“Who is Annabel?” Amelia asked after Emma had dropped the phone with a relieved sigh.
“That hadn’t been part of the information you had instructed Prescott to pass to me after he had created the mind path between us.”
“That is because I don’t have the information. Whoever Annabel is, she didn’t come up during my stay at the pack, or during my stay with Emma. And if you don’t know her too, then she isn’t a childhood friend. She must be new.” Precott folded his arms across his chest, as he began to ruminate on how Annabel had fallen into the equation.
Emma decided to save them both from the time that might be wasted, after all Annabel would soon send the address. And if Amelia’s master was as dogged as her sister had made him out to be, then there was a possibility that he was already on his way here. They needed to be out of here as soon as possible. “I met her on the airplane. She is a new person, my newest friend.”
The furrow that appeared on the forehead of both her sister and Prescott told her that she must be a bit crazy trusting an entire stranger already, with two guests that weren’t exactly human.
“I know you guys think it is crazy trusting someone I only met some hours ago… I don’t know how to explain this to you. I just feel that Annabel is different. She might be a human, but she is quite versed in supernatural things.”
Amelia and Prescott exchanged glances.
“Like Tempest’s husband, Malone?”
Emma didn’t know who Malone was, except that he was the father of Lily. But she had always thought that the man was a wizard. He had been a human? Quite surprising.
She nodded. “I think so. You see, something happened on the plane. I think I was attacked by the vampire. I am not sure how they had known of my presence though. I am not even sure they had been there for me. But they had come against our plane. Thankfully, they weren’t able to do much. They had come as big birds, trying to cause havoc to the plane so that it could crash. I hadn’t even known that they were vampires, until Annabel and her companions had begun to talk. Turns out that there are humans that aren’t totally unaware of supernatural beings living amongst them.”
When Prescott cursed profanely, Emma sighed. “Prescott, you don’t need to beat yourself up. I am fine. Aren’t I?”
“Yes. But I shouldn’t have left you for so long. I would have made the best deductions if I was there.”
Right. Emma thought. However, she was still alive, and she had not been harmed in any way.
She told them in detail about what had happened, about Annabel slipping into a delirious state from one of the devious attacks, and talked about the mountains, and the prophecy which her friend had given her.
When she was done, Amelia had settled back on the couch, her head resting on the apex of the couch, her eyes to the ceiling, obviously ruminating on what she had just heard, and probably wondering why everything seemed to be happening at once.
Prescott left Emma and teleported to Amelia’s thighs.
Emma watched her sister grab the squirrel to herself, and touch its furs as if as a therapy to make sense of things. When her phone suddenly dinged, the two sharply turned their attention to her.
Emma shook her head, a small smile on her lips. She picked up the phone, and noted the address. Quickly she sent it to Prescott through their mind path.
“We have to teleport there.”
***
Legardo sat in his dimly lit room, his eyes fixed on the glowing orb in his hand. The orb pulsed with a sinister energy, connected to the magic bug he had implanted in Eva.
Through this link, he could monitor her movements and, more importantly, attempt to control her. But now, something was different. Eva’s spirit was fighting back with a strength he hadn’t anticipated.
He watched as her body trembled violently. The little girl could feel the invasive presence of his magic, a dark tendril snaking through her mind, trying to wrest control of her very soul.
His vision of her blurred as she struggled to alienate herself from his hold.
Legardo’s face twisted into a scowl as he concentrated harder, his will clashing with Eva’s defiant spirit. The orb in his hand grew hotter, its light flickering erratically as the battle intensified. He could see through her eyes, witness the world around her, but Eva’s resistance was making it increasingly difficult to maintain the connection.
“Submit, Eva,” Legardo muttered through gritted teeth, his voice a low growl. He was determined not to let go, to break her will and claim her soul as his own. But Eva’s spirit was strong, a beacon of light fighting against the encroaching darkness.
Legardo’s frustration grew as he sensed Eva’s defiance. The room around him seemed to close in, the air thick with tension. He poured more of his energy into the orb, willing it to subdue Eva’s spirit.
Eva fell to the ground under his onslaught, but for every inch he gained, she pushed back with a strength that surprised even him. She staggered up again, and pushed forward, not exactly knowing where she was going.
In the darkness of his room, Legardo’s eyes blazed with determination. He would not give up. He would break her, no matter the cost. But as the battle raged on, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of doubt.
Eva was stronger than he had anticipated, and the fight for her soul was far from over, especially as he saw two women approaching her. He couldn’t make out their facial details, because of Eva’s defiance, but the aura around them invited defeat into him.
***
“It’s Eva,” Margo whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the storm. “The Luna’s daughter.”
Eva’s movements were erratic, her body convulsing as if battling an invisible foe. Her eyes were wild, and her normally graceful form was now a picture of torment and confusion. Margo and Keturah exchanged a concerned glance, understanding the gravity of the situation.
“We need to subdue her before she hurts herself,” Keturah said, his voice firm and resolute. She didn’t understand how the girl had been possessed, but they couldn’t leave her that way.
Margo nodded, drawing upon her magical abilities. She extended her hands, summoning a calming energy that enveloped Eva. Keturah followed suit, her own magic weaving through the storm to create a protective barrier around them. Together, they worked to soothe Eva’s turbulent spirit.
Eva’s struggles gradually lessened as the combined power of Margo and Keturah’s magic began to take effect. Margo’s heart ached as she saw the pain and confusion in Eva’s eyes, but she knew they had to stay strong.
After what felt like an eternity, Eva finally collapsed, exhausted but no longer thrashing. Margo knelt beside her, checking her vitals and ensuring she was stable. Keturah stood guard, her eyes scanning the surrounding forest for any sign of danger.
“We need to figure out what happened to her,” Margo said, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart. “But first, we need to decide what to do next.”
Ketura nodded, her expression grim. “Using her as a bargaining tool might be our best option. If it comes to that.”
Margo hesitated, the moral implications weighing heavily on her. But she knew Keturah was right. Having Eva could give them leverage where they were heading to.
“We’ll keep her safe,” Margo said, more to reassure herself than anyone else. “We’ll protect her and use her if we must, but we won’t let her come to harm.”