Like before when the three main witch clans of Pendle had converged to raise the Fiend up on Pendle Hill, witches had gathered from all across Pendle on the same hill to raise another old god. A huge bonfire was alight at the center, a few witches throwing pieces of bone, flesh and bowls of blood into it. Opposite from where we stood, thankfully in the crowd so he wouldn't see us, was Captain Crochet. Just like Beth said, he had the starblade sheathed on his belt and he was standing in front of, what looked like, a throne shaped from a tree stump. The path between him and the bonfire was outlined with black candles, none aflame. No doubt they would spark to life once the connection was made.
No old god was rising from the dark this time!
I turned to Tom while Captain Crochet was chanting and whispered to him, "Approach him, I will, and take the starblade to break the connection. Try and keep as far away from him as possible. Don't want you hurt, Tom, do I?"
Tom looked hesitant, like he was about to protest, so before he could I tuned away from him and slowly approached Captain Crochet.
His eyes were closed while he chanted and his arms were spread wide in a welcoming gesture. Fortunately, he was so deep in the chant that he didn't notice me cautiously unsheathing the starblade. The witches hadn't stopped me either, which was odd. I briefly looked around to find 'em all with their eyes closed. Did raising this old god require plenty of sacrifice? If so, then I couldn't fail, could I? So, I watched carefully, eyes flicking from the bonfire to Captain Crochet then back again.
My ears pricked up as a yell was suddenly muffled. I snapped my head towards the back of the crowd to find Jenny covering Beth's mouth while Daniel held her firmly. Beth's bright green eyes were full of fright and so I followed her gaze. Standing next to Captain Crochet, while I hadn't realised before, was Mab Mouldheel. Contrariwise to the other witches, she was trembling and her eyes looked ready to pop out of the sockets and flee. Quick as a flash, Mab waved her hands level with her head in a shooing motion.
I looked back to find she'd flung Jenny and Daniel onto their backs. Beth was free and she dashed to her sister's side. With a quick nod towards each other, they fled down the hill as fast as they could without threat of twisting their ankles.
Had no time to dwell on this, did I? A thick twisting cloud of violet smoke ascended from the bonfire and twirled a path towards Captain Crochet's chest, violet sparks sprouting from his hands. His head was thrown back and the minute the long line of smoke reached the center of his chest, I could see the union point. I knew what I had to do.
Retaining my grip on the hilt of the starblade once I finally reached the pirate mage, I raised it a little in the air, taking aim for the union point as I bolted towards Captain Crochet. The more he chanted, the denser the smoke got.
The wind had died down and everything held its breath. Not even the flames or the embers of the bonfire appeared to be moving. Just the smoke, Captain Crochet's lips and, of course, me as I lunged the sword further towards the pirate mage. Exerting my willpower to bless the blade, ensuring that the point of the sword would make its mark, I plunged the starblade deep into Captain Crochet's chest where the smoke sank into it, piercing his black heart.
A white glow sprung from Captain Crochet's chest as I pulled the starblade out. There was something in the glow; an invisible force like a torrent of the strongest winds and it whipped me off the ground, throwing me onto my back when it passed. It was a good thing I walked up Pendle Hill prepared. Willed a spell under my breath, I had, to ensure that what was growing inside me was protected by whatever magical force came at me. It was a wonder how Tom didn't hear, but he never was the most observant person when he was on his way to a battle or a fight.
Still conscious, I was, but winded and didn't even realise that the starblade had fallen out of my hand and was laying next to me. My whole body was numb as I stared, wide-eyed, up at the night sky. Time seemed to slow, but not before I could hear a roar and the sky flashed red.
Afterwards, I noticed the black clouds that had previously been tarnishing the dark velvet sky had disappeared. The white moon smiled with a blue-tinted glow along its edge. A soft velvet dark-coloured sky glittered with billions of tiny white lanterns. Softly, the serene nightly breeze whispered against my ears as the grass blades tenderly caressed and cushioned my skin. I curled my fingers into 'em.
A while later, although, I ain't quite sure just how much time had passed, though it felt like an eternity, two pairs of hands came and helped me up into a sitting position. Still a little dazed from the blast, my head feeling thick, I stared at the spot where Captain Crochet had once stood. Where he should've fallen from the penetration of the blade in his chest, a patch of charred black grass marked out the shape of his body in a basic silhouette. I may not have given him a fighting chance but he'd never given Tom one either when he transported him to the village Bareleigh.
Suddenly, my senses sharpened again and time seemed to resume its natural pace. I shook my head as all the sounds and sights returned to me. I looked either side of me to find it was Judd and Daniel who had helped me into a sitting position. I smiled in gratitude but their expressions were grave, as if they'd just witnessed a death.
When they realised that I'd snapped out of my dazed state, Daniel asked me, "Are you all right?"
"I...I think so. What about you?" I replied, regarding both of 'em.
"Alice, try and remain calm. We were all thrown back by the blast but...some were more affected than others," Judd said carefully.
I sucked in a breath, frantically look from Judd to Daniel, then Daniel to Judd.
"Wh-where's Tom?"
"Jenny's with him...he..." Finding it hard to explain, Judd was, but I didn't need explaining to.
Gesturing for 'em to help me to my feet, Daniel and Judd took hold of my arms and helped me straighten myself out. When they could be sure that I was steady on my feet, Judd picked up the starblade and the three of us weaved our way through the cluster of unconscious bodies belonging to witches.
Once we reached 'em, my heart jumped into my mouth and it felt like I was swallowing it whole. There Tom was: limp on the grass, eyes closed, with Jenny kneeling beside him, endless tears rolling down her cheeks with her hand on his chest, directly over his heart. He couldn't be gone, he just couldn't! Been nearer than any of us, I had, to the blast. Out of everyone, I should've been the one not to survive it.
Abandoning my pride and composure, I knelt down the other side of Jenny and met her eyes when she lifted her hand from his chest.
"Is he ali..." I trailed off as she shook her head.
Eyes filling to the brim with tears, I frantically checked both wrists then both sides of his neck for a pulse.
Jenny was right.
He was gone.
Daniel approached Jenny from behind, leaned down, hand on her shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Jenny turned and met his gaze before nodding, I found, rather reluctantly. She got to her feet and she, Daniel and Judd kept some distance to leave me alone with Tom.
I moved round and placed Tom's head on my lap as I sat on the front of my feet and legs. I tenderly swept loose strands of dark brown hair back from his forehead.
That done, the tears poured down my cheeks like the heaviest rainfall. Might've stopped Captain Crochet, but I'd failed. The whole reason I'd headed for Pendle was to get him back in the first place. Now I'd already lost him before we'd even left Pendle and there was something incredibly important that I still needed to tell him. Something I'd been putting off for days when I shouldn't have, should've told him when I had the chance, shouldn't I? Never going to know about it now, was he?
My world, he was, the love of my life, my reason for living out each and every day like it was my last. Made every day of my life a new adventure for me, he did.
I leaned forward and whispered, "Please...get up, please, Tom...you have to get up...Something I should've told you long before we came here...When we talked about family that night...going to be a father, you are. Can't do this on my own, can I? That's why you need to get up. That, and you are the other half of my heart, my soulmate. Please live..."
What I didn't realise at the time was that one solitary tear that rolled down my cheek sank into the skin on his forehead. Not a moment later, his eyes peeled open and he groaned.
I gasped and lifted his head to help him sit up. I then slid round to sit beside him.
"What are these tears for?" he asked, wiping my tears with his thumb.
Forgetting explanations and everything else in the world around us, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely. Arms around my waist, one hand reached up to my hair, Tom returned that kiss passionately, although probably bewildered by my sudden outburst. But I was overjoyed he was alive! Although, his heart had stopped...hadn't it? Guess miracles work in many ways.
Eventually, when we broke our lips apart, still very much in an embrace, I decided to tell him the news.
"Got something to tell you, Tom, I have," I began, "Remember when you told me you had that dream about us raising a family in Chipenden together? Well, won't just be in your dreams anymore, Tom."
As soon as I took his hand from my hip and placed it on my stomach, he smiled broadly.
"Oh, Alice...I love you so much - even more so with every day that goes by," he sighed.
I swallowed at his words.
"Love you too, Tom, words could never express how much love I have for you," I answered and he pulled my lips back to his for another passionate kiss.
By the time we broke our lips away again, gasping for air, the rain started pattering down on our faces, running down our blushing flesh. We grinned at each other and I've never been so blissfully happy than in that moment. We leaned in once more but jumped apart when someone behind us cleared their throat.
We looked back to find Jenny staring in shock, like she'd seen a ghost.
"I could've sworn...your heart stopped beating..."
"Let's just say I thought I had no choice but the suddenly, it was presented to me and I knew I had a life I couldn't leave behind, so..." Tom answered, smiling down at me, his thumb caressing my stomach.
Jenny shook her head, clearing her throat again.
"Judd asked me to come and get you," she said.
"What's wrong?" Tom asked her.
Jenny shrugged.
"I don't know for sure but let's not keep him waiting."
Glancing at each other in confusion, we shrugged before getting to our feet and following Jenny across the hilltop. We waded through the sea of bodies, some stirring, some yet to wake, until we passed by the bonfire, which had died down, and met Judd and Daniel on the other side.
Judd and Daniel were staring down at the patch of charred grass where Captain Crochet's body should've been. The energy of the force from the breaking of the connection must've incinerated his body.
After drawing to that conclusion, unwilling to be there once all the witches had come back to consciousness, we turned to descend carefully down the hill. Even at the bottom of it, we could see some bodies sprawled on the grass, clearly dead after being thrown back all the way down.
"So where do we go now? The witches will be out for revenge after what's been done to them. We can't possibly set up camp outside," Daniel pointed out.
"We can go back to your friend Christopher's, since we've done our job protecting the County for tonight," Judd replied over his shoulder.
Tom had a firm hold of my waist, evidently worried I'd fall. But we all made it down the hill in one piece and, as Judd had said, made way for Christopher's with all haste.
Fortunately, Christopher's wife, Irene, had gone to bed and we were shown to our rooms. Daniel and Jenny were given the settees, being the youngest.
That night, slept soundly, I did, in the arms of the man I loved, relaxed and happier than ever.