Loki's Little Witch [en]

chapter 21. the battle is here

Wanda's heart was beating so fast she swore she could feel it in her throat, making her bend one of her knees in an attempt to take a step back. However, that subtle reaction on her part caused Amora to tilt her head, making the six witches surrounding her raise their arms in a split second, conjuring whips from their hands that ended up binding her by the neck, stomach, arms, and legs. All in a split second that prevented her from even raising her own.

"How could you do this?" the redhead prompted at the blonde asgardian, "I trusted you, don't you know what he wants?" She paused, trying to catch the little breath the whip at her throat allowed, "he'll kill all of you too!"

Amora smiled, licking her lips before opening her mouth, "we're still called witches only out of tradition, but we don't use magic anymore. We don't cast any spells. We don't create any illusions. We don't perform any rituals... We simply channel the energy around us. We are nothing more than mere alchemists," and for the first time, the smile on her face faded turning it into a serious one, "not like you," she shook her head, "your magic is the darkest of all. Your mere existence brings chaos to this universe. You are nothing but an abomination—

Mordo couldn't help but burst out laughing, enjoying every second of seeing the young witch in that position, "I couldn't have said it better myself."

But her reaction was able to provoke Wanda, making her tense her body, causing the witches to tighten their grip once more, making her throat begin to throb, and it was then that she couldn't help but be the one to burst out laughing, managing to take Mordo aback. Perhaps for the first time since she had known him.

"So what now?" she gasped, "you're six months too early, what will happen now? Are you going to spell me? Take me with you? Nothing you try will work. You know I'm stronger than I was a year ago," she couldn't help but pause to catch her breath once more, never taking her steady gaze off him, "I'm more powerful than you."

But the triumphant smile that covered her face slowly faded when she realized Mordo didn't seem fazed by her words and instead, decided to approach her without any hesitation, standing face to face with her, "don't you find it odd how quiet this place is?" he muttered, almost in a whisper just to her, "isn't there a part of you that's wondering why you couldn't feel me the further you ventured in here?" he chuckled, this time under his breath as he took a couple of steps back.,"this place..." he prompted, looking around with great fascination, "it's truly extraordinary—built from its very roots. And its first inhabitants conjured all kinds of spells and barriers that could keep all their enemies away," he paused, turning his eyes back to the redhead, "and where only they—and those who are truly welcome— can set foot... and wield their magic."

The rejoice on Mordo's face only grew as Wanda began to feel a slight tingling in her hands and feet.

"So... we can stay here forever and no one would ever find you," he continued, shrugging, "or, you can end this here and now if you give me all your power... and that way you may still have a chance to say goodbye to him before I finish with you all."

But to Mordo's surprise, his threat, instead of frightening the young witch, only managed to bring a smile to her face, erasing his for the first time at the same time as her skin gained her color back, after it had become as white as milk. And he was barely able to frown before, without any type of warning, the witches freed Wanda, knocking her to the ground after lifting her a few inches off the ground, hurling their whips in his direction, binding him in the same way they had imprisoned her. All in a matter of a blink from the sorcerer.

Wanda, for her part, couldn't help but cough a few times, instinctively bringing a hand to her neck, while the blonde asgardian hurried to her side to help her stand.