SHADOW
I turned around. Zack was not behind me. He was lying on the sidewalk beside the car. He stood up from the fall and rushed in my direction at his super speed.
“What happened?” I asked in surprise.
“I don’t know.” He looked confused.
“It’s fine. You can come.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I think I can’t get through whatever is blocking the gate. I was following you. The next thing I knew, I was thrown back to the sidewalk. Something is blocking me from entering, and it fucking hurts, burning my skin.” I saw the panic in his eyes. He sprinted in my direction, only to be tossed back by some force as if an invisible wall existed between us.
I ran back to him, but it also happened to me. I couldn’t get through whatever it was. Probably a spell cast over the gate. The only difference was it didn’t have the same effect on me. I raised my hand to test the theory. My hand couldn’t go through it. I was right. The witch put a smell on the entrance where no one got out.
“Shadow, come back. I can’t protect you in there.” He put his hand on the invisible wall or what it looked like, and it somewhat burned him. He hissed, shaking his hands off. “Shadow, I can’t come. It burns me.”
“I saw it, Zack.” I banged the wall, but it was useless. I would look stupid if someone passed by and saw me hitting an imaginary wall. I felt worthless and helpless that I couldn’t do anything.
“Stay in the car. I’ll be fine.”
“No, Shadow.”
“She’ll be fine, werewolf.” I turned to the voice behind me. A black woman with voluminous curly hair, wearing a caftan, spoke from her door. “It’s a shield spell from other supernatural beings. Shadow is invited. That’s why she can get through without hurting her, and she wouldn’t be able to get out unless her purpose of the visit is done. Wait outside. She’s safe here, and I will protect her with my life.”
Zack wasn’t impressed, snarling at the witch, but I had to give him a reassuring smile.
“See you later, Zack.” I walked forward, still nervous and scared of what would happen inside. I was sure she had cast more spells in her house that I was hopeless to fight against.
“Take a seat.” She gestured to the sofa with colorful throw pillows and walked away. I had no idea where to go. My heart was still pumping so fast. I couldn’t blame her because I was literally in uncharted territory.
“Thanks.” I carefully sat down, making sure I wouldn’t sit on maybe an invisible cat or snake, and I disliked snakes.
“I’ve seen this coming.” She came with a steaming teapot and cups. She sat on a single-seater couch, poured tea, and offered it to me.
I gratefully took it. “Thank you. What do you mean when you said you’ve seen this coming?
“I can see the hesitation in your body language, Shadow. It’s not poison. It’s an English tea. I would never harm you.”
I sipped the tea, and she was right- it was an English Earl Grey tea. I was still breathing and not clutching my throat. “Why can’t Zack come in?”
“I don’t like his kind.”
“You don’t like me?” My eyebrows arched.
“You know for a fact that you’re not like them. You’re mother was one of the powerful witches in The West Coven. At a young age, she managed to level with our leader. When your father came into her life, things changed. She was so drawn to Samuel. Aurora fell so madly in love and blinded by her feelings, and Samuel thought she was her mate.”
“And you don’t?” I took another sip.
“There’s a prophecy that a remarkable woman would bring peace to our world and unite three beings. I thought that was Aurora. I supported her and her affair with your father, but I was wrong. Maybe it wasn’t her. Looking at you right now, an Alpha’s mate.”
“H-how do you know?” I asked incredulously.
“I’m a witch, honey. I smell the stench of his dog on you, but you don’t wear his mark. Why?” Her gaze fell on my neck. “You trust him and love him. Why you haven’t mated yet?”
I felt my privacy was like an open book before this woman, and there was no way I could lie without her knowing. “His pack doesn’t trust me.”
“Because you refuse to show them who you really are. You haven’t fully embraced your other natures. No matter how often you deny it, you are part Alpha Lycan and part witch, and you are a mate of a powerful, well-connected Alpha.”
“I want you to teach me how to cast spells or teach me how to explore my ability.”
“Abilities.” She shook her head. “I told you at this same moment and setup. I’ve seen it already, and you declined my offer.”
I was confused. She knew I was coming and what would happen before it happened. “Why? What did you ask me for?”
“You exactly asked me to teach spell-casting, but you didn’t like the price I asked from you.”
“What is it?”
“I want you to be my apprentice. We could do a lot of things together. You will be one of the most powerful hybrids, Shadow. Wolves, witches, vampires, fairies, and other beings will vow on you. You are already powerful. Your blood is from the most powerful Lycan descendant and a powerful witch, but power without knowledge and practice is dangerous and useless, Shadow.”
“What’s the catch?”
“You won’t be seeing your mate again.”
I was already on my feet, flaring my nose. “You’re right. I say thank you, but no. I’d rather be powerless than lose the man I love.”
“That’s exactly what you said, but you haven’t walked out of the door. Sit down, Shadow.”
I breathed deeply. My chest was heaving. Before I could sit down, I heard a knock.
“He’s throwing stones into my house.”
“So a stone can through?” Why did I even ask? She said the spell only works on supernatural beings. I went to the window and pulled the Middle Eastern curtain aside. “Just a minute! I’m fine!”
“He’s protective of you and not just because of Alpha Califf’s order.”
“I’m not going to ask how did you know his name. Given that you could reach out with your message, I say you know more than you let on.” This witch was also powerful.
“Yes. Your mother chose love over power. You’re just like her, but look where it got her. She’s dead. Your father is dead. Aurora died in disgrace. No one remembers her to this day.” I didn’t like her tone a bit, but I was in her house, and she welcomed me. I had to calm myself before I could slash her neck and let her bleed, if I could even match her power over mine.
My head snapped in her direction as I returned to sit across from her. “She follows her heart. And you’re wrong. Love is a powerful thing. My mother didn’t die in disgrace. I am here, the living proof of what love means to this world.”
“You live most of your life in a human world. You’re more human than your kind. I couldn’t blame you for abandoning our world. Kent taught you humility and raised you well.”
“I will bring grace to my mother. I will prove to you witches are wrong. I will raise my father’s race. Whether you help me or not, I will find someone willing to help me without a catch. Thank you for your time.” I rose from the couch and was ready to walk away. “My purpose here is done. Maybe you can lift now the spell you cast on your gate.
She sighed. “Wait. I have something for you.”
I waited at the door, proud of what I said and done today. I couldn’t wait to tell Califf what I stood for and what I believed against the witch.
“Here. Don’t lose this.” She had a necklace with a blue stone in a full moon-shaped pendant. “It’s white gold. It won’t hurt you.”
“You don’t have to give me anything.” I took it and put it around my neck.
“This stone will turn red if it senses threats approaching. You may decline my offer, but you’re still my best friend’s daughter, and I’m still a part of the coven, and I can’t break that rule.”
“I understand. Thank you-”
“Zarah. Call me Zarah.”
“Thank you, Zarah.” I hugged her tight. “You’re the first person I met that knows Mom.”
She hugged me back. “Be careful. Threats are still out there. You may be strong, but the people around you are not.”
“I’ll do everything to protect them.”
“I know, Raven.” She traced her thumb on my cheek. “You remind me a lot of your mother. I missed her dearly.” Then she held my hand and chanted something.
“What was that?” I felt tingles on my skin.
“Protection spell. It will wear off when you complete the mating bond.”
“Oh.” I couldn’t help but smile. “That wouldn’t be a problem. Thank you. Um. Maybe you can replay a message to your coven. I want a sit down with your leader.”
“They won’t honor you because of your history, but why do you want a sitdown with the High Priestess?”
“I want to unite our kind with mutual benefits. We both know that one day, we might need your help, or you may need ours. Witches may be are powerful, but you also need allies, and I know there’s still tension between us because of my mother. Can you help me?”
“I will relay your message.”
“Do you know any Lycan? Have you met them?”
“You might not like what you will find, or they may disapprove of your relationship with a werewolf.”
“I want to meet them.”
“I will try. And Shadow, you no longer need me to teach you casting spells. Powerful people will come to help you, but ready yourself to lose the people you ever love if you choose to follow who you are.”