“Prudence?”I asked Gloria.
Gloria’sface suddenly looked angry. “Yes! That traitor. She betrayed me. I can’t crossinto the light while she still lives!” she screamed and ice cold air blasted meagain.
Iswallowed and tried to rein in my fear. “I can help you with that. If you cantell me her full magical name, I will make sure she no longer lives and you cancross over. You named her. What was it?” I asked Gloria as she stared off atall of the witches.
Herhead suddenly snapped in my direction. “Hey, I know you. I’ve seen you before.You’re going to be over here soon, too. Can you stay with me? Then I won’t bealone.”
Dreadchurned in my stomach. What the eff was she talking about? I looked at Nahuel.
“What?”I asked her.
Shesmiled. “It’s okay, dear, we can keep each other company.” She floated closerto me.
“No!”I shouted and stood.
Thewitches began chanting protection around me as Nahuel slowly rose from hissitting position.
Gloriaglared at me. “Don’t yell at me!” she told me with malice.
Nahuelclapped again and thunder cracked outside. The barn walls shook.
“Tellher the full name of the dark witch Prudence or be gone!” Nahuel roared andheld a smoking sage bundle in front of him like armor. I swallowed hard.
Gloriafrowned. “I remember that day like it was yesterday. Prudence was my brighteststudent. The affinity for the power stone worried me a little but not really.She was a nice girl. As the head priestess, it was my honor to name her. I didthe ceremony and the second I cried out ‘Prudence Heather Sorenson,’ she killedme!”
Yes!I grinned. Prudence Heather Sorenson was going down.
“Thankyou,” I told Gloria honestly.
Nahuelbegan to fan her with sage as the witches chanted.
“No,I want to stay!” she called out, reaching for me.
Iput my hands in front of me and mist poured out of them. “Go back to where youcame!” I commanded her firmly.
Themist and sage smoke wrapped around her. Frowning, she looked around the room.“Tell them I miss them,” she said sadly, and disappeared.
Ilooked at Nahuel. “Thank you.” I’m not sure that would have gone down so wellwithout him.
Henodded but looked at me with reservation. Were my eyes green again?
Suddenly,he took me in an embrace. “Goodbye, Aurora.” He squeezed me hard. Nahuel wasn’tthe hugging type. That wasn’t a normal goodbye. Sadness overcame me as he letgo and walked away.
‘What’swrong?’Kai picked up on my feelings.
‘Nothing,just doing a spell in the barn,’I told him. I couldn’t let Nahuel leave like that.
Ipushed past the witches and followed Nahuel outside. “Wait! What’s wrong?” Icalled out.
Helooked over his shoulder. “Nothing, little sister. The time has come for me tofulfill my purpose just as you should fulfill yours. Our time together has cometo an end. You’re ready.”
Panicgripped me. “Will I be able to?”
Hegave me a look. “I’m not worried about that. You are powerful, too powerful.”He said it like it was negative.
“TheDevi,” I stated.
Henodded. “There’s a reason everything has come so easy to you. When the Devigets what she wants …”
