Page 35 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

His hands caress my lower back, making me blush more and more. The parking lot gets hotter all of a sudden... Thank Moon Goddess there's no one around because this kiss is probably barely legal. Is it because Liam is in his biker outfit? I just can't resist. We keep kissing for a while and that's all I want to think about. His hot breath, our hot skin, and the crazy sparks in my stomach.

"Meow."

We both jump and turn our heads toward Spark. My cat is giving us the death glare, sitting up on Liam's bike. I glare at him but Liam chuckles and kisses my neck.

"Alright, I think we'd better stop there."

"Do we have to?" I sigh, a bit disappointed.

Liam sighs and grabs my chin.

"You little witch," he mutters. "Stop tempting me."

I smile and bite my thumb, a bit excited. Liam clicks his tongue and grabs my hand to take it away from my mouth. Oh, that bad habit... I let out a long sigh.

"Actually, we really have to go," he says. "Selena's waiting for us at the cemetery."

"She's there? Why?"

"...She remembers where she saw your name, Mara."

"Oh..."

The hot atmosphere from before disappears all at once. I already had a hunch but... now I feel like this is going to be a hard one. I glance at the journal, but Liam gently pulls my chin and has me look at him instead.

"...Are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah. I... I figured it might be... I mean, it's a cemetery right? Moreover..."

I remember the signs I drew on the mirror earlier and nod.

"I think I know how to properly get in contact with the other Mara now. This isn't going to be as hard as it could have been. I almost have Clarissa’s full story. It's time to get to know the other Mara. Plus I'm glad there wasn't anything bad between them. From reading Clarissa's journal those two just... genuinely loved each other. They wanted to help one another. I'm glad it's not some dark possession story or some Dark Witchcraft that went bad."

"...Well, we’re not exactly sure it wasn't, right?"

"I'll get the answers soon." I nod, convinced. "Let's go?"

"Let's go." He nods, giving me another quick kiss.

I grab Spark to hold on my lap while Liam gets on his bike and starts the engine. The truth is, I didn't want to show it to him but I feel a bit sour. I just want this to be over and done with so I can go home and finally talk to Mara again. I hope that mirror thing will still work later.

I get behind Liam, hoping no one will say a thing about the cat I'm holding. I have no idea how I'm supposed to carry Spark otherwise and it's not like he's going to leave us. I guess magic cats don't mind a bike ride more than any other...?

We leave the pool’s parking lot and while Liam takes us north, I'm thinking about Clarissa again.

I don't think I sympathized with her as much as I do now. From her memories, I had thought she was rather weak, but now I realize I just didn't know the real extent of her pain. She was more of a survivor than I am. Moreover, she could have not cared after Mara saved her life, but she still held onto the ghost like a lifeline desperate to save her. I can't even imagine how she must have felt, knowing she was condemned yet still hoping for a solution. I hope we find out about her real end soon, about how I got her body back to good health again.

At least, I now understand how she was able to do all of this. The magic circle in her bedroom, her contact with Mara, and the little snake traps. Clarissa studied witchcraft and did the most she could with what little magic she carried in her blood. She wasn't a full-fledged witch but she still managed to learn enough to do this much. It's impressive... I have full firepower and I'm handling it like a baby trying to stand up. In a way, the powerless Clarissa was much more experienced than I am. I shouldn't have underestimated all the books Kelsi handed me, that stuff is really for witches. Something as simple as three symbols on a mirror allowed me to get in contact with the other Mara... or at least, what was left of her soul. I wish I could know exactly who I was talking to, what she wants? Why wouldn't she be the one in this body? Why is she in the background? I'm starting to think Liam may have been right to worry about this...

We arrive at the cemetery and Selena is standing there, accompanied by a tawny wolf. Liam stops the bike right in front of them and I realize the White Moon Alpha has a really sour expression on.

"Hi, you two," she mutters.

"Hi," says Liam. "Hi Daniel."

The wolf growls briefly and I get off the bike, letting Spark down. Arms crossed, Selena walks up to me.

"Sorry it took me so long..." she sighs. "It only clicked when Liam mentioned you wanted to go to the cemetery. I... I come here from time to time, to see my parents. I once met with... Sylviana, here. She said she was visiting family..."

"Do you know where exactly?"

"I remember the direction she came from, I went there a couple of times after she died. I didn't know what to look for, though, so I... overlooked the name."

I nod.

"It's okay," I say.

She looks really uneasy about this, but I can't blame her. They probably feel worse than I do, to be really honest. I'm anxious, of course, but I'm more curious to find out what there is to see.

Liam comes to my side and wraps an arm around my shoulder, giving me a quick kiss on the temple to comfort me. We silently walk into the cemetery. Spark scampers ahead of us, looking perfectly fine here. The black and gold cat even rubs his body against some of the little bushes. Or jumps on a tombstone to sniff it. I realize we're headed deeper into the cemetery, into what has to be the oldest part. This is probably why Selena isn't familiar with this area.

Strangely, the closer we get, the heavier my heart gets. I didn't think it would be like this, but my feelings get ahead of me and before long, my hands are shivering and I want to cry. I can't even fight it. I don't know which part of me is reacting, but I tear up involuntarily and feel the tears run down my cheeks for real. Liam gently rubs my shoulder. I'm not even sure why I'm crying, it's so silly but I can't stop.

We finally arrive in an area so old, most of the tombstones are covered with moss. Why is it here? Because of the Jones Family? We start looking around, Selena looking a bit unsure.

"Oh..."

She stops in front of a row of tombstones next to a very large tree. Leaving Liam's grasp, I get closer to check them. Most of those names are too old to be read. I keep looking and finally, I see it. It's a small one, with some ivy covering it. It's not old, but the flowers seem to have grown faster on that tombstone. Probably Sylviana's doing.

Mara.

My heart sinks when I read that name. I get down on my knees in front of it and my tears stop miraculously. I take deep breaths, trying to calm myself and ignore the stares behind me.

"Sorry..." I whisper. "Sorry it took me so long to find you."

I put my hand on the tombstone, mostly covered by the moss. My fingers follow the four carved letters. Did Sylviana do this? It would explain all the moss and flowers on it...

"...Are you okay?" gently asks Liam behind me.

I nod, but just as I do, something catches my attention.

Another letter, right under Mara. I didn't realize because moss was covering it. Don't tell me... Her last name? My heart starts beating like crazy. Oh Moon Goddess, maybe this is the answer we were looking for. Is this what Sylviana wanted us to find? Why did she cover it with moss? Maybe she didn’t want us to find it? My breathing accelerates, and the adrenaline starts pumping. I need to know. I need to know now.

With my bare hands, I start scratching the moss furiously, trying to free that name.

"Mara, what are you doing?"

I'm on my knees in front of that tombstone and stubbornly scraping, letting the moss fall to the ground. My heart, Moon Goddess, my heart is going crazy as each letter is revealed.

B.... The first letter is a B. I keep going, hoping. I don't know what, I'm just hoping. The second letter is an L.

I stop, a bit worried. Maybe I shouldn't continue...

No, no, no, I ought to know. This can't be. It just can’t be! I take a deep breath and light my fire, throwing it against that tombstone almost furiously. All the green covering disappears and the answer is right there. I hear them gasp behind me and I'm shocked too. This is definitely not what I had thought I’d find. Not Mara Black, but... Mara... Blue?

I stare at the tombstone for a few seconds, confused. Blue? Not Black, but Blue? This isn't what I had in mind... I turn around, and Liam and Selena look absolutely stunned, mouths open.

"You've got to be kidding me..." mutters Selena.

Liam frowns and turns to her.

"D-do you think it's... possible?"

She remains quiet, obviously shocked. What is going on, who are they thinking about?

Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure Nora's last name was Bluemoon, but... Wait, is this related somehow? I go back to the tombstone and scrape off the moss that didn't burn with my fire earlier, just in case I missed something else. Mara Blue. I mutter it to myself, as if it'd make it more real, or something would happen. I almost want to laugh, because at least, I've got her real name. Not Jones, not Black, but Blue. I can't even say how relieved I am. This tombstone was made by Sylviana, right? This isn't a mistake. She definitely knew her niece's heritage. This is the answer we were looking for.

"We should go see Nora," suddenly declares Selena.

"Why?" I ask, getting up and wiping the dirt off my pants.

Selena hesitates and eventually sighs.

"...She'll explain."

I want to ask more, but next to Selena, Liam nods, making me feel like there's still a lot more I need to know... or be told. He extends his hand for me to take, and I step away from the grave, feeling a bit numb. Before we go, Selena quickly takes a picture of the tombstone with her phone, still frowning. She shakes her head.

"Now that's new," she sighs. "Alright, come on. Let's just go."

Liam grabs my hand and I follow them after another glance at that tombstone. To my surprise, Spark doesn't follow us. He walks up to the tombstone and rubs his back on it before lying down. Is he going to stay here? I don't really need to call him, I know he'll show up again soon when I need him... Maybe this is where he goes anytime he disappears? I mean, this cemetery must be a nice playground for bored magic cats.

We silently get back to the bike; Selena is driving a car, and we follow her back to Nora's house.

The trip back is very different. I hang on tightly to Liam, but for once, I don't really enjoy the ride. My mind is still in that cemetery and that vision of Mara's tombstone haunts me. I have a million questions popping up in my head. I try to list them silently, but I feel like I'm about to learn a lot anyway. If Nephera really was Mara's mother, who is Blue? Who was her father? From their reactions, I feel like Liam and Selena definitely know already, but why did they seem so... shocked? I just hope the answer isn't going to be something worse...

We arrive in front of the now somewhat familiar house. Unlike before, there aren't any wolves in the garden, but it’s also the middle of the week.

Selena or Liam must have warned Nora about our arrival because she opens the door right away with a large smile.

"Hi, everyone! Come in, I just made some fruit juice. Mara, would you like some?"

"Uh, yes, thanks."

As always, Nora is making me comfortable right away. I had seen their house briefly before, but now, I follow Liam inside a big living room. There's a big TV screen, but it's off, and instead, the children are playing on the carpet with the large brown wolf from before. Daniel actually walks up to him, and the two wolves greet each other before Daniel lies down with him, playing with the children.

It's funny to see such young kids so comfortable with those large wolves... The brown one wouldn't even pass for a family dog, more like some mix between a bear and a wolf. There's the young boy from before, sitting down and apparently reading a picture book, and the baby girl is lying against the brown wolf, making happy smiles at her older brother. Nora's children all have her black hair and blue eyes... little Will even has very curly black hair, but his skin is a little bit darker. If they take after their parents, they'll definitely grow to be handsome or beautiful.

"Hi, Will!" chuckles Liam, leaving me to go greet his nephew.

The little boy lifts his head toward him all curious, and I can't help but glance around.

"Your... husband isn't here?" I ask, a bit nervous.

Nora chuckles, bringing a tray from the kitchen with a large pitcher of fruit juice and some glasses.

"No, he's at work," she simply says while putting it all down on the coffee table.

"Thank Moon Goddess the girls are old enough to go to school," sighs Selena. "I thought Nate would never go back to work."

"Even your youngest?" I ask, confused.

"She's in kindergarten; Nate and I both work, and I'm busy with pack duties too. Otherwise, Nora or our friend takes care of her, but I wanted Aurora to be with other kids. Estelle had trouble adapting once she started school."

I guess it is pretty normal for a pack of werewolves to take care of the children together. I glance at Liam, already sitting on the carpet to play with Will and make faces at Lily. While the little boy seems shy, Lily is quite chatty and keeps making big smiles and moving her little fists around.

"Come on, let's take a seat," says Nora, going to the couch. "You have a lot to tell me."

I nod, but I don't know what Selena or Liam told her already.

I take a spot on the couch, sitting as close as I can to Liam. He's still playing with his nephew so I don't want to intrude. It's actually quite cute to see him act like a nice uncle...

With Liam's help, I succinctly explain everything that I have found out so far. From my relationship to the Witches’ Ancestral Tree, to the Jones Family, and that newfound bond between Mara and Clarissa. Nora and Selena remain quiet the entire time. While I talk, Liam actually moves and leans his back against my legs. Neither Nora or Selena say a thing, but I'm pretty sure they noticed it.

I finish by talking about the cemetery and the tombstone we found. Nora looks really surprised and Selena, who has been standing to the side with a frown on all along, glances her way.

"...What do you think? Is it possible?"

Nora stays quiet for a moment.

"I... I honestly thought Nephera's... unborn baby was Judah Black's child. I mean, from what she had said that time, it sounded like... there wasn't another possible father. She said he wanted the child for himself too. I had thought it was because he was the father, but..."

"Maybe he just wanted another witch," said Liam. "Our father was... a junkie for magic power. I mean, for power, in general. It doesn't surprise me he would have targeted a child..."

They all make bitter expressions, and I already had quite the impression that Liam's father was the worst kind of scum. However, I really don't want to dwell on that fact any longer. The one I am curious about is Nephera and her story.

"So... do you have an idea who Mara's father was?" I ask.

Selena and Nora exchange a glance once again, and Nora sighs, crossing her arms.

"I never thought of that possibility, but... it might have been Alcott Blue."

I frown, confused. Now, that's a new name.

"Alcott Blue?"

"Do you know Nephera's story? With the... Blue Moon Clan?"

"Yes, Liam told me everything. About how Nephera was sent here by her mother, the Fire Witch, Danica..."

"Her adoptive mother, apparently," adds Liam.

I nod.

"Yeah, to help the Blue Moon Clan settle here and make sure your parents would be safe, your grandmother, Queen Diane, sent Nephera and members of her clan to Silver City."

"That's right, but things didn't go according to plan. The Blue Moon Clan was... killed, and only Selena and I survived. Sylviana saved me, and Selena was brought here by an older werewolf called Reagan."

"I understand all that, but what does that have to do with Nephera's partner? I mean, your... the Blue Moon Pack is the only one to use the name Blue, right? The other... part of the clan settled here is called the Sapphire Moon. I don't understand how it's related, your last name is Bluemoon too, not Blue..."

Nora takes a deep breath, and strangely, she now has a very sad expression on. She glances at her son, taking another deep breath.

"The name Bluemoon... in werewolves’ families, only the leaders are allowed to use the names of their packs. For example, Selena's last name is Whitewood because she was adopted by the Alpha's family of her pack. In the case of Royals, though, Royal werewolves are always the leading Alphas, and as such, they take on the names of their pack. That's why my last name is Bluemoon. However, you remember Diane had a younger sister, right?"

My heart's speed increases a bit. I remember it all.

The story of the Blue Moon and Sapphire Moon Clans. Another pair of sisters separated young, who never saw each other again; I focused on the witches when Liam told me their story, like how Diane sent her younger sister here to Silver City…

"...Cynthia,” I mutter.

Nora smiles gently, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"That's right, Cynthia. Diane's younger sister, my grand-aunt, came here and established the Sapphire Moon Clan. She did a lot for her people, even without Nephera's help. It probably wasn't easy... Cynthia eventually established a family of her own, but she didn't want to take her older sister's name. Unlike Diane, Cynthia was born like a... regular Alpha werewolf."

For some reason, my heart is starting to thump like crazy in my chest. I don't like where this is going, but I need to hear it. I'm glad I can feel Liam's warmth against my legs, because I'm growing colder with each word Nora says. I don't like any of this...

"She took the name... Blue?" I ask.

Nora slowly nods.

"That's right. The group who had left the Blue Moon Clan established themselves as the Sapphire Moon Clan in Silver City, but Cynthia and her family kept their last names as simply Blue."

"So you're saying, Cynthia Blue could be my... I mean, Mara's grandmother?"

Once again, Nora and Selena exchange a glance.

"It could be," says Selena. "She had a son, a man named Alcott Blue. I never met him personally, but he was... old enough to have been Nephera's partner."

"...Actually, it would make sense," sighs Nora.

She gets up to grab Lily. I didn't even realize the baby girl was getting a little bit fussy. She calms down as soon as she's in her mother's arms and grabs one of Nora's black curls in her little fist, frowning and staring at it.

"Nephera mentioned briefly that... she was trying to get over Judah Black, wasn’t she?" she says, looking at Selena.

Selena nods.