Night World : Witchlight Chapter 18

The ride to Charlotte passed in a blur. All Keller could remember was hanging on go Nissa did some of the wildest driving shed ever experienced. They went offroad for a hefty deal of the way.It was unrivalled minute to midnight when they squealed into a parking lot in front of a long, pocket-sized building. Go in, go in Nissa express, slamming to a stop in front of a set of double doors.Keller and Galen and Winnie and Iliana ran.They burst into a large room that seemed real brightly lit. A sea of chairs with bodies sitting in them swam in front of Kellers eyes. Then she foc utilise on a platform at the front.Come on, she said tersely.There were a number of people sitting at a table on the platform, facing the audience just like any nondescript panel, with glasses of water and microsoundsin front of them. besides Keller recognized some of the people as she got closer, and they were anything moreover ordinary.That little dumpling-shaped woman with the round face was beat Cybe le. Mother of on the whole the Witches, just as Grandma Harman had been Crone. With Grandma Harman dead, she was the witches leader.The tall girl with the lovely features and the cafe au lait skin who sat beside her was Aradia. The blind beginning(a) of the Witches mentioned in the prophecies.And that regal-looking man with the golden hair and beard, sitting by the queenly woman with flashing green eyesThey could only be the leaders of the bond-go House of the shapeshifters.Galens mother and father.There were others, too, important people from Circle Daybreak, but Keller didnt pee-pee time to focus on them. Mother Cybele was on her feet and speaking. She must gain been a little short-sighted, because she didnt appear to see Keller and the others coming up on the side. Her voice was s pocket-size and concerned.Im afraid that since its now past midnight-Keller glanced at her watch. Its just midnight nowMother Cybele looked up, shock, over her glasses. Every head on the panel t urned. And every face in the audience was suddenly fixed on Kellers group.A low murmur like the humming of bees began,but it swelled very quickly to something like a muted roar. People were pointing openly as Keller ran up the locomote to the stage.She glanced back at the others and realized why. They were a pretty sad-looking bunch. Every one of them was dirty and ragged. Winnies strawberry-blond hair was dark red with blood on one side. Galens jumper was in shreds. And she herself was filthy from the tunnel and all the dirt shed encountered in the clearing.Only Diana looked reasonably clean, and that was probably because the glow kept you from focusing too closely.Mother Cybele gave a little cry of joy that breaked quite young, and she dropped the index cards shed been holding. Aradia stood up, her beautiful blank eyes turned toward them, her entire face shining with joy. Galens parents looked extremely startled and relieved. however some guy in a dark suit grabbed Kellers arm as she reached the top of the steps.Who are you supposed to be? he said.Keller move him off and stood with her hair swirling around her. Were the people whore bringing you the Wild Power, she said. She spotted Nissa just coming in the door and beckoned to her. And were also the ones who killed the dragon.The big room vicious so silent that you could have heard a paper clip drop.Well, actually, she killed the dragon, Keller said, pointing to Diana.Aradia said in a hushed voice, The Witch Child. Shes come to us.Iliana walked slowly up onto the stage and stood straight. I didnt kill it alone, she said. Everybody helped, and especially Keller and Galen.Galens fathers golden eyebrows went up, and Galens mother gripped her husbands arm. Keller glanced sideways at Galen and saw that he was blushing.They fought it and fought it until they were both almost dead. But consequently, when I used the blue fire, they got better again.She said it so simply, speaking to Mother Cybele alone, or so it seemed. She didnt look in the least self-conscious, or in the least arrogant.I suppose shes used to having everybody looking at her, Keller plan.Mother Cybele actually clasped her little soft hands together and shut her eyes. When she opened them again, they were shining with tears.But all she said was, Welcome, my child. Grandma Harmans last words were for you. She hoped you would find your power.She did, Keller said. Winnie helped her.I didnt help her do that, Winnie said candidly. What she did back there and what she said. I just tried to subdue out her how to use the orange fire. But when she started talking- She shook her curly head. I dont know where she got all that stuff about Hecate.It just came to me, Iliana said. I dont know. It was as if somebody was aphorism it to me, and I was just repeating it.But who could have said it? Keller thought. Who else but somebody who was there the first time, when the dragons were put to sleep? Who else but Hecate Witch-Queen herse lf?Even though shed been dead thirty thousand years.Its time for everything thats sleeping to wake back up again.Keller realized that she was hearing a noise from the crowd. At first, she thought that they were murmur vowel in disbelief again, or maybe in annoyance at these people who were standing on the stage and chattering.Then it got louder and louder, and she realized it was applause.People were set and cheering and whistling. It was echoing off the ceiling and walls. And just when Keller thought it couldnt possibly get any louder, a new swing would come and prove her wrong.It took a long time for Mother Cybele to get them all quieted down. Then she turned to Keller and said formally, So youve completed your mission?Keller realized that it was a cue. And in the center of the dizzy happiness shed been feeling, something twisted in her heart.She kept it from showing on her face. She kept herself standing erect.Yes, she said to Mother Cybele. Ive brought the Witch Child. She sw allowed hard.And here is the son of the firstborn House of the shapeshifters, Galens father said. He stepped over to Galen and took his hand. His face was stern but glowing with pride.Galens face was pale but set. He looked at Keller-for just one moment. And then he looked straight out at the audience with unseeing eyes.Mother Cybele looked toward Iliana. To take her hand, Keller supposed, and join it with Galens. But Iliana was holding some whispered dialogue with Aradia.When she finally turned around, Iliana said, 1 want Keller to do it. Shes the one responsible for all this.Keller blinked. Her throat was so swollen, it was impossible to swallow again. But she wouldnt have thought it of Iliana. Really, it seemed so pointlessly cruel to make her do it.But maybe she doesnt understand. Thats it, she doesnt realize, Keller thought. She let out a careful, shaky breath and said, Okay.She reached for Dianas hand-And felt a scene in her palm.She looked down, astonished. Iliana had a kn ife in that hand, a perfectly serviceable little knife. She had cut Keller with it, and Keller was bleeding. In fact, Iliana seemed to be bleeding, too.Sorry, Iliana hissed. Ick, I hate blood.Then, grabbing Kellers hand again, she set about the audience and raised it up high.There she said. Now were blood sisters. And shes already been like a sister to me, because she saved my life over and over. And if thats not good enough for an alliance between the witches and the shapeshifters, I dont know what is.The entire audience gaped at her. Mother Cybele blinked rapidly.Are you saying Galens father looked incredulous. Are you saying that you wont get hitched with my son?Im saying that she ought to marry your son- or promise to him, or whatever they want. Shes the one hes in love with. And I dont see why you should make him sorrowful for his whole life just because you want the shapeshifters tied to the witches. Keller and I are tied together, and we evermore will be. And Galen, too. Why cant that be enough?A sound was starting from the crowd again. Kellers heart seemed to soar on it. But she was still staring at Iliana, afraid to believe.But what if the witches dont agree to it? Galens father said feebly.Iliana stamped her can She actually did.Tm the Witch Child. Theyd better listen to me. I didnt go through all of this for nothing.Then the crowd was thundering applause even louder than before, and the wave seemed to sweep Keller right into Galens arms.Sometime later, in the middle of a lot of hugging and kissing, Keller whispered to Iliana, Are you sure?Td better be sure, dont you reckon? Or Galens going to be pretty upset.Iliana-Tm sure, Iliana whispered. She squeezed Keller. I really do care about him. I jibe Im sort of in love with him, too. But I saw. I saw his face in the clearing when he thought you were dead. And I heard the way he said your name. And then I knew, you know? The two of you were meant to be. So Im sure.A leopard? Galens mother said, sh aking out her topaz-colored hair. Why, dear, thats wonderful. Your great-great-grandmother was a leopard.You gave up being a bird for me, Keller whispered in his ear.I think I could learn to like running, he murmured, and took the chance to touch his lips to her cheek.No, maam, Im really sorry I woke you up, Keller said. Yes, maam, I do know how late it is. She heavy to hear the voice on the other end of the phone. She had a finger in her ear to try and block out the noise of the wild celebration around her, but it wasnt doing much good.Because I honestly dont think its funny, Dianas mother said. The baby is just fine hes been in his bed all night. Why would you think he wasnt?Well, maam, its hard to explainAnd now hes awake, and hes going to start crying-well, hes not crying. But now he wants to eat the phone AlexA voice on the other end squealed and said distinctly, Kee-keeYeah, its Kee-kee, Keller said, startled. Um, Im glad youre okay, kid. And, see, I didnt go bye-bye after a ll. So you may think youre pretty smart,but you still have something to learn about precognition, hotshot. Right? Keller added, You know I thought for a minute once that you might be the Wild Power. But I guess youre just a good old-fashioned witch baby.Diana, who was passing by, gave her a very strange look. Keller, are you having a conversation with my baby brother?What scarcely did the dragon say? Mother Cybele asked anxiously. Although she looked like a big dove and her eyes were always kind, there was a firmness about her plump chin up that Keller liked.I asked who woke him up. And he said-Keller reached for the exact words-he said, Someone youll never know. A witch who isnt a witch. We made our own alliance.A witch who isnt a witch, Mother Cybele repeated.Aradias face was sober. I wonder who that could be. And where they are now.Mother Cybele said quietly, Time will tell.The police are already inside, Nissa said, holding the cell phone to her ear as she talked to Keller. I g uess the kids at the party called them when they saw a panther. Theyve found the family Mr. and Ms. Ashton-Hughes and Jaime and Brett. Theyre taking them to the hospital.She snapped the phone shut. Wed better send some witches to the hospital. But as long as theyre alive, they have a pretty good chance, dont you think? After all, weve got a Wild Power with healing fire. Now, cant you relax and try to enjoy yourself?It was two days later. Keller was sitting in a sunny alcove in the safe house where Hiana and Galen and the others had been brought to protect them from the Night human beings. And to give them a chance to recover.It was nice to be still for a while. To sit and read and think. And it was even nicer to be able to do it with Galen around.He came in the door quietly-he always moved cat-quietly now. She smiled at him. He looked so wonderfully dear with his golden hair and fairytale looks and leopard-green eyes.I wrote you a poem, he said, sitting down beside her. Well, no, t hats not true. I kind of stole what your mother wrote and made it into something. I dont know what. But I think maybe its what she really meant to say, after all.Keller blinked at him, then looked down at the piece of paper he gave her.People die so love them every day. Beauty fades so look before its gone. drive in changes but not the love you give. And if you love, youll never be alone.Actually, I was going to say, And you will always be alone so dont rely on others for your happiness, but dont stop loving, either, because then youll end up empty and alone instead of alone and strong and able to give without worrying aboutwhat youre going to get back. But that was kind of long, and it didnt scan, he said.Keller stared down at the paper blindly.Im sorry, he said. If you dont like it-Keller threw her arms around him, and her tears spilled over. Im going to burn the other one, she said.And I love you. Kiss me.He grinned. Yes, Boss.And he did.One from the land of kings long forgotten One from the hearth which still holds the spark One from the Day World where two eyes are watching One from the twilight to be one with the dark..