Power swirled around them, the air crackling with energy they created. Adira felt the hairs on her arms rise to salute the mystics in respect. Fallen leaves lifted from the ground where they’d been trampled, hovering around the circle of three. Sticks and blades of grass followed suit, dancing in the wind.
She breathed deep, the smell of earth and murky water giving her a sense of comfort. This was what she was meant for, magic. Magic to do good. Turning evil could never happen. She’d fight it until her end. They all would. Even Nastia who possessed the least amount of light magic. She was the closest to turning, and perhaps the most determined to find a way to stop it.
This had to work.
Their voices grew louder in the darkness, unifying until they sounded like one. “Double tiger, hidden dragon. Grab the groom and hitch the wagon…”
The bracken from the forest floor began to spin around them, a cushion for their power, containing it so the world around wouldn’t notice. Just in case any wanderers were nearby. Louder and faster they chanted. Faster, the air moved, churning the water from the well until it splashed upward, slapping against the mortar walls and leaking over the top.
Tipping her head back, Adira moved her gaze to the stars and their moon overhead. It was a beacon, drawing her attention and demanding a power exchange that felt like electricity flowing through her veins instead of blood. It was warm. Home. Comfort.
If she didn’t find her anchor in time, she’d be tempted to draw her magic from the dark night. It would be cold. Cruel. Strange.
But for now, the stars burned within her. For now, she was warm like the sun.
Light shot from the circle to the sky in a blinding white beam, heat blistering through Adira. As the lightest, she contained the most light magic. She was the farthest from turning. But even still, the inky blackness called to her, a mere whisper for now, enticing her with more power.
Easy to resist it now, but what about later.
The feel of Nastia’s palm against her right and Mirena’s against her left grounded her. They were her anchor now. But aging meant they’d all need more.
A boom that exploded like thunder rocked their circle, sending water from the well spewing in every direction. The spray caught the light of the mystics and a miracle happened, stealing Adira’s breath as certain as if she’d been knocked to her back.
A rainbow.
Or since it was dark out, a moonbow.
Nevertheless, she saw it. A rainbow. With her very eyes, she saw it. She wanted to look away, to see if the sisters saw it too, but she was afraid to even blink. Afraid it would disappear and she’d be left with only her memory of it.
“Do you see it,” Mirena whispered.
“I do,” Nastia breathed.
No Sorcera could look upon a rainbow. Well, they could try all they wanted, but it was impossible for them to see. They were blind to it no matter how hard they looked. It was a result of light magic stronger than any single witch could contain. Not even an entire coven of Sorcera. Commoners could look and see, because they knew not magic. Their ignorance was a gift that allowed them many luxuries Sorcera couldn’t have. Experiencing the beauty of a rainbow was among that list.
But now here was one, right in the midst of their circle and all three could see it.
“It’s a sign,” Adira murmured. And because her curse demanded it, she added, “We’re going to be fine.”
They never broke the circle. Their power remained thick in the air. But the light from the mystics faded anyway, and with it, their rainbow dimmed to nothing.
Tears plucked at Adira’s lids. She wanted to call it back. Demand its return. Repeat the spell. Anything to have it again.
But it was well and truly gone.
“Hellooooo?” A faint voice that didn’t belong to either of her sisters floated on the breeze where their magic was evaporating. “Can you hear me? Testing, testing. Mic check. Witchy woman, can you hear this? Breaker, breaker. Do you copy?”
Adira frowned, looking around, but there was nobody there. She was alone with her sisters in the darkness. Even the moon seemed to have abandoned them.
“What is that?” Mirena hissed, tilting her head and straining to listen.
“Anybody there? I’m looking for the witches of… damn, what did they call you three? Uh, sorcery? Witches of sorcery? That seems a little redundant though, so maybe that’s not it.”
Nastia leaned over to look into the well. “Sorcera,” she corrected. “We’re called Sorcera.”
Adira and Mirena followed their sister’s gaze. Inside the well, was an interesting surprise. The glossy surface of the water had become some kind of portal allowing them to see through it. Like a mirror, except their reflection wasn’t looking back at them. Instead a petite woman with small features and long brunette hair stared up through the column of bricks and mud.