Witches by Phil Stern Read Free Book Online Page A

aren’t ready for as of yet.” Katrina folded her arms. “It also means this wizard could be even more dangerous than you imagine, should he unlock the full measure of his powers.”
    So magic was a key not only to the physical universe, but all of time as well? Tiffany had never heard any hint of such an ability from her age-mates. The very awareness of time travel must be reserved exclusively for the Coven Council. As a former Elder herself, of course, Katrina would know all the Coven’s secrets.
    Disturbed, Tiffany turned to her hostess. “Why did you leave the Coven?”
    “Tiffany, you’re still very young, and have yet to learn the full extent of the Coven’s activities,” she softly replied. “My...concerns, shall we say, finally got the better of me. As yours may too, someday.”
    The rogue witch’s words hit home. “I see,” Tiffany breathed, once more looking away.
    “But that discussion is for another time.” Now Katrina placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Yes, I will help you locate this wizard. I will also nurse your companion back to health, and make sure she gets back safely to Haven.”
    “Thank you.”
    “But I am too old for combat,” she continued, stepping away. “My days of gallivanting around the universe, eradicating evil, are long gone.”
    “I understand.”
    “But you underestimate this wizard. He is a being of great power, a warrior, consumed by a nearly uncontrollable rage.” Eschewing her magic, Katrina now dropped the cigarette, viciously grinding it underneath her heel. “If you’re going to beat him, I need to show you how to really fight. I will teach you how to survive in the real world.”
     
    ***
     
    Standing mutely in the stone passageway, eyes squeezed shut, the wizard prepared himself. Clasping the black talisman, he then extended his magical aura into the three dank cells.
    Deprived of their earth stones, the imprisoned witches were powerless as their jailer magically crawled over their dirty, exposed skin. Miserably, they swiped at the air, crying out for him to desist.
    Slowly, almost delicately, he penetrated the mind of the one they called Bethany, clamping down on her visual nerves. Letting her wallow in shrieking, terrifying blindness, he then caused Danielle to imagine the rats once more, eating her alive one limb at a time. Keyla was more stoic, the redhead fighting the pressure on her chest and stomach until her breathing stopped completely, the magician relenting only when she was about to pass out.
    At this, the wizard could stand his own excitement no more. “You whores!” he bellowed, stalking around the corner to view his victims directly, smashing a heavy iron rod into the dungeon grates. “You will show me respect!”
    “Never,” gasped Keyla, struggling to her feet within the cell, hand held to her stomach. “I will never do that.”
    The wizard’s eyes went wide. “She already has!” Causing Bethany’s door to crash open, he dragged the miserable brunette out in front of Keyla’s cell, throwing the still-blind witch down hard on the stone floor. “I’ve had her many times. She begs me for it! As will you.”
    By flickering torchlight, Keyla studied her wretched, crying sister at the madman’s feet. Bethany was only 19 years old, the first of the Coven to be taken by the wizard. Now painfully thin, she was barely recognizable with her bruised face and filthy rags. Shrieking at the top of her lungs, Bethany stared sightlessly about.
    Leaning down, the wizard grasped the prostrate girl by the hair, yanking her head up. “What will you do, my dear, if I give you your sight back?”
    “Anything!” Bethany cried out. “Just make it stop!”
    Delighted, the wizard let his victim’s head drop back down, straightening up to look at Keyla. “You see? I have you! And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
    From the next cell over, Danielle screamed about her illusionary rats.
    “You’re all weak!” Laughing, the