Page 11 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

I hear myself taking deep breaths. I feel like I missed something, there's a blank. Did I lose consciousness for a minute, or a few seconds? With my eyes closed, I try to shut everything else out. I don't want those voices, I don't want those murderous feelings. Leave me alone! ...Why? Why should I feel so angry at everyone else?

It's still there, lurking. I feel the desire to burn something so violently, it's like a monster waking up inside. All my senses are tingling. I struggle to keep it under control, but it's beneath my skin, it's rushing through my veins, giving me shivers and keeping me breathless. Why the headache, why the pain? Where the hell are those screams coming from? I feel like I'm stuck with them echoing from all sides, driving me crazy. It's like an alarm I don't know how to turn off.

"Mara, Mara. Look at me."

I realize I'm crying a bit when I reopen my eyes, and my blurry vision confuses me. Yet, I quickly find the two eyes right in front of me. He's holding my hands, and dangerously close to me. Why is this idiot still here? I can barely control myself right now!

"Don't..." I mutter painfully. "I'll... kill you..."

"I'm not such a pup that you'd kill me so easily."

"I'm a witch," I groan.

Damn it, I have very little self-control right now, and he actually has no sense of danger, does he? Alpha or not, he'll feel it if I burn his pretty ass! I groan again, the headache getting somewhat worse. I need to breathe, ignore it, and control it. I can't endure this crap for too long.

"Mara, what is it doing to you? Tell me."

Why does he care now? He was barely willing to talk earlier!

"It's those... voices..."

"Voices? What do they tell you?"

"I don't know!" I lie. "It just screams..."

I struggle to get out of his grip, but he's stronger than he looks. His hands firmly hold mine and when I want to retreat, he won't let go. What the heck, he was the one who didn't want to stay too close, did that change now? I shake my head, avoiding his eyes, but the voices just become stronger. What the heck is that thing, and why is it reacting now? It only happened when I was upset before, but now, these voices are going nuts over nothing!

"Mara."

"Please, just... shut up, give me a minute," I whimper.

"Breathe deep. Focus on my voice to calm down."

"What the... hell are you... saying..."

"You're not the first witch I’ve met, so just listen to me. You ought to control this voice and tell her to shut up. You're the one in control, she cannot force you to do anything you don't want to. You understand?"

I nod, but it's easier said than done! I take deep breaths, and instead of my hearing, I focus on his touch. Liam's skin is warm on my hand and wrist. He's got large but thin hands, holding me strongly. I feel that strange spark again, though I can't quite understand that feeling. I don't want to kill this man. I... I think I need him.

"Keep talking," I beg him.

"What does the voice tell you?"

"To kill you. To kill werewolves."

"...Oh, wow."

I glare at him. Is it really the moment to act surprised? Did he think I was having a hard time keeping myself off snacks or what? He sighs and stares at me, even more determined than before. I try to focus on his eyes... mostly the icy-blue one.

"You don't have to listen to the voice, Mara. You're your own witch. Just tell her to shut the fuck up, and control it."

It's like yelling through a hurricane, and it sounds like a piece of very dumb advice from him. Yet, I decide to give it a try. I ignore her mentally, but her voice grows stronger. Then, I confront her, screaming internally for her to leave me alone.

Strangely, it seems to work. I still hear the screams, but they are a bit quieter, and most importantly, that scary voice telling me to kill Liam is gone. I let out a long sigh of relief. I can't believe it actually worked... I give myself a few seconds to get my senses back and calm down; I hadn't realized I was in such a panicked state. I'm still shivering a bit, and some drops of sweat are running down my spine.

When I find the strength to look at Liam Black again, our eyes meet, but it's like an electric shock to him. He lets go of my wrist and retreats immediately, looking stunned. What the hell? He almost falls on his arse while trying to get away from me, and stumbles back until we are a few steps apart. I frown, unsure of what funny game he's playing at. What the heck is it now?

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I ask.

"N-nothing. Just... Please stop looking at me like that."

"Like what? You're the one who came to give me some witch tips."

He growls a bit, annoyed. I didn’t realize growling is fully part of the werewolf language until now. I thought it was rather rare to do and only when they are super pissed, but it looks like they can do it anytime to express frustration too. How convenient. Don't wanna talk? You can just growl your unhappiness. It doesn't help me understand, though.

"It's just you're not... very decent looking."

Decent looking? What the heck is he talking about…?

I look down and realize my soaked shirt has been sticking to my body. What, is this what is flustering him now? I chuckle. I thought I was blushing too much, but just seeing a girl's body can make him so perplexed? Now that's a bit of a surprise. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself a bit more and lean against one of the benches, but I don't try to hide or anything. I can't help but find that a bit... amusing? Liam rolls his eyes and looks elsewhere. I can't help but think he does have something going on with me that I can't grasp yet.

"...How did you know?" I ask.

"About what?"

"How to calm them down. The voices."

He sighs and steps away some more. I'm not too happy about the distance he's putting between us, but thinking about what happened just seconds ago, I can't really blame him either. I was literally tempted to kill him.

"I just... guessed."

"I'm not your first witch, you said. You knew the other ones, right?"

This time, he makes a really sour expression. Does his witch hunter title have anything to do with the previous ones? He avoids my eyes again, looking at one of the murals. After a long silence, he slowly nods, making the piercings in his ears shine a little. Damn, I think I like those piercings.

"Witches have... this thing called the ancestors' blood. It allows them to be guided by their ancestors, especially when they are younger."

I scoff, baffled. Ancestors? The murderous voices in my head would be those of my potential witch ancestors? So far, we haven't found anything to link me to any other witch, other than the fact that I am in Silver City! I shake my head, doubtful.

"I don't think I–"

"All witches have it," he retorts. "It's sort of a... genetic ritual. They hear echoes of the voices of their ancestors, especially when they are troubled, or anxious, whenever they get unstable."

Or dangerously unhappy. Then what triggered it here? I wasn't really in a kind of negative state while chatting with Liam earlier, so why would those... ancestors’ voices come up? I don't even believe that is really what it is. Why would my ancestors or whoever the heck those voices belong to push me to become a murderer? It just makes no sense to me!

"There has to be some sort of mistake," I mutter.

"I don't see anything else that could match what you're experiencing."

"What the hell do you know? Are you a witch hunter or a witch expert?"

"A bit of both," he snickers. "I studied the subject..."

I don't like his arrogant tone. I don't like how he seems to know everything yet isn't being clear. He stays away from me, but he's not afraid. He knows an awful lot about witches, yet won't come close to me. I don't want to play charades all the damn time!

"Fine, then does the witch expert have any other tips for me?" I sigh.

"What else do those voices tell you?"

"What? Nothing! All they have told me is to kill or burn people! That, and those horrible screams that give me headaches all the damn time..."

"Screams?"

"Yes, as if... as if a woman was being tortured or something. Just screams of pure fear and pain. It's like having a direct channel to a torture room, it's just horrifying. I have no idea who it is, or why I hear her. Do you really think it's my... ancestors?"

"It could be. Witches have a history of being persecuted, so..."

I nod. Yeah, I know that much at least. All the records of witches throughout history that Kelsi found ended up with women being burned, hung, or drowned. Nothing too funny about it. However, that was ages ago! Why would I have to endure the painful memories of one of my ancestors who died so long ago? It doesn't make much sense...

"Who was your mother?" he asks.

I raise an eyebrow. He doesn't know about my amnesia?

"I have no idea..." I confess.

"What?"

I explain to him quickly how they found me with no memories, and even my older half-sister has no clue about my mother. He seems more and more surprised as I go, but he's still careful to not look at me while I talk. After a while, he nods.

"Well... if you're a witch, it is definitely from your mother's side... Witch powers are inherited from mother to daughter. Actually, a witch can only give birth to a girl witch, and in some rare cases, she'll have a son, a normal human one."

"Now that's something interesting... except that I know nothing about my own mother," I sigh. "Do you think she was a Fire Witch too?"

"No. It's a cycle. A witch gives birth to a daughter born with a different sign from hers. Your mother can't have been a Fire Witch."

"Oh..."

A cycle? Damn, there wasn't anything about a cycle from what the professor told me or in that herbology book I got.

"You do sound like a witch expert, after all..."

"Yeah, well, the lesson stops here for today," he suddenly declares, standing up.

"What? Why!"

"I have to go."

"Where?"

He rolls his eyes.

"Why do I have to tell you, I'm not your babysitter!"

"You can be my witch-sitter for all I care. I still have questions!" I insist.

"Well, keep them for another time."

Before I can add anything else, he ignores me to shape-shift into a wolf, meaning this conversation is really over for me. What a jerk! Completely helpless, I have to watch the black wolf ignore me and jump out of the little window we came through, leaving his clothes behind. I swear, I can't handle this guy. I don't get him! I frown and keep watching that window for a long time, hesitant about going out. I'm not catching up to him now, he's probably already long gone.

What the heck was that...? As soon as he was gone, all of the screams were gone too. I don't get it. Why would that guy be some sort of trigger? I try to remember what Kelsi told me about the Black Brothers, but it doesn't make sense... I hesitate and get up to go and check his clothes. I know it's probably not very fair, but he left them behind, so... Okay, I don't need to check his underwear, though I do notice the name of the brand. I check his jeans pocket and found an ID card. He's really Liam Black, born September 2000... Oh, so he's a few years older than I am. I keep checking. He also has the papers for a motorbike, a driver’s license, and a phone. I try to unlock the smartphone, but there's a PIN. Crap.

I can't find anything else, but out of spite, I decide to keep everything with me, except for his smartphone. He can come find me if he wants his papers back, I'm done running after him! I feel a bit naughty while putting everything in my pockets, but naughty strangely feels good.

I get up and try to wipe away more of the mud I got on myself. I'm still dirty as hell... I really need to get back and take a good shower. I look up at the window. It's going to be a nightmare to climb out of this. I let out a long sigh, and instead, tour the little chapel a bit. I'll wait until the downpour stops, I am not going back out in this storm. It may be fine for a werewolf, but I'm not risking it. I wouldn't even know where to go anyway.

I look around, but this place is rather... empty. The doors are all condemned, and the bookshelves are bare. Even the little fountain has no water running. It's a miracle I even found some candles... I decide to curl up on one of the benches. If only there was some wood I could burn to warm myself up. Well, at least, Liam left me his jacket. I'm going nuts over his smell... I feel like a pervert, but his smell is so nice and soothing. I start daydreaming, and somehow, warm arms replace the leather sleeves surrounding me. What the hell am I thinking about...

I wake up a while later, with no idea how long I've been asleep. The rain stopped! The difference in sound is baffling. I almost run to the window's opening, and though it looks dark outside, at least I know the storm seems to have passed. I can't help but smile in relief. Good.

As I climb back up, it wakes up all my muscle pains from the fight with Selena, but I don't care much. I need to go back now, I've been gone for a while. I can only imagine the ruckus it's going to be, either from my sister's side or Selena's... I walk through the streets of Silver City, trying to find my way back. One more thing about myself I just discovered: I am the absolute worst at directions. I have a vague idea, but every time I think I'm in the right area, the buildings change just to confuse me. What the hell?

"Oh my God, Mara!"

I turn around just in time to see Kelsi jump at my neck. I hug her back, a bit confused.

"I'm sorry, I just took shelter from the rain, I–"

"Where the hell have you been?! Everyone is furious, they are all looking for you."

"Seriously?" I frown. "No need to be this mad, I was just gone a bit, it's..."

Before I can continue, I realize there's something wrong in Kelsi's eyes. She shakes her head, looking panicked.

"Mara, a big fire started at the university, the humans think you did it!"

...What?

I remain speechless for a long minute. I can barely believe what she just said. A fire... at the university, now?

"I didn't do it!" I immediately blurt out, shocked.

Kelsi grabs my hand, trying to act calm when she most likely isn't.

"Boo, let's get you home first, okay? We can talk once you're dry, you look like you've rolled around in the mud..."

I can't refute that. I see her eyes glance at the new leather jacket covering my shoulders, but she doesn't say anything and pulls me inside the building. Damn it, I was actually this close?

Once we are upstairs, Kelsi gets me in the shower while she grabs some clean and warm clothes for me to get into. I swear I don't remember the last time a hot shower felt this good. I let it pour on me for a few minutes. What a crazy day it’s been? First, that professor at the university who knew me, or at least the former me that was asking around about witches under a fake name. Then, the mob that got mad at me out of nowhere, and finally, Liam Black.

I shiver just remembering his cold eyes. What in the world was that feeling I got from that guy? Every time I am near him, I lose control. It's not just my senses, it's as if my whole body was going crazy. I look down at my hand. He held my hand, and it felt... strangely good. I can remember very precisely his gentle but firm grip. How close he was, and even the details of his face. He got dangerously close to mine. Why was he acting like that? One minute, he was running away from me as if he hated me, but then, he got all... caring.

"Mara?" Kelsi knocks at the door. "You should come and see!"

I frown and get out of the shower. I don't even need to grab the towel, my body dries within seconds. I can feel my fire running inside and adjust my internal temperature... I grab the comfy denim overalls and top Kelsi left me, and get out of the bathroom. She's in the salon, watching the TV with her arms crossed. Ben is actually there too, and it looks like he just arrived from outside, his hair still wet.

We don't even talk, I just watch the TV as the local news channel is running. The images speak for themselves. It really is the university; a whole damn building of it caught on fire as if hell itself had unleashed...

"...Of unknown circumstances," says the anchor. "An inferno broke out an hour ago on the campus of Silver City University, engulfing one of the buildings within seconds. The fire took over very quickly according to the witnesses on site, pushing the local authorities to believe this may have been intentional. The chief of the local police just gave a more recent statement, mentioning there are no known victims yet. All parties involved will do their best to resolve this incident..."

Kelsi grabs the remote to mute it, making a sour expression, and turns to me.

"Mara if–"

"It wasn't me!" I retort immediately.

"These are some really strange circumstances," says Ben.

"Stop fucking glaring at me! I didn't do anything, you saw me leave the campus!"

"You've been gone for hours, Mara," says Kelsi. "I don't believe you did it, I swear, but you're going to be in trouble. Where were you? The werewolves were looking all over Silver City for you!"

"Selena is on her way," adds Ben.

I glare at him. So he already told her I was back here. Damn it, if they send me back to the hospital over this, I am really going to lose my shit! I turn to Kelsi, the only one who seems to really believe me.

"Does my sister know?"

She seems surprised by my question and glances at the TV, helpless.

"Well, I don't want to be pessimistic, but... Mara, it's been all over the news for a while now, pretty much the whole city knows..."

Damn it, not only Selena but Amy is going to give me hell. I didn't even do anything! Why the hell did that fire have to break out now? I haven't even been free for three damn days and then this kind of thing happens! I don't know what to do, and honestly, I'm considering running away as one of the options. I start pacing in the room, unable to calm down. This is just impossible, why did this happen? Why, just why? I did not start this fucking fire, so why does it feel like everything is already pointing toward me?

"Mara, calm down..." whispers Kelsi.

"I can't calm down! Someone is trying to freaking frame me, Kelsi, I can't see any other explanation!"

"That's a bit much for framing someone, don’t you think?" grimaces Ben, glancing at the TV.

I glare at him, but just then, we hear a knock at the door. Damn it... As I am not moving and neither does Kelsi, Ben sighs and gets up. He goes to open the door while I mentally prepare myself.

As I feared, Selena walks in, looking pretty unhappy and followed by two wolves. I don't recognize either of them, but I guess it's not important that I do. They look like they are her bodyguards or something, but they stay behind her. The White Luna looks angry enough by herself and that's all I'm concerned about. How the hell did she get here so fast anyway? She's in a sports outfit, her blonde hair braided down on her shoulder, a few wet strands sticking out. Was she training or running somewhere close by? She walks up to me, but I step back.

"I did not do it," I declare right away, determined.

"You want me to believe you?" says Selena. "Mara, you went to the university, got caught in some mob of stupid angry students, and disappeared, leaving Ben behind! I said to fucking stay somewhere we could watch you, and not get involved with the humans! Instead, you almost start a fight, and minutes after that, a fire appears in the middle of the university! Mara, what the hell am I supposed to think?!"

I can't help but glare at Ben. I know he's definitely the one who already told her everything. The redhead makes himself as little as possible on the couch, looking a bit awkward. Yeah, I'll make him pay for that later.

"I did not do it, Selena," I insist.

"Then where the hell have you been? What part of ‘under surveillance’ escaped you for two fucking hours?!"

"I wasn't alone! Okay, maybe I shouldn't have left, but I wasn't alone, I followed Liam Black to the border, we got caught in that shitty storm, and–"

"Liam?"

Her anger suddenly evaporates, I'm thrown a bit off guard. However, Selena's expression has completely changed. She doesn't look angry anymore, but more shocked. Why does it sound so crazy? She puts her hands on her hips.

"Liam Black? You were with Liam?"

"Yes, that guy."

Why does she look so doubtful? Isn't Liam Black supposed to be her brother-in-law? I exchange a glance with Kelsi, but she looks as clueless as I am. Selena sighs, shaking her head. For a few seconds, her eyes look lost, her expression blank, and I get it's their mind-linking thing again. I wait, a bit anxious. She should be able to confirm it quickly if they are family, no? However, after a while, she growls.

"Damn Liam, he's gone again..."

"Gone?"

"Liam knows how to ignore the mind-link. His brothers can't reach him if he doesn't want them to, and he tends to do that often."

You've got to be kidding me? So the only guy who can prove I did not start this fire is off the radar? I pull my hair, so frustrated that I want to scream. Damn that guy! He's been playing push and pull for two hours, and now that I need him, he vanishes even out of his own family's mind-link thing?

"You've got to be kidding me..." I mutter. "I am not going back to the hospital, Selena. I didn't start that damn fire!"

"How... about you convince me after you calm down?"

I'm confused and realize no one is looking me in the eye anymore, but further down. I look down, and my hands... my hands lit on fire without me realizing. Oh, damn it. I shake it off, quite literally, making sure they extinguish completely, leaving a little smoke.

"Alright, what the hell were you doing with Liam then?"

I'm a bit baffled by that question, but Selena sighs.

"Mara, I already know Liam is not fond of you, so you might as well spill it now. Did you fight? What did he say?"

Fight? I saw more of that guy's tail than his fangs! Why would he fight me? Oh, right, the witch hunter thingy... Well, he's bad at it. Is that why Selena was so doubtful? I don't know how to answer, honestly.

"I don't know, we just... talked."

Selena raises an eyebrow.

"Talked?"

What do I even say? I don't want to tell Selena about the voices, and why would she even believe me anyway? After some hesitation, I walk to the bathroom and bring back the black leather jacket to show her. She's a werewolf, she should at least recognize the scent. Upon seeing the jacket, she does seem to relax a bit.

"So it's true... At least I know you were with him for some time..."

"Ask him," I insist. "I did not start that fire, I was caught in the rain and that damn mud, away from the university at that time."

"If Mara didn't do it," says Kelsi, "then who did...?"

"...I want to know too. There are no victims, but the humans are furious. The word is spreading about what happened at the university too. They all think Mara did it, and unfortunately, we have no actual proof you didn't."

Once again, I want to scream about how unfair this whole thing is. At least, Selena seems to believe I'm innocent, but that barely makes me feel relieved. I let myself fall onto one of the seats, exhausted. This is one to put on the list of crappy days.

"I don't have any other proof, but I swear I didn't do it, Selena."

I see her hesitate, but eventually, she growls and shakes her head.

"You stay here until I can find more clues or anything that proves your innocence. I'll go see Nora, I hope she can help me get to Liam..."

Why Nora? Shouldn't she ask his brothers instead? Is that Nora closer to Liam...? I feel a bit upset, but before I can dwell on it, Selena growls.

"I'm warning you for the last time, Mara. I don't want more conflicts with humans, so all three of you better stay here until I say anything else!"

Her last words are clearly directed at Ben with a mean growl. He nods, looking a bit guilty. Well, I did lose him on purpose, but he snitched to Selena, so I'm not feeling that sorry for him.

"Miss Selena..."

We all turn to Kelsi, a bit surprised. She seems a bit shy, pulling the bottom of her sweatshirt.

"A lot of people shared Mara's picture and... ours, on social media. I'm afraid we are going to be targeted again if we go out now, everyone knows our faces."

I had forgotten about that. People were sharing about our presence at the university on social media as soon as we got out of that class. No, maybe it even started earlier, while we were sitting inside. Those girls were doing something on their phones, it bothered me but I didn't think that far. Kelsi looks really worried, though, and she probably wouldn't have mentioned it to Selena if she wasn't.

The Luna nods.

"I know. I'll talk to our people, see if we can do something about it. Needless to say, your sister is furious about this too, Mara. I would expect to hear from her soon if I were you."

Crap...

After that, Selena and her wolves leave the apartment, and I'm left here, exhausted and disappointed. I didn't realize I was still holding Liam's jacket. I don't really want to let go of it either, so I actually wrap it back around my shoulders a bit shamelessly. I don't get how his smell is doing such a good job of calming me down, but it does.

Next to me, still standing, Kelsi turns to Ben.

"Ben, can you go out?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"I was just thinking Mara and I could use some beers, and there's literally a shop downstairs, but if you can't..."

I have to say, Kelsi is a remarkable actress. I can tell when she’s acting because I've been with her for weeks, but her pitiful look is totally working on Ben. I see him hesitate and blush a bit. Well, she is hard to say no to when she pouts her lip a little like that, her head a bit low under her pink hoodie.

"Oh... Okay, fine, if it's just... beers..." he mumbles, grabbing his jacket.

"Thanks!"

We watch him leave, and I frown, turning to her.

"What is it? Kelsi, we can't leave now, if I'm caught outside again..."

However, before I can even finish my sentence, she shakes her head and pulls her phone out, taking the seat next to mine to show me.

"Don't worry, we are not going out. I just wanted to show you this without Ben listening. He's cute, but he's a real snitch and I think he basically tells them everything we say..."

"He's cute?" I repeat, amused.

Kelsi blushes and slaps my shoulder with an annoyed expression.

"Mara, seriously! I'm trying to be serious right now and you're making fun of me?"

"Come on, you're the one who said it. Okay, okay, never mind. So, what did you want to show me? Is it about the fire?"

"No, remember the list the library girl sent me? I received it when I got back here, and while you were in the shower, I went through it."

I had forgotten about that list! I look at her screen; she has several tabs open on a public library website.

"The first two I searched were about witches, so you were definitely looking into that... The third one is a bit more concerning."

I need to squint my eyes to read the red letters on the black cover of the book, but I realize it's in a different language. I turn to Kelsi.

"What is that supposed to be?"

"It's an old book, forbidden for sale and printing in a lot of countries. There are a whole bunch of scary restrictions on it I did not even know existed until now. I looked it up, the university library apparently had an old foreign version of it. I translated the title. It reads, ‘ The Forbidden Art of Necromancy, Blood Witchcraft, and Chthonic Circles’ .

I shiver. A book about fucking necromancy? Why the hell was I researching this…? I turn to Kelsi, and she's making a pretty sour face too.

"You're telling me this was only the third book, and it's about messing with the dead?"

"Yeah. I'll bet we are not going to like the rest of what is on this list..." sighs Kelsi.