I turned, and Toya snarled again and lunged for me but I danced away.
“What the hell was that?” Wendy and Hanna had stepped between me and Toya, stopping her from trying to attack again. Wendy was in her face in an instant. She was searching Toya’s eyes. “When did you start questioning Amy?”
Toya finally pulled her eyes from me. “Wendy, she wants to use magic against us. We can’t trust her.”
Wendy cupped her face. “You are my sister, and I love you.”
Toya's eyes softened. “Then believe me. She has been planning all of this today since the graduation ceremony.”
Her words put me on edge. “Did you guys go anywhere, or do anything after we sat down? Before the ceremony started?”
“Shut up.” Toya screamed.
I stared at her for a moment; the wheel turning. What the hell was happening?
I can’t reach her wolf. It’s like there is a wall between us.Nix’s voice was on edge.
I refocused on everyone who was shaking their head no. But then Wendy turned to me. “Toya ran to the washroom before we sat down. Alone.” I nodded as I turned back to the bag. There were candles, herbs, a few crystals, and then two spools of thick rope.
I smiled softly. Carl, you crafty man.
“Believe me, she brought up finding out if everyone comes from a Goddess because she is going to use her magic to make us mindless followers.” I wanted to argue, but the tears in hereyes stopped me. She fully believed her words. Micca and Hanna looked at each other, and then at me.
A tiny nugget of doubt was taking hold in them. I could see it. Something was eating away at our bond, our friendship, like it was rusty links in a chain trying to force it to break. If I didn’t act soon, I would lose all of my friends.
“Amy…” Wendy turned and I could see the doubt there, too. All of them were turning on me. Wendy shook her head, and I saw anger enter her eyes. “What the fuck is going on?” She turned to Hanna and Micca. “Guys?”
Hanna shook her head. “Amy, something’s wrong with my head.” She looked a little scared.
Micca stepped back, raising her hands. “I don’t know what is going on, but I don’t want to figure out about the Goddess and the first families anymore.” The nugget of doubt had taken hold in her.
Nix, reach Wendy and Hanna before their wolves are closed off from us. Have them grab Micca, and I’ll grab Toya. We are going to tie them down and figure out what exactly is going on.She nodded, and I watched as their eyes grew round.
Wendy stepped closer to Micca subtly, instantly believing me, but Hanna glanced at me, biting her lip. “Amy…” Her words were soft, but I saw Toya vibrate again. We had to move.
“Do you trust me?” I looked at Hanna. “Like really, trust me?”
“Of course I do.” Her words trembled, but she was trying.
“Then listen to me. We need to figure this out before everything we built is destroyed.” She looked at me for one more moment before she nodded. Wendy was on her toes, and Hanna shifted closer to Micca.
“What are you guys doing?” Micca stepped back just as Toya lunged for me.
“Die witch blood.”
Toya jumped over the table at me but I was ready. She shifted her hands as she tried to tackle me, but I jumped out of the way. She sailed past me and I wrapped my hands into her braids and yanked her back. She flew off her feet with a snarl. “I’ll kill you.” She snarled again, but I was already moving.
I slammed her to the ground as I slipped my hand into the bag Micca brought down. I pulled the first length of rope out and turned to the girls. They had grabbed Micca by the arms and were holding her. “Get her into a chair.” I called back to them and slid a spool of rope to them. “Tie her to it.” Toya tried to slice at my throat. Whatever had eaten away at her was digging in deep, removing any and all love she had for me, and left only anger and fear. I pulled my hand back and punched her as hard as I could without breaking anything, dazing her.
“Amy…” Hanna looked back at Toya. “Are you sure?” I could see the doubt trying to push forward, but she shook her head again. I watched her as her eyes refocused on me. “We have to hurry. Whatever this is, it’s chipping away at me.”
I nodded towards the rope.
“Please don’t do this. Toya is right. She is going to use magic on us to hurt us, or make us her mindless drones.” Micca started to fight, trying her hardest to break free from Hanna and Wendy, but they held her firm. They pulled her towards the table and sat her in a chair, grabbing the rope and tied her there.
Toya had finally recovered enough to take another swing, this time catching my cheek, opening a thin slice across it. I hissed as I felt the blood start to trickle. Toya smirked and swung again. I dodged this one and struck out, knocking her out this time. “Stupid.” I hissed as I touched my cheek. The cut was already healed, but the blood had turned a little tacky. I picked up Toya and slid her into a chair. Then I used the second spool of rope to tie her to the chair. Finally, I was able to step back, and I lookedat Micca. The hatred in her eyes had me taking a step back, but I shook my head and pushed it away. This wasn’t them.
“What’s wrong with them?” Wendy sat across from Toya, worry on her face.
