Chapter 96 Fire and Ash
“Hello, Aria,” she said softly. “We have been looking for you.”
Aria’s hands ignited with violet light. The energy crackled up her arms, illuminating the ruined doorway.
The lead witch stepped forward. Her smile widened. “We expected more resistance.”
“You will get it,” Aria said.
She thrust her palms forward. A wave of fire shot across the room.
The witches scattered. Two dove left. Two went right. The lead witch raised her hands and chanted.
“Protego umbra, scutum tenebris.”
A black shield materialized. Aria’s fire slammed into it and dispersed into sparks.
Kane shifted. Bones cracked. Fur erupted across his skin. His wolf form tore through what remained of his clothes. He lunged at the nearest witch.
She stumbled backward, chanting frantically.
“Vincula terrae, ligare bestiam.”
Thick vines burst from the floorboards. They wrapped around Kane’s legs. He snarled and ripped through them with his claws. The witch screamed as he closed the distance.
His jaws snapped inches from her throat. She vanished in a cloud of black smoke.
“Cowards,” Kane growled.
Aria spun toward the two witches on her right. They moved in sync, hands raised, voices joining.
“Flamma nox, ardere sine luce.”
Dark flames erupted between them. The fire was cold. It sucked the warmth from the air as it spread toward Aria.
She countered immediately. “Lux aeterna, purificare tenebras.”
Golden light burst from her chest. It collided with the dark flames. The two forces hissed and writhed against each other.
One witch broke formation. She circled toward the hallway.
Toward the twins.
“No!” Aria shouted.
She abandoned her spell. The dark flames surged forward. They licked at her arms. Pain shot through her skin. She ignored it and ran.
Kane saw the witch heading for the hall. He launched himself across the room. His claws tore into the wooden floor as he landed between her and the corridor.
The witch did not slow. She chanted rapidly.
“Somnus profundus, cadere in tenebras.”
A wave of exhaustion slammed into Kane. His legs buckled. He fought to stay upright.
Aria reached the witch first. She grabbed her by the shoulder and channeled raw energy into the contact point.
The witch convulsed. Her eyes rolled back. She collapsed.
“Stay away from my children,” Aria hissed.
From the hallway, Leo’s voice rang out. “Mama!”
Aria’s heart stopped.
Two more witches had appeared. They stood at the far end of the corridor. Between them and the twins.
Lily screamed.
Kane shook off the sleep spell. He charged down the hallway on all fours. The witches raised their hands together.
“Catena animae, ligare cor.”
Invisible chains wrapped around Kane’s chest. He felt them tighten. His ribs compressed. He roared in pain but kept moving forward.
One witch stepped aside. The other began a new chant. Her voice was calm. Precise.
“Transferre vitam, sanguinem ad sanguinem.”
Leo gasped. His small body went rigid.
“Stop!” Aria screamed.
She ran toward them. Power gathered in her hands. She prepared to release everything she had.
The lead witch from the doorway appeared behind her. She whispered directly into Aria’s ear.
“Silentium magicae.”
Aria’s magic cut off. Completely. The violet light vanished from her hands. The energy in her chest went cold.
She stumbled. Panic flooded her veins.
Kane broke through the invisible chains with sheer force. He reached the witch holding Leo. His claws slashed across her arm.
She shrieked and released the spell. Leo crumpled to the floor. Lily tried to run to him but another witch grabbed her.
“Let her go!” Kane snarled.
The witch holding Lily smiled. She looked at her companion. They began chanting in unison.
“Corpus fixum, anima vincta, movere non potes.”
The air around the twins shimmered. Then solidified.
Leo and Lily froze. Their bodies locked in place. Their eyes moved frantically but nothing else could.
“No,” Aria whispered. She tried to summon her magic. Nothing came.
Kane shifted back to human form. Blood dripped from cuts across his chest. He took a step toward his children.
All five witches surrounded them now. The lead witch raised her hand.
“Stop moving or we finish the spell.”
Kane’s claws extended. He grabbed the nearest witch by the throat. He lifted her off the ground. His claws pressed against her skin hard enough to draw blood.
“Release them,” he said. His voice was low.
Deadly.
The witch in his grip gasped. Her hands clawed at his arm.
The lead witch watched without expression. “If you slash her throat, your children die next.”
“Kane,” Aria said quickly. “Do not.”
His claws dug deeper. The witch’s face turned red.
“Kane,” Aria repeated. Her voice cracked. “Please. Do not make this worse.”
His eyes burned with rage. But slowly, his grip loosened.
The witch dropped to the floor. She coughed and scrambled away from him.
The lead witch stepped closer to the twins. She placed a hand on Leo’s frozen shoulder.
“Smart choice,” she said.
Aria’s legs shook. Her magic was still gone. She felt hollow. Powerless.
The lead witch began a new chant. “Somnum aeternum, ducere in mortem.”
Aria’s breath caught. “No. Please.”
The witch’s eyes glowed brighter.
Then the air exploded.
A blinding flash filled the hallway. The scent of burning sage and sulfur overwhelmed everything else.
Amanda stood at the entrance to the corridor. Her hands were raised. Powder fell from her fingers. It hung in the air like golden dust.
She shouted a chant. Her voice cut through the chaos.
“Ignis purificans, carnem consumere!”
The powder ignited.
The witches screamed. Their skin began to burn. Not with normal fire. With something deeper. Something that ate at their magic.
“Run!” Amanda yelled at Aria and Kane. “Now!”
Kane did not hesitate. He grabbed Leo and Lily. The spell holding them shattered as the witches lost concentration. He pulled both children against his chest.
Aria stumbled forward. Her magic was still silent but her legs worked.
Amanda threw more powder. The flames intensified. The witches scattered. Some vanished into smoke. Others rolled on the ground trying to extinguish the fire.
“Go!” Amanda screamed.
Kane ran. Aria followed. They burst out of the hallway into the living room.
The front door was still open. Cold air poured in.
Kane shifted his grip on the twins. Lily was crying. Leo’s face was pale.
Amanda appeared behind them. Her hands were empty now. Blood dripped from a cut on her forehead.
“Through the woods,” she said. “Do not stop.”
Kane shifted instantly. His wolf form burst forward, massive and built for speed.
Aria shifted beside him, her smaller frame still powerful.
Kane carefully gripped Leo’s shirt collar in his jaws. Aria did the same with Lily.
The twins whimpered but did not struggle.
Amanda kept pace in human form, her magic propelling her forward with unnatural speed. “They will follow. Keep moving.”
Behind them, the house erupted in flames.
The witches’ screams echoed through the night.
Kane did not look back. He tightened his grip on Leo’s collar and ran into the darkness.
Aria stayed close, Lily dangling safely from her jaws as they tore through the forest.