Page 36 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

"She said something like she was moving on. She was getting a new life of her own... I never imagined she had actually found a new partner, though."

"Not just a new partner," says Nora. "Someone from the Sapphire Moon Clan. If... if all of this is true, Nephera really was trying to go back to the Sapphire Moon Clan. Cynthia was already dead then, but Nephera was going back to her position as the Sapphire Moon Clan's witch... Moon Goddess, it would have changed so many things."

They both look shocked by these revelations.

A part of me is a bit relieved about clearing Nephera’s name. Is it Mara's spirit inside of me who's happy about this? I can't tell. I'm a messy, heavy bundle of emotions right now. I just want to have a definitive answer to this, to know who Nephera's new man was.

"So... Cynthia's son..." I ask, a bit unsure.

"His name was Alcott. The Alpha, Alcott Blue," declares Nora. "I only met him once, he was already... sick when I met him. Moreover, he hated Damian and his family, and wanted nothing to do with them. Back then, I thought it was because of how Judah Black had treated the Sapphire Moon Pack, but now, it's... His hatred was probably fueled by what happened to Nephera. Moon Goddess, I knew there had to be something else! I couldn't understand why Alcott loathed Damian and his father so much, but now... Moon Goddess, Damian's not going to like this..."

"He's not the only one," mumbles Liam.

While Liam's being all broody again, thinking about his father's misdeeds, my heart aches for Mara.

Once Nora mentioned the Sapphire Moon Clan and Cynthia, I had some hope that maybe there was still someone left from Mara's family, but... if this is true, Alcott Blue died even before Clarissa got to Silver City.

"Well, at least you and Liam aren't half-siblings," sighs Selena. "I mean, no offense, Liam, but it's really better that your father didn't have any other children somewhere."

"No offense taken," growls Liam. "Although, it does confirm that he was the lowest scum possible... Damn, now that explains why old man Blue hated us. Mom was probably pregnant with me around the same time..."

"Moon Goddess," mutters Nora. "I knew something was wrong about that whole half-sibling thing... Your parents were fated mates. Your father wouldn't have cheated on her..."

"Honestly, knowing Judah Black, even that wouldn't have surprised me," grumbles Selena.

"What about the Blue Family, then?" I ask.

They all turn their eyes to me. I don't really care about the Black Family matters, the fact that Liam's father was an asshole had already been established long ago, and I'm just glad Mara wasn't his daughter. However, now, I'm still waiting to uncover more of her story.

Nora takes a deep breath.

"Mara, there was... someone else."

"What? Who?"

Did Alcott Blue have a sibling? Is there someone else? My heart is beating like crazy, although Nora using past tense scares me. Is it going to be more bad news about Mara's family? Who did we miss?

"...Alcott had a son, who was the Alpha of the Sapphire Moon when I first met them," explains Nora. "...His name was William."

I immediately glance down at her son.

Will, William... Did she name her son after that man? Wait, if... if he was Alcott's son, wasn't he Mara's brother?

"William was our cousin," says Selena. “The grand-nephew of Queen Diane, although he wasn't a Royal, just an Alpha. A very good one too, he was strong."

"So he was... Mara's brother?" I ask, shocked.

"I... I wouldn't be able to say for sure if he was your... I mean, the other Mara's brother or half-brother," says Nora. "He... never mentioned his mother, I just assumed she died when he was young."

"Do you think he could be Nephera's son too?" asks Selena, frowning. "I mean, he was a boy, and he was older than us by, what, a few years?"

"I have no idea, but then, how would he have been fine without Judah chasing him too? Nephera did say he wanted to take her baby..."

"Wait, wait a second." I stop them. "You keep talking about him... about William Blue, in the past tense, but he was just a bit older than you are, right? Why... I mean, what happened to him? Was he sick?"

Nora's expression falls, and she slowly shakes her head.

"No, he... he died in the war, Mara, the one against Nephera, two years ago. On the same day Will was born."

I glance down at the innocent boy on her lap, with his big blue eyes.

"...Nephera killed him," says Selena.

My mind goes blank.

"...What do you mean, Nephera killed him?"

The two cousins exchange a glance, and Nora takes a deep breath.

"During the battle, our wolves were mind-linking everyone. We all just... felt William disappear."

"Reports coming in later confirmed that he had been killed by a water attack," adds Selena. "Nephera just... killed him among many other people."

My heart sinks. Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit... Nephera killed her lover's son?

I don't even know how to react to this. It's just... so messed up. I can't believe it. I don't even know if I want to cry or scream in anger. Why was her whole life so fucked up? I know she did bad things, she was wrong, but the more I hear, the more Nephera's life just sounds like one damn tragedy after another.

"Are you okay?" asks Liam, putting his hand on my knee.

Am I? I don't know. I just found out the truth about Mara's family and it's not good. She doesn't have a family anymore, and even when they were alive, it sounds like what little she had was pretty wrecked...

I stand up and they all stare at me, but I just need some fresh air.

"Sorry," I mutter before leaving the room.

I walk out and go to the garden, which is empty this time. I just need to breathe. I take a few steps on the grass and take deep breaths, trying to calm down.

It doesn't work. Before I know it, I start crying, sobbing uncontrollably. This is so stupid! I try to wipe my tears, angry at myself for crying. Damn it, I don't even know why I'm crying! Yet, I can't stop; the tears take over me and it's strangely liberating. Is this what I needed? I don't know when I last cried like this, but Moon Goddess, it feels therapeutic to let it all out. I’m crying like a damn child in this garden. I couldn't keep my emotions bottled up anymore. It just hurts. Every answer I think I'm about to get turns into a brick wall that I run into every damn time.

"Mara..."

I shake my head. I don't want Liam's pity right now. Putting aside all my feelings for him, I'm strangely mad at werewolves right now. If it wasn't for Judah Black, Nephera's life and many others would have been different. Why does it feel like I missed the main villain of this story only to witness the trail of suffering he left behind him? I know Liam was a victim too, but right now, I just don't have the strength to share that pain. I can't.

"Mara, look at me."

"I don't want to look at you!" I retort. "Leave me alone, Liam, for just a minute. I want to be alone without anyone watching me for just a goddamn minute!"

"...Mara, you're growling at me."

"Enough! I said–"

"Mara, you're seriously growling! ...At me."

I calm down to focus on what he just said.

I realize only now. That... voice... I grab my shirt, in the middle of my chest, feeling strange. What is that? It's one of the voices I heard before. It's not a human voice, but it feels... animalistic. I never paid much attention to it before, but there's definitely something else. It's been drowned out because the other voice was so loud, but... it strangely echoes with my emotions right now. I turn to Liam, completely lost. He's standing a few feet away from me, looking cautious with his shoulders arched a little.

"If... if the other Mara was Alcott Blue's child, she ought to... be a werewolf," mutters Liam.

"Is that possible? A werewolf and a witch?"

"Well, I did just hear you growling," he says.

Moon Goddess, could it be? Is that how it's supposed to feel? There's something... odd about this. I don't... feel like there's a wolf inside. I always hear Ben or the others talk as if their wolf had a conscience of its own, but this feels different. I can't quite name it. Then again, I’m probably a different kind of werewolf anyway...

"Mara, it's okay."

I look up as Liam steps forward, suddenly remembering I was sobbing seconds ago. I try to wipe my eyes and arrange my poor appearance, but before I get to really fix the mess I am, he puts his hands on my cheeks gently. He's close, very close; I can only look at his devilishly handsome face and bright eyes. Right now, they have turned more blue, as the Silver City sky is more indulgent for once.

"Don't worry. Even if... the other Mara has lost her family, you have us, alright? You have me."

Is that what he thought I was so sad about? I nod, feeling a bit silly. His smile is... strangely disarming. How does he do that? I feel like a tiger who becomes a kitten every time he's in the room... However, I need this. I need Liam. This bond between us is the only thing that doesn't seem like it’s about to disappear.

For once, I take the first step to hide my face on his shoulder. He gently caresses my neckline with his fingers. Moon Goddess, I love his strong arms around me, his smell surrounding my body. It's the most comfortable place in the world, and I'm not ready to leave it... I let Liam hug me, at least until I calm down, and it freaking works. I feel all my anger and frustration from before melt slowly as I lay myself in his arms. There's just... something so comforting about Liam being with me, as if all the weight I've been feeling on my shoulders had been lifted.

"...I want to speak to her," I mutter.

Liam eases his grip around me, just enough so that we can look at each other again. He frowns and wipes a tear left on my cheek, very gently.

"Speak to who?"

"To Mara... The other Mara."

"But..."

"She's... still here, Liam. She's been with me from the start, like the voices, like Spark. I just need to find out why, what she wants, what she can tell me. I'm not Clarissa, and I'm not Mara, either. I just need to find who I am, what I am. Why Mara was left behind and Clarissa is gone. I really need to talk to her."

He opens and shuts his mouth, looking at a loss. I take a deep breath.

"I... think I found out how I can do it. I just need a large mirror and a knife."

He grimaces.

"I'm not sure how I feel about that."

I chuckle nervously.

"I'm not about to slice my wrists open if that's what you fear."

He sighs and shakes his head before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, making me blush and chuckle right away.

"I guess that's what I get for being a witch's boyfriend... Come on."

He takes my hand to pull me back inside, but before we go, I pull back, having him stop and turn to me with a confused expression. I smile and step forward to kiss him. I'm really becoming bolder now... This kiss is a bit salty, but it feels good. I just needed a way, once more, to confirm those feelings between us. I keep kissing his lips, and I feel Liam relax too, answering my lips just as much. He wraps his arms around me as we keep going, a bit bold.

Finally, though, we both remember where we are, and I retreat, hot and blushing. He smiles.

"What was that for?"

"To thank you..." I mumble.

I don't really know why I wanted to thank him. I left my brain somewhere out of those dangerous blue eyes' sight... Liam chuckles, and adds another quick kiss to that. Damn, I don't think I'll ever get enough of his kisses; that's dangerous.

This time, I follow him inside, where Nora and Selena are waiting for us. While Nora looks concerned, Selena smiles as soon as she sees us.

"Why are you two blushing?" she asks with a grin.

"Hey, don't start," grumbles Liam.

"You're the one who should know better than to act all sneaky in your brother's garden," chuckles Selena, visibly having a lot of fun.

Next to her, carrying her daughter, Nora has a smile on too, but she's obviously biting her lower lip to keep herself from laughing. Liam frowns.

"Stop making fun of me, you two! It's not like you and my brothers ever act so innocent, either!"

"Hey, I'm a mom now, I can't act all naughty in the open," laughs Selena.

"Really? What about that rooftop restaurant Nate rented out last month? He rented the whole place."

Selena blushes, and this time, Nora doesn't hold back and laughs. The blonde shrugs and turns around to go back in the living room with a sullen look. Nora and Liam watch her go. He has a victory smile on and puts his arm around my shoulders.

"You're still the sneaky one," says Nora. "You were a real pro at avoiding your brothers to go where you shouldn't."

"I'm a big boy now, Nora."

"Are you?" she chuckles, raising an eyebrow.

I feel a bit strange, witnessing their relationship first hand. How much does Nora know about Liam that I don't? Those two look close like siblings, even without their black hair and gleaming eyes. Moreover, Liam's blind eye is on the same side that Nora has her scar, although she probably isn't blind. I feel a bit awkward now, even with his arm around me.

"Nora?" I ask, a bit unsure. "Could I borrow a knife and... a large mirror, if you have one?"

She raises an eyebrow, looking surprised.

"Are you about to do something dangerous?" she asks.

"Probably not.... I mean, maybe for me? I'm not sure. I'll do it in the garden if it makes you feel better. I don't want to put your children in danger."

"...Alright. Liam, can you grab the mirror in the guest room upstairs?"

He nods and leaves us, and with a sigh, Nora walks to her kitchen to grab one of her knives.

"I just need a small one..." I grimace, seeing the size of that thing.

"Oh."

Was she thinking I was about to butcher someone or what? I swallow my saliva, a bit intimidated by her surprising collection of kitchen knives. I had noticed her kitchen was big and well-equipped, she probably cooks a lot... She brings me a smaller one.

"Here. I hope I get it back. Nate got me this set of kitchen knives last Christmas, I haven't gotten around to using it much yet."

"Yeah, I'll... be careful."

She nods, but to my surprise, she doesn't ask what I'm about to do with it. As we wait for Liam in the kitchen, I feel a bit awkward. I suddenly remember how I cried uncontrollably the first time we met... What happened then? Was it because we are related? Did the Mara inside me recognize Nora somehow? It didn't happen when I met Selena, though, and I met the blonde first. If I followed correctly, they should be equally related to me... I mean, to Mara. So why did I react to Nora more than I did to Selena?

Liam finally comes back with the mirror and Nora follows us outside, looking curious.

"What are you going to do with that?"

"Can you lay it down?"

He nods, and lays the mirror flat on the grass. It's just about my size and rectangular. It should be fine. I grab my phone and search for the pictures I took and added on the way there. I should beat myself up for not studying all that witch stuff earlier; I let Kelsi translate it all for me, not thinking about the fact that I was a witch and she wasn't. Of course nothing would happen if she studied or used those...

"Hey, Mara! What are you doing?"

Ignoring Liam and Nora's worries, I take the knife and cut my finger. Crap, that hurts... but at least there is enough blood. With a deep breath, I start drawing my circle on the lower half of the mirror. I need to check a thing or two on my phone, making sure it's a decent magic circle. Once I'm done, my blood having defined a clear enough shape, I add the three symbols above it from before. From Clarissa's journal and my previous experience, I'm starting to understand how this stuff works. I draw the witchcraft symbols, and with a deep breath, step inside the circle.

Immediately, I feel something happening, as if I was pulled inside the circle. I carefully sit down, Liam and Nora still staring at me in awe.

"Alright... Show me Mara."

As I'm sitting down, I see my reflection, sitting facing me. It slowly starts changing, wavering, turning into something else. My figure and face change. It becomes leaner, paler, prettier. The hair too; the frizz changes into long curls that fall on her shoulders. She is smiling at me with a defiant expression like some naughty child. She tilts her head.

"Hi, Mara," I whisper.

She smiles even more, looking happy. It feels strange. I'm strangely calm, actually. I guess now that I'm getting the hang of it, I'm not afraid anymore... although I know this is dangerous.

"I need you to tell me your story," I say.

Her smile disappears and her expression changes into something sadder. She frowns, looking unsure.

"I want to know her story. Clarissa's story and yours."

“ Clarissa… ”

Her voice echoes mine strangely.

"That's right. You called me by her name earlier, but you know I'm not Clarissa, right?"

“ You have... her face… ”

"I know. But I'm not Clarissa, and I want to know why I... why I took her place now."

“ You're the only one. ”

"What?"

The only one? The only one what? She closes her eyes, and suddenly, extends her hand against the mirror's surface. It's confusing, I feel like I could touch it. I raise my hand above it, and hesitate.

“ Don't worry, ” she whispers. “ I'll show you… ”

I still hesitate. I can tell by instinct something's about to happen. I raise my eyes to look at Liam.

"If anything happens again, erase the circle," I say.

"O-okay..."

He exchanges a glance with Nora, visibly confused. I don't know if they can hear the other Mara, but from their lost expressions, I would say they can't. I turn to her again and put my hand on the surface, against hers.

Her fingers slide out of the mirror to grip mine, and before I can say a thing, I'm suddenly pulled to the other side.

It's a strange sensation, like a terrible cold taking over my body, or some ice being poured on me. For a second, I want to scream because the pain is so intense, but just as I'm about to, it's gone.

" Mara! Mara, are you alright? "

I try to look around me, but I'm in a circular room, very dark, with only one window at the end. I frown. Where is the other Mara? What happened? My body feels so strange. It's like swimming and being drunk at the same time; every movement is hard to make. I feel very strange...

" Are you hurt? Is it over already? "

Where the heck is Liam? I keep hearing his voice and Nora's, but from far away; what's going on? I glance back at the window, and suddenly, a fear grows in my heart. Oh, no, no...

I run toward it, with that growing feeling that there's something wrong, something very wrong. I run. Behind the window, I recognize Nora's garden, or a glimpse of it. I run faster.

" I'm alright, I think it just... didn't work like I expected. "

I run faster. Was that my voice? How can it be my voice?! I arrive at the window, and I'm not in Nora's garden, I'm under it. I look up, and my own face is there, smiling at me. My heart sinks. Liam puts an arm around her, helping her up. I bang against the glass.

"Liam! Liam! Liam, I'm here! Liam Black, you damn idiot!"

I keep banging like an idiot against that glass, against that... window. Nora shakes her head.

" Let's get back inside and treat your wound, Mara. "

The other Mara nods, holding her injured hand, and glances at me once more.