Natalie could feel her heart pounding in her chest as they entered the glowing cave once more. Every step echoed in the strange space, filled with an eerie glow. She held tightly to Jax's hand, her eyes darting around nervously. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and something metallic—like copper. She couldn't shake the sense that they were being watched. Every shadow seemed to move, flickering in the corners of her vision. Jax didn't seem fazed, his posture calm and alert, though Natalie noticed his tail was stiff, betraying his own anxiety.
They finally reached the heart of the cave, where Cal was pacing back and forth. His face was pale with worry, his ears twitching in agitation. Iris—or Isabella, as they had to call her here—lay motionless on a glowing altar-like platform, her chest rising and falling in slow, labored breaths. The air around her shimmered with magic, but it wasn't strong enough to pull her from the wolfsbane's clutches.
"Cal," Jax called out as they approached. "I think we might have a solution."
Cal's head snapped up, his amber eyes narrowing. "What is it?" he demanded, his voice harsh with fear. "We're running out of time."
Jax squeezed Natalie's hand and stepped forward. "We need to consult the witches."
The moment Jax spoke those words, Cal froze. His eyes darkened, and a low growl escaped his throat. "The witches? Are you insane?" His voice was venomous. "They're the ones who cursed this town in the first place!"
Natalie winced at his anger, but she found her voice. "But they're also the only ones who might know how to reverse it. We're running out of options, Cal. Don't you want to save her?"
Cal's tail flicked with frustration as he ran his hand through his hair. "Of course I want to save her," he muttered, his voice softer now, more vulnerable. He looked over at Iris, his expression pained. "But the witches—what if they trick us? What if they want something we can't give?"
Jax stepped forward, his voice firm. "We'll be careful. We won't give them anything unless we absolutely have to. But we have to try. You've done all you can, Cal."
Cal sighed deeply, glancing back at Iris. She looked so small and fragile, her usual fierceness dulled by the poison in her veins. Finally, he nodded. "Alright," he said, his voice tight with resolve. "Let's do it."
———-
The forest leading to the witches' lair was dense and twisted. Trees bent unnaturally, their branches knotted like old bones, casting long shadows on the path. Jax had warned Natalie to stay close, and she clung to his side, feeling her stomach twist with unease as the dark, twisted forest loomed ahead.
Every so often, she thought she saw figures darting between the trees—creatures that didn't belong to any world she knew. She tried to focus on Jax's hand in hers, grounding herself in his presence. Cal walked slightly ahead, his shoulders hunched with tension, while Jax stayed beside her, his sharp eyes scanning the forest.
"Do you think the witches will help us?" Natalie whispered, trying to keep her voice steady.
Jax glanced at her, his face grim. "They might. But witches aren't known for being generous. Everything they do has a price."
Natalie swallowed hard. "What kind of price?"
Jax hesitated, his eyes flicking back to the path ahead. "We'll find out soon enough."
——-
The forest thickened around Natalie, Jax, and Cal as they pressed deeper into the eerie woods. The twisting trees loomed overhead like skeletal hands reaching toward them. Shadows darted at the edges of Natalie's vision, and her grip on Jax's hand tightened. The ground beneath her boots was soft, almost spongy, like the earth itself was alive.
