My feet gently touched the ground. I moved my legs tentatively, just to make sure that what had just happened was real. I shook myself a little and said a silent thank you.
Then Justine was there, talking furiously at me. She swore repeatedly but with an undertone of affection.
Sephrina stood back. A smile played on her lips like she knew something I didn't. I didn't like that smile. I'd seen it before, too many times.
She let Justine finish before approaching us.
Her arms were open wide enough to engulf both Justine and me, Justine smiled slightly, but her smile didn't reach her eyes, which were cold and hard.
"Justine," Sephrina crowed. "How are you?"
Justine didn't come into her arms. I knew Sephrina could force her way but she didn't, her arms dropping to her sides instead. Her smile didn't fall though. It occurred to me that Sephrina might care for Justine, or perhaps she was simply trying to use her.
"You must be hungry," Sephrina waved us to follow and started away. I glanced at Justine.
She gave me a slight nod.
Sephrina walked at a pace I could follow, but her eyes often wandered to Justine, who walked stiffly.
When she glanced back at me, my heart nearly stopped. Her eye glowed soft white in the fading daylight.
I stumbled, nearly falling.
"Careful Preston," She purred. "We wouldn't want you getting hurt." Then she laughed, loudly.
Justine's own laugh mingled with Sephrina's. Sephrina had trained her well; this was not the Justine I knew from the little shack.
I moved to catch up with her. I moved to her side, but she didn't look at me, her eyes were glued to Sephrina.
I leaned forward. "Where are we going?" I whispered.
She half turned to me. I noticed her eyes had clouded. No answer.
"Justine we should leave," I tried to pull her hand.
She stopped walking and looked glared at me, "No! We aren't leaving." Her voice sounded strange.
Sephrina turned around, her eyes glinting. I backed away from Justine.
"Is there a problem?" She said softly, it was not a question.
I shook my head slowly. We started moving again, and somehow I knew that we wouldn't be stopping until we were tucked away in Sephrina's house.
After a long, cold walk we arrived in a clearing. The house surprised me, it was small and modest for someone like Sephrina, with no real grandeur. Vines hung off the roof, and many bright flowers were planted in the gardens surrounding the building. Sephrina gave a low laugh from beside me.
"Not what you were expecting, Preston?" She purred.
I looked closer. It was modest but well-built and unworn, a facade. This was all a facade.
"Very good," She said.
She seemed to read my mind, but not constantly because she hadn't predicted me trying to draw away. I knew I should censor my thoughts. So instead I focused on the warmth of the home. She motioned us on, opening the door.
I didn't know what to expect. A cauldron? Spellbooks? Broomsticks? But instead, inside was just as cozy and homey and fake. Justine was still down for the count, she sat immediately in a chair. She crossed her hands in her lap and sat still.
"Preston, please, sit down, relax," She said. She shut the door and walked over, but not before she locked it. The bolt snapped into place.
When she turned around I noticed a shining emblem clasped on her robe. It looked chillingly familiar. Then a horrible realization dawned on me, I had seen something like this on Jadyn's clothes.