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It goes precisely according to plan. The two witches within approach and open the door. I have only the briefest moment to see their eyes widen at the sight of me, then Astrid shoots her spell through the window, and they fall harmlessly to the floor. I step forward into the dim, hushed hallway beyond. It’s one huge room lit with dozens of candles, an altar at the far end covered in magical artifacts. Astrid joins me a few moments later. I can’t help but notice the frown that crosses her lips when she enters the place.
“Bad memories?” I ask.
“No,” she says. “Good ones. Before I was banished.”
I want to reach out and comfort her, but I restrain myself and follow her as she marches across the room. There is a door at the back, almost invisible against the wall. Astrid opens it, and the smell of moss and stone hits my nose. She heads down a set of steps leading below the earth. The stairwell turns, and then we’re facing another room just as large as the one above, but entirely underground.
It’s roughly fashioned, like a basement, with wooden floors and stone walls. At the far end of the room is an altar even larger than the one above. Astrid strides toward it. She’s about halfway across the space when I feel a flare of incredible power. I yell, but it’s too late.
Two dozen figures appear around us, cloaked and holding balls of magic in their hands.
Astrid’s former coven.
