Page 67 of His Blazing Witch

My arms hurt. It's my first sensation as I slowly wake up, and find the way back to my senses. It's not unbearable, though. More like a slow ache, as if someone was applying constant pressure on an open wound. It stings a bit. I grimace and open my eyes. I'm expecting the white ceiling of the hospital, the one I've seen for months and months, but instead, it's a wooden one. My head is a bit heavy and slow to remember what happened. I try to put the pieces back together.

Everything comes back to me all at once, and it's not pleasant. The fire cat. The fight at the university, and my fight with Kelsi at home. The circle under the rug, the magic one. The face smiling in the mirror. The confrontation with Kelsi, in the kitchen, and the fire... Now, that explains why my throat feels like sandpaper. It’s dry as hell.

"…Mara?"

I turn to Kelsi's voice. She is sitting close, looking worried. Why does this feel so familiar…?

"Water," I gasp.

"Oh, sure. Here."

I drink down the full glass in seconds and immediately need a refill. Kelsi keeps topping up my glass and helps me get hydrated as much as I need until my stomach feels so full I can't drink anymore. I let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a little bit better. Still, my throat feels pretty dry when I finally speak up.

"W-where are we?"

"At the Black Mansion," she whispers.

"The... Liam's house?"

"Uh, no, his older brother's."

I'm confused. I vaguely remember episodes of the fire in that building. Faces flash before my eyes, and I try to sort out the mess, a bit lost for a second. Then, I suddenly remember something else.

"The grandma?"

"What? Oh, you mean the old lady from the fire? She is still in the hospital, but she is doing fine, from what we heard of her. They say only an old man died. I don't know anything else, though..."

I nod. That's still good enough for me. All this crap wasn't in vain... I didn't go back into that apartment for nothing. I feel a lot better after hearing that. I hope the grandma lives a few more years, her granddaughter is cute. I look at my arms, and they don’t look too bad... They are wrapped up in bandages, and someone changed me into a simple white tube top. I get up, and with Kelsi's help, put on the baggy denim pants they also prepared.

"So... This place is..."

"The Black Luna's home," explains Kelsi. "They decided to bring you–I mean us, here after the fire. The Luna tried to heal you, but it didn't work on your burn marks."

"Really?"

I'm surprised. From what they had all said, I kind of imagined her power was absolutely limitless or something like that. Kelsi shakes her head while I glance in the mirror to see what I look like. My hair is a whole mess of frizz, as usual, but I don't look too bad for someone who almost got killed last night... I frown.

"Wait, what time is it?"

"Oh, just about midday. You only slept through the night, actually."

That's good then, I had a little fright for a second. I don't feel like losing weeks or days of my life to a coma again. Kelsi guides me out of the bedroom. I realize we really are in some big family house. It has a very nice and warm feeling, with a nice smell of warm bread and coffee in the air. We walk past a large living room with a fireplace and a big sofa. Based on the rug with some random stains on it and the little toys scattered around the room, there has to be at least one child living here. I remember the pictures we found, with the little boy stuck to his mother. For the house of the most powerful werewolves in Silver City, it feels strangely cozy and welcoming.

We arrive in a large kitchen, empty as well. However, that delicious smell is stronger here, and I see a row of freshly baked croissants that cruelly remind me that I haven't eaten in hours... I must be the only one because Kelsi walks right by them without even sending them a glance. Damn...

We finally leave the kitchen through the back door and enter a very spacious garden. Wow... It's a really nice one. The green grass has been roughed up a little, but there are patches of wildflowers scattered everywhere, and a little vegetable garden on the side too. It looks like we left the city to be in a little bubble in the countryside. I can’t tell where this place is in Silver City, but it's... peaceful. Just as I’m following Kelsi, we are surprised by a little wolf that runs right by us.

"The puppies are so cute!" she exclaims.

Indeed, they look adorable. I follow the black wolf, who is running wild in the garden and being chased by two other wolves, brown and exactly the same size. As I glance around, I spot another pup, a white one this time. The little puppy gets up and comes toward us, walking gently. Kelsi looks excited and wants to approach it, but before she does, a large beast jumps in front of us. Kelsi yelps and I can't help but retreat too.

For a second, I wonder if that thing really is really supposed to be a wolf. It's large and brown, more like a bear! The large wolf growls as a warning, standing between us and the pups. I realize the warning is for me, as it has its green eyes on me.

"It's okay, Bobo."

I see Selena walking to us. She's in jeans and wearing a simple off-the-shoulder top, but she is still dazzling. She smiles at us, glancing at the large brown wolf.

"Sorry, Boyan is just cautious because of the kids. Stella, come here."

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