XLIII. Traitor

Cara

The tattoo on my arm itched like a fresh rash. The cause was that I was five feet apart from the woman who marked me with it.

Zoladie had had the power to put a mark on me even without touching. Shed done it through Liza. Using whatever sort of spell, she had placed a mark on Liza and the mark had transferred itself onto my wrist the second I had touched my friend. That sort of power scared me down to my core.

This womans capabilities were endless and unimaginable.

My mind spun with different scenarios, ideas of what was going to happen next, each worse that the last. Damn, my creativity. My father had been right about those horror movies. Now I could imagine a thousand different ways in which this woman could end all our lives.

However, I did not understand why we were here and she was there, well within each others grasps and she had not done anything to us.

It gave me reason to doubt that it was truly her but I knew. From the way my chest ached under her gaze, I was sure as a heart attack.

Id also like some lavender, from the back, said Merideth. I guessed that she smelled a rat just as we did and wanted to get rid of the woman.

Very well then, the woman smiled and went through the back door to get the lavender.

Thats her, Zoladie, Aeren spat out hurriedly, his eyes watching the door. We need to leave now.

I tried the main door but it was locked. We had no way out. It isnt opening, I breath out, the gravity of the situation sinking in. I swallowed gush of air, now pounding on the glass, attempting to get the attention of passers-by.

Everyone went on their way, none even turned. The city continued with its flow as if nothing was happening.

Dont waste your energy, said Merideth. A new pessimism was clear in her eyes. But I did not stop until a new voice wad in the room.

Youd be wise to listen to the doctor, child, Zoladie cooed. She stood at the threshold. They can neither hear you nor help you.

Instinct-driven, my hand went to my side where I knew, underneath my hood, my weapon lay. The only thing that could save me now was my former lacrosse stick.

Aeren shot me a look. It was as if he was trying to tell me something.

It is three against one, you have no c-chance, I bluffed, rather badly.

You should ask yourself where your true allies lie, she said, a proud grin plastered on her face. Immediately, Merideth took a step away from us and closer to the witch. A stone settled in my abdomen.

Aeren faced me. Hed been wary of the doctor, always shooting her gazes of suspicion. Had he known?

It hardly mattered now. The deed was done. Merideth had betrayed us. Was it really betrayal if she had been on Zoladies side the whole time? My chest ached with regret. I never should have trusted her so quickly. I knew that part of that was because she had been the first person, I saw the morning I woke at Ivans place. The fact that she was a human gave me good reason to form a bond with her.

My teeth pressed against each other as I tried not to release any tears. I was not going to show my pain to yet another woman whod betrayed me.

What do you want from me? I asked. Of course, I knew she wanted me dead but it was customary to ask the villain in the story what they wanted. Whats your gain?

Vengeance. An eye for an eye, she answered venomously. Something flashed in her eyes.

Aeren s hand abruptly pressed against my abdomen and I was pushed back in the direction of the door. The small boy, for the first time since I had met him, moved with speed and precision. A bottle emerged in his hands, out of nowhere and he shot its contents in the direction of our threat.

The colorless liquid poured out of its container in a watery stream, flying towards Zoladie, but it stopped suddenly, halting in the air. It was that moment when time stopped, but this time it was not before a kiss, and the only eyes I looked into were Zoladie s.

It stopped. Then it fell, crashing onto the ground and scorching it.

Brave, she smiled sickeningly at Aeren who shifted uncomfortably. I became afraid for him. He had attempted to protect me, now he would pay the price and Zoladie was happy to serve up the bill.

I have had enough of this, she spat and ran her hands over her hair. Every strand she touched, changed its color, fading to a clean white. She loosened the latch of her coat and it dropped to the floor. She remained in only a pale blue dress with silver details.

I was in awe of her. She was a true beauty. Evil as she was, there was no denying that the woman looked like what men imagined, the most beautiful goddess, Aphrodite looked like.

We did nothing but watch, helpless as she formed a portal in seconds, and threw something in it. The portal was dark like a black hole of dark matter hanging about in space. Its sight scared me.

She came towards. I stepped closer to Aeren, afraid for both our lives, my eyes closed and prepared to close forever. But whatever I was expecting never came. All I heard was a deep breath. On opening my eyes, a scream tore through my lips.

Wait, I cried, reaching out for him as Aeren was dragged and pushed into the portal. He disappeared in its mists and it closed.

I demanded, where have you sent him?

Nowhere. He shall lay in space until he loses the last of his mind. And he has such a beautiful mind. Shame As for us

She opened yet another portal, the same color as the last. Her hand took hold of mine. I was too weak to resist. Seeing what probably was Aerens death had drained all the courage and hope I had left. She dragged me to the portal, I turned back to Merideth who looked away from my eyes.

Dont worry about her. Poor old Merideth shall return to the castle and in melancholy, she shall make the announcement of my attack on you, how you were accosted and were helpless. She shall tell Ivan, the thing he dreads hearing the most, that his mate has been taken.

The witchs hand reached out in the air. She whispered a few words and there was a wind. The door opened. Merideth stepped it through as we evaporated into the portal.