Nikolai
I met Andrei, Max and Nat in Max’s office.
“Now tell me what happened.” Max demanded.
I told them everything that we had discovered and what Adrik’s plan was.
“Fuck.” The three of them muttered together.
“Exactly. I have no knowledge about the magic he is using I’m hoping that the witches we meet today can give us some answers and solutions.” I told them. “I have the recordings. She could watch it and maybe tell us something more about it.”
“We have a witch that is very old and apparently has a lot of knowledge. But just know that she can be a real bitch. Let’s go.” Max strode out of the room without wasting a second and we followed after him. Lady Bea joined us too. I swiftly looked at Max and he gave me a sharp nod, silently telling me that she could be trusted. I didn’t question him. Andrei had stayed behind to guard Avalyn.
We took the least conspicuous car from the garage and Max started driving with me in the passager seat and the woman in the back seat. Another two cars full of guards followed us.
“I’m not sure if she will give you the answers you need, King Nikolai.” Lady Bea said quietly.
“I never asked for her will.” I looked out of the window. I will force it out of her if I have to. This was crucial information. I was going to get it, by hook or crook.
“She can be… volatile if force is used.” She sounded scared. How could anyone be scared of their own people?
“Then you better stand out of her house.” I snapped irritably. I glared at Max. It was his decision to bring her. Back and forth with women who didn’t understand me pissed me off. Except Ava. Well she pissed me off too, a lot, but I loved it anyways.
“Apologises.” She mumbled and I grunted in return.
Max delved deeper into the old city and stopped in front of a particularly old and weathered house. It was two storey and I don’t doubt that it must be have been decent a couple of centuries ago, but it’s prime has passed and it is in need of some serious reconstruction.
I opened the car door and slammed it shut behind me. I knocked on the door, hoping it doesn’t fall off.
I heard footsteps but after an entire minute the door opened.
The woman was old and she had an earthly smell. Her eyes were black and her face was grim. Her back was hunched and she used a stick to support her up.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “What?” She snapped in her gravely voice.
“I need some answers.” I told her without beating around the bush. “I want you could help us.”
She slammed the door shut but I stopped it with my palm and pushed the door open forcefully.
I gave her a smile-a lethal smile. “I’m trying to be nice, old lady. It will be in your best interest if you help me. I will make sure you will have everything you need for the rest of your life, starting with a new house.”
I guess that was the wrong thing to say because I saw anger spark in her beady eyes.
“I do not practice magic anymore, boy. Go away.” She hissed. It was a lie. And I wasn’t a boy. In any sense.
“I’m not asking you to do magic. I just seek some answers.” I pushed past her and entered in the house.
Something about this place didn’t sit well with me. I stood in the living room, waiting for the old lady to come. I didn’t touch a single thing. Something just wasn’t quite right here.
The old lady came in, followed by Max, Nat and Lady Bea.
“Would you like some tea?” She asked me.
“No.” I know the tea trick, old hag. I looked at Max and Nat. Both of them knew what she was trying to do.
“Are you sure? I know you had a long jour-” she went from shutting the door in our faces to offering refreshments. I snorted.
“We all know that you are going spike the fucking tea. We have no interest in eating or drinking anything. Let’s get down to business.” I looked at her pointedly.
The wicked glint in her eye deflated.
“What do you know about witch sacrifices?” I asked her.
She looked at us wearily, a flash of fear passing through her eyes before she pulled her guard back up. “I do not practice black magic.” When I realised it was a lie, fury shot through me.
“I did not ask if you practiced it or not, I asked what do you know about it?” Alarm flashed through her eyes. I caught her. But I didn’t say anything. I need answers first.
“I don’t know anything about it! It’s forbidden magic!” She replied.
“Killing people and then resurrecting them. What does it mean?” I demanded.
“I don’t know. Get out of my house!” She screamed like a mad woman. “Get out! I don’t know! Get out! Get out! I don’t know.” She started repeating like a madwoman.
“I should have told you that she’s a bit cuckoo in the head.” Max rotated his finger besides his temple, motioning she was crazy.
She was. She hadn’t yet stopped asking us to leave.
“Shut up.” I said lowly yet menacingly to the old hag.
She shut up and looked at me with fear.
I brought my wolf forward and took a deep breath. Anger streaked through me at what I realised.
“You do black magic. You have sacrificed people in this very house!” I bellowed.
She jumped, her eyes wide and shuffled a couple of steps back. Her hands came up she started mumbling something.
I was confused, what was she doing?
She was looking at me in shock again.
“Niko-ngg-” I turned around and say Max, Nat and Lady Bea choking on something.
I glared at the old hag. “Release them.”
She continued mumbling something, her hands facing me but nothing happened.
I crossed the room to get to her and her chants got louder.
I saw a protective shield form around her. One I knew will take time to break.
I turned around to see all three of them had collapsed on the flood, green veins had appeared on lady Bea and Max’s head and Nat’s face was turning blue.
“I said release them!” I shouted, worried that she might actually kill them.
Her mumbling continued.