Chapter 3

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Ada felt the hairs on her neck stand on end. A sharp pull of Hecate's magic caused her to turn seeing the blade in Agatha's hand, quickly descending towards Hecate's heart.

"No!" Ada screamed firing a spell towards Agatha sending her flying backward. Her body impacted against the wall then slumped to the ground.
Miss Gullet seeing her chance, cast a green ball of light towards Ada, watching satisfied as the spell impacted into her back, causing the older witch to slump over Hecate's body. Her pain filled moans echoed around the room, as Miss Gullet ran over to help Agatha.

Ada's back ached, and she could taste blood in her mouth realising she must have bitten down on her tongue. Winded and bruised she raised her head to see Miss Gullet helping Agatha to her feet. Trying to stand, she felt herself panic when her body wouldn't cooperate. The magical connection she had with Hecate was now gone, and she had never felt more alone.

"Excellent work, Miss Gullet." Agatha praised through her laboured breathing then turned to her defenseless sister. "I warned you, Ada, that love makes you weak, but you didn't listen. Now, the two of you will die here together."

"If you believe love makes us weak, then I truly pity you, Agatha," Ada remarked in sadness.

"Save your pity. I have no use for it." Agatha hissed, "For years you always thought you were better than me, well now it's my time to take centre stage. Soon you will know what it feels like to be pushed aside and forgotten."

Ada looked at Hecate noticing her face had gotten paler, her ivory skin had lost its colour and was now a shade of grey.

"Amazing the effects Soul Magic can do to a witch who is on the brink of death."

Ada's eyes widened in alarm. Not much was known about Soul Magic, but the outcome could be deadly if the transferor were already weak or indisposed. It was often referred to as a witch's sacrifice; one last gift to their bonded before their untimely death. It seemed the magic that Hecate had unknowingly shared with her was now killing her in the process. With her magic no longer able to fight against the potion's effects, Ada knew Hecate was running out of time.

"You didn't know? Ada, you disappoint me. In your plea for help, you unknowingly took what little magic she had left when she needed it most. I would say she only has under seventy-two hours before her body gives up the fight completely." Agatha taunted feeling elated at the prospect. "I may have given her the potion, dear sister, but it's her love for you that is killing her. Her death will be on your hands. Do you now understand why a Cackle never falls in love Ada? We always end up destroying everything we hold dear in the end."

"You know that's not true!" Ada denied.

"Oh, but it is, you were just too blind to see it. Do enjoy the precious moments you have left with Hecate. I would stay and watch events unfold, but I must fly. After all, I have a school to run."

Ada shakily stood to her feet in defiance, "I'm sorry, Agatha, but I can't let you leave."

"Yes, I thought you might say that. Miss Gullet, if you would be so kind to put an end to this, we can be on our way."

"With pleasure." Miss Gullet remarked with a smile, conjuring a red light in the palm of her hand and aimed it towards Ada.

She quickly raised her hands in front of her, as the spell approached her at an alarming speed. She felt her magic weaken as the spell tried to break through her protective shield. Whatever spell Miss Gullet had used, it was too powerful for her magic in her weakened state.

"Give in, Ada. You know you cannot win." Agatha taunted.

Ada closed her eyes blocking out the world around her, as she tried to focus her magic on strengthening the barrier. She couldn't let Agatha win, Hecate's life and the school depended on it. But as her legs began to tremble, and the barrier started to crack, her worst fears had come true. She had failed.

"Forgive me, Hecate." Ada thought sadly, as the last of her magic was extinguished.

A loud bang echoed through the cottage, as the barrier was destroyed. Ada felt a searing pain in her chest, as she was thrown backward. She felt her back slam into the hard wall, knocking the air from her lungs. Her body slumped to the ground. Ada gasped in pain, as she struggled to breathe. She painfully tried to crawl her way over to Hecate; her movements sluggish, as she fought to stay conscious.

"Still fighting, Ada. You should know by now it's futile to prolong the inevitable." Agatha sneered. "Soon you will find out what it's like to be alone; confined to this room, with only your wife's dead body for company."

"Please don't do this, Agatha. Do what you will with me but at least save Hecate." Ada begged hoping she would reconsider.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Ada. I've waited months for this opportunity and neither you or Hecate are going to ruin it for me."

"Agatha, please if you ever cared for me…"

"Save your pleas for someone who cares." Agatha snapped. "Miss Gullet the spell if you will."

Ada's arms collapsed beneath her, no longer able to hold her weight as the last of her strength left her. She lay on her side, seeing the blurry figure of Miss Gullet staring down at her with a malicious smile. There was nothing she could do but close her eyes as she heard Miss Gullet start to cast the spell through the thick fog that clouded her mind.

"In this place
And in this hour,
I bind this witch
And all her power."

Ada whimpered as her body arched off the floor, feeling her magic leave her. She was now trapped with no escape. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. Any hope of saving Hecate and the school was now gone. She had to trust Miss Drill and the others to find a way to defeat Agatha and Miss Gullet.

"Not a pleasant feeling is it, Ada Having your magic stripped from you? Now you will know first-hand what I've been going through these past few months."

She refused to answer, not giving Agatha the satisfaction that she was now well and truly broken.

"If you have nothing more to say, dear sister, then I guess this is where we part. I'll be back in a few days to visit. Goodbye, Ada."

Ada heard their footsteps grow fainter and fainter in the distance before the door slammed shut behind them; sealing her fate. The dam broke, flooding her with an array of emotions; anger, fear, desperation. It all became too much, and suddenly she was weeping, her whole body wracked by sobs. In under twenty-four hours she had lost everything. The academy was in danger, along with its students and her colleagues. Then there was Hecate; her wife who had always seemed indestructible was now dying right before her eyes, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She had never felt so alone. The darkness was calling her, and for the first time in her life, she willingly surrendered.