EPILOGUE

Matthew Tate closed the trapdoor in the floor of his home. Using his newly acquired telekinetic ability, he moved a small rug over the trapdoor obscuring it from view. Satisfied that no one would suspect it was even there he moved a chair over the rug.

His plans had not worked out exactly as he had imagined. Melinda was to have vanquished Craggen. Even if she hadn't vanquished him, Tate was fully prepared to deal with her once she had finished with Craggen. And if Craggen had won, with his new powers Tate would have been able to vanquish him.

Melinda's trust in him was nearly complete. She never guessed that Craggen had been hiding in his cabin while she searched the countryside for him. She believed that he was totally captivated with her; willing to do whatever he had to to help her. She never suspected that his only goal was to gain her powers.

Of course, attacking her had been out of the question. She was much too powerful. And after seeing what she had done to Patrick, Matthew realized she was even more powerful than he had first suspected. His subterfuge had been the right choice. A frontal attack would have been futile. She would have vanquished him.

Now, he had her powers, Craggen was no longer a threat to him, and very soon he would be able to deal with Melinda without any danger to himself. Even now the cry of "witch" could be heard in some areas of the village. A few well-
placed spells and very soon he could create hysteria in the village. It would be a simple matter to make sure that Melinda was caught up in that hysteria.

The book would be a different matter. The accursed thing seemed to have a mind of its own. Matthew had not even been able to touch it. It seemed to protect itself. No matter. Once Melinda became known as a witch, all the other villagers would avoid her home. They would believe it cursed.

He would have plenty of time to find a way to deal with the book once Melinda was dealt with. It would take her time to recoup her strength from transforming Patrick. He would help her, of course. Console her for the loss of her son. Until it was time to have the town dispose of her.

He knew what she would do with the book. She had often confided in him that there should be a record of the evil she had to fight. To prepare future generations in case they had to face those same evils. Now she had the book she had often spoke of. A book she felt would protect itself against any evil that would come against it.

Nothing could stop him. Very soon those who could oppose him would be gone. Then it would be time to deal with Morgan, his brother. Morgan was still a witch. He hadn't learned the power turning evil would give him. And Matthew would show him just how wrong he was.

The End

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