Page 55 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

"You're really not going to tell me?" he insists.

"No!" I chuckle, amused by his pout.

Liam's been asking all evening now, but I won't tell him what his brother and I discussed. I feel like this should stay between me and Nathaniel Black. There's nothing really secret, but... I just don't feel like Liam ought to know either. I smile at his grumpy expression and put a quick kiss on his cheek, snuggling a bit more in his arms.

It's been a quiet evening, despite the dozens of wolves present in Nora's garden. Kelsi and I clearly underestimated how much food needed to be prepared to feed a group of werewolves... I feel like I peeled enough vegetables for a lifetime. Still, I'm happy we contributed a bit to the large meal in front of us. Because a lot of them are still in their wolf form, the dinner was served like a buffet on a large table, everyone coming and going to grab whatever they pleased. It's cute seeing the kids happy to hand large slices of meat to big hungry wolves... and a bit odd too when they start fighting for them.

Liam and I took a seat a bit away from the group, to be just the two of us for a little while. I love being part of a pack, but I think he and I are still more like a pair of loners... He sighs and gently rubs his nose against my neck, making me shiver a little. I'm shamelessly sitting on his lap, my hands around his neck as we've been cuddling since we finished eating. The firepit has all the wolves, humans, and couples gathered around, but we are almost the farthest away, watching the nice scene from afar. Kelsi went for a walk hand in hand with Ben a while ago, and I'm happy those two are spending some more time together without any witchcraft books.

I'm keeping an eye on Ayesha, but she's been silently eating against a tree for a while, staying away from all the wolves. I get a witch probably wouldn't be comfortable in the midst of all this... Selena was chatting with her earlier, though, and I don't think she's that uncomfortable. Maybe just a bit uneasy, given the situation. It's a strangely quiet night, despite our current situation. Once again, I have a feeling that this is the calm before the storm...

"We should make plans," suddenly says Liam.

"...Like a battle plan?"

"No, plans as a couple. Stuff we want to do after all this crap is over..."

I smile.

"Hm... Mr. Liam Black, I really like this romantic side of yours. What do you have in mind?"

"I don't know. The usual stuff? Maybe a few dates would be good, for starters."

"I want to go back to eat that cheeseburger," I immediately state.

He chuckles, and puts a quick kiss on my cheek.

"Okay. I want to go back there with you for a real date this time too. What else?"

"More bike rides. Time for just the two of us..."

I lean in and gently kiss him. His beard is growing out a little, just a few spikes on his chin, but it's nice to brush it with my fingers, just this once. Liam answers my kiss without hesitation, and I feel his lips turn into a smile. His hands get a little bit more adventurous on my body too. I feel his fingers under my tank top, caressing my waist. His other hand is on my butt, and I wonder why I don't wear skirts more often so we could get a bit naughty like this...

I have more ground to play with; I caress his back, my fingers brushing down his spine and up to his hairline. I like his broad shoulders I can lean on, and the smell of his skin. Funny enough, he's the one to smell a bit like bark and firewood this time, and I don't hate it. Underneath this, it's still his smell, my Liam and my mate. Something reassuring, something that completes my senses. There's also a hint of salt in our kisses, and something sweet and sour. It makes me a little bit hungry again, but I'd rather have some more of him. Liam must have tasted it too, because he gets even more playful, biting my lower lip, groaning a little as we get a bit more savage.

"You do know there are kids around, right?"

We both stop, a bit guilty, and raise our heads to see Selena, staring at us with a little smile. Liam rolls his eyes.

"Not you, please. With all the times you and Nate asked me to watch the girls so you could get some time off..."

"Hey, there's a time and place for that," she chuckles, "and you two don't even have kids."

Liam and I exchange a look. Hm... We may have been a bit too naughty, indeed. I chuckle, and he sighs, brushing his hair back.

"Fine, we'll... watch it."

As he says that, he still wraps his arms a bit tighter around me like some grumpy kid, making me chuckle. I turn to Selena, though. I don't think she came here just to make sure we stayed kid-friendly...

"Everything okay?" I ask.

She sighs, and comes over to watch the firepit and the others with us, although she crosses her arms.

"I don't know. You know, I always thought of myself as a warrior. I'm definitely a fighter, maybe one of the best in Silver City, those guys included. But... You know, Mara, we already had a war two years ago. Although we survived and defeated the enemy... I mean, Nephera and then all those vampires, it didn't feel like we won it either. We lost a lot of people, Mara. Both humans and werewolves. Sylviana too... I lost one of my best friends. I almost lost Nate. I'm not sure I can say I'm over it yet, and now, we may have more of that shit coming at us. I just don't know how I feel about it, honestly."

I get where she's coming from... Maybe it's easier for me because I wasn't here for their previous fight. To me, it feels like something I'd read in a book, but for them, it was very real, and they still bear the scars today. Not only the physical ones, but emotional ones too. I just need to look long enough to notice it. The way all the wolves move, as if they were constantly establishing some perimeter. The glances Ayesha gets at every move, as do I. How Damian Black keeps his wife and children close. How all the wolves are actually watching the kids. There's never one out of sight, or too far they couldn't reach them. If one of the pups wanders off, another wolf gets up and brings them back to the rest of them. They look out for each other, but not simply in a familial way.

I think I finally get why Nora's house is always so full of people. It isn't just because it’s the Alpha and Luna's house. The wolves need to feel their family is there, the pack needs to stick together. Silver City is such a large place, yet they are all moving around together, no one is ever really left alone.

"...I know this isn't my area of expertise. I think your human friend might be even more prepared than we are, but... I don't know how many of us can endure another fight, Mara. If there is one, I'm not sure how much the Alphas will be able to guide them either."

I take a deep breath.

"...I'm not an Alpha."

She turns to me with a frown, looking confused. I chuckle, still staring at the bonfire.

"It's funny. I spent so much time trying to figure out who I was... No, what I was. And now that I know, and I've come to terms with it, I realize... well, it just might not really matter anymore."

I smile, a sudden boost of confidence taking over, and brush Liam's hair gently with my fingers again.

"I'm an Omega, Selena," I declare with a smile. "I know I also have the aura of an Alpha wolf, but... truthfully, I'll never fully belong to the pack, no matter how much you welcome me. That's a fact, and that's... that's completely fine with me. I don't really need that. I'm fine with whatever I have now. I'm okay with being a freak, and I am okay with not picking a side. I'm a witch and a werewolf. I am Liam's mate."

"For sure," he smiles with a quick kiss on my shoulder.

I smile back at him, but quickly turn to Selena. Her amber eyes are more serious than ever, but now, they just feel so familiar to me. I can see the bonfire dancing in them, and I imagine she sees the same thing I do...

"The packs need someone like you and Nora to guide them, most of the time. You're the Lunas, you're the Royals. You're the perfect leaders for your people. But me? I'm... not really anything like you guys. I'm the freak who will handle the witches and the Dark Magic. I don't want... I don't want to be someone's Alpha. However, I'll come forward and lead anytime you need me. I'll protect this place, these people, whatever it takes. I swear, I'll be there, but I'll be free too. I just have... so much more to find, Selena, and I don't think... not all of it is in Silver City."

They both stay silent, probably a bit surprised by my words, but I've never been so sure of anything. This is all coming to me now, so clear and bright like the future. I've tried so much to find a reason to be, a role to fill, and I never came to realize... I could be whatever I wanted in the first place. Clarissa and little Mara left me this gift. If I'm a funny mix between two worlds, why shouldn't I simply be the best of the two?

After what seems like a while, Selena chuckles and pushes her blonde hair back with a long sigh.

"Oh, Moon Goddess... You're one surprising gal, Mara."

"Thanks," I smile.

She stares at the firepit for a while, but I know this isn't really what her eyes are saying. There's a veil of nostalgia in her eyes, I can tell. She chuckles.

"...You remind me of someone," she says. "An annoying old hag... and my mentor. I didn't want to admit it at first, but... you're an awful lot like her. Stubborn, unapologetic, and at times, a huge pain in the ass."

"Okay...?"

She takes a deep breath.

"...But that someone was probably the woman I admired the most," she finally confesses. "She was an Omega wolf too, simply by choice. She had the heart of a Beta, the strength of an Alpha, but she was still an Omega. For a long time, I wondered why she hadn't... settled for a pack. Why she simply didn't pick one, or come to the same one as me, instead of always going back and forth. I even resented her for not staying."

"...Did you ever get to know why?"

She laughs and turns to me.

"I think I finally understand now, because of one stubborn Fire Witch."

Liam and I exchange a glance, a little bit confused. Selena shakes her head with a smile.

"...I think you can't settle your heart in a pack. You just leave it with someone."

I smile.

Yeah, I really like the sound of that, and it does feel like... me. Liam sighs and rests his chin on my shoulder while I'm left with my thoughts to ponder Selena's words and mine. I think she's right on point. It's not about Silver City itself. It's not about a city, its buildings, or where it is. It's about the people I met here. The ones I come back to. I think Liam, Kelsi, Ben, Nora, Selena, everyone... They were the ones that made Silver City my home. I find myself smiling uncontrollably, but for once, I know exactly where I need my heart to be. I know exactly what I want, who I am.

Still...there's something that bothers me, just a little. It feels so easy, almost too easy. I don't have the responsibility of a pack. Truthfully, being an Omega means I won't take any responsibility as a wolf... I'll just be a werewolf among many. I'm fine with staying on the sidelines until they need me. Until they need the witch me. It bothers me a little...

"...Don't you think it's a bit selfish of me?" I ask Selena.

She chuckles and shrugs. Her amber eyes are following a young white wolf who's playing with her younger cousins and her dad.

"We're all selfish, Mara. Humans and werewolves alike. You can't be selfless all the time, happiness does come with selfishness, at times. I know a lot about it, to be honest. I've made some choices that were selfish of me, but at that time, if I had chosen any other way, I would have imploded. There are times where you have to do what you want, and put yourself first. Don't feel sorry about that. You're super young too. Technically, you're even younger than any of us. How could we chain you to Silver City when you've literally known nothing else? Nora and I are fine with our current roles, we're happy as Lunas. But you? Like you said, you've got the heart of a rogue wolf. You don't keep a wolf on a leash, girl."

I smile, happy that she understands my thought process. I turn to Liam, a bit worried, but he just smiles, brushing his lips against my skin.

"Don't look at me like that," he says. "Wherever you go, I'll go. No leash for me, either."

"As if we were ever able to put a leash on you," Selena laughs. "You're the most rogue of all of us! What a pair, you two... I think we will just have to sit back and see what kind of mess you'll bring home next..."

"Hey, we're not that bad of troublemakers!" protests Liam.

"Oh, really? How many buildings have gone up in flames since you two got together, again?"

Liam gasps.

"Hey, you know that's not true! That was Mara all by herself..."

"Thanks for the support," I growl.

"Sorry, babe, but you're real trouble. Always happy to help, though..."

"Yeah," chuckles Selena. "At least, Mara is–"

She suddenly interrupts herself, and from the way she's frowning, I get a bad feeling. What's going on? She turns around, and stares somewhere behind us, looking concerned. I get off Liam's lap and on my feet too. It can't be one of the witches, I would have felt it...

"Mara, something's happening to your friend," she mutters.

What...? Holy Moon Goddess, Kelsi!

I start running in the direction she and Ben walked off to, the same direction Selena was staring at. I hear Selena and Liam running behind me, but the fear of something happening to my best friend is making me faster than ever. Fuck, not Kelsi!

I spot them just a couple of minutes later on the sidewalk, and something's definitely wrong. Kelsi is bent over in a weird position, with a panicked Ben next to her, and she's... puking on the grass. What the hell? I accelerate to get to her side, and from Ben's expression when he spots me, this isn't just food poisoning.

"Mara! I don't know what's going on, she felt sick all of a sudden, and she began... puking..."

She isn't just puking; there's a weird dark liquid coming out of her mouth, and I'm pretty sure I haven't seen Kelsi drink anything but some beer tonight. What the hell?! Ben is holding her hair back, and Kelsi is trying to calm down, but she shakes her head.

"I'm... okay..."

"Shut up, boo, you're not okay at all," I growl. "Ben, help her sit down."

He nods and immediately obeys, helping her sit down on the grass before Kelsi pukes again in an impressive waterfall of a thick liquid. I realize whatever’s coming out is not just black; there's a lot of worrying dark red too.

"Someone call Ayesha," I yell over my shoulder. "Ben, did anything else happen?"

"I swear, nothing," he says. "We were talking about one of our movies, and all of a sudden, she went super white, and she said she was going to vomit..."

Just as he says that word, Kelsi makes a sour expression, and I have to step aside as she pukes some more... Damn, how much came out already? There's literally a pond of it right next to us! If this goes on, Kelsi won’t–

I light my fire. What is that stuff? I approach my hand to try to burn it, and as I expected, it reacts, the liquid suddenly boiling and making smoke under us. I frown and try burning it some more.

Spark appears next to me, hissing at that stuff. Yeah, I thought so too...

"Oh, gross!"

I turn to Ayesha, who just arrived, making a disgusted face.

"You've seen something like this before?"

"What do you think?" she sighs. "This is clearly Dark Magic, and a stupid curse. Your friend is human; she played all afternoon with witchcraft books, she probably got this from opening something she shouldn't have..."

Damn it. This is really not what I needed. Kelsi being cursed too! I glance over at the dark red pool and quickly move my fingers and hands again, creating a magic circle. I'm a fucking witch too and if I want to save my friend, I will. I focus until my circle is strong enough, and send it onto the little pool of blood.

The liquid fumes and makes disgusting sounds as it slowly boils on the grass, leaving the area barren. However, it doesn't just disappear. Underneath it, engraved in the soil, new runes appear, not the ones that I made myself. I wanted to find how to undo that curse, but it looks like I found its maker instead. I decipher them in less than a minute. Those are geographical coordinates, and it's close; I can already guess where they lead... Ayesha sighs.

"Well, looks like you got yourself an invitation..."

"Mara, what do we do?" asks Ben, visibly worried for his girlfriend. "Can you do something?"

I put my hands on Kelsi's forehead and stomach. I don't even feel the curse... Damn it, how could I let such a thing happen?! I'm a fucking idiot! Ayesha stays carefully away with a grimace on.

"That bitch Ravena..."

"I told you to be careful of that cursed bitch of a raven," says Ayesha. "I wondered how you guys had gotten your hands on all her lackey's stuff, I guess she did put some sort of trap on it..."

I hope no one else is getting sick like Kelsi. She was the one who spent the most time on those things, and Moon Goddess knows where this curse was or how many more people it can affect; I'm very worried about her. Even without my magic, I can tell she has one hell of a fever, and whatever it is she's puking, it can't be good. Not when there's this much non-identified crap coming out of her mouth...

"Ben, carry her. We're going to take her to the closest hospital for now."

"You can't do anything?" asks Liam with a sorry expression.

"This is an Earth Witch's magic, and clearly, I'll have to go meet her, she wants us to settle this directly. All I can do is buy us some time... We have to resort to the good old human way... and ask Nora."

Liam nods, and while he's probably mind-linking her, I ought to try and do something. I trace runes in the air, as fast as I can, trying to focus only on making Kelsi feel better. Thank Moon Goddess I paid attention to little Mara's explanations on Light Magic and Dark Magic balance... I finish my circle, making it as complete, thorough, and efficient as I can, but this won't be enough. I can only buy us time for now. Ravena wouldn't have come up with something to attack my friend if she knew I'd get it out easily...

I put my magic circle toward Kelsi's stomach, and it shines vividly before disappearing. My magic is inside her now, though, which is already better than nothing, surely...

"What did you do?" asks Ben.

"This is Light Magic to protect her, and it should help bring her fever down too. I still think she needs to see Nora and be taken to a hospital. She threw up too much, it can't be good..."

Just as I finish my sentence, Nora arrives with the two other Black Brothers, looking concerned. Liam must have updated them all already because she immediately puts her hands above Kelsi, and her hair starts glowing white. We wait a little bit while she tries to heal her. I can feel Nora's aura coming over to wrap Kelsi around like a cocoon... Moon Goddess, I hope this can make her feel better. She looks really sick... I take Kelsi's hand and hold it. I really hope she's alright, but she looks half-unconscious already... Her eyes are fighting to stay open. She has a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, and with such a fever, it must be hard for her. She isn't a werewolf or a witch, either, Kelsi is just a human... Despite the fact that he's very still as he's carrying her, Ben looks panicked, his eyes going from Kelsi to us non-stop.

"Nora, she's going to be okay, right?" he asks.

"I feel the Dark... Magic inside her," sighs the Luna. "It's fighting me off, though. Dark Magic resists my power much more than normal injuries. It's like Liam's eye, I can't do much about this. I can help with the fever and make it less painful, but... Kelsi was attacked by Dark Magic, the remedy has to come from magic too..."

They all turn their eyes to me, but I can only nod.

"Sorry," I mutter. "This is my fault..."

"Mara, I couldn't care less about finding who to blame right now," frowns Ben. "Girl, you have to do something."

"I will. I promise I will. Can I entrust you with Kelsi for now?"

"What are you going to do?" asks Nora, worried.

"Exactly what Ravena wants of me," I growl. "She's looking for a fight, she's fucking going to have one..."

She can attack me if she wants, but harming my best friend? That witch bitch just crossed the damn line.

However, to my surprise, Ben puts Kelsi into Nora's arms and takes off his shirt, immediately followed by Liam.

"Wha–"

"I'm coming with you," he says. "I won't be able to do anything even if I stay with Kelsi, and Bonnie's already on her way. Plus, I want to be with you if we can get to that damn witch."

"But Kelsi–"

"Kelsi would tell me to do exactly the same thing, Mara. She trusts you a hundred percent, and she's going to kick my furry butt if she learns I did nothing while you fought in her stead. I'm coming."

Before I can add a word, he shape-shifts into his huge brown wolf.

"Mara, go," says Nora. "I'll take Kelsi to the hospital and join you guys when I can."

"We're coming with you," adds Selena.

The next minute, I have three more wolves shape-shifting to follow me: one cream golden-eyed one, and the two older Black Brothers. Only Liam doesn't shape-shift, but he's half-naked and ready to go.

There's no time to argue anymore. Kelsi's life is on the line, and I know I can trust Nora with it. I nod and turn around, and our little group begins to run fast, heading southwest. Liam is the only one running on his feet next to me, but we don't have any issue keeping up with the werewolves. The fact that we are running across Silver City means we have to slow down to cross streets, take sharp turns, and avoid the crowds. People move away from us quickly, though. The appearance of our group, full of Alphas and bigger-than-the-norm wolves, is enough to get everyone out of the way as soon as they spot us. Moreover, everyone knows something's happening. Wolf howls are echoing throughout the city, and it's an incredible feeling. It comes from everywhere, other wolves letting us know where they are if we need reinforcements. I never realized how werewolves were literally everywhere. The full moon is shining bright over us, and its light is illuminating all the buildings, giving Silver City that unique glow that fits its name perfectly.

"Mara, you have to let everyone mind-link you," suddenly yells Liam next to me.

I frown. I'm blocking them? I take a deep breath, and realize I've barely called out my inner wolf... It's a strange feeling, like two versions of me overlapping, and I have to focus on intensifying either. The witch side of me is naturally dominating, and on the other hand, my wolf will gladly take a mental nap unless I need her. I focus, and begin growling without thinking. I feel it. Oh, Moon Goddess, yeah, I feel that.

My wolf's the one running, and she's excited as hell. We accelerate, the adrenaline rushing through our veins. It's amazing. Although I'm on two feet, it feels as if I'm on four, and getting faster. I accelerate ahead of the group, ignoring the flames I feel behind me. The wind's rushing behind me, but my legs have never felt so fast, so great. I'm almost flying. I run, faster, faster, like I'm winning a race.

“ Get it, girl! ”

Selena's laugh echoes in my mind, and I smile at the cream wolf running beside me. The excitement is contagious, and for a while, it almost turns into a race between us. Liam has a dangerous smile on too, and he won't lose.

Moreover, it's not like we forget what we're headed into. We're going to fight, and this is not going to be a pleasant journey. I'm not sure what to expect, but I know I owe Ravena a fucking lesson after what she did to Kelsi. I feel guilty too. I shouldn't have let my best friend handle all those witchcraft books without at least checking them myself. I thought things would be fine because they were handled by a human before and I couldn't feel anything wrong from them, but I really should have known better. This crap is my fault too, and I'm not forgetting that; I just don't have time to blame myself yet, I need to settle this with the culprit first...

A new howl echoes, and we take a sharp turn to the left.

The docks... I don't like that Ravena brought us here, but at least that's a good sign that she doesn't know where the curse originated from, either.

“ Mara, it smells of humans… a lot. ”

We don't see them, though? The Black Brothers all begin growling, and I glance around. Some nasty clouds have decided to mess up our arrival and hide the moon... It's dark on the docks at this hour, and I'm grateful for my night vision, but that might not be enough to see all the threats lurking in the dark. I ignite my fire to give us more light and see what's going on around us.

There's no sign of Ravena, but there aren't any signs of the humans we can smell, either... What the heck is going on? We slow down and progress carefully between the hangars. Seriously, out of all the places she could decide to provoke me, she chooses the seashore? Why? As an Earth Witch, shouldn't she have tried to kill me in her own element, the forest? For once, it hasn't rained in a while, either! What is she playing at? I keep walking, watching out for any threats. I don't know if we have too many wolves or not enough, but I have a feeling we'll find out soon...

“ What about the wolves from this area? ”

“ They are on standby. They said nothing has happened so far, but they noticed more humans than usual on their territory. ”

“ Humans? ...Like students? ”

“ Yeah. ”

Oh, I don't like that. I turn my head to the hangars, but all of them are closed... or so it seems. No, it's too quiet. Liam and I exchange a look. He's staying close, and he's still in his human form too. He doesn't want me to be the only one on two feet, and he knows I'll have to stay like this to use my magic.

"Good evening, Mara."

I stop and glare ahead.

Ravena appears from behind one of the hangars, a malicious smile on her lips. She's changed her clothes again from the last time we saw her, but it's not any better. She's wearing a very flowery top and a long, slit leather skirt, her hair held up in an oversized bun, only a few strands near her face. Let's not even talk about her awful gaudy makeup...

"Do you seriously have a death wish?" I growl. "I didn't think Ayesha was right when she mentioned you're one hell of a snake."

"Oh, are you mad?" she chuckles, tilting her head. "You can't blame me. You're the one who sent your little thief to steal my books..."

"Your books? Don't lie to me, those books weren't yours to begin with!"

"They’re still not for a human to take."

I frown. What, so she has something against humans, now?

We suddenly hear a ruckus coming from all the closed hangars. What the hell does she have in there? It sounds like at least three or four of those are packed with... Moon Goddess knows what. I don't like the fact that we still have yet to spot any humans, either.

“ Babe, you may want to have more people ready to help us… ”

“ Roger that. I have a bad feeling too. ”

It's not just a bad feeling, this is more like the minute before all hell breaks loose. I intensify my flames.

"So what now? I'm past your offer to become your disciple, by the way."

She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms in an elegant manner, almost theatrical.

"That's something about you, Fire Witches. You tend to be arrogant. I can't blame you, as that's a trait of your element. It doesn't make it any less annoying, though. Well, I'm not interested anymore in having you as a student. I'm not fond of that... dog side of yours."

I growl even louder, as if to prove her right. Right now, my wolf side would gladly take a bite or two off that evil mouth of hers!

"Take your curse back from my best friend's body. Right. Now."

"I don't want to," she retorts. "Why should I?"

"Well, I'm about to fry you to the bone if you don't," I growl, showing the large flame on my hand.

"Oh, so you think you can threaten me now? Mara, little one, you haven't quite realized what we're doing here yet, have you?"

I frown.

What is she talking about? Now I really, really have a bad feeling... I glance toward the hangars, but I quickly realize, it's the other side that we ought to be careful of. The sea.

We see the sea suddenly getting a lot more agitated, and those waves get a whole lot bigger, very quickly. I take a step back, wary of it. Oh, this is seriously not my favorite playground... Nausea hits before I can control it, and I bend over, almost ready to throw up.

"Mara! You okay?" asks Liam, grabbing my shoulder.

I nod. I'm not going to puke. The air is just humid, and I should be able to ignore it. I take a deep breath, and glare at the waves. Now I know what she was trying to do. Ravena wanted to call me to this side so I'd be weaker. I should have known as soon as I saw the sea, but I had almost forgotten how fucking much it affects me.

However, it doesn't mean I can't do anything about it. Humidity is nothing but water in the air, and I'm still a Fire Witch. A powerful one.

"Liam, everyone, step back. Don't stand close to me."

They all obey right away, moving like one wolf. I take another deep breath, and intensify my fire. More and more; not just in my hands, but on my whole body. I need to warm up the air around me, I need to make it dry as a desert. I keep going. I feel the flames dancing on my neck, on my collar bone, on my arms. My body is so hot right now, and my skin is almost glowing. I feel the hotness myself, and around me, it's like a layer of heat fighting off the humidity. It may not make a huge difference in our environment, but at least my nausea goes down.

Ravena looks like she did not expect that. She steps back with a sour expression on.

"I have to admit... You're one powerful and annoying little witch..."

"Thanks. Now, take your damn curse back before I put my threat into action," I hiss. "I'm not joking, and I'm not just going to be a nice little witch, either."

"...I won't."

This time, I'm not holding back. I prepare a massive fireball, one as big as my head, and I throw it Ravena's way. She prepares a magic circle in just a few movements, but we both already know it won't be enough. When she puts it in front of her, it's clearly too small, and when my fireball hits, not only she is thrown a few steps back, but my fire burns her hands, making her scream.

"I told you I wasn't playing," I state, stepping forward.

“ Good job, Mara, ” says Selena.

“ No, something's wrong, ” retorts Liam. “ This is too easy… ”

I agree. From what I've seen of her, Ravena is too smart to face me directly in petty games like this. She managed to get me where she wanted. It can't be as simple as her underestimating me a little...

As if she had heard our thoughts, Ravena suddenly starts laughing and rubs her hands together, healing them with her magic.

"Oh, Mara, you think you can play with the big girls now? Well, well, it's time to play, indeed."

I feel a weight fall down in my stomach, and as the sea intensifies its ruckus on my right, I hear an even louder ruckus on my left. All the hangars' doors fall down, one after another, as we finally see what they were hiding. Oh, that can't be good. A young woman comes out, and another. Slowly, the hangars start spitting out dozens of young women, a lot of them wearing that stupid tattoo on a visible patch of their skin. Not only that, but they look... possessed. Their eyes are completely inexpressive, as if they were just sleeping, half-awake. They put one foot in front of the other like puppets on a string. Still, they are coming toward us, a large circle slowly forming.

“ Now we know what she wanted humans for… ”

“ We can't attack humans! ”

“ Yeah, want to guess if those chicks will feel the same about us? They’re being controlled! ”

“ Mara, can you stop this? ”

I slowly shake my head, but I'm thinking. I'm thinking, fast. Can I? It took me a while to erase just one of those damn tattoos, and now, there are dozens of them!

Before I even have time to process what's going on, something else happens. On the other side, the waves I wasn't watching anymore just got a whole lot bigger. Not only that, but now, a vaguely familiar silhouette is standing on top of them, perfectly still as she's riding them. Her waves are tall above us, and she's looking down with one intense glare I'm not sure I like...

"See?" chuckles Ravena. "I knew I needed an alliance. I guess I had picked the wrong witch..."

Oh, for fuck’s sake...