The Witches in Oz (Book 2 in The Witches Series)

Chapter 9 Speak His Name and He Will Come

I fell through the air, plummeting fast, gravity pushing me to an end I could not yet see below me. My arms and legs were splayed wide in an attempt to slow my fall-yet I felt no difference. I broke through several clouds, for several moments the world washed in blurred white.

'Ow!' Ren's voice was a shout from above.

I rolled onto my back to gaze up at the heavens, trying to see if he was there.

'Where are my children!' Aster' shouted second, the sky above brightening from sunlight. 'Mason!'

'Where are you?' I shouted; my voice lost to my own ears from the air rushing by it.

'I want to go home.' Olive's voice appeared more distant as I broke through low hanging cloud, my body rushing toward the earth.

Rae and Bianca began to sob, their voices fading out as bright sunlight became all that I could see.

My body collided with hard, compact ground, an instant blackness taking me away.

I jolted awake, kicking out at Iris as I did so.

"What the hell?" Iris woke clutching her side.

"Sorry." I sat up, looking around still feeling rather panicked upon envisioning my own death.

"Nightmares?" Margot was already awake.

"I hope so." As long as they weren't visions of my future, I was fine with it being just a dream.

Thankfully I wasn't pressed on the topic and we gathered fish and water and continued our journey following the black bricked river.

I braided my hair back as I walked, gauging the landscape spotted with lakes between green hills.

"I have a really bad feeling." Margot spoke out of the blue.

"What kind of feeling? Gas?" The Demon joked.

"I'm serious." She did appear to be, stopping in her tracks to looked around us. "Someone's watching us."

"You might actually be right." I was surprised when the Demon agreed.

"What makes you say that?" I turned to them.

"Because Astaroth is standing right over there." They gestured over my shoulder.

"Well it's nice to see you too-"

"-Ah, I'd prefer if you didn't say my name." The Demon stepped up to shake Astaroth's hand. "You know, can't have anyone exploiting my status."

"Status?" Astaroth laughed with sharp ended teeth, bright against his dark skin. "You're as low ranking as common Witches." Astaroth then took a moment to eye us women. "Margot Moraeu." He held out a hand ringed with scars and Margot tentatively shook it with her own scarred hand. "I can't thank you enough for opening the door for me."

She gave him a strained smile, fear in her eyes.

"And you two must be Bloomwood Witches." He turned to address Iris and I. "My are you two beautiful."

If I had a bucket, I would have thrown up in it. "Are we supposed to be flattered?" It was only on second thought that I realised I should have probably been more abiding to a Great Duke of Hell.

"I suppose not, considering..." He stared at me. "I see now, Miss Moreau used you for the spell and that must explain how my old friend here must have found you. And you came back to life! Congratulations!" He clapped enthusiastically.