Page 57 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

I can't blame her. I wouldn't be able to sit still, either, if I knew a curse was threatening my life and that of my childˇs as well... I feel pity for Sadia, but now, at least, that part of the story is clearer. Naptera's links to Silver City, that curse, and myself too. She isn't here for Silver City itself, or the curse's Dark Magic like Ravena, she just wants to end it. She probably didn't expect me to be here too, someone born from Sadia's blood and even more of that damn curse... I wish I could reply to that monologue of hers, though! Thanks for the explanation, but can we get back to what really matters? Her issue isn't with me, it's with that curse, we should be on the same page, not taking a swim!

I growl again, and to my surprise, my wolf seems just fine. She's not feeling that hellish nausea? Is she a wolf or a freaking fish?! I try to focus on her instead and stop fighting. I can't come up with fire and I feel like the more I try to channel my inner fire, the sicker I'll get, so let's just think smart for once and stop. Damn, Selena was right, I'm so obnoxiously stubborn...

I'm running out of oxygen, though, and quickly. I struggled too much to fight off those waves. I'm surprised Naptera isn't attacking me more. I'm underwater, I should already be dead if she had any serious intention to kill me... Maybe she cooled down because she spoke, but I won't complain. It gives me a few seconds to think of a plan... or at least how I'm going to save my ass in this situation.

What's the deal with my inner wolf? I'm usually in witch mode, I didn't even think about her much. Okay, maybe I was leaning too much toward my firepower, but it's still pretty nice to have that much firepower in hand for fights! I decide to close my eyes and focus on her only. Strangely, I feel a bit relieved as soon as I reach inside... I manage to align with her calm, and the lack of oxygen isn't so pressing anymore. What are you trying to tell me?

¨ Mara, we have more humans attacking! 〃

I'm sorry, but I have to ignore the others for a while. Why have I never looked deeper into my own aura when I'm so good at reading others? I can't tell, but now, I notice, my wolf's aura is slowly shifting. How the heck are we doing that, I wouldn't be able to come up with the beginning of an explanation. It's like seeing two different colored inks mixing. From a bright orange, my aura is slowly getting tainted by a dim, quiet blue. Where is that blue aura coming from? Where was it all this time? I'd know if I had two different auras! However, the more I let it in and accept it, the more obvious it gets: my wolf is the one.

I try to look into my subconscious, where I met little Mara and my wolf... Of course now, my wolf is alone in there. She greets me with her blue and gold eyes, but once again, I feel like we're two separate entities. It's like right before I realized she was there, we're not in perfect sync. I may be a badass witch, but I'm obviously one poor excuse of a werewolf... Alright, girl, let's ponder on the why later and act now before we die.

I focus, and let that blue aura of hers come to me. Although I said I wouldn't look into it, it definitely has Clarissa's signature... I smile without thinking. Of course. Why didn't I realize sooner? This is the body of a Water Witch, to begin with! It went through a lot of shit to adapt to little Mara's soul as she was a Fire Witch, but this is still a body meant for a Water Witch! How did I not think of that?

I'm sorry, girl. My inner wolf growls a bit, but I don't think we have time for grudges anyway. I try to calm down. This is the body of a Water Witch. No matter how much it adapted to little Mara's fire, it can't have completely erased Clarissa's original body's capabilities, right? I may not be able to bend water, but I should at least...

Oh, Moon Goddess, it works! I stopped blocking my nose and mouth, and somehow, I can freaking breathe underwater. It's a bit... scary, but although I breathe water in and out, I'm not suffocating or anything. No need for gills, my lungs are just fine with getting a water influx, apparently. This is crazy... and I absolutely love it. I get an adrenaline rush as well as an awesome confidence boost. Compared to the I'm-about-to-die from earlier, this is fucking awesome. With my heat kept inside and my body doing what it knows on the outside, I'm feeling good. I'm feeling great, even. Knowing that I'm not about to die drowning is kind of awesome.

"How are you?"

Naptera looks shocked, and I can't keep myself from grinning. Yeah, I know. Who would expect a newbie Fire Witch to be just fine underwater? I can't believe my nausea is gone as soon as I shut my inner Fire Witch down too. I wish I had listened to my inner wolf earlier. Sorry, Clarissa. I promise I'll do better from now on with what you left me. This is crazy, insane, and awesome. I may not be able to use Water Magic, if that's even possible, but I know what to do. I take a deep breath and move my legs around. I try going left, I try going right. I can swim, alright. Moon Goddess... The others are going to add this to my list of crazy stuff, right at the top of the pile.

"Surprise," I say. "Cursed Ones are full of surprises, don't you think?"

Okay, maybe I'm enjoying this a bit too much, but let's face it, I'm a total cheat in my own way.

"Now, want to hear what I think about your whole speech from earlier?" I resume, losing the grin. "Well, I'm really sorry about what happened to Sadia. I really am, Naptera. I'm sorry about what happened to Nephera, and I'm sorry for everyone else who got cursed, including the two amazing young witches who gave birth to me. Yes, I'm a Cursed One, but I didn't choose to be born from someone else's ashes. I don't have a childhood of my own because of that, and Nephera's baby didn't even get to see the light of day with her own body! I'm really, really sorry about all that, but guess what? As much as it sucks, killing me and the werewolves isn't going to solve anything or bring anyone back!"

"Enough!"

This time, I'm prepared. I tame my inner fire, having it be faint and quiet for once, and let Naptera throw me across the water. What else can she do now? I can swim and breathe just fine. I don't think she's got anything to slam me against either, or so I hope. It's pretty dark in here... Alright. She can have me spin a hundred times if she wants, she'll still have to listen to what I have to say to her!

As soon as she stops swinging me around, I right myself and growl with my inner wolf.

"You know what? Yes, I'm cursed, and you can suck it! I'm a Fire Witch in a Water Witch's body, so if anything, I may even be the craziest and yet most positive thing to have ever been born of that curse! I didn't sign up for any of this, but I'd freaking work to stop it if you'd calm down and listen!"

"You're nothing but a child, you know nothing!" she shouts back.

"I fucking know enough!" I growl. "You can call me a child, a brat, a Cursed One, even a dog if you will, I don't give a damn! By the Moon Goddess, I am what I am, and I'll fight that damn curse until it finally ends! I'm sick of you witches trying to kill me or use me for whatever! Can't we work together for once? You think I'm a brat? You think you're better than Sadia? You're an old wench controlled by your emotions too!"

This time, she closes her mouth, visibly shocked by my words. I was expecting another mean blow of anger, but it's clearly not coming... Well, it was high time I finally talked some sense into her. She doesn't try to swing me around again, although I prepared myself for it. I focus on my inner wolf, and she's still there, fierce as ever, ready for a fight. Naptera doesn't try again. She's glaring as if she could kill me with her eyes, but she won't move, visibly stuck by anger.

This isn't our fight here, though, and we don't have that much time to lose either. Now that I'm alright, I'm more worried about whatever's going on at the surface.

¨ Liam, is everyone okay? 〃

¨ Don't you ever ignore me again! 〃 he immediately shouts back, his wolf furious at me.

¨ Okay, okay, I'm sorry... Are you alright, babe? 〃

¨ We're... managing. It's getting tense here. Ravena disappeared and Ayesha came to help us out, there are too many humans, and since we don't want to hurt them... What about you? We haven't seen you come out, how are you...? 〃

¨ Bonus power from Clarissa, I'll explain later. I'll try to get out of here as soon as I can, so please hold on until then! 〃

¨ I will, but please stay safe and come back to the pack soon, babe. 〃

¨ Gotcha. 〃

I know Liam tried not to worry me, but from his words, the situation must not be ideal up there, and seeing how Ayesha had to stay behind to help, it's probably getting worse. I don't like the fact that Ravena escaped either. I'm not comfortable with the thought that this witch with a capital B is roaming free in my city...

"If you're done tossing me around..." I start, but Naptera's not having it.

"Shut up!"

She suddenly starts moving her hands around, and oh, Moon Goddess, I don't like what's going on. Water gathers in her hand, but it's... cold. Very, very cold. I've never seen this before. The water gathers like ice in her hands, and I suddenly donˇt feel as confident about this anymore. The water takes a sharp shape, something that looks rather long, a bit too big, and too pointy as well. My wolf whines upon seeing this and I'm not feeling great either. My confidence from before melts like snow. What the? An ice spike!

Oh, Mara, why did you have to open that big stupid mouth of yours...? Think, think, Mara, think... Ice. Of course she could manipulate ice, she's a fucking Water Witch! Come on, Mara, use your brain. What can I do? Even if I have Water Magic at my disposal, I'm way too fresh of a newbie to use it already. I just need to escape a damn ice spike for now, so let's just focus on what I can do!

My wolf. I need to listen to her. Stop thinking so much and simply trust her. Something I'm not used to, but it's never too late for a change, is it? I try to calm down, despite the threat, and channel her all I can. No, I don't just channel her; I give her complete control. I feel it coming like a sudden wave building from the inside. She jumps up, filling my limbs and using her instincts to take over my body. In a split second, she comes in, I step back; I'm a she-wolf. I'm an animal, and my human self disappears under the female wolf guiding my body. I hear us growl as a warning, and with a disgusted look, Naptera launches her weapon right at us. She's even better than I imagined, aiming right at us, but now that she's in control, my wolf is much stronger and more confident. No more whining. She growls, and just as the spike seems like it's about to hit us, she jumps to the side.

I can't believe how well she's moving in the water. How good we are. It's the two of us now, but her influence is amazing. I thought I was doing okay earlier, but the truth would be more like I was just glad to not be drowning. Now, we're just swimming around, my wolf moves so fluidly, so easily. It almost feels like... like the water's my natural environment. I can't believe how uneasy I was before compared to this amazing feeling. My wolf is definitely in her element. She moves swiftly, as if the water is her playground. Naptera's weapons fly past us, and I barely feel it above our shoulder. It's truly a strange and yet amazing sensation. The water gently caresses our fur, offering no resistance to her strong paddling. I smile, a boost of confidence coming in again. I'm hot, yet cold, the adrenaline kicking in. I know we can do this. We're good. We growl as one at Naptera, a clear warning.

As we swim, I notice our paw... it's white. Since when did we have any white fur at all? After a bit more paddling, it's clear only one is, though. The other one is still black and gold... I'm curious to see what happened yet again with my appearance. Surprise after surprise, really... Will I ever get used to this?

Alright, I'll worry about my looks later. I need to get out of the water first. It's been a nice little swim around, but they are waiting for me at the harbor, and I can't let Naptera play around with me like a cat with a mouse any longer. She doesn't look in a hurry to attack again, and Iˇve had enough. Each time, it's the same. She attacks because she's angry, but I don't feel any murderous intent, so what? I growl, and start to swim away from her. I can't lose any more time with her. Either she attacks me seriously and we finish this, or she can finish her stupid tantrum alone. My friends are in danger, I don't have any time to lose here!

I start swimming, as fast as I can, feeling almost more fish than wolf. I'm fast, and although I can feel Naptera behind me, I'm careful just in case she'll attack again... I may have gotten more comfortable and less vulnerable underwater, but this is her ground, not mine. I have to get out of here before something I can't avoid happens...

"We're not done!"

I jump to the side just in time to avoid another one of her damn ice spikes. Seriously? I turn around and growl, but her eyes have... darkened. Oh, Moon Goddess, that can't be good. Not just that, but the water is getting colder too. I mean, really cold. Like ice-cold, and I don't fucking like it. I growl and swim, but I can feel the chill crawling closer all around me. The water gets more white and shiny, and although it's pretty, it's not the time to admire this. I'm going to be trapped like a freaking ice cube if I don't do something soon!

"...Perhaps you should thank me," she said. "You won't die. You'll stay here, child, trapped until someone else frees you... Your friends might find you, but at least, I'll take care of the curse meanwhile..."

I growl. Take care of the curse, my butt! And calling me a child as if she sort of likes me now? What the hell is wrong with this witch, is she that freaking stubborn that she won't admit she's wrong and headed for a dead end?

I keep paddling as fast as I can, both to get away and get myself out of here, but that won't work. Naptera's now somehow decided on keeping me underwater. Damn it, does she ever give up? She's not an enemy, but she's still a freaking pain! I'm not even that far from the shore, but I still need to get as close as I can, I won't even be able to get out of here by myself. The cold around me is just terrible. I feel like I'm taking a swim in some frozen lake, and when I glance up, it looks like some ice is appearing. I can't believe she's fucking serious about this!

Alright, we have to stop playing defense. I growl, looking all around for a solution, an idea. There's no miracle coming, though, just the two of us under the ice... Think, Mara.

I try to take deep breaths and stop swimming away; I need to focus on myself. I always find the answers inside, not outside. I need to stop running around blindly.

...I'm a Fire Witch. A Fire Witch, and also... a bit of a Water Witch? Damn, this whole thing is getting confusing, isn't it? I decide to close my eyes. Keeping them open or not doesn't matter as I can feel Naptera's attack coming at me through the water movements, but it helps me focus on my wolf and my inner flame. They are both a part of me. I had to shut down the latter to let the Water Witch inside me take over, but... Come on, this is my body. This is me. I knew it from the start. I am no ordinary witch, I'm... a patchwork. A freaking Frankensteinˇs monster of a witch, something that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

...I am something impossible. How about we test that now, Clarissa, little Mara?

I open my eyes and shape-shift into my human form in a breath, an arrogant smile on my lips.

I stare right at Naptera, and my newfound burst of confidence stops her. She even retreats a bit, looking unsure. She's not just looking at me, but looking around me. That's right, Naptera, just you watch. I should thank her for allowing me to unlock so much of these abilities I didn't know I had, but... time to go to the next level. It's time I stop thinking of what I should be able to do or not. No more rules, Mara. Let's just be as impossible as hell.

I open my arms and take deep breaths. I ignore the cold, the ice, and instead, I channel my inner fire again. This time, I try to control it very, very precisely. The tame flame that had almost been extinguished opens up, but itˇs... chilly. I direct it not inside, but toward my hands, as if I was trying to keep it there. It's as if before, it was running wild anywhere it wanted, but now, I'm only letting it out through my hands, but big, hot, and strong. Very, very hot... and cold. My heartbeat accelerates, my blood rushes through my veins. It's insane, but it's happening. My wolf growls, I smile. I can't tell if I'm human or wolf anymore. Fire or water.

I'm... both.

It's a new fire that emerges in my hands. An ice-cold, blue flame. Something between fire and ice, something so hot or so cold, it's impossible to tell, but it's mine. I smile uncontrollably. A chill runs over my skin, both hot and cold, just exciting and thrilling.

Horror appears on Naptera's face, as she retreats again.

"Y-you... How... It can't be..."

"I told you," I say. "I'm not like any other."

I sound arrogant, and I can't say I hate it. Let's face it, I feel more powerful than I've ever been. My flames have ignited into a mysterious new shade, the deep blue that appears at the heart of a flame. How I'm able to generate fire underwater, I don't know. Is it even fire? Or ice? I don't know. It's magic, and it feels amazing at the end of my arms, glowing like a light in the darkness of the deep sea. I increase it.

"Stop!" she shouts. "You can't control two elements, you're going to kill yourself!"

Just you watch, then.

I keep increasing my flames, the fire and ice fighting to maintain that perfect balance on my hands. Two corridors of bubbles appear around my arms, as if the water is boiling around me. Steam? I feel my heart accelerate again. Silver sparks appear all around my body, and I realize it's the ice breaking under the pressure of my flames. I look up at the ceiling of ice that has been getting thicker and thicker all this time.

"Don't you...!"

As Naptera starts preparing another attack, two more ice spikes, I make my decision. I'm done playing, and she's been slowing me down for too long already. It may have been just a handful of minutes, but those precious minutes are those my friends have been missing me for this fight. I can't stay here and entertain her any longer!

Still focusing on balancing my Water and Fire Magic perfectly, I let her spikes come to me, and this time, I simply blow them away with my hand. It's like twigs brushed away by a breeze, and this time, Naptera's look means she's been defeated for real.

"...Told ya."

I turn around, and swim away, leaving her there. I already lost enough time, and I need to use this newfound magic to get out of here and help everyone. I make sure not to slow down until I reach the shore.

¨ Liam! 〃

I wait and tame my magic, the cold surrounding me quickly again. Thankfully, he doesn't make me wait too long. A human hand appears in the water, and he pulls me up. My body lands on the wet asphalt, and I take some deep breaths. Moon Goddess, that feels good...

"Mara! You okay, babe?"

His hand is on my neck, patting me, and, as crazy as it may sound at that very moment, I'm suddenly hit by the fact that I'm... completely naked. Oh, the joys of being a werewolf... I curl up and look at Liam, his dark silhouette hovering over me.

"Hi..." I let out, with a hoarse voice I don't recognize myself.

"What happened? Damn, you're... cold as ice!"

"Yeah, I don't recommend a swim now... How's the... fight?"

Oh, damn, I'm tired. With his help, I struggle to get back on my feet, my whole body a bit numb because of the cold. The sensation of the wind on my cold skin has to be something akin to hell. I try to focus on my fire and warm myself up as fast as I can, and Liam hands me a bundle of black fabric. I unfold it. It's a very simple black tank top and shorts outfit, but I won't complain now. I put it on as fast as I can. Is that why he stayed human, in case I needed to change back? Once I'm dressed, I can forget about myself and look around. Liam stays close to me, holding me as if he was afraid I'd go back into the sea or fall.

"What happened?" he insists, ignoring my question. "What about the Water Witch?"

"I beat her... I think. At least for now. H-how about you guys?"

"We're doing okay, but we're a bit stuck. We were waiting for you to come out to move..."

That's what I can see. The werewolves look tired, but fine, aside from a few injuries here and there. Probably those they couldn't avoid... Although, the situation isn't exactly fine. They are now completely surrounded by the human women, and... damn it, how many are there? The number has at least doubled since earlier! How long was I actually underwater? It looks like every female student has been made into some weird witch zombie! At one end of the group, Ayesha is standing there, putting up firewalls behind the human women, making sure they don't escape either. So she also agreed not to injure them...

However, as I start to go to them to join the fight, Liam grabs my hand and gently puts his other one on my cheek. Only then do I notice how panicked he looks... and exhausted too. He's been fighting in his human form all this time? Just so he could wait for me, to pull me out of the water? I suddenly feel very sorry for my mate. I pull him into all sorts of things just because we're so different. I want to say something, but before I do, he pushes some of my wet hair out of my face with a frown. He looks very worried and is staring at me with... a confused expression. What now?

"Mara, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm alright. Liam, I promise. Iˇve never felt... so powerful. Listen, underwater, something new happened! I didn't think it was possible, but..."

"...Yeah, uh... I think I can see that..."

"You can see it?" I repeat, confused.

Liam grimaces, realizing we were not talking about the same thing. I mean, how would he know about my new ability? And why is he staring at me like that?

"Uh... babe, you're aware one of your eyes has turned... I mean, that it turned blue... right?"

Wait, what? It did? I lift my hand to touch my eyelid by reflex, but as expected, I can't see it, of course... I can only guess which eye it is following Liam's gaze... It seriously turned blue? He keeps staring at me with a confused expression. Oh, alright. We really don't have time for that, and I guess that's not the weirdest thing that happened today, after all...

"It's nothing," I say. "Liam, I'm a Water Witch too."

"...A what now?"

"A Water Witch, Liam. I know how weird that sounds, but... I can use both water and fire. I can't really explain it yet, but... I did. I used it against Naptera. I can combine both Clarissaˇs and little Mara's powers.〃

I smile like an idiot. I know this is the weirdest timing ever, but now that I've managed to get out of the water and out of Naptera's clutches, I had to say it. It's just too big, too amazing, and I need to share this with someone. Seeing Liam still stunned and visibly at a loss, I nod and give him a quick kiss to wake him up.

"For real!"

Liam nods, obviously still a bit shocked. Well, I can't blame him... He's got no choice but to learn to adapt pretty fast with me, I suppose... After a while, he sighs.

"Alright, I'm going to skip the whole it's-not-possible thing because, well, you're Mara, so I guess nothing normal applies to you, like, ever..."

"Thanks..." I say with a little sorry smile.

Moon Goddess, I love him and how fast he adjusts to all of my crazy.

"...But also because we actually have to move and we need your help, babe. We have wolves reporting about some movement at East Point Ground, and I really don't like that."

My smile disappears, and I focus again.

"Ravena. She found the spot..."

"She may have spied on us or something," nods Liam. "Her goal is apparently to keep us here while she... tries to take over the curse's Dark Magic."

"You shouldn't have waited for me!" I protest. "Why didn't Ayesha go already? What of the other wolves?"

I look around, and although I can't see them, I can tell many more wolves are waiting in the shadows... Why didn't they get involved yet? What's wrong?

"They can't," says Liam, shaking his head. "We tried to send people toward East Point Ground, or at least, for someone to get out of here, but as soon as they pass some invisible border... Look."

I look in the direction he's pointing at, and after a furious growl, a black wolf tries to jump over a group of young women. He's fast, and careful to stay far enough from their blades. He will be able to pass, somehow, no?

However, I promptly realize, he's not the one in danger. As soon as he's past the first rows of female students, something happens. All the ones remaining between him and East Point Ground, suddenly... put the blades against their own throats. Not only that, I can already see some drops of blood rolling down their necks! That bitch really ordered them to commit suicide if they can't stop us!

"See? Selena tried to get out of there earlier, and... six girls died. The same thing happens if the other wolves try to join our group. We ordered the others not to get near East Point Ground, who knows what Ravena will do to them..."

"She won't do anything," I growl.

I open up my hands and focus on my sensations from earlier to bring back my blue, ice-cold flames. You're done cheating, Ravena. Now youˇve really done it. And I won't let you get away with this...