"THIS IS DISGUSTING," Yasha remarked, staring at her bloody dress. "Do you have any spare dress with you?"
I didn't know who she was talking to. But I answered anyway. "The inn, where I was staying before this, has my luggage. I think I have some clothes for you there."
"We better go there, then." She smiled. "Ase, please hurry up. I feel sticky. I need a warm relaxing bath."
I looked at Aseyana, and she rolled her eyes. She let go of the werewolf's body she was holding and exhaustedly faced Yasha. "Try helping then," she spread her arms. "With your speed and strength, this—-" she gestured at the dead bodies, "—- will be over in ten seconds."
I didn't nod, but I totally agree.
Hmmm…
I stared at the other bodies burned in the blazing bonfire. A black fog came out of the fire, blown upwards by the wind. Is that normal?
"It's dark magic."
I peered over my shoulder and saw Aseyana walking toward me. She smiled when she reached my side. Then, her gaze returned to the black fog. "These werewolves had been conjuring dark magic to strengthen themselves. Their souls are full of impurities."
"Can you see them?"
Aseyana's eyes turned blank. "They're crying, shouting for help—- some were cursing us." She sighed. "But only for seconds. At last, their souls will be swallowed by the same darkness they embraced. And their souls will give this darkness an unimaginable power."
I shuddered. I didn't mind them eating my flesh. But I would 'mind' if they did something to my soul. Once the soul was gone, the person would forever be gone. That was terrifying.
"That's why it's advisable, since time immemorial, to never succumb to darkness," said Yasha, suddenly standing beside Aseyana. She gave us a look as she added, "I already fixed the bodies." She gestured to the bodies piling beside the bonfire. "Let's burn them and be over it."
Aseyana took a deep breath. She raised her right hand and began chanting.
The second batch of bodies was set ablaze. We stayed silent as we watched them turn into ashes.
You might be wondering about Brittany. Well, she left. She left with her beloved Wallis' body. I said I would let her taste a severe punishment for her stupidity. Yet, I still let her go. I felt guilty. Not for myself. Not for anyone else. But I felt guilty towards Yasha, considering Brittany took part in her imprisonment in the dungeon. And I felt even more terrible when Yasha only shrugged my idea off. She didn't care. She meant it when she said she would leave Brittany's fate in my hand.
"Now, shall we go?" Yasha suggested. And, of course, Aseyana and I couldn't agree more. I, for instance, needed a good rest, a good nighttime of peace, where everything around me was ordinary again.
With one last look at the fire, I raised my foot to start walking. But we didn't even step past a metre away from it when we heard a familiar voice.
"There they are! They killed Wallis! They killed the pack!"
I looked back. And there—- not far away from the bonfire—- stood Brittany. Behind her were several people frowning and glaring at us. At her side stood a woman with yellow hair and glittering green eyes. The latter looked at us with gravity, which I couldn't contemplate because I didn't have the time to understand other people's thoughts—- at that moment.
"Seriously, Brittany!" I shouted in frustration. Oh, this girl! She wouldn't stop until I would get the urge to kill her, was that it?!
Hah!
Brittany trembled. She seemed scared. "They—-" she choked, "—- they killed the pack without any sound reason. Principal Stonefield," she looked at the yellow-haired woman, "they deserve punishment for creating havoc in this peaceful town!"
From my side, I heard Yasha sneer. "I told you. She deserves death."
"Principal Stonefield," Aseyana stepped forward. "The Moon Pack practices dark magic. It is against our law to use dark magic in any circumstances."
The woman they called Principal Stonefield gave Aseyana a profound look. "Ms. Drakos—-"
"Drakos?" I heard Yasha whisper, raising a brow.
"—- I never knew you were a witch."
Aseyana fell silent for a moment. "It wasn't my intention to be acknowledged by everyone. I intend to live in Arcane Town as a human."
"Yet, you're here, admitting your origin."
"Because," Aseyana briefly looked at us, "my friend and aunt needed my help. I won't stand by and watch them become sacrifices for whatever the Moon Pack wanted."
"Aunt?" I whispered in astonishment.
I looked at Yasha, who smiled in return. Then, she moved closer to my face, saying, "Yes, I am. And I wonder who this lady might be, for Aseyana to give some effort to explain her side. How intriguing."
What intrigues me was—- why didn't I think that Aseyana and Yasha were relatives? I looked at their faces and couldn't see any resemblance.
"Lies! She's lying!"
Brittany brought back our attention to their conversation. I didn't know what happened, but she started acting hysterical.
"Wallis will never do that! He respects the norm of Arcane Town! He knows the rules! He will never let his pack submit to darkness!" Brittany shouted at the top of her lungs. I guess anger was clouding her mind.
"I have proof."
Aseyana's words shut Brittany up.
"I'll show you," said Aseyana, raising her hands. She gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and as she slowly breathed out cold air, the surroundings turned ghostly. And for the first time, since I saw this Principal Stonefield, I finally saw some changes in her stoic face. From surprise to astonishment, she looked at Aseyana as if she found something marvellous.
Well, I couldn't blame the principal. However, after seeing some humans shifting into werewolves, I think seeing the souls of the werewolves turning into nothing but clouds of darkness seemed normal.
Still, the experience was horrifying.
The images lasted for thirty seconds. Aseyana's hands dropped heavily, gasping as she stared at Principal Stonefield, awaiting the latter's… judgment, I presume?
I moved closer to Aseyana, caressed her back, and asked, "Are you okay?"
Aseyana nodded, too tired to even speak.
Principal Stonefield's gaze remained on us for almost a minute before turning to Brittany's side. "The Moon Pack committed atrocity," she said sharply. "The Arcane Town is created for peace. It is forbidden to initiate war or attack your own kind and the other bloodlines. And most importantly, no one is allowed to use dark magic." She raised her chin. "Failure to follow these simple rules will receive punishment."
Whatever punishment she was talking about, I didn't think I would learn it soon.
Principal Stonefield peered over her shoulder, and the people behind her quickly stride towards Brittany. And I couldn't help but notice my former friend looking my way, smiling sadly as tears began to flow from her eyes. Her mouth moved. She managed to say what she wanted before Principal Stonefield's people tore her body apart, leaving nothing but a pile of flesh.
I stiffened.
And my feet unconsciously took a step forward, but Aseyana quickly held my arms. I looked at her, and she shook her head.
"This will be the end of this," said Principal Stonefield. "However, the next time something like this happens, lots of you need to report to me before taking action. Otherwise, you will not escape any form of punishment like tonight."
She and her minions left after that.
"Hey," Aseyana tapped my shoulder. "Are you alright?"
I gripped the hem of my shirt to stop myself from trembling. "She said 'sorry'. A simple word, yet I couldn't help but feel tons of emotion when she said it."
Memories of us flashed in my mind, reminding me of our good times together. I still couldn't believe it. I didn't understand. Why love made people insane? How ludicrous it was, watching someone go against her principles for someone she claimed she loved.
"The man she loves is dead. So, there's nothing for her to live forward to." I looked at Aseyana. "I don't understand." I hope I did.
Aseyana opened her mouth, but no words came out. Then, she shook her head.
"Who knows." It was Yasha who responded. "Different people love differently. The levels of feelings are distinct. Who are we to judge how they love?" Smiling at me, she added, "She wants death, and she got it. It's a form of relief for her."
"Don't you hate her? For stealing your mate—- for torturing you?"
Yasha turned her gaze to Brittany's flesh. "Why hate the dead?" she murmured. "Plus, I was once like her, crazy in love, stupidly believing every man's words, hoping for love in return." She paused. "It's never easy for women like us. Why hurt and fight against each other?"
I looked down. I hoped Brittany was still alive to realise this.
"Anyway," Yasha raised a brow as she faced Aseyana, "Who is that woman? We can just kill them and be done with it. Why bother explaining your side?"
Aseyana pursed her lips before responding, "She's Elizabeth Stonefield, the protector of this land."
Yasha wanted to comment, but Aseyana cut her off.
"She's a fairy."