The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

stumbling back from the wall. My voice echoes off of the stones and even without using my extra senses, I can tell she’s not here anymore.

Sighing to myself, I return my attention to the wall. I run my fingertips over the stones, trying to understand what makes them so different. In this low light, they look exactly the same as any other stone here. The shapes, textures, and colors are all the same.

An intense reaction settles in the pit of my stomach. It’s like a strange form of déjà vu. Only instead of settling in my head, it’s like a punch in the gut.

There’s something so familiar about all of this, but I can’t put my finger on why.

Overcome with the sudden urge to see what’s on the other side, I claw at the stones, trying to find one that’s loose enough to pull it free. It only takes one to give way and the whole thing starts to crumble under my touch. I pull the stones free, listening to them pepper the ground, as I let them drop unceremoniously to the dirt floor.

When I’ve yanked enough of them to create a small opening, I bend down to get a better view. Ice-cold air rushes at me and I take a small step back, shuddering uncontrollably. Then, I hunch down to peer inside again. It’s hard to see anything. Beyond the edges of the hole, it’s pitch black. In fact, it’s the kind of darkness you only see when you close your eyes—or when you’re underground.

I close my eyes and call out, “Abigail? A little help here?”

My heart thumps unevenly in my chest as I wait for a response. When nothing happens, I stand back up, chewing on my lower lip.

Do I go in? What was the point of showing me this and vanishing? Is it a test?

“Dammit,” I curse under my breath.

Pulling out my cell phone from my pocket, I tap the screen to pull up the flashlight. There are fifteen texts and two missed calls from Wade, but I swipe them away. Curiosity is getting the better of me and I have to know what’s going on now. I’ll call him back as soon as I see what’s on the other side of this wall.

Pressing the flashlight icon, the bright LED light erupts from the other side of my phone. Bending in again, I position the light so it pierces the darkness beyond. At first, not much is visible as the light expands into the emptiness.

A knowing washes over me and I realize if this is a test, I’ll have to do it with these new abilities. At least, that’s what makes the most sense.

Lowering my eyebrows, I shut off the flashlight, then put my phone back in my pocket. Closing my eyes, I settle into the new sight I’d been practicing with Abigail. However, I find that connecting with the stillness is more difficult now without her guidance. With the exception of the rush of cool air, the energy beyond the opening is completely still. There’s almost an undercurrent of reverence that I can’t quite put my finger on.

Interestingly, it only makes me want to see what’s inside even more.

Trembling slightly, I pull a few more stones free, so there’s enough room for me to step through. When the opening is big enough, I hold onto the stones around the edge. Then, I plant one foot on the other side of the wall, and crouch down, leaving the resurrection chamber to enter the other side.

As if walking through an energetic waterfall, my body vibrates from head to toe. In a weird way, it feels like it’s simultaneously grounded and floating. Even though that makes absolutely no sense. The energy then settles into a quaking sensation in the pit of my stomach. When I’m fully rooted on the other side, the chill air subsides, giving way to more stillness.

Exhaling slowly, I close my eyes.

Come on, Autumn. What do you see?

Unable to stop my core from shaking, I deliberately take three deep, cleansing breaths to center myself. The inhalations do exactly as I’d hoped and my shoulders relax.

Settling into the stillness, I perk my ears, trying to pick up on any sounds inside this new chamber. When nothing is evident, I relax a bit more, feeling safer in the space. Almost instantly, I sink into the calmness and serenity reverberating around me—then past it into the next level. The vibrant colors erupt behind my closed lids. Without seeing the space in any form of light, I can tell this section is not another room. Instead, it’s a wide tunnel. Which must have been why it was hard to see anything with the flashlight.

Feeling braver, I take a few steps forward. The ground beneath my feet feels like it’s made up of the same sand as the resurrection chamber, but it’s smoother somehow; not nearly as worn. My feet practically carry themselves as I go farther. Relying only on this sight, I continue to walk ahead, a few feet at a time, until the tunnel reaches an abrupt end.

Fighting the desire to open my eyes and turn on the flashlight, I settle into the peace of the space, trying to understand it. I can’t put my finger on why, but there’s something utterly beautiful in the undercurrent of this tunnel. I practically hear music in the upper vibrations.

When I reach the end, I stop to take in as much information as these new senses can gather. The tunnel’s end is a large stone archway and from what my mind’s eye can see, there are ancient symbols—or perhaps ancient writing—that decorates the sides and across the lintel. They glow bright white, with a soft, almost mystical tint of purple that flickers like smoke around their edges.

I move closer, trying to get a better view of them.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck and arms prick up, and my body stiffens. I get the distinct impression I’m being watched.

“Abigail?” I