The Witch Stone - Emily Oakes Page 0,34

her hands and floated in the air as if somebody was holding it. A gust of air came out of nowhere. Dust choked the air. Leaves spiraled around the room. Chanting started up, quiet at first, getting louder as it danced in their ears. They stood watching, their mouths wide, as the book opened and started flicking rapidly through its pages. The wind became stronger and the chanting even louder. The pages stopped turning. The gust of wind settled as did the chanting as the open book gently floated onto the floor like a feather landing.

With a couple of cautious steps forward, they peered at the pages of the open book. There was a message written in shining black ink.

‘Dearest Brenna,

Do not be alarmed. It is important you carefully read and follow what I have to say. I am writing to you from another time. We need you to fulfill and complete a ritual that was never finished. Many women were brutally killed here and were never able to pass over into the Summerland. Hundreds of tormented souls wander these woods. Brenna, they need you to release them and let them fall into their long-awaited rest. The problem is there is a highly powerful force who is controlling their spirits. He is the one who has trapped their souls along with every other person who lived near these woods, including my own, and the soul of your grandmother. He will do anything to stop you from freeing us; he wants us to suffer for all eternity.

You will find all the instructions you need in the envelope in the back of the book.

I know you have the strength in your heart to do this, Brenna. Be strong, you are our only hope.

Blessings

Much love for now,

Hawthorn.’

They sat in a daze as the message slowly evaporated off the page, disappearing before their eyes. For the first time in her life, Brenna felt too numb to speak. She sat staring wide-eyed at the book.

“Bren.” Maggie’s voice was a shaky whisper. “This is big.”

Maggie turned her bewildered head and looked at Brenna. “Big is not the word. Massive, gigantic, enormous, colossal, gargantuan even!” Maggie’s voice rose.

Brenna’s voice box was still frozen.

“Well, I guess you should look in the back of the book.” Maggie didn’t seem to have a problem speaking.

Brenna cleared her throat and found her voice. “Yeah, I suppose I should.” She stared at the book, wiped away a tear. “Their souls have been tortured for hundreds of years…”

“We’re going to put a stop to it.” Maggie placed a hand on Brenna’s shoulder and squeezed. Brenna inched forward and picked up the book, flipped through the thick pages, seeing dried herbs, pressed flowers, spells, and drawings until she reached the back cover. As promised, an aged envelope had been slipped into the back of the book.

Bang! The old book of shadows slammed shut throwing Brenna’s heart up into her mouth. Maggie gasped and her headshot toward the book. Then Brenna giggled and let her shoulders relax. The book sure did seem to have a mind of its own.

The room grew quiet as Brenna contemplated the envelope. The old parchment paper crinkled under her touch. She tried to be careful to preserve as much of it as she tore it open, but it all but disintegrated as she pulled out the equally old piece of parchment within.

Brenna unfolded the tea-colored paper and read the instructions to Maggie.

“The ritual must be performed at midnight on Hallows Eve.” Brenna paused and looked up at Maggie, who was staring at her with twinkling eyes.

She took a breath and continued. “This is when the two worlds combine and all our precious ones can be put to rest. Do not be afraid and do exactly as I say. Ronan will guide you.” Brenna stopped reading and folded up the paper.

“Ronan?”

A howl invaded the room, making Brenna and Maggie jump and spin their heads toward the open door. The howling intensified. Brenna lunged forward, closed the cottage door and fumbled around for the key. Maggie found it on a table and slammed it home in its rusty lock. With a twist of her wrist, the old lock clicked. Locking the door against a wolf or whatever was lurking outside was probably futile, but it was better than nothing.

Maggie ran to the small window and looked out. She screamed as a huge wolf’s head appeared, bearing sharp teeth. Saliva dripped from its jaws as it snarled at the window. Maggie shrieked and