Cursed Melody

Chapter 18

Mia

For fucks sake, Madness. I thought to myself. She jumped out before I even had a chance to catch her.

I held my breath as the smoky haze clouded my vision and suffocated me. I need to figure out a way to dodge the witch's next attacks before the smoke becomes too much to handle.

Moving through the smoke, I kept my hand on the rough stone wall, trailing around the edge of the area.

Holding the silver knife in the other hand, I felt the outline of a familiar symbol. The triangle. I took a quick glance to the wall in realization as something clicked to me.

It seems each attack leaves behind those markings. The same ones we found near Kristen. And the same ones they found in the garden during the witch's last attempt on me.

A growl tore out of my chest as Madness rippled with fury at the memory. She intended to kill this witch, here and now. But there was a significant problem with that.

I'll admit, Madness is a great fighter. But Madness the more Madness takes over, the likelier we are to shift.

And in order to kill the witch, we're going to need the silver knives.

Madness shakes in rages and I struggle to tell whether she's in agreement or not. 

Let's face it. I tell her. You're amazing in wolf form, but you're too clumsy in human form. Trust me, we'll take her down. But I need to stay in charge.

I feel Madness, tense with rage, settle at the surface. At the same time, we spot the witch near a table lied with books and other strange objects. Picking one up, she chants a few words before tearing out a page.

The paper erupts in flames as we advance behind her, ready to attack. The witch turns abruptly and a colossal wave of fire grows out the palm of her hand, taking a snake like form.

Shit.

I stumble back at the sight of the enormous creature as it twists and grows, illuminating the room in another purple glow as it spirals outward.

Madness shakes inside, and I take the signal as my sign to move. I move back as the witch calls out for the snake to attack.

And it does.

Right in my damn direction.

The creature flows sharply, slamming into the thick rock as I narrowly avoid the collision.

Purple flames lick across my skin as the snake bursts and then reforms just as quickly. The heat causes me to break out in sweat as I brace myself.

The snake moves faster than I can dodge it and I scream at the shearing pain when the snake manages to land a blow on my left side.

Merida's growl booms from across the space, but I can no longer tell where she is.

The snake comes again and this time, I act on instinct. I pull myself together, drawing on Madness's strength, and I decide to play bait.

Making a full sprint, to another wall. I wait for the snake to come, readying myself to attack.

"Just one hit." I tell myself quietly. Moving from one foot to another in anticipation.

"Come on, bitch." I yell. The snake roars as its flaming mouth opens, rushing to attack me again.

I meet it halfway, dodging as I roll underneath the beast to my real target.

Just one hit.

Just one.

I sprint towards the witch using the smoke as my protection. She gasps as she pulls the snake back in a futile attempt to shield herself. But she's already too late.