WE WERE DIVIDED into two groups. And I didn't understand why. So, I asked my beautiful companion.
"Natalia's the one who can sense the witch, right?" I started. "Then, why are we divided into two? What's the point of us looking for someone if we didn't have the 'sensing' map?"
Aseyana giggled. She peered over her shoulder to briefly look at me while pushing aside a tall grass obstructing our way. "I linked myself to Natalia," she answered. "It will take time before she can use her ability since she's been locked in the lake, not allowed to use her power. But she said the enemy's around. And aunt didn't want to waste time."
"Oh," I nodded in understanding.
"And once Natalia activates her ability, I will be able to sense what she can sense."
My mouth formed an 'o'. "You're really powerful," I remarked. I felt like witches had a limitless ability. I suddenly want to ask Aseyana to make me a witch instead. Thank goodness my rationality quickly kicked in before I said such a ridiculous notion.
Aseyana didn't reply. But she suddenly spoke a minute later (I didn't know I was so good with monitoring time). "I might be," she said. "But I'm not omnipotent. Witches get their power from the spirits and nature, and because of that, there are limited things that they can do." She stopped in her tracks. Then, she waited for me to reach her before continuing, "If we do something against the norm, we will be cursed. That's where dark magic comes."
I sat on the trunk lying on the ground. Walking was exhausting. "What will happen to witches who use dark magic?"
"Their souls—-" Aseyana leaned on the tree as she answered, "—- will be eaten by darkness. It will lead to chaos." She frowned. "I'm not sure of the result if the darkness took enough amount of souls it needed, but it once happened. You can ask my aunt. I think they experienced it."
"It will lead to the end of the world!"
I stiffened. I quickly looked up and saw Aseyana staring straight with vigilance. Following her gaze, a man wearing an all-black outfit stood ten metres away from us, smirking.
The man's sinister black eyes became apparent as he spread his arms. The heck! His eyes didn't have white in it! It was all black! And that blackness in his left eye seemed to stretch to his neck, showing an eerie mark.
"Humanity would end! The supernatural will die!" He looked at Aseyana and winked. "You see, witches are the catalyst of evil!"
"Tatia," I heard Aseyana speak. Yet, I didn't see her move her mouth. I frowned as I looked at her. "Run," I heard her voice again.
"What?" I whispered.
"You need to run," the voice in my head answered. "Look for Aunt and Natalia. I will try to hold him off until you're far away."
Alright. This certainly was Aseyana's power. She could speak in my mind.
"I can't just leave you alone!" I asked, not moving my mouth either. Not surprisingly, she heard it.
"Believe me," she said. "Leaving me here would help me than you staying around."
I froze.
Fuck it!
It was so devastating being weak!
Accepting the fact that I was of no use, I gritted my teeth in annoyance and quickly ran. Before turning round, I saw the man lift a brow. I didn't know what happened afterwards. I just felt a force almost pushing me forward as something collided.
I tried to steady myself. But I still hurt my knees, and my mouth kissed the mud.
"Damn it!" I cursed, spitting the mud away. That was not cool! I was already a weakling, a burden to my teammate, and even in my escape, I looked pathetic?!
Angry, I quickly stood up. I need to run away from here. Aseyana's attention would be divided if I stayed here any longer. And I had to look for that ancestor! I had to look for a backup!
"Yasha!" I shouted. I hoped she had a good hearing. Weren't vampires had that ability? She wasn't a vampire, yes. But she looked like one! Damn! Damn! I hoped she really had that out-of-the-world hearing!
I continued shouting Yasha and Natalia's names as I ran towards nowhere.
I didn't know how long I had been running and shouting, but I felt like I was one point away from being a crazy person!
Sweats all over my body, and my hair was wet—- I had no idea if it was due to the dampness of the forest or just my sweat. I supposed it was the latter, but I didn't want to think further about it. This was no time to be disgusted.
Suddenly, someone gripped my arms tightly, halting me from running. And I was met with a pair of golden-red eyes.
"Yasha," I muttered.
"What happened? Are you alright? Where's Ase?"
"Yes! Yes! She needs your help!" I exclaimed. "A man—- a man suddenly showed himself to us. Ase told me to run. I don't think he's anything good!" And he looked scary!
Yasha frowned. Then, she looked behind her. Only then did I notice Natalia's presence.
"How come you didn't sense a man?" asked Yasha accusingly.
Natalia opened her lips to explain, but I pulled Yasha and said, "Your niece needs your help! Ask her later!"
Yasha gave me a look before turning to Natalia, saying, "Guard this bloodling," she said and left in a flash.
Natalia and I looked at each other. My eyes fluttered as I slumped into the ground, feeling drained. What the hell did I go hysterical about again?
"Here."
I stared at the leaf formed into a cup Natalia offered me.
"Drink some," she said. "It's fresh. It gives energy and a cooling effect unlike any other water you, landers, make."
"Landers?" I asked, taking the water and drinking it in one gulp.
"That's what we call you creatures in the land." She sat beside me. "I want to take this opportunity to apologise."
"For what?" My brows knitted together. "Thanks for the water," I added.
Natalia smiled. "When Brittany took you in the lake, I used my music to knock you down. And I'm sorry. I did it without choice."
I suddenly remembered the pain and the chilling coldness that penetrated my body at the time. "That was intense," I murmured. "It's okay." I waved my hand, dismissing that event. "You are under the witch's control. I can't blame you for something you have no control over."
She sighed. "Thank you."
Then, there was silence. The whispers of the wind echoed throughout the forest. The leaves rustled, and the trees danced. Insects started to create their own music as well. Then, it became still. It was so still that my hair stood up to their ends.
"Where are they? I hope they're fine." I whispered.
Natalia stood up, scanning the area. My heart constricted when her expression turned serious. And all of a sudden, "Run!"
I froze. I was startled by Natalia's sudden outburst. Before her remark sunk into my head, I saw a shadow dart towards us. But before it could reach us, a wave of water came from the ground, shielding us from the impending disaster.
However, the water didn't last long. As soon as it returned to the soil, the shadow attacked Natalia. He was fast. When he stopped in front of Natalia, I saw the face of the man Aseyana and I encountered earlier.
Why was he here?!
Where were the Aunt and niece duo?!
He grinned.
"Hello, little mermaid," he greeted.
I gasped when I saw his hand plunged into Natalia's chest, where her heart was located.
"No!" I screamed.
My feet automatically moved. I took whatever I could use as a tool and smashed it to the man's face. The little trunk broke, but his face got no damage. Unbelievable! How hard this man's face was?!
"That tickles, bloodling," he said playfully. "Now, behave yourself and sit somewhere, will you?" He flicked his left arm, hitting me on my chin. And I dramatically got thrown five metres away. My back solidly hit a tree.
Oh go—-!
It hurts!
I think I broke my bones!
I couldn't stand up. I could only crawl. And every movement was so freaking painful! I writhed in pain as I glanced at Natalia.
"Poseidon's daughter," I heard the man utter. "You will be a good ingredient for my wonderful ritual." He said it like he was only talking about a toy and a game!
Natalia screamed. And my heart almost shattered as I saw the man begin to take her heart out.
"N-n-no! No! No! No! Noooo!"
Unexpectedly, a wind strike. And to my astonishment, it cut the man's arm. Then, I saw Aseyana emerging from the dark, kicking the man away from Natalia.
Natalia dropped to her knees, taking the hand out of her chest.
"I—-" Aseyana took a deep breath, "—- don't think so." She was breathing heavily, and blood flowed from her head down to her chin.
I sighed in relief. At the same time, tears began flowing from my eyes. Thank God! Oh, God— thank you! Thank you! I thought Natalia's life would be gone for real! I could still hear my heart beating erratically, but I was starting to calm down.
The man chuckled. "What the hell," he said, still laughing. He raised his arm that was cut off and said, "I didn't see you coming. You really impress me! Though—-" he trailed. He waived that arm, and his bones, muscles, and skins regenerated quickly. "—- What you did is not enough to injure me."
My eyes widened.
An undead?!
"Didn't you already learn your lesson earlier?" the man asked. "You're only wasting your energy, my lovely witch."
Aseyana blew out a breath. "As long as I can slow you down," she replied. She gritted her teeth as she added, "I will cut you into pieces again and again!" Then she screamed, taking a lot of force as the ground trembled.
The man's grin widened. He waved his hand, and all the energy Aseyana took from nature vanished.
No.
What a terrifying monster this man was!
Aseyana didn't intend to give up, though. However, I could tell from her eyes she was exhausted.
Where the fucking hell was Yasha?!
"My little witch," the man called out seductively. "Why take power from nature when you have your own to use?"
"Shut up!"
The man shrugged.
"Well, I don't think my job here will be fruitful," he said. "So, I will give up for now. However, before that—-" he vanished for a second before returning with someone in his hand. "Here is a gift for our first meeting!"
He shoved the person in his hand, winked at Aseyana, and left.
I hoped he would never come back!
Then, I turned my gaze to the man's 'gift'. I was surprised. And so were my companions. Wasn't that woman the witch we have been looking for?
Penelope!