Chapter 10: The Gathering at Moonlight Meadows
The journey to Moonlight Meadows was long and treacherous, made even more difficult by Evanora’s still-unpredictable broomstick. The once-lively streets of Astoria gave way to a dense, misty forest that stretched for miles, illuminated only by the faint glow of magical fireflies hovering in the air. Everett clutched Evanora's waist as they swayed precariously on the broom, his nerves on edge.
“How much farther, Evanora?” Everett asked, trying to keep his voice steady as the broom jerked yet again.
“Not too far, I think,” Evanora replied, squinting at the horizon.
“Moonlight Meadows is just past these trees. It’s where the most powerful witches come to perform rituals under the full moon. If anyone can help us, it’s them.”
Everett held on tighter as the broomstick wobbled dangerously, threatening to send them tumbling into the trees below.
“I really hope you’re right about this. I don’t think we have another broomstick ride left in us after this one.”
Evanora blushed.
“I’m still working on controlling this thing. Just… hold on!”
With one final lurch, the broomstick descended into a vast clearing. Moonlight Meadows stretched out before them, a breathtaking expanse of shimmering grasses that seemed to glow under the silver light of the full moon. At the center of the meadow stood a circle of tall stones, surrounded by witches dressed in flowing robes of various colors. Magical energy crackled in the air, and Everett felt a chill run down his spine.
Evanora landed the broom with a rough thud, causing both of them to stumble off in a heap. Everett groaned as he untangled himself from the broomstick.
“Okay, we’re here,” he said, dusting himself off.
“Now what?”
“We need to get their attention,” Evanora whispered, glancing nervously at the gathering of witches.
“They’re not just going to listen to us if we barge in. We need to show them that we mean business.”
Everett looked at the witches, who were already chanting softly, their hands raised toward the sky. He had no idea how to approach a group of powerful witches, especially when they were in the middle of a ritual.
“Do you think they’ll listen to us?”
Evanora bit her lip, her eyes wide with uncertainty.
“They have to. If we don’t warn them about Monroe, they could be in real danger.”
Taking a deep breath, Evanora squared her shoulders and started walking toward the witches, with Everett following closely behind. As they approached the stone circle, one of the witches, a tall woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, turned to face them. Her gaze was sharp, and Everett could feel the power radiating from her.
“Who dares to interrupt the ritual at Moonlight Meadows?” the silver-haired witch demanded, her voice cold and commanding.
Evanora hesitated, but then stepped forward. “My name is Evanora, and this is Everett. We didn’t mean to interrupt, but we have important news. Astoria is in danger.”
The silver-haired witch raised an eyebrow. “Danger? From whom?”
“Monroe,” Everett said, his voice steady.
“He’s leading a group of tourists, bad ones. They’re kidnapping witches and harvesting their souls for powerful magic. We’ve seen them attack, and we barely escaped ourselves.”
The circle of witches fell silent, their eyes now fixed on Evanora and Everett. The tension in the air was palpable, and for a moment, Everett feared they wouldn’t believe them.
“And why should we believe two strangers with no proof?” another witch, this one younger with fiery red hair, asked, crossing her arms.
“This sounds like a tale to frighten children.”
Evanora’s cheeks flushed.
“We’re not lying. We’ve seen it with our own eyes. Monroe and his henchmen—they’re dangerous. If we don’t stop them, more witches will be taken.”
The silver-haired witch studied them for a moment before speaking again. “And what do you expect us to do about it?”
Before either Evanora or Everett could answer, a sudden gust of wind swept through the meadow, and the grass began to ripple. Dark shadows slithered across the ground, creeping toward the circle of witches. The air grew colder, and the once-soothing hum of magical energy turned ominous.
“What’s happening?” Everett asked, his voice rising with alarm.
“The dark spirits,” one of the witches whispered, her eyes widening in fear.
“They’re back.”
The silver-haired witch’s expression hardened. “The spirits have been haunting Moonlight Meadows for weeks, disrupting our rituals. They are drawn to the fear and chaos in Astoria. If Monroe’s forces are as powerful as you say, it makes sense that the spirits would grow stronger.”
Evanora’s grip on her wand tightened. “Let us help. We can banish them together.”
The fiery-haired witch scoffed. “You? You can barely land a broomstick without falling off. How do you expect to fight off dark spirits?”
Everett stepped forward, his jaw clenched. “Evanora might not be perfect, but she’s brave, and she’s willing to fight. We both are. If we work together, we can stop Monroe and his evil plan. But right now, you need our help to deal with these spirits.”
The silver-haired witch nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing as she considered their words. “Very well. If you can help us banish the spirits, we will listen to what you have to say about Monroe.”
Before anyone could respond, the shadows on the ground began to writhe, growing larger and more menacing. Dark, twisted forms emerged from the grass, their hollow eyes glowing with malevolent light. The witches immediately formed a defensive circle, their wands raised as they began to chant in unison.
Evanora glanced at Everett, her face pale but determined. “We can do this. Just follow my lead.”
Everett nodded, gripping his own wand tightly, though he had no idea what kind of magic would work against dark spirits. He just had to trust Evanora.
As the first spirit lunged toward the circle, Evanora raised her wand and muttered an incantation. A burst of light shot from the tip of her wand, striking the spirit and sending it reeling back with a screech.
“Keep going!” the silver-haired witch shouted, her own wand glowing with power. “Drive them back!”
The witches chanted louder, their combined magic pushing the spirits toward the edges of the meadow. But the spirits were relentless, their dark forms twisting and swirling as they advanced on the group.
Everett raised his wand, mimicking Evanora’s movements. “Let’s hope this works,” he muttered under his breath. He cast a spell, sending a bolt of energy toward one of the spirits. To his surprise, the spirit shrieked and recoiled, its form flickering before it dissolved into the night.
“It’s working!” Everett shouted, his heart pounding with exhilaration.
Evanora smiled, her confidence growing. “See? We’ve got this!”
Together, they continued to cast spells, driving the spirits back with every attack. The witches, impressed by their determination, joined in, their magic combining with Evanora and Everett’s to create a powerful wave of energy that swept across the meadow.
One by one, the dark spirits shrieked and dissolved into nothingness, their forms banished by the combined power of the witches. The air slowly cleared, and the eerie chill that had settled over the meadow lifted.
As the last spirit disappeared, the silver-haired witch lowered her wand, a look of respect in her eyes. “You fought well,” she said, her voice softer now. “Perhaps I misjudged you.”
Evanora, still catching her breath, smiled weakly. “We’re just trying to help. Monroe is a real threat, and if we don’t act soon, more witches will be taken.”
The fiery-haired witch, who had been skeptical before, stepped forward, her expression now serious. “If what you say is true, then we cannot ignore this threat. We’ll need to gather more witches—strong ones, from all over Astoria.”
The silver-haired witch nodded in agreement. “We will join you in your fight. Monroe’s evil cannot be allowed to spread any further.”
Everett smiled, relief flooding through him. They had done it. They had convinced the witches to join their cause.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “We’ll need all the help we can get.”
Evanora, her eyes bright with newfound hope, nodded. “This is just the beginning. Together, we can stop Monroe and protect Astoria.”
As the witches of Moonlight Meadows began to prepare for the coming battle, Everett and Evanora stood side by side, their bond stronger than ever. The journey ahead would be dangerous, but they knew they wouldn’t be facing it alone. They had allies now—powerful allies who believed in their cause.
And with every step they took, they were one step closer to stopping Monroe’s plan once and for all.