Chapter 88: #85 Blue Fire & Ice Cold

Think, think, Mara, think... Ice. Of course she could manipulate ice, she's a bloody water witch! Come on, Mara, use that brain. What do I do? Even if I have any water magic available, I'm way too fresh of a newbie to use it already. I just need to escape a bloody ice pike for now, so let's just focus on what I can do!

My wolf. I need to listen to her. Stop thinking too much, and simply trust her. Something I'm not used to, but it's never too late for a change is it? I try to calm down, despite the threat, and channel her all I could. No, I don't just channel her: I leave her complete control. I feel it coming like a sudden wave coming from the inside. She jumps up, filling my limbs and using her instincts to take over my body. In a split second, she comes in, I step back; I'm a she-wolf. I'm an animal, and my human self disappears under the female wolf guiding my body. I hear us growl as a warning, and with a disgusted look, Naptera launches her weapon right at us. She's even better than I imagined, aiming right at us, but now that she's in control, my wolf is much stronger and confident. No more whining. She growls, and just as the spike seems like it's about to hit us, she jumps to the side.

I can't believe how well she's moving in the water. How good we are. It's the two of us now, but her influence is amazing. I thought I was doing okay earlier, but the truth would be more like I was just glad to not be drowning. Now, we're now just swimming around, my wolf moves so fluidly, so easily. I can feel almost like... like the water's my natural environment. I can't believe how uneasy I was before, compared to this amazing feeling. My wolf is definitely in her element. She moves swiftly, as if the water was her playground. Naptera's weapon flies past us, and I barely feel it above our shoulder. It's truly a strange and yet amazing sensation. The water gently caressing our fur, offering no resistance to her strong paddling. I smile, a boost of confidence coming in again. I'm hot, yet cold, the adrenaline kicking in. I know we can do this. We're good. We growl like one at Naptera, a clear warning.

As we swim, I notice our paw... it's white. Since when do we have any white fur at all? After a bit more paddling, it's clear only one is, though. The other one is still black and gold... I'm curious to see what happened yet again with my appearance. Surprise after surprise, really... Will I ever get used to this?

Alright, I'll worry about my looks later. I need to get out of the water, first. It's been a nice little swim around, but they are waiting for me on the harbor, and I can't let Naptera play around with me like a cat with a mouse any longer. She doesn't look in a hurry to attack again, and I'm having enough. Each time, it's the same. She attacks because she's angry, but I don't feel any murderous intent, so what? I growl, and start to swim away from her. I can't lose any more time with her. Either she attacks me seriously and we finish this, or she can finish her stupid tantrum alone. My friends are in danger, I don't have any time to lose here!

I start swimming, as fast as I can, feeling almost more fish than wolf. I'm fast, and although I can feel Naptera behind me, I'm careful just in case she'll attack again... I may have gotten more comfortable and less vulnerable underwater, but this is her ground, not mine. I have to get out of there before something I can't avoid happens...

"We're not done!"

I jump to the side just in time to avoid another one of her damn ice spikes. Seriously? I turn around and growl, but her eyes have... darkened. Oh, Moon Goddess, that can't be good. Not just that, but the water is getting colder, too. I mean, really cold. Like ice-cold, and I bloody don't like it. I growl and swim, but I can feel the chill crawling closer all around me. The water gets more white and shiny, and although it's pretty, it's not time to admire this. I'm going to be trapped like a freaking ice cube if I don't do something soon!

"...perhaps you should thank me," she said. "You won't die. You'll stay here, child, trapped until someone else frees you... Your friends might find you, but at least, I'll take care of the Curse meanwhile..."

I growl. Take care of the Curse my butt! And calling me a child as if she sort of likes me now? What the hell is wrong with that witch, is she that freaking stubborn that she won't admit she's wrong and headed to a wall?

I keep paddling as fast as I can, both to get away and get myself out of here, but that won't work. Naptera's now somehow decided on keeping me underwater. Damn it, does she ever give up? She's not an enemy, but she's still a bloody pain! I'm not even that far from the shore, but I still need to get as close as I can, I won't even be able to get out of there by myself. The cold around me is just terrible. I feel like I'm taking a swim in some frozen lake, and when I glance up, it looks like some ice is appearing. I can't believe she's fucking serious about this!

Alright, we have to stop playing defensive. I growl, looking all around for a solution, an idea. There's no miracle coming though, just the two of us under the ice... Think, Mara.

I try to take deep breaths, and stop swimming around; I need to focus on myself. I always find the answers inside, not outside. I need to stop running around blindly.

...I'm a fire witch. A fire witch, and also... a bit of a water witch? Damn, that whole thing is getting confusing, isn't it? I decide to close my eyes. Keeping them open or not doesn't matter as I can feel Naptera's attack coming at me through the water movements, but it helps me focus on my wolf and my inner flame. They are both a part of me. I had to shut down the latter to let the water witch inside me take over, but... Come on, this is my body. This is me. I knew it from the start. I am no ordinary witch, I'm... a patchwork. A freaking Frankenstein of a witch, something that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

...I am something impossible. How about we test that, now, Clarissa, little Mara?

I open my eyes, and an arrogant smile appears on my lips.

I stare right at Naptera, and my new-found burst of confidence stops her. She even retreats a bit, looking unsure. She's not just looking at me, but looking around me. That's right, Naptera, just you watch. I should thank her for allowing me to unlock so much of those abilities I didn't know I had, but... time to get to the next level. It's time I stop thinking of what I should be able to do or not. No more rules, Mara. Let's just be as impossible as hell.

I open my arms, and take deep breaths. I ignore the cold, the ice, and instead, I channel my inner fire, again. This time, I try to control it very, very precisely. The tame flame that had almost been extinguished opens up chilly. I direct it not inside, but towards my hands, as if I was trying to keep it there. It's as if before, it was running wild anywhere it wanted, but not, I'm only letting it out through my hands, but big, hot and strong. Very, very hot... and cold. My heartbeat accelerates, my blood rushes through my veins. It's insane, but it's happening. My wolf growls, I smile. I can't tell if I'm human or wolf anymore. Fire or Water.

I'm... both.

It's a new fire that emerges in my hands. An ice-cold, blue flame. Something between fire and ice, something so hot or so cold it's impossible to tell, but it's mine. I smile uncontrollably. A chill runs down my skin, both hot and cold, just exciting and thrilling.

Horror appears on Naptera's face, as she retreats again.

"Y-you... how... It can't be..."

"I told you," I say. "I'm not like, and I'm not like any other."

I sound arrogant, and I can't say I hate it. Let's face it, I feel more powerful than I've ever been. My flames have conquered a mysterious new shade, that deep blue that appears at the heart of a flame. How I'm able to generate fire underwater, I don't know. Is it even fire? Or ice? I don't know. It's magic, and it feels amazing at the end of my arms, glowing like a light in the darkness of the deep ocean. I increase it.

"Stop!" She shouts. "You can't control two elements, you're going to kill yourself!"

Just you watch, then.

I keep increasing those flames, the fire and ice fighting to maintain that perfect balance on my hands. Two corridors of bubbles appear around my arms, as if the water is boiling around me. Steam? I feel my heart accelerate again. Silver sparks appear all around my body, and I realize it's the ice breaking under the pressure of my flames. I look up at the ceiling of ice that has been getting thicker and thicker all this time.

"Don't you...!"

As Naptera starts preparing another attack, two more ice spikes, I make my decision. I'm done playing, and she's been slowing me down for too long already. It may have been just a handful of minutes, but those precious minutes are those my friends have been missing me for this fight. I can't stay here and entertain her any longer!

Still focusing on balancing my water and fire magics perfectly, I let her spikes come to me, and this time, I simply blew them away with my hand. It's like twigs brushed away with a breeze, and this time, Naptera's look means she's been defeated for real.

"...told ya."

I turn around, and swim away, leaving her there. I already lost enough time, and I need to use this new-found magic to get out of there and help everyone. I make sure not to slow down, and reach the shore.

*Liam!*

I wait and tame my magic, the cold surrounding me quickly again. Thankfully, he doesn't make me wait too long. A human hand appears in the water, and he pulls me up. My body lands on the wet asphalt, and I take some deep breaths. Moon Goddess that feels good...

"Mara! You okay, babe?"

His hand is on my neck, patting me, and, as crazy as it may sound at that very moment, I'm suddenly hit by the fact that I'm... completely naked. Oh, the joys of being a werewolf... I curl up and look above at Liam, his dark silhouette hovering over me.

"Hi..." I let out, with a hoarse voice I don't recognize myself.

"What happened? Damn, you're... cold as ice!"

"Yeah, I don't recommend a swim now... How's the... fight?"

Oh, damn I'm tired. With his help, I struggle to get back on my feet, my whole body a bit numb because of the cold. That sensation of the wind on my cold skin has to be something akin to hell. I try to focus my fire and warm myself up as fast as I can, and Liam hands me a bundle of black fabric. I unfold it. It's a piece of clothing that looks like a very simple black tank top and short ensemble, but I won't complain now. I put on as fast as I can. Is that why he stayed human, in case I needed to change back? Once I'm dressed, I can forget about myself and look around. Liam stays close to me, holding me as if he was afraid I'd go back into the sea or fall.

"What happened?" He insists, ignoring my question; "What about the water witch?"

"I beat her... I think. At least for now. H-How about you guys?"

"We're doing okay, but we're a bit stuck. We were waiting for you to come out to move..."

That's what I can see. The werewolves look tired, but fine, aside from a few injuries here and there. Probably those they couldn't avoid... Although, the situation isn't exactly fine. They are now completely circled by the human women, and... damn it, how many are there? The number at least doubled since last time! How long was I really underwater? It looks like every female student has been made into some weird witch zombie! At one end of the group, Ayesha is standing there, putting up firewalls behind the human women, making sure they don't escape either. So she agreed not to injure them either...

However, as I want to go to them, join the fight, Liam grabs my hand and gently puts the over one on my cheek. Only then do I notice how panicked he looked... and exhausted, too. He's been fighting in his human form all this time? Just so he could wait for me, pull me out of the water? I suddenly feel very sorry for my mate. I pull him into all sorts of things just because we're so different. I want to say something, but before I do, he pulls some of my wet hair out of my face with a frown. He looks very worried and staring at me with... a confused expression. What now?

"Mara, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm alright. Liam, I promise. I never felt... so powerful. Listen, underwater, something new happened! I didn't think it was possible, but..."

"...Yeah, uh... I think I can see that..."

"You can see it?" I repeat, confused.

Liam grimaces, realizing we were not talking about the same thing. I mean, how would he know about my new ability? And why is he staring at me like that?

"Uh... Babe, you're aware one of your eyes turned... I mean, that it turned blue... right?"

Wait, what? It did? I lift my hand to touch my eyelid by reflex, but as expected, I can't see it, of course... I can only guess which eye it is following Liam's gaze... It seriously turned blue? He keeps staring at me with a confused expression. Oh, alright. We really don't have time for that, and I guess that's not the weirdest thing that happened today, after all...

"It's nothing," I say. "Liam, I'm a water witch too."

"...A what now?"

"A water witch, Liam. I know how weird that sounds, but... I can use both water and fire. I can't really explain it yet, but... I did it. I used it against Nephera. I can combine both Clarissa and little Mara's powers.

I smile like an idiot. I know this is the weirdest timing ever, but now that I've managed to get out of the water and out of Naptera's clutches, I had to say it. It's just too big, too amazing, and I need to share this with someone. Seeing Liam still stunned and visibly at a loss, I nod and give him a quick kiss to wake him up.

"For real!"

Liam nods, obviously still a bit shocked. Well, I can't blame him... He's got no choice but to learn to adapt pretty fast with me, I suppose... After a while, he sighs.

"Alright, I'm going to skip the whole it's-not-possible thing because, well, you're Mara, so I guess nothing normal applies to you, like, ever..."

"Thanks..." I say with a little sorry smile.

Moon Goddess, I love him and how fast he adapts to all of my crazy.

"...but also because we actually have to move and we need your help, Babe. We have wolves reporting about some movement on East Point Ground, and I really don't like that."

My smile disappears, and I focus again.

"Ravena. She found the spot..."

"She may have spied on us or something," nods Liam. "Her goal is apparently to keep us here while she... tries to take over the Curse's black magic."

"You shouldn't have waited for me!" I protest. "Why didn't Ayesha go already? What of the other wolves?"

I look around, and although I can't see them, I can tell many more wolves are waiting in the shadows... Why didn't they get involved yet? What's wrong?

"They can't," says Liam, shaking his head. "We tried to send people towards East Ground Point, or at least, for someone to get out, but as soon as we pass some invisible border... Look."

I look in the direction he's pointing at, and after a furious growl, a black wolf tries to jump over a first group of young women. He's fast, and careful to stay far enough from their blades. He will be able to pass, somehow, no?

However, I promptly realize, he's not the one in danger. As soon as he's past the first rows of female students, something happens. All the ones remaining between him and East Ground point, suddenly... they put the blades against their own throats. Not only that, I can already see some drops of blood rolling down their necks! That bitch really ordered them to commit suicide if they can't stop us!

"See? Selena tried to get out of there earlier, and... six girls died. The same thing happens if the other wolves try to join our group. We ordered the others not to get near East Point Ground, who knows what Ravena will do to them..."

"She won't do anything," I growl.

I open up my hands and focus on my sensations from earlier to bring back my blue, ice-cold flames. You're done cheating, Ravena.

Now you’ve really done it. And I won't let you get away with that...

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*Author Note: Thank you for reading! I'm back after my break, thanks for your patience and happy New Year! ^-^*