The Harvest by J Clair & Julius St. Clair

Author:J Clair & Julius St. Clair
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: urban fantasy, witchfall, magic, fantasy books, paranormal witches and wizard romance, witches, young adult fantasy
Publisher: Fantasy World Books
Published: 2023-02-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15 – Mark of the Underworld

“Through here, child,” Annalise said as they walked along the foyer. Already passing the barren area where the stage had been, Madeline’s eyes locked for a moment with the door in which Hush resided. She had barely heard Annalise’s order. “I said, through here,” Annalise repeated, opening one of the many white doors along the interior wall. There was nothing but a solid dark grey shroud inside, greeting them from where they stood.

“You first,” Madeline said suddenly.

“No games,” Annalise said. “Go.” Madeline dared not to test her any further. She strolled into the grey abyss with the hair on her arms standing on end. She heard the clicking of Annalise’s heels step right behind her as they traversed down a spiral concrete staircase cast in a light so dim that it was a wonder whomever had designed the structure had even bothered with illumination.

“How much further?” Madeline asked but she received no response but the hard clicking of heels behind her. Eventually, she could see the outline of a door, where sunlight awaited from behind.

“You are to speak to no one about this,” Annalise replied, placing a firm hand on Madeline’s shoulder.

“I understand,” she said softly. Despite the impending doom that was surely before her, her curiosity had bolstered her courage, making her eager and impatient to see what was on the other side.

“Move aside,” Annalise commanded, and the High Witch shoved the Arcana into the cold, damp wall. Madeline could hear her mutter an incantation in the dark, and then the door made several loud shifting sounds, as if someone was trying to cause a spark by striking together two rocks. “It is unlocked. This is our way out.”

Madeline raised a hand above her brow to shield her eyes from the brightness, and her eyes widened in awe.

They were in the wasteland.

Of what location, she had no way to be sure, but it was undeniably one of the dead zones. A vast, endless desert of green and pink sand stretched out before them like a blanket. The air was stifling and thin, and the silence was maddening. There were no trees, no insects, no animals, no people. Nothing survived here, and yet, here they were.

“Have you ever seen this?” Annalise asked.

“No,” she admitted. “I once looked outside of our town’s wall to see it for myself, and all I saw were fields. After that, I didn’t think the wasteland was real.”

“You are a curious one...leaving the confines of your city.”

“I seek only to understand,” she said, walking in front of Annalise and turning to face her. “I still do. Why am I here? To be banished? To be tortured? To be threatened to live in this place unless I pledge my allegiance to you?”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Annalise said, staring down at her in contempt. “We’re going for a jaunt.” The High Witch pointed to their left, past the barrier of the concrete wall to a vehicle—the kind that Madeline had never seen in real life.

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