Everwild (The Healer Series, #1) (8 page)

“Declan,” Emerson called his son over. He
quickly looked at Willow before turning to his father. In that
split second of eye contact, Willow almost imagined an affectionate
look coming from him. “Get me Bane and Henry. They’re coming with
me and Willow to find the Seeker.”

“Seeker?” Declan asked, then shot Willow
another look with his blazing hazel eyes. He searched her face
strangely. “Is she in danger?”

Declan never took his eyes off her when his
father answered him. She, however, didn’t want a stare down with
him and turned her gaze on Emerson. “I don’t know. But we need to
find out where her talisman is. Only a Seeker can do that. I know
it’s late, but we can’t delay. The more we wait, the riskier it
gets.”

Declan frowned. “I’m coming.”

“No, son. Leave this matter to stronger magic
casters.”

“Father, I’m coming,” Declan said
forcefully.

Emerson sighed and ran a hand through his
dark hair. Millicent came by his side and ran her small hand over
his arm. “Let him, Emerson,” she said softly. “Willow may need
someone to ride a broom with her.”

“Well, I--” Willow tried protesting but was
silenced when Declan shot her a dangerous look.

Emerson missed the dynamics between the two
and gave in to his wife. “If you insist, Declan, then come. But do
not slow us down. Go get Bane and Henry and be ready to leave in a
half hour.”

Declan turned his back and walked out of the
room in silence without a second glance. Well, that was weird. She
wondered why Declan wanted to go. He was only a First like her and
wasn’t experienced in magic like Bane and Henry. Was he trying to
prove himself worthy to his father or something?

In any case, Willow found herself being
shuffled out of the room by Millicent, who gave her a backpack. In
it she packed an extra pair of clothes, apples and bread, a
flashlight, and bottled water.

“I think I’m missing something,” Willow said
when Millicent handed her the bag. “Am I going somewhere?”

Millicent shrugged. “You can’t be too
prepared.” That was all she said, leaving Willow even more
confused. She walked outside the mansion. It was still dark, but
the lights from the house lit up the night around her. Bane, Henry,
and Emerson were all mounted on their brooms. Extravagant, long,
and powerful machines, these weren’t ordinary brooms. They were
thick so at least two people could sit side by side and be
comfortable. They had a device on the bottom that looked like a
small engine, perhaps a turbo?

What was even more bizarre than their machine
looking brooms was that each warlock had a long, glinting sword
strapped to their waists. Swords? She glanced sideways at Declan
getting on his broom. Even he had one! What would swords do against
magic? Were they planning on fighting hand-to-hand combat? Why
would they when they had magic?

She swallowed thickly as she saw Declan
motioning to her. Willow gripped the straps to her backpack and
walked towards him, her heart pounding the whole way. Declan was
wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt that said, “Sarcasm is just
one of my many talents”. She rolled her eyes and thought that his
shirt actually defined him pretty well. When she reached him, he
patted the seat next to her and said, “Hop on my ride, baby.” Was
that sarcasm?

Willow punched Declan in the arm while
simultaneously climbing on the broom to sit next to him. Declan
wasn’t fazed by the hit. He didn’t even wince. She heard chuckling
across from her and saw Henry, a Second, beside them smiling. He
was lean and attractive, with dark brown hair and dazzling blue
eyes. Henry winked at her and lifted into the air. Willow’s heart
stuttered and then she was lifted into the air as Declan took
off.

Ten minutes into the ride, Willow couldn’t
take the silence anymore. Questions buzzed around her mind and
nervousness got the best of her. She imagined the Seeker being a
skeleton creature with a dark hood holding a staff. Eyes that could
read right into her soul and know her deepest, darkest secrets. She
had never met a Seeker before. In fact, she hadn’t met any other
magical creature on Earth besides her own kind. She lived a very
sheltered life and now knew why; her sisters were protecting
her.

“Who is this Seeker?” she asked aloud.

Declan glanced at her and shrugged. “Don’t
know.”

“You’ve never met a Seeker before?”

“No. My father says she’s the best in the
world, though.”

“She?”

“Yeah,” Declan said staring ahead of him.
“From what I know, her name is Carmela and she owns an exotic fruit
store.”

“Really?” Willow’s interest spiked. “That’s
weird.”

“Why is that weird?” Declan almost smiled.
“Have you ever met a Seeker before?”

“Well, no, but--”

“Everybody has to make a living, somehow.”
Declan seemed distant and curt, which was how he always was, but
Willow couldn’t help but press him further.

“What will she do to me?” she whispered,
still frightened of the idea of meeting this Seeker, even if it was
a female.

“Nothing,” was all he said. They started to
descend, and Willow saw lights from a small city illuminating the
night sky. It was almost dawn, but hardly any activity had started.
On the very edge of town, a small cottage came into view. Smoke was
rising from the chimney, and the house was decked out in all
different colors. Bright oranges, reds, and greens splotched the
house in a colorful array of designs. It was both beautiful and
quaint at the same time.

As they dismounted their brooms and came to
the front door, she noticed two fruit stands below the windows on
either side of the small doorway. The stands were filled with
carambola, mangoes, passion fruit, lychee, and other various fruits
toppled high onto the wooden crates. It was a beautiful display.
Above the door, a sign hung that said “Bunches and Barrels”.
Beneath it in small script, it said “Taste your every desire…if you
dare”. Strange, but it seemed fitting for a Seeker.

The door burst open, and light streamed out
of the entryway. A gorgeous figure stood in the frame. She had
waist length white hair and was dressed in gypsy garb. She wore a
long, pink peasant skirt that brushed the floor and had an off the
shoulder shirt with a flower design on it. Around her waist was a
thick gold belt. The intricate belt had various items dangling from
it: ginger, flowers, small bottles, and to Willow’s surprise, a
small cage with a cockroach in it. The Seeker was adorned in gold
jewelry from head to toe. Bracelets, armbands, earrings and
anklets, she was covered in it.

The Seeker had tanned skin and big brown eyes
that sparkled mischievously. Her face was young and vibrant. She
watched the warlocks with a smug grin and crossed her arms, leaning
on the door frame. Her eyes glanced over everyone, lingering
slightly longer on Willow.

“Seeker,” Emerson said and bowed formally,
“we’ve come for your help.”

“I know why you’re here,” the Seeker said
laughing. “I’ve been waiting. Come,” she motioned inside. As each
warlock entered, they stopped to kiss the Seeker on the cheek. Even
Declan did. When it was Willow’s turn, the beautiful Seeker gave
her a comforting hug and kissed both her cheeks making Willow’s
face burn red. “It’s an honor to meet you, Willow Rose,” she
whispered in her ear and then floated away to lead the men to the
living room.

The house was small. The front room was all
business, with more fruit and a counter with a cash register on it
as well as a board with prices. Several large wood barrels were
filled with delicious looking apples, and pretty decorations hung
from the ceiling. But the Seeker led them past the shop, through a
door towards the back. Back here was all a large open space. A
small living room held a couch and two rocking chairs. Beyond that
was a small kitchen and fireplace, where a small fire burned. Jars
of who knows what lined the kitchen counter. The place smelled
thick with spices of cinnamon and nutmeg.

The cottage was not at all what Willow would
have pictured for a Seeker’s home. There was a closed off area with
a thick black curtain hiding something. Garbled sounds were coming
from it. The Seeker motioned for the men to sit. Declan came behind
Willow to take her backpack off her and sat it down by the couch.
Once again, she wanted to slap him. Was he trying to practice
chivalry in front of the Seeker? She could’ve taken the bag off
herself! She wasn’t that incapable! She glared hatefully at
him.

The Seeker watched as this was happening but
didn’t say a word. She looked like she knew something Willow
didn’t. She was a Seeker, though, and Seekers were supposed to be
perceptive.

“Seeker,” Emerson said after everyone was
seated, “we need to know where to find Willow’s talisman.”

“Why?” she asked smiling knowingly. “Big bad
witch stole it from her?” She said it teasingly, but Willow’s body
convulsed with chills.

“Hekate hid it…”

“Something wicked this way comes,” the Seeker
said, still smiling.

“Will you help us, Seeker?”

“Oh, stop the formalities, Emerson. Truly,
how long have you known me? Call me Carmela. And you know there’s
always a price for information such as this…”

Willow’s heart sunk. A price? What did she
mean? Would someone have to donate their kidney or their eye? Was
it money she sought? What did she want? Her worry grew with each
passing moment.

“Of course,” Emerson said, “I offer an
emerald.” He produced a large round stone from his pocket. The
emerald sparkled from the light and was a deep evergreen shade. An
emerald was indeed a pricey item, coveted by most magic casters. An
emerald from this warlock Order, however, was far from an ordinary
stone. It could transport someone wherever they wanted to go. It
had unlimited use and was very rare. Willow gaped at it stunned.
That was a great gift, but why would Emerson give such a prized
possession away like that? Did he have a ton of emeralds stashed
away somewhere to just give away like it was no big deal? He seemed
willing, almost eager to give it to her. The Seeker’s eyes danced
as she took in the beauty of the emerald.

“I have many portals,” Carmela said, her bold
eyes locked and remained on the emerald. “But sadly they do not
take me wherever I desire.” She cleared her throat and held her
hand out, “The price is paid in full.”

Emerson handed the emerald to her and the
Seeker stood. She went behind the dark curtain and rummaged around
before coming back out with a small glowing ball, an orb of some
kind. “The Oracle,” Carmela said looking at Willow, “will tell me
what I Seek. I’ve already seen glimpses of your future, Willow
Rose. It does not look promising.” Willow’s stomach lurched at the
news, but Carmela winked at her. Well, that was not comforting.

Carmela placed the Oracle on the table in
front of where she sat. As she closed her eyes and touched it, the
light instantly dimmed and smoke blew out from the ball. The fog
blew around the room and she inhaled the scent of sweet incense
that made her head feel fuzzy. Carmela hummed low and swayed back
and forth in her seat. Willow fidgeted awkwardly as she watched the
Seeker. Her throat went dry, like she was about to be given her
death sentence.

Suddenly, the Seeker’s eyes flew open. Her
brown eyes were now stark white. Carmela’s voice was deep as she
chanted.

“
The talisman you seek lies deep in the
Everwild.

Darkness and evil hinder the way.

The road is long, the spirit is strong, but the
night obscures the day.

Past the water that falls to the river, inside the
cave of crystals that shiver.

The Healer is led by desire to save.

Hekate’s power shall build her own
grave.”

The lights turned back on and Willow was now
shaking. Fear and shock replaced all feeling and she went numb with
terror. Her breathing increased and her chest heaved with
hyperventilation.

“Well, that was interesting,” Carmela said
brightly, but the room remained silent. No one said anything for
the longest time. Carmela let the information sink in everyone’s
thoughts. The strange chant kept repeating in Willow’s mind over
and over and over again. The Everwild? Her talisman was in the
Everwild? The massive, uncharted forest where humans cannot go and
every magic creature fears? It was a place so dark and evil that no
one has come ever come out alive. A place where wild things roam,
dark magic festers, and impossible labyrinths and mazes keep anyone
from getting out! The Everwild was only told in child stories and
nightmares. Oh, it existed. But it did just that. Exist. It wasn’t
a place that anyone should go in willingly. Ever!

“I have a portal to the Everwild. No cost for
that,” Carmela said laughing and breaking the silence. “Only two
may go, I’m afraid. I’m assuming Willow is one of them. Who will be
the other?”

“Bane,” Emerson said without hesitation
looking to the other Third. “He is strongest and will protect her.”
Bane nodded and Willow looked to him. He was strong, but had the
personality of a rock. The seeker said it was a long journey?
Willow groaned.

“Yes,” Carmela said and glanced at Willow
slyly. A look past between them and then Carmela’s eyes shot to
Declan’s. He had his head bowed, and his shoulders shook a little,
but other than that, he seemed okay.

“Willow, you know of the Everwild?” Emerson
addressed her, his eyes burning into hers.

“Yes,” she whispered afraid her voice would
fail her.

“Your talisman will guide you. Am I correct,
Seeker?” Emerson asked, concern etching his face.

“Of course,” Carmela waved her hand
nonchalant. “The journey will not be easy, though. The Everwild is
filled with tricks of its own. It will be a dangerous road.
Dangerous, but necessary, I’m afraid. Apparently Hekate thought you
would never venture to such a length as to go into the Everwild.
She hid it in a cunning place, deep in the heart of that nasty
place. In order to defeat Hekate and save the ones she loves, the
Healer must go into the Everwild.”