2 Chapter Two: Which Witch?

My heart rate sky rockets. "What do you mean she's missing?!"

Around here, if a witch in training goes missing it usually means they've been captured by the Finger-less Coven, a rogue group of witches that have been haunting the forest for centuries. They steal young witches to turn into their own kind. Either they have my older sister Ellie or she has become a wild bear's dinner. For her sake, I pray it's the latter.

The colour drains from Aunt Bodhi's face as she curls her knobby fingers into tight fists. I swallow, hard, before speaking.

"Bodhi, it's my sister. We can't just let them take her."

My aunt squares her shoulders and looks me dead in the eye. "We can't risk going into the forest Jacklyn. I'm sorry. We will hold the funeral ceremony tomorrow evening."

She exhales and leaves the room, the door swinging shut behind her. James locks eyes with mine.

"Jacklyn..."

I fold my arms and mask my fear with determination. "I am going to find my sister. It's still early, it's possible she's just lost."

"What if the Finger-less coven has her?"

"Then I will get her back, one way or another. Either you help me or get out of my way. My spells don't usually work they way they should, do you really want to find out what would happen if I tried one on you?" I wiggle my fingers for effect.

Thinly disguised terror overtakes his features. He runs a hand through his hair before settling his forest green eyed gaze on me.

"Fine, but if you're going, I'm coming with you."

I nod, causing my witches hat to slip over my face in the process. Pushing it up out of my eyes I exhale and stride past James out the door with him right on my jet black heels.

.....

A few hours later, I am sitting in the Cafeteria with James repeatedly moving around My Frog's Legs in their bowl of soup. Not feeling hungry, I push it back and my gaze shifts to James. He finishes off his soup and sets it down before locking eyes with mine.

"We need a plan," I say quietly.

He nods, making a piece of his dark hair fall in front of his forest green eyes. I resist the urge to push it back.

"We should leave when it's dark out," he suggests.

I nod slowly. "Yes, but not at nightfall, the patrol just starts then, and your brother Rider will be on watch duty, he'll know we're there."

I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table. "Let's leave at dawn. Sophie and her sisters will be patrolling then, they won't notice us leaving. And if they do they won't bother stopping us."

James locks his eyes with mine. "Are you sure? I thought you and Sophie were friends?"

I exhale an exasperated breath before speaking. "Yeah, well sometimes people drift. And after that summer I vowed never to speak with that girl ever again."

James searches my face. "What did happened that summer Jackie?"

I lean back in my chair. "I don't really want to talk about it."

He nods and quickly changes the subject. "So we're leaving at dawn, then what? We can't just walk into the Finger-Less Coven's camp and demand they give us your sister back."

I nod, making my witches hat slip over my eyes. I push it back up.

"Yeah, you're right. I've never met one, but from what I've heard, Finger-Less Witches are not exactly kind."

I shudder at the memory of the stories Bodhi used to tell me about them and the reason why they have no fingers. James shoots me a curious look before leaning forward.

"Right well we will just have to sneak in, grab your sister, and get out before they find out we're even there."

I chew on my lip. "What do we do if this doesn't work Jay?"

A small smile tugs on his lips at my old nickname for him before it slips and his expression returns to it's normal seriousness.

"Don't worry, we will get your sister out, and everything will be just fine. Trust me."

I sigh and shift my gaze to him. "I trust you, we can do this."

He nods. "You should get going, you'll be late for training. And sleep early tonight, I'll see you at dawn."

I tilt my head in agreement before exiting the dining hall.

.....

The tension is thick in the air as I step into the training room where Aunt Bodhi is waiting. Her eyes follow my every move as I slip off my jacket and pull out my wand. Adjusting my hat I finally meet her suspicious gaze and sigh.

"Auntie you are making me nervous, why are you staring at me like that?"

She folds her arms as her glare deepens. "Your sister's funeral will be held three days from now. Prepare yourself."

Wow, not even a hint of pity in her voice. I clear my throat and square my shoulders.

"I understand, Bodhi."

She pulls out her wand. "Good, then let's begin training."

I salute with my wand, accidentally sending a burst of magic at the wall. It bounces off and hits Bodhi in the face. I bite my lip and resist the urge to burst out laughing. She pushes her glasses farther up her nose and points her wand at me. I raise mine and we begin.

....

A few hours and several bruises later, I'm crawling into my bed fully dressed for a rescue mission and flick off the lights. Pulling the covers over my head I fall straight into a dream.

Sophie's face, pale and terrified of what she'd done.

Jane, shaking and eyes wide.

I cast a glance down at my blood soaked hands before wrapping them around the dagger's hilt and pulling it out of my abdomen.

I awake in a cold sweat. Breathing heavily I rub the spot on my abdomen where I was stabbed last summer. Gulping down the glass of water on my bedside table, I inhale and exhale until I feel somewhat okay again. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I close my eyes and rest my head back on the headrest. Three more hours until I risk my life yet again for my sister's cause.