The Enchanted

Chapter-31

When I opened my eyes, Sabrina was leaning over me worriedly. Where Caleb's pentagram had been, there was a huge black crater. The walls of the old warehouse were on fire and the ceiling looked like it might collapse any moment.

"Is she awake?" asked Ethan, sounding worried. He was holding an unconscious Elara in his hands from whose wound blood flowed freely. I wanted to help him but my muscles would not budge. I grunted with the effort and clenched my teeth as fever coursed through my body. The large eruption of energy from my body had left me weakened. My throat was burning and I needed water desperately.

I glanced around the warehouse. Caleb and Moro's body was nowhere to be seen.

"Where?" I croaked.

Sabrina leaned closer to me as I repeated the question. She shook her head sadly and my heart nearly stopped. I wanted to cry from grief and guilt but my body showed no response.

"I killed him...?" I said slowly.

"No." She shook her head. "I think he is still alive. He got sucked into the pentagram along with Moro."

She sniffled, wiping away a tear.

"They might have gone to the realm of the dead alive. I don't know."

"We have to get out of here," said Ethan urgently. "She's lost too much blood and the warehouse might collapse any second."

Sabrina nodded.

"Can you stand?" she asked me.

I tried to sit up and immediately fell back.

"Oh no! Adriana!" Sabrina's voice was the last thing I heard as I blacked out.

                                      ***

It had been two days since we had left the warehouse. I had finally woken up after a few hours, nearly dying of thirst. Sabrina was taking care of me, cooking me food and answering my calls. It had been another few hours since I'd finally been able to feel well enough to get up. Ethan had taken Elara home for she had lost a lot of blood and was in a bad shape and had rarely left her bedside though he kept calling Sabrina to ask about me.

I'd had a lot of time to think while I was lying on my bed and had finally managed to make peace with things. Caleb's betrayal, Azari's absence and Moro's death still weighed heavily on my heart and would always will. I would have to learn to live with that.

After much protests and urging, I'd finally managed to send Sabrina home. I'd talked to my mother who was so worried that she demanded that I leave Audersbury and come home at once. After telling her I'd explain everything later, I went in for a hot shower.

When I looked in the mirror while dressing, I realised I was no longer the girl I'd been when I first came here. My face was pale, my hair listless and I looked exhausted. Yet, I felt more of sure of myself than I ever had.

Grabbing my coat, I walked slowly to my car. I had mostly recovered but still felt a little woozy. The banshee powers had shocked me. I'd never felt anything like that before and I knew too much of it would have destroyed me. I drove to the town, breathing in the cold air. I still had a lot of questions only one person could have known the answer to.

I braced myself for the blast of cold air as I pushed open the door of the herb shop. Something told me this time I wouldn't be disappointed.

The old witch stood behind the counter, mixing something in a glass. When she saw me enter, she stiffened and put the glass on the counter.

"I have a lot of questions to ask you little one," she said. "And I think so do you. Come, let's sit in the back."

She hobbled to a little black door and threw it open. Inside was a cosy little room with chairs and a coffee table. I followed her and sat down. She bustled about and offered me a brew similar to the one I'd had before. I tried to decline politely but she shoved it into my hand.

"You need it," she said simply.

I took in a sip of the warm drink and felt myself relaxing a bit.

"So, I came back to town last night when I sensed a large amount of supernatural activity. When I tried to do a spell, it showed me your presence. I think it was right, considering how you currently look."

I sighed and quickly filled her in about Caleb.

"So where is he now?" I asked. "Sabrina said he might be in the realm of the dead."

She nodded.

"That's likely. But one can never be sure."

"Do you think...?" I asked, examining my hands. "That I killed him?"

That thought had been haunting my mind terribly. She seemed to sense it because she shook her head.

"It seemed the boy was already deep in dark magic. Your energy only gave him a little push but it wasn't enough to kill him."

She sighed.

"The spells he stole from that silly girl Sarah were very valuable indeed."

Both of us were silent for a little while as I sipped my drink.

"What other powers do I have?" I asked after a while.

"See, Banshees with elemental magic in their bloodlines are very rare and powerful. I only ever knew another one and she controlled water. It seems as though you can control fire. I'd advise exploring your powers slowly for it will teach you how to use them when you need to."

I remembered how Azari was always dripping in water in my dreams. Thinking about her made my heartache.

"So you knew her," I said, wrapping my fingers around the warm cup.

"Of course," she said. "I recognized her scent on you the first day I saw you. I came by to talk but it seemed as though I scared you."

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"I'm used to it," she said, cackling.

"You have your mother's heart, little one. I can feel it. She was the kindest woman I had ever known and she used to visit me every day. Pity what happened to her."

I looked at the ground.

"What happened?"

"I think you know."

"Who did it?" I asked, gripping my chair.

"Let it go," she advised. "It's what she would have wanted. They got what they deserved. I made sure of that."

"How?" I asked.

"Some secrets are best left unheard." she cackled. "Now off you go."

I emerged into the cold fresh air from the warm herb shop and took in a deep breath. My heart felt lighter than it had when I'd gone in.