Chapter Thirteen
Kara
Sophia’s bloodcurdling screams pierced through the fog of my unconsciousness, snapping me back to reality. As I gradually regained consciousness, my senses struggled to comprehend the chaos around me. My vision was hazy, and the distant echoes of Sophia’s frantic shouts reverberated in my ears. I strained to make sense of my surroundings, my mind clouded with confusion.
Amidst the disorienting blur, I discerned the sound of hurried footsteps drawing closer. A figure materialized before me, reaching out to lift me from the ground. Though their face eluded my grasp, I instinctively knew it wasn’t Warwick.
Suddenly, an injection pierced through my skin, its contents flooding my veins with an intense potency. The substance coursed through me, rapidly neutralizing the debilitating seizure that had overtaken me during my futile attempt to free myself from the collar’s grip. A profound sense of relief washed over me as the medicine took effect, easing my pain and granting me respite from the grip of the collar’s torment.
Despite the newfound relief, my body remained weak and unresponsive, rendering me unable to move. Overwhelmed by exhaustion, I succumbed to unconsciousness once more, drifting into an abyss of darkness.
When consciousness finally reclaimed me, it was as if I was emerging from the depths of a haunting nightmare. I jolted awake, gasping for air, my heart pounding frantically as I struggled to orient myself in the unfamiliar surroundings. The room gradually came into focus, and there stood Sophia, her tear-streaked face a poignant blend of relief and worry.
“Kara,” Sophia called out, her voice filled with a mixture of joy and concern. I turned my gaze towards her, my eyes meeting hers. A flicker of a smile graced her lips, a testament to the immense relief she felt at my awakening. “I thought you were going to die,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Seeing Sophia’s face, witnessing the genuine concern etched upon it, brought a measure of solace to my weary soul. With a sigh of gratitude, I allowed myself to sink back into the confines of the chair, surrendering to its support. The weight of the collar’s power still gnawed at the corners of my mind, serving as a constant reminder of the dire consequences that awaited any further attempts to defy its hold. I felt like I was going to die.
“Don’t blame yourself, Sophia,” I uttered weakly, my voice barely more than a strained whisper. The toll of the ordeal I had endured was evident in the fragility of my words. “All of this is on me, and I will find a way to free us from this nightmare. I only ask that you remain strong by my side.” I wasn’t going to try breaking the collar off me again.
Even as I spoke those words, my resolve wavered, my shaken state betraying the inner tremors coursing through my being. The memory of the collar’s unforgiving power lingered, casting a shadow of doubt upon my ability to overcome this perilous situation.
I closed my eyes and pictured John, trying to call out to him subconsciously. I truly needed him to find us. Where are you, John?
My eyes flew open when I heard the heavy wooden door creak open with an audible click. A figure of the human who had been accompanying Warwick stepped into the room, his presence commanded attention.
“You’re awake. Good,” he greeted, his voice carrying a subtle Irish accent that added a touch of intrigue to his words. Walking towards Sophia, he extended a hand and gently placed it on her forehead, as if to assess her condition. “I hope you survive the birth of your child. You are … not in good shape,” he uttered with genuine concern laced in his voice. “But, you’ve made it this far for a human so, there’s some strength in you.”
My protective instincts flared, and I couldn’t help but interject, my voice brimming with urgency. “Get away from her,” I urged my words a reflection of my deep-rooted worry.
To my surprise, the human responded with a disarming smile, his expression betraying a sense of understanding. “You should be more concerned about yourself. You were at Death’s door. I pulled you back,” he revealed, his words carrying a weight that made my heart skip a beat. “You will need your strength to help Sophia deliver her baby. Your failure might mean her death and that wouldn’t look good for you.”
As I studied him more closely, it became evident that there was something extraordinary about the man before me. His mere presence exuded an enigmatic aura that eluded comprehension. The flicker of recognition danced at the edges of my mind, hinting at a familiarity I couldn’t quite place. The thought crossed my mind, could he be a witch, too? Such supernatural origins would explain the mystique that seemed to envelop him.
“Why are you working with a wolf? And not just any wolf. That man is pure evil, and you know it,” I voiced my concerns, my voice laced with a mixture of indignation and curiosity.
A calm expression settled on the man’s face, his eyes holding a glint of knowledge that sent shivers down my spine. “And what do you think that makes me?” he responded, his voice maintaining an unnerving calmness. His words echoed in the depths of my mind, causing a seed of doubt to take root. What if Warwick was not the true mastermind of this operation? What if this enigmatic man standing before me held the true power? The realization dawned on me that there was far more at stake than the simple act of delivering Warwick’s pup.
A chuckle escaped the man’s lips, breaking the tension that had been building in the room. “I’m messing with you. Hey, I’m actually a nice guy. Honest,” he reassured, his words offering a momentary reprieve from the weight of uncertainty. “It’s just … there’s something I desperately need. And Warwick can give it to me. In exchange, I deliver his pup. It’s kind of a business deal, see?”
My indignation flared up, fueled by a sense of righteous anger. What did he want from Warwick in return? “You will turn against your kind to help a heartless wolf?” I challenged, my voice brimming with a defiant conviction.
The man scratched his chin thoughtfully, his gaze piercing into my very soul. “My kind? Interesting,” he mused, his expression betraying a hint of amusement. “Do you really know what I am? Or are you just assuming?” His penetrating stare seemed to unravel the depths of my thoughts, awaiting an answer to his cryptic questions. “Rest assured,” he continued, his voice dripping with a palpable air of superiority, “I am not human.”
A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins, causing my heart to race. The man’s aura shifted, becoming more intense and intimidating, emanating a power that surpassed that of any ordinary wolf. Whatever he was, he possessed an otherworldly strength that both fascinated and unnerved me. The burning question lingered, what could he possibly need from Warwick that warranted such a desperate alliance?
Just as he was about to leave the room, he paused and turned back, his eyes meeting mine once more. “Forgive my manners. I am Ciaran. I truly want us to get along,” he said, his words carrying an air of enigmatic purpose. With that, he left the room, leaving us to grapple with the mysteries he had brought into our lives.
After he left, a heavy sigh escaped me, and my gaze shifted towards Sophia. Her stare bore into me with a vacant expression, leaving me wondering if she could sense the fear that lingered within me.
”Hey,” I uttered softly, attempting to break the heavy silence that enveloped us.
”Hey,” she responded, her voice quivering, a delicate dance of unshed tears evident in her eyes. Despite her evident distress, Sophia seemed determined to conceal her vulnerability, determined to stand strong.
“You don’t have to hold back your tears,” I reassured her, my words a gentle encouragement. “It’s part of what makes you human.”
“Crying won’t solve our problems,” Sophia retorted with stern determination. “I know that. I won’t let Warwick take my baby. So we have to do whatever it takes to escape this hellhole, and soon enough, too. I don’t want to go into labor here.”
Her anger resonated with mine as I surveyed the chain binding me to the bed, clenching my teeth in frustration. Indeed, Sophia was right; escape was imperative. My first instinct was to understand the intricacies of the collar, to decipher its mysterious workings, and finally free myself from its oppressive grip.
The magic within the collar, designed to inhibit a witch”s powers and suppress wolf abilities, intrigued me. It defied my previous understanding of magical constraints, challenging the boundaries I thought existed. Recalling the forbidden magics my mother had taught me, I delved into my memories, searching for a similar concept that could be repurposed to create a spell capable of temporarily neutralizing a witch’s power.
The excitement of potential discovery pulsed through me as I considered the possibilities. My heart raced with anticipation and hope as I mulled over potential solutions. Then, with widened eyes, a realization dawned on me—a breakthrough.
”I”ve figured it out,” I exclaimed, a surge of triumph coursing through me. The spell woven into the collar was within my grasp, and with determination, I knew we could unlock the key to our liberation.
As I tried to arrange my thoughts, I heard movement beside me. Sophia was moving uncomfortably in bed.
“Sophia?” I called.
“I think he’s coming,” Sophia cried, her hands cradled her lower belly.
“What? Now?” I knew she was talking about the baby. This couldn’t be happening. The baby was not supposed to arrive for another week or so. Having her deliver her baby now would make things a lot more complicated, and escaping with a baby might be impossible.
Sophia cried out. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
“Somebody?” I yelled. “Anybody there? Please, help! Ciaran !” I shouted at the top of my voice. I needed to be set free to help Sophia deliver. I couldn’t help her with one of my hands tied down.
“Oh my, God, Kara. What am I going to do?” Sophia asked. The tears were flowing without control. She was deeply scared. I was scared, too. Delivering her baby here, with Warwick ready to claim his pup, Sophia would never have access to her baby again. That kind of stress wasn’t good for Sophia or her baby right now.
Not if I could do something about that.
“Just focus on your baby, for now, Sophia. You can worry about other things later. Let’s just deliver your baby first. Hey, you need to be strong for him. Just think about him and nobody else.”
Ciaran came into the room, his eyebrows knitted in concern.
“Hey, you have to release me. The baby is coming now,” I said to him. He hesitated, glancing from me to Sophia, and back to me. I rolled my eyes and said with a bit of snark, “I mean, take your time.”
He raised a hand toward me, touched the collar, and said something in a whisper a word I didn’t understand. The chain used to tie my hand fell right off. He was a witch! But what language was he speaking? There was no time to ponder that fact. I needed to attend to Sophia.
The dimly lit room embraced us, and my heart began to beat fast as I fumbled for what my next move was. It wouldn’t be my first time delivering a baby. But this time, I was in so much distress. I had barely recovered fully from the seizure I went through, and now it would seem I was about to deliver Sophia’s baby into the hands of evil.
Sophia lay before me, her face contorted with both pain and hope. With a deep breath, I steeled myself for what lay ahead, knowing that Sophia’s life and the life of her unborn child depended on my resourcefulness.
I assessed the situation. Though the room was devoid of the tools I was accustomed to, I knew that improvisation was my only option. I gathered the few supplies available—a clean bedsheet, warm water, and towels.
“I know this isn’t where you wanted to give birth,” I said as I helped Sophia get more comfortable in bed. “But your baby is ready and I am here to help you deliver him.”
With each contraction she endured, I closely monitored her progress, using my hands to assess the position of the baby. It was clear that this birth might be a little difficult. If I had my magic and my portions, I could make it easier for her. I felt terrible that Sophia had to go through this.
I gently guided her through each contraction, encouraging her to breathe deeply and find solace amidst the pain. The room was filled only with the sound of our breaths and Sophia’s soft cries. Ciaran just stood at a distance watching with intrigue in his eyes. He looked particularly eager to see the end of all this ordeal.
I used my hands to guide the baby’s descent, employing gentle but firm pressure to navigate through the narrow passage. The room seemed to fade away as I focused solely on the task at hand, my instincts guiding me through the intricacies of childbirth.
As the hours stretched on, my determination remained unwavering. I relied on the power of touch and the strength of my own hands, acting as a conduit between Sophia and her precious baby.
Finally, with one final push, the room erupted in a chorus of cries—a symphony of relief and joy. Sophia’s baby took its first breath, announcing its arrival into the world. I placed the newborn on Sophia’s chest, their bond instantly forged in that small room of triumph.
Sophia was so weak, or too sad, to even smile. She just held her baby, tears streaming quietly down her eyes as the baby’s own cries filled the room. Watching them, I wanted to cry, too. I suddenly remembered that Ciaran was in the room. I glanced at him, curious about what he had planned next. He had a small smile plastered to his face as he stared intently at the baby. He looked relieved.
“Well, now. Congratulations,” he said. He began to walk towards Sophia and her baby. I got up and stood in his way.
“Don’t come any closer,” I said firmly.
“Or what?” Ciaran asked calmly, a devious smile spreading across his lips. “You cannot stop me. Especially not in that state.”
“I can try. I wouldn’t underestimate me if I were you,” I smirked, hoping that would intimidate him a little.
“Oh, I never underestimate anyone,” he said. “Certainly not you.”
He waved his hand and the next thing I knew, I was flying through the air and across the room. I hit my head against the wall and fell while Ciaran proceeded towards Sophia. I groaned as I pulled myself up again and leaped into Ciaran’s chest. He was shocked that I could still use that much of my wolf power. I sent him flying almost halfway across the room, falling short of hitting the wall. By the time he got up, his smile had disappeared, replaced by anger and malice.
I scoffed. I was breaking through the hold this collar had on me with all the strength I could summon. He was not getting to Sophia and her baby.
“I’m starting to understand what Warwick meant when he said you are a huge pain in the ass.” Before I could say anything, he raised a hand and caught me in his telekinetic field, lifting me off the ground. “But you have no idea who you are dealing with, child.”
Child? He looked like he was in the same age group as me.
It felt like there was an invisible hand holding me up by the neck, and I was struggling with the invisible hand. It looked like Ciaran was ready to strangle me to death. He had no reason not to kill me now. I had done my part. I had delivered Sophia’s baby. Was I really about to die?
I remember a forbidden magic my mother told me about. Centuries ago, during the persecution of witches, men discovered ways to test whether one was a witch or not. After a lot of witches were caught and killed, some who were left came together to figure out how they could evade their enemies. A spell to make them fail the test of witches. Passing the test would mean one was a witch.
The test was as effective as it was crude. A drop of blood was all that was required. The blood was boiled in water and some additives were mixed in with it. The results showed the percentage of constituents in the blood. A witch’s blood was said to be high in a particular element that till now had not been given a name. It appeared that element was what made us different from the rest of mankind. So the key to failing the witch test was finding how to make that element hidden. Well, nothing some magic couldn’t fix. That was every witch’s slogan from the beginning of time.
After much research and trial, the witches found a spell that would help hide their identity. The spell was classified under the forbidden magics because it required a witch to incur harm upon themselves. Bone for bone. Blood for blood. When the spell was being cast, a witch must deliberately break a bone in their body and immediately spill their own blood. This way, the element showing off its magic is dried up temporarily. During this period, the witch’s use of magic was usually severely limited.
However, there was another group_of non-human-like beings_that held an insurmountable amount of power that if my kind could tap into that power, would bring us back from extinction. But these beings blended so well with everyone, that it wasn’t easy to ascertain who they were or how to locate them. Some were lucky to find these beings and were able to dabble in the forbidden magics but it came at a great cost.
Somehow, I believed the collar around my neck was something created by one of those beings and the magic used on it was forbidden. If Ciaran was one of those beings, I was in a lot of trouble.
If I were to break the effect of the collar—this was a huge gamble—the same procedure might hold as it did in the past. Perhaps if I break my bone and shed some blood, I could get a window of opportunity to use my magic and break the collar. And that was what I was going to do before Sophia’s unprecedented delivery.
And now, at the precipice of death, it looked like it might be my only option. Without thinking, I grabbed one of my fingers and twisted it painfully backward. I let out a shout. But I didn’t stop. My ring had a small nail that I could expose whenever I needed to get a little bloody during a fight. I jabbed the nail into my palm and dragged it down, tearing the middle of my palm open.
“What the hell are you doing?” Ciaran asked.
My blood began to pour down. I shut my eyes tightly for a moment, praying that this worked. When I opened my eyes, I said a word of spell. At once, Ciaran’s telekinetic hold on me broke and I fell to the ground.
“Fuck!” I groaned in pain. I immediately pulled myself back up, and I tried my hand on the collar again. My wolf strength was also back. I ripped the collar off without effect. Ciaran could not believe his eyes. Neither could Sophia.
Hell, neither could I.
It actually worked. I thought I was losing my mind.
Focus.
It was me against Ciaran fair and square now. Magic versus magic. Let’s see just how powerful he really was.
I picked the chair I was sitting on and threw it at him, and I immediately picked a large table close by and hurtled that at him, too. I was able to easily fling the table with my wolf strength. Ciaran waved the chair away, and as he focused on stopping the table midair, I lunged at him. As soon as he propelled the table telekinetically away from himself, I jumped at him and landed a blow on his face, sending him crashing into the window nearby. He fell with blood already running down the side of his face.
He raised a hand toward me and muttered a few words in his foreign language. The spell held me locked in place. I couldn’t move an inch. I struggled to free myself but his hold was too strong. As he got up and walked towards me, a pair of scissors pierced through the air and embedded itself in the side of his arm. He shouted in pain. And looked up to find out it was Sophia who threw them. I wondered where she got the scissors or how the hell she knew how to throw like that. But she distracted Ciaran long enough to have his hold on me soften, and then I returned the spell on him, locking him in place.
Just then I heard a sound behind me. Everything was happening too fast. My consciousness was beginning to fade as I was using too much of my stored energy. I turned back to find Warwick with a claw pressed to Sophia’s neck while she was still holding her baby who was now crying so loudly, my ears throbbed.
“Look how beautiful my pup is,” Warwick said with a grin. “Stand down, Kara. Or Sophia here gets it.”
I needed help. I could no longer do this on my own. Now that I had my powers back, I was going to attempt reaching John.