Page 43 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

As expected, it's not that easy to convince Bonnie and the whole staff to let me out. I feel like a lab rat, they keep wanting to do more and more tests to study the amazing speed of my recovery.

I suspect the extra life little Mara gave me is also playing a part... I'd surely be dead if it wasn't for her. I already miss her, but I just hope she's in a better place now. Moreover, I'm happy to be back to myself. I can still feel my wolf inside, but it's... different from the witches’ voices. She's just there, like a presence waiting in the shadows. I will probably never be like the other werewolves. Clarissa wasn't one, although she probably had some werewolf blood and our wolf is only here because of little Mara, a survivor like me.

While we wait for my medical exams to be over, I take some time to explain everything to Liam. I'll have to tell Kelsi and Bonnie too when I get a chance later. I tell him all about little Mara, all the voices, how I trained during those hours I was trapped, and about my fight too, although he did see a lot of it.

"I need to know more about that curse thing," I explain, sitting on my bed. "There was something much darker than what Nephera could have conjured. For some reason, it was targeting me, little Mara, and Clarissa too."

"You're thinking that it's about witches? An ancient spell of some sort?"

I nod. Liam is sitting right by my side, his hand on my knee, gently caressing my leg with his fingers, although he's very serious and focused on our discussion.

"Very ancient," I nod again. "Little Mara talked about it as if it was... really, really old, and would be tough to undo."

Liam nods slowly, but I do realize that's really… not much to go on. We have no idea where to start, I feel like we've exhausted all our leads. Little Mara isn't here to help me anymore either... It's going to be very complicated. I sigh, looking down on our locked fingers, but just then, Liam chuckles and kisses my cheek.

"Don't worry," he whispers gently. "We'll be looking for answers together this time, okay? I'm sure we will find the truth soon..."

"Yeah."

I do hope so too, and the fact that we are now together, and nowhere near ready to leave each other, is a huge help. I manage to smile.

"If you can leave tonight," he resumes, "let's go to Nora and Damian's. You want to see the tree too, don't you?"

"Yes..."

It might be painful for the both of us, but I do want to see what happened to Sylviana's tree. Maybe I can do something about it, and Moon Goddess, I hope so because otherwise, it's going to be very, very complicated from now on... Seeing my frown, Liam gently rubs my leg.

"Don't worry," he whispers. "That tree probably wasn't meant to last anyway. I think Sylviana waited for the next witch to come... if she had seen you coming, which wouldn't surprise me either. We can just go see it later."

"Wait, so you haven't seen it either?"

He chuckles and shakes his head, holding my hand tighter.

"Moon Goddess, no. Mara, do you think I would have left your side for a single minute?"

I blush uncontrollably with just those words and that confident look of his. Oh crap, I have to remind myself we are still in a hospital room because otherwise, I'd definitely do something very inappropriate for the time and place... I focus on our intertwined fingers, trying to keep my crazy-beating heart in check. Keep it for later, Mara, later...

Instead, I satisfy myself with a quick kiss on his lips. Liam smiles automatically.

"Thanks," I mutter, clearly embarrassed.

"Oh no," he retorts. "I'll simply ask that you don't do something that crazy ever again. Do you have any idea what I went through, seeing you jump? Not just that, but both your bodies! Damian almost had to make sure I didn't follow right after you, I couldn't bear to think you had just died in front of me! Don't you ever, ever do such a crazy thing again, Mara! I can handle a lot of the witchcraft and crazy magic stuff, but please, your body isn't... replaceable, okay?"

I was not expecting to get scolded too... so I stay mute a long while. Not only do I find this surprising, I hadn't thought Liam would even think of jumping after me, but I didn't even take his feelings into account at all until now. No, I suppose I didn't even realize how much he already... cared for me. Moon Goddess, he's too cute...

I lean in to kiss him again, but he retreats, frowning.

"Mara, I'm serious!" he insists.

"Sorry," I mumble. "I mean, sorry I almost killed myself very recklessly... and left you behind."

"Not doing that again, are we clear?"

He looks like his older brother when he is all serious and mad like that. I nod like an obedient girl, I just want him to let me kiss him and stop frowning.

"Crystal clear," I chuckle, still a bit amused.

He sighs, staring at me as if I was some lost cause.

"And I always made fun of my older brothers for finding women more stubborn than them..."

"Maybe it's in your genes," I chuckle, leaning in to give him another kiss.

This time, he gives in, and returns my kiss without restraint. I can even feel his gentle smile against my lips, making me smile too. Moon Goddess, I missed him so much... Now I feel like we could be stuck together and I wouldn't mind at all. Perhaps the fact that I can now feel my wolf plays out in my undying desire for him too. It is a rather unique sensation, like I can feel him all the time, regardless of where he is, and I'm pulled toward him like a magnet of feelings I can't control. The only time we don't have a choice but to stop is when Bonnie comes back in the room and chases Liam out to finish my medical exams.

"Can I go?" I ask, surprised it actually worked.

"Yes," she sighs. "As unbelievable as it is, you're fine. I mean, I still wouldn't recommend too much exercise as you didn't eat for a full day, but other than that, I'd say you're... almost as good as new."

"Awesome," I nod.

Kelsi brought me some clothes earlier, and I'm happy to get into them. I don't think I'll ever get used to wearing one of these stupid paper robes they call a hospital gown... As I slowly undo it to change my underwear, I realize a lot of my scars are gone... Is that another gift from little Mara? Even on my arms, my skin is as smooth as any young adult woman's, and as I keep looking, I realize the only ones I have left are on my legs. It begins on my thighs, but as expected, the lower parts of my legs are still the most damaged. I guess it would have been too simple to wipe everything that happened in that first accident, the one that got me to replace Clarissa…

Damn, I'm going to have to tell the truth to Amy someday. I forgot about my half-sister… whom I still consider my sibling, I realize now. I guess the best part about taking over is that, unlike Clarissa, I get to pick what I still want in my life and what I don't... I'd probably be fine never meeting that shitty father of hers, or the brother I've only ever heard about… Do I really have to tell Amy, though? I don't know how she would react to all of this. Maybe I'm a bit scared she wouldn't consider me as her half-sister anymore, since I'm not exactly Clarissa... I try not to think about this too much as I put on the overalls and top Kelsi got for me. It feels a bit odd, after everything that happened, to simply walk out of the hospital. I should be dead, but instead, I'm very much alive, and mentally gearing up for more battles...

I try to chase away all the bad thoughts and instead, take this opportunity, maybe my last night of quietness, to take a little more care of myself than usual. I don't have any makeup or anything, and I regret I didn't ask for Kelsi's. I feel like making myself prettier, for any occasion I have to be with Liam... plus, he did say it looked somewhat good on me last time. Should I text Kelsi?

I walk out of the little bathroom, still mindful about my untamable hair. Maybe I should change my hairdo or something sometime... Just as I'm going through my stuff to find my phone, I realize I'm not alone anymore. I freeze, and look over my shoulder, to find a little girl standing there.

She's just standing at the doorstep, looking a bit shy. She's biting her lower lip while staring at me, with big curious blue eyes. Her little hands are pulling on her dress, and she's slowly rocking her body upward and backward.

"Hi..." I say, a bit lost.

"Hi," she mutters, still very shy.

I take a glance, but I can barely peek at a portion of the corridor behind her. Moon Goddess, she isn't an illusion, is she? I've had my share of crazy stuff lately, even for a witch... However, that kid looks very real. She's cute too, but she feels strangely familiar to me.

"Uh... are you alone?" I ask softly. "Where are your parents?"

I turn around and slowly walk up to her, but she doesn't seem scared. Instead, she keeps staring at me with those big eyes, her lips a little open.

"Mommy is upstairs," she says.

So she isn't lost, is she? I smile and crouch down to be at her height. How old is she? Crap, I'm really bad at this, but she seems about the age of Nora's oldest child... Is it alright for a kid to wander alone in a hospital? Moreover, there's a little something bothering me. It's the way she looks at me, how she feels very familiar. Her blue eyes too. I feel like my inner wolf is just as curious as I am. I feel a... connection. Is that alright? I feel like my wolf knows this little girl, and we know her. I'm sure I've never seen her before, though.

"Did you come here to see me?" I ask.

She nods, and smiles shyly.

"Yes... are you still hurt?" she asks, her cute little brows frowning.

"I'm all healed up now," I explain. "See?"

I show off my perfectly fine arms, and she nods, looking satisfied. I tilt my head, and suddenly realize why she feels so familiar, after hearing her little voice.

"...You're the one who talked to me during the fight, didn't you?"

"Yes... I heard you were in danger. I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. I'm sorry I couldn't really talk back then."

She nods, looking a little relieved.

Just then, Liam comes back, and his eyes go down to the little girl. He immediately smiles and lifts her up.

"Hey, Rosie! How are you, girl? Came to see Mommy?"

"Yes," says Rose with a little nod.

Just then, she stares at me again, and we exchange a little smile. Liam's eyes travel from me to her.

"Oh... uh, Rosie, this is Mara. Mara, meet Rose."

"Nice to meet you," I chuckle with a little wink for her.

Rose smiles, and hugs Liam quickly.

"I will go back to see Mommy now."

"Okay, girl. Be careful."

"Yes!"

Just like that, she shyly waves at me and runs back, a smile on her lips. Liam lets out a long sigh and comes inside, grabbing both my bag and my hand.

"Um, about Rose... How did you…?"

"She just came to my room like that. But, we actually mind-linked during the fight. It means she's... family, isn't she?"

"Yeah... Rose is William Blue's only child. She... didn't get to spend a lot of time with her dad, unfortunately."

"What about her mom?"

"Oh, she's actually hospitalized upstairs for a chronic disease. She's not in a bad condition, but Nora is helping her take care of her pack, and Rosie comes often too. She's really close to her cousins."

"That's good," I nod.

Strangely, I feel very close to that child I just met. She isn't even technically my niece, but... I guess the werewolf ties are stronger than actual blood, in a way. My werewolf has all the protective instincts over that little girl already. I know the timing is bad, but... I hope I can meet her again later.

Liam leaves a little kiss on my cheek.

"Let's go. You're all cleared up? To be honest, even if you aren't, I strongly suggest we abandon your paperwork-crazy friend and run away from here."

"I agree one hundred percent," I chuckle.

Despite us bragging about evading the hospital, I still meet Kelsi, Bonnie, and even Ben in the hall. Bonnie still has to complete her shift, but the new couple agrees to come with us over to Nora's house, taking the car. Thank Moon Goddess, Liam has his bike waiting for us right in the hospital parking lot.

"That pretty baby," I squeal, happy to see her again.

"I'm thinking you like my bike more than me," Liam chuckles.

"Will you let me ride it?"

"Why aren't you answering?"

"I asked a question. Yours wasn't!"

He rolls his eyes but to my surprise, instead of a straight rebuttal, he takes out a package from the back seat, and hands it to me.

"...What is that?"

"A present to my girlfriend for surviving one crazy hell and her own suicidal move."

"...I think I could have guessed the present part," I chuckle, giving him a quick kiss as a thanks.

I open the present, a bit excited. A present from Liam... What could it be? It's strangely heavy too! I unwrap it carefully, and soon, see some brick red leather in my hands. Moon Goddess!

"You got me a badass biker jacket?" I exclaim, checking out the marvelous clothing.

"Yep. I figured it could come in handy if I want to keep my crazy witch alive a bit longer..."

I almost jump on him before he finishes his sentence, and kiss him wildly.

Instantly, Liam wraps his arms around my waist, and I feel the bike slightly waver as Liam has to rest his butt against it while I assault him. I love him... We just kiss for a while, completely shameless, in the hospital parking lot. This is crazy, I feel like a love junkie. I can barely keep myself in check, and we slowly separate, although I can't tell who pulled back first. Liam chuckles, adding another kiss on my cheek. I'm blushing even more when he leaves his hands on my butt...

"I take it that you like it?"

"I love it!" I exclaim, raising the jacket in my hand.

He helps me put it on, and it's a perfect fit. Even a bit tight, which isn't a bad thing as it enhances my shoulders and waist. I love that he picked a red one too. Once I'm perfectly suited and zipped up, he nods, visibly satisfied.

"Good," he nods.

"Wait, when did you get this?" I ask, pouting as if I was suddenly suspicious of him. "Didn't you say you stayed by my side the whole time?"

"I ordered it online and asked Ben to go get it for me!" he protests.

I chuckle and return his kiss. Liam sighs.

"Moon Goddess, I want to keep you right where I can see you. I feel like the second I take my eyes off you, you're going to run into danger again."

"Well... I can't say it won't be happening again..." I grimace.

"Mhm. I know. Which is why..."

He swallows his saliva, blushing a little. Wait. Liam Black, blushing?

"I was wondering if you'd... like to sleep at my place again tonight."

This time, I'm the one blushing.

"Y-y-you're asking that now?" I mumble, embarrassed to death by his sudden bluntness.

"Well, we're going to Nora's, and there are a lot of ears there, so–"

Suddenly, a honking sound makes us both jump. Kelsi and Ben pull up in his car and the werewolf stops it right in front of us, smiling from ear to ear.

"I heard that!" exclaims Ben, smiling like an idiot.

"You..." growls Liam.

"Ben," I say, "I like you, but if you don't get out of here, I swear I'll turn your car into a two-wheeler."

He goes white and immediately drives off. Liam and I watch them leave the parking lot, and I turn back to Liam, realizing I have a few seconds left before I die of embarrassment.

"I... Yes," I stutter.

He turns to me, and after a second of remembering what I'm saying yes to, he smiles, and gives me another quick kiss. Ah, I need a million more of these, at least...

"Awesome," he whispers. "Let's go."

"...Can I d–"

"No, Mara, no."

Damn it.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of riding this bike with Liam. For a little while, we just have fun, taking the highway and speeding between the cars to get to Nora's house. I can see where the sun has gone down on my left between the buildings as the sky takes gorgeous shades of pink and orange. I missed a sunny day, but I'm glad I didn't miss this. I hang on tight to the leather of Liam's jacket, and lean my head on his back. We're like a two-headed creature on his bike, enjoying the ride together, feeling each movement.

I wonder how our relationship would have been if it wasn't for all of this. The witchcraft, the danger, the mysteries. Perhaps we would have had a cute encounter in the parking lot of the university. A little crush, or love at first sight. Maybe we would have met during a wild college student party, waiting for our drinks at the bar, dancing together, and starting as friends. Or I would have walked into his favorite diner on the docks, and I would have fallen right away for that crazy sexy biker guy in his leather jacket.

I find myself smiling like an idiot, and create a million movies in my mind. I should really try to get a motorcycle license, so we can go on long rides together. ...Could we even leave Silver City?

Sometimes, I feel like this place is like a bubble. An amazing city, with all sorts of neighborhoods, humans, and werewolves. Buzzing with life, its nightlights and downpours, the seashore and the highways, the skyscrapers, the graffiti on the walls, the university, and the pretty family houses. The forest all around... Sometimes, I wonder what's outside. I know Clarissa had a life outside of here. She grew up in another city, with another lifestyle. But I am not her anymore. I am not little Mara, either. This is the first time I realize, I want... more. I want to study what I like, and I want to see more of this world I don't know anything about.

The world outside of Silver City.

However, when Liam parks his bike in front of the house, joking with Ben about his old rundown car being so late despite our detour, I keep all those feelings to myself.

They need me here, don't they? The Witch of Silver City. To protect them, to take over what Sylviana left behind. I let out a long sigh, taking off the helmet and shaking my hair out of the way. Not now, Mara. I guess we have more pressing matters right now.

This time, Nora's husband comes to greet us instead of his wife.

Damian Black is still as intimidating as ever to me, but strangely, I feel something has changed as he approaches me. He feels a bit... less threatening. At first, I wonder if that's because I can now feel my wolf, but no, his attitude really seems to have changed. He actually greets me first, although in a rather quiet way, a simple nod, before the others and lets us in. I wish I could mind-link Liam to ask him about this...

However, before I get any chance to whisper my question, Liam, holding my hand, guides me through the house and as expected, they are all outside again. Nora is trying to calm down her son as the little boy is crying silently in her arms.

"Sorry," she whispers as we come close. "Will tends to be a bit sensitive..."

Selena and Nathaniel are there too, but like Nora's other children, their daughters are not in sight.

"Who got babysitting duty?" asks Liam, curious too.

"All the big kids are at the movies with Isaac and his wife," chuckles Selena. "The babies are sleeping upstairs with Boyan. Danny's on night shift again, so he was lonely."

It looks like the huge brown wolf is the official babysitter of the family...

Once again, Nora prepared a feast, although it sounds like Nathaniel helped. However, we didn't come here just to eat. Quickly promising we'll be back soon, Liam and I leave them to get to Sylviana's tree. Liam's holding my hand a bit tighter, and I don't let go the entire way there.

I can feel it long before we approach the tree's location. No, to be precise, I feel what is missing. Everything I could feel before from that tree... It's gone, or going. So thin and barely palpable, like a mist just about to scatter. Strangely, the place around it still feels eerie, though. We slowly come closer, and the tree appears. I don't know if I was expecting to see it in... such bad shape. In the span of a few days, maybe a few hours, that tree has suddenly turned into a very pitiful thing. There aren't many leaves left on it, and the branches themselves look like they’re about to collapse. The trunk seems so weak, just a rub would turn the bark to dust.

Suddenly, I remember Liam next to me, and look at him, a bit worried. However, he looks fine, just staring at the tree with a calm expression.

"It really doesn't look good..." he says.

"Are you okay?"

"Hm?" He turns to me. "Oh, yes. Don't worry, I know it's not... really Sylviana. I accepted that a long time ago."

"It's still a part of her."

"I know. Maybe I'm a bit too detached, but... I think I managed to say my goodbyes my own way, some time after we met... No, maybe even before that. I don't know. I was just used to her strange ways and always being a step ahead. I loved that tree, but it was more of a... a symbol."

I nod.

I get what he means, in a way. It's no use holding on to someone who's already gone... even if more of them is fading away in front of our eyes. Maybe Liam hurts more than he lets on too. His hand is still tightly locked with mine.

We stare at the tree for a very long time, just standing together like this. It isn't... completely dead yet. I can tell the barrier around it is about to fade away as well, but even if the tree is decaying fast, there's still a little bit of life hanging on. I spot a trail of ants walking down that bark. A bird comes to briefly sit on one of the higher branches too.

"...Let's go back?" he asks.

"Do you mind if I... stay here a little longer?" I whisper.

Liam gives me a surprised look, but he slowly nods, putting a quick kiss on my forehead.

"Okay."

"I'll be back soon," I promise.

I watch him go, stepping farther and farther away, back to Nora's house.

I turn to the tree, a bit lost. Why did I feel like staying? Am I the one not ready to say goodbye? I wish I had the chance to say hello... to even meet her. I take a deep breath, and come closer to the tree, putting my hand on it. The bark is lukewarm and rough.

"I wish I had met you," I whisper.

I just feel like I've been waiting for ages to say this... to get this out of my heart. I take a deep breath. I guess now is my last chance to let it out. Not that I think she may be listening to me. This is more of a prayer for myself, like one would whisper in secret at a loved one's grave.

"I wish you had been there to tell me all the truth, to teach me... to guide me."

I feel my throat choking up a little, but I ignore it.

"It's strange that we never even got a chance to meet, but... there is so much we have in common. Our magic, our lost loved ones... and Liam too. ...Please don't resent me for loving him. You probably knew better than I did how... These things work. I am just..."

What am I even trying to say? I shake my head, and take another deep breath.

"Anyway... I hope you'll be okay, in whatever next life you move on to. I sincerely pray you'll be happy, Sylviana. You spent... so much time, if not all your life, protecting others. I... I hope I can do it too. I might be more selfish than you are. I don't... I think you might have chosen your successor wrong, you know. I don't... feel so tied to this place. There's another family for me, out there. It might not be perfect, but... I just don't think I can be like you, Sylviana. I've always... gazed further than Silver City. You know, I used to watch those tall skyscrapers, from that hospital room, but... I wasn't really interested in the buildings themselves. I was curious about how far people could see from up there."

I turn my head, toward where I know all those buildings to be. I smile. It's strange to think that now, I'd probably be allowed in those buildings if I asked... I mean, aside from the ones the fires damaged. I turn to the tree again.

"I hope... you can understand my heart a little. I know you tried to protect them. I understand, and I promise I'll protect them too. I just wish..."

I don't end that sentence.

What... was I going to wish for? I sigh, and take one step back. I glance one last time at that tree, and this time, I have no words left. I nod slowly, and turn back, feeling a bit... empty.

A few steps away, I suddenly spot Liam, waiting for me. He waited instead of returning? I smile a little, and walk up to him, as he extends his hand. Instead of taking it, I just speed up my pace until I can hug him. He chuckles and hugs me back. Mm, he really is a bit bigger than I am... I like that. That old leather and gasoline smell is still floating around him too.

"Feeling better?" he asks.

I just nod, but I insist on keeping my arms around him for a little while longer.

"Mara! Liam! Are you coming to eat, you two?!"

We both chuckle like teenagers caught by their parents. Liam frowns.

"Hm... You think we can run away?" he whispers.

"Not without our bike."

"My bike, Mara. It's my bike."

"Um..."

He rolls his eyes, and I chuckle, grabbing his hand and taking him back to Nora and the others.

It feels like the calm before the storm.

The eight of us, eating around a table in the shade, enjoying a simple meal and friendly discussions. Of course, all our topics are light-hearted. I have to give a precise explanation of what happened to me during what we apparently now call the mirror curse, and the Black Brothers and I alternate to explain about the fight inside the building too. Nora and Selena keep grimacing as we explain.

"What about you?" I ask Ben, suddenly remembering. "You were in bad shape last time I saw you..."

The werewolf boy nods, and lifts his shirt to show me the large bandage around where I remember his wound to be, with a bit of a blood stain, even.

"I'm fine," he winks at me. "It stings a bit, but I'll heal soon with a badass scar!"

"It's not badass to have scars all over!" protests Kelsi, upset. "You should have been careful, you knew it wasn't our Mara..."

"Sorry," he chuckles, still blushing a bit.

Damn, they are so cute together. All the couples are sitting next to each other, but Kelsi and Ben look almost as if they are on a bench together, so close and acting so cute.

It feels a bit strange for me too to simply be here, holding hands with Liam in front of his brothers. Moreover, neither of them seem to care anymore. Actually, I think I know why now. It's just like Selena's change of attitude. I think they felt the... bad I was still carrying inside until now. With the Dark Magic gone, it feels as if they have no reason not to trust me anymore. Plus, I more or less saved Liam's life too, and Damian Black mentioned it himself. Which makes me think he also changed his mind about me because of that, and his brother too.

"...I still think it was strange," says Selena. "She set so many buildings on fire in record time. It's not like Mara was late to the party, but that bitch basically started all those fires simultaneously."

"Maybe not so simultaneously if she had help," says Nathaniel. "However, no one reported another arsonist in the area. They all think it was Mara."

"You mean the Dark Witch," says Nora.

"No," her brother-in-law retorts, "they think it was Mara. Nora, those people don't know what we know. For now, most humans in town will think she is a Fire Witch out of control."

"They are wrong," growls Liam.

"...It's okay."

They all turn to me, surprised. I let out a long sigh.

"To be honest, the humans are the least of my problems, for now," I continue. "It's not like they ever loved me, anyway. What I am most worried about are the other witches."

"I'm curious about that too..." says Selena. "I expected them to attack right away now that Sylviana's barrier is down. Why don't they?"

"Either they don't know the barrier is fading away, or... I sent a strong enough message already."

"That fire was pretty big," nods Liam. "It was probably seen way farther than Silver City."

I shake my head.

"Not just the fire. If they felt the barrier disappear, they must have felt me beating that Dark Witch too. Witches are... connected in a more complex way than werewolves, but we feel... when things happen to magic itself. When my body was possessed, the Dark Witch mentioned a curse. A curse much older than the hatred Nephera had. Something darker, something I felt too, and that killed Clarissa. ...Nora, Selena, you don't have any idea what it could be?"

The two of them exchange a long look, but eventually, shake their heads before turning to me again.

"No... we told you the truth exactly as we know it. I don't believe either of us has ever heard of a curse whatsoever. If anything, we've heard more about blessings, like what our grandmother Queen Diane got, reborn as the Moon Goddess reincarnate."

"Even with that, we aren't sure of anything," sighs Selena. "We haven't... we've got no memories of that. And the only people who know more are dead now."

I sigh and we all stay silent for a long time. I feel like this curse is going to be my next problem... unless the other witches come first. As none of us have any idea of what more to do, we just agree that, at least, my little showdown from yesterday bought us some time. It is more than likely that I scared those witches away. We resume eating, but I take a second to breathe in deeply and try to extend my senses further.

Now, I can do this much. Not only because Mara transferred her knowledge and powers fully to me, but my wolf is there too. It's like getting a sixth sense. It's something I can feel, but not quite see. I feel the barrier, even more precisely than before, without touching it. I feel my own magic, burning like a fire, one vivid spot in the circle the barrier put around Silver City. Bright like a headlight.

I feel... the others too. It's not precise, because they are too far, but I really do. One in the sea. Is the Water Witch hiding under water? Or did she find a boat or something?

Two more. One is definitely Ravena. Strangely, I recognize her earthly magic, as if it was a... force. The more I focus on it, the more I can feel it. It's almost as if the smell of soil and grass got stronger as I keep focusing on her. There's another one... A Fire Witch. She's close to the border... and I don't like that. She's staying just within a reasonable distance, though. Moreover, I feel her better than the others. Is it because she's a Fire Witch too? It's as if she is resonating with me. Now I understand why elements are so important. While the Fire Witch is like an echo of my own magic, Ravena feels less significant. She's there, but I can't feel much of a threat from her. She did mention she was the weaker one too... unlike the Water Witch and her wave. If she can cause so much damage from outside the barrier, she's going to be a pain to fight off for real if we go head-to-head...

"Are you alright?" whispers Liam.

While I was caught up in my thoughts, Nora brought the dessert, and is trying to keep her son away from it. I nod.

"Yeah, I'm just... thinking I might need to see Ravena."

Liam opens his eyes wide, surprised.

"Rav-... The Earth Witch? Why? I don't trust that b–!"

I put my finger on his lips with a quick growl, reminding him his nephew is right there. He frowns and pouts against my index finger, making me chuckle.

"I don't trust her either," I chuckle, "but she played Miss Know-It-All, so it might be worth a shot to ask her what she knows about that curse before doing anything stupid or waiting for the others to come to us first."

"Hm..."

He still looks unhappy with my idea, but it doesn't matter. I need to know, and that's my best option for now.

"Mara? What's on your hand?" suddenly asks Selena, frowning at me.

My hand?

I glance down, and suddenly notice it. Something appeared on my hand. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize it's another spell. What the heck? What did I do now? I quickly stand up and stand away from Liam, but it seems like an... inoffensive one. Kelsi stands up too and comes next to me to check on it.

"...Girls?" asks Ben.

"I don't know this one..." mumbles Kelsi.

"I do," I immediately say. "That's an astral projection spell."

"An astral projection?" repeats Kelsi, panicked. "Please don't tell me you're going to switch your body again!"

"No, I don't think so. This one looks more like a... key, or some sort of guide..."

How did it appear, though? I only tried to use my magic a little earlier, but it couldn't have provoked such a complex and delicate spell. Suddenly, after fixating on my palm for a long time, I realize. That's the hand I touched the dying tree with.

I smile and close my fist. Thanks, Sylviana.