WITCH - ARA

Thirty two

The weight of everything feels like it’s pressing down on my chest. Ava’s parents, their anger, their accusations—they’re burned into my mind. I’m grateful Keith stood up for me, but the guilt still lingers, clawing at me from the inside. The car ride is silent, the heaviness hanging in the air. I stare out the window, lost in thought, until I finally break the silence.

"Keith, take me to the woods."

He glances over, his expression one of surprise, but he doesn’t question it. He simply nods and changes direction, steering us towards the woods. The closer we get, the faster my heart beats. I don’t know what I’m expecting, but I have to do this.

When we finally arrive, I don’t wait. I push open the door and step out, leaving Keith behind as I run into the woods. I don’t think about the darkness or the dangers. I run, faster and faster, branches clawing at my arms as I go deeper. I scream, my voice echoing through the trees.

"Come out! What are you afraid of?! Me?! Show yourself!"

As soon as the words leave my mouth, the ground trembles. A towering figure with glowing red eyes emerges from the earth. It’s massive, and my breath catches in my throat. I stumble back, eyes wide with fear.

Keith rushes behind me, his voice filled with urgency. "Blaze, we need to go."

But I shake my head, my fists clenched. "I need to know what happened to Silas. If Silas can give her life to Ava to find out what happened, then so can I. I need to know." I keep my eyes fixed on the demon, my resolve hardening despite the terror in my chest.

The demon smirks, its eyes glinting as it steps closer. "Sounds like an offer."

It reaches out to grab me, and for a moment, I stand frozen, bracing myself for the worst. But then, Keith steps between us, blocking the demon. I grab his arm, pulling him back. "No, Keith, don’t. Let me see what happens."

He hesitates but eventually steps aside, his eyes locked on mine, ready to intervene.

The demon’s smirk widens. "Feisty, just like your mother. I like that." Its hand inches closer to my face, and I can feel the cold radiating from it. My heart races, but I stand my ground.

Then, a figure appears between us, a feminine silhouette glowing with an otherworldly light. "One touch on my daughter, and I’ll feed you to your own slaves," she snarls, her voice fierce and protective. I gasp, taking a step back towards Keith. It’s her—my mother.

But she looks terrifying, her face twisted by the curse, her eyes glowing with power. I can’t tear my gaze away. She and the demon face off, both of them radiating energy. They clash, their powers colliding in bursts of light and shadow. My mother is fierce, her movements swift, but the demon is relentless.

With a wave of its hand, the demon sends my mother crashing into a tree. She falls, but she doesn’t give up. She gets back up, determined to protect me. They fight and fight, the air crackling with their energy, until she’s exhausted, lying on the ground.

I don’t hesitate. I run to her, dropping to my knees at her side. My hands tremble as I reach out. "Mom. You’re my mom. Why? Why did you leave me?"

Tears stream down my face as I speak, but just as I do, the demon reaches for me again. Out of nowhere, a fierce growl fills the air, followed by a hiss. A black, furry figure leaps between us, biting down on the demon’s hand. Yovan. His purple eyes glow as he fights the demon back, protecting me.Yovan lunges at the demon, his sharp teeth sinking deep into its neck. The demon roars, stepping back, but Yovan doesn’t relent. He sinks his teeth in harder, dragging the demon down as he meows fiercely, the sound echoing through the woods. He rips at the demon’s neck, blood splattering across the trees, the dark liquid pooling on the forest floor.