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Kiara wasn’t far.
If she continued up the sidewalk without invoking her own spell she knew what would happen. Veyda’s security spell would hit her, she’d experience profound confusion then end up a mile away without a clue how she’d gotten there. She knew quite well just how close she could get to Veyda’s compound before the spell kicked in.
She held a pouch in her hands that contained what she hoped was a stronger spell reversal powder than the last time. It should help Maeve pierce then travel more easily through Veyda’s spell. At least, she hoped so.
Taking a series of deep breaths, she slowed her heartrate. She needed to be calm for her witch abilities to work at their best. She opened the pouch and took a small pinch of the herbal-based powder then flicked it into the air. As before, a wood gate emerged. She pushed it open and saw the familiar stone path most of which was cloaked in a swirl of purple and black clouds, physical evidence of Veyda’s witchcraft.
She walked carefully along the path, one slow step at a time, until the purple and black clouds began to touch her. Using another pinch of the herbs, she flicked them again into the air again. When the clouds wouldn’t leave her, she forced herself to breathe again and to calm her heart. For whatever reason, a calm spirit made a huge difference.
She shot another pinch into the air and this time, though slowly, the clouds rolled away and more of the path emerged. This new version of her spell powder was working better.
She could see the side of the building now all the way to the end. The row of barred windows was now visible. As before, she heard at least one of the women weeping. It took phenomenal effort to keep her rage from overwhelming her. But she feared if she lost it, she’d end up either doing damage or getting confused and finding herself a mile from the compound once more.
She focused on Kiara instead. When the purple and black swirls encroached yet again, she repeated the herb-flicking process until she reached the last cell.
She spoke softly. “Kiara, are you there?”
A long gasp. “Maeve. I’m so glad you’re back. You’ve given me hope.” She coughed after these softly whispered words.
Maeve didn’t like the sound of it. “What’s wrong? What did she do to you?”
“More of the same, except this time, she burned my neck.”
“Oh, God.” Veyda tortured her captives with an acid-like paste that ate through the flesh and caused unimaginable pain.
“We’ve got to get you out of here, Kiara. But I don’t know what else I can do. I’ve tried conjuring a hundred different potions and powders but nothing impacts this hiding spell of Veyda’s except these ridiculous herbs I flick.”
Kiara coughed again, but said nothing.
“Kiara?”
“What. Oh, sorry. My mind goes in and out. I’m…I’m in a lot of pain.”
“Well, that’s something I can help you with.” She reached into her satchel and withdrew a packet of wafers made from pain-relieving herbs. She handed it through the bars then let it drop. “Did you get it?”
“I’m opening it now.” She heard the faint sounds of paper being folded back then Kiara moaning in relief. “Oh, that’s wonderful and so fast. Thank you, Maeve. You’ve been the best friend.”
“You helped me so much when I first arrived. I thought I’d lose my mind, especially after that horrible introduction to the dark coven.”
“You did the right thing that night. Now that I’ve felt the nature of the acid, I wish I was dead.”
“Don’t say that.”
She chuckled. “Well, I don’t feel that way now, not when I have your amazing tonic inside me.”
Maeve sighed. Kiara was one of those women all women admired. She was a goddess. Besides being beautiful with long dark brown hair and dark eyes, she had more compassion than a thousand good women combined. How she’d fallen into Veyda’s snare was a mystery. But then Veyda had been working her dark arts far longer than either Maeve or Kiara had been in Five Bridges combined.
Her thoughts turned to Braden. “You’ll never guess who I plucked out of the Graveyard four nights ago. In fact, he’s the reason I haven’t come back sooner.”
“Who?” How at ease Kiara sounded now.
Maeve stood up on her tip-toes to look inside the cell. Kiara was stretched out on her small cot with her feet toward the wall and her head in the center of the space. With no pillow, she had her hands clasped behind her head.
Kiara’s smiled was crooked as she lifted a hand and waved. “Those wafers are heaven. I’ve tucked the rest beneath the cot for later.”
Kiara’s dark hair spilled over the mattress. She wore a thin, white sleeveless shift that left her thighs exposed. Maeve could see the red, bloody spots on her neck as well as the older scars on her legs.
“Did you lose your voice?” Kiara smiled again. “Tell me about Braden. You know I love him. I mean not love-love him. But I adore him. He’s got the biggest heart.”
