“Calm down, child,” said the raspy voice from the darkness, its owner holding Sidney in the back seat with considerable ease. Struggling, fighting, she tried to wrench her hands free, twisting her arms, pulling her shoulders back, as if trying to row her way out of the car. The ancient woman kept still despite the effort of Sidney to free herself from the vise-like grasp.

“What’s happening to me,” Sidney said, barely audibly, finally acquiescing.

“We’ve taken you, although it was much harder than I imagined. You’re quite powerful, you know.”

“Powerful? I’m only twelve.”

“Well, physically your still weak, but you have considerable mental ability. It took me some time to quite your mind and bring you here. That you awoke before I could get you into the car will be discussed at length with the coven,” said the witch.

Then, to the driver, “Take us to the Castle, now.”

The black Lincoln Continental pulled out of the snow-covered drive, turning onto a desolate highway, heading east, deep into the forest.