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“Did you kill a witch every year for their energy?” Xander asks, and Robert’s eyes brighten, giving away the answer. “Of course, you did. That’s how you were able to move back and forth.”
“It’s true. I have to come back here and replenish my energy between kills. It’s quite annoying, really. But then you cast me out into the water, and I was able to get so much stronger there. As angry as I was in the moment when it happened, it turned out to be the best thing all around. Couple the water with all that delicious magical energy at that one’s house”—he points at Breena—“and I was in the lap of luxury. You all made it so easy for me.”
He pins me with his stare. “And you. Manipulating you with the music and turning the water against you was the highlight of my year.”
“You’re a sick fuck.”
Robert smiles and rocks back on his heels.
“Why?” Jonas asks him.
“Because I’m a witch hunter, of course.” Robert chuckles and rakes his gaze over all of us with a hunger I’ve never seen before. “I have gifts, and they get stronger when I kill those who have magic. So, I feed on you all.”
“You’re married to a witch,” Jonas reminds him. “She carries your child.”
“Brilliant, isn’t it? What better way to ingratiate myself into an entire community than to marry into it? But I have to admit, you try being married to a pregnant woman for three hundred years. Holy shit, that got annoying.”
I feel Xander shift next to me, and Robert narrows his eyes on him.
“I know that you’re the strongest here, Xander, but you should be careful. I’m stronger here in Hallows End inside my body. I controlled you once before, and I can easily destroy you now. You’re nothing more than a pest.”
“Bullshit,” Sandra says, stepping forward and not appearing frail at all despite being in her late eighties. “You’re a bully, plain and simple. A spoiled, entitled bully, and we won’t stand for that.”
Robert snickers and then lifts a hand. Blue light shoots out of his palm at Sandra, but it stops just inches in front of her torso without hitting her.
Robert frowns, and then the expression on his face turns mutinous as Sandra laughs at him.
Sandra is one badass witch.
He raises his arms and pulls down lightning, and to my utter horror, he hits Lucy right in the chest.
“Lucy!” I yell. Jonas is already kneeling beside her. Nera cries and licks her face.
I can even see Agatha here with us, and she has Lucy’s head in her lap.
“No, baby,” Jonas says, cupping Lucy’s cheek. “You won’t leave me like this. Come on, Luciana.”
Robert laughs maniacally. “Do you see how easy it would be for me to kill you all? With the flick of my finger, you’d be done. I’ve spent centuries getting stronger and learning. You can’t beat me.”
But Lucy’s eyes flutter open, and Jonas immediately pulls her into his arms, hugging her close in relief.
Goddess bless our wards.
Robert sputters and then begins to rage, but then he suddenly stops, his eyes going round as he looks at something behind us.
I turn and feel my heart fill to bursting. All our spirit guides, all the witches Robert has killed over the centuries, and every one of our ancestors pour through the portal, ready to go to battle with us. To support us and feed us their energy and wisdom.
Sandra raises her hands as Lucy stands, her hand in her mother’s. They begin calling upon the elements to aid in our quest.
“Powers of the north, element of Earth, we call on you to lend us your balance and wisdom. Powers of the east, element of Air, we call on you to lend us your breath, the very essence of life. Powers of the south, element of Fire, we call on you to lead us into action and control the chaos of the matter at hand. Powers of the west, element of Water, we call on you to connect us and help us feel.”
Then they begin a spell I’ve never heard before. We’re all listening intently, memorizing the words.
“Spirits of air, of land, and of sea, banish this evil and set us all free. No more killing, no freedom to maim, return this demon to the hell whence he came.”
Simple but effective.
We raise our hands with her, making the same wide, commanding motions as we repeat the spell.
Robert builds himself a shield to hide behind like the coward he is, but it’s not strong enough to protect him from all the magic coming at him for long. He launches himself into the air, and I can see that he’s trying to draw energy from the atmosphere itself.
But he’s not safe there.
Spirits rise with him, and with their hands linked around Robert, they bring him back to the earth.
