A Raven in the Hand
CHAPTER 20
She could hear something from a head of her, the cave was rather dark and she didn't want to risk detection. The Vodu was obviously preoccupied with his current task, hopefully this would give her the break she so desperately needed.
First, she needed her friend to be safe. Even though the raven was a witch's familiar, he still would be in danger of the Vodu's attack. She turned to her feathered companion and touched his head gently, she would sent him back to the entrance where he would be safe before continuing on. She wouldn't risk the bird for anything.
Go… She commanded in her mind.
Mistress? The bird looked at her in question.
I want you to go back to the cave entrance and wait…
Mistress, I do not wish to leave your side…
You are bounded to my word, Reaper, please, do as I command.
The raven nudged her cheek with his beak in adoration, You have never given me a command before…
I know, please obey me. Besides, if things don't go well, I need you to find a Vodu in a village and get back to Matron Shalla and warn her.
You should have sought her aid…
I know, but I wasn't really thinking at the time.
I will go, as you wish. Be careful.
The raven lifted from her shoulder and flew towards the light at the cave entrance.
I will…
Kayla took a deep breath, now she would place all her strength and power to her task at hand. A protection spell would be a start. She began to wave her hands about, letting them dance in the air was she whispered the spell. She could feel the force move around her body, encasing her in an invisible shield. It would definitely repel most spells but the shield would take damage and after a certain amount, the spell would end. Only problem was, the strength of the shield depended on the power of the witch.
She walked closer, the power that was being drawn within the cave was indeed of ages past. The old weave of the magic seemed to our within the stones, Kayla pressed foreword until she could make out the candle light at the end. This is where the source of the magic was coming from, where the Vodu was casting the ancient magic for his cruel and unethical plan.
Finally, she could see the light at the end of the tunnel, many candles lit the large room that she was walking towards. She stopped a little ways towards it and covered towards the wall, moving her body as little as possible, she peered a little beside the cave entrance to take a look. Sure enough, the Vodu was chanting softly as he shook his little crude wand over the still body of the Undertaker who laid motionless on the crude alter.
A simple Hold Undead spell supplied with the power of dead souls would definitely hold the Reaper for now, but with any spell, it would wear off in time. Kay had hoped that the Vodu had wasted precious time in preparing the spell. The more time she gave Mark, the sooner he would wake and then he could definitely take care of the mortal.
She gazed in the security of the darkness, she could see the stone placed on Mark's chest. She recognized it immediately, she had been told and read all the information on those stones. There were seven to be exact. Six were accounted for, her own Matron had one locked away in the great vault that laid under the Manor back in Salem. She could guess that the seventh has now been discovered. The origins of the stones came from Africa, said to have been created from the after birth blood of the goddess. No wonder the Vodu had taken him here, Africa was powerful in magic.
Kayla breathed deeply, she needed a plan right now but none would come to mind. Her first reaction would be to throw a fireball into the cave room, but she didn't know weather the spell would hurt Mark. She had to attack with direct spells.
The Vodu was busy, chanting away as the stone grew slowly brighter. He didn't see Kayla enter the magic enslaved room, nor the three flaming glowing arrows that were flung towards him. All three had hit their mark as the Vodu screamed in pain as the three arrows hit him straight in the chest, burning his black skin.
"Come on Boogieman!" Kayla shouted to the Vodu, "I want to play too!"
Now she had his undivided attention. The Vodu screamed in a blood curdling yell and threw a few of his own spells at the young witch. Kay didn't anticipate that he could just use his manna, another word for soul power. He unleashed his own brand of magic, a serpent like electric form began to rise from the ground. Kayla took a few steps back as the Vodu laughed.
"So…" The Boogieman finally spoke, "The little witch believes that she can defeat me…how very funny. YOU ARE TOO LATE! Even as the serpent comes for you, your precious Reaper is being drained of his power! Soon! I will posses his power and with that! I will take yours as well!"
"I don't think so…" Kayla growled as she felt the Raven within her leave her body and began to consume the serpent, "Ravens like to eat snakes for dinner!"
She didn't know how it happened, the Raven seemed to have a mind of her own. She didn't have any problems to conquer the snake, but the Vodu was another matter. Just as the Raven was almost finished with the spectral snake, the Vodu sent another spell towards the young witch.
The Vodu shot three small red like balls towards her, but the shield had taken the damage instead of her mortal body. Kay threw a few more flame arrows towards the Vodu, but with a waved of his hand, they were stopped in mid air.
"I believe…" The Vodu grinned, "…that these belong to you!"
With another waive of his hand, the arrows turned around and were flung back towards Kay, again the shield withheld the blast, but she could feel the fail in it. The shield had only a few more takes until it would disappear, then she would be defend less against him. She had to prolong the battle, just enough time for Mark to snap out of the spell he was under.
"Here is another lesson!" The Vodu sent another arsenal of red balls towards her, this time the shield had taken the blast, but then was destroyed by the attack. Kay had no choice but to hide behind the rock face as the Vodu sent the magical missiles at her, luckily she hid in time because the balls hit the outer edge of the cave entrance.
"I'm not an idiot!" Kay shouted at his as she threw a few magic missiles of her own at the Vodu, who missed them with ease, "I know what you're after and I won't let you do it!"
"Do you truly?" The Vodu grinned as he crept closer towards her, "Do you even know your purpose in this world?"
"To stop fuck heads like you!" She shot another array of magic, this time four smaller fireballs into the room. She hoped that none had found Mark.
As luck would have it, none had, but a few had found the old parchment and linen in the cave, causing the combustible material to ignite. Fire began to crawl around the cave as the battle continued.
Kay moved a little into the way to cast another spell, but the Vodu was ready for her. His own magical arrows had caught her in the shoulder, burning through her clothes and into her skin. Kay tried her best to not yell out in pain as she tried again to throw another defence spell at the Vodu, but he was already on top of her. Another array of spells were sent to her, causing her body convulse in pain. She fell to the ground, holding her body under reflex as the Vodu walked up to her in confidence.
"You are not worthy of the gift that has been bestowed upon you." The Vodu whispered, "But fear not, I will not kill you…yet. I need your power as well."
Kay tried as she might to get back on her feet, but the blow from the wand knocked her back down.
"Be still witch! And I promise to not make it painful. I can give you a dignified death. Think of it as a worthy cause, giving your power to someone who is worthy…"
"NEVER!" Kay shouted as she felt the power exploded from her.
She had never tried to use all four elements together, let alone one at a time. But for some odd reason, she could feel the power flow threw her. She could feel the wind blow around her, the water running though her veins, the earth move beneath her, and the fire roaring within the core of her soul in anger. She threw her hands toward the Vodu, unaware that the power had taken control of her body. A stream of light burst from her hands and into the Vodu, knocking him back and causing his body to hit the rune covered stone walls.
The Vodu slowly tried to stand up, but Kay had collapsed on the dirt covered cave floor. Her head was spinning as the power grew within, but it wasn't growing for another attack. She could hear the raven within, calling out loudly for someone to aid…the raven was calling the Reaper.
"MARK!" Kay shouted, "MARK! PLEASE WAKE UP!"
The Vodu was standing now on shaky legs, he needed a few moments to get his bearings to attack this little worthless witch and make his dreams come true. But the Raven would not allow it.
"MARK!" She yelled again as the Vodu took a few uneasy steps towards her, "MARK PLEASE! WAKE UP!"
"He cannot hear you…" The Vodu took another few steps, "He is under my spell…"
A church bell rung loudly with in the caves, a wind blew within and blew the candles and the fire out. The Vodu and witch were left in the darkness as the bell rang again.
"I don't think he's under your spell anymore…" The Vodu could hear the witch's sultry and now confidant voice from the darkness…
To be continued…