Page 40 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

I'm a wolf.

Moon Goddess, I'm a freaking wolf! ...Damn, I did not expect that one.

" Mara, can you... hear me? "

I raise my head at Nora, a bit unsure. It's definitely her voice in my head, but... she didn't use her actual voice, did she? It's that thing they all do. The mind-linking thing. It's different from what I expected, and disturbing. I hear her like an echo in my head, very clear but as if she was standing farther away than that. Oh Moon Goddess, this is new...

I try to get up, getting used to the four legs, a bit unsteady. They are pretty strong, and once I've figured how to balance my body, it's fine to stand up. I check myself in the mirror again. Well, at least I'm a very pretty wolf... I look exactly like my inner wolf, even the heterochromia. One golden eye and a blue one. Between that and the gold and black fur, it's really unique... pretty and unique. However, I don't have much time to get used to this.

I take a deep breath and try to talk, but a growl comes out of my mouth. Oh shit, I'm really a wolf. How do I mind-link her back? I try to formulate a thought, but it's just... in my mind, not sounding like anything. I glance up at Nora, and hear myself whining, distressed. It's funny how easily my thinking translates into actions without me realizing. She smiles and comes closer, talking to me softly.

“ It's alright, " she says. " Just calm down, focus on my voice. "

I try to, but... I'm a freaking wolf! I've never been a wolf! They all grew up with that ability, but I just learned I could even be a wolf half a minute ago, and there isn't some speed lesson on how to be a fucking werewolf.

Calm down, Mara, you got this. If you can make fire with your hand and create magic circles, mind-linking should be a piece of cake.... I try to focus on what Nora said, and hang on to her voice in my head rather than the fact that she's right here in front of me. I try several times, and end up growling, until finally, I think I grasp it.

" L-like this? Nora? "

" Yes! Exactly, Mara! You'll see, it's a piece of cake once you know how to do it, you can't forget. It's going to be as easy as simply talking. "

" Yeah... Y-yeah, I think I got it now. "

Between us, Kelsi keeps frowning and glancing back and forth between me and Nora.

"Th-this is really Mara?" she asks.

"Yes it is," says Nora with a confident smile. "I think she just... awoke a new side of her, since her body is taken."

"O-okay..."

Kelsi looks at me with an unsure expression. I can't blame her, neither of us expected this was even possible. I'm a bit sorry that I can't even talk with her like this, say something. Apologize for my mistake, to begin with. If only I had put in the effort I should have into studying about witches sooner instead of being so absorbed in my identity, my past, I wouldn't have made so many mistakes.

"Mara, are you alright? Anything that hurts?"

" No, I'm good, and quite fired up actually. But what were you guys saying about fires? What fires? "

Nora's smile disappears, and she glances Kelsi's way before talking.

"There are a lot of buildings on fire throughout Silver City right now. All the packs are mobilized to go and help, and... the humans are freaking out... All their firefighters are deployed but it might not be enough. Moreover..."

She hesitates, and I'm really getting worried about what she could possibly be reluctant to say. However, Kelsi decides to be more blunt and turns to me, frowning.

"Mara, they are all saying you did it. I get it's the other... bad witch that has taken your body…"

What?

Oh crap, that's what that bitch was after. Now she's using the fact that she's in my body to make me look like I'm the psychopath witch bitch they all feared me to be! Damn it!

"We are trying to hold her back, but... she's a Fire Witch," says Nora.

I growl, annoyed. Oh, it does work when I'm angry... Growling feels a bit good, at least to vent. However, growling's not going to be nearly enough, I need to stop her.

"What can we do?" mumbles Kelsi. "Mara's just a wolf right now... How can she beat a witch…?"

...Am I just a wolf, though? I still feel the same, at least inside. No, if I'm being honest, I feel even better than before. I feel stronger, more powerful. I begin growling even louder, but that's not what I meant to do.

I trained. I trained like hell with mini Mara, and a werewolf appearance is not going to stop me, hell no. I take a deep breath and try to feel my fire inside. Like my core, that big flame in my heart that's constantly burning. I feel a huge fireball in my chest, fierce and strong. I know that flame, I know it perfectly. Come on. My body has changed, not how this works. The limbs are just a bit different, that's all.

"Oh... Whoa, Mara!"

I keep focusing, and flames appear at my feet. They don't burn the grass, they are white, so tame and gentle. They'll do what I want. I increase them, making Kelsi and Nora step back, but there is no danger, I got this. The fire spreads on my body and takes my colors. A black and gold fire, enveloping my body like some mane. I exercise a bit more, manipulating as I wish, growing it and making sure I completely master this in my new body.

"Oh God, Mara, if the situation wasn't so strange and scary, I'd say I'm super proud of you and impressed," squeals Kelsi, biting her fingers.

"Quite... impressive," whispers Nora, looking surprised too.

" I'm a werewolf witch, I guess. Shall we get going now? I can't wait to kick that damn bitch out of my body! "

"O-okay, let's go," says Nora.

We rush inside her house. Although it's obvious my flames won't burn them, they both stay at a safe distance from me, even inside. We run through the house, and I realize Nora's children aren't there. Did she leave them with someone? Nathaniel, or the brown wolf, perhaps? It doesn't matter.

We get out once again, on the other side this time, and I finally see it.

Flames.

It's even more obvious against the dark night sky. Towers of flames are growing in big yellow and red stripes, with dark smoke covering the area. It's like hell broke loose all over Silver City. Moon Goddess, that's a lot of fires to put out. Next to me, Nora looks devastated too, and from the way she frowns, I bet she's getting mind-links from all sides.

She turns to me.

"The barrier..."

I nod. We both think the same thing at the same time, and start running toward Sylviana's tree.

I have a bad feeling. I can't believe I've been such an idiot! How long was that Dark Magic waiting in the shadows to do this? To escape and destroy Silver City from the inside? We run as fast as we can to get to the tree, but even before we get there, I already know it's going to be too late. The fires are too big, and growing too fast. It's not like someone simply played around with matches. That Dark Witch used black magic to do this. Probably some magic circles, some runes, for those fires to already be this bad in the span of less than an hour. Moon Goddess.

We arrive, but as I feared, Sylviana's tree is in... a poor state. She’s gone dark from the inside, and most of the leaves have fallen, the branches looking sad and limp. The bark is growing darker and darker by the second, looking frail and about to crumble, to rot. Nora runs to it, looking like she's about to cry.

"No, no, Sylviana... Mara, can you do something?"

I shake my head.

This isn't my tree, nor my magic. I can't simply reinforce it. Moreover, my element is fire, I'm at risk of damaging it even more if I try something. I've made enough mistakes for today.

" I can't help the tree, " I growl, " but I can stop the bitch that's damaging it! "

I turn around and run.

I run, like the wind, rushed by anger. I'm going to ruin that witch. She trapped me in a fucking mirror, she tricked little Mara, and she damaged Sylviana's tree! She's going to have to give me back my body and pay for it, now!

I growl, like a furious wolf, and keep running through the streets. Humans and wolves are running in the opposite direction, fleeing the fires. They don't even have time to be scared of me, I see their eyes open wide, and then they're gone. There are one too many monsters in this city right now. One too many witches. I hear screams, people yelling and panicking. I hear them cry about the witch, curse her, hate her. Somebody stop the Fire Witch. Someone kill the witch.

I ignore them and accelerate. I try to tame the fear in my heart. Yes, this is not going to end well for me...

I reach the first fires after just a few more minutes. I'm out of breath, but I'm probably the only one in the area who can even breathe! There's smoke, too much smoke, and black ashes everywhere. Two shops are on fire and a building behind them. Moon Goddess, I hope as many people as possible left the area. I take a deep breath, and slowly, pull my own fire toward those flames. I know the trick now. They can't hurt me. I'm a fire master, I can bend it to my will. I let my own flames melt into those, connecting to that fire as if pouring mine was a wave hitting the sea. I grasp it, hold on to it and start pulling. I take them all in. The fire, the big flames, they all come to me. There's so much... I need to keep focusing to not burn myself this time. That fire becomes mine. I'm charged like a monstrous fire beast, some stored inside, some enveloping me.

The fire is absorbed by my body, bit by bit, and I suddenly realize there's a group of firefighters nearby. They are wearing masks, and using something like large extinguishers, but they must have realized I was doing a quicker job, because they stopped to stare in surprise. After a few seconds, though, they cheer and resume, helping me put out the last flames.

As soon as I feel they can handle whatever's left, I run again toward the next scorched area. Where is she? Where is that damn witch?!

" Mara, Liam's looking for you! " suddenly yells Nora's voice in my head.

" What? Where is he? "

" On your left, farther north! "

He's on his way then. Is he with the other witch? Moon Goddess, I hope she hasn’t done anything to him or Ben!

I take out two more fires on my way up, but this isn't enough. The damage is just terrible. How could she do so much in such a limited amount of time? No matter what, something's wrong here. There are too many different buildings burning. With the time it takes to draw a proper rune or magic circle, and the fires to grow this big, she ought to have had a head start of some sort!

"M-Mara? Is that y...you?"

I turn my head. Oh, Moon Goddess, Ben!

He's lying against a wall, holding a bloody wound on his stomach with a grimace. I rush to him. What the hell happened to him?!

"Oh... So it's... true," he chuckles despite the pain. "You're a wolf."

" Ben, you idiot! What happened to you?! "

I hear my whimpers, but he doesn't get my wolf voice. Still, he shakes his head.

"D-... don't worry about me. I don't think she... stabbed any vitals... I... I'll wait for the others, but... you have to stop her. She was... searching for the B-Black Brothers."

Oh, no, no, Liam!

"Go, girl," he says. "I'm happy you... weren't the one who stabbed me."

Shit, what do I do? I don't want to leave him here! I try to focus. Selena's my family too, right? I should be able to find her. The mind-link works between people of the same family! I have not experimented enough.

" Selena! Selena! "

" You're very loud... Who are you? "

What? Why am I mind-linking a child right now?! I already have one little girl in my head, I don't need another one!

" Sorry sweetie, I'll answer you later! Selena! SELENA! "

" Moon Goddess, Mara, shut it! " she finally answers. " You're mind-linking like a freaking siren! "

" Ben! Ben is– "

" I know! I'm running to him now! Just go stop that bitch! "

As soon as she confirms she's coming, I nod to Ben and start running again. She's so going to pay for this!

When a sudden new torch lights up the sky, a few meters away, I rush there, growling like a fucking beast.

It's a sea of flames over here, but I jump in anyway. I'm stronger now, this is nothing to me. I own fire, I am fire! I jump amidst the flames, trying to find my way across the ashes. It's a tall building with glass walls, but the first floor is completely overtaken by the fire, and growing fast toward the upper floors. The few people who managed to evacuate tell me this fire caught everyone inside by surprise. I rush in and find the first stairs I can. She has to be at the center of the fire.

" Mara, you have to stop her quickly. Selena and the others are trying to evacuate the people, but there are people trapped in the buildings. Damian and Nathaniel are upstairs too... "

Shit, is this the Black Corporation building? Now that makes fucking sense. She was wreaking havoc to get here! She intends to get back at the brothers! Of course. It makes sense with Nephera's history, but this isn't Nephera. Nephera died two years ago, whatever's possessing my body is much, much more dangerous, and crazy...

"Look who's here..."

I stop after a new row of stairs, and turn my head. Amongst the flames, a woman is standing, on top of some bodies. The flames haven't completely caught up to this floor, but it's starting to look bad, really bad. Moreover, there's a black young wolf to the side, his left side covered in blood.

Liam!

"Did you lose something?" she chuckles.

I growl back at that bitch. Damn, I never thought I'd ever get to live this kind of experience, even being a witch. She has my body. It's my face, my body, my gold eyes, but I'm watching her laugh in a creepy way from a few steps away. On the side, Liam shape-shifts back into his human form, covered in dust and ashes, looking like he's been through hell and back.

"M-Mara?" he asks, looking at me.

I growl at him, annoyed. I'm mad at him, to be honest. I still haven't forgotten that kiss, and as we've already stated, I'm jealous as hell. Couldn't he tell the difference?!

He grimaces at my growl, looking sorry. Yeah, I'll settle that later... How did he even get here, anyway? Did he try to catch up to her while saving his brothers? I turn back to the witch and growl, showing off my flames.

"Oh? Are you sure you want more flames? The building is about to collapse... This body too."

Oh, Moon Goddess, I didn't think of that. If I'm in my wolf appearance, what protects my human body from the flames without magic? Nothing. That bitch is enjoying torturing my body, I bet she doesn't care about the damn pain! I growl furiously. I'm going to stop her. I'm going to stop that bitch, get my body back, and beat the crap out of that Dark Magic.

A loud creaking resonates and the ceiling shakes above us. Shit, the structure... How much longer can it endure? Can I take the flames back soon enough?

"The Fire Witch is scared?" chuckles the Dark Witch. "Humans are so weak, aren't they? You'll probably survive the fire, but if this building collapses, you'll be dead... and you'll stay dead this time."

" Mara, Sylviana's tree is getting weaker by the minute. If it really dies... "

We will be without a barrier around Silver City. ...And that will mean a lot more trouble than one Dark Witch in a fake body.

The heat is terrible, even for me. The flames are quickly catching up. Is Liam even okay in the middle of this mess? I try to control my fire, but it's a grain of sand in the middle of the desert. There's too much black smoke already, and I just wish he'd get out of here and let me settle this!

However, it's not just Liam. There are a lot more people upstairs, their future pending on this building about to collapse. This is a nightmare scenario...

The witch is in front of me, still smiling from ear to ear. I had no idea I could even make that kind of expression, but I do not like it. I want to slap that bitch and make her stop that stupid smirking.

" Any idea on how to get my body back? " I ask the other Mara, the one still carefully hidden inside.

" I-I don't know... It scares me... "

Yeah, it would scare anyone. What is that thing? I growl as a warning, and move closer, slowly putting myself between her and Liam. We circle around each other, but she just seems amused. That's not a smile of someone who is sane, that woman is crazy...

"A little witch got lost," she chuckles. "How many times can one get lost? Poor, poor little Mara… You're so weak! We can do better; we are the power you need!"

That voice isn't normal, and it's certainly not mine. It sounds like... like she's not alone in there. Is it even a she? Mara talked about a bundle of black magic, intertwined together. How do I undo this, and get my body back?

I growl furiously in warning. I need to remember that I control these flames, she doesn't. She can only do the most basic spells while she's in my body, but I can't because I'm in wolf form. Talk about a fucking mess!

"Mara, get out of here!" suddenly yells Liam.

I jump and dive just in time to avoid something falling from the ceiling, burning. I growl and realize those flames... I can tame them. I try to focus and like before, I shape my own flames to attract the others. Slowly, they are vacuumed up by my power, and those I can't simply digest, I add to the flames on my body. My wolf ought to be shining like a golden statue right now, the other witch is covering her eyes and squinting.

"You damn Fire Witch!" she yells. "You Cursed One!"

Cursed One that scares her, I'd say. I keep absorbing more flames, and getting closer to her. She starts tracing symbols in the ashes and I'm cautious. Is it a protection of some sort, a barrier? No, those symbols... Moon Goddess, a bombing spell? I start running toward her, I can't let her finish this! I growl furiously, warning her to stop.

" We are all going to die, you crazy bitch! "

She raises her eyes to me with a smirk.

"I won't die," she chuckles. "My wrath will survive, my wrath will always survive. Just like Nephera's anger, her pain. The curse will continue, the curse will always survive all those bodies, until all the werewolves pay for my pain!"

What the hell is she rambling on about?!

I can't stop. I need to stop her. I run and she starts retreating, the flames getting crazier around her. How do I stop that insane woman? How do I get my body back?!

No, Mara, calm down. Think. You're a real witch, regardless of which body you're in. This is just a problem that needs a solution, like any other. I need to ignore the body issue. What would I do to get my body back? She was able to do this with a stupid mirror and three symbols.

" Nora! " I shout. " Nora, ask Kelsi if she knows how to reverse the spell! I can't trace the symbols with my body like this, but she can! "

“ Moon Goddess, Mara, you don't need to shout when you're mind-linking! ” growls Selena. “ Nate is taking care of the people upstairs, making them all go toward the roof. Damian is… ”

He's here.

I feel his sinister aura rushing in like a hurricane even before his black figure appears. The huge dark wolf literally storms in, growling so furiously even I step back. The Dark Witch screeches and retreats, but Damian rushes to his younger brother's side first, and without even looking at Liam, stands just like I was seconds ago, between the witch and him. What the hell, we're supposed to... fight together? I glance at my body, standing a few steps away. I don't actually want him to get near her, he'd snap my limbs with one freaking bite!

“ Nora, can you ask your husband not to... chew me? ”

“ Don't worry, Damian is just there for support and to keep her from going upstairs. He'll fight to help you but he knows it's your body, he won't hurt you. ”

“ Great… ”

Moon Goddess, I hope so. And at the same time, it's infuriating. I have a powerful Alpha next to me, but we can't do anything because that’s my freaking body! Plus, we are running out of time. I know Sylviana's tree is being impacted by all the Dark Magic that witch is releasing here. The tree was made to contain the magic coming from the outside, not to act like an air filter inside! I need to stop it.

Suddenly, a horrible squeaking resonates, and the ground shakes under our feet... I mean, paws. Damian Black and I exchange a glance. He growls, and even without the mind-linking, I got that one.

Yeah, I know, we've got to hurry.

I leave him there, and start running toward my body again. She frowns, and runs away through the building. The rooms are too narrow and too burnt now, it's just a mess of smoke and flames everywhere.

"You'll die!" she screams. "I'll keep this body and kill you!"

I growl furiously and accelerate to catch up. I have to catch her. It's my body, my fire, my responsibility. I was the careless one, now it's my job to get her. As I run, I don't just pursue her, I try to grab as many flames as I can in my body. The smoke, the flames, everything, I absorb with my magic. It's hard, but I keep going. I am stronger now, I know I can take those flames.

“ Selena, Nora, tell the brothers to have the people evacuate. I'll free the area around the emergency stairs as much as I can, but they really have to go, I don't know how much longer the building will hold! ”