It took almost the entire day to get out of the wilderness. I was glad to have gotten some rest earlier. We emerged into another human market. This one more lively than the previous one. It was a nice change to see a place bustling with life and colors.
People looked so happy, totally engrossed in their mundane lives; completely unaware that a killing machine had just entered. My teeth dug into my lower lip as this thought formed in my mind. Was Hera really a killing machine who massacred everyone for fun?
She had spared me despite having suspicion. She even saved my life, twice. But, she killed that child. Arrhh! My head throbbed every time I tried to analyze her.
She stopped in front of a pharmacist to buy something. I took this opportunity to find the closest candy stall. When I returned, she was waiting for me with her arms crossed over her chest, “Candy?”
I gave her a sheepish look and held out my hand that held a few sweets. She popped one of them in her mouth wordlessly before leading me to a Tavern.
“Let us freshen up before we continue on our killing spree,” she stated calmly as he handed me a bag of clothes. I locked the door as soon as she left. With a sigh of relief, I slumped to my bed.
What good was revenge if I had to die to get it? My mother was a very kind person. Her soul would be more happy to see me alive than getting revenge for her. My gaze landed on the large window that opened to the back of the Tavern. I could just run away from here. I got up and walked to the window but froze half way.
Melinda’s words flashed in my mind, “I have instructions to kill you if you start giving her any discreet details.” I peeked out of the window wondering if she was still keeping a watch on me. Even if she wasn’t, she could track me easily.
A frustrated sigh escaped my lips and I started pacing in my room. When did my life get so complicated? If I stayed, I would die, If I left I would still die. I kept racking my mind but couldn’t come up with a solution that would benefit me.
Annoyed, I grabbed the towel and stomped inside the bathroom to take a bath. The wound on my abdomen stung as the warm water cascaded down my body. The four-inch gash had turned a shade of dirty red; inflamed due to lack of care. Cleaning it as best as I could, I wrapped the towel around my torso.
The moment I stepped out of the bathroom, I was jolted to my core. Hera was sitting on my bed; her legs crossed over in a careless manner. A gasp left my lips and I wrapped my arms around my body.
She shook her head and snorted, “Why are you overreacting so much? It is nothing, I haven’t seen before.” She got up and grabbed something from the bed, “Put your hands down.”
“I…I… why do you want me to put my hands down?”
Her eyes twinkled with a bemused expression and she snapped her fingers. The next moment, my arms got lowered by invisible cords of magic. She walked towards me with slow, deliberate steps; a playful smile playing on my lips.
Heat crept up my ears and my heart started throbbing so wildly that I was afraid it would pop right out. I stepped backward involuntarily only to be backed against the wall. She drew closer until we were just a foot apart.
She lowered her head to my collar bone letting her breath linger for a moment. A series of warm breaths trailed along my collarbone making my body erupt with goosebumps. My mouth went dry and I gulped. At this point, my brain was so muddled that I didn’t know what I wanted to do.
Then, without a warning, she pulled away before bursting into a peal of hearty giggles, “Look at you. You seem more flustered than a newlywed bride.”
It was only when she started applying an ointment on my gash that I realized she had been teasing me. A sigh of relief left my lips but then I felt something else too. A tiny glimmer of desire. That shocked me more than anything else. I remained hyperaware the entire time she tended to my wounds. It was startling how my body reacted to every tiny movement of hers.
I was still lost in my thoughts when smack! Something soft landed on my face.
“Wear it and come out. Let’s grab a bite before we leave.” Her words sounded followed by the closing of the door. I buttoned up my shirt absent-mindedly as I walked out with a resigned expression. The last breakfast I had with her was still fresh in my mind. This time, I would keep my face completely stoic. I wasn’t going to get affected by the tantalizing aromas or flavors.
With this resolve, I made my way to the restaurant where she was sitting regally. I noted that she had changed too. She was wearing red pants and a white t-shirt paired with a red leather jacket.
Pulling a chair to sit down, I taunted, “You love to drive people crazy with hunger right?”
“Huh,” she grunted and stared at me with a blank expression; as if she had been thrown off guard. Her expression smoothed the next moment and she stated, “I don’t intend to make you watch this time.” She rested her head against her palm, “This time, I want to see how werewolves behave when subjected to scrutiny.”
“I didn't understand what you want….”
“You don’t need to understand. Just follow my orders.”
She angled her body backward, settling in a more comfortable position, “Eat.”
I had been studying the pattern of tiles to keep myself distracted. But, when I heard her words, my head snapped towards her, “What did you say?”
“I asked you to eat. Is that so difficult to understand?” She said in a bland tone but I could sense her annoyance. Grabbing the fork and knife, I sliced into the egg sandwich that was closest to me.
Her scorching gaze remained fixed on me, making me excessively conscious but I forced myself to continue eating. Hera’s mood changed faster than the blinking of an eye. For all I know, she might want to make me starve for the rest of the five days left. It was best to stuff myself as much as possible.
I had just taken a bite out of the specially made omelet when she got to her feet abruptly, “Time to go, Justin.”
I grabbed the rest of the omelet in my hand before following her, ignoring all the weird gazes that were cast on me. After we had walked a few feet, I realized with horror that a waiter was running after us. Hera hadn’t paid for the food.
Fishing out a piece of silver from my pocket, I threw it at the waiter before trotting after Hera. We weaved through the narrow secluded streets, taking several shortcuts.
It was astonishing how Hera knew her way around. I had yet to see her hesitate or take a wrong turn. A sense of perfect direction was probably just one of the perks of being a powerful wereheretic.
I was about to emerge out on the main road when she pulled me to a side. I covered my eyes reflexively. There were so many blinding flashes that it was difficult to say what was happening. Attempting to open my eyes, gently, I asked, “What is going on?”
“A duel between two witch covens.”
“A duel? Here? In the middle of the market? Didn’t they get a better place?”
“The witches of Atlanta are impatient by nature. They like to act spontaneously.”
“Why are they fighting anyway?”
“The Lycan King’s plan to capture me has led to strifes within and outside the covens. They are probably fighting over whose plan is better.”
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Lycan King. I averted my gaze and looked at the blazing orb; afraid that Hera would see through me if she looked into my eyes.
I couldn’t see anything happening within what seemed like a huge enclosure of dazzling light. But, I could see things beyond it. The buildings within a mile's radius had already crumbled to the ground. Fear was evident on the faces of the people as they tried to run as fast as they could.
I turned my gaze toward Hera to find that she was fidgeting anxiously. “If they continue, this entire marketplace would be turned into dust.”
She let out a sigh and pushed me against the wall, creating an orb of blue light at the same time. She enclosed me within it, “Stay here.”
I shrugged, “Doesn’t look like I have a choice.”
She ignored my words and walked right into the middle of the dazzling orb; disappearing into the light. My eyebrows furrowed and a small vine of worry twined around my heart. I didn’t want her to get hurt.
At first, nothing happened. All I could see was the arc of destruction getting wider and wider. Suddenly, something changed, the color of the dazzling orb started fading. It became darker and darker until all that was left was darkness.
Several thuds sounded in quick succession as bodies were strewn in a huge circle. My heart plummeted to my throat as I rushed towards the circle. In the recess of my mind, I realized with horror that I had managed to break free from the shackles. This could mean only one thing; the wereheretic had become too weak to sustain even a simple binding spell.
My steps faltered and I came to a halt at a distance. I should have been rejoicing at my victory but all I felt was a sense of loss and despair.
A bone-chilling scream sent me slamming against the wall again and the next moment, Hera jumped to her feet. Her eyes were burning like cinders of fire. With another scream, she let out a powerful burst of power. The waves created were so powerful that the entire ground around her collapsed several feet.
I watched in horror as the bodies got buried under the ground along with Hera. Moments later, a hand peeked out over the crater. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I recognized the ring. Rushing towards her, I dragged her out quickly.
She smiled once before going limp in my arms. My gaze swept around apprehensively. What was I supposed to do now? A mouthful of blood splattered all over my shirt as Hera burst into a bout of violent coughs.
Between pained gasps, she muttered, “This is the perfect opportunity for you, Justin. Won’t you take advantage of it?”
Blowing out a forceful gust of wind, I picked her up in my arms and carried her to the Tavern we had rented. I would have been tempted to take her to the lycan king but after her words, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I helped her clean up and changed her clothes before laying her on the bed. I kept pacing in the room with restless agitation. Every few minutes, I was tempted to contact the lycan king. Then my gaze would fall on Hera and I would stop. This went on like an eternal loop until the first rays of the sun seeped into the room.
Those rays scattered the dilemma shrouding my mind. Hera had saved many lives but if she didn’t exist, the witches wouldn’t have been fighting in the first place. I had made a huge mistake by hesitating last night and I had to fix it. With this thought in mind, I walked out of the door.