What She Really Is
\[Maverick’s POV\]
That’s an issue for later.
This is the only thought I have as I once again focus on the fighting around me because right now, the only thing that was important was getting to Serenity.
Shaking off my unease about the human enemy, I continue to fight.
I take out anyone who dares come anywhere near me and when I finally finish, I scan the area around me.
Despite our best efforts, there are a few of my men who were hit by the blood bullets and were now human.
‘Take them out of here.’ I order through mindlink.
‘What about you?’ One of my men asks. ‘What are you…’
‘I’m going forward.’ I respond, because it is the most obvious move. ‘I can handle things from here.’
Growing quiet, I wait for opposition, but when it doesn’t come, I know that those who managed to not lose their wolves are going to do what needs to be done.
Satisfied, I watch as they shift back into their human forms and once they start helping the others go back in the direction we came from, I turn my attention down the corridor I’m in.
Where are you? I wonder, extending my senses. You’ve got to be close.
Slowly, I begin to search the building I’m in until I can feel not only Serenity, but even William.
They’re in the same area and I feel a bit of relief because this meant that William was already in the process of saving Serenity, but as I continue to take in their energies, I feel like something is off.
What could it be?
From where I was, I couldn’t possibly make it out and that’s why instead of trying to figure out what was happening, I start to move, heading in the direction I feel William and Serenity.
As I move, I meet more of the enemy, some human, some wolves, but the outcome with all of them is the same.
They don’t stand a chance against me, not when they’re trying to stop me from getting to the most important thing to me.
If these bastards thought they could stop me from getting to Serenity they were wrong and when I finally finish with them I break into a run.
The world around me blurs together as I turn corner after corner until finally, I can feel her just ahead.
‘Serenity,’ I call, closing the distance between us. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Maverick,’ she gasps and I immediately feel the panic she is feeling. ‘Please, help Uncle William stop me.’
‘Stop you.’ I repeat, confusion slamming into me. ‘What do you…’
I don’t finish my words as I reach where Serenity is and when I see that she is actively fighting with William my confusion grows even more.
‘What’s going on?’ I demand, trying to make sense of the scene. ‘Why are you…’
‘Please,’ she begs, desperation radiating in her words. ‘Please, stop me.’
‘What did they do to you?’
For a moment, Serenity doesn’t respond and when the silence continues to grow around us, I decide that it is better to just take care of the problem and ask questions later. However, as I begin to move, Ellie steps out in front of me with a smug look on her face.
You. I growl inwardly, baring my teeth at the woman. You’re responsible for all of this.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” The woman in question giggles. “You’re acting like I killed your puppy, but…” She continues, looking over her shoulder toward where Serenity is biting into William’s shoulder. “I guess I did harm it in a way.”
What’s going on? I wonder, looking from Ellie to Serenity.
Why is Serenity doing such a thing? And what does Ellie have to do with it.
“Isn’t this good though?” Ellie continues. “Once all is said and done, I will release her, but we need to complete our objective first.”
Her objective.
What the fuck could that even be?
The only thing I saw happening was her and that bastard Ezekial attempting to turn all the wolves into their puppets or humans.
Now isn’t the time to worry about this. The small voice in the back of my head says, reminding me of the issue at hand.
Right now, the thing that was most important was getting to Serenity.
Once I did what it took to help her, I could focus on what the hell was happening here.
“Ah ah,” Ellie says as I peek toward Serenity again. “Shouldn’t you be paying attention to the person in front of you?”
As she speaks, something solid grasps my chin and makes me look at her and when my eyes widen, the smug smile she is wearing brightens.
“Oopsies,” Ellie laughs. “I guess you didn’t realize.”
She’s a witch.
Not only did we have a traitor amongst us, we even had a witch who was manipulating the situation this whole damn time.
Then did that mean that she had some spell on Serenity?
Was that the reason that she was fighting with William even though it was clear that she didn’t want to?
I’ll kill her.
As understanding slowly begins to settle in, the urge to rip Ellie to fucking shreds hits me, but when I try to move, I find that it is difficult.
“How sweet,” Ellie sighs. “You love her so much, but don’t you know that love will ultimately end up costing you? The more you love someone, the more you become vulnerable, like right now.”
As she speaks, she lifts her gaze to someone behind me, but before they can do anything, I manage to break free of Ellie’s hold and dodge their attack.
“Oh,” Ellie claps, her voice filled with excitement. “You’re stronger than I remember, but I don’t think you’re any match for my full power. Shall we test it?”
Bring it on. I think, letting my memories of the past come back to me, but even then when I remember Ellie, I don’t remember her as anything more than a weak woman. I guess that was how she disguised herself so that she could stay beside Ezekial.
“Focus,” Ellie announces as her power sends me crashing to the side.
Gasping, I feel one of my ribs crack on impact, but even then I immediately get up.
Focus, Maverick. I tell myself. Don’t let your guard down with this woman. Right now, she is your strongest opponent and if you want to save Serenity, you need to defeat her.