The Millionaire and The Witch

Chapter 18

Duke stood at the edge of the clearing, where it was assumed the magical field began. He listened intently as members of the local order debated how to extract Felix and Nina from its grasp. Anxiety gnawed at him; it had been over ten hours, and no one had found a solution.

Nina and Felix lay unconscious within the field's perimeter. Duke monitored their vitals through various gadgets attached to their bodies, ensuring they were stable. Despite their vital signs being normal, Duke knew he had to get them out and supply their bodies with energy, likely through an IV drip. The thought of Nina remaining unconscious for so long gnawed at him.

Desperate, Duke had tried to carry Nina out of the field earlier, but the moment he stepped beyond the boundary, she began screaming in agony. An elder from the local chapter, who claimed Felix as his nephew, was growing increasingly impatient, demanding immediate action. Brody had arrived with Aunt Lucy, but neither knew what to do. Brody could move in and out of the field unharmed, but no one with magical abilities dared test whether it would affect them.

A heated debate erupted over the source of the magical force field trapping Nina and Felix. One theory caught Duke's attention: the magic might be tied to the land's owner or their family. Contemplating this, Duke considered asking Brody to help test the theory.

Everyone was on edge, making Duke hesitant to bring up his idea to the order. He realized he might have to act first and ask for forgiveness later. Scanning his surroundings, he spotted Brody chatting with a group of young ladies, his status as a millionaire still attractive despite lacking magical powers.

"Brody," Duke called, "can I talk to you for a minute?"

Brody excused himself and walked over. Duke led him a bit further from the crowd to ensure privacy.

"I have a theory I want you to help me test," Duke said. "If it doesn't work, we're no worse off. But if it does, it could solve our dilemma. There's a chance the magic creating the force field is connected to the land's owner or their family. You're both. If we go in together and you try to take me out, it might work."

Brody stood silently, contemplating the plan. Occasionally, he glanced towards the car and the field's perimeter markers, calculating the distance.

"I guess we can try it," Brody said finally. "I’m not as strong as you, but I'll do my best to carry her. If I can't, you can help."

"We need to wait until everyone is distracted," Duke said. "Then we can make our move without raising concerns. I'll give the signal.

They bided their time, watching the group near the perimeter. Suddenly, voices raised in a heated argument, creating the distraction Duke needed. He signaled Brody, and they jogged towards the car.

Duke fought to stay calm, knowing the field caused Nina immense pain. He lifted Nina’s upper body while Brody took her feet, and they moved quickly towards the perimeter. Halfway there, someone noticed and alerted the others.

"Put her down!" the elder in charge demanded.

Ignoring him, Duke and Brody pressed on, counting on the fact that no one would dare enter the magical field. Duke's heart pounded as they neared the boundary, uncertain if the plan would work.

They crossed the perimeter, laying Nina gently on the ground. Duke held his breath, waiting for her to scream in agony, but nothing happened. Relief washed over him. Then he realized something was wrong—Nina was still unconscious.

"I thought she'd wake up once we got her out," Duke said, checking his tablet. Her vitals were normal for someone who had been unconscious so long.

The order members gathered around, checking Nina.

"She's still alive," the elder in charge said, "but she feels distant, as if she's not really here. You need to take her somewhere warm and safe. We’ll bring Felix out next."

"I have a suggestion," Duke said. "How about I get Felix out and take them both back to our hotel room? We can monitor them there."

"I have an alternative," Brody interjected. "A hotel is too public. Let's take them to my place. It's private, and we can keep an eye on them without attracting attention."

"I don’t feel comfortable staying in your home," Duke replied. "How do I know you don’t have hidden surveillance? At a hotel, we have more control."

The elder raised his hand to stop the argument. "I have a solution. We have guest houses for visitors to our local chapter. I can give you one for Nina and Felix, with Brody staying too if needed. These houses are protected against supernatural attacks and have security measures. I’ll send you the address and arrange for interns to help settle Nina and Felix."

Both Duke and Brody agreed to the elder’s suggestion. "I need someone to check on their spiritual condition daily," the elder added. Duke nodded.

"Let's get Felix and start moving them," Duke said. "Thank you for your assistance." He walked towards the car, with Brody following closely behind.

Duke and Brody worked together to get Felix and Nina into the car. The local council had sent them the location of the safe house they’d promised, and both men were eager to get there. Duke drove while Brody kept watch on their unconscious passengers, his worry deepening with each passing mile. Felix and Nina hadn’t stirred since they’d been found, and despite the vitals showing they were physically fine, there was something deeply unsettling about their unresponsive state.

When they arrived at the safe house, it was not what they’d expected. The property was a sprawling four-bedroom home, fully furnished and seemingly designed to hold far more than just a few people. There were six beds, more pillows than they could count, soft carpeting, pristine white walls, and breathtaking views of the distant mountains. The contrast between the beauty of the house and the grim reality of their situation felt surreal, almost mocking.

Brody helped Duke carry Felix and Nina into one of the rooms, laying them down carefully. “They’re still not waking up,” Brody muttered, glancing over at the vitals displayed on the monitor Duke had set up. “How can everything be normal, but they’re just… gone?”

Duke didn’t have an answer. It was the same question that had been gnawing at him since this whole thing began. He tried reaching out to the local council again, hoping for some guidance. Maybe someone would know how to pull Felix and Nina back from wherever they were, but so far, no one had any real answers. It was like trying to find a door in the dark, fumbling and getting nowhere.

As Duke finished his latest call with the East African chapter, he heard the heavy sound of footsteps approaching the house. Felix’s uncle had arrived. His face etched with worry as he greeted Duke at the door. “How is he?” the uncle asked, his voice tight with anxiety.

Duke led him to Felix’s room, showing him the monitors. “Physically, he’s fine,” Duke said, trying to keep his tone steady. “But he hasn’t woken up. Neither has Nina. We think they might be trapped… somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else?” Felix’s uncle repeated, his brow furrowing. “You mean spiritually?”

Duke nodded. “That’s the theory, but no one knows how to reach them.”

The uncle stood there in silence, staring at Felix’s unmoving form. “We need help,” he said finally, his voice a mixture of desperation and resolve. “More people, more resources. We can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

As the day turned into night, more people arrived—friends, family, members of the local council, all of them hoping to provide updates or ideas, but no one could explain why Felix and Nina hadn’t come back. The uncertainty was suffocating. Every moment stretched longer than the last, the silence in the house punctuated only by the steady beeping of the machines monitoring Felix and Nina’s vitals.

Brody paced the halls, his mind racing. “What if they don’t wake up?” he muttered to Duke when he returned to the living room. “What if we’re stuck here, just waiting, forever?”

Duke didn’t respond. He didn’t have any reassurances to offer. The truth was, he was starting to feel the same fear creeping into his mind. Felix and Nina were out of reach, and no one knew how to bring them back. All they could do was wait and hope. And in the growing darkness of the house, hope felt like a fragile, fading thing.