Worst Curse: A Ghostwalkers Journey, Book II

Chapter 6

     Moving around the square finally brought Austesh into view. He walked blindly around the area, trying to remember where he found Pilo and Demini. A lot of time had passed, and Pilo feared too much time had been wasted. Without explanation, Pilo took both of them by the hand, and commanded his bat to fly off toward the forest. In the air, Pilo informed Austesh of the threat.

     "Hunters have been dispatched to the witch's cabin."

     "What? Are you serious," Austesh asked. "What did you do? I thought we had a deal?"

     "She had already sent people out there, contrary to what I thought she'd do. I was informing her that it wasn't the High Priestess that attacked the gate...The Light Witch isn't who I believed her to be. I'm learning that."

     "Your ignorance doesn't comfort my feelings toward the danger my father is in."

     "I know that. I'm trying to get us there as quickly as possible. I'm going to need your help because I don't know where I'm going."

     "It's kinda hard for me to point the way when I can't see a thing."

     Pilo took a second to think. "How about this...I throw you...You switch planes...Figure out where we are...Return to the spirit realm, and I'll catch you."

     "What," Austesh asked in shock.

     "Quickly switch planes to see where we're at, and return before you hit the ground...I'll catch you...It's going to be the quickest way for us to find our way...You do want to save your father, right?"

     "Okay...Whatever...I'll try it."

     Jerking Austesh from his side, Pilo threw him up into the air. Austesh did his hand gestures in a hurry, and disappeared from the realm. Looking through the bat's eyes, Pilo followed Austesh as he fell through the air. It didn't take long for Austesh to return, and Pilo stopped his fall shortly after he appeared back in the spirit realm.

     "Which way," Pilo asked.

     "I'm not sure," Austesh replied. "I was kind of in shock. I'll have to do it again. I was distracted by the view, and the whole falling toward the ground at a high rate of speed thing."

     "Focus."

     "I will. I'm ready." Going through the motions again, Austesh returned this time with direction. "Off to the left. Keep going that way," he said, pointing his finger out into the whiteness.

     Soaring over the tree tops, the bat brought them quickly to their destination. Close to the ground, the bat rested on a tree branch, and Pilo let go of his grip on Austesh. Swapping planes, Austesh ran to the cabin, and the lovers stood where they landed. Entering the cabin, Austesh proudly revealed his success. "I did it," he shouted.

     Everyone, including his restrained father, turned to look at the bag he held above his head. A hush fell over the cabin. The presence of the potion brought all of the women to their feet. Looking at the bag in Austesh's hand, surprised the women. They were excited to see the achieved results of their long thought out plan.

     "I told you he was the right one," the older woman said.

     "Now let my father go," Austesh commanded.

     "You have fulfilled your obligations," said Yasmina. "We will allow you to switch places." She gave a wave of her hand, and one of the younger witches walked over to release the old man from his chains. "Until we complete our plan, you are to remain here, but he will be allowed to leave," she said to Austesh. "We have no worries of him talking to the authorities, seeing that he'll be on the run himself. Isn't that right, Pops?"