Page 20 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

I take my time to observe the map. It isn't as simple as an actual map, but if I look at all the details carefully enough, this is obviously some representation of Silver City. I recognize the forests, an apple-green area, and the sea, some indigo blue. Silver City is split into different colors and shapes too, like a wide circle. They are probably representing the different neighborhoods or werewolf territories? It would seem so; what I think could be the White Moon territory is a bright orange… Moreover, there are some figures and shapes that make it easier to figure it out.

The hospital, first, is represented by little squares, and I see the park I would occasionally be allowed to go to. It's like Sylviana picked some landmarks of the city and represented them as if she was seeing them through a magnifying glass. One big black rectangle must be a company headquarters, maybe the Black Corporation? I keep looking. Why did she pick those spots in particular? There are over twenty, including one little greenhouse that must be here, her house. So how do I figure out which ones are important?

I am tempted to try and burn that painting, to see if something stays behind like with the leaves, but there isn't any ivy on there, so it might be risky to assume this will be the same kind of system... My pyromaniac tendencies might cause trouble again. What, then?

"How did she use this?" I ask Liam, who has been observing me for a while.

We laid the map down on the floor for me to see it all, but while I'm on my knees and almost on all fours to try and decipher this, he is just standing on the side, arms crossed and looking at a loss.

"I don't know!" he says. "That thing was always hung in her room, I don't know if this is actually useful, or how... I know she did use it, though, she would add some important places as time went on."

"Like what?"

"Like the Sapphire Moon House from the former Blue Moon Clan, our company building, Selena's hideout in the forest, East Point Ground where Nora's powers appeared for the first time, that kind of stuff. The hospital, and the… the location of the war too."

Oh, I can see it. A big red zone in the northwest area… So that’s where it happened? According to the scale of the city, it was a very wide area. No wonder they all consider it a big war. Of course, she chose red to represent it… It's kind of sad and depressing to think about. Probably not too useful either... I spot something else too.

"This white mark, it has to be her magic tree."

Liam nods, although a bit sour.

"Yeah, that's right at the border and on the right spot too."

He comes to sit next to me on the floor, and once again, I feel that little spark between us. Is it really just me? Whenever he's near, I feel like something is waking up inside… His smell, mostly, drives me nuts. I never thought I was particularly sensitive to smells, but it's like a conditioned response whenever he's near. I keep staring, losing my mind for a second. I don't know how ridiculous I am, staring at him and being struck like this, but I feel like if I don't learn his facial features by heart, I'll be losing something. His straight jawline, that eye between a gray and a blue sky, his thin lips…

"M-Mara?"

Crap, I really did end up staring! I'm so dumb... I feel like an idiot, and he probably thinks I'm some weirdo too. With his strange attitude toward me, I still can't tell how he feels about me, and this is not even the right place to think about it! I shake my head and look at the map again, blushing and feeling dumb as hell. The only thing that makes me feel a bit better is that I am pretty sure Liam was blushing too…

"Alright," I say, clearing my throat a little, "help me out, I don't know this city that much yet. There's a lot of stuff I don't recognize, you're the specialist here. Anything else you can point out?"

We are both happy to change the topic to something else. For a while, Liam helps me figure out what is what, and we try to understand why she pinpointed those buildings in particular. As it turns out, a lot of them are actually important buildings in the city overall, like the two hospitals, the cemetery, a few parks, and buildings. Some are related to Nora or Selena and the packs they were raised in too, or the Blacks Brothers' past like the cemetery their mother lies in, or the docks his older brother apparently used to work at, the same one we ate at for lunch…

"So you recognize everything," I sigh.

"Yep. I grew up here, Mara, what were you expecting?"

"Well, not something like a big cross pointing at some treasure, but still. I don't know… If there was one you did not recognize it would have been the next spot for me to look at."

"I see…"

He stares at the map again for a while. We are now both at a loss and honestly, I don't even know what to say next. It's getting a bit uncomfortable, and I'm upset to be left without a clue again. Suddenly, Liam points out two locations with his fingers, making me confused.

"What?"

"Well, I do recognize everything, but these two are the ones I actually don't really understand."

I frown, staring at the two locations.

"What do you mean?"

"All the other locations she put make sense for Sylviana to have pointed out. Like, she's been here before, it's related to her past with Nora, Selena, or me… but these two, I was actually surprised she painted them when we figured them out. This one is the North Cemetery. I don’t recall her ever going there at all. That location is originally for Selena's clan, the northern werewolves. A lot of deceased people from the war are all there, that's why I know about it. Although, I don't know why she would have been there before, and if they are victims of the war, they were buried after Sylviana…"

He can't seem to say it, but I get it. So she never saw those people being buried there, which makes no sense as to why this place would be relevant to her.

"No one she knows is buried there...?"

"No... Only werewolves she was never close to, like Selena's adoptive parents. I think the only wolf she did know from the north was Selena's godmother, but she isn't buried there either..."

I check out the other spot.

"What about the docks? No link either?"

"Yeah," he says, shaking his head. "I mean, I can't figure that one out. It's more a thing of my past and my older brother's... I never took her there, to be honest, she wasn't a... cheeseburger kind of person."

"Vegetarian?"

"Vegan."

I bet. Liam keeps frowning.

"I thought it might be because I told her about my brother working there, but it makes less sense to her… less than any of the other spots."

So we do have two new leads… After a while, though, I'm somehow more intrigued by that cemetery situation. Why is there always something related to death lingering around…? That professor from the university mentioned something like necromancy, was Sylviana into that too?

I glimpse at the Witches' Ancestral tree again, at the burn mark after Nephera's name. Did her child even have a name for it to be erased? What about the others whose names disappeared from the tree? I suddenly realize something else. It looks like only the stillborn children are erased, as all witches whose name is a few branches above must have died by now too. If it was just the dead ones, most of those names would be gone, but only a few are erased.

"Oh, crap..."

I see Liam stand up, frowning, and looking toward the window. I stand up too, confused.

"What?"

"One of our wolves spotted something outside the barrier. I have to go."

"Wait, I'm coming with you," I say, walking to grab his jacket.

However, to my surprise, Liam comes and gently takes his jacket back from my hands, shaking his head. Our eyes meet and for a while, I feel that spark again, between us and down to my stomach... I see him gasp, and for a second there, I'm even more troubled. I didn't realize he had come that close to grab his jacket, and that space between us is full of something I can't describe.

"No," he suddenly says.

"Wait, what? Why not?"

He carefully steps back as one would back away from a dangerous tiger. He glances outside.

"It's still raining, Mara, at best, you're only going to get a new headache and come out for nothing. Even if there is something outside, it is not for you to deal with."

"How would you know?" I protest. "I'm a Fire Witch, I have plenty of firepower to defend myself!"

"Defend yourself against what? You know nothing about other witches, and if it's one of them, they have years of experience compared to a newbie like you! No, you stay here and wait."

I really don't like that, and I keep frowning as he leaves his jacket on the couch. Seriously? If he was going to leave it anyway, he could have left it to me! He even takes his shirt off, and I lose my attention for a while. His eyes follow my line of sight down to his abs, and he sighs.

"I'm going to shape-shift, Mara."

"Yeah?"

"So, would you mind, you know, not watching me undress?"

I blush and turn around, but despite the nice view from just then, I'm still not happy with his answer. I cross my arms, shaking my head while I hear him take off his pants.

"I still think I could very well come with you," I protest. "You're about to leave me alone. Is Selena fine with that?"

"Well, they are probably more fine with you being alone than me, to be honest, and Selena isn't my mom, my Alpha, or my caretaker. She can't spank me because I've been a bad boy."

Great, so I'm the only one she likes to give a good beating. Although, I bet Liam would shut up in front of his older brothers. I fight the urge to turn around while he keeps undressing.

"Still, I don't see the harm in coming with you. I can do well despite the headache..."

I suddenly feel a cold wind blowing in, and despite my blushing, turn around to check what's going on.

Damn it, that jerk is gone already! The entrance door is wide open, hence the damn wind, rain, and cold getting inside. I'm left with his pile of clothes on the floor, including his... oh, crap. At least he took a second to fold it a bit and push it to the side. I shake my head, annoyed. Damn it, he really ran away while I wasn't looking. Again. Shall I chase after that idiot? He's still pretty damn fast, and I have no idea where that stupid wolf boy went... He only said the border, that's rather vague. I should avoid being where I'm not supposed to be for a while too.

I sigh. Fine, but now, I'm left alone here and I don't know what to do. I've already studied the map so much, I feel like I could repaint it myself, although I am pretty sure I wouldn't have Sylviana's talent... I grab Liam's jacket to wrap myself in and fall on the big couch again. This time, I am facing that gigantic tree, my feet on the couch, and my arms around my knees, observing it one more time. What were you trying to tell me…? I keep staring at it for a long time as if something was going to happen. Nothing changes. I'm alone in a big, silent house, left to stare at this painting like a clueless idiot. No, I gotta do something. Nothing will happen this way, right?

Come on, Mara, don't stay on your ass. I get up and go to look around the kitchen, searching the cabinets for I don't know what. I find some cutlery, dishes, and that the water is still running, but my progress is zero. I sigh and walk over to get down on my knees and face the map again. It can't be a simple map. I am sure I missed something and it annoys me. So what now?

I light the fire in my hand, but nothing happens yet. If only I had my cat! I bet Spark would have found the trick long ago. I am surprised I couldn't find a magic circle. Unless...

The city is sort of shaped like a circle. It isn't regular, but it is still sort of a closed shape. Moreover, it isn't just a painting, it is on a thicker kind of fabric, something I can step on without damaging it. I ought to try. I put my cup down and run to the kitchen to grab a knife and return to that map. I take my shoes off and, with a deep breath, knife in hand, I step inside Silver City to sit. Nothing happens, but at least, I know what is the next step to try.

I use the knife to stab my finger, deep enough for some blood to appear. I hope I'm not doing something crazy, but I bleed on the map.

Damn, the colors are really changing, I knew it! It takes a few seconds, but instead of simply staining that map, the red drops run to different locations. What the heck is that supposed to mean…? One stops right on the cemetery, and a second one on the docks, I was almost expecting it. So Liam's hunch was right. What's next…? I follow three more drops, but one stays right here, on the spot of Sylviana's house. Is it because I'm there? The drops keep rolling around that spot, pretty useless.

"...Show me where Liam Black is," I say.

Immediately, they change directions, making me smile, satisfied. Damn, this thing is just amazing. The drops run straight toward the north, and they suddenly slow down but are still heading toward the north. So Liam is probably running there, and that is his position. Now I know where the idiot went. However, one of the drops goes ahead to stand on a different spot. What is that supposed to be? It's moving too. The other witch, outside? I glance at the tree. According to that thing, I have some blood in common with all the other witches anyway.

So now I know where he is headed. I hesitate a bit, but my decision is made quickly. I look around and find a bag to fold the map inside, along with that knife. I take several pictures of the Witches’ Ancestral Tree with my phone, and like a good girl, I even quickly text Kelsi about where I'm going. Better than having half the local population of werewolves looking for me... I don't wait for a reply, though, and put my shoes back on to go outside.

It's still raining, but I have Liam's jacket on and his helmet in hand. I suddenly come face to face with his bike.

...It can't be that complicated to drive, right?

I am not sure what's come over me. Liam left his bike here, his keys, and I can't forget that sensation from earlier. It was thrilling. That sensation of absolute freedom, the wind fighting us, and the power of the engine running anyway, stronger and faster. I just want to try again, and I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, waiting right outside that door.

I am playing with the keys in my hands, but now that I'm facing the beast, I can't help but weigh how wrong this could go... I have seen him start that bike, I can tell how it basically works. It's still theft, though, right? I take a deep breath and start by putting the helmet on. It feels a bit heavier, but I feel more legitimate once I have it covering my head. I keep Liam's jacket on, and I try to act normal. Not that I'm afraid anyone's going to call me out for riding this thing.

There is no one out in this kind of weather. The storm is getting worse above my head. I see lightning strike a bit further away, and although it looked okay from Sylviana's house, the downpour really isn't showing any sign of stopping soon.

The headache is back.

I wish I could pretend it isn't and I'm fine, but it's still there, pounding and painful. As if to remind me this is dangerous and I don't know what I am doing... I take a deep breath and get on the bike, mimicking Liam's gestures to the best of my abilities. Up until I turn the engine on and get the bike roaring, I am actually doing pretty good. I could get used to this sound... I take another deep breath and put both hands on the handles, determined. You can do this, Mara.

It takes me a couple of tries where the bike almost runs away without me, but after a few uneasy attempts, I get the hang of it. A little pressure and I get the engine purring like a kitten and ready to take me wherever I want. Could I possibly have a knack for this? That would be awesome... however, I don't have time for fun. I need to get to this bike's owner. Liam is always so adamant about leaving and staying away from me, but I am fed up with it this time.

I shyly start the bike and get farther away from Sylviana's house. I am thankful for the clues she left me, but somehow, I know my heart isn't there. I have Liam's current position stuck in my mind, and I know I gotta go there. I have no idea what is waiting for me, but I just know I need to get to wherever he is. He left so fast, and I still have a lot of questions. The ones at the top of my list are actually about our relationship, so...

I finally dare accelerate a little once I recognize some of the buildings of the White Moon Clan. Selena's territory, basically. I keep heading north. A few crazy people still outside glance at me with curious eyes, but I ignore them. I just want to find one werewolf, I don't care much for the others who are starting to follow me.

Driving a bike is even more amazing than I had thought. It follows my every move, ready to take any direction or turn at my demand, and feeling my weight merging with the motorbike is simply amazing. I enjoy this ride, careful of my surroundings. I can't afford to kill anyone, I think. Moreover, although I have a rough idea thanks to the map, I need to find that location by myself... It's easier than I thought, but not in a good way.

I can't describe that feeling, it's like something is constantly pulling me toward Liam. I'm not even aware of it sometimes, but it's like a knife, planted deep inside my heart. An aching pain, whenever he ignores me or leaves. Does it make any sense for me to fall for a stranger? Who supposedly hates me, nevertheless. I don't get it. I don't understand why I'm always craving his presence, looking for him subconsciously, and even worse, always able to tell where he is. Moreover, I can't help but think he feels the same. Why else would he always be around whenever something happens to me? He is strangely caring toward me for someone who so often tries to avoid me.

I follow my instincts and that pull until I get back into the familiar part of the territory. One bonus to riding a bike is that, with a helmet and a leather jacket on, no one can recognize me. People glance at the shiny engine, but they don't care much about who's driving it. Moreover, in this rain, the few pedestrians I see are just running to find shelter from the rain or get to their destination quickly.

I really like gloomy, rainy Silver City. For someone so sensitive to rain, I'm strangely fine with the downpour. My headache is still there, but it's not a pulsating pain like before, just a slow one. I can manage just fine, and I have other priorities too. I keep going, past the northern territory, until I find the border. Thankfully, I feel it right before I hit it. I suddenly hit the brakes, and the bike stops right there.

I almost forgot about that damn thing. If only there was a way for me to get past it! I know Liam is out there, and it's horribly frustrating that I can't get to him. What do I do now?

I keep telling myself I need to sort things out. I'm aware of how hot-headed I am, but this time, I need to find the solution without burning myself. I take off the helmet and leave it with the bike. Keeping his jacket to hide the keys in, I get closer to the barrier. I can feel it, as if some electric tension was stopping me. It's somehow... weak. Weaker than next to the tree. Is it because it’s farther from the source? Or someone weakened this area? I decide to walk alongside it, looking for some sort of weak spot. I remember feeling it was weaker in some parts when Nora showed it to me, and if the overall wall is even weaker here...

Bingo.

I find one spot where I can barely feel anything. It's tiny, but there's definitely some hole here... Is this what that witch was looking for to try and sneak in? I check it with my arm first, and it goes through. It's like pushing into something buttery, there's a slight resistance, but nothing I can't take.

I slowly squeeze myself in, fighting a bit. I don't want to enlarge the loophole, but it requires some strength for me to push my way out. I almost get on all fours since I have to crouch so low.

Once I'm finally out, I get up, a bit tired. It must have looked ridiculous from the outside, seeing me crouch and squeeze myself through some invisible wall. Even now, everything probably looks normal to most people. Seriously, I wish she had added some sort of door to this. With a “no visitors allowed” kind of sign, even...

I don't have time to lose. I'm not supposed to be out, and I still haven't found Liam. I run into the forest. I have no idea where I’m going, but somehow, I have no issue finding my way in. It's like some strange instinct, telling me which area to avoid, which path to take. Like a mute, quiet voice inside guiding me. It's nice, but I have no idea how to deal with all these new feelings; I'll add them to the list...

I suddenly slow down. I hear something on the side, and growling too. I feel more movements, like branches shaking suddenly, and bushes and the ground being hit violently. I hold my breath and get closer, trying to stay as silent as possible. I can recognize Liam's wolf growling, but nothing about whoever he is fighting!

"Oh, who do we have here…? The baby witch..."

I stiffen and glare at wherever the voice came from.

To my surprise, a woman suddenly steps out, looking completely unafraid and staring right at me. Her clothes are dirty, probably from the fight with Liam, but she has that cunning smile on... Overall, she’s really pretty. Her long, brown hair is braided over her shoulder, and she's wearing a long, sleeveless tunic with a unique patterned design. She has a mix of Caucasian and Hispanic features and skin color, but her heavy makeup blurs my guesses.

She smiles wide with her brown-colored lips.

"Who are you?" I ask, defiant.

"One of your sisters, of course! Little witch, did no one teach you anything? You look so lost..."

What the heck is she saying now? I don't like her manners or how she acts. She looks out of it, with her arms moving around and her strange mannerism.

Suddenly, Liam jumps out of the bushes, still in his wolf form. He briefly growls at me but comes right away to stand between me and that woman. While he only growled softly at me, most likely annoyed by my presence, he is furiously threatening that witch. I frown at his muddy paws and the injury on his shoulder. He looks furious and not in good shape. The witch loses her smile a bit, seeing us together.

"Oh dear, did that wolf already get to your head? Don't let them corrupt you! Werewolves are known to use witches to their hearts' content..."

"What are you talking about?" I ask, a bit baffled.

"Long ago, us witches used werewolves as allies to protect us. Despite our magic, we are still women, physically weak. So, we'd use werewolves to help us stay away from the greed of men. Yet, the werewolves are now allying with humans and getting greedy as well! I had no idea this city was taken, but... you work for the werewolves, don't you?"

I frown. Is this city taken? Does she think I am Silver City's... official witch? I am not sure what I am supposed to say.

"I don't work for the werewolves," I retort. "I’ve only worked for myself so far."

"Oh... So how did you make this one so attached to you? He looks like he's protecting you like they protect their fated mates! Witches can't be a werewolf's fated mate, so... did you compel him to do this? You don't look like a Dark Witch, though... No, you're too green for that, aren't you, dear?"

What the heck is that woman talking about now? Fated mates? What's that? I've heard werewolves talk about mates and all, but the way she says it, I feel like I missed a chapter. About that Dark Witch thing too. The way she says those words do not match the little bits of information Liam gave me. I glance down at the black werewolf.

What did he hide from me? There are some things I just don't understand, and this woman doesn't look like she's about to cause me any harm either. I am a bit... lost. She notices and smiles a bit more.

"You've never been properly trained, have you? I can see it, you have that spark in your eyes, that little flame all young witches have that says you have no idea what you are doing... Shall I teach you, darling?"

Liam growls even more at her, not fond of that proposal. I'm a bit confused, all of a sudden. She is definitely weird, but I can't feel any ill intent from that woman toward me. I have to tell myself she was still fighting Liam until minutes ago because I can't tell from her words and actions.

She tilts her head.

"Little lady, you look a bit lost. Is that really your home city?"

"Yes, and how about you leave it alone!"

I don't have as much spite as I tried to make it sound. I am a bit confused, and she doesn't even seem upset at my answer. She crosses her arms, gauging me with an amused look.

"You're a feisty one. A Fire Witch, aren't you? You are all always so hot-headed. However, you'll get burned if you don't learn how to really play with fire, darling. All witches need training, and you don't seem like a trained one."

I frown and light my fire in my hands to show her. I'm getting annoyed with all her nagging and belittling me. I may not have been trained by a witch, but she'll be the burnt one if she keeps insulting me. I raise my arms, the fire dancing in my hands with some deep red flames. She raises an eyebrow.

"Impressive..." she whispers. "Still, mastering your element is only the beginning, young lady."

She does something with her fingers, agitating them like someone would play air piano, and suddenly, big roots emerge from the ground. She has them mimic her finger movements, and I have to admit, I am impressed. She can really master those at a level I am far from... I'm still at the stage of not trying to injure anyone. I must have let my emotions show because she chuckles.

"You're cute," she says. "I was glad to have finally found a city, but it turns out it's not witch-less, just wrongly taken care of. Shall I teach you, then? Who is your mother?"

"...I don't know," I admit.

She suddenly loses her smile, and the roots fall down to the ground.

"...You don't know?" she repeats. "Interesting... Although, that explains why you're roaming around like a child and playing with fire. Well, I am Ravena, daughter of Cathleya. Do you at least have a name?"

"...Mara."

Maybe I shouldn't have given her that, but I had a glimpse of hope that this woman might know something, and react to it. She simply nods.

"Well, Mara, I am an Earth Witch, but a wiser and older one than you are. I won't pursue this city any longer... if you properly claim it."

"How do I do that?"

"Learn your powers. Assert your dominance over the wolves, and... keep greedy ladies like me at bay. I don't mind killing a wolf or two, but I am not really desperate to steal from a child. Earth Witches like me are not the confrontational type, but some of our sisters are. Like the two other ones roaming around here..."

I frown. So there are other witches looking to get into Silver City, as Liam said! Damn it... Ravena chuckles, shaking her head.

"So interesting. You're really lost, aren't you? You can't even sense them?"

I feel a bit ashamed, but I can't. I can't figure out who the other two witches are, or where the hell they are. I don't like knowing we have two enemies hidden around here, waiting for the right time to attack. Ravena shrugs.

"Oh, well. I will probably stay around a little while longer then. I don't like fighting, but maybe I won't have to if you guys kill each other first."

Wow, talk about not being confrontational, this one sounds more like some vulture! I glance down at Liam, but he is still growling furiously, probably not giving a damn about whatever that witch says.

"...Why aren't you even trying? You even offered to teach me," I ask.

"Witches are selfish, but we also have strong maternal instincts. We are not as many as we once were, either. It is a bit of our duty to protect the little ones like you... especially when it looks like they are in trouble. This city is crowded with wolves, isn't it? I can tell. We can't have a little witch get killed by werewolves, it would be a loss for us."

"So you're only fine with me dying as long as you guys do the job?" I mutter, a bit annoyed at these weird witch rules.

Ravena hesitates for a second, but she smiles.

"Sort of? Well, it's better than dying by the fangs of werewolves. Personally, I don't like those dogs, considering they betrayed us long ago. You should be thankful you met me before you met the other two. They wouldn't have let you or that dog go back alive. I just happen to be the laziest and weakest of the three. I am not interested enough in a city infested with werewolves to dispute it with a Fire Witch."

I realize she's probably aware that, as untrained as I am, I'm still probably stronger than she is as a Fire Witch. She would be at an obvious disadvantage, fighting both me and Liam. So her giving up is not just about goodwill, but she is also smart enough to not provoke me. Maybe her little talk from earlier was also to test if I would be able and willing to fight back or not...

"Anyway," she continues, "I'll stay around to watch. You can just come back here and call me if you're interested in a lesson. It won't be free, though. And please, spare me the dog next time. This one is feisty, territorial, and annoying."

I glance down at Liam. I can't say she is wrong about any of that... Ravena's words are stuck in my head. Liam and I have some serious talking to do. I watch her go, still full of confidence, and as she glances down at Liam with a sneer, he suddenly starts growling.

"Hey!"

I see him about to jump at her, and I try to hold him back without thinking. He reacts immediately to my hand on his fur, but not in a good way. He bites me.