Chapter 14

“Something's not right."

I frowned as we stood in front of nothing but a rock. We stared at each other confusingly unable to phantom a reasonable explanation.

“Are you sure we're in the right place?"

“Yes." Martha responded with conviction. "According to the map, The Coven House is at the center and the tunnel is just right behind the Coven House. Lilith even confirmed it."

I nodded. Indeed, the map was right except for the tunnel aspect. I studied the environment again just to be sure. Apart from the screams filling my ears and scent of blood, there was nothing else but flowers surrounding this large rock.

I placed my left palm against the rock, and I instantly felt an aura surrounding the rock. I exhaled.

“We're at the right place." I affirmed.

“But there's no tunnel around." I stared at her.

“There is. This place is not only designed to keep Vampires out but Werewolves too."

“What do you mean?" She wore a quizzical look.

“The tunnel is right before us. This rock leads to the Witches gem. It acts like a realm door. One that only be accessed by beings who possesses magic."

“So, you're saying you can't access it too?"

“I'm a hybrid. Luckily, I have witch blood running in my veins." I returned to the rock. This was the time to go full-fledged with my powers. I took deep breaths before my eyes changed into a shade of blue.

I mumbled a spell and my palm gradually sunk into the rock. Her eyes exclaimed, something I had expected.

“It might take a while, be alert,” I said as a parting note before phasing into the rock. It was like I was pushing a door open, like I was crossing though a barrier.

As this door closed behind me, I appeared in another room entirely. If I was expecting some underground tunnel, then I was mistaken. The grounds were sandy, and the ceilings were high, made of rocks. The area was also incredibly large and round. Its walls were also made of sands with fire lamps that lit up at my presence. My eyes were easily attracted to the center where a tiny rock stand was rooted. It beheld the most beautiful object in the room. The Witches gem glowing a sparkling shade of red. I could swear I almost got lost in it. At the same time, I felt an immeasurable amount of energy surge from it. One that could consume me if I made poor choices. There was a golden floor mat a few inches ahead, but I couldn’t care less about it. Rather, I marched towards the stand. As my hand tried to reach for the gem, a force threw me to the ground. I groaned feeling pain rage all over. My vision went blur and my ears rang with deafness as I rolled on the ground. This force reminded me of my escapade with lightning. I should have known it was too easy to be true. How could the most powerful object in the Witch community be left unguarded? And the answer was what I got.

The object itself was its own defense. It needed no protection. I struggled for a while before finally finding my feet again. I wasn't going to be a fool again by going head on but at the same time, I was puzzled. How was I going to retrieve something I couldn't touch? I thought about Green. She must be busy fighting Vera vehemently. I promised to fight her battles, I promised to win this for her but here I was scared to go near the gem. One of the ancient artifacts that would soon be used as a lethal weapon against my mate.

“Think Zeus. Think!" I mumbled as I walked back and forth calculating several possible solutions to my dilemma. My eyes darted to the golden step again, I looked closely wondering why it was there of all places. It definitely wasn't for fashion and so I approached it.

My brows frowned noticing the ancient writings imprinted on it. I couldn't comprehend it, but Impulse could.

“Impulse." I called to my stubborn wolf. We still hadn't settled our fight and I wasn't planning too for a while. But this was for our mate here. It was now or never.

“Thank you." I mumbled and then focused on the writings again.

“Touch the Untouchable. Unbind the Bindable for it is the way of Witches," it read, and I sighed. For starters, the way of Witches was something I barely understood. Secondly, parables like this would only waste my time but I couldn't afford to give up either.

“Oh mother." I whispered, looking up to the rocky ceilings. "What would you do if you were here?" I said to myself and more than ever I wished I could see her again. Unfortunately, I hadn't really understood the limbo state yet too. Regardless, I had to try something. This was a chance to prove myself and I wasn't going to waste it.

I stood on the mat, my eyes transformed into blue again and my hands carried a red aura moving around me.

I focused on the gem again while I chanted an unbinding spell.

“Ecredas yalis, Ecredas yalis, Ecreda yalis—” Its glow increased causing my eyes to squint but I continued chanting regardless. It broke free and slowly ascended into the air.

“Ecre—” I lost focus as it slowly travelled towards me. My heart started to pick pace wondering if I was going to be blasted again or given another form of punishment. Suddenly, Impulse took control of my arms. He stretched my hands forward while the gem landed safely in my palms.

I smiled. So, this was it, Touch the Untouchable, Unbind the Bindable. This was what it meant. I briskly slid it into my pocket and then I realized I didn't know my way out.

Another puzzle, my teeth gritted in frustration. Impulse took control again, walking me to the rock stand. He made me bite my palm and place it on the stand.

I felt that same aura when I first came in, this was my way out. I chanted another spell and once again, I was going through a door. I was instantly welcomed by screams and smell of blood once again.

“We've got company," Martha said almost immediately. She was in an offensive position and her gaze set at our front. My eyes darted in that direction too only to find three Witches. Their eyes glowing scarlet red and their hands too. No doubts, this people were seasoned but not enough to handle me.

“Let me handle them." I quoted icily. She frowned for a split second before yielding.

“You're a Werewolf." One of them stated.

“I am, many things." I replied.

“An ally of Green huh." Another chirped irritated.

“Have you heard the name, Zeus?" I asked in a sinister voice and their eyes exclaimed immediately. They quickly conjured a fireball, launching it towards us. I flipped my fingers and the ball of fire scattered into red butterflies. Their jaws dropped.

“My turn." I toned again and then I flipped my finger again. They stared in horrific awe as they struggled to move their bodies but to no avail. My eyes turned blue again and I flipped my fingers one more time.

Flowers began to grow from their grounds and slowly climbed up from their legs upwards.

“What did you do?!" One of them screamed in pain as its thorn dug into her skin.

“Nothing much. I just froze you three and activated a poison spell. This flower will continue to grow and inflict severe pain to the three of you if you use magic." I pursed my lips as I turned to Martha whose face beheld a smile. We both walked past them in an elegant stride.

“I'll advise you hang in there till someone save you. Hopefully." I muttered as a parting note.

“Did you get it?" She asked as we started running towards the Coven House front.

“Yes." She smiled again but I couldn't. Until I saw my mate, only then would my mind be at rest. We arrived there in a minute. My eyes widened, my heart raced as the sparks and excitement ignited within me. And as the sun dawned amidst the skies, there she was, standing victorious above Vera who seemed almost lifeless on the shattered ground.

My mate's uniform was torn, her breasts were partially revealed, and the rest of her body was heavily covered with blood mostly from her injuries. Our eyes bonded, although her status seemed pretty beat up, but I was happy. I was finally at rest, she was safe.

She shot me a warm smile and I did too. We lost quite a handful of our army, and we sustained injuries, but in the end, we were the victors.

Green was the victor, and I didn't fail my promise.