NALEDI’S POV
“Marcus used the Shadow spell on you when you persisted in going,” Korah narrated and my face scrunched in confusion.
“The shadow spell?” I asked, “What is that?”
“A spell that allows one to hide their true nature.” Marcus was kind enough to provide answers. “As a werewolf, you are easily identified by other supernatural species, as much as we could them. Unless of course they have a nature’s servant on their side to perform the spell.”
“You mean a witch. By nature’s servant you mean witch right?”
“Yes.” His reply was drawn out. Like he couldn’t believe I was asking such questions. “Like I was saying, all supernaturals have properties that makes us what we are. Properties that make it easy for other supernaturals to identify us.”
I nodded my head, getting the gist of things. “So you’re saying the shadow spell, a spell you casted on me to hide the fact I was a werewolf made me appear human?” He nodded.
My eyes widened. “Was that why Luka thought he could compel me? Because he was going off the fact I was human?!”
“Not to add that you acted the role of one compelled. You were the perfect actress.” Korah said and I was surprised.
“How did you know that?” I asked, “You were not there. I didn’t see you until the entire place was on fire.” My eyes narrowed, “What are you not telling me?”
“Nothing much. I was in the Casino, glamoured into one of the clueless humans by Marcus.” She replied effortlessly.
“You mean you were there all along?”
She shrugged, “There was only so much we could do to protect you when you basically told us to fuck off.” A grimace. “No offence.”
“None taken.” My eyes met Marcus’s. “You cast a shadow spell to make me appear human in the eyes of Luka.” I took a deep breath, the events of the previous night pouring into my mind. “I guess that explains why I couldn’t feel my super strength for most of the night. I felt weak and downright human.”
“The downside of the shadow spell. You become basically a human with all your supernatural abilities shut off in a vault.” Marcus supplied,
“Was that the same thing you did with Korah?”
He let loose a breath. “I glamoured Korah into a human. It is merely an illusion, hiding her supernatural abilities and properties so much that they are hard to pick up. She could still use her powers in that state, just not to the full of her abilities.”
Now I was offended. “And you didn’t think to use that on me? Do you know what it felt like being strong one minute and powerless the next?”
“Yours needed to be the Shadow spell because that was the only way you could pass off for a human.” Caellum interrupted.
“The last time I checked, Korah passed off just fine.”
“Because she was not the centre of attraction. You didn’t see her getting her blood sucked by Luka who by all means is a vampire lord with instinctive abilities to suss out humans.” Caellum said and it was a wonder I didn’t feel offended. “Luka was taken by you the moment you walked into his sight. He couldn’t give a shit about another useless male standing by the corner dishing out cards.”
“No offence taken, Alpha.” Korah sniped, relaxing on her chair. Caellum didn’t give a fuck.
My eyes widened in realisation. “That was you?!” I turned to Marcus. “You glamoured her into a male? That’s so cool!”
“I’m glad you think so, My lady.” He said respectably.
Have I ever mentioned that sometimes, Marcus acted like an old man in young skin? What was the term? Ancient soul?
“So what else?”
“When you left with the Vampire, there was no need to keep it up so we followed you, trying to penetrate the place. The longer you stayed away from us, the harder it was to ensure the spell didn’t fade.” Marcus narrated, “We had no other way to reach you so we crafted an emergency solution.”
That caught my interest. “And that is?”
“The fire.” Korah supplied, “Marcus had me start the fire so we could lure them out.” She said excitedly.
“You started the fire? How did you do it without getting noticed?” I remembered the fire from the night before. It was so big, it seemed like a gas explosion. “Of all things, why fire?”
“Because it was the one thing that would serve as a threat to Luka,” Caellum chipped, “As a vampire Lord, the best way to kill his dead soul is to roast it to ashes and blow it to the fiery pits of hell.”
“And I am a fire elemental witch. So it’s kind of up my alley.” Korah added and I couldn’t find words to express my shock at the revelations.
“Explains how you could navigate through the fire. How you saved my life.”
She blushed, “You are just about right.”
“I guess with that, you have all your questions answered,” Caellum said, getting on his feet,
I shook my head. “You said we supernaturals could sense each other.” I began,
I think I could wrap my head around that theory. I knew when a vampire was around me. I usually identified them by the coldness of their souls.
For fellow werewolves, I couldn’t place my hands on what it was exactly. I just knew when I was talking to a werewolf. It was like a sixth tense. Like an instinct.
But for the witches, which they so proclaimed to be, I couldn’t quite understand. Why was I so convinced they were werewolves and why did I not sense they were witches?
I could barely feel their essence. And that fact was glaring now they pointed it out. “If we could sense other supernaturals, why was I unable to sense your witchiness? Why was I so convinced you were a werewolf? Both of you.”
Marcus pursed his lips and Korah avoided my eyes. If I hadn’t thought that was something before, I did now.
“Is there something you need to say?” I urged, getting impatient.
“I told them to hide their identity.” Caellum gave me an answer.
“What do you mean?”
“We were glamoured so you could perceive us as wolves.” Marcus finally spoke.
I didn’t know why but a deep feeling of betrayal twisted my heart.
“Why?” I had to know. “Why did you see the need to do that?”
“Because I didn’t see the need for you to know that. Nor every other person around me.”
“The existence of witches is extinct. At least that’s what the supernatural world believes.” Marcus said.
“And I plan for it to remain that way.” Caellum suffixed in a hard tone, far from apologetic.
I nodded my head. “Since we are spilling secrets, are you going to let me know your true essence or is this how we are going to operate?”
Their eyes fixated on Caellum. Of course. He called the shots. And he didn’t trust me enough to let me sense their true essence.
Just when I was ready to give it up, he spoke.
“Unveil yourselves.”