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Sighing aloud, I make it clear how done I am with this conversation. “I’m assuming this is the spring that supplies water to Haven.”
He tips his head in my direction as he acknowledges my comment. “You are correct, but it’s so much more than that.” Smiling, he steeples his hands together, clearly excited to reveal something that I don’t know.
“This is the Lake of Dedication. Most have forgotten the significance as the standard teaching doesn’t speak of its powers, and many believe it to be a myth, a fanciful story. Those who do know the truth of the lake have no idea that it’s sitting right beneath them.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Unperturbed by my apparent lack of interest, he continues with his explanation. “The water is very special. Centuries ago, there were multiple witch queens who led their own covens. Due to this, there were many fights for power and territory, making it a turbulent time to live. These queens would travel to the lake with their consorts and have them drink from it. It was the ultimate show of dedication, because if the consort held ill will towards their queen, the water would weaken their power. If they were fully dedicated, then they would keep their full strength. It was a way of sifting out the spies and reducing treachery.”
A slow, sinking dread settles in my stomach as he speaks, increasing with each moment as I come to a horrific conclusion.
“You’re feeding this water to your people.”
The statement comes out more as an accusation as I gape at the beautiful, calm water of the lake. Making everyone in Haven drink water that could reduce their powers without their knowledge iswrong. Luna explained that magic wasn’t as strong anymore, and this could be the very reason why. The queen is lying to everyone and drugging them, limiting their powers if they don’t fully support her.
“It is not as potent when not drank directly from its source, not to mention the queen is supposed to stand in the lake so the people are bound to her specifically.” Shrugging off my accusation like it’s not a big deal, he narrows his eyes and continues. “Something interesting has happened since you arrived though. Without the queen performing the ritual in the lake, the people are being pulled towards who they think the strongest leader is, and it’s no longer the queen.”
There’s a pause, and as I stare at his expectant expression, I slowly begin to comprehend what he means. They are choosing me. That explains why groups of witches have been approaching me recently and offering their support, and while having their backing is important, not knowing whether that’s through choice or the magic of the lake makes it very different. Do they have a choice in this? Is the magic changing their will? I feel sick at the thought, and panic flutters in my stomach that I’m involved in something that is basically mind control.
I ball my hands into fists to try and hide the quake in them. “This is wrong, she’s tricking her people, and why are they drawn to me? I am not a queen. I’m not even a full-blooded witch!”
“This is just another reason why you never should have been allowed to exist in the first place. Your very presence is causing problems.” The lord has shed his calm demeanour now that I’ve come to the conclusion he was waiting for, a manic light glistening in his eyes. “At least we don’t need to worry about any more witches being drawn to you.”
His sudden calm tone should be a warning, but I’m so horrified by what I’ve learned that I miss it. “Why’s that?”
His manic grin sends chills down my spine. “Oh, because you’ll be dead of course.”
Magic slams into me so hard it knocks me from my feet and pushes me across the ground. Gravel and stones bite into my skin, my arm stings from the graze, and an ache travels through the whole left side of my body where I fell. Scrabbling to my feet, I turn to face my assailants. Star is growling and attacking the witches on the stairs, taking some of them out and giving me respite from the full force of the magic. However, there are too many of them blasting magic my way. Reaching for my power, I throw up a shield of stars, my hands outstretched as I stand my ground. I’m able to hold the shield reasonably well, and their strikes are weak enough that they don’t drain me too quickly. The issue, I’m quickly realising, is that the force of their blasts together are pressing against my protective dome. Thanks to the rocky ground underfoot, the strength of it is pushing me back, and a quick look behind me tells me that I’m going to end up in the water.
Panic makes my chest tight, and I berate myself for not listening to my instincts. I know how to shield against attacks, thanks to practicing with Atlas, and I can just about send out power in an attack, but I don’t know how to do both, and as I attempt to push the group back, my shield wobbles. Sensing my weakness, they redouble their efforts.
The stars break momentarily, so quickly that it’s barely even noticeable, but it’s down long enough to let a rogue strike through. My shield is back up straight away and defending against the other attacks, but that one blast of magic is all it takes to throw me off my feet once more, and I land on the ground with a heavy thud. My body rolls, and with horror, I realise I’m going to go into the water. Rolling closer, I attempt to throw my arms out, my nails scrabbling against the rocky ground as I desperately try to find purchase, but nothing helps. My body tumbles over the rocky ledge, my whole world tilting and shifting. At the last second, my fingers graze rock, and I grip on with all my might. Managing to grab the edge of the ledge, I hang from one arm, my feet already in the freezing water and my shoulder screaming from the weight of my entire body.
Reaching for my magic, I desperately search for something I can use to help me, but I come up blank, my mind so focused on keeping my shield up and holding onto the ledge at the same time that I can’t cope with adding anything else to my frazzled mind. My palms are sweaty, and I desperately throw up my other arm to grab the edge, but I can’t reach it.If I survive this, I’m hitting the gym more often, I promise myself, feeling my fingers slip.
With a noise of desperation, I reach out to my mates, knowing that they are trying to find me and praying that the goddess leads them to me. I’m not afraid to admit that I need them right now. I need help. Star is baying, trying to get to me, but it’s going to be too late.
My hand slips, and I fall, my shield shattering as the freezing water surrounds me and pulls me under. All thoughts leave my head, and my body seems stunned by the rapid change in temperature, the chill sinking into my limbs and making them feel heavy and useless. The desperate need to breathe kicks me into gear, and I force myself to swim, gasping and filling my lungs the moment I break the surface of the water.
“There she is! Begin,” Maliki shouts out, his voice ringing through the cavern. I can’t see him, but several of the witches from the stairs come into view as they move to the edge of the rocky ledge.
Panting and kicking my legs to keep my head above water, I prepare myself to be struck with magic once more. As the tingle of magic surrounds me, though, I’m surprised by the lack of attacks. Something is happening, I just can’t tell what it is yet. My teeth are beginning to chatter, and I know I need to get out soon and warm up, otherwise this could be deadly for me.
The water begins to move around me, and I freak out, thinking there’s something in the water with me. Images of ferocious beasts lurking below, waiting to pull me to my watery death flash through my mind. Of course, this only makes me gasp for air faster, thrashing around and using more energy as the frigid temperature sucks it from me. Thankfully the water is so clear I can see all the way to the bottom, and after a frantic search, I come to the conclusion that I’m in the water alone, and the water is moving thanks to the witches on the rocky ledge.
Several of my foes are wearing focused expressions and moving their hands in complex patterns, the water responding with the same patterns. Initially, the movements seem fairly gentle, but they quickly become faster and more turbulent, and I’m being tossed around in the water like a rag doll. There’s no way I’m going to survive this. Hypothermia is setting in, I can hardly feel my feet anymore, and my strength is being sucked out by the second. I also can’t concentrate enough to form my magic into anything useful. My dress is now hindering my movements, tangling around my legs and making it impossible for me to swim properly, only increasing my panic.
Where is the dark presence that resides within me? Why isn’t she helping me? She’s been getting quieter and quieter recently, but she’s always been there when I’ve been in danger, taking control of my magic and helping me when I’ve been unable to. Reaching inside me, I yank at the darkness and force it into being.
Help me!I demand, and it sluggishly fills my body as the water covers my head and I’m sucked below. Magic builds inside me so strongly that I have no idea what to do with it, so I just allow the darkness to use it as it wishes. A blast of power leaves me in a rush, ripping a cry from my lips and making me lose precious oxygen.
There’s a loud cracking noise, followed by something heavy crashing into the water, throwing me about even more, and I desperately pray to the goddess. My lungs are burning, and the urge to take a breath is so strong that I nearly cave to it, but I know if I do I’ll only inhale water and speed up my death. Something hits the water again, disturbing the surface. After several seconds though, I realise the water feels less turbulent, and with monumental effort, I’m able to force myself to the surface.
Gasping, I inhale a lungful of air, greedily sucking it down. My lungs scream as I try to stay above water, needing to get my breathing under control now that the constant attacks seem to have stopped. I’m using all of my energy just to keep moving, to keep warm in the frigid water, my brain switched into survival mode.
“Laelia!”
Atlas’s desperate cry gives me strength I didn’t know I had left in me, and I begin swimming to the rocky ledge. My other mates are here, I can feel them, and next thing I know, Atlas and Syn are leaning over the edge and offering me their hands. They found me. Tears of relief and exhaustion sting my eyes, and I don’t bother to stop them from rolling down my cheeks as they grab my extended hands and pull me up onto the rocky ledge.
