A Witch's Touch Read online

  Marina rose up and pulled back on the bowstring. An arrow, blazing with magical energy appeared. She released the arrow just as the ogre rose to his feet. The arrow pierced his chest, disappearing completely inside him. Not waiting for his body to fall, she released a second arrow toward the other guard and a third, fourth, and fifth one into the Hellhound standing next to the first guard.

  The bodies glowed for a moment as the powerful magic embedded in the arrows discharged. The fiery burst of energy created cracks of jagged red lines along their skin before their bodies turned to ash. All evidence of their presence was gone as the late afternoon breeze caught the dissolving flakes and carried them away.

  Marina held her ground as the remaining Hellhounds swiveled around, watching the floating ash. She released her arrows as quickly as she could pull back on the bowstring. Fear gripped her. It took another three arrows to kill the second Hellhound before she could turn her attention to the third one. By then, it had narrowed in on her position.

  Adrenaline poured through her when she saw it leap up onto the rocks below her. She shot an arrow into the beast’s right shoulder, then turned and quickly scrambled over the large boulders to lead it away from her brother and sister’s hiding place.

  Jumping down, Marina bent her knees as she landed on the uneven rock below her and quickly slid down, falling the last six feet to the ground. Her feet dug into the ground, and she fell forward into a roll before coming back up on her feet.

  She glanced over her shoulder when she heard the Hellhound’s vicious snarl, watching as it twisted around in an attempt to follow her. Its right front leg had dissolved below the shoulder where she had shot it. It rolled off the boulder, hitting the ground with a hard thump.

  A renewed wave of adrenaline flooded her as she took off through the woods and down the path. The uneven ground divided, one section leading back to her village, the other to the turbulent seas that surrounded the Isle of Magic. Unwilling to endanger the villagers any more than she already had, Marina turned toward the darker path.

  Her heart pounded as she jumped over a fallen log. She turned as she landed, stumbling backwards, and fired another enchanted arrow. The Hellhound swerved, crashing into a huge tree as it avoided the blazing shaft. Marina turned on her heel as it lost its balance again. Even with three legs, the beast could run faster than she could once they were on open ground. She must make it to the beach where she could get a clear shot. A low branch in front of her lifted just enough to keep her from crawling to get under it. The beast was mere seconds behind her. She could heard the sound of wood splintering, and the tree’s moan as the Hellhound snapped the branch as if it were a twig.

  “Please, let my aim be true Mr. Bow,” she whispered as she ran.

  Shielding her face with her arm, she pushed through the last veil of tangled vines covering the entrance to the rocky beach. Running across the sand and rock, she made it almost twenty yards when the loose rocks under her feet shifted, throwing her off balance when she tried to look behind her.

  A sharp cry escaped her when her ankle twisted on the loose rocks, and she fell hard. Her gaze flew to where her bow landed several feet from where she lay sprawled on the uneven ground. She pushed up onto her elbow, biting her lip when pain radiated from her ankle. The Hellhound’s loud snarl as it burst through the opening onto the beach sent a shaft of fear through her, and she twisted until she was facing it.

  She watched as it slowly scanned the beach and locked onto her location. Raising her hand, she whispered a spell, calling for her bow to come to her. Her eyes widened, and she flinched when the beast released a loud roar as it tensed for an attack. She frantically searched for her bow when she did not feel it in her hand.

  Dread filled her when she realized the spell she had woven had opened a portal behind her. In her haste, she had uttered the wrong words. This mistake would be the death of her. She cried in denial when the beast leaped toward her. Falling backwards, she watched as if in slow motion as the Hellhound’s body left the ground.

  Turning her head away, she tensed in preparation for the impact. She didn’t see the Hellhound as it jerked and tumbled to the side, but she heard several loud explosions fill the air. Slowly opening her eyes, she stared in shock at the dead creature.

  Her breath hiccuped as she lay twisted to the side. Mere inches from where she lay, the Hellhound’s blank eyes stared at her. She jerked and shrieked when a cold, moist thing pressed against the heated skin of her neck. Turning her head, she was rewarded with a warm tongue across her cheek.

  “Charlie, heel!” a deep voice commanded from behind her. “Damn it, dog. Will you come here?”

  Marina turned, her eyes wide with disbelief as the face of a strange man suddenly came into view. His hands were raised as he cautiously stepped toward her. At first, she thought he was staring at her, but she quickly realized his eyes were on the Hellhound lying next to her.

  She squeaked when the golden-haired beast suddenly blocked her vision. It whined and laid down next to her, resting its head on her chest. “Oh! I… good... beast,” she stammered when it raised its head and suddenly licked her chin.

  Marina nervously turned her attention back to the man. He looked down at her before his eyes flickered to the Hellhound again. He turned in a slow circle, studying the long beach with a confused frown on his face. He was silent for several long seconds as if he were processing what just happened. Marina didn’t care; his confusion gave her a chance to catch her breath and study the man who saved her life.

  She ran her gaze over his rugged face. His eyes were a clear blue, just like the sky on a cloudless day, and were framed by black lashes. His face was lean and tanned. He was wearing a black sweater that covered the firm column of his throat. The dark-brown leather jacket was open in front, and his strong hands were wrapped around a dark metal weapon of some type. She swallowed as she moved her gaze down to his flat stomach and lean hips encased in dark-blue material.

  “What in the hell was that thing?” he demanded before he frowned at the golden-haired beast licking her hand. “Charlie, get over here.”

  Marina’s lips twitched in unexpected amusement when the creature named Charlie lifted his head and wagged his tail but didn’t move from her side. Gingerly sitting up, Marina raised a hand to push back the strands of her dark mahogany hair. It had come loose from the braid during her run. She grimaced when a long, wet tongue brushed her chin, but she didn’t push the beast away from her. Instead, her fingers instinctively threaded through the long hair.

  “It is a Hellhound. One of the Sea Witch’s creations,” Marina responded, motioning toward the Hellhound.

  “Listen, are you okay? I saw you fall, then that thing jumped and…,” he asked in a deep voice, his gaze moving from her face to the Hellhound and back again.

  “Yes. Thank you for saving my life,” Marina replied, stroking the golden-haired beast. “Where did you come from, and what magic did you use to kill it? The other ones took three of my arrows with one of my most powerful spells to do such a task.”

  “I…. Arrows? Spells?” the man paused and shook his head in confusion. “Where in the hell am I?”

  Marina tilted her head to the side as she gazed up at him with a sudden feeling of dread. Something told her that the spell she cast did more than open a portal, it allowed something or, in this case, someone through who did not belong in her world. She had never opened a portal before—in fact, the only people she knew who might be powerful enough to open one were the Queen and King.

  She didn’t understand how she could have opened a cross-dimensional portal. She quickly dismissed that idea. While there was no denying that a spell more powerful than any she had ever created before had occurred, it didn’t mean that this man came from another world. He was probably from one of the other kingdoms.

  Whatever was the cause, Marina was thankful for his help. There was no denying that he had saved her life. A brief thought flashed through her mind that perhaps this
man was the one her mother told them about. Marina looked up at the man again and dismissed that idea as well. She could not see any magic surrounding him. Even the weapon in his hand did not show a magical aura.

  Bowing her head, she focused on the pain in her ankle. Her right ankle throbbed. It wasn’t broken, but it was definitely very badly sprained. She leaned forward, spreading her hands above her ankle. Softly uttering a simple spell, she felt warmth begin to spread through the damaged tissue. Her healing magic was not as strong as that of her mother and sister, but it would have to do if she wanted to return to where she had left her brother and sister before darkness fell.

  She would have to be careful. Her ankle would still be weak and tender. She couldn’t afford to twist it again or run into any more of Magna’s guards. She sighed in relief as the pain began to fade.

  “You are on the Isle of Magic,” Marina stated, testing her ankle before she slowly pushed Charlie back so she could rise to her feet. “Which Isle are you from?”

  Marina knew immediately from the blank expression on the man’s face that something was very wrong. Her gaze ran over him once more before moving to the beast staring up at her with warm, brown eyes. The sense of uncertainty returned with a vengeance. She looked back at the man and bit her lip.

  “You are not from any of the Isles, are you?” she asked in a soft, hesitant voice as she studied the mix of emotions running across his face.

  The man shook his head in a slow, measured movement. He returned her intent stare before looking around at the beach. His eyes paused on the Hellhound. She saw him swallow and lower the weapon in his hands. He carefully slipped it back into a black holster at his waist before he snapped his fingers. Charlie immediately went to his side and whined. She felt his gaze run over her again and knew he hadn’t missed a thing when he looked back into her dark purple eyes.

  “I think you need to start talking—now,” he stated in a hard voice. “I want to know where in the hell I am, who you are, and what the hell that thing is.”

  Marina sighed and glanced at the darkening sky. With a muttered curse, she knew she didn’t have much time or much of a choice; he would have to go with her. Turning, she walked over to her bow and picked it up.

  “I’m sorry, Marina,” the bow said.

  “It isn’t your fault, Mr. Bow. I should have held on to you better,” she replied. “Let’s take care of the Hellhound while we still can.”

  Turning, she pulled back on the bowstring. The string glowed with her magic, and she shot three arrows into the dead creature. In silence, she watched as the Hellhound glowed before turning to ash. Only when she was satisfied there was no evidence of the creature or her presence did she turn back to the pale-faced man watching her.

  “My name is Marina Fae,” she said. “I am the daughter of Ariness and Cornelia from the Village of Raines. We need to leave. It will be dark soon, and we are not safe here.”

  She turned on her heel and started walking back toward the forest. She glanced over her shoulder and paused when she saw that the man was still standing in the same place. She gripped the bow in her left hand and impatiently pushed her hair back when a long strand blew across her face.

  “What the fuck are you?” the man asked in a hoarse voice.

  “I am a witch, of course,” Marina replied with a raised eyebrow. “Haven’t you ever met one before?”

  Chapter Five

  Mike stared at the woman in shock before he slowly shook his head. “No, not a real one anyway,” he tersely replied.

  She tilted her head and frowned at him. “What other kind of witch is there?” she asked.

  “Marina, that’s what you said your name is, right? Would you please tell me what in the hell is going on?” Mike demanded.

  “I will, but not here,” she replied, taking a step toward him. “It is dangerous to be out in the open like this. One of the Sea Witch’s creatures might still be around.” She looked up at the sky again before looking back at him. “It will also be dark soon. We need to find a safe place for the night before the sun sets.”

  “The sun sets? It was morning just a few minutes ago back… where I’m from,” Mike replied, waving his hand behind him.

  He looked back down the empty beach again. He was trying to ignore the fact that the ocean was now almost the same color as the woman’s eyes. It should have been blue, green, or almost black but not purple. Whoever heard of a purple ocean?!

  He swung his head back toward her when he felt the touch of her hand on his arm. Marina gazed up at him with an intense look. Her face was tight with determination.

  “What is your name?” she asked.

  “What? Oh, yeah, sorry. My name is Mike Hallbrook,” Mike replied. “Are your eyes really that color?”

  A startled chuckle escaped her. She blinked and nodded her head. Mike caught the amused smile on her lips before it faded. She stared up at him with wide, serious eyes.

  “Mike Hallbrook, I promise to tell you everything I know once we are safe. Please, trust me for now,” she said in a quiet voice.

  Mike hesitated. He couldn’t help but look back at the spot where that thing had been just minutes earlier. It had been unlike anything he’d ever seen before. He gave a brief nod.

  “I’ll follow you for now, but I expect you to explain everything the second we stop wherever you think is a safe place,” he bit out.

  “Agreed,” she said.

  Mike watched her walk away. His gaze ran over her slender, almost boyish figure. Not boyish—waif-like, he thought as he began to follow her across the rocky beach to the tree line.

  “Traitor,” Mike muttered under his breath when Charlie trotted ahead of him to walk beside the woman.

  Mike glanced around, noting and storing details even as his mind replayed what happened. A quick look over his shoulder back the way they had come showed massive cliffs rising out of the water, almost twice the height of those back home. Their sheer size reminded him of the cliffs he had seen at Big Bend National Park along the Rio Grande in Texas. He paused at the entrance to the forest and stared up at the sky. The distinctive shape of two moons could be seen, one closer to the planet than the other, but definitely two moons.

  “Mike, come. It will be dark in less than an hour,” Marina called in a quiet voice.

  “I’m coming,” he said, turning back around and pushing the loose vines out of his way. “I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m coming.”

  * * *

  The scene from the beach earlier played like a broken record in Mike’s head as he followed Marina and Charlie. Each step seemed to increase the number of questions he had and emphasize the strangeness of the situation.

  He gritted his teeth in frustration. More than once, Marina stopped and held up her hand. He could tell she was listening to the sounds around them before she started forward again.

  Farther down the trail, they came to a spot where a limb the size of his thigh lay twisted and broken. Marina ran her hand over the broken area. Mike knew his mouth had dropped open when the ravaged pieces twisted and formed a knot.

  “What did you do?” he asked, curious.

  Marina shrugged and continued moving down the path. “My strongest gift of magic is with the trees and plants. Mr. Tree helped slow down the Hellhound as best he could. In doing so, he was damaged. Such damage, if not taken care of, can open a tree to predators that feed on the open wounds. Most of the time, nature must take its course, and the tree will survive and heal. Damage done by Magna’s evil will fester, and the trees will die unless they are healed. I do what I can to protect them,” Marina stated. “There is a tree not far from here where we can find shelter for the night. Darkness comes quickly, and we must hurry.”

  Mike silently nodded in acknowledgment. Following her in silence, he couldn’t help but notice that she moved with grace. He blinked several times wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him because she stepped so lightly it almost looked as if she were floating above the gr
ound.

  Her hair was a dark mahogany while her eyes were a dark purple. Something told him both were natural, especially after her reaction earlier when he asked about her eyes.

  She was dressed in a long black sweater that stopped mid-thigh. She wore black leggings and black boots that reached her knees. He swallowed and watched Charlie duck under a log. It was obvious the pup had taken a liking to the woman.

  ‘Marina’ he silently corrected himself. Daughter of Ariness and Cornelia from the Village of Raines. Don’t forget she’s a witch, of course, dumbass!

  He was still trying to get it through his head that she had shot magic arrows into a creature straight out of a horror film. The arrows had glowed before disappearing inside the beast. Then the whole thing had turned to ash. He wasn’t even going to think about the fact that the bow could talk or the way she made the tree do that weird knot thing.

  Hell, I’m still trying to wrap my head around that nightmare on the beach, he thought in exasperation.

  Marina paused on the trail. He could see her indecision. Charlie whined and nudged her hand.

  “What is it?” Mike asked.

  She bit her lip. She gazed farther down the trail before turning to look at him. The flicker of uncertainty told him that there was something else going on.

  “I left my brother and sister in the rocks not far from here. I told Geoff I would be back once I drew the Hellhounds away,” she admitted.

  “So, what is the problem? We go get them and get to this safe spot before dark,” he replied.

  She smiled and an expression of relief flickered through her unusual eyes. She nodded and continued down the path. Several minutes later they emerged out of the forest to an area covered in large boulders. Mike noticed that Marina carefully searched the area before she stepped out into the open.