Chapter 6: Bracing for Nightmares

CORALIE

Seeing Luca again was both a relief and a firm reminder of the task I have yet to complete. He is suffering in a state of suspended animation, not dead, but not quite alive. This allows him to travel to any plane that he has a link to, but unfortunately for him, his only link is me. And I don’t know where he is. If I did, I would have rescued him already.

I wander around the small cabin trying to get settled. I just have to finish helping the alpha, then I can work on saving Luca. I only hope that the witches’ council doesn’t find me first. Being here with these wolves should be safer. No one is going to expect a witch like me to take refuge here of all places.

I make myself comfortable on the small couch and brace myself for sleep and all the nightmares that come with it.

~“You can’t run forever. The past has a way of catching up with you.”~

~“It isn’t the past I am worried about, Luca.”~

~“Cora, if he finds out what you did, he will kill you.”~

~“He should have known better than to fuck with a witch then.”~

~“Damnit, Cora! This is no laughing matter.”~

~“Then why, dear Luca, am I laughing?”~

~“Insanity? Stupidity? An unhealthy and lethal combination of both maybe?”~

~“I am not going to be used as some pawn in the elder’s fucked-up game of chess. If they wanted an obedient, submissive puppet, they picked the wrong witch.”~

~“Where will you go?”~

~“I am going to the States. Putting an ocean between me and the elders doesn’t seem like enough, but it is a start.”~

~“You went too far, Cora. If you had just followed their orders, none of this would be happening. You chose to defy them, and now you’re left to bear the consequences of that choice.”~

~“I did what I had to, Luca. You don’t know what they were asking of me.”~

~“Fuck! He’s here. You have to go.”~

~“I’ll come back for you. I swear I will!”~

I jerk awake, drenched in cold sweat brought on by yet another fevered memory. They always come to me as nightmares. If only I knew where my brother was. I know the man who has him keeps moving him.

At least it’s morning.

I stumble through the living space and into the bathroom. I snap on the water in the shower. I stand in front of the small mirror over the sink and take in the unsettling sight of my reflection. My long black hair is damp with sweat, my already pale skin has lost even more of its barely present color, and my green eyes seem dull and lifeless. These nightmares take a toll on my energy.

I remove my clothes, placing them in a neat pile before climbing into the shower. Once I am clean, I step out, wrap a towel around me, and walk out into the living room.

I find myself fascinated with the pictures on the wall that are lined up like a timeline. The first is a picture of a smiling woman with a man I assume is her mate. The next is the same couple, only now the woman is holding an infant in her arms. In each picture, the woman’s smile fades until the last two pictures, where she is not smiling at all. It is as though I watched the still frames of her life as her soul was drained from her.

I hadn’t asked the alpha how his mother died, but I can feel from these pictures that it was not a sudden occurrence. I walk to the small bookcase on the wall beside the sofa and scan over the various titles that line the shelves.

A sudden pulse of energy alerts me to the presence of someone approaching. Then I hear a soft knock on the door.

“Witch? Are you home?”

I smile at the elderly woman’s words and wave my hand over my body, conjuring a black dress to replace the towel. I walk over to the door, waving my hand to open it as I step closer.

“Hello. My name is Cora.”

The woman looks at me with fear and suspicion.

“M-Marla. It’s nice to meet you.”

I nod and step out the door, not missing how she jumps back as if my touch might burn her. Is this personal, or is she just aware of the conflict between our people?

“It is truly a pleasure to meet you, Marla. Is there something you needed?”

She grips the hem of her shirt. “I was asked to come get you for breakfast.”

I can sense her unspoken questions and thundering thoughts. The fear comes off of her in waves.

“I think it would be best if I stay clear of the rest of your pack, but thank you.”

The woman scowls, but nods her head and turns to leave.

“I will let the alpha know.” As she takes the first step to leave, her hesitation is clear.

“Marla, is there something you were wanting to ask?”

The woman freezes. She turns to face me. “What kind of magic can you do?”

I tilt my head, curious about where this conversation might lead. “I was trained as a healer, a seer, and I was trained in basic combat magic.”

Her head lowers slightly, and her shoulders rise and fall with her deep breaths.

“Can you commune with the dead?”

Hidden beneath her fear, I can feel the familiar and agonizing bite of grief.

“Who have you lost?”

She raises her head, her gaze meeting mine as tears fall steadily down her aged face.

“My mate. I miss him so much, and I feel like I am dying a little more every day.”

I walk toward her, closing the distance between us and pulling her into my arms. My small frame is nearly swallowed by her embrace as she shatters around me.

“I can’t, but I can help to ease your pain. I can help to lessen your grief. Let me help you, Marla.”

The woman nods against my shoulder before releasing her hold on me. I lead her into the house, close the door, and grab my bag with my herbs.