Chapter 9

  DEATH BRINGS CLARITY

  Sunlight streaming through the windows woke everyone, a stark reminder that the danger had not yet passed. Melody sprang to her feet and moved to the windows. Outside, everything looked calm.

  —I don’t sense any other minds besides ours —Cristina announced as she stretched, her voice still heavy with exhaustion—. We need to move.

  —Gabriel, Max, be quick. If any of them show up, stay behind us —Melody ordered, her tone firm yet protective.

  Both nodded without question, and in silence, the group left the cabin. They walked swiftly until they reached the road again. The fire that had been a raging inferno during the night was now nothing but ashes and charred debris. Those blackened remains were a grim reminder of what had once been a sanctuary for witches.

  Madame Liona stopped. Her eyes scanned what was left of the Grand Hall, and her usually unshakable expression faltered for a moment. With a solemn gesture, she brought her hands together in prayer and murmured words into the wind. A simple sweep of her arm was enough for the rubble to begin levitating, arranging itself into makeshift gravestones.

  —May Hecate guide the souls of our sisters… amen. —A single tear slid down her cheek.

  Melody stepped closer and, with a trembling hand, touched her shoulder. Her throat tightened with emotion, but she knew they could not linger.

  —We have to go —she whispered, her voice knotted with grief.

  As much as they longed to give proper burial to all their sisters, the group knew the Becos would not waste the bodies of their enemies. That bitter truth forced them onward.

  After several hours of walking, they finally reached the city. The urban bustle felt worlds apart from the tragedy they had endured, as if they existed in entirely different realities. Noticing everyone’s exhaustion, Cristina scanned the area until she spotted a man sitting in his parked car.

  With a friendly smile, she approached the vehicle, and before the man could react, her eyes flared with a supernatural gleam.

  —Hello, and I’m sorry… —she said softly as she stared into his eyes—. Dulcia somnia, anima mortalis.

  Her voice, like a gentle echo, slipped into the man’s mind, and he immediately fell asleep at the wheel.

  —Guys, we’ve got a car. Quickly.

  Though they felt guilty about leaving the man unconscious and stealing his vehicle, urgency prevailed. They needed to reach the nearest coven: New Moon, a refuge led by old allies of Madame Liona.

  The drive was short, but long enough for the group to feel a brief sense of relief. Their anxiety eased when an imposing mansion finally rose among the city buildings. The car stopped at the gate, and Madame Liona stepped out to ring the bell.

  —Hello, this is Madame Liona. I need to speak with Julia Pérez —she said in her customary solemn tone.

  There was a long silence before a deep voice answered.

  —Understood. I’m opening the gate.

  The gate creaked open, cutting through the city noise. They entered the expansive courtyard, where plants seemed to grow under a spell of eternal vitality. At the main door, it opened to reveal a woman with dark hair and a piercing gaze.

  —Come in —Julia said, gesturing toward the living room—. Would you like something to eat?

  —Yes. It was a hard night. I’m hungry —Laura admitted honestly, releasing a sigh of relief.

  —Bring food for everyone —Julia ordered a nebulous figure floating beside her, a humanoid being formed of mist.

  Julia turned to Madame Liona, crossing her arms with a mix of curiosity and sarcasm.

  —So? Why does Madame Liona honor me with her presence?

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  —The Grand Hall was attacked.

  The room fell into a deathly silence. Madame Liona’s words seemed to drain all the color from Julia’s face, which filled with terror.

  —What? How many? —she stammered, as if fearing the answer.

  —We were the only ones… —Cristina said, her voice breaking.

  Julia closed her eyes for a moment, shaking her head slightly as she tried to process the news.

  —I’m so sorry… How did it happen?

  —The Becos broke through our defenses and massacred everyone. Something was wrong —Melody said, her tone bewildered as she clenched her fists—. Our magic wasn’t working properly. Somehow, they interfered with it.

  —The Crown of Thorns —Julia murmured, as if speaking the name alone could summon evil itself.

  —Impossible. It was destroyed centuries ago —Madame Liona replied, her voice steeped in skepticism.

  —A few years ago, I heard rumors about a witch—a strange one—moving through the shadows searching for the Crown of Thorns. I thought it was just another madwoman chasing dead leads. But a month ago, the Dandelion coven was attacked. The only survivor said the same thing —Julia explained, visibly shaken.

  Unable to contain his curiosity, Max broke the silence.

  —What is it?

  Melody let out a deep sigh before answering.

  —It’s a crown that, within a certain radius, interferes with the abilities of celestial beings, Ludlavon witches, and angels.

  The atmosphere in the room grew even heavier, laden with uncertainty and the weight of what lay ahead.

  Julia looked at Max with a mix of curiosity and disdain.

  —And this being, who is he?

  Before she could continue, Cristina stepped forward, her tone firm.

  —This is Max Hotsson. We don’t yet know exactly what he is, but he’s under our protection.

  Julia sighed in clear frustration, massaging her temples.

  —I understand. Why is everything in our world so cryptic? —With a flick of her hand, she summoned one of her servants—. Find the strongest among us and send them to analyze the remains of the Grand Hall. We need to know exactly what we’re facing.

  The tense silence was broken when Gabriel murmured a name that echoed through the room like a sinister omen.

  —Sabine…

  The name stirred confusion among the witches. Melody frowned.

  —Who is Sabine?

  Gabriel swallowed before answering, his voice heavy with sorrow.

  —One of them attacked us after the crash. Before she died, she said Sabine would be happy with new toys.

  —What? —Melody looked horrified.

  —I had to cut off her head —Gabriel admitted, his voice fractured by guilt. It felt as though the act had carved a scar into his soul.

  Seeing her friend’s torment, Laura stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug.

  —Oh, Gabriel… You did what you had to do to survive.

  Julia, though moved, maintained her role as leader. She stepped forward, her voice solemn and resolute.

  —Go bathe and rest. I’ll inform the Witches’ Council. We’ll handle this. We are witches. In the face of adversity, our light will always be stronger.

  With those words, the meeting ended and everyone dispersed.

  Max entered a room decorated with a luxury that spoke of opulence and power. He closed the door behind him and, finally feeling safe, let his clothes—soiled with blood, dirt, and sweat—fall to the floor. He stepped into the bathroom, letting the hot shower wash not only his body, but the overwhelming emotions gripping him. Unable to stop himself, he began to cry.

  Every drop sliding over his skin seemed to carry the guilt of having been the indirect cause of that horrific act. If he hadn’t lost control of the car, Gabriel wouldn’t have had to kill.

  A knock on the door startled him.

  —Max? —Gabriel’s low voice came from outside.

  —Yeah? —he replied, quickly turning off the water and wrapping a towel around himself.

  He opened the door and found Gabriel standing there, who immediately looked away, visibly uncomfortable.

  —Here’s some clothes —Gabriel said, placing a small pile on the bed—. Julia gave them to us.

  —Wait —Max stopped him, his voice soft, almost unsure—. Thank you for saving me. I know you didn’t want to do that to her…

  Gabriel turned to face him, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions.

  —I will always save you.

  The space between them grew charged. Gabriel couldn’t help noticing Max’s lips, and, unable to restrain himself, he kissed him. It was brief, but filled with a passion he had suppressed for far too long. Gabriel pulled away, as if he had committed an unforgivable mistake.

  But Max didn’t let him go. He wrapped his arms around Gabriel and returned the kiss with an intensity that left him breathless.

  —We’re going to regret this… —Gabriel murmured, his voice trembling.

  Max smiled, a mix of courage and resignation.

  —I know. But last night we almost died. That clears a lot of things up.

  —Get dressed. I’ll wait for you in the dining room —Gabriel said as he left, this time with a glimmer of happiness in his eyes.

  In the dining room, Gabriel sat with a glass of water in his hand, trying to maintain a fa?ade of normalcy. Cristina, however, watched him with an amused smile.

  —Love is a beautiful thing —she commented aloud.

  —What? —Melody asked, frowning.

  —Oh, nothing. Just rambling. Eat and don’t listen to me —Cristina replied, laughing to herself.

  Meanwhile, Laura devoured an excessive amount of food, yet she couldn’t help noticing the furtive glances between Max and Gabriel.

  —Why so happy? —she asked Max, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.

  —Uh… nothing, nothing… Being alive makes me really happy —Max replied nervously, casting a sideways glance at Gabriel.

  That night, everyone tried to rest, aware that the worst was still to come. But amid despair and uncertainty, Gabriel quietly slipped into Max’s room. There, wrapped in each other’s arms in the darkness, they found a shared refuge—if only for that one night.