A nervous laugh broke out of Astra's mouth. "I do not dare to touch dark magic. You know that."
Tilly didn't just feel Astra's lies this time, she tasted them. Pennies and blood.
Margaret's eyes hardened. It happened in a flash and a cold push of air shot into the group, a collective shiver waved throughthe crowd. Hands were shoved into pockets and some pulled on warm hats as deep autumn kissed winter.
Margaret lifted her hands and a shudder rippled in the air as trees shook and dropped their red and gold leaves to the ground. Birds came out of nowhere, circling overhead in a thick blanket of black and iridescent green and purple. The carefully planned and planted big-leaf hydrangeas along the main street turned from idyllic white and light blue to ink. The croaking of toads, their throaty cries rising in the air to join the bird's notes filled the space.
Kamikazee energy that felt like it was being ripped apart and thrown around made people dance on the balls of their feet, fidget, and look around. Some had left the crowd behind Rob and now more edged their way to the far sidewalks and patches of grass until they could slip away.
"The dark magic you have so carelessly used is in the roots of this place now. Did you think I would not find it?"
Astra took a step closer to her, her voice urgent and low. "You taught me to create order, to find those who would disrupt it. And that's what I have done." Her eyes and stance no longer held insecurity. She looked proud of what she had done.
"At what cost?" Margaret asked.
"The cost does not matter!" she screamed.
Silence broke all of the sounds, all of the chatter and shifting, the animals quieted and the people left hushed.
A loud smack! sounded, slicing through the silence and the Lost Souls Coven watched in awe as Astra turned her head back slowly, a hand held to her cheek where Margaret's had left its mark.
"The cost always matters," she growled. She raised her hands as the clouds above them gathered, white cotton coming together in the sky above them, the edges turning black like they were outlined, then bled into the layers. Dark magic was beingleeched from the ground and air and trees, collecting together. Lightning flashed inside of it creating a magnificent picture of black electricity. Suddenly Esther and Beatrice cried out, falling to their knees, hands covering their ears as they pressed their faces into their kneeling thighs.
"What are you doing to them?" Astra didn't move toward them but watched as they lay there crumpled and unmoving with fear in her eyes.
"Cleaning up your mess."
Margaret lifted her hands again and the black cloud above them rumbled but before she could cast, Astra let out a scream as she reached up into the sky and siphoned the blackness down. A lightning bolt of black struck her fist which she opened, the electricity filling her body, the hair not tightly wound in her bun rising up on end and her eyes going white.
The trunks of trees turned black. Houses half a mile away started pouring black water from faucets puzzling homeowners who had no idea what battle lay in the streets of Salem. Snakes came from their burrowed holes in the ground, forked tongues trying to discern the new, dark energy filling the air.
When Crystal realized what Astra meant to do, she yelled for Margaret to move, a moment too late. They watched in horror as Astra struck down the older woman, her mentor, the most powerful witch.
"Evil destroys evil," Tilly whispered. Jen looked at her in question but Eloise had heard. Cassidy's words were playing out in front of them.
Crystal was standing over Margaret's unmoving body, a stance of protection as she faced off with Astra who looked wild and ready for more fight.
"What can you do, old woman? You are just a crone. No magic, no power," she said with a twisted smile.
"Tell me, Astra," Crystal's graceful hand fluttered toward the woman who resembled nothing of the poised and icy woman they'd met weeks ago. She looked rabid, ready to bite. "Are you prepared to take on the price tag of betrayal?"
She laughed.
Tilly felt something poke her mind. It tickled and rubbed against her thoughts like someone waving at her, but inside of her head. She blinked, shaking her head but then she heard someone's voice, clear.
Come take my hand.
It was Crystal's voice. In her mind. She looked at where Crystal still stood over Margaret's prone body, looking at Astra, not behind her where Tilly stood.
Tilly, come take my hand, darling.
"What is it?" Jen whispered. She could see the look on Tilly's face.
"I think Crystal is talking to me. In my head."
Her eyebrows raised. "What is she telling you?"
"To take her hand, but,"
