After hours of reading by candlelight, my vision was becoming blurry, and it was a struggle to keep my eyes open. I’d promised myself I would read as much as possible, but the words were starting to blur together, and I felt like I was reading the same sentence over and over again.
So, I slowly shut the book and sighed. There was only so much I could study right now.
I stretched my legs and then walked over to the stained-glass window in my room. There was nothing to look at except for the artwork on the window. It was a depiction of a witch burning at the stake. It was a disturbing image, something that I didn’t want to stare at for too long, and I wished I could have a view of the outside instead of this ominous mosaic.
As I glanced around my lavishly decorated but small room, I felt somewhat trapped in here, with no access to the outside world. I knew I still had plenty of reading to do if I wanted to keep up with everyone in the class, but right now, my brain was mush.
“Shit,” I muttered to myself as I glanced back at the book.
It laid on my desk, teasing, taunting, and begging me to open it up and read.
I briefly thought about pushing through my exhaustion, but I’d been studying for at least four hours straight. I needed a goddamn break.
So, I grabbed my cloak and swung it over my shoulders. It was cold in here, which meant it was probably freezing out there in the halls. I had no idea where the hell I was going to go, but all I knew was I needed to get out of here.
I pushed my door open, and it made a long creaking sound as I headed out into the hallway. Then I tiptoed as quietly as possible down the spiral staircase that led into the first corridor.
By the time I reached the second hallway, I felt like someone was watching me. Then I remembered the paintings, and I did my best not to make eye contact with the portraits as I walked down the dimly lit corridors. Headmistress Theodora never explicitly said it was forbidden to walk the halls at night, but it seemed like it was against the rules, since not another soul was wandering around at this time of night.
As I continued to wander through the hallways, I came across a strange-looking door. It was made of iron and wood and had carvings engraved all over it, and I noticed the carvings were similar to the ones on the front door of the castle. However, instead of scorpions, spiders, and snakes, the images were of black paws, a pair of closed eyes, pointed ears, and a snout plastered right in the middle of the door.
I realized the carving was of a sleeping wolf stuck within the wood of the door, and the wolf’s eyes remained closed until I neared the door. Then, a pair of vibrant blue orbs flickered open, and the paw prints began to move around. I took a small step forward, and then the snout of the beast curled up and bared its teeth. It snarled at me with a deep, low and threatening growl, as if it was warning me to take a step back.
At first, I debated turning around and heading back to my room, but I was just too damn curious. So, I racked my brain for ideas, and then I remembered the only spell I knew. It was a long shot, but I figured it was worth a try.
“Illuminana,” I whispered.
Fire emerged from the palm of my hand and illuminated everything around me. It was startling to see flames coming from my own hand, and my entire body felt as if electricity was shooting through me. My heart pounded with exhilaration, and I neared the door with my flames glowing blue and red.
The wolf seemed to recoil from the fire since its eyes softened and closed, and as I reached out with my palm engulfed in flames, the door let out a slow whine, like a terrified dog. Then the wolf’s face slowly dissolved into the door and disappeared from view. When I was sure there was no trace of the creature left, I gently pushed the door open and stepped inside.
And my mouth instantly fell open when I saw what laid before me.
The entire room was made out of stone with one small oval window that let in a ray of white light from the moon. It was an armory, and an old fashioned one at that. What really caught my attention were the rows of weapons that hung against the walls. They were all medieval weapons, from swords to hatchets, to axes, spears, and crossbows. As intriguing as they were, though, I felt myself being drawn to the table at the end of the room that was lined with various sized daggers.
The moment I passed the threshold to get to the table, the door slammed shut behind me with a loud echo, but I ignored it as I made my way to the table and studied the daggers. The moonlight shone on each one as if it was a sign from the outside world, and as I looked closer at them, each hilt was intricately carved and made of a different material. Some looked like they were made out of bone, while others were made out of a hardwood. Thanks to the moonlight, I noticed the blades had markings on them as well, but it took me a second to realize they were names. Names of what I could only guess were previous witches, such as Minerva, Willow, and Winnie. Other blades, however, were branded with words I didn’t understand or recognize.
My hand hovered over the daggers, and a strange magnetic force pulled me toward them. Part of me was hesitant to touch them, or rather to pick them up, though, since they seemed as fragile as glass.
I was ready to turn around and leave, but then, one dagger at the end of the table caught my eye, more so than the others. It had a golden hilt with a long, perfectly pointed blade, and the word “vindicta” was engraved into the blade.
I slowly picked the weapon up, and I was half waiting for something to happen as soon as I removed it from its brothers and sisters.
But I stood there, blade in hand … and nothing happened.
I used the moonlight to study the dagger more closely and wondered what “vindicta” meant. Vindicate was the only word I could associate it with. I had a feeling that like other spells, it was derived from Latin, and if I looked it up in the book Vanessa gave me, I was sure I would find the translation.
I was ready to leave the small armory with the blade until I heard a bloodcurdling scream coming from directly outside the window. My blood ran cold, and I rushed over to see what the hell was going on. I caught a glimpse of someone running, or at least she was trying to run. The figure stumbled forward, and I adjusted my sore eyes to try and see who it was.
Then my mouth dropped open when I realized it was Vesta.
Her green hair and lavender skin were glowing under the moonlight, and she was crouched down and clearly having trouble standing up. She tried to move forward, but there must have been something wrong with her leg because she collapsed to the ground as soon as she tried to get back up.
Then I heard a loud growl, loud enough to reach the window, and when I turned my head to locate the source, I saw some kind of creature slowly lurking toward her. From here, it looked like a horse, and I wondered why she would be running and stumbling from a harmless animal.
But then I looked closer.
I realized the creature was also part human, and its fists were clenched by its sides, clearly ready to attack Vesta. She tried to crawl away, and I knew I had to get out there before it was too late.
With the blade in my hand, and without a second thought, I whipped around and yanked the door open with all my force. Then I ran through the corridors to get outside. Luckily, it seemed like my body instinctively remembered where to go to get out, and I ran hard and fast, like never before. I sprinted so hard I could actually feel the blood pumping in my ears.
When I finally reached the doors to the outside, I used all my strength to push them open. It took a second to pry them apart, but as soon as I did, I didn’t even bother to look back as they shut behind me.
All I knew was I had to get to Vesta before the beast got to her first.
I heard another hair-raising scream and followed the sound, and I ran and ran until I saw a towering figure looming over a curled-up Vesta. She was in a fetal position with her arms over her head, and I saw long bloody scratches all over her forearms.
“Hey!” I called out, and I was panting hard. “Over here!”
The beast slowly turned around, and I realized I was looking at a gruesome, colossal centaur. Its lower half was larger than any horse and was tinted a sickly green color. Its hooves were massive, like a pair of dumbbells digging into the earth. The upper half of the creature was tall and muscular, and its eyes were glowing a deep, cobalt blue. It had a pair of large, razor-sharp horns that protruded from its head, and when it turned its attention from Vesta to me, its lips curled up into a menacing smile. There were rows of razor-sharp teeth protruding from its mouth, and when I looked down, I saw claws emerging from its knuckles as well.
“Two souls that dare confront me?” the beast laughed in a deep rumble. “Well, this certainly is a surprise, but I surely welcome it. It’s been a few moons since I’ve tasted Wicca blood.”
Then he turned his attention away from me again, and he was clearly still intent on finishing Vesta off.
“Get the hell away from her,” I warned, and my fist clenched around the dagger I still held in my hand.
The centaur reared his ugly head in my direction and grinned wider.
“With pleasure,” he chuckled. “I can kill you first while she watches.”
The creature then lowered his head so his horns pointed in my direction, but I kept the dagger hidden from view behind my back.
I didn’t anticipate dueling a massive horse-man in the middle of the night, but stranger things had happened to me, so I was just rolling with the punches.
Suddenly, the centaur darted toward me, and the ground shuddered beneath his massive pounding hooves. My heart was racing just as fast as the creature’s long legs, and the air sawed in and out of my lungs as I crouched there and waited until the last possible second. When the horse-monster was less than ten feet away from me, I dove to the side and barrel-rolled through the fallen leaves and underbrush.
I tumbled head over heels, but then I popped back up on my feet and spun around to face my opponent. His momentum had carried him for several yards after I’d jumped out of the way, and he was just now coming to a stop. Then he whirled around and glared at me like an angry bull.
“Looks like I’m going to have to work for my meal,” the beast growled.
“Looks like it,” I replied through my gritted teeth.
The centaur shook his head furiously at me and then dug his hooves into the dirt as he prepared to charge at me once again. I lowered myself into a fighting stance, and my palms were sweating as I clung onto the blade behind me. Then I held my breath and waited for the beast to make his move.
I knew I was at a huge disadvantage with this creature. He was twice my size, with twice the amount of legs, and one kick from his hooves would probably cave in my sternum. So, I couldn’t let it land a blow, or I was done for.
The only thing I could do was try and take out his legs without getting killed. If I could slash at his legs and nick one deep enough, he wouldn’t be able to charge me, and I could hopefully get close enough to land a killing blow.
All of this planning ran through my head in a matter of milliseconds, but the beast was clearly out of patience now. With a guttural growl, the centaur lowered his head and galloped toward me, and the moonlight glinted off the razor-sharp horns that were moments from goring me.
Go ahead, charge at me.
I stood my ground and waited for the right moment. My grip on the hilt tightened with each passing second, and I waited for the beast to come just a little closer.
The centaur bellowed as he continued to run in a straight line, and I could tell he was ready to use his protruding horns to gut me.
Now was my moment. When the centaur was close enough, I raised my palm and shouted.
“Illuminana!”
Blinding white light flared to life in my hand, and the beast cried out in frustration as he raised his arms to cover his face. The monster was still charging in my direction, but now, he was stumbling and running toward me in zigzag motions.
So, I dodged the centaur’s graceless attack, and I took the precious opportunity to swing my dagger at his right leg. I managed to nick the creature in its upper thigh, and blood splattered as the monster tossed back his head and screamed in agony.
The beast came to a stop, too close to me for comfort, and when I met his eyes, I realized he was prepared to run at me again, but then, something happened.
Its leg, the one that I cut, cracked loudly.
The centaur cried out in pain, and his leg bent down, as if the bone had snapped at an angle. Smoke emerged from the wound, the cut had now opened up further, and skin split open on its own. It spread upward toward his torso and up his neck. I realized the creature was slowly turning into stone from the leg up, and the centaur cried out in shock and pain as stone replaced his skin and fur.
“What have you done?” the creature wailed as the stone began to crumble and fall to the ground. “What have you done!”
Vesta looked at me with fear and confusion written across her bloody face. Then her eyes darted to the dagger in my hand, and as I also glanced down at the blade, I wondered what kind of power it had within it.
The centaur continued to wail as he turned entirely into a pile of ashes and dust in front of us. When he was little more than a heap of dirt, a gust of wind blew through the courtyard and scattered everything, and then nothing remained of the murderous creature.
Silence descended over the courtyard, and I panted heavily as my pulse pounded in my ears.
What in the hell just happened?
A sudden noise drew me from my hectic thoughts, and I looked over to see Vesta struggling to sit upright. I ran toward the lavender-skinned witch and lowered myself to meet her eyes.
“Are you alright?” I asked as I checked to see how badly she’d been hurt.
Vesta met my eyes for a moment and then glanced down at the blade.
“Where did you get that?” she sniffed as I helped her to her feet.
“It doesn’t matter.” I shook my head. “Come on, let’s get you back inside and clean up those wounds.”
She nodded but then winced as she stood on her leg.
“Thank you,” she muttered as we headed toward the door. She was limping, so I hoisted her up and swung her arm over my shoulder as I helped her walk.
“Don’t mention it,” I replied.
Vesta turned to look at me, and there was gratitude deep within her silver eyes. “I hate to admit this out loud, but I was way out of my element back there.”
“No shit … what the hell were you thinking?” I asked, and I did my best to not sound too harsh. “You shouldn’t have come out here alone, even I know that.”
When I looked down at the witch, anger flashed across her bright silver eyes, but then they softened as if she just remembered I was the one who saved her.
“I-I wanted to find blood to sacrifice,” she whispered. “I guess I might have overestimated myself a little bit."
“A little bit?” I repeated with a raised brow, and I tucked the dagger I’d taken back into my waistband. “Look, I know I’m new to everything here, but it just seems rash to come out here and face something like that alone--”
“I know,” Vesta snapped and averted her gaze from me. “Look, I know, I don’t need a lecture from someone like you.”
“I’m going to just ignore that,” I grumbled as the front doors opened up on their own.
I was thankful for the small mercy. It had been one hell of a night.
We headed back inside, and I looked around as the paintings stared at the two of us. Then I briefly wondered if any one of them would report back to Headmistress Theodora.
“Is there an infirmary around here?” I grunted as I adjusted Vesta’s weight on my shoulders.
“Yes,” she groaned, “it’s by the library.”
“Uhh, where is the library?” I asked.
“Make your second right,” she sighed.
It took us some time, but I managed to get her to the infirmary. To my relief and surprise, it was unlocked, and there was no one inside, so I assumed there was no nurse on duty. Perhaps it was up to the witches to cure themselves whenever they were ill or injured. It wouldn’t have surprised me. These classes were clearly cut throat, so it made sense they wouldn’t have someone to tend to injured witches.
The infirmary itself was expansive, though, with white beds lined up against the walls and a massive cabinet at the end of the room with glass doors that showed all kinds of potions and brews inside. There was also a small chandelier that hung above us and dimly lit up the room.
“Just sit here,” I said. “Try not to move too much.”
Vesta winced as I set her down on the bed. I looked at her ankle, which was heavily bruised and starting to swell, so I guessed it was either broken or sprained. Usually, I would have tried to find some ice, but I had a feeling there was something to fix bones in the medicine cabinet.
“What should I be looking for?” I asked.
“There should be some mending brew in there,” the witch said and pointed to the cabinet.
“What does it look like?” I questioned as I headed toward it.
“It should be in a purple vial.” She grimaced. “Maybe on the first shelf?”
I opened up the cabinet and scanned the first shelf. Then I found a dark purple bottle with a pair of bones crisscrossed on the front.
“Found it,” I said before I snatched it and brought it to her.
“Thanks,” Vesta mumbled before she tossed her head back and took a deep sip. She made a face, sighed, and then drank the rest of the potion.
“It tastes like shit,” she muttered.
“How long will it take to work?” I asked.
“It should be about five minutes before it takes effect,” she sighed and stretched out her leg.
I nodded as I headed to a sink, filled a nearby bowl with water, and snatched a towel. I brought my supplies over to the witch and kneeled down in front of her. Then I dabbed the towel in the lukewarm water and cleaned off the dried blood and dirt on her face.
“You don’t have to do that.” Vesta scowled and tried to pull away from me. “I don’t want to catch any of your human man germs.”
“Very funny,” I muttered as I dabbed a washcloth on her broken lip, “but I’m doing it anyway.”
She tutted, but let me continue to help her, and after about five minutes, she was cleaned up. Then, when I glanced down at her ankle, it was no longer bruised and looked good as new.
This place might be terrifying, but I couldn’t deny … the magic was pretty fucking awesome.
“Are you ready to walk?” I asked.
“Yes,” Vesta mumbled with a clumsy nod. “I’m going to bed.”
“Alright,” I replied before I walked away to dump the grimy water down the sink.
“I can do it on my own, too,” she said with a little scowl before she headed to the door, “and don’t even think about trying to help me to bed.”
“Fine.” I shrugged. “Sleep well … try not to get into any more trouble. Oh, and you’re welcome, by the way.”
To my surprise, Vesta actually chuckled and flashed me a small smirk.
“Yeahhh,” she mumbled and averted her gaze. “Thanks again for saving me. It’s not easy to admit, but I would have been dead without your help.”
“So, I’m not just a useless man after all, huh?” I questioned with an arched eyebrow.
“Perhaps not,” Vesta muttered as her silver eyes dragged over me. Then she turned away and slipped from the infirmary, and her footsteps faded down the hallway.
When I was sure she was gone, I pulled the dagger from my waistband and studied it. I briefly wondered if I should return it, but then I decided not to.
It might come in handy in the future, so I secured it in my waistband and left the infirmary. Then I headed back to my room, and when I was inside, I hid the blade under my pillow. I thought about going to sleep, but I was far too energized. After all the excitement tonight, there was no way I’d be able to crawl into bed and fall asleep.
So, instead, I sat back down at my tiny desk and did some more reading. I read until the candles died down and a small glow emerged from the stained-glass window. I knew it was probably time to get ready for class, so I stepped into the bathroom for a quick bath. When I was inside, I was shocked to see the tub was already filled to the top.
“Fucking magic,” I whispered with a grin. “So cool.”
I stripped out of my dirty clothes and stepped into the water, and I instantly relaxed as the warm bath soothed my aching muscles. I knew I couldn’t stay here for too long, though, because the last thing I wanted to do was arrive late to class.
Vanessa would surely tear me a new asshole if I did.
Fifteen minutes later, I stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around myself. When I was back in the bedroom, a set of fresh clothes were folded on the velvet chair, and I figured that Cordelia must have laid them out for me. I dressed and headed out the door, and I was ready to start fresh today with all the information I retained from reading through the night.
When I arrived in the classroom for my next Blood Magic lesson, not one single person lifted their head to look at me. Morgana, Sweeny, Faye, and Akira had all their heads lowered, and not even Vesta bothered to look up. She was too immersed in her textbook.
Well, fine. If the lavender-skinned witch wanted to pretend like nothing happened, I’d let her.
For now.
As soon as I sat down, Vanessa strode into the room, and the door closed right behind her. She was frowning as she stared out over the class, and I could tell the dark-haired beauty was in a foul mood.
Great.
“Class,” she began, “turn to page four-hundred-and-eighty-two.”
We all started to flip through the pages, and Vanessa huffed in impatience. She flicked her wrist, and instantly, all the pages in all the books flipped on their own, and we all were on the right page.
“Today, we will be looking at bonding weapons,” she explained. “Can anyone tell me what that means?”
I raised my hand as I remembered one of the hundred sections I’d read last night.
“Yes, Cole?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It means bonding your blood to a weapon for life,” I replied. “Your energy will transfer to the weapon and cause more harm than any ordinary weapon … ”
Suddenly, it hit me. The blade I used last night must have been a bonded weapon. It was the only explanation. Why else would the beast crumble into stone from one cut?
“Well done, Cole.” Vanessa pursed her lips into a forced, tight smile. “I see that you’ve done your reading.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I answered with a satisfied smirk.
If she wanted to keep underestimating me, I’d prove her wrong.
“Don’t be too pleased with yourself,” she replied with the same forced grin as if she could read my thoughts. “You still have much to learn … and it’s Professor, not ma’am.”
“I’m aware,” I said, but I wasn’t even bothered by her condescending remark. “And apologies, Professor.”
“Now, everyone, please pay close attention,” Vanessa went on as she tore her eyes away from me. “I’m not in the mood to see a repeat of what happened yesterday.”
All the women stayed quiet but nodded their heads in agreement, and a heavy silence filled the air as Vanessa pulled out a cauldron.
“Since you seem to be such an expert, Cole,” Vanessa sneered, “why don’t you read the incantation aloud for us?”
“Sure,” I answered, and I glanced down at the textbook and spotted the spell immediately. “Mo sanguinem vinculum.”
A heavy pause filled the room until Vanessa cleared her throat.
“Well done,” she muttered, but she was clearly annoyed and surprised at the same time. I could tell by her tone and tight lined lips.
Vanessa spent a few moments quietly gathering her ingredients like she’d done the day before and laid them out on the table.
“Cole.” She smiled mischievously. “Can you name these ingredients for me?”
“Cricket, cypress, hollyhock seeds, toadstool, and of course, blood,” I recited.
“That’s correct.” She narrowed her ice blue eyes at me. “Now, for the love of Satan, everyone observe me as I concoct the potion.”
“Yes, Professor,” everyone replied in unison.
We watched as she measured out the ingredients and took a blade to slice into her own palm. Then she incanted the spell as she cut into her skin, let the droplets fall into the cauldron, stirred her blood into the potion, and used the dagger to mix the contents.
She didn’t light the cauldron on fire this time, though, which I already anticipated. I’d read that this incantation didn’t require heat, and I smiled to myself for already expecting that.
“Now, the less blood I use, the less powerful the bond will be,” Vanessa explained, “so, when you are making your own bonding weapons, be sure to use as much of your blood as possible … without killing yourself, of course.”
She then retrieved another plant from her armoire. This time, it was a vibrant sunflower, and it looked so out of place in this dark and dim room when she set it on her desk. Then Vanessa smiled before she sliced a sunshine yellow petal off the flower. It wilted slowly, and a moment later, flames began to devour the entire thing. Within moments, the flower burned and crumpled into ashes before us.
Everyone clapped, and then Akira raised her hand.
“Will we be making our own blood bonds today?” the dark-haired witch asked.
“No.” Vanessa frowned. “I need you all to pass the sacrificial test first. By any chance, did anyone manage to collect their blood? The quiz will be held during the next class.”
Everyone went deadly quiet, and she knew she had her response.
“Class,” Vanessa sighed. “You must retrieve your blood before the next lesson. Did you expect this to be an easy class?”
“No, professor,” all the witches replied in unison.
“The devil has no need for weaklings, so do not disappoint me,” she said in a low, threatening voice. “I’d hate to see you burn at the stake or die during the exam … well, at least most of you.”
She threw a glare in my direction, but I just smirked right back at her.
“It is pertinent that you retrieve the blood,” Vanessa added as she tore her gaze from mine.
“We won’t disappoint you, Professor,” Vesta said in a small voice.
“I hope not,” Vanessa sighed. “I think that’s enough for today. Take your books into the study hall until noon. Class dismissed.”
Everyone slammed their books shut and left as quickly as possible, but before I stepped out of the door, Vanessa turned to look at me.
“Just because you’re doing better than I expected doesn’t mean you should overestimate yourself,” she sniffed.
I could tell the professor was vexed by my competence today, and I couldn’t help but smirk since I’d thrown her off her game. I quickly schooled my expression back into neutral, though. I wanted her to keep underestimating me. It was too fun showing her up.
“I’m just doing my best,” I replied with a shrug. “May I be excused?”
“Yes,” she snapped and waved her hand dismissively, “go.”
I left and followed the witches, who were already down the hall and walking into a large, spacious room lined with black wooden tables. This was one of the only places that had transparent glass windows instead of stained ones, and the sky was a wash of gray and silver, with rain threatening to pour down at any moment.
I took a seat at a table on my own, and as I was reading, one of the girls threw a feathered pen in my direction.
I glanced up, annoyed, and looked in their direction.
“Cole!” Morgana hissed, and she flicked her long brown hair over her shoulder in irritation. “For Satan’s sake, I was trying to get your attention for the past five minutes.”
“What is it?” I asked with a frown. “I’m trying to study.”
“Is it true?” she questioned, and her blue eyes were wide with reluctant curiosity.
“Is what true?” I echoed and cocked an eyebrow at her.
“Did you kill a centaur last night and save Vesta?” she asked. “She told us before class started … I just can’t believe it.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Why would she lie about that?”
“Fuck.” Faye grinned. “That’s somewhat impressive … I mean, for a mortal man.”
The redhead quickly tried to backpedal her compliment, but it was too late.
“I think you’ll find I’m more than just ‘somewhat impressive,” I said as I leaned back in my chair and folded my hands behind my head.
Sweeny snorted and lifted her eyeless face to “look” at the other women.
“It was pure dumb luck, most likely,” the scarred witch snapped at them. “First of all, Vesta, you shouldn’t have been out there alone. That was stupid, and I personally would rather die than let someone like him save me, so I don’t know why you even bothered to tell the rest of us.”
“I’m grateful for the help,” Vesta said to my surprise. Then she turned to look at me, and she frowned. “But rest assured, Cole, I won’t need it again.”
“Noted.” I nodded and then returned to my book.
We all studied in uncomfortable silence until it was time for lunch. When we entered the banquet hall, the other witches didn’t stare at me as much as they did yesterday, so I supposed they were slowly growing accustomed to me.
Or at least they were learning to tolerate me.
When I sat down in the banquet hall, there was a plate of roasted duck, asparagus, and mashed potatoes in front of me. There was also a goblet filled with an orange liquid, and when I took a sip, I realized it was sweetened pumpkin juice.
“So,” Vesta began after we ate in silence for a good couple of minutes, “we need to get that blood … tonight.”
“Agreed,” Morgana replied with her wide, ice-blue eyes. “We should work together, go deep into the wood as a group to hunt down our own creatures. It will be safer and more efficient.”
“But what creatures?” Faye asked with a frown. “We each need something extraordinary, but also something that won’t get us killed.”
“There are gremlins, werewolves, wendigos, and ghouls … take your pick,” Vesta suggested before she turned to look at me and scowled. “Not that I care, but I wonder how you’ll do on your own.”
“Oh, I’m not going alone.” I smirked. “I’m coming with you.”
“What?” Sweeny shrieked, and her voice had gone up about five octaves and grabbed the attention of a nearby table. “I’m not going if he’s going.”
“Yeah, who said you were invited?” Morgana scowled.
“Because unlike the rest of you, I actually have protection, unless you’ve already forgotten about my dagger?” I replied in a low voice. “So, why not let me tag along and keep two eyes on you?”
The witches all curled their lips in disdain, but then Morgana finally shrugged.
“I say let him come, because if he dies tonight, we won’t have to put up with him any longer,” she sneered and then met my eyes. “But I swear, Cole, you better not fuck this up for us.”
“I won’t,” I said after a moment. “I can hold my own. Besides, I have an idea. Why don’t we just hunt separately, and then meet up at an agreed spot, just in case anyone needs help?”
“Fine,” Faye snapped, and her green eyes flared like twin emerald flames, “but if you do happen to mess up, we’re going to use you as bait.”
If I were being completely honest, the main reason why I wanted to tag along was because I had no clue what kind of creatures lurked in the woods. These witches could at least show me what I was walking into, and there was power in numbers.
The women all eventually nodded their consent, except for Sweeny.
“Then, I’m not going,” the scarred witch snapped before she stood up. “Have fun tonight.”
She stormed away, but the rest of the witches shrugged it off and continued with their meals.
When I returned to my room, I decided to lay down for a bit. I needed the rest before our late-night rendezvous to hunt down a creature.
As soon as my head hit the pillow, I drowned in dreamless sleep, but I was woken up to the sound of an impatient knock at my door.
“One moment,” I groaned before I sat up and rubbed the exhaustion from my eyes.
When I opened the door, all the witches, aside from Sweeny, were standing there and draped with hooded cloaks.
Time to find a monster to kill.