Chapter forty Nine
Chapter forty Nine
KAIDA'S POV
Elara was dead. I repeated those words a couple times in my head. It was all I could think about even as I faced the pack to address them. I looked from the pack members to the warriors who had surrendered.
“Elara, the witch, is dead.” I began, keeping my voice calm yet firm. Murmurs filled the environment, but I continued unfazed. “For so long she tormented the packs, manipulated and brought them under her control with the use of dark magic; and left destruction and death in her wake. But all that is over now. You are no longer bound to her.”
“Wait. What does that mean? Are you saying she was controlling us all this time?” One of the warriors asked. It was the one I had fought with. The dagger seemed to have nullified the sinister magic controlling her.
Kaida regarded her with a pitying look. “I'm afraid so.” The woman dropped to the ground, devastated beyond belief.
The warrior buried her head in her hands. “Wait, how long was this for?” She asked, and I paused, not knowing how to answer her. My silence itself was an answer, and she began to weep. I understood why she was weeping. She must have feelings of being violated, and she couldn't determine where her own will ended and where Elara's had begun. My heart went out to her. I bent low to her level and wrapped my arms around her in an embrace as she continued to cry.
A few minutes later, her cries subsided. I addressed her and those who had been controlled like her. “I know that the guilt might be a lot to handle, but I want you to encourage you to not be swallowed up by regret. Take responsibility for the actions you made under the witch's spell and take back control of your life.” I urged them passionately. The Nyx pack may not be my pack any longer but I still felt the need to help them.
A member of the Nyx pack shot the warriors a wary look. “How do we know that they didn't follow Elara willingly?” That was a very good question, one that his fellow pack mates were also wondering judging by the murmurs that emanated from them. “Your worry is valid.” I gestured to the dagger that was still embedded in Elara's heart. “That dagger you see has the power to absorb dark magic, it was made just for Elara. Also, it was not the only one of its kind, it was simply the strongest. The claws of every warrior were imbued with magic strong enough to nullify the sinister magic that Elara had used to subdue your friends, your families.” I explained and gave them some time to digest the information.
“Therefore, every single one of those who stand before you are those who were made into her puppets.” My tone turned cold. “And those who willingly allied with the witch are either dead or in the dungeons waiting for justice to be served.” I said firmly, letting everyone know that there was always a price to pay for betrayal. The crowd erupted in cheers, their fears and concerns forgotten and alleviated.
The female warrior stepped forward at that moment, she stalked towards Elara's body and spat on it. She fished out a lighter and two flasks of alcohol. She spilled most of the contents of the first flask on her head before pouring the rest of it and the second flask over the rest of her body. She flipped open the lighter and switched it on. “Rest in pieces and rot in hell, you evil bitch!” She spat before tossing the lit lighter towards the body. We all watched the body burn, silently. Until only the dagger was left.
Thoran picked up the dagger then he moved to stand beside me and took my hand. He smiled warmly at me before facing the crowd. “As a token of appreciation for producing the best Luna and mate I could ever ask for, the Stormhowl pack will do everything that we can to support the Nyx pack, until you can stand on your own once again.” Thoran declared. My heart warmed at his words, and I shot him a grateful smile. ‘Thank you, Alpha mine.’ I said through the mate bond.
We spent the next one hour caring and catering for the pack and its needs, and we treated their more severe injuries. The female warrior I had battled walked up to me just then, with a smile. “I am yet to formally introduce myself. I am Beatrice, everyone calls me Bea. I just wanted to say… Thank you, Luna Kaida.” She said, her voice tinged with sincerity. I nodded, smiling warmly. “I know where she is.” She said suddenly, drawing a questioning gaze from me. “Tricia, I know where she is.”
My eyes widened. Unconsciously, I grabbed her arms and gripped them tightly. “Where is she?”
Thoran trailed behind us as she led me down a hidden tunnel. We walked for about ten minutes before finally coming to a stop in front of a door. A very huge lock sat in its latch. Beatrice took out a key and opened up the lock. She handed over the key and its lock to me as though she was saying that she had no ulterior motive. We all stepped into the dark. Mine, a little more tentative than theirs. Several thoughts ran through my mind. Would she remember me? What if Elara had done something to mess up her mind? I waved off the thoughts as soon as it arrived.
“Patricia.” Beatrice called out. A split second later, another voice answered. “Go away, Bea. Tell that cruel witch that I'm dead.” She said bitterly.
“Elara is dead.” Beatrice said gently. There was a slight pause before we heard an ‘oh.’
I heard the sound of a sniff before Tricia spoke up again. “Then who is that with you? The scent is familiar.”
I swallowed. “It's me, Tricia.”
“Kaida?” She asked softly. Abruptly, the light came on and we had to squint our eyes so it adjusted to the light. Tricia stood a few steps away from me. She was taller than I remembered, and her hair was longer. Fortunately, she was unharmed. Had it already been a year. ‘How long has it been?’ I wondered.
“The one and only.” I answered with a small smile. Tricia whimpered once before she came bounding towards me. I caught her in an embrace, lifting her off the ground. She continued to sob over my shoulder. I petted her hair and back in a soothing manner. “Hey, Kiddo. It's been a while, hasn't it?”