“My dear?” asked Vickiri “What are you doing out here with a bucket?”

  “Sister insisted that I fetch a fresh one from the spring.”

  “Did she not have fresh water before have her other attendants not seen to her wants and care as I’ve described?” Said their host, sounding a little agitated.

  “No, of course not.” She told him. “Her water is drawn from the spring thrice daily as we’ve always done.”

  “That seems unusual.” Vickiri said as he scratched his chin with his thumb.

  “More unusual than that?” asked Robert pointing to the sky. Everyone looked up to see that ominous dark clouds had begun to gather overhead in an accelerated manner. “Those weren’t there a moment ago.”

  “No, they weren’t,” said Ignatius.

  Inside the lightning witches hut, Siouxsie pushed the blanket blocking the threshold aside and entered the bedroom. Dozens of candles had already been lit and placed on shelves at the edges of the room. There was more than enough light that she could easily see and every surface was bathed in a golden glow. The Lightning Witch was now sitting up in her bed with her back against the far wall and her hands in her lap.

  “Hello?” she asked to announce her presence.

  “Come in, dear.” said the elderly voice. “Come. I haven’t much time.”

  “Why?” asked Siouxsie. “What’s happened?”

  “Nothing that wasn’t expected.” She leaned forward and patted a place on the bed next to her. Come here.” Siouxsie rounded the bed and took the spot. The Lightning Witch took her hand in hers and looked upon her face in the strangest way. As before, the corners of the lips turned up in a smile. I’m oh so glad you’ve finally shown up. I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever come or whether or whether it was all in my head that you’d arrive at all.”

  “I don’t understand.” Said Siouxsie. “You say you were waiting for me?”

  “I knew I was waiting for someone. I’m delighted beyond words that it’s you.”

  “You speak in riddles like a cyclops I once met.”

  “The gentle cyclops who lives in the shadow of a volcano?” asked the woman.

  “Yes! Yes! How do you know of him?”

  “Yes. He was a kind soul. Cyclops can live a very long time, you know. Some even live as long as a millennium.” The Lightning Witch noticed Siouxsie had curiously cocked her head to the side as she spoke. “Is something wrong?” the woman asked.

  “Nothing is wrong.” Siouxsie smiled. “Your voice seems comforting to me. I lost my mother several years ago, but your voice reminds me of her. All I have are faint memories, but the longer time goes on the more I forget. I’m afraid that one day I’ll forget the sound of her voice altogether.”

  “Don’t be afraid to let go of things.” Said the woman, placing her hand on hers. “All things and people are meant to pass in their own time, but it doesn’t mean we love them any less. It hurts to let go, but the love you hold for them can make it hurt a little less and keep them close when you need to feel better.”

  “It hurts to let go.” Siouxsie said with a downcast look.

  “Yes, it does, and it always will.” The woman said, stoking the back of her hand. “But it’ll hurt longer, and you won’t feel any better until you accept it a move on. It’s important to keep the good memories close at hand. It helps when times get hard.”

  “I feel like I’ve been through so much already.” Siouxsie said, looking back up at her. “I’d tell you what I’ve been through to be here, but I don’t think you’d understand.”

  “I’m sure I have some idea. The problems of the world have always been the same, but they wear different faces when they come to visit each of us. Cruelty, lies and greed have always been a persistent trio. It’s always best to avoid those who would speak or act for them.”

  “My friends are lost in the wild and I don’t know where they are. I worry for them.”

  “Do you believe they’re looking for you?” the woman asked.

  “Of course, I do!” said Siouxsie. “I know they’re out there, somewhere…”

  “Then I wouldn’t worry so much if I were you. I’m sure you’ll be reunited in time.”

  “Thank you, lightning- I mean, Sister.” That makes me feel better. “Would it be too much to ask you a question?”

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  “Not at all.”

  “Where do you come from?” she asked. “Are there others like you where you come from?”

  “My dear, there are no others like us. Not yet, anyway. And I come from the same lands as you. I’ve only traveled the same lands as you and everyone else. You and I are the same flesh and bone and dirt and snow and leaves and rocks as everything else. We’re all the same blowing wind, rain, and lightning as it was before we were here.”

  “And what happens when we’re gone?”

  “Then it all begins again and again and again until time exhausts itself and lays down to sleep.”

  “That seems like a very long time.”

  “It is. I’ve seen so many seasons come and go that they seemed to have passed me by like the flashes of a lightning bolt or the sun’s rays slipping in and out of the canopy of woodland trees. No one less precious than the last, but they can slip past you like warm summer winds if you don’t take the time to enjoy them. Seasons change, the faces of people will change, even the horizons around you will change right before your very eyes. Old friends will wave goodbye and new friends will wave hello in the same breath.”

  “You speak of such things like you know them all so well.”

  “They are things for all people to know. One day you’ll understand what I mean. Look at you, Siouxsie.” She raised a hand to feel the girl’s cheek. “You’re still so young. You still have so much ahead of you, so much to learn and explore.” The hand drifted up and found the streak of silver in her hair that began above her forehead. “Your powers are growing. You found the book.”

  “You know about the book.” Siouxsie said. “Did you leave it for us to find?”

  “No, my dear. But I know what it foretells.”

  “What does it foretell?” She asked anxiously. “What does it mean Is there an answer that can help us stop Prince Damron’s evil uncle?”

  “It means…that it’s time to give you your gift.”

  “Sister, please. If you know something, a secret perhaps, I would gladly trade any gift you might have if it stops all this madness and fighting.”

  “Those things are to be settled in their own time. For now, there is something that I must give to you. It’s for you and you alone as no one else can wield such a secret.”

  “Then I would gladly accept it.”

  “Very well.” smiled the lightning witch. “Take my hands and repeat after me.” Siouxsie did as she was told and the lightning witch tilted her head back, closing her eyes. “Furious Cumulus.”

  “Won’t that cause me to call lightning?” asked Siouxsie. “It could destroy your home.”

  “You are not casting.” The woman said. “The time is at hand. There are three spells that must be named. Say them loudly! Furious cumulus!”

  “Furious cumulus!” Shouted Siouxsie. The cabin began to vibrate, all the trinkets and artifacts lining the walls next to the candles rattled and danced as magic began to take hold.

  “Thunder asunder!” called the lightning witch.

  “Thunder asunder!” Siouxsie answered. The shaking grew more and more violent. Candles toppled and extinguished, brooms and walking sticks threw themselves flat the bed itself danced and pitched like a bucking horse but Siouxsie held onto her hands as tight as she could. Louder and louder it all became!

  “DON’T be afraid, siouxsie hex!” The Lightning Witch shouted over the bedlam. “Your true journey begins now! farewell!” Siouxsie became more frightened than she ever had before but for the life of her dared not let go as the old woman revealed the final phrase.

  Outside the hut, a fierce storm took over all of Spellvale. Whipping winds threatened to blow Aman, Vickiri, Ignatius and Robert from their feet. Down the hill in the settlement, witches hurried and scattered in all directions to flee for cover. High above their heads the black clouds churned and twisted like no time Ignatius had ever witnessed before. Surely someone within the hut was casting but the speed and intensity in which the sky appeared to be turning itself inside out struck such a feeling of overwhelming dread within him that he could stand. The wind picked up to such a violent speed that Robert’s eyes scanned the horizons in every direction to watch for tornados. Thunderclaps filled the heavens.