashes from the metal, and Blade, Penelope and I throw our arms up to shield our eyes. The angles’ holy swords cut through the Shadows and they vanish. One of the angels screams an earthly scream as a Shadow passes through his chest and emerges out his back with a trail of silver-white light close behind. The angel falls to his knees, breathing heavily. The angel closest to Damien swings his sword in an arc clearly intended to sever Damien’s head. The demigod leaps back as the blade whizzes past with a whoosh of air. From my vantage point, it looks as if the tip of the blade nicks his arm. Damien vanishes.

My heart thunders. He feared the holy blade. At last, after all these eons, we have found a weakness in the demigod.

The other two angels rush to the side of their fallen companion and lift him to his feet. A pounding on the front door interrupts. The cops must have arrived.

Zedkeil steps up to his companion and they vanish.

Chapter Eighteen

LEILAH

Five minutes later, I settle cross-legged on the living room floor with Jonas, three other witches, who are thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen, and the siren. The configuration is simple: armor that hugs the outside of the house like a second skin. White light outside the armor that radiates at least ten feet out and a mirror on top of that.

I close my eyes and envision turtle-shell like armor encasing the exterior walls of the house. An unexpected sense of strength washes over me. It’s the other students, I realize. I’ve never experienced this sense of unity. The kids are well-disciplined. The sense of unity is gentle, yet persistent.

We quickly construct the armor. I’ve never been a witch who believes putting up protection is a lengthy ritual. White light follows in a near blinding wave that covers the house in seconds. Already, the armor is a sight to behold. Next follows the mirror, closed to anyone who can enter through doorways that mirrors open, and intended only to reflect magic directed at us.

I love mirrors as a final layer of armor. Usually, the intent that bounces back to the sender is simple negative or hateful thoughts from a grudge-filled mortal, and the sender as no idea why their luck takes a turn for the worse. In this case, Ariel could be knocked onto her ass. I might have to watch from a window. I wonder if we should add terra-cotta colored light to ground us to the earth.

Suddenly, I’m standing in a meadow surrounded by trees. I blink against sunlight, then smile. I know this place. I came here often as a child. I consider lying down in the ankle high grass that dances in a breeze to stare at the sky.

Rustling grass draws my attention left and I cry out in delight. Stony is trotting toward me. I rush forward and reach her in seconds. I drop to my knees and hug her. She snorts in obvious happiness and nuzzles me with her wet nose.

“It’s about time you showed up,” I say.

“Too cold in the Reaping,” she replies in piggy snorts.

“I would’ve kept you in my pocket,” I chastise, still holding her close. “I was worried. You have to come back with me. I can use your help.”

“I will help here.”

“Here?” I draw back and look at her.

She stares back with those beady black piggy eyes and, as usual, her thoughts are inscrutable.

“Stony,” I begin, then stop. What’s that noise? I strain my ears. “Do you hear that? Sounds like tramping feet.”

Stony snorts.

“Yeah, someone’s coming.” I stand, turn in a slow circle, and scrutinize the surrounding woods. Why did I come here? “Just a minute ago, I was at a farmhouse in the Reaping. Strange, huh?”

“You think everything is strange.”

“Hey.” I narrow my eyes. “Not everything is strange.”

The stamping grows louder.

“Though, this is strange,” I continue. “I’ve always come to this place alone.”

Stony shakes her head.

I roll my eyes, “You know, I’m glad you’re here. I just can’t figure out who else is here.”

She nods.