Werewolves Be Damned - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,23
could a vampire just poof from existence?”
Nexi snorted. “You’re supposed to have that answer.” She pointed at herself. “Remember, I’m new here and everything confuses me.”
Haven giggled, hooking her arm in Nexi’s and pulling her in close. “Finn told me the Council is on it now. I know some of the guardians and trackers are out hunting this vamp.” She hesitated, then she smiled. “I’m sure it’ll be solved soon.”
Nexi couldn’t help but notice that while Haven portrayed confidence, on the inside it was another story completely. Confusion and tension swirled within her soul sister, only adding to her own. If the vampire had even bubbly Haven unsettled, Nexi was sure as shit concerned.
Glancing out to the lush garden, she inhaled the calming scents. “So, where exactly are you taking me?”
“To the witches circle so you can watch Zia call on the Elements.”
Nexi skidded to a halt, sending a rock beneath her shoe skipping down the path. “Say what?”
“I keep forgetting you don’t know any of this.” She yanked Nexi forward and added in a soft voice, “Okay, here’s a crash course in all things witchy. Our magic is gifted to us by the Elements—Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Spirit. A witch is given one Element to use defensively, but we normally get something from at least one other, too.”
Nexi might’ve been shocked, or even skeptical, but really, the time to be surprised ended the moment she awoke to the Otherworld. Now she realized how cautious everyone had been around her, only telling her what she needed to know at that moment. She figured they didn’t want to overwhelm her. “You have the Earth Element, I already know that, but what’s your other Element?”
“Yep, Earth is my most powerful gift.” She glanced up at the sky, where stars sparkled in unfamiliar patterns. “And like you saw, I can manipulate time, because it’s attached to the Earth. If I’m mad enough, Air will show itself and I can use it, but I have to be very angry for that happen.”
Nexi tried to picture what Haven would look like pissed off, but she failed miserably. “Well, the time thingy you can do is cool.”
Haven lifted a lazy shoulder. “My magic comes in handy, especially with catching the bad guys, but trust me, it ain’t nothin’ to get revved up about. Wait ‘til you see Zia in action.”
They strode past a small, rocky pond where fluorescent fish swam beneath a flourishing field of lily pads. “What kind of witch is Zia?”
“Spirit Witch, like your mom was.” Haven’s voice rose in awe. “Which means she can manipulate all of the Elements.” Nexi’s eyes widened, and Haven added with a short nod, “Exactly. Her abilities are impressive. Plus, they’re the only ones who have the ability to heal injuries.”
Nexi looked away from Haven, realizing they reached the end of the path, which stopped at a wrought iron gate overrun by green leafy vines. Its beautiful floral accents peeked through the foliage, but the intricate design paled next to what rest beyond the gate.
Before Nexi lay a meadow filled with rolling hills, plush green grass, and a large creek bisecting the scene. Wildflowers littered the ground and trees ringed the field. Some were birches and willows, but the smaller ones she’d never seen before.
“Where are we?” she gasped.
Haven smiled. “Guardians have the Guardians’ Hall for training. Witches have the Witches’ Meadow.” She glanced in front of her. “Oh, look, they’re starting.” Then she rushed forward.
Nexi hurried after her, catching sight of Zia, Mistress of Witches, standing in the middle of a large circle of witches, all holding hands. They were dressed in everything from skirts to jeans, which Nexi took to mean that witches didn’t have a uniform like the guardians did. Haven dropped down on the grass, and as Nexi sat in next to her, Zia glanced over, smiled, then looked to the witches around her.
“May the Elements protect and connect us together.” She raised her hands to the sky. “From the north, we summon you, Earth.”
Beneath Nexi, the ground rumbled and she threaded her fingers into the grass. “What’s happening?”
Haven looked all too comfortable with her arms behind her, palms resting on the ground. “Earth’s responding.”
“Right.” Nexi rolled her eyes. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Glancing out to the group of witches, she relaxed her hands against the now quiet ground as Zia called, “From the east, we summon you, Air.”
The wind picked up, the trees swayed from the wind, and goose bumps pimpled