The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga by Taliesin Govannon (important books to read .txt) 📕

Sarah yesterday.  To say that she was thrilled would be an understatement.  While she had been a reluctant student before, she is now diving into her lessons with glee and vigor.

                I believe that she is starting to understand just what being the Sorceress really means.

                                                                                                *                *                *

                For a moment, I was out there alone.

                Raina had bolted when she heard the seriousness, tinged with fear, in my voice.  I had no doubts that she would hit the hallways at full volume, raising the alarm.  However, that meant that I was left to prepare for the attack that was coming by myself.

                This was new to me, and I didn't like it.  My palms were damp, and my heart was acting like it would punch its way through my rib-cage with every beat.  I tried to center myself, closing my eyes and taking deep breaths.

                Annabelle…

                The voice echoed in my head, startling me and making me open my eyes.  I was in a very familiar space.

                “Really?” I said, exasperated.  “You’re doing this now?”

                Before me stood the small olive-skinned woman once again, hands on her hips and an annoyed look on her face.  "Look, I was charged with giving you a hand now and again, so that's what I'm doing.  Sorry if it doesn't fit your schedule."

                “Well, I am kind of busy at the moment, what with my home about to be invaded by giant spiders and everything." I shot back.  I normally liked these spirit-to-human bull sessions but wasn't in the mood right then.

                “Eh!” she grunted, waving my concern away.  “Time doesn’t work like that here.  Rest assured that you will be ready in plenty of time to play ‘Arachnophobia: the home game’ when we’re done here.”

                That made me relax just a bit.  “So, why do we need to do this now?”

                “Walk with me.” she replied with a jerk of her head.  I strode to her side as she meandered down a particularly dark tunnel.  There were torches on the walls that somehow caught fire as we neared it, only to extinguish itself once we’d passed.  They created a bubble of light that followed us as we talked.

                “Look, kid," she began, "you're progressing at an incredible rate.  Vincent and Angelique have reason to be proud.  However, there may come a time when your friends can't come to your aid whenever trouble rears its ugly head.  You've got to be able to stand on your own two feet, to wield your powers alone."

                “Isn’t it a little early to be giving me the bootstrap talk?” I asked, confused.  “I mean, until after the settling is done?”

                She shook her head.  “The settling is more than just a period of time.  I mean, time helps make it happen, but it’s more of a process.”  She stopped and put a hand ob my shoulder.  “The truth is, until you’re comfortable wielding your powers on your own, with your own justifications for doing so, then the settling will never be over.”

                Suddenly, I was back outside of the mansion, standing on the patio, looking out at the darkened forest before me.  I felt calmer, more centered, my breathing no longer raspy and panicked.

                I was ready.

                “What’s happening?”

                Vincent’s voice didn’t surprise me.  It would have surprised me more if he hadn’t been the first person on the scene.

                “They looked like giant tarantulas," I said calmly.

                He grunted, looking out over the forest’s edge.

                “Which direction are they coming from?"  Angelique glided up to us as she spoke, her calm demeanor in place.

                “The far side of the forest.  A bat showed me.”

                Angelique smiled at the news.  “Good use of your skills, my dear.”

                “Angelique and I will meet them in the forest.” Vincent said.  “Raina and the others should be here soon enough.”

                “If they’ve come in numbers,” Angelique continued, “and they always do, then we won’t be able to intercept them all.  Some will make it here.”

                “I’ll be ready.” I said, my gaze fixed on the darkness in front of me.  There were blurs from where Vincent and Angelique had stood just seconds ago, and again I was standing there, alone.

                I did a mental inventory of the skills I had been learning and was somewhat frustrated that ‘big scary death ray’ wasn’t one of them.  I actually hadn’t learned too many spells that could be used offensively, so I was going to have to improvise.

                I closed my eyes again and concentrated on the earth beneath me.  Far below the cement of the patio, beyond the layer of roots and earthworms, down where no human feet have ever stepped, I felt the heartbeat of creation.  It flowed through every living planet, every living star, every living being, bringing the powers of creation close to this reality.

                I reached out to this power and took it into me.  The comforting warmth I had come to know so well over the past few months spread through my body and made me tingle from head to foot.

                I opened my eyes and saw the spirits of the land, human and otherwise, floating over the lawn and at the edge of the trees.  I could see pure, raw energy again, moving like a mist over the green earth.

                I could also see a shadow coming.  Okay, maybe not see… the beast casting the darkness was still far away.  However, I could feel them, and the feeling gave me a hint of my old nervousness back.  I steeled myself against panic, however, and started where I could.

                “Stay away!" I said and tried to project my energy to the edges of the meadow.  A tiny flash of light escaped my hands, but no barrier was constructed.  I didn't let it phase me, however, and tried the spell again.  To the same results.

                Shit! I cursed inwardly.  I had no trouble with the cute, fun stuff, but my nerves