Worst Curse: A Ghostwalkers Journey, Book II

Chapter 24

     The tension could be felt by everyone in the yard. As time passed, though no one knew of what the outcome would be, the energy made everyone nervous. Struggling with the unseen, the Light Witch arms shook as she held out her arms into the air in front of her. Pilo took caution as he approached her side.

     "My Grace," said Pilo, "what can we do?"

     She took a glance over her shoulder to see what she was working with before answering him. "All four of you need to form a circle with me, and join hands." Overhearing what she said, Yasmina and Austesh walked over to the Light Witch. "We will join hands. When we've completed the connection, it will be on all of us to hold the balance." Her distraction made her slip some of her control, and she took a minute to get a firm grasp on the chaos. "We were the lock on the gate, and right now it's broken. I'm holding the gate closed, but it's ready to burst. Together, I have hope we can form another lock, but without training, or education, it's going to be a risk...Form a circle, open your mind, and focus on the energy that is about to course through you. I need you to center it within yourself. Do everything within your being to concentrate. Now, join together."

     The group took a hold of each other's hand, and waited for the Light Witch to complete the circle. When she felt she had a moment to break concentration, she quickly took Pilo and Austesh's hand. Immediately everyone's muscle's tensed as a flowing electric shock coursed through their body. Austesh, overwhelmed by the force, wanted to think about the energy itself, but when he broke his concentration, he could feel it begin to flow out of control. With his face squenched, he focused on the energy and thought of nothing else but the core of his being. The more he concentrated the more he felt it center in his chest.

     Yasmina, in her merged state had no problem centering the energy. In some aspects she fed off of the energy she now had control of. With it building in her core, she knew there was no doubt she was the correct chosen one to harness the darkness. She felt confident in her ability to become the new High Priestess. Flexing her muscles, she began to enjoy their connection.

     Pilo could feel the balance fighting with each other within himself. It was a fight he knew all too well. His knees buckled slightly as the energies tore at each other inside him. Shaking it off, he clenched his fists and took control of the energy under his power. Unlike the others, the power seeped throughout his entire body after it was centered. Even though it was expanding, he still had control over it. He allowed it to test its limits, knowing he had control over it.

     The Light Witch welcomed the relief when she made the connection with the others. She could feel how the energy reacted to the others in the circle. Austesh's connection worried her. Yasmina's connection relieved her. Pilo's connection was the only one that scared her. She knew he was a powerful being, but the way he reacted to the balance caught her off guard. He took almost all of the pressure off of her. For once in her position, she didn't have control of the light. Without fulling understanding what he was doing, Pilo had taken the brunt of the force while hijacking Yasmina's strength in the process.  

     While Pilo held most of the balance, the Light Witch took a minute to assess the situation. She could feel the frailty in their bond. She knew it wouldn't be long before the balance found a way to break free. Searching her memory banks, she ran through her teachings in an effort to figure out a way to bring stability. To correctly prepare for the balance, Yasmina and Austesh would need teaching only time could provide. To find the time for teaching, the Light Witch would need a way to quell the balance until she could prepare the new hosts.

     "Pilo," the Light Witch called out.

     "Yes," he answered.

     "I'm going to need you to be the lock. Are you prepared to make that sacrifice?"