Later that evening, still furious with her mother, Ash hit the club to divert his mind. The ambiance was sleazy with teens doing drugs, soccer players making out with drunk girls and in a shady corner, strippers lap dancing for clients. His eyes hovered to the jammed dance floor where youngsters moved in a trance, the bodies moving with the loud rhythm of the hypnotic music.
He shoved these teens aside as he settled on a lounge stool. The bar man eagerly waited for his order.
"One large whiskey on the rocks." Two beautiful blonde girls then appeared, swaying their hips to full advantage as they walked and the one with hazel eyes handed him his drink. As he sipped his whiskey, he couldn't help but notice how that girl talking to him resembled Jade. The other one settled on his lap, her lips nibbling his neck.
Jade. All this mess was because of her father. He needed to break the news to her. Fred Moore had stolen his peace of mind by having an affair with his mom. He had to make sure Jade becomes equally disturbed with that too. Of all the women, his mother, Jenny Williams, the mayor of Blue Haven. What a sick joke!
Disgusted by his thoughts of his mom's affair, for diversion, he kissed the hazel-eyed blonde while the other one desperately dropped kisses on his neck.
"Ash!" someone shouted. Son of a bitch, they never seemed to let him enjoy good company.
What now? He glared at the one standing close-by. Shade returned his glare icily. He settled on the empty stool next to him. The girl previously on Ash's lap, hugged Shade and kissed him hungrily. "Ash, urgent reunion," he managed to say in between kisses.
"Blackwell?" he asked, his hand caressed the generous curves of that blonde.
"Him and Quinn." Shade put the blonde aside as he read the message he got and rose up hastily. The blonde caught his hand. "Where are you going?"
"Sorry babe. Someone reminded me of an urgent stuff."
"Like what?," the frustrated blonde demanded.
"That I need to leave." He turned and dashed off. "Hey dude, wait for me," Ash got rid of his blonde and walked behind him.
Jade and Lisa sat in absolute silence in Blackwell's study as the brainwashed vampire servant George closed the door behind him.
Dravon, still suffering from the nasty body pain, his face oddly pale and grim, entered quietly and sat on the leather couch. His thumbs gently massaged his forehead.
"This better be good Dravon. My dad will be mad if he ever finds out I broke his trust again and roaming at night. Well that is, if your darling witch opens her mouth again," Jade broke the silence with her high-pitched voice. Lisa gave her a cold stare.
"Ignore her Dravon, she's behaving strangely," Lisa stated.
"If that can help you Lisa, I'm so not in a mood to care," he shot back with sarcasm, his eyes closed.
"Where are the others? I don't want to spend the whole night here. I need rest," Jade announced.
"Hell blondie, shut up!" Dravon gave her an annoyed look. Jade shifted uneasily and moved her gaze to the shelves.
Jason ushered in the study. "Did anyone see Ash? He left the house in a white rage and that bastard has the guts to ignore my calls."
"Dunno man," Dravon replied, unaffected by Jason's deep concern.
A firm voice interrupted them. "Jason, your 'doesn't give a damn' twin." Shade announced as he pushed Ash forward.
Jason confronted him. "Do you have the slightest idea how worried mom and I were?"
Ash shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "Don't stress yourself brother. I'm still alive." He crouched his body besides Lisa.
"What's with your hair?," Lisa asked.
"You like it? I think it suits me better." Ash gave her his charming smile.
"You highlighted your hair blond?!." It was now that Shade cared to remark that. "Yeah."
"The fuck Ash. While we were worried sick, you actually took time to dye your hair!" Jason lost his usual calm.
"All that stress kinda stressed me out. So I tried something new." He grinned at Jason. They all rolled their eyes heavenwards.
"Where's your precious witch?" Jade questioned Dravon. "Shouldn't she be here right now?" She gave out a wicked laugh. "She must be hiding after what she did, the backstabbing bitch."
"Shut the hell up Jade," they all voiced at the same time.
"You're acting like an idiot," Lisa told Jade.
"Or maybe it's you who needs to hide Jade," the silky voice behind them muttered. They all settled their gaze on Quinn. Jade stood and glared at her.
"Why me? You're the one who started war by telling dad everything. I saw the CCTV recording," she stated defiantly.
"And you just assumed it was me. How thoughtful of you," Quinn grimaced.
"Girls, now isn't the time for a cat fight," Jason informed.
"Relax princess, it's in her blood to break the trust of someone and play with emotions of others."
"What the hell are you talking about?," Jade snapped at Ash.
"Your father is having an affair with my mom," Ash blasted. Jade slapped him. "Are you high on drugs? My dad and your mom? Never." Ash shook her violently. "Don't trust me? Ask Jason then."
Her hazel eyes rested on Jason's face for confirmation. "It's the truth." Jason avoided her hurtful stare.
Dravon clapped his hands. "If the family drama is over, can we discuss about the real situation," he shouted ironically. "Everyone in their seats, RIGHT NOW," he barked.
Muted, they all got the hint to do as told and occupied the couch. Dravon smiled at them and with three quick strides, regained his seat.
"As you can see, I'm in a bad shape. It won't be long before you all start complaining about feeling low with lack of powers, except Quinn." His sapphire blue eyes rested on Quinn's pretty face and smiled when she blushed.
"Obviously, precious Quinn will be left unharmed," Jade commented viciously.
"What's gotten in you? You seemed to have taken the how to behave like a total bitch course from Scarlett," Shade remarked, one eyebrow levelled up ironically.
"As I said earlier, ignore her," Lisa said in a calm voice. She noticed then how Jason gave her a quick smile. Way to go girl. Sooner or later, Jason will have to fall in love with her, she thought as she played with her long black hair.
"I thought you already found a solution in that book. The reunion was meant to announce that our problems are over right," Shade implied, a frown visible.
"Hell Shade. If I got the solution, would I be in this state?" Dravon lost his patience.
"Then why are we gathered?" Jade asked.
"Finally one reasonable question," Dravon said. At that tense moment, Ash opened a bottle full of bourbon and filled his glass. The others watched him in annoyance. He held the bottle in the air. "Anyone want some?" The others sighed in exasperation while Dravon gave him a deadly cold stare.
"Seriously Ash?," Jason snatched the bottle away from him.
"Hey, I don't want to be sober to hear that we're all gonna die." He gulped his bourbon. "Save your thoughts, Williams," Dravon commanded.
"If the situation worsens, we'll have to rely on back up." He turned his hypnotic gaze on Quinn. "Quinn and I have decided to go to the Wickedly Evil Sorceress woods to find something important. In fact, you all will tag along."
"No way," Ash choked and gasped for air. "The Wickedly Evil Sorceress woods," they all echoed. Dravon nodded. "But nobody has ever made it back alive Dravon. It's pure madness," Lisa acknowledged.
"Well, told you we're gonna die," Ash hands reached for the bourbon bottle while his twin, with difficulty kept it away from him.
"What's more important than our lives?," Shade asked, concerned.
Dravon snapped his fingers and the red book magically rested in his hand. "Look at the cover closely." Ash's hand grabbed the book, his eyes examined it. "Nothing suspicious, just an old scrap with red cover and gold Celtic inscriptions," he said casually.
"Try to open it," Dravon told him, his tolerance towards Ash low. The stylish twin tried hard to open it and flinched when nothing happened. "What sort of book is this," he asked finally, aghast.
"A spellbound Celtic book which can't be opened ordinarily." Dravon took back his belonging and with his magic, lifted the velvety cover off the book. They all watched in awe as they analysed the hard material. Inside the Celtic emblem, seven different shaped holes were made.
"What kind of thing fits these holes?," Shade questioned.
"I bet crystal stones," Jason replied. "Witches use that kind of things."
"Right. We need all the seven crystal stones which are hidden by witches to open this book," Dravon added. Shade, Ash, Lisa and Jade frowned.
"It won't be easy. But at least we can try instead of accepting defeat," Quinn encouraged.
"One question. Why open the book? Surely it doesn't have anything relevant to how defeat the destroyer...," Dravon cut Ash off. "Once this damned book is opened, we might get all our answers to achieve victory."
"So while we wander in the Wickedly Evil Sorceress woods, Morgade will roam free in this town. What if he attacks the citizens?," Jason implored.
"He won't. You see, he's busy preparing for the blood ritual this Sunday," Dravon informed.
"The blood ritual?," Jade whispered.
"The one which needs a fair number of human sacrifices...," Lisa told her.
"For now, he won't attack. If he does, the residents will be more alert. He wants the mortals carefree...especially at night," Dravon took the bourbon bottle and drank some, then went on.
"If he succeeds, he will be more powerful than us. Like I need Quinn, as per the prophecy, the destroyer also needs another source of energy to empower himself. If I'm linked to Quinn's blood, even Morgade must be linked to someone mighty enough." Dravon's expression hardened like ice. "Morgade is just a puppet. The real threat is the one providing the powers : the source."
"So here's the plan : we find the crystals, use them to unlock this book, find any kind of the destroyer's weakness, kill him and then get rid of the one's helping him," Quinn recited.
"What about the blood ritual?," Shade asked.
"We can't stop him. It's fated," Dravon said.
"There shall come a ruler of darkness who shall call for the light.
And the land where it all began shall be flooded with darkness.
And the existing ruler's powers shall be threatened.
Seven chosen ones shall fight between light and darkness to save the world.
A single ruler then shall be immortalised with incredible powers," Jason quoted the prophecy.
"Everything is happening as per the prophecy : Dravon's fading powers, the union of the seven members, the real threat...," Lisa muttered.
"Girl, we got it. We're in serious trouble," Ash annoyed, said.
"We have only one day to warn the citizens to stay inside their houses," Quinn analysed. "The crystals first," Shade decided.
"Well, time for some action," declared Dravon.
Dravon snapped his fingers and a second later, they were in the middle of the vast dark uninviting woods. A thick fog surrounded them, as if trying to immense them in its layers.
"I wonder what sort of welcome we'll get...," Shade grunted.
"I believe not a warm one," Dravon said in a firm tone as his eyes rested on the thickening fog.
"I say we go back now. Guys?," Ash mumbled. Jade gave him a sardonic stare. "Ash, are you terrified?"
"I'm not terrified at all! I was just thinking that Lisa might be scared, that's all."
Lisa smiled at him in reassurance. "Actually, I'm fine."
"Terrific. Just stay close. And let's not wander too close in the forest," Ash managed to say.
"Guys focus on walking! The one who will conduct the blood ritual along with Morgade is a real threat. Even my evil uncle couldn't direct such a rite, no matter how insanely indomitable he was. So just imagine what's awaiting us..."
Dravon's last sentence echoed in Quinn's ears. Sure, the source of destruction wanted their death. But so were the thirsty for revenge ghosts of the Wickedly Evil Sorceress forest. They definitely will try to harm Dravon. After all, he killed some and did nothing when other supernatural beings murdered the rest.
Someone marching behind her, bumped in her, nearly caused her to fall flat on her face.
"Maybe if you put some energy in your legs, we might get over all this real quick and I might get some sleep," Jade exaggerated.
"I have zero tolerance for crap, Jade Moore. So be warned," Quinn threatened. She had enough of Jade's rude behaviour.
"Use your brain, Jade. You're dealing with a destroyer who can take anyone's appearance and transform. Before assuming it was Quinn, think twice," Dravon's voice reasoned in her mind.
Jade looked at Dravon's behind who marched with a nervous Lisa.
"Where is that damned protective shield? I'm tired of walking," Ash complained, the last one behind. Shade gave him company.
"What a curse! Just some hours ago we had the chance to bang random girls," Ash whispered as he turned to Shade. "I still can't believe we left them for this mess." Shade raised his eyebrow in sardonic amusement.
"You realise we never cared to know their names," Shade muttered. Ash winked at him. "Was that even important?!" They both grinned at that.
"Will your mom really file for divorce because of Jade's father?," Shade looked worried. Ash grimaced. "I won't let it happen. Just the idea of living with Jade as step siblings makes me wanna barf." He grimaced again and rolled his silver grey eyes.
"I believe the feeling is mutual," Jade added, using her hearing powers to overhear their conversation, then looked behind, making a sick face at Ash. Shade smirked.
"I just imagined you two as step brother and sister. Jade obsessing on Blackwell and you trying so hard to avoid the situation." Shade laughed, then added. "Insane. Most definitely insane." Ash nodded and echoed Shade"s laugh.
"My dad is returning Shade. You imagine how hurt he'll be if he learns about it..." Ash told him, this time serious. Jason"s voice vibrated in his mind. "Mom made a mistake. It's her life. Learn to accept her decision."
Ash sent a blast of blue energy to his twin, making him trip on Lisa when he tried to grab anything for support. Lisa, not bothered at all by the closeness of their bodies on the damp mossy flooring, remained still as Jason's warm body covered her petite figure. Her huge black eyes stared at Jason with expectation. However, that look didn't last when Jason hastily rose up, offered her a hand, then quickly whooshed farther away.
Lisa, shaken by Jason's cold attitude towards her, walked numbly.
"Lisa, I can sense your distress even at this distance. What happened?," Dravon, who showed them the path, echoed in her restless mind.
She couldn't tell him about her feelings for Jason, she thought. "I'm just wondering how my family ended up having a hidden library confining the secrets of the witches," Lisa's smart brain found the perfect excuse.
"Ask your grandmother that. She will enlighten you," he answered gently.
As Shade and Ash strolled carefree, with no visible trace of the other Infinity members, slowly the fog began to intensify, engulfing them. A faint angry voice was groaning.
Ash stopped and tapped Shade's shoulder gently. "You heard that?" Shade, unbothered by that strange voice, nodded.
Ash, his face pale, sent a mental reminder to Quinn. "If's that's you who's doing that princess, know that it's not funny."
"Are you crazy. I don't have time for your sick jokes," Quinn replied telephatically.
Just then, they all stopped when the mist didn't continue the forest's path anymore but instead seemed to form a wall to block them.
"Seems like we found the Wickedly Evil Sorceress woods," Dravon said. He put his hand in the wall formed by the fog and shouted in pain. Quinn hastily snatched his hand from the protective defense. As she gently turned his hand, her eyes examined the burn carefully. "It looks bad," she whispered. Jade stepped between them and took Dravon's burnt hand in hers. "I'm fine blondie," he said, using his angelic powers when a blue smog enveloped the hand and cured himself. Jade and Quinn facial expressions lightened.
"Let me try pulling this shield down," Quinn said. Before Dravon had the chance to contradict, she placed both her hands on the protective barrier and chanted.
"In the land of the Shadows, as I seek help from the lord of darkness, let the hypnotising light of the moon guide me...
May the shield who dares to block me be destroyed...
By the power I now posess, set ablaze,
Blue fire."
The shield got pulled down by the magnificent blue fire and they passed through.
"What on earth...," Ash exclaimed. "A hidden abandoned village," Jason told, fascinated by the view. Small eerie deserted wooden houses lined up vertically to greet them.
Several voices moaned louder.
"You all heard the same thing?," Jade asked when she turned to face them. They all nodded, their expressions aggravated.
"It sounded like the word revenge," Jason told loudly.
"Classic spirits of Campbell witches. Even dead, their thirst for revenge hasn't been quenched," Dravon muttered under his breath, his expression stiff.
"I assume since Quinn shares the same blood as these evil spirits, she must be in front of everyone else," Jade blunted. Quinn looked uncertain and Dravon gave Jade a cold menacing look.
But Jade ignored him. "Go ahead Quinn. You're the saviour. Here's your chance to prove it." Jade stared at her, a wicked smile formed by her lips. Quinn held her stare evenly for several seconds, then flashed a reassuring smile. "As you wish, Jade."
Dravon grabbed her arm and shook his head. "No way. You're lost a lot of energy on removing that protective shield."
"Get out of my way Dravon. I have to do this," she said defiantly. He held her determined gaze for a long minute. "We have to do this," he corrected.
"Dravon...," Jade tried to stop him but he went forward with Quinn next to him, leaving all the others behind. They followed them in silence.
"Dravon, this village has multiple houses. Which one contains the crystal stones?," Quinn asked.
"Hold my hand, close your eyes and concentrate on the magical stones," he instructed. She looked at him, unsure."But, that way your energy will be lowered." "Don't worry about me. Just do it," he urged softly. She did as instructed.
When she opened her eyes, a purple smog guided them towards the farthest house. They all whooshed to that location and stared around. The wooden house had a rusty old wood swing which creaked and swayed violently.
"Not creepy at all," Ash mocked. Shade winced. Lisa and Jade looked perturbed. Jason and Dravon examined the voodoo signs on the two engraved disturbing rocky statues placed at each side of the first step of the short wooden stairs leading to the house.
Dravon stepped forward and swore loudly, his blue eyes examined his boots. Again he used his healing powers to cure the burning sensation.
On the wood, the thick dust particles moved to display a message. Quinn and Jason bent closer to the first step and read loudly. "Only the witch will be allowed to pass." Dravon cursed again.
"We have no other choice than to obey them. I will go. You all stay here," Quinn commanded. Dravon held her hand and glared at her. The other boys gave her a you've got to be kidding me look. Lisa looked unconvinced but Jade agreed with her decision, a bittersweet smile adorned her face.
"I need this Dravon. This house holds the answers of all my unanswered questions and the key to our survival." Dravon hesitantly let go of her hand. "Be careful." Quinn nodded, stepped inside the house and the door shut closed. Quinn faced the closed door as she silently hoped the others are left unharmed.
"Hello Quinn. Finally we're alone," a cold mocking voice said. A shiver ran through her spine as she slowly turned around to meet Morgade Whitmore's glacial stare.
Ash kicked a rock on the ground in impatience. Dravon, Shade and Ash checked the surroundings. Lisa and Jade, bored stood together.
"For how long do we have to wait?," Ash asked.
"Not for long," a grim voice echoed.
They all gazed around when a smog made of fire blaze appeared. Aamon, the quick tempered demon stood before them.
"Looks like we've got company," Shade grunted.
"This can't be good," Dravon announced.
"You said it," Shade and Ash both voiced as they shielded Lisa and Jade behind them and Dravon stood, confronting Aamon.