The High Priestess of Shadows

Chapter 7

"Good morning," Will whispered. Lilly's head shot up and she made a noise of surprise at finding him so close to her that they're noses were nearly touching.

"What do you think you're doing?" she questioned in a slightly higher than normal voice trying to force herself not to blush at the position they were in. Luckily it was too dark for him to see her skin redden as she lost the internal struggle.

"Waking you up, of course," he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and started chuckling at her incredulous expression "Come on, we need to start preparations now or we won't be done in time for the meeting."

He unlocked her and then handed her the servants dress. "Today things will be a little more complicated than last night. You have to pose as my servant and we have to make sure no one figures out that you're not in here."

"That's easy to take care of," Lilly said. She muttered something in a foreign language under her breath and motioned with her hands then suddenly there was another person in the room. Not just another person but a carbon copy of Lilly.

"What is that?" Will asked taking a few steps back and pointing at the Lilly clone.

"A doppelgänger," she said. "It isn't permanent but if anyone comes in they'll see it chained to the wall like I should be."

"Is it safe?"

Lilly laughed at the wariness on his face. "Of course. It doesn't even have a brain. It can't hurt anyone."

"How'd you do that?" he asked approaching slowly not taking his eyes off the doppelgänger for a second.

"Just because I'm a prisoner doesn't mean I'm not magical," she said. "I still have all my power in tact but using it would provoke the Knights."

Will nodded. "I'll keep that in mind," he said. "Now we have to leave. But, what do we do with her?" He nodded towards Lilly's creation. She answered his question by taking its hands and chaining them like hers used to be.

"Now that, that's done we can go to wherever you're taking me." She pulled in the headscarf do that it hid her eyes and hair completely. She glanced back at him. "What are you waiting for? Lead the way."

He walked out with the young High Priestess slightly behind him trying to mimic a servant's mannerism. "They don't have many guards down here but there are plenty upstairs. If a prisoner manages to get out they won't be able to get farther than the stairs before they're caught," he said answering the question she had been about to ask. "We're going to visit the other witches and try to get them to help with the plan."

"If they don't?" she asked.

"We go through with it anyway," he said as they stopped in front of a cell. "This is our first stop."

He inserted his key and pushed open the heavy oak door to admit them into a room similar to the one Lilly had been held in but here she could smell the metallic scent if blood heavy in the air.

There was a thin woman with messy brown hair chained to the wall like a dog. Her hair hid her features but Lilly knew instinctively who it was.

"Ari!" she cried pushing past Will and falling to her knees in front of the other witch. "Are you alright?" She knew how stupid a question that was but asked anyway.

Ari raised her head to look at her. "Who are you?" she croaked.

"Ari, don't you recognize me? I'm Lilly. Your High Priestess, best friend and oath sister. Please recognize me," she begged.

"No. The Lilly I know would never dress as a servant and walk around with a Knight." Lilly looked heartbroken as the other woman recoiled from her touch.

"Ari," she whispered. "Listen to me. There are rebels here who want the Knights gone just like we do. They want us to do a spell to trick them and then they can be destroyed."

"Lilly wouldn't hurt anyone especially not with magic."

"We won't hurt anyone. It would be a protection spell to lure them in and once they attempt to hurt us the spell will activate and get rid of the threat."

Will spoke for the first time since they entered. "It was Sophie's idea. She's part of the rebellion too."

Ari's head shot up. "Sophie's alive?" she asked then narrowed her eyes. "Or did you just say that to trick me?"

"He's telling the truth," Sophie walked in to the cell and pulled off the headscarf so they could see her features clearly. Her blue eyes sparked as she smiled at Ari. "It's been awhile since I last saw you but I knew you'd need proof before you believed them so I came to help."

Ari turned to Lilly, "I believe you now," she said.

"Took you long enough," she replied smiling.

"Who is that?" she asked nodding in Will's direction. "And why's he here?"

"My name is William," he said. "As you probably guessed, I'm a Knight and part of the rebellion. We don't have time to explain everything right now but the plan is basically what Lilly told you. Will you help?"

She hesitated before finally nodding once then glancing at Lilly as if to confirm that she chose correctly. Lilly was smiling and took her hand and laid the other on the collar on her friend's neck. Her eyes closed as she muttered something like when she created the doppelgänger. The lock clicked open and Ari' hand flew to her neck.

"How did you do that?" Will demanded.

"Magic," they all said at the same time like even a two year old would know that. He still looked apprehensive but let it go anyway.

"All of you should get out of here," Ari said. "I'll be fine on my own and you need to find more people to help." She looked resolute and practically shoved them to to the door. "Go. You can come back later and tell me more of the plan."

Once out in the corridor Will led them towards the next door with Lilly close behind him. Sophie paused by Ari's cell door, "Bye," she whispered laying her palm flat in the wood. "We'll get you out. I promise." then she quickly walked away to catch up with the other two.