Page 66 of Magic and Medicine

I looked at her for a long time. I knew I wasn’t ready, not even close. A few week’s magic lessons with an intensive crash course over the last week and my Krav Maga training, combined with Adam’s self-defence lessons, didn’t make me a warrior. I would happily skip this part, letting Leszek handle anything related to the gods, but I didn’t have a choice.

I remembered a conversation between Veronica and Leszek. That a god could be killed once their soul was anchored to mortal flesh by someone with my power. Of course, they would still have their magic, but we had an ace up our sleeves. We had Czernobog’s dagger, and I was willing to use any means necessary to save those I loved.

I smiled at my teacher. ‘Teach me how to tie a spirit to mortal flesh. Teach me how to kill a god.’ I said, and Veronica paled.

‘Sara, that knowledge was lost with the last Soul Shepherd, and even if you succeed, the Council will ensure you follow the previous Godkiller into the afterlife.’

‘They kidnapped Nina, and they’ve already hurt so many. Do you think Czernobog will be a benevolent god once he returns? No, even if I die, it is one life for many. Besides, it may never come to that. I just… I want a fighting chance. That’s all I’m asking.’

Veronica may not have known the exact way to anchor a god’s soul, but she had her theories, and after working on each of them, I struggled to see straight, so I texted Leszek, asking him to pick me up. My body was a mess, traces of crusted blood still filling my nostrils and ears, and I hoped the drive would give me an hour of rest before I had to face whatever Rostov had prepared for me.

Veronica stood up, and I saw her pondering before she sent me a sad, tired smile.

‘For what it’s worth, you shall take the blessing of the Coven with you. Even though you weren’t officially initiated, we still consider you our sister.’ She said, and as if on command, two other women entered the room and positioned themselves around me. They looked so severe, softly chanting with a slow, hypnotic rhythm before raising their hands to bless me. I felt like I was watching a B-rated movie.

‘Maiden, protect you,’ said the youngest, touching my left shoulder.

‘Mother, heal you,’ said the other, her hand on the right.

‘Crone, guide you. Go with the blessing of the Coven, little sister, and call upon us in the time of need.’

This was Veronica. A jolt of energy flowed through my body as she kissed my forehead, and I felt them and their magic, embracing the physical elements of the world. Their spirits entwined, elevating each other and now me. We were women, bound by magic, the threads of our lives interwoven into one, stronger rope, burning within us, weaving me into the sisterhood of the Tricity Coven.

‘I–thank you.’ I said, embracing Veronica. I didn’t understand the ritual, but deep inside, I knew they’d given me something precious. A connection that was already strengthening my magic.

Leszek cupped my face in his hands, inhaling slowly before he cursed and threw an accusative glare at Veronica. He must have smelled the blood despite me vigorously washing my face, but I grabbed his forearm before he could say anything.

‘I learned what I needed. That’s all that matters.’ I said, and he bundled me into the car, his anger filling the space between us.

‘You came here to learn, not kill yourself,’ he said, not even looking at me, but his hand rested on my thigh, and unless he had to change gear, it stayed there until my headache and tiredness slowly faded.

When we walked into the manor house. It was quieter than usual. While Leszek dressed in his combat gear, I used the opportunity to sneak Czernobog’s dagger into a scabbard on my cargo trousers. When I walked to the kitchen, Leszek played with the butcher’s knife, and his expression turned stony.

‘I need you to do something for me. I know you won’t like it, but I ask you to trust me,’ he started, turning toward me.

‘What? And don’t ask me to stay home,’ I said. My eyebrows rose when he approached me, still holding the blade.

‘No, but I want you to drink my blood,’ he declared, jaw clenched, and before I knew it, he’d lifted the knife, slicing the skin of his forearm. Blood poured from the cut, the red liquid almost glowing as it flowed onto the floor between us. ‘My blood will protect you, and as it is a part of me, I will be able to find you even if you disappear from the flow of time. I know it is extreme, but I need you safe.’

‘You are not turning me into a vampire?’ I asked, and he shook his head. ‘Fine, but if I grow antlers, we’ll be having a long and boisterous discussion,’ I said, rolling my eyes as I leaned over and pressed my lips to his skin. The metallic quality of Leszek’s blood was strangely pleasant, and I lapped at his skin. I couldn’t help smiling at his groan before my lover uttered an incantation in a language I recognised but couldn’t understand. When Leszek’s magic coursed through my body, I jerked backwards to escape, but he placed a hand on my neck, holding me in place.

‘Not yet.’ The commanding tone of his voice sent a shiver down my spine, and this time, it was my turn to moan as I obeyed, taking another swallow of his life’s blood. Leszek’s power suffused my body, filling me with his essence, rising and falling with my heartbeat.

My stomach roiled, but as he released me, I couldn’t resist licking his skin one last time before looking up, intending to tease him about his strange new kink, but the words died on my lips at the darkness in Leszek’s eyes.

‘I’m sorry. I will explain it later, but it was necessary.’ I didn’t know what he was apologising for, but I didn’t push him for answers, trusting my lover with something so obviously important.

The wound on his arm was already healing when he nodded toward the door. ‘Let’s go. I need that bastard’s blood on my hands.’

No one accompanied us on this journey, Leszek explaining that his forces had spent the day infiltrating the area covertly. He was quiet and deep in his thoughts, and I used the time to rest and prepare myself. Once we reached the Hel peninsula, we left the car in a car park and walked down a gravel path deep into a pine forest. The chill November evening made the night feel confining, and the moisture in the air hinted at a budding storm, the sound of waves in the distance adding to the moment’s intensity. It wasn’t long until it became too dark for me to see, but Leszek took my hand and guided me to help me avoid tripping.

‘Just in case things go wrong, I want you to know I love you, and despite our problems, I wouldn’t change anything. The last few weeks, I mean… they were good, great, and I regret nothing. Even if I die tonight, I regret nothing.’ I said, hoping that whatever happened, my words would give him some consolation. Instead, a low rumble ran through the woods, the tree shaking in the silent protest, showering us with the evening’s dew.

‘You won’t die, Sara. I already took care of it,’ he muttered, and I wondered how many people he’d brought for this fight, but we emerged from the forest before I could ask him. The dark wall of the forest gave way to a meadow, although it looked more like an ancient graveyard in the pale moonlight, its gentle slope descending to the beach.

There was a building in the distance, the only place with any light, with blazing fire pits surrounding it and a crowd of people moving in the flickering flames. Despite the darkness, I could see rifles carried on their shoulders, and the building itself gave me pause. There was something wrong with it. I focused on the slight shimmer before the view made me gasp.

The building was glowing, and not just from the firelight, and I blinked several times before my eyes made out the source of the strange light. It looked like a jewellery box encrusted with gemstones that glowed like fire. Amber. It was amber. The powerful, magical stone and armed guards didn’t bode well for me, even in the company of the Forest Lord.

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