Mrs. Susan was nailed to the wall. From her blood a nonagram was formed that held her power. Her clothes were torn off, and the blood spilled from her in streaks. Scorched skin, full of bruises and cuts. Her head was already drooping, her hair, which was tousled and torn, hiding her face.
Tears streamed from my eyes, and with trembling legs I approached her uncertainly. Then I backed away again and started forward again.
"Mrs... Mrs. Susan?" I asked, vaguely reaching for her face with my hand. I wanted to check her pulse and was desperately listening to any signs of her life. I touched her arm, and when I felt clammy blood and lukewarm temperature, I withdrew my arm like a burn.
How could they do this to her? Why did they need a purebred witch, and how did they know that they would find her here? I pressed my lips together helplessly and frowned. I will avenge Mrs. Susan and use every spell I know to banish these elves! Even if I had to draw circles on their faces!
I reached into Mrs. Susan's body to give her a witch-worthy burial, but her head suddenly moved. I jumped up, scared, then came closer, hopefully.
"As... Asti..." Voice very hoarse and weak, barely audible. With tears in my eyes, I gently lifted Mrs. Susan's head. She was looking at me with one eye as the other had been gouged out. The wound was serious and the whole face was covered in blood. Broken nose, cut eyebrow, and swollen lips. One ear cut off. A look I'll never forget.
"You're alive! Healing spell is needed! Very... very powerful..." I exclaimed overjoyed as I got ready to draw, but was stopped. With the last of her strength, Mrs. Susan nodded, so I stopped. I looked at her confused and panicked.
"Go... to... Lakalto... search... Rigel..." The row of short words broke off with a sudden cough, then Mrs. Susan gathered up the remaining energy and looked at me exceptionally vividly.
"Tell her... what happened... Something bad... is happening again... in the world." She gasped, but tried hard to get the message across. Blood was leaking from her mouth, which she spat out from time to time. With trembling legs, I listened to her very carefully, writing down everything I heard in my head.
"They are looking for the pureblood... Rituals... Trust no one, Asteria. Remember... that you decide ... about yourself..." She whispered softer and quieter, and I couldn't stop sniffling and tearing up as her head dropped limp and her breathing stopped. I pressed my lips together with all my might, trying not to howl. Tears dripped to the ground as I hugged Mrs. Susan's body for the last time.
I touched my tears with my fingers and lifted up Mrs. Susan's face, who closed her eyes and came out no more. Weeping incessantly, I drew a small pentagram on Mrs. Susan's forehead using my tears.
"Diei. Qui nati sunt tibi in potestate et virtute cum abiissent. Noctem." I whispered caressingly as if I were putting someone to sleep, then stepped back slowly and reluctantly. I tightened my fingers on the scorched dress as I watched Mrs. Susan's body sparkle softly with bright light and fade away. As if she was slowly becoming invisible. Thousands of little sparkles flew slowly upwards like snow. Her legs began to disappear, then her stomach, hands, and finally her calm face. Death worthy of a witch.
I stood there for a while, still looking at the empty space, letting my tears flow. I didn't wipe them even when I turned around. Aggeo was lying on the ground. He turned into an ordinary stuffed toy without a soul and the ordinary yarn started to burn. It was Mrs. Susan who summoned him, so he left with her magic. It was her assistant whose role was only to watch over me. However, I was incredibly sad to be left alone. Before I could take him with me, he took on fire as he was no longer protected by magic.
I took a deep breath and clenched my fists. I pursed my lips angrily. My beloved forest, my house and Mrs. Susan's house was on fire. The lives of creatures are at stake, and many have already lost them. The beastly games of the dark elves mustn't be let down! I'll avenge Mrs. Susan, even if I had to beat them off with the branches!
I left the shed with a calm pace, feeling the tears on my face already dry and with an exceptionally grave face. As I passed the door, someone suddenly pulls my hand hard, pulling me behind the fallen tree. I was about to scream when I saw a familiar face.
"Tinevia! You're okay!" I whispered at the sight of familiar aquamarine hair and lovely patina eyes. The guardian of the fairies had a pained face and reddened eyes. She also cried a lot. She was bleeding from superficial wounds like abrasions, and she was as charred as I was.
"It's good you're here. We have to help them." I said pointing to the group of hostages at which the elves were currently screaming angrily. But I haven't heard what's going on. Now that there wasn't... when I couldn't count on Mrs. Susan, I had to come up with something else.
Tinevia was looking at me very carefully in the silence and was biting her lip. Her hands tightened on my shoulders. She looked like she was in pain. I looked at her confused.
"Are you hurt somewhere?" I asked carefully, but the guardian of the fairies sat down next to me on the ground, exhausted and wandered around with her eyes.
"It wasn't supposed to be like that... They said they only wanted herbs for sick children... I thought they had changed..." Tinevia whispered, panicked, and I stared at her in shock. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Did you let them in here? We trusted you!" I pulled her out furious, and the woman immediately covered my mouth and began to cry. I glared at her, so angry that as soon as she released my mouth, I would cast a spell on her that she would never be herself again! I started squirming and kicking, but the guardian of the fairies was stronger.
"I'm sorry, Asti... I can't help them anymore ... My power fades, it dies with the forest. However... If I can at least save you. Maybe it will allow me to look into the eyes of all the inhabitants of the forest in the afterlife." She spoke with a face full of tears but eyes filled with regret. Her voice trembled with shame. She regretted what she had done with all her heart, but I couldn't help but feel bitterness. I couldn't forgive her for that.
I wanted to hit her in the face at least, but Tinevia was faster. Before I could reach for anything to put on her, I felt a sharp pain in the side of my head and the world fell apart. Darkness hid my vision and my mind filled with a woeful void.
Clever Tinevia. She had known me too long and too well. She knew I wasn't going to leave without trying to save them. She knew that I would rush to them even if I were to die. And I knew her too well, and all that was left was the terrible taste of lost in my mouth.
***
Again corridors. Overgrown with ivy, over which, for some reason, flies were constantly flying. Big and annoyingly buzzing. Again, there was only one way.
I walked slowly, feeling as if something cold was touching my legs. As if I was walking in the water. The further I walked, the stronger the current was. Finally I saw the door. Same door handle with a chameleon tail. Water flows out from under them. I felt I had to go through it. There is something important behind them.
With all my strength, I walked slowly and reluctantly towards them, extending my hand to the door handle. I was so close when I heard the buzzing noise. Very loud and annoying. When I turned around, I saw a black cloud flying towards me like locusts. I wanted to run quickly into the room behind the door, but when I turned around, it was back down the hall again. Far ahead of me, as if I hadn't taken a step.
A cloud of flies blew through me, past me and towards the door. They flew into my hair, ears and mouth. I struggled and tugged until the water beneath my feet saved me in its icy darkness.