Chapter Four
"What?" Cassie asked. Ethan put his finger to his lips and opened the door to one of the chambers beneath the castle.
One they were inside, Ethan pressed her against the wall, and started kissing her. So this is why you wanted to bring me down here. She thought telepathically to him.
Yep. Surprised? He asked back.
She brought her hand up and ran it through his hair. Pleased perhaps. She brought her leg up to his waist. Ethan ran his hand down her leg and under her skirt.
"Are we interrupting something?" Marnie asked.
Ethan and Cassie broke apart, fast. Ethan started to get red in the face.
"Looks like they had the same idea we did." Cody smirked.
"It's not what it looks like." Ethan protested.
"Let me see. We walk in on you two, swapping spit, with you reaching under her skirt. How in the world could you even imagine what we're thinking?" Marnie asked, a smile tugging at her lips.
"What are you guys doing down here?" Cassie asked a twinkle in her eye.
"I already told you that you and Ethan had the same idea we did." Cody stated.
"Our rooms are so hollow, that we're afraid to do anything." Marnie said. She looked down the corridor.
"I know." Ethan agreed. "It's so bad, that I can here Natalie and Dylan when they roll over or snore. They're two doors down."
"How did you even find us?" Cassie asked.
"I really don't know. We were looking for a place to go. So far this is a part of the castle that we haven't explored yet. We can down here, and we heard you. Hollow walls, remember?"
"Now that you mention it, I don't recall how we got here." Cassie said. She looked at Ethan. "Please tell me that you remembered."
Ethan threw his hands up, surrendering. "This is my first time down here as well."
Just then, there was a pinpoint of light. It was in the farthest, darkest corner of the room. It started to get brighter and larger, soon the whole room was engulfed in light. The four witches and warlocks in the room had to shield their eyes.
Just as soon as it appeared, it disappeared. In its absence were four tear shaped stones. They appeared brownish-gold in color. They had clasps on then, perfect for their bracelets. As if in a trance, all four of them reached out and took one. When their skin touched the cool stones, a sensation ran throughout their entire body. When the sensation was gone, they each clasped the stones to their bracelet. After all, they were given permission to add things to them.
"Okay, pale yellows, today we are going to attempt hovering without brooms." Ileana said.
"It takes a great deal of concentration, so focus your mind strictly in this, and you will float a few feet off the ground." Karsh said.
Alex looked over at Camryn. She had a look of concentration on her face. Alex glanced over at Cade. He flashed her a grin then closed his eyes. She glanced to the back of the room. The students from Halloweentown were glancing nervously at each other.
Apparently Ileana caught this too, because she said in a calm voice, "Don't be scared. Take a deep breath and picture yourself hovering in the air.
Cassie glanced first at Marnie and Cody, then at Ethan. She closed her eyes.
"Very good." Karsh said. Jason, Camryn, Alex, Cade, Dylan, Hunter, Chester, Pete, and Natalie were all hovering. Marnie, Cody, Ethan, and Cassie were not.
"This is ridiculous. Hover." Ethan called. The stone on his wrist flashed, and flew to the roof. "Help." He called.
"Hover." Cassie, Marnie, and Cody all said. They too shot to the roof.
"Okay. Take calm." Karsh said. The doors to the class room opened and Gwen and Miranda entered.
They saw the students and the teachers looking up, so they followed their gaze.
"What happened?" Miranda asked, appalled.
"We were teaching hovering. Apparently they over shot their mark." Ileana replied.
Gwen pointing her hand to where the four young adults were. Wild magic gone awry, Hardest as they might try, reverse the magic acted here, so that they have nothing to fear.
Slowly, they started to descend. When their feet touched the ground, Marnie ran over to her mother. "Thank you."
Gwen through her arms around her daughter. "What happened?"
Ethan just said hover and he flew to the ceiling." She explained.
Cassie pointed her hand up, her sleeve rolling back, revealing her bracelet. Karsh saw the tear shaped stone. "What is that?" He asked.
"Oh, Ethan, Marnie, Cody, and I were exploring the lower rooms of the castle. There was this bright light and they appeared right in front of us. It was like we were meant to have them. We put them on our bracelets and here we are." Cassie explained.
"We each have one." Cody said, revealing his.
"You know, when I touched it, it felt like electricity was running through my body" Ethan announced.
"Me too." Were the replies from three of the others.
"Do you know what these are?" Miranda asked, stepping into the conversation. All of the students just looked at her. "These are the ancient stones. They were created from ordinary gems, crystals, and stones. I believe the ones you found are Tiger's eyes. The stones were enchanted with the most powerful of spells. They gave the wearer extra power…"
"Like the gift?" Marnie asked. Miranda knew all about the gift. She was a bright student, and Aggie was a kind teachers.
"Not quite. See, it enhances your powers as well. For example. You were trying to hover. Well, the stone just over energized your magic and shot you right up. With these stones, you will gain more magic then you can realize. You will be able to do things like conjure the elements, fly with ease, be able to perform really difficult spells that an extraordinary witch cannot. With each stone a witch or warlock gets…"
"Whoa. You mean there are more then four stones?" Natalie asked.
"Oh, yes. According to legend, there were four stones made out of each kind of crystal, gem, or stone. Four tiger's eyes, four amethysts, four jades, four ambers, and so on. Anyway, the more stones that one collects, the more powerful they become. I think that you four should see me for your studies. The lessons you will learn will be child's play now that you have those stones. You will be level twos before you know it." Miranda stated.
"Wait. Legend also states that the stones were created to help four young magic users fight a terrible and dark war. Their enemy was powerful beyond imagination. But before they could use the stones, they were lost. The magic that resides in them chooses who they want to wear them." Ileana said.
Karsh got real pale. "It also says that the stones would not reveal themselves unless they were needed once more."
"But…" Cassie said. "We can't be the chosen ones."
"Maybe not." Gwen said. She turned to the other older adults in the room. "Miranda, you said that there were four stones made of each gem." Miranda nodded. "What would happen if each person here found one or more stone?"
"Then everybody would be needed to fight the war. But that's just hypothetically speaking."
Camryn laid a hand on her shoulder. Miranda looked her daughter in the eye. "Don't underestimate things. Remember what happened last time? If this is destiny, then we must embrace it. Not run away from it."
"She's right. The least we can do is prepare for the worst and look for those stones." Jason agreed.
"But the stones will reveal themselves to those who they think are worthy." Ileana said. "One person might end up with each stone, others only one."
"That's a road we will cross when we get to it." Cody said. "Right now, I think we should go back to our classes. We're here to learn to control our magic, to learn what herbs are good for which potions, and what amulets are for protection."
"He's right." Ethan said. "The knowledge that you give us may very well be the information that we will need later on."
"It doesn't matter who ends up with the most stones. We will be working as a team. No one or nothing can break through that." Cassie said.
"Spoken like a wise witch." Miranda said. "Excuse us, we'll let you get back to your lessons." They back out of the room, smiles upon their faces.
Ileana and Karsh were amazed at all of the courage and bravery these kids had. They would grow to be the most wise, courageous, courteous, and powerful witches and warlocks that Halloweentown and Coventry had ever seen.