The Witch And The Cursed Child- Part II

Leora:

Less than twenty four hours, I think as I rush towards the forest, knowing well that the human compounds are right behind it and maybe there I will find a way to make it to the middle region where Mr. Bells office is located, something I couldn’t ask from the youngsters I just left behind because it has a larger number of warriors and even witches than this part of the lands, sure, asking them for a lift would have been much more convenient but I can’t bring more human lives into this mess than there already is, this is a journey I must make on my own.

Choosing to stick to the coastal side and from there enter the forest sounds like the best strategy for now, the new set of clothes protect me from being easily discovered and I doubt the wolves guarding this part of the lands are familiar with my scent, nevertheless, I choose to be the safest I can, even when it is going to cost me time, after all, what is the point of taking the short cut if you are going to miss the destination in the end?

I made it this far, I can make it a bit further, I think as I allow the sleeves of the jacket to cover my hands, making sure to not directly touch any of the trees with my bare skin, however, something in these woods gives me the itch, not that of being watched or being in danger, no, but something that resembles a far melancholic cry, the forest seems sad, as if these old trees had witnessed something very tragic, I contemplate the thought for a few seconds before giving my instincts the reins over my body, there is something here, something that has been long forgotten, something only I can sense, the thought itself is terrifying for I know there is one thing only I can sense, death.

My feet lead me not far from the shore, right to a giant white oak that no longer carries any leaves, one would be simply convinced that it has been here since the beginning of time just by looking at it, that is my prey, I tell myself as I I step towards it, not knowing with what I will be met.

Nothingness? I frown as I make it to the tree, carefully placing my hand over its gigantic trunk, once again, nothing, I focus for a few seconds before withdrawing my hand, not wishing to touch it more than necessary for I do not wish to leave my scent for trackers, this can’t be, something is here and I know it, I think as I round the tree, not knowing what exactly I am looking for.

Death, the answer comes to me like a rebuke from the depths of my mind, of course, I am only here because death had visited this place and left its mark for me to find it, and it is not the dead tree I am here to find, no…it is the soil beneath it.

Not wasting another second, I crouch while inspecting my surroundings, making sure that I am still alone here, the last thing I want is to be captured by the warriors while I am trapped in a vision, once I make sure I am safe and secluded, I place my hand on the soil, waiting for the vision to unfold.

Nothing, I think before focusing again, feeling my powers seeping through the soil and tiny rocks to find its prey, something is there and I know it, I just need to focus enough to be able to reach it.

And after a few minutes, it comes, images of betrayed red orbs, a face contouring with both pain and rage as they look down at the person whom I am seeing this vision through, I gasp as I recognize the face of the man who hunted me awake and asleep, this is the Master…

“I have waited, and waited, and waited, I fought against everything, the Goddess’ judgment, my own judgment, my own repulsion against your kind, I have endured the pain of losing you every single life just in hopes of finding you again in the next, but each time, each fucking time, you stab the same knife in my heart the second I allow myself to hope, to believe your lies! Each time, you choose him over me?” the man speaks with terrifying rage as he shakes the woman in his hands, not paying any attention to the pain he was inflicting on her as she shed silent tears, not fighting the man who is merely inches from crushing her arms, I catch a glimpse of her reflection in his eyes, blond hair, gray eyes, I recognize her, she is the late Luna!

What is she doing here? With him of all people? I ask myself before recognition hits me, as well as different scenes, with different clothes, different positions, from different times, but always the same two, what the fuck is this? What is happening?

My vision focuses back on the first scene, the furious and betrayed red orbs glaring at the one as if he hates her, completely contradicting the way his arms hold on to her as if he is afraid she will disappear the second he loosens his grip over her, and a sense of deja vu strikes me as I am reminded of myself being in the same position with my own mate.

Tynan is my mate, I am his and every bit of his heart, mind, and soul compels him to hold on to me, but the master? The late Luna cannot be his mate! She already had a mate, Axel’s father, besides, I never heard of vampires having mates, only shifters did.

I am no shifter yet I have a mate, I tell myself as air escapes my lungs, my mind slowly wrapping itself around the situation.

“I am sorry, Alexander, but this is my choice, no matter how much my heart desires you, it is whom who fills my every waking and sleeping thought, it is him whose touch I crave, it is him whom I miss, it is him whom I belong with and wish to be, I tried, for your sake, but my bond to him is stronger than anything the two of us will ever have, it is him, it will always be him.” The luna speaks in a low but assertive voice, her words laced with gentleness as she does not wish to hurt the man holding her more than necessary, she loves him, I can tell from her tone, but not as much as she loves her other mate, her true mate.

“So it is telling me it is futile to hope, it is futile to wait and fight, no matter what I did or will do, he will always be your choice?” the master asks while loosening his grip over her, something giving in within him as his eyes are filled with nothing but pain and despair.

“You have to let me go! This thing we have between us, it is not what love should be, it is not enough to make me stay, it is a curse, one which you have earned but I didn’t, I deserve happiness, Alexander, and I will never find it by your side, please, let me be happy, let me go!”

The hands fall, no longer holding on, and so does the last speck of hope, I think as the luna turns around and make her way, away from him even when her hearts bleeds for him, she thought he let her go, I think as focus on the remains of vision that is now fading, hearing what she couldn’t hear or chose to ignore…

“Never…”

“You will be mine one day, even if I have to burn the whole world for it…”

“And once you are, I will not allow anything to take you from me, not even the Goddess…”

But the vision does not end there, no, for the air shifts around me as seasons change, and I see the master, once again standing right underneath this very same tree, digging a hole which he later places the body of the same woman in.

Only that she does not look untouched, her body is torn from the middle as if a monster had emerged from her.

This happened right after Tynan’s birth, and despite his cruelty, despite being the one who kidnapped and raped her, despite being the one to impregnate her with the monster that killed her, the master still brought the luna back home, he honored her death by burying her body in her home, a place filled with sun and life, a place where the sun rays resembled her locks and the silver shore resembled her eyes.

“We will be together soon, love, in the meanwhile, rest here and wait for me…”

I blink a few times to regain my composure, shaking my head a little and focusing back on the soil beneath my fingers, with a shocked sigh, I get back on my feet and resume walking again, choosing to think as I walk instead of wasting precious time staying in my spot.

The tunnel, now I understand why it lead me here, it was a secret passage for the master himself to use in order to visit his…mate? I still cannot seem to accept the thought of the late luna and the late master together, but the shoe does surely fit, what I saw was not a vision of death, but it was a memory of the decision that led to her death and then her burial, I doubt it was just her remains that stimulated my vision, it must be the blood memory the master spoke of back in the tunnel.

And he said they will meet again, something steers in my belly as I think of the possible meanings of his words, after all, the master did say that he was no longer fazed by death or life, and how can he be, after losing his mate to another one life after the other, so many times until it drove him mad.

“You sure have funny ways of entertaining yourself!” I say as I look up, addressing the Goddess, wondering why she would forbid a mating between a vampire and a werewolf only to create a mate bond between them, but again, maybe the mate bond was the only thing preventing the master from going rabid and unleashing it against the werewolves, especially the mates the luna had during her many lives.

The bond was his weakness, I realize while flipping the pages in my mind to to find the input I stored about the luna, to the rest of the world she was but the Alpha’s mate, a powerful she wolf with Alpha blood, but I am thinking that she was more than that after all, I have seen her in this vision, and something about her surely felt…divine, maybe she is a descendant of the moon Goddess, a pure werewolf, after all, not everyone are blessed with the gift of being reincarnated.

Not a gift, I tell myself as I think of the luna, always having to live the same life, suffering the same pain, the same confusion, the same dilemma, the Goddess didn’t create this one to bless, but to be a curse.

Well, that complicates things even more, I think as I finally make it to the human compounds, placing my hands in the pockets and walking as casually as I can, I try not to draw any attention even when something catches mine, the small folded paper in the pocket, I discretely pull it out and sigh at the realization of what it was, my dignity wailing in the back of my mind, Jess must have slipped in in the pocket without me knowing.

Well, at least now I don’t have to worry about the bus fee.

Pushing the twenty bill back in my pocket, I round the blocks casually while heading to the bus stop, wolves don’t use the bus, I tell myself as calm my beating heart, there is zero to no chance of me meeting any warriors, not until I reach my destination.

There are mainly two lines in this area, one that takes to the middle part of the territory, where the pack house and most administrations and offices are located, and another that leads to the southern zone where another human colony is located, I know this for I have set these lines myself, but I cannot remember the schedule of the buses, I guess I will have to rely on my luck for this one.

Reaching the stop, I take a seat while watching as the humans pass by my side and interact with each other, I keep my head low, only peeking through my lashes, some give me curious looks, some merely glance my way before moving forward, I guess I look like tomboy, but that is not a rare sight for humans, which once again makes me thankful for the clothes I was offered.

Fuck, I need some sleep, I think as I wait for what seems like forever, now that my body is still and adrenaline is no longer rushing through my veins, I feel how exhausted I am, my eyelids feel so heavy and my back hurts, I wish I can lay down for an hour, but again, I only have less than twenty four of those left.

Suddenly, the sirens goes off in my mind, and my every muscle in my body locks as I feel the intense gaze on me, it is not a mere curious look and it is definitely not a human, I have been spotted.

Fuck, I think as scan my surroundings, trying to locate the source of the danger, it is coming closer and closer, I think as my legs ready themselves to take off running once again, but by the time I am able to spot my predator, he is already standing behind me.

“You…” the hushed word, spoken with both shock and resentment, forces me to look back as my heart fills with dread, I swallow harshly, my body paralazyed by the intensity in his eyes, fuck! There is no way I can outrun this one, nor is there a way for me to bargain with him, I think as I meet the eyes of the pack’s beta and Axel’s best friend…

Ray…

So, Anyone seeing why the Luna chose the name “Axel” for her son?