Chapter 26: Chapter 7

CORALIE

The spell that knocked us out is a common one, often used by the witch’s council. It’s not particularly strong, but it gets the job done. Luckily for me, my training with the council has made me resistant to their defensive spells.

Some barely affect me; others don’t work at all. This one had me out for less than ten minutes, but I kept up the act, trying to figure out what Altier was up to.

We’ve all been moved to a dungeon-like room, chained at the wrists and ankles. I listen to the sounds of people coming and going, none of them realizing that their spell has worn off.

When I’m sure we’re alone, I check on Darius, Danny, and Jordan. They’re still under the spell’s influence, and I can’t wake them because of the enchanted shackles binding us.

We’ve been in this hole for hours, maybe even longer, when I hear footsteps approaching our door.

“Take them to the chapel. The council will conduct their trial and execution at dawn,” a strange man’s voice orders just before I’m lifted off the ground.

I hear the clinking of chains as they carry me and my friends out of the room.

They carry us for what feels like an hour, but was probably only a few minutes, before we reach a room filled with murmuring voices. I can’t make out what they’re saying.

The door creaks open, and the room falls silent. They drop us onto a cold stone floor, and a familiar woman’s voice echoes from somewhere in front of us.

“Time to wake and face your judgment!”

I hear chains rattling next to me, signaling that the others are waking up. I open my eyes to find Jordan on his knees beside me, Darius to his left, and Danny on the other side of Darius.

I look up and lock eyes with the wicked head of the witch’s council, Merida, and her soulless followers standing behind her.

“It took you long enough to find me, Merida,” I say, my voice icy and mocking.

“You made the chase quite exciting, that’s for sure,” she replies. “I believe you know our associate, Caleb Altier. He’s been quite eager to meet you. I believe you knew his brother, Hector.”

I can feel Jordan’s eyes on me, and I know I should keep my cool, but this woman is really getting on my nerves.

“I did. Our last meeting was a long time ago, but as I recall, we had a bloody good time. By the time we were done, he was scattered across the countryside.”

A loud, sinister growl echoes through the room, followed by heavy footsteps.

“Awe, I think I struck a nerve.”

Merida scowls at me, but her lips curl into a smile as she turns her gaze to the man approaching us.

“You never did know when to keep your mouth shut.”

The man moves to stand in front of us, crouching to look me in the eye.

“I expected you to be more intimidating, but looking at you now, you’re just a pathetic, weak witch. And thanks to those shackles, you’re powerless. It’s hard to believe my brother was bested by such a pathetic creature.”

He stands and moves to stand beside Merida.

“Are you going to get started, or are you planning on boring me to death?”

He smirks and signals to someone behind me.

“Oh, we’re just getting started. I thought you might like a little family reunion before I rip you limb from limb. Maybe I should dismember Luca first so you can watch.”

Two of his men walk in, carrying a glass coffin. Inside is Luca, my long-lost brother.

“If you so much as touch him, I will fucking kill you.”

Merida and Caleb burst into laughter, clearly not threatened by me now that my powers have been silenced by their pathetic shackles.

“Tsk, tsk, you should know better than to make threats when you can’t back them up.”

He shoves the lid off the coffin, sending it crashing to the ground and shattering. He pulls out a runed dagger and raises it above Luca’s chest, smiling at me.

“Caleb, before you do something stupid, would you like to know a secret?”

His eyebrows raise and his hand slowly lowers.

“Surely you’re not going to entertain her nonsense,” Merida snaps at him, eager for him to finish what she never could.

“Silence! Let’s hear what the little witch has to say. These will be her last words, after all.”

I smirk at his ignorance. I glance at Jordan, who looks terrified, but it’s Darius nodding at me that reassures me I’m making the right choice.

I slowly stand up, calling forth my beast. The shackles snap as my limbs expand. Once my transformation is complete, I bare my teeth at them, taking in their horrified expressions.

“Haven’t you heard the tales of my monstrous deeds? If only you had realized that the monster is real.”

Caleb drops the dagger, stumbling backward.

“How the fuck is this possible? How the fuck can you speak?!”

He backs into the wall, trapped.

“Your brother died like a coward, so imagine my disappointment to see you going out the same way.”

I raise my paw, claws extended, and swipe at his neck, tearing his throat out in one swift movement.

I hear a scream behind me and turn just in time to see Merida casting a swirling black orb at Jordan. But Darius pushes him out of the way, and the orb slams into Darius’s chest.

I leap at Merida, my jaws closing around her head so tightly that it’s severed from her body. Seeing Darius lying lifeless on the floor, my beast takes over.

We tear through each member of the council, leaving blood and body parts scattered across the stage they were standing on.