Love, Lies & Blood Ties - Whitby Shadows Series Book 2

Chapter Thirteen

When she said doorway, she wasn't kidding. As we stepped under the arch, my entire body developed pins and needles. Then, like a shimmering haze on the horizon of a desert, everything changed. The harbour vanished, all the boats and still waters becoming solid land. The houses and shops disappeared, leaving nothing but open green fields. All that remained of anything familiar was St Mary's Church and the ruins of the Abbey, and of course the steps.

Behind me, the whalebone arch stood proud, but the Captain Cook statue had vanished, along with the sea front hotels.

"Where's it all gone?" I said, looking at Joanna, completely dumbfounded.

She pointed down the steps of Khyber Pass, if it was still called that in this world, and said, "We can only practice what we need to and truly be ourselves in the safety of another realm." She lifted her free hand up and gestured all around her. "This is it."

"So only witches can get in here?"

"Yep. No witch blood, no entry. The pins and needles you felt was the magic in the arch. It remembers every single witch who passes through it. Next time you come through it'll just be like stepping from one room into another."

"But aren't vampires technically witch blood?"

She grinned. "No. They're made from magic. We're human with magical abilities. Completely different."

As I looked out over this new realm from my high up vantage point, I noticed a huge bonfire down near the sea front. A single pole stood in the middle of it, the flames circling it yet not touching it. At least two dozen witches surrounded it, all joined by their hands around the outer edge of the fire. I frowned and squinted my eyes as I looked at the pole again. It looked like someone was tied to it.

"Joanna..."

She turned us away from it quickly and led us down the steps. "Yes, it is."

My heart flipped over and over like an Olympic gymnast. I knew what she was saying but I had to double check. "'Yes it is' what?"

"Yes, it is a person."

I became paralysed with fear. What? They were actually going to burn a person to death? What kind of messed up world was this?

"Cat, there are reasons we do what we do. We select our sacrifices carefully."

I wanted to throw up. Marcus had told me witches sacrifice people, but I hadn't expected to actually witness it. A cold sweat broke out all over me and I started trembling.

"I can't, Joanna. I can't go down there."

"It's fine. Just trust me. Let us explain it all to you. Please?"

I dared to look at the poor soul tied to the stake. They didn't appear to be screaming or panicking in the slightest. They simply just stood there. Or was that more to do with being restrained?

"How could there be any explanation for this?" I asked. "It's barbaric."

"I had the same reaction," she said. "I understand. Just let Keres explain things to you. Then you can go whenever you like."

I sighed. I'd gotten this far. Surely a five-minute conversation wouldn't hurt. "Ok. Show me the way."

"Thank you," she said, leading me down the steps again.

We carried on in silence. Once we reached the bottom of Khyber Pass, Joanna led me straight over the grass towards the bonfire. I'd expected this to be sand, the beach, but every inch of it was lush green grass, right up to the waters edge.

"Joanna." An older lady with white permed hair approached Joanna with her arms outstretched. They embraced, kissing each other on the cheek. Then the older woman settled her silvery eyes on me. "You must be Caitlyn, our newest addition. Come, dear, let me show you around."