Witches at war

Seven

As promised, I returned to the packhouse with the shifters. Jack and Max had been silent since our discovery by the cliffs, while Kris was trying her best to cheer me up.

I would have been grateful for her concern if my life had not just been shattered. My heart yearned for Rae and knowing I would never see her again killed me inside. The impending doom being created by Dalia in my hometown seemed so small compared to seeing Raes lifeless body in the water. At the thought, tears sprang to my eyes again.

Jack had moved me into a spare bedroom in the packhouse, no longer deeming me harmful. I could tell that he wanted to comfort me but didn't know how, as he would turn up in the room every so often and say nothing before leaving again.

For a while I was in my own sad world until a scream made its way to my ears. Out of instinct, I raced from the bedroom and down the hall until I reached a kitchen area. Jack, Max, Kris and Tia were all backed up against a wall, terror on their faces as they were met with a strange white figure.

Tia grabbed a knife from the side and attempted to stab the creature, but it's body gave way and the knife went straight through it. The young shifter screamed and grabbed onto her mate in fear.

I approached the scene slowly, trying not to startle the creature as I got a closer look. It was shaped like a woman, in old fashioned drapes and confused eyes. Taking in its face, I recognised the woman. "Rae," I said softly, just loud enough for it to hear.

The creature turned to me, the confusion in its eyes melting away as she saw me. The creature had Rae's likeness and her memories, but no understanding of what she was or why she was there. Seeing me seemed to spark something in her and her eyes soon turned sad.

"My child," The creature said, her voice mimicking Rae exactly. "It seems my time has come," moving towards me slowly, the creature reached its arms out to me. I let it engulf me in its arms, surprised that it could hold me with such a poor energy presence. It felt like cold air pressing against me, proving that this was not Rae coming back to life miraculously.

Jack called out for me to get away from it, fear laced in his voice. But there was no reason to fear, I knew what this creature was, although I had never seen one before. It was Rae's spirit, saying her final goodbyes.

"Rae, please tell me what to do," I said with a shaky voice, droplets of water falling down my cheeks. Rae tried to wipe my tears away, but the cold air only passed through my cheek.

Rae smiled. "Fight, my child. Fight for your home and ask others to do the same. There is no telling where Dalia will stop but this world is not safe either."

I nodded at the spirit as it backed away from me. It was painful, seeing her leave having already felt the pain of her death. But I was grateful that I saw her one more time. "Goodbye, Rea Phantasia," I whispered as her body faded into nothingness. Staring at the empty space, I held back more tears. This time, she was truly gone.

"What the hell was that?" The high pitched voice of Tia screeched as the werewolves finally moved away from the wall and towards me. I couldn't bring myself to look away from the spot that Rea had just stood in, instead I replied without looking her in the eyes.

"It was a spirit messenger," I began, "Witches with unfinished business conjure one when they die and it wanders the world looking for the right person to pass the message on to."

I would never have expected to be the one to receive Rae's last words. For her to do so meant that she likely knew I was following her. I wondered if Minerva had told her before she left for the first plane. Or if she had been secretly checking up on me.