“I got this,” Delilah assures Arianna, who leaves the fire and joins Tyler's side.
“Delilah said she'll perform the rest of the ritual herself,” Arianna whispers to Tyler, who breathes a sigh of relief.
“Remember, you need to focus, Delilah,” Gwen reminds her, and Delilah nods in response as if there's a silent understanding between the two.
It's unnerving to watch Delilah place her hands on Gwen's head, then close her eyes and lift her face toward the starry sky.
She mutters something in Latin under her breath, the flames licking behind her as if she's invoking the fire to power up the ritual. Her head snaps down, eyes wide as she stares at Gwen with milkiness clouding her pupils.
A silence stretches densely around the meadow, a chill running down my spine when the only sound we hear is a crow cawing in the forest and flapping its wings over the canopy of trees before soaring over our heads and disappearing into the night sky.
Delilah finally lets out a drawn-out breath, her body weakening as if her knees are about to give out from under her.
I race to her side, catching her in my arms just as her eyes return to their normal color.
“Delilah!”
“It's okay, Hunter,” she pats my shoulder, gathering herself and straightening up. She turns apologetic eyes on Gwen, shaking her head slowly. “Gwen is innocent. She's a lone witch and isn't part of any coven.”
Gwen nods. “I told you, I don't know who the dark lord is. I've never been in a coven before. I've lived my whole life in that cabin in the woods, hiding from the humans.”
Arianna and Tyler come closer.
“I saw four witches in Oakland, working with the dark lord,” Arianna tells Delilah, almost pleading with her.
Delilah is shaking her head, clearly shaken by what she saw, and more remorseful toward Gwen when she offers the other witch a hand to help her get to her feet.
“I know what I saw, Ari, and this woman is innocent,” Delilah says gently, not becoming defensive but maintaining her stance as she proceeds to release Gwen from the shackles that bind her. She's wearing a guilty look as she releases the other witch, and I'm suddenly compelled to help her take off Gwen's chains. “Everything she's said about being a lone witch and not being a part of any coven is true. I saw it with my own eyes through the vision I just had.”
“Just because she's a lone witch doesn't mean she's not involved,” Tyler argues.
“Are you denouncing my vision?” Delilah narrows her eyes at Tyler, which comes as a surprise because of how close they were in black ops.
It was only a few weeks ago when she helped Tyler and Arianna, a newly emerging witch who needed Delilah's help to uncover her gifts.
That's how I know Delilah must have seen every bit of evidence that proves Gwen's innocence.
“Would you like me to do that again? Arianna can have the vision this time.”
Tyler sighs, hanging his head. “Sorry, D. It just seems strange that we'd be led to the wrong witch. Don't forget, she attacked you that night.”
“I didn't attack you, Delilah, I swear,” Gwen whispers as she wrings her free hands, staring with doe eyes at Delilah. “I thought my life was in danger, I was only—”
“Shh…” Delilah consoles Gwen with a pat on her arm. “Like I said, I know what I saw, and it proves that you're not involved.”
Reading the room—or rather, the meadow—I can see that Tyler and Arianna aren't convinced, skeptical eyes focused on Gwen. Seeing into her past would have shown Delilah any red flags, and she isn't the type to be gullible or believe anything without solid evidence.
Clearing my throat to cut through the terse silence, I step forward and direct my gaze at Tyler.
“Why don't we keep Gwen around? Perhaps Delilah and Arianna can perform a ritual that might reveal why we captured the wrong witch,” I suggest, and Tyler contemplates the suggestion with a slow, thoughtful nod.
“I think that's fair, considering we found her in Oakland, where the dark lord was supposed to be. I don't think it's any coincidence.”
“Yeah,” I nod. “And until we figure outwhy, she can stay here in Scarborough.” I turn to Delilah. “There's a little empty cottage behind your house, right? Gwen can stay there for now.”
Delilah's jaw drops, and she blinks her eyes in disbelief as she stares at my face, clearly bewildered by the way I took charge.
“Y-Yes,” Delilah concedes, glancing at Gwen. “Gwen can stay there, close to us.”
