Chapter 36
Sandra
Balthazar holds my wrist more gently than he did with the others, stretching the tip of the raven's feather and dipping it into the mixture he has prepared.
The dark liquid exudes a scent of ancient herbs and something metallic, with a tinge of magic that almost makes me sneeze.
He then draws a symbol on my arm. It seems simple at first, but soon twists and snakes, sliding under my skin. When the line is complete, a golden light begins to shine, hot and almost painful. The seal seems to burn, the heat penetrating deeply, until the design disappears.
But I still feel it there, under my skin, as if it were buried inside me.
"Normally, a seal of protection against magic lasts twenty-four hours," Balthazar says, finishing his work. "But the ritual demands a lot of my essence, and because I had to create five symbols at once, I had to reduce the time. It will last about five hours at most."
Mark growls, his attention never straying from me.
"I'll wipe her out before that." The ferocity in his voice is a promise, cold and relentless. "Whether it's a man or a woman, I don't care, anyone who dares to hurt my partner will pay with their life."
Is it wrong for me to be turned on by his words?
The fierce protection, the devotion that overflows in the intense, raw anger that emanates from him... defies all logic, baffles me, sets something inside me on fire.
I know this is not the time to give in to this primitive attraction, but my body does not understand reason. Heat wells up in my belly, spreading in waves through the rest of me.
I can't contain myself, I subtly brush against his body, instinctively seeking contact.
I rest my head on his shoulder, my cheek sliding against his arm in an almost feline gesture.
Mark seems to understand my need, because he buries his face in my hair, breathing in deeply as if trying to calm me — or calm himself.
His arms tighten around me, possessively, before he speaks again:
"I need a healing potion," he says softly, as if he hates to admit it.
Balthazar looks concerned, before reaching into his bag and pulling out a small glass vial.
"Here." He hands the potion to Mark, his eyes fixed on him in silent warning. "Just don't overuse these potions... If you consume too much, your essence will become dependent on them."
Mark takes the bottle without hesitation, but his jaw tightens as he gives a slight shake of his head.
"And if that happens," the wizard continues, his voice deep, "your healing ability and strength will not come naturally. You will need the potion for everything."
I bite my lip, feeling afraid, hating to know that he is still vulnerable and yet will put himself in danger.
"I know," Mark murmurs as he brings the drink to his lips. "But right now... I need to be strong." Then he drinks it all in three gulps.
Jack takes a step forward and squeezes Mark's shoulder.
"You don't have to carry the world on your shoulders alone, you know? We're a team. We're with you."
Viklaus clears his throat and nods in agreement.
"He's right. You need to trust your team."
Mark lets out a short sigh, his shoulders stiff.
"I do trust them, for God's sake," he hisses through clenched teeth. "But I'm responsible for all of you..."
"And we're responsible for defending and helping you," Ted cuts him off, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.
"Mark, please..." My voice comes out more shaky than I intended, the look I give him carrying a plea.
I can't even imagine seeing him on the brink of death again. I don't think my heart could take it. As soon as his gaze meets mine, he sighs, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little.
Then, finally, he gives in.
"All right," he murmurs, reluctance still present, but his resistance finally broken. "I won't screw up the plan, don't worry."
"We're all ready to go," Balthazar announces as he applies the last seal.
Mark stands tense beside me, his jaw clenched, his fingers tightening around my waist.
"Sandra..." Mark begins, and I know what he's thinking. The same thing he tried to do before we left the house: convince me not to go so I wouldn't be at risk.
"I have to be there." I try to stay calm, but the tension in my chest only increases. "The curse is mine, Mark. I have to be there, or it won't work."
He lets out a frustrated sigh, buries his face in the nape of my neck and inhales deeply.
"Damn it, Kitten, I don't like this, but..." He lifts his head to face me, his eyes softening for a moment before hardening again. "I know you're right, but please stay out of danger."
I don't answer right away. I can't promise something I don't know if I can deliver.
"I can try."
***
The van is parked in front of the house, hidden under Balthazar's glamour.
For now, we are just shadows, invisible to the ordinary eye. Mark drums his fingers against his leg, restless.
"Damn wait..." he growls, his jaw tense.
Jack, in the driver's seat, remains motionless, his eyes fixed on the house ahead.
I, on the other hand, watch Viklaus, who has already moved onto the pavement.
He closes his eyes, his face impassive, as if he were feeling the pulse of the energy around him, listening to the heartbeat.
After a few seconds, he nods discreetly.
Green light.
Balthazar moves forward without hesitation. He stops in front of the dark wooden door and rings the bell. The sound echoes inside the house. The silence that follows is thick, cutting.
Then the door opens.
The woman who appears is a shadow of her former self. Her deep-set eyes stare at him through the small crack, there are deep marks on her face, she looks like she has aged years in the last few days. Her hair, once vibrant, is thin and lifeless.
She examines him suspiciously, without stepping outside or letting him in.
"What do you want, wizard?" From here I can hear her hoarse, tense voice.
The arrogance is still there, but something about her reveals that she is at her limit, exhausted.
Balthazar smiles, his expression taking on a friendly, innocent look.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Balthazar. I hear you're new in town and not yet part of a coven... I've come to invite you to join mine."
She hesitates. Her eyes narrow. Her breathing slows. She assesses him, trying to read his intentions.
"I'm not interested..."
Before she can close the door, Balthazar raises a closed hand in the air, opens his palm and blows a yellowish powder into her face, murmuring quickly: "Somnus gravis".
The effect is instantaneous.
Her eyes roll back and her body collapses with a thud onto the floor.
"Done," murmurs Balthazar, holding the door open.
Viklaus emerges from his hiding place behind a tree and walks calmly over.
Mark steps out of the van, tension turning to action.
I follow him, my steps steady, while Jack stays in the van, ready to speed away if we need to make a run for it.
Mark pulls the witch into the house and ties her to a chair in the centre of the room.
Thick ropes bind her torso and arms, each leg firmly secured to the chair's legs.
"She'll be unconscious for an hour," Balthazar warns. "Unless I wake her up first."
"That's enough," Mark replies.
Jack was in charge of watching the street and warning us if any suspects approached.
Viklaus made sure there was no one else on the premises, and Balthazar infiltrated the house and kept her unconscious while Mark searched the entire house for the grimoire and evidence that she was behind the monsters.
And I...
I want to understand how such a beautiful and powerful woman could have gone down such a twisted path, destroying herself in the process...
All because of a man?
I don't know if I feel sorry for her, seeing her broken like this, or if I feel relieved that she's suffering too.
"Viklaus, stay close to me, no more than three steps away. I can't create a larger barrier around me while we search..."
The vampire just nods and approaches him. I go with him.
Mark sighs and shakes his head at me, knowing he can't convince me to stand still and do nothing.
"Kitten, please, I need you to stay alert and inside the barrier at all costs."
"I promise..."
Suddenly Mark closes his eyes and the crease in his forehead intensifies as he concentrates on using his essence.
He seems to be in pain, grinding his teeth, but finally manages to create the barrier.
It's invisible, I can't see it, but I can feel the energy around us change, as if we were inside a bubble.
With a nod, he opens his eyes and begins to walk around the house.
We cross the living room and head towards the kitchen.
The dark energy here is dense, as if every wall breathes hatred and despair.
The smell of burnt candles and dead herbs permeates the air, giving the feeling that we are in an open tomb.
There is also a smell of rot, hidden behind the herbs and floral aromas, as if in an attempt to cover it up.
With each step, the tension grows, the environment entangling us in a suffocating atmosphere. When we enter the kitchen, I see chaos.
It looks like it hasn't been cleaned in weeks, with dirty dishes piled up in the sink.
Bunches of herbs, flowers and roots are scattered across the marble countertop, and a huge knife stained with brown spots that look like dried blood is lying there too, and next to the knife. .. a severed female finger.
"Oh, no..." I cover my mouth and nose with my hand, trying not to smell it, but it's too late and a sound of nausea escapes my throat.
"Déjà vu," Viklaus hisses. "Look, even the acrylic cauldron is similar to the one we saw in that house."
"Almost the same, but there's no basement here," Mark retorts.
We turn around, passing through the living room until we climb the stairs to the second floor. I know what awaits us upstairs. I was here when everything was still empty from the move, when Benny brought me here to spend the night with him.