The trio of hunters looked down in the direction of the fourth castle. The jagged steps and the lanterns that emanated an obsidian light gave the place an eerie look. Karina adjusted her hair, while Wren checked his own clothes and pouches.

  “How many castles are there?” Karina asked, as she looked at May.

  “I’m not sure. I believe, if I’m not wrong, I would guess eight or ten. But this is pure speculation.”

  “Why do you think there are ten or eight?”

  “Because of the demons they are referencing, they all come from one book. A lost magical book.” And a thought crossed May’s mind for the first time, like pieces that connected in a puzzle. The moment that you can figure out the image in the puzzle, even if there are pieces still lacking. “I guess I finally know what they want. At least, part of it.” May whispered.

  “Well, so tell us,” Wren said.

  “They’re looking for that book. The Lesser Key of Solomon. It’s the book that carries the secret of how to control and how to make deals with the most powerful demons in hell. In the wrong hands, this could be a disaster. Not only for Neo Victoria City, but for the whole world.”

  “I believe these things are lost for a reason, right?” Karina said, and she chuckled nervously.

  “If that’s what they’re after, then we have even more motives to fight here and to stop them.”

  “You’re right, May. It’s not only about the mission anymore. We need to fight. And we need to win.”

  ---

  They went down the steps in silence. The words spoken about the mission and the book are still on the trio’s mind. It was scary for them, but it also gave them purpose. And they hoped that the Agency had sent more agents after them to investigate the place.

  In the distance, they saw the image of the fourth castle. Similar to the others, it was built directly into the stone. With towers and walls, it was an imposing figure amidst the darkness of the place.

  “If we’re doing it like in the ones before, which one of us is going to stay here to fight?”

  “Considering the damage we suffered in the battles before, I think I need to be the one staying,” Karina said, and she looked ahead in the direction of the castle.

  “Are you sure, K? Don’t you think two battles in a row will be too much for you?”

  “I’m okay, May. And you and Wren seem to be in a worse shape than I am. I’m strong.”

  “I know, and I trust you. But let’s see the adversary first. We don’t know what kind of fight is ahead of us.”

  “I guess you’re right, let’s see. But if it’s hand-to-hand combat, I’m going to be the one staying, okay?”

  “Alright, K,” May said and smiled at her friend. “Although I still wished for the three of us to fight together.”

  “I know, and trust me, I wanted that too. But…”

  “You don’t have to explain, I get you. We’re witches.”

  ---

  Once they entered the fourth castle, they noticed it was more similar to the third one than to the first two castles. The whole place was decorated with tapestry, and the windows had fancy curtains. Tables surrounded by cushions, and this castle, like the first one, had servants and people working. A fine mist covered the whole place, and from somewhere, one could smell the scent of incense.

  The disciple sat by a table in the middle of the room. It was an old woman who had her eyes closed. And by the appearance, Karina thought that the woman must be at least 80 years old. Yet it was hard to say, as the woman wore a black veil around her head that covered most of her features. And her body was completely covered by different fabrics. At the table, she had different stones and a crystal ball.

  The trio went ahead, and Wren asked:

  “Who are you?”

  “It’s not polite to enter someone’s home and ask the person ‘who they are?’ Not if you didn’t present yourself first.” The woman opened her eyes, and they noticed she was blind. “But that’s not a problem, as I do know who the three of you are. I’m Ermelinda, the guardian of the castle of Vine the finder.”

  Karina was about to say something, but May held the girl’s arm. She looked at her friend as she said:

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  “I guess I’ll be the one staying, right?”

  A smile appeared on Ermelinda’s face, and she moved her hands above the table, as she spoke:

  “I knew you would say that, but I must advise you that no one can cross my castle. Not without defeating me. Especially not witches. And I will say, if you try to cross here while I’m standing in the room, you might end up lost in a maze.” And the woman strangely looked in the direction of May. “But I accept you as the one facing me, young May.”

  Wren looked at the girls, and they exchanged glances. This wasn’t going according to their plan, but ever since they went down the steps, each castle has presented a new challenge. They knew there would be obstacles to their plan. But that was the best they could do.

  “I guess it won’t be a problem, May,” Karina said, but her voice was shaky. “Maybe this will be for the best. You might need our help.”

  And under her words, Karina tried to convey the message. She knew that May hadn’t recovered completely yet. So the three of them being there, during the fight, would be a good thing. Although the fight ahead seemed to pose a different challenge than all the others they had had before.

  “You’re right, K. And it’s not like we had thought that everything would go our way, right?”

  “Yeah, we had a lot of luck up to now. At any moment, something like that could have happened. There was even that disciple who let you cross without a fight, Karina.” Wren observed.

  “There was that. But fine, let’s do it.”

  And somehow, May knew what she had to do. The older disciple inclined her head, and the hunter sat at the table in front of the woman.

  “You know, little May, there is one thing none of the disciples told you yet. Most of the demons, the ones from the castles here, can tell you about the past, present, and future. It’s something they could do if you know the right way to make them do it. Although not every time they will tell you the truth, especially if you’re weak. Vine, in particular, he’s very good at certain things. At finding things from the past and the future. And finding witches.”

  “Why would you tell me all that stuff?”

  “Because this is part of the rules of this castle. You must know what you’re getting yourself into. You’re no fool, May. I’m sure you noticed it the moment you sat on this chair. Everything around us froze in time.”

  May had noticed, but she tried to play it cool. In her peripheral vision, she noticed that Karina and Wren were stuck amidst the motion. And to the other side, she saw the servants, trapped in place, forever doing whatever they were doing at the moment.

  “You see, this castle is different from the others. Some might say it’s special. Time here flows differently, and it’s impossible to have fights here as you did in the previous one. The only way to get out of here and to save your friends is through a divination battle.” The older woman said, her milky eyes on May’s direction. “But it’s important that I follow some rules, as part of the ritual. You need to offer yourself willingly, as you did. Second, I must tell you the rules that are in place, like I’m doing now.”

  “And what is this game, what kind of thing must I do?”

  “You see, little May? This place connects multiple paths of a witch. Here, there are multiple versions of you and me piled on top of each other. Every version is created through a different decision we made here. Every single thing in this place is tied to a different future. There’s only one path that makes each of us a winner. For you, it gives you the possibility to leave here alive with your friends. For me, it’s the chance of stealing your powers, youth, and sight. So what do you tell me, little one? Giving up is also a path, although, if I might add, not a very good one.”

  May thought for a while, but she knew her answer from the moment she decided on being the one to fight.

  “I’ll play the game.”

  “Good, good. Here, you can use any form of divination you please. From the moment you start trying to access the future, it means you’re in the game.”

  May adjusted herself in the chair; she needed to choose wisely what she would do.

  “And most important of it all. You must always say two things, one about me and the other about you, one about the past and one about the future. You can lie, and you can bluff, you can stay in silence. But once you start touching the divination, you must always say two.”

  The only thing May could think of was that it must have a trick for the game. It was so strange, because at the same time it seemed that the disciple was explaining too much, it also seemed that she was explaining nothing at all.

  May looked at Karina and Wren, frozen in the middle of the movement. They trusted her, and they believed in her. When she said that she would be the one fighting that disciple, they didn’t even question that. So she would make their trust in her well placed. She would save them and help them cross that castle. But now a question arose in her head as to which method of divination to use. She placed a hand on her tarot deck. She hadn’t been lucky with it in the last few days. But tarot was always a safe bet in matters of divination.

  The disciple stayed silent the whole time; her face behind the veil showed no expression. With her hands, she picked the crystal ball from the table and caressed it gently. Would she use it for the divination?

  “You know one thing, little May. Even the thoughts are dangerous here, you see. Hesitation and insecurity also lead to a path. You might think it doesn’t make sense, but everyone can think of a moment in life when they thought, ‘if only I had done that, I would be better by now, ’ right?”

  At that moment, one of the servants at the castle fell to the ground. Being able to move again, his hands moved to his neck. His eyes were as wide as possible; it was like he was grasping for air desperately. A few seconds of agony, and he fell to the ground, lifeless.

  “Strange how these things can happen here. Maybe he got caught in one of our fated futures, you never know.”

  “You demonic woman! What are you doing?”

  “I’m doing nothing by now. In fact, our non-doings are probably responsible for it.” Ermelinda smirked maliciously. “Now, are you ready to play the game, May? I would say, ready or not, the game has started already, can’t you see?”

  May hated the fact that she knew the woman wasn’t lying. And so she needed to do something. At this point, anything. She shouldn’t be afraid; she should trust her skills. As her friends trusted in her, she should trust in herself too. And so, May decided what would be her first attempt at divination there. It was something that would help her feel safe and that would give good results. She could only hope that it would bring her close to the exit door of the castle.