Chapter Thirty-three: Immortal Witches

"We're invisible to their magic, for now," the lead witch declared. A malicious gaze settled on her coven. The naked women danced in the light of the crimson moon, their faces in a state of bliss. "Master wants them dead! It shall be so!" She cackled as the storm brought forth torrential rain. Lightning threatened to disintegrate Jopp's treehouses until a strange barrier enveloped the fort. It rippled green and violet, deterring the might of the storm.

The immortal witches entered the house from the patio and gathered around the dining room, their eyes and ears alert for any movement from the trekkers.

Gabby, the eldest, urged them to reconsider. "I know what they're like," she declared. "They wish for peace and to give humans another chance."

"Prince Noforl will not die in vain!" a younger witch protested. "This world will be drenched in darkness to give rise to our cause!"

"And what cause could that possibly be?" Gabby spat.

"To bring a new age of witches!" she proclaimed. "We will rule this world and finally be accepted because we are the majority!"

Gabby struck her with a slap that was so hard, it burned her palm. "You call yourself a witch, foul wench?!"

The younger witch scowled as she pounced on Gabby and pulled her hair. "You're just an old cunt! How dare you?!"

Gabby gasped when Jopp and Tark appeared in the room. Tark snagged the younger witch by the throat and slammed her to the wall. Jopp's dark eyes flashed green as he approached Gabby.

"Tell me what I want to know, Gabby, and I'll let you live," he uttered, his jaw set in a hard line. "Where is King Ozzim?"

Gabby shook her head and wailed. "Have mercy, Jopp! Please! I haven't the slightest idea!"

Jopp stared at her quivering figure and smiled. "You know how to get to him, don't you?"

"What you're asking for means death for all of us," Gabby almost whispered.

"If you mean I have to sacrifice a room full of beautiful witches, it'd be a pleasure," Jopp grinned.

The trekkers stepped into the room and emerged from their Golir forms, their sharp teeth gnashing at the witches. Long claws rasped at their throats while haunting yellow eyes glared at them. Restless leathery wings rustled as their long tails swiveled with a razor sharp, scissor-like end.

"Tell them, you traitor!" the lead witch screamed before a trekker latched on her neck and tore the flesh off, along with her arm.

Shrill screams filled the room as the black blood gushed out of her, but no one outside of Tark's violet spiritual barrier could hear anything. Many of them tried to use magic to fight back or protect themselves, but Jopp's shimmering green barrier absorbed the energy and stored it in his magic reserve.

Tark seemed pensive as the naked witches were torn apart by the trekkers. A trekker bit the leg off of the witch in his grasp. The trekker revealed himself as the eldest.

"Noforl's worshippers will not be tolerated," he declared. "Our brothers, Golir and Rif, will not be sacrificed!"

"Why would they be sacrificed?" Tark asked, his brows furrowed with worry.

Gabby gulped as they pinned her with prying gazes. "They're the sons of a powerful witch from an ancient forest," she informed in a low voice. "They say she came from another world, and with the birth of her children, she lost her powers. Her magic flowed into them, and that's why they were coveted by Noforl. He knew controlling them could lead him to other worlds beyond this one."

Tark stared at Jopp. This was a reason why Golir was able to understand the trekkers. Why were they unable to use their magic? Tark realized that Jopp had been the same way. The loss of his memories and King Ozzim's curse had limited his magic.

Jopp tightened his fists. "The boys can harness interdimensional magic."

Gabby slowly nodded. Her worried visage glanced at everyone.

"Thank you, Gabby," Jopp offered. "You've earned my deepest rage and upmost gratitude."

Gabby stared at him, appearing unsure of what that entailed.

"Teach us what you know, and my rage will simmer down," he continued. His dark eyes seemed peaceful.

Gabby held his green hands and smiled. "Thank you, Jopp. I hope we can save this world together."

Jopp didn't appear convinced, but he gently squeezed her hands in return.

"Why did you become an immortal witch?" Tark asked.

Gabby sadly smiled. "I was afraid of death, and I wanted to keep my youthfulness and beauty. In exchange for finding the last angel and killing her, Noforl agreed to not kill my daughter, Fayeth."

"Quite sneaky of him," Tark muttered.

"He has hidden her in the shadows, and with his death, I'm afraid she's lost forever."

Tark searched his memories, and he smiled when he found her. He summoned the snow globe she was trapped in and released her. The little girl seemed frightened as she held her stuffed toy bear. Wide sapphire eyes studied everyone until she settled on Gabby.

"She hasn't aged a day," Gabby blurted. "Has it really been so long?"

Tark exchanged curious glances with Jopp. "The daughter of an immortal witch?" he muttered.

Jopp smiled as he nodded. "Can't you sense the powerful magic within her, Tark?"

Tark shrugged and shook his head.

The little girl ran to Gabby and hugged her so tight that she groaned. Her overalls and maroon hair were sprinkled with snow.

Gabby patted her dry and beamed. "These fine men saved our lives, Fayeth. Let's thank them."

Fayeth turned to Tark and Jopp and ran to them. She gave each of them a heartfelt hug.

"Forgive us, but she doesn't speak," Gabby explained. "Ever since her father died . . ."

Jopp kneeled before Fayeth and gifted her a small bouquet of bright orange and yellow flowers. "You're all right, now," he assured. "I bet you're hungry, eh?"

Fayeth stared at him with searching eyes and nodded.

The dining room table was soon laden with a feast fit for a joyous occasion. Sweets were the theme as cakes, cookies, and pastries took up most of the space. Hearty stews and soups flavored with herbs were available as well. Fayeth tried everything on her plate as she ate alongside her mother. She stared at the cake and licked her lips.

The trekkers took on their Golir forms and joined them.

"Hello Fayeth," the eldest trekker told her as he sat beside her. "My name's Maffin. These are my brothers and sisters."

As they introduced themselves, Jopp and Tark discussed their options on the patio.

"Golir and Rif are the keys for reaching King Ozzim's door," Jopp informed. "We have no choice but to wait and prepare ourselves."

Tark nodded and tightened his fists. "I have a feeling Fayeth can help us as well."