Synergy (See #3)(13)

“Fine, I was wrong. I admit that -- and that’s hard for a Scorpio. Can we move on now? What’s going on?”

I took in her inquisitive eyes, and what they were hiding. Her insecurity. She wasn’t ready to hear this. “Draven saw something last night: they followed Bianca and watched her take two guys; we think Landen was one of them.”

“Who was the other?”

I hesitated for what seemed like countless minutes. “I think he’s some kind of prince or something, maybe even a king. The world is dark. If she gets control over that...I don’t know what can happen.”

“What do you want to bet Landen is like us, light? Why would she have light and darkness?”

“Collateral damage, I guess. She was after the prince. She took him first.”

“He could have been bait for the other one.”

“I don’t know,” I mumbled.

“If you’re right, I bet that Willow girl is near crazy at this point.”

Nope. She wasn’t ready to hear this. I put the car in drive. “Let’s go get Monroe, see if she knows anything. Then maybe we can go to Chara and see if Willow’s there, if anyone knows anything -- if they’re even missing.”

When Madison didn’t respond, I looked to my side to see her staring forward. Her pupils had expanded; she was seeing, and I had no doubt she was in Chara. I thought about following her, but I couldn’t make myself. I wanted her to see this on her own. I wanted that little boy Preston to show her Esterious, show her that prince. I didn’t want to be around when she finally figured this out.

A second later, her eyes focused. “No one’s home there.”

“You knocked on the door?”

“I looked in the windows. No one’s in sight, not even that little boy. Maybe it’s not them she took.”

“If she did take them, more than likely they’re in that Esterious dimension.”

“Want to see your way there?” Madison asked, tilting her head, daring me to do so in front of her.

I moved my head from side to side as I pulled out on the main road. “Not alone. I told you it was wicked there.”

“It can’t be any more wicked than what we see in The Realm.”

“You really want to go there? You want to see?” I said shortly.

“No.”

“Then why are you pushing me to show you? Making me feel guilty?”

“Because something’s eating away at you, and I want to help you with it.”

I squinted my eyes, then sighed. “I just don’t want you to hate me when you go there.”

“I could never hate you. You know that. What’s going on?”

I glanced at her. “I just think this isn’t all about me - and when you figure that out, you’re going to be mad.”

“Charlie!” she screamed as she braced her arms in front of her.

I slammed on my brakes before my eyes ever had the chance to look forward. We were almost out of town, near the corner of the last block, and I didn’t see anything, any reason for her to freak out like that.

“What?!”

Madison eyes were wide with fear. “You almost hit her!”

“Who?!” I asked, looking around. There wasn’t anyone near us.

“Pull over,” Madison said, pointing to the side of the road.

I turned the wheel and moved my car to the curb, but Madison was out of the car before I even stopped. I threw the car in park and chased after her as she ran around the corner of the last building on the block. When I reached her, there was no one there but her.

“Have you lost your mind? I didn’t hit anyone. I only glanced away for a second.”

Madison’s hands were running through her long dark hair. “I saw her. She was older. She had on a long black pea coat, silver hair.”

“Nobody’s here. Come on, let’s go,” I said, wanting to go home now - the faster the better. Something wasn’t right about today.

Right as we turned, the woman was there, staring deep into Madison’s green eyes. She was older, and her silver hair was pulled into a neat twist behind her head. On her neck she wore a silver necklace with a pentagram charm. The aroma of sage lingered heavily around her.

“You have been called,” the woman said to Madison.

“Excuse me?” Madison said as her eyes raced over the woman.

“The Goddess of Mother Nature has called for you. The Great Witch has sent me to tell you to come.”

“The goddess? The Great Witch? Lady, are you OK? Did we hit you and not know it?” Madison asked.

The woman stepped forward and reached for Madison’s hand. “Fear not. No witch brings harm. You are called by a great power. You will be protected.” The woman then looked down at Madison’s hand and closed something within it before turning and stepping around the corner.

I rushed after her, but when I reached the corner she was gone. I looked down each side of the street, within each car; she was nowhere to be seen. I ran back to Madison and found her frozen in place. Her eyes were wide as they stared into thin air.

“Madison, what did she give you? Is it hurting you?!” I asked as I unclenched her hand; there, I found a necklace like what the woman was wearing, a pentagram within a circle.

“I-I need paper,” Madison stuttered as she pushed past me. She climbed in the passenger seat of my car and pulled a sketch pad out of her bag. I sighed as I climbed in the driver’s seat. I kept looking all around for that woman, but she was nowhere to be seen.