Twelve

Anabelle typed furiously on her computer while Lucinda paced the room and Bernard sat in a plush chair exhausted.

“How could you not tell me!?” Lucinda yelled.

Bernard sighed. “She wasn’t ready, and we thought the less people who knew the better. But now that we apparently have the Black Witch to deal with, who I thought you imprisoned decades ago, I guess I have to tell her now.”

“You understand what this means.”

“I do, but… she wasn’t ready before, and she certainly won’t be ready now.” He said dragging his hand across his face. “Dammit.”

Lucinda sighed. “We’re going to need to have a long conversation about this, but first you focus on Ash’s safety.”

“Serena has been a plague on Alonia for thirty years, but for once we know she’s coming. If we can find a way to trap her we might be able to avoid a repeat of…last time.” Anabelle said.

There was a knock on the door, and the teens walked in.

“Did you find her?” Bernard asked standing.