Charming the heart of a man is a lot more difficult than it sounds. Especially when it's already bewitched by somebody else - literally!
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All that former witch-in-training Avalon wanted was a simple job to get her life back on track and forget abo...
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The moment the barrier between them fell, Nina attacked.
Pure magic in the form of a black and red ball shot toward Avalon at high speed. Avalon had but a moment of time to create a shield in front of her and Neymar. The air flickered before her eyes, the air molecules forming a hardened front that not even a sand corn in the wind could have penetrated.
The impact of the power ball hitting the shield almost threw her off her feet. Not a second later, another followed, and then another. The hits kept on coming, not faltering for even a single moment. All the while, the Völva – in the deceitful shape of a young, redheaded woman – hissed and screamed at her.
Nina was pissed, all right. Whether that had to do because she – an ancient, supernatural being that had been gifted with powers by the Northern Goddess Freya herself – had gotten imprisoned by Avalon, who she perceived as a lowly witch, or because said lowly witch was successfully defending against her assault now, Avalon was neither sure of, nor did she care to find out.
Nina's spells bouncing off of Avalon's protective spell forced her to back off a few steps, giving Avalon and Neymar just the thing they needed: space.
Then, all of a sudden, the attack stopped. Yet Avalon kept hold of the shield, sweat beading down her forehead. The rain had let off, leaving a damp fog in its wake.
Nina stood a few feet away, her chin lowered as she glared daggers at her. Hate and spite had turned her previously beautiful features into a grotesque face, her unnatural sharp teeth glimmering in the moonlight. She shook out her manicured hands, a gesture that Avalon irritatingly reminded her of how Davi had shaken off the sticky sand from his hands when they'd made the sand shark on the beach. It felt like a lifetime ago.
"Your shield won't protect you forever, little witch!" Nina jeered. "You're weak. You're out of power. You're alone. You're nothing. He is mine!"
Then a wave of black and red hues branded against the shield, almost forcing Avalon to her knees.
I can't do this!, Avalon realised, faltering. Dammit, she's too strong! What was I thinking?!
She gritted her teeth, focusing all her thoughts on holding the shield while at the same time expanding her magical resources to a counter spell of her own. Power flashed through her body, as the wooden wind chimes – the sound of her own magic – called for her attention. She felt the wind brush her cheeks, giving her an idea. She focused her mind on the breeze, imagining it strengthening with each rapid heart beat.
But it wasn't enough. It would never be enough!
Suddenly, a new source added power to her spell. Avalon blinked, almost overwhelmed by the familiar feeling. Her father's magic tasted like red wine on her tongue, his persona magicae lending strength. Avalon's heart skipped a beat. Her father, her coven leader, had just accepted her back into the coven. And not only that: he'd initiated an aquellare, lending her the strength of her family, all Vega witches, be they a few hundred metres away or half a country.
