Lila was being hurled through the magical vortex, all sense of reason and direction lost to her. Seeing her mother sacrifice herself for her safety had been the last drop that made the cup of her mind overflow. She was angry and the seething rage was a dangerous adviser. It had already destroyed her concentration and was threatening to take the last remaining threads of sanity with it. Desperate to stay on track and avoid an untimely demise by teleporting inside a wall or to the vastness of space, she replayed Sarah’s last telepathic message and followed the flow as close to the proposed destination as possible. The landing was rough and painful.

The young witch’s body slammed into the mountainous soil with a sickening thud, the impact echoing through her bones and reverberating in her ears. She felt the sharp sting of rocks cutting into her skin, and the searing pain shooting up her nerves as she skidded to a stop. Gasping for breath, she lay there for a moment, dazed and disoriented.

Blinking away the haze of confusion, Lila pushed herself up to a sitting position, groaning as she felt the bruises blooming in her arms and back. The air around her was thick with the salty scent of the nearby sea, the sound of crashing waves filling her ears like a soothing lullaby.

As she looked around, Lila realized she was on the edge of a cliff overlooking the vast expanse of the ocean. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the water that stretched out to the horizon. Seagulls wheeled overhead, their cries blending with the gentle rustle of the wind. Residual traces of the teleportation spell fizzled in the air, leaving a faint tingle on her skin. Shaking off the remnants of her disorientation, she forced herself to stand, wincing at the throbbing ache in her limbs.

“Where am I?” she thought, a splintering headache muffling her inner voice. “Am I even in the right place?”

The answer was yes and no. Her mother had told her the rendezvous point was in Scotland but her troubled mind had put her off-course at least five hundred miles. She tried sending a message to Fiadh but she was too exhausted to get even the simplest of spells going. The urgency of her mission flooded back to her yet there was something else she needed to look into. She wasn’t out of danger, not by a long shot.

Despite the throbbing pain, she had to keep moving. Finding shelter before nightfall was a priority. If not a city or a small town nearby, then a grotto or a cave carved in the mountainside, a place where she could start a fire and ten to her wounds once the magic levels normalized once more. The last rays of sunlight painted the clouds in hues of pink and orange. She didn’t have much time before the rugged area became dark, making traversal even harder.

She scanned the area for any signs of life or civilization and, in the distance, she spotted a thin wisp of smoke rising into the sky, indicating a potential settlement nearby. Ignoring the protests of her battered body, Lila set off towards the source of the smoke.

There was a trail leading away from the cliff edge that descended into a green plateau. She limped towards the path, each step sending jolts of agony through her body.

As she kept descending, the landscape transformed around Lila. The sound of the crashing waves faded, replaced by the gentle bleating of sheep grazing on the lush green meadows that rolled out before her. The salty tang of the sea air was now but a faint impression buried underneath the earthy scent of wool and grass.

A small house lay ahead and she realized she had stumbled upon a sheep farm. Its whitewashed walls stood out against the vibrant greenery. Both the entrance and the roof were adorned with colorful flowers in full bloom, which made the quaint abode look like a gateway into an unknown supernatural realm. She quickened her pace as she approached the farmhouse, the sunlight now almost completely gone. Long shadows stretched across the fields like ominous fingers trying to grab her. Lila made it to the front door and fell down, the pain now almost unbearable. She leaned against the door’s threshold and closed her eyes before passing out.

* * *

Lila woke up some time later to the sound of a man and a woman talking to one another in a heavy Scottish accent. They looked worried, their voices hushed as though they didn’t want to invite any misfortune into their house. opening her eyes, Lila found herself lying on a soft bed with a thick feather quilt pulled up to her chin. The room was cozy and lit by a crackling fire in the hearth.

The man, burly and weathered with age, turned towards her with concern etched on his face. “Is she dead?” he asked in a gruff voice, his brow furrowed.

The woman, whose warm eyes were filled with compassion, shook her head. “No, can’t you see her breathing? Look, she’s coming to her senses now.”

Lila squirmed as she pulled herself up. The pain was still there but some of her strength had already returned to her. It was dark outside. The couple hurried to help her, propping her up with pillows and blankets to make her more comfortable. Lila managed a weak smile of gratitude, still experiencing the effects of her harrowing journey coursing through her body.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

The man grunted in response, his expression softening, “Ye gave us quite a fright, lass. What in the world happened to ye?”

“How long was I out?”

“About an hour,” the woman replied. “We’ve looked around but couldn’t find a vehicle anywhere. Where did you come, dear? You didn’t fall from the sky, did you?”

“Something like that…” Lila responded with a faint smile. “I’ll be okay soon but thank you for looking out for me. You’re most kind.”

“You have some nasty cuts and bruises over there,” the woman continued. “It’s too late to drive to town, but we’ll patch you up the best we can until morning and then we’ll have a doctor check you out.”

“Thank you but that won’t be necessary. I’m a fast healer and I’ve been through worse. I just need an hour or two and then I’ll be on my way.”

“And go where?” the man frowned. “No. Ye’re not going anywhere on your own until we make sure you’re okay. Now, why don’t ye tell us the truth so we can help you out?”

“The truth… Now that was a nasty pickle,” she thought. What was she going to say? Hi, you’re harboring a witch who was just involved in a magical battle against an evil maniac hellbent on taking over the world through the use of blood magic. It sounded ridiculous but it was also dangerous. Getting more innocent involved in her predicament was the last thing on her mind. She needed to heal and get out of here.

“I’m tired,” she said out loud. “Can we talk about this later, please?”

“Hmm… sure,” the man grumbled away.

“Get some rest, dear,” said the woman with a kind smile. “I’ll be back in no time with a nice, warm broth.”

“Okay, thank you.”

The old couple left her alone, their footsteps fading away as they exited the room, leaving Lila alone with her thoughts. She glanced around the cozy room, taking in the details - the flickering shadows cast by the fire dancing on the rough-hewn wooden walls, the warmth seeping into her bones from the crackling hearth, and the faint scent of herbs and wildflowers lingering in the air.

With a deep breath, Lila attempted to cast a healing spell on herself. Her hands trembled as she whispered incantations under her breath, trying to focus her magic on her wounds. But something felt off, as if a barrier stood between her and the well of power she drew upon. Frustration gnawed at her, and beads of sweat formed on her brow as she struggled to channel her magic.

After several failed attempts, she was about ready to slump back against the pillows with a sigh of defeat. It was then that a blue spark spiraled up her fingers and opened her mind to what needed to be done. The flow of magic returned to her with renewed intensity as she thought of Penelope, her mother, and everyone else Tabitha would hurt if she got her way.

More determined than ever, Lila channeled her energy into an all-encompassing incantation. The room seemed to hold its breath as a soft glow enveloped her, emanating from her fingertips and spreading like tendrils of light over her battered body. The cuts and bruises began to mend themselves before her very eyes, the skin knitting together as if time were playing in reverse. She could almost hear the whispered hum of healing energy as it worked its way through her, banishing pain and weariness with each passing moment.

With a last flourish of her hands, Lila completed the spell, and the last memories of discomfort disappeared. Her skin was unblemished as if she had never been injured at all. 

As she admired her newfound vitality, the door creaked open and there was a gasp behind her. Turning around, Lila met the astonished gaze of the lady of the house who stood frozen in place with a bowl of steaming soup in her hands. She had witnessed everything, and that was a problem.

“Mother of God!” the woman exclaimed, her religious upbringing making her wonder if she was in the presence of something divine or hellish. “What are you? Callum! CALLUM, get over here!”

“What’s wrong, Moira?” the man came running, holding a fire poker in his right hand.

Moira’s voice trembled as she gestured towards Lila. “She healed herself, Callum. I saw it with my own eyes. There was this bright light and then they were gone. I… I’ve never seen anything like this.

Callum’s eyes widened in alarm as he looked at Lila and saw her standing unscathed by the bed. He tightened his grip on the fire poker, his mind racing with thoughts of sorcery and dark magic. “How is this possible?” he muttered. “Explain yourself, lass!”

Lila held up her hands in a placating gesture, her voice soothing yet tinged with urgency. “Please, let me explain. I didn’t meant to startle you. It’s just… I have abilities. I’m different from you but I’m not a threat, I promise.”

Moira laid down the bowl of soup and crossed herself, muttering prayers under her breath as she took a step back, her eyes darting between Lila and Callum.

“What do you mean, different? Have you come from the heavens or the fiery pits of Hell?” she asked.

“Neither,” Lila replied. “I’m no angel or demon. I’m just someone who’s been through a lot and made a mistake coming down here. I apologize. I’m leaving now and you can forget you ever saw me, okay?”

“ye’re not going anywhere until ye gives us an explanation,” Callum branded the metallic object at her. “Ye scared my wife and she doesn’t get scared for nothing. What the hell is going on?”

“Please put that down before your hurt yourself,” Lila pleaded.

“Don’t tell me what to do in my house, lass!” he swung the fire poker again describing a half-rotation that almost hit Lila in her chest. With no more time to waste, she flicked two fingers and yanked the object from his callous hands without even touching it. It floated above their heads for a second before floating down and landing atop the bed.

“Ye’re a witch,” he declared, terror in his voice. “We let a witch in our home!” 

Lila sighed, the tension in the room palpable as she considered her next words. The old couple’s eyes were filled with fear and mistrust.

“Yes, I am,” she replied. “But not a bad one. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I wish you hadn’t seen this but you did. Please don’t panic and it will all be over soon.”

“What are you going to do to us?” Moira cowered in her husband’s arms.

“I’d rather not do anything at all but you’re already too stressed out. For your own good, I think it’s best you forgot you saw me today.”

“Ye’re not taking away our memories, vile creature!” Callum spat in her face. 

“I’m sorry, but I must…” Lila replied. “I’m being chased and those coming after me aren’t to be trifled with. They’ll destroy you if they find out you helped me. Thank you for your kindness but now it’s my turn to be kind.”

With a heavy soul, Lila conjured another incantation, a simple memory filter to block the last two hours of their lives. Callum and Moira stood with their mouths agape as the room shimmered. A golden hue enveloped the elderly couple and then dissipated like morning mist.

Confusion clouded the man’s eyes as his hand reached out to where Lila stood and finding nothing but empty air. Moira blinked, trying to grasp at fading recollections slipping through her fingers like sand. The veil of forgetfulness conquered all and they were alone in the house, wondering why there was soup on the floor and the guest bedroom appeared to have been used. The distant cry of a lone bird broke the silence, heralding the end of an encounter that never was.

Already at a safe distance from the sheep farm, Lila cursed herself for not being as careful as she should have been but at least they were safe now. The confusion would soon subside, becoming nothing more than a fleeting dream. Without looking back, she returned her thoughts to the mission at hand and contacted Fiadh through a psychic link.

“Fiadh? Can you hear me?”

“Oh, my God! Lila? You’re alive! We thought… Are you okay?”

“I am now but my mother… she didn’t make it. They have her. They have my mother!”

“We feared the worst when you two didn’t join us, but you’re still here… that’s good. That’s very good! There’s still hope!”

“Didn’t you hear me, Fiadh? That bitch captured my mother and she’s going to…” Lila growled.

“Yes, she’ll turn her into a pawn too but you need to believe it won’t be as easy as she thinks. Sarah’s expertise with the occult and the sign of evil means she’ll resist the curse for as long as she can. She bought us time, Lila. Time to regroup and take the fight to Tabitha with you on our side.”

“Now we’re talking. Where do we meet? Are the coordinates still valid?”

“No. We just dropped by to get some supplies and we’re heading somewhere else now. With Sarah’s capture, we must assume this location will be compromised soon. Even if she doesn’t want to, she’ll end up telling them everything and we can’t take that risk.”

“Okay, so where to then?”

Fiadh whispered the secret location to her mind and the young witch was shocked.

“Are you sure about that?” she asked.

“Positive. To quote one of my favorite movies, ‘The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm.’ She’s not going to see this coming and we need her as blind as possible. Are you with us?”

“All the way. Just tell me what you want me to do.”

The real battle had begun.

((to be continued))