Cilla’s POV
“The last witch I talked to went and reported me to the alpha,” I told Raven. “So, you can understand why I’m wary of your kind.”
She nodded. “I get it. But, I’m bored. I need something to do or I’ll go crazy. Besides, you seem like a nice person.”
“I’m nice until you cross me. If you’re thinking of doing that, get ready for what I’ll do to you. Trust me, it won’t be nice.”
Raven chuckled. “Relax. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll see how I can help. Come, let’s go to my place. No one can hear us when we’re inside.”
“Okay,” I said.
I followed Raven towards a tiny building surrounded by a thick hedge. You could only see the top of the building. There was a path leading to it. When we got in her tiny compound, I saw that the building looked great and new with light green walls and tinted glass windows. You couldn’t see past the hedge.
“Isn’t it scary? Living like this?”
Raven shook her head as she opened the door. “I’m a witch. Nothing scares me. I can sense someone coming here even before they get close. I have so many ways of protecting myself but the invisibility spell is my best.”
“I guess that really come in handy.”
“Yes, it has saved me so many times.”
The living room was very small and yet very cozy. There was a brown sofa and centre table in the middle of the room. In one corner was a dining table and two straight backed chairs. The cream coloured walls had an assortment of witchy objects. Some of them were scary but the neat arrangement made the whole display kind of pretty.
“Would you like a drink, water perhaps?”
“Is that all you have.”
“I have hibiscus wine, but I doubt Mirabel would be very happy to smell anything remotely alcoholic under your breath while you take care of her little devils.”
“I guess, maybe I’ll pass by one night as I’m returning to my quarters. I really need a drink.”
“Or maybe you could take some and brush your teeth afterwards but that would be too big of a risk. Knowing the people who run this pack, I’d rather you don’t take that risk.”
“They’re horrible, aren’t they? The slaves look so thin and underfed and yet it seems they have money.”
“Well, they have to keep them weak or else they’ll gain strength and find a way out.”
“You can escape from this pack?”
“Darling, you can escape from anywhere. Sometimes you wind up dead, though.”
“My former pack had so much security.”
“Nothing is a hundred percent. Trust me, there is always a loophole. You just have to look hard enough to find it.”
“Okay, let’s get back to business before Mrs. Frey comes looking for me.”
“Yeah.”
“When I was taken from my original pack, my parents were executed but me and my twin siblings were spared. They were taken away by some men before I was sold. I really want to know where they are. Could you please help me do a locator spell?”
“Do you have anything that belonged to them?”
I shook my head. “No. Is it possible to do one without?”
“I can try. I’ll need your hair or blood since you are connected to them.”
“That won’t be a problem,” I said, proffering my hand. “Take as much as you need. In case you need to know, their names are Rose and Ren.”
Raven stood up and went to the kitchen. She returned with a big kitchen knife and a small bowl. She placed the bowl on the table underneath my proffered hand. She held it in her hands and stabbed my palm. The pain was sharp, making me wince. When she squeezed my hand, a stream of dark red liquid streamed into the bowl. A minute later, she stopped and removed the bowl. “Go and wash your hand.”
I stood up and went into the kitchen. Opening the tap at the sink, I let the water wash away the blood while the wound quickly healed. By the time I was done washing, my hand looked like it had never been stabbed.
I returned to the living room. Raven’s had lit a few candles and placed the bowl of blood inside the circle on the floor. She sat down, closed her eyes and started chanting words in a language I did not understand.
I sat on the couch and leaned back. Apprehension was growing as I waited for Raven to finish. I was finding it hard to believe that I was about to know the whereabouts of my remaining family.
Rose and Ren were the best things about my family. The brought us a lot of happiness and we all loved them very much. You couldn’t annoyed for a long time if they were around. Of course, there were times when they were a handful but those were overshadowed by the good moments.
Although, they were twins, they were so different from each other. Rose was quite melodramatic while Ren was the quiet, rational one. He kept his sister in check. They were very different in personality but got along so well. In any way, their personalities connected and there was a bit of co-dependency between the two. I had always loved them both equally.
From the day they were born, our lives had changed. My relationship with my parents especially my mother had improved after the birth of the twins. At least my mother had someone else to give her affection and control. I had grown weary of being her primary focus because it made me feel smothered.
Raven suddenly opened her eyes and stared at me. She looked a bit shaken.
“Do you know where they are?” I asked. My heart had literally stopped beating.
“Yes, I do.” Raven answered.
“Where are they?”
Raven did not answer.
“Don’t tell me they’re dead. It looks like you don’t have good news for me.”
“No, they’re not dead. They’re very much alive but their condition is not very good.”
“what have they done to them?” I stood up and went towards Raven. “Where are they?”
“Not very far from here.”
“Where the hell is that?”
“Oakwood pack,” she said. “It’s a terrible pack. Worse than this one.”
“Oh my goodness! Are you serious?”
She nodded.
“I have to escape. I have to go and get them out of there.”
“Where will you take them?”
“I don’t know but I’ll see when I’m done.”
“First, you can’t go and just get them. Alpha Monague will not let you take any of his slaves. He will kill you before you step in his territory unauthorized. The man has a heart of stone.”
“Which is why Ren and Rose can’t be there.”
“I don’t think he’s doing anything so bad to them.”
“But you said…”
“They just didn’t look quite well. I guess they’re missing family.”
“I’m going to try my luck,” I said, standing up.
“Don’t be silly. What, you think they will just hand over a couple of slaves they bought with lots of money to you just because you’re related?”
“I don’t care, I’m going.”
Raven stood up. “No you’re not.”
“Watch me,” I said, heading for the door.
Immediately, I started to feel a very sharp pain in my head. I turned to see raven holding her hand up, her palm facing me as she spoke some words.
“Stop,” I said, before losing consciousness.