Chapter 14

  OLD FRIEND

  The excitement that had filled the air after seeing Max control his magic vanished in an instant when the ancient front gate was blasted off its hinges, crashing violently into a second-floor window of the mansion. A dense fog slithered inside like a living entity, swallowing everything in its path within seconds.

  —Everyone inside! —Madame Liona ordered firmly, ushering the witches toward the safety of the mansion. Before closing the doors, she turned to Gabriel, Max, and Melody—. Find somewhere to hide. Now!

  Footsteps echoed through the air, slow and steady, like a macabre metronome counting down to disaster. A chilling laugh shattered the silence, freezing the blood of the three friends, who barely resisted the urge to run. With no other option, they hid behind a cluster of plants, hoping the shadows would conceal them.

  Suddenly, a thunderous crash shattered the calm: the door was ripped open as if by an invisible fury. The witches’ screams—moments earlier a fragile refuge—tore through the fog with such visceral pain it felt as though it ripped at the soul itself. Then the screams faded, turning into agonized gasps that soon dissolved into a horrifying silence, thick as the darkness surrounding them.

  That muteness was broken by a sound that made their hearts stop for a beat. Something metallic scraped along the ground, advancing with deliberate slowness, as if savoring the prolongation of terror.

  Melody clenched her jaw and began to rise.

  —I’m going to face them —she whispered, resolute.

  —No! They’ll kill you. We can’t see anything —Gabriel stopped her, grabbing her arm.

  —We have to do something! They’re going to kill everyone! —Melody snapped, her voice heavy with helpless rage—. If we reach Julia’s office, we can get the divine steel weapons.

  Max shook his head, swallowing nervously.

  —We’d have to cross the entire courtyard… and we can’t see a thing! That’s insane.

  —I know, but that’s life. You risk your life to help others —Melody said firmly, though pain bled through her words—. That’s what Tory taught me.

  Max took a deep breath, absorbing her words.

  —Alright… I have a plan. —His voice trembled, but determination held it steady—. There’s a spell in Julia’s book. It talks about attracting air particles. We could use it to disperse the fog, but I’ll need your help —he said, looking at Melody.

  —Our magic becomes unstable when we try to control a pure element, but we don’t have a choice —she nodded immediately, her resolve unshakable.

  —Once we gather them, we have to release the particles into the clouds. If we don’t, the spell will be useless. —Max turned to Gabriel, holding his face gently in his hands—. Gabriel, when the fog clears, you have to run to the office and get the weapons.

  —What? I’m not leaving you to face them alone —Gabriel protested, a knot forming in his throat.

  Max caressed his cheek, looking at him tenderly.

  —Trust me.

  —Angelito, I’ll protect your boyfriend —Melody chimed in with a teasing smile, though worry flickered in her eyes.

  After a moment of hesitation, Gabriel nodded reluctantly.

  Max and Melody exchanged a look, fully aware that what they were about to do could change everything. With shared determination, they took each other’s hands, closed their eyes, and synchronized their breathing into a deep, steady rhythm, as if they were a single being. A few steps away, Gabriel readied himself to run at the right moment.

  —Aer fluctuans, particula dispersa, venite ad me —they murmured in unison, their voices blending with the wind.

  The air began to move—first in whispers, then in a powerful breeze spiraling around them. The fog, as if alive, was drawn toward them, wrapping them in hypnotic tendrils. Watching them, Gabriel was awestruck. Max and Melody’s interlaced hands glowed with a unique radiance, a light that seemed to rise from the depths of their souls. Ancient runes emerged from their skin, radiating a golden, mystical glow.

  The energy intensified, the air humming with an almost tangible vibration. Gabriel felt a mix of awe and reverence as their words resonated with ancient magic, channeling a primordial force that transcended time and space.

  That glow was enough for Gabriel to know it was time. He ran as fast as he could, cutting through the shadows until he made it inside the mansion.

  Max and Melody stopped chanting and opened their eyes together. They raised their arms to the sky, and as if obeying a sacred command, the fog’s particles ascended and dissolved into the air. For a brief moment, the courtyard was clear.

  There was no time to celebrate.

  Their enemies’ silhouettes began to emerge, advancing toward them with lethal intent. Max and Melody released each other’s hands, though the echo of the energy they had shared still lingered in their bodies. They knew the battle was far from over.

  Melody was ready to fight. No matter what she faced, she would not die that day. The Becos, feral and furious, lunged at them like starving beasts. While Melody dodged their attacks with precision thanks to her telekinesis, Max struggled to keep up. His movements were clumsy but effective as he used his power to pull objects toward him and hurl them at their attackers, striking several of them.

  The witches grew increasingly enraged, attacking relentlessly, trying to shred everything they touched with their razor-sharp hands. Sweat soaked Melody’s brow as she tried to watch every direction at once. She knew a single second of distraction could mean death. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Max in danger—a treacherous witch was about to strike him from behind.

  Without thinking, Melody thrust out her arm. Max was yanked toward her as if caught by a magnet.

  —Hi —Melody said with a grin.

  The situation couldn’t have been worse: they were surrounded. Too many witches, no weapons. Still, Melody’s eyes burned with determination. She leaned toward Max and whispered something in his ear. Max nodded silently, understanding the plan.

  With a defiant smile, Melody faced the Becos and wrapped one arm around Max. Together, they pointed their free hands at the ground.

  —Repulsio! —they shouted in unison.

  The spell hurled them into the air with explosive force. Without letting go of Max, Melody quickly extended her arm toward one of the mansion’s walls.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  —Adglutina corpus meum! —she exclaimed.

  They were pulled toward the wall as if gravity itself had shifted. They descended smoothly to the ground, Melody casting a mocking glance at the witches, savoring the precious seconds she had stolen. Without wasting a heartbeat, they sprinted inside the building.

  The scene within the mansion was even more horrifying than outside. Fresh blood stained the walls and floors, and mutilated bodies lay twisted grotesquely along the corridors. The stench was unbearable, the atmosphere suffocating.

  Amid the horror, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows: Gabriel. He carried three divine steel swords, which he dropped with a metallic clang before pulling them into a tight embrace.

  —I’m glad you’re okay —Gabriel said, trying to sound calm despite everything.

  Still breathless, Melody slapped his shoulder—a clear sign they weren’t safe yet.

  Without wasting time, each of them grabbed a sword. Holding the weapons firmly, feeling the weight of the metal restore a sliver of hope, they headed toward the dining hall, stepping over piled bodies and forcing themselves not to look too closely at the carnage. They knew the battle wasn’t over.

  —Max! —Laura cried when she saw him, running to hug him tightly.

  —I’m so glad you’re alright —Madame Liona said, though her posture remained rigid and her eyes alert, as if she expected another attack at any second—. I assume you drew them outside.

  —Yeah, we put on quite a show —Melody replied with pride, though her gaze kept sweeping the room—. But… why didn’t they follow us? —she asked uneasily. Something felt wrong.

  Applause broke the tense silence. It came from the hallway leading to the entrance. A shadow stretched across the wall, advancing calmly. Footsteps echoed with a steadiness that chilled everyone who heard them.

  —How marvelous… all of you, such warriors —a familiar female voice filled the air, laced with sarcasm and disdain.

  The shadow stopped, still hidden by darkness, but the voice sent a jolt through everyone present. It was familiar. Far too familiar.

  —Who are you? —Madame Liona demanded, her tone firm though a slight tremor betrayed her.

  Seconds stretched into eternity. Then the figure stepped into the light, and disbelief froze every gaze. There she stood—the friend they had believed lost forever. Atop her head rested a silver crown of twisted roots and thorns, gleaming as if fused to her very being, a symbol both imposing and disturbing.

  —Tory? —Melody whispered, disbelief making the ground seem to vanish beneath her feet.

  —Tory? —the figure echoed, her lips curling into an icy smile—. So that was the name of this body.

  She laughed—a sound that froze them to the bone.

  Melody reacted before fear could paralyze her. Without thinking, she raised her sword and charged. The figure merely lifted a hand, and Melody’s body froze midair, completely immobilized.

  —Melody! —Max shouted, trying to rush to her, but the ground split beneath his feet. Thick, twisted roots burst from the cracks, trapping him—and the others—dragging them down.

  The figure advanced with infuriating calm, studying them with boredom and contempt.

  —So these are the ones who escaped… how disappointing —she said, stopping before Max—. You’re the warlock, aren’t you? A complete waste of power.

  Her gaze roamed over each of them, like a predator assessing prey.

  —If those ridiculous members of the Witches’ Council think you’re strong—or some kind of hope—let me clarify something: you’re nothing but children playing at war.

  —Who are you? —Gabriel asked, his voice tight as the roots constricted him.

  The woman tilted her head theatrically before answering.

  —Me? —her smile widened, radiating cruelty—. By now, you should’ve guessed. I am Sabine. Though in the past, they called me the Lady of Bodies.

  A shiver ran through them all.

  With a lazy gesture, Sabine dropped Melody to the floor. Melody gasped for air, scrambling up and gripping her sword tightly.

  —Let them go! —she shouted.

  Sabine remained unmoved, her icy gaze fixed on Melody.

  —Tell me, Melody. If you had to choose between them… or Tory, who would you save?

  The question detonated like a bomb. Melody clenched her teeth.

  —Tory is dead. You may look and sound like her, but you are not her —she replied, gripping her sword so tightly her knuckles went white.

  Sabine chuckled mockingly.

  —Your mind is full of doubt, child. “Is Tory still in there?” you wonder. I can hear it echoing inside you.

  Madame Liona went pale as paper. She had noticed something the others still hadn’t grasped.

  —You are pathetic. You think your willpower will be enough, but I assure you—it won’t be. Not against what’s coming. —Sabine turned her attention to Gabriel, studying him like a worthless object—. I already have the bodies I needed. You may live… at least long enough to watch the world you’re so desperate to save burn to ashes.

  Her laughter thundered through the room. With a fluid motion, she tore the air open, creating a portal that radiated an unnatural glow.

  —Tell the Council: Sabine is the consequence.

  She stepped through, and the portal sealed behind her, leaving an oppressive silence. The roots crumbled to dust, and everyone collapsed to the floor, gasping.

  Before they could catch their breath, hurried footsteps approached. Melody raised her sword—but it was Cristina who appeared, horror etched across her face as she took in the blood-soaked scene.

  —Cristina? —Melody said, a mix of relief and anger in her eyes.

  —What happened? —Cristina asked, staring at their pale faces.

  —We met Sabine —Laura replied grimly, struggling to her feet.

  —Damn it… I shouldn’t have left… —Cristina murmured, feeling like the biggest fool of all.

  Without hesitation, Laura stepped forward and hugged her tightly—a silent gesture of welcome.

  —Please don’t leave. I don’t know about the others, but I forgive you —Laura whispered, sincerity shining in her eyes. To her, Cristina was more than an ally—she was almost a sister.

  Cristina looked at her, eyes brimming with regret.

  —I don’t know… —she said, glancing at the others, who avoided her gaze, their faces heavy with distrust and pain—. I’m sorry. I made stupid decisions without thinking about the consequences… I’m truly sorry. I want to fix things. I want to help you. And maybe, someday, you can trust me again —her voice broke at the end.

  Madame Liona stepped forward with her usual calm, placing a firm hand on Cristina’s shoulder, her wise gaze silently telling her she still belonged.

  Max approached slowly, as if afraid to break something fragile. He hesitated before speaking.

  —I forgive you.

  The silence that followed was almost tangible. Everyone stared at him, stunned.

  —These days, I’ve been thinking about what I would’ve done if someone had told me something like that about my parents… and that’s when I understood why you did what you did —he said before pulling her into a tight embrace.

  Cristina collapsed into his arms, sobbing as years of restrained grief poured out. Gabriel stepped closer, hesitant, but with a warmth in his eyes he hadn’t expected.

  —Even though your actions hurt me, I understand why you did it. And I have to admit—you gave me an opportunity no one else would have —he said with a small, comforting smile.

  Cristina looked up at him, but Melody cut in, her tone cold.

  —But… their feelings.

  Cristina lowered her head, ashamed.

  Max spoke calmly, steering the subject away.

  —It’s okay. We’re figuring out together whether what we feel is real. Not even the strongest spell lasts forever —he said, smiling softly at Gabriel.

  The tension shattered when Melody snapped.

  —So you’re all just going to forgive her? Just like that? —she demanded, barely containing her fury—. I can’t… I can’t deal with this right now…

  Without another word, she turned and left the room, leaving a heavy void behind.

  Silence settled once more, thick and oppressive. Max sighed and decided to follow her. He found her on the porch, staring at the trail of blood staining the ground—a reminder of the lives lost.

  —Melody? —he called carefully, approaching.

  —What do you want? —she replied without looking at him, her voice hollow.

  —Is this about Cristina… or about Sabine? —Max asked gently.

  Melody dropped her sword, defeated, her eyes filling with pain.

  —Maybe both… I want to forgive Cristina, but every time I try, I remember that, in some way, she was part of the path that led Tory to… you know. And that hurts.

  Max placed a hand on her shoulder, searching for the right words.

  —I think that even if Gabriel hadn’t been here, they would’ve attacked anyway.

  —Are you sure? —Melody asked, glancing at him sideways.

  —Sabine had many chances to take Gabriel—or even kill him… but she didn’t.

  Melody fell silent, chewing on that truth. Slowly, something inside her loosened, like a knot finally unraveling.

  —You’re right… —she said with a deep sigh, feeling a spark of relief. Then her expression hardened—. That means they’re after witches. Cristina wasn’t to blame.

  She inhaled deeply, regaining her composure.

  —So… what now? —Max asked, looking at the ruined courtyard.

  Melody picked up her sword, her eyes blazing with determination.

  —We do what we’ve done for centuries: survive.