Page 71 of The Soulless Witch

Soft fur brushed against my leg and I looked down just as Isaac’s massive form slumped to the ground, his chest heaving while white foam dripped from his mouth.

Wolfsbane. This was it! The smell was wolfsbane! Damn them to hell!

Trying not to inhale any more of the smoke, I staggered to my feet and poured the rest of my magic into the staff. Back pressed to the wall so I could stay upright, I raised it with both hands. I had to do something, quick, or this rescue mission was over. Wolfsbane was toxic to humans, but it worked even faster on werewolves. If I didn’t take action now, they were all going to die. And I was…too weak to do this alone.

Closing my eyes, I focused on the foul air sticking to my skin, on the coils of smoke, on the breaths of each wolf that lay at my feet, clinging to life while it slipped through their teeth. I turned the staff in a circular motion, switching from one hand to the other so I wouldn’t have to stop. The air started to move. My magic lulled the smoke to gather bit by bit. The wolves choked, but I kept going even as they writhed while whirlwinds of poison slid from their gaping mouths and flew in my direction. The corridor started to clear, revealing silhouettes standing in the dungeon on the other side of the door.

I kept turning the staff, again and again, even as my head grew dizzy. I slid to my knees as I released the spell, the condensed toxic smoke rolling away on the floor encased by a magical bubble. Blinking the dryness in my eyes, I watched as furry bodies started to move. Gasp after gasp, they sucked in deep, grateful breaths while they rolled to their feet.

This wasn’t going to save them from death, but it was going to give them time. Time to get their people out, and if their Goddess was willing, get treatment and live.

The last embers of magic within me, all that I had taken from Nym and restored with sleep, puffed out, leaving me utterly helpless. The fear and panic that I had been keeping at bay poured in all at once, making my body shake so hard that I could barely balance on my hands and knees.

An angry growl filled my ears, but by the time I raised my head, there was too much screaming to tell what was going on. I reached for my staff, but my fingers wrapped around a tiny stick snapped in two, likely the result of taking the brunt of that spell instead of my body.

A pair of hands caught me as I swayed, and my instincts told me to fight before a blade sunk into my heart. So I fought, or tried to, but those same hands picked me up with surprising gentleness, and the smell of blood and sweat made me look up. I blinked in surprise when I recognized Isaac’s face, his human face, inches away from mine, his mouth moving as if he was saying something.

He ran into the dungeon, stepping away from the fight where wolves and hunters were engaged in a vicious scuffle, the former attacking with the vigor of someone who had very little time left to live. Setting me down on the ground, Isaac shook my shoulders.

“Celeste!”

My name, he was saying my name. Not monster. Not witch. Not murderer. My name.

It sounded so strange.

“Celeste, look at me!” He shook me again, and I focused long enough to see the concern on his face as he glanced over his shoulder. “Do not move from here while we take care of them! There aren’t that many!”

“You will die,” I croaked, and he frowned, his fingers digging into my shoulder. “The wolfsbane, you need the antidote before it’s too late. I only delayed the effect.”

He blinked as if not understanding what I was saying, then huffed a breath and grabbed my face. I stilled, waiting for the blow, but he just stared for a long moment, his chest whistling with every breath.

“Do not move from here,” he said, his thumb brushing against my chin. “And do not dare die. Stay right here where I can see you.”

Isaac didn’t wait for my reply. He turned and jumped, his body shifting mid-flight. A black wolf landed on the ground, running into the fray of bodies. I watched them fight, guns firing and teeth tearing flesh and bone, when a movement on the opposite side of the room caught my attention. Cages lined the wall, silhouettes moving inside, watching the carnage with horrified eyes. Children, mostly, but a few adults too, and…

“Celeste!” a familiar voice shouted, and before I knew it, I was crawling toward the cells. When I reached the one before the last, I found myself inches away from Lily’s dirty, tear-stained face. A look behind her told me her parents and brother were also there, huddled in the corner and looking around with terrified eyes. Kevin had a bump on his forehead and Julia’s hair and makeup were a mess, but other than that, they looked fine. “I knew you’d come,” Lily whispered, her voice breaking as more tears filled her eyes. “I knew—”

“Don’t cry,” I said, catching her hand through the bars. Seeing her alive but still so scared brought some of the strength back. Even without my magic, I could help. I could get them out of there.

Looking around, I spotted one of the humans lying on the ground nearby, his head turned toward us. Dead eyes stared right through me, neck and chest torn to ribbons. He was still squeezing a gun in his hand, but the blood that pooled around his body hadn’t reached his fingers yet. I crawled to him and snatched the weapon before rising to my shaky feet.

“Everyone, get back!” I shouted at those who had drawn near with hope gleaming in their eyes. Most of them had to be werewolves, but I spotted a few Fae as well—some almost human-looking, save for the sharp features and elongated ears, while others had green skin, horns, or tails.

They scampered away, hiding in the corners as I aimed the weapon at the lock. Smoke rose from the metal contraption when the bullet pierced it, leaving a gaping hole behind. I yanked the door, sighing in relief as it opened without resistance. I had barely taken a step inside when Lily threw her arms around me, squeezing me hard enough to break bones.

“I’m so sorry,” I said when she finally released me, looking at the rest of her family. “I—”

“Later.” Kevin cut me off with a stiff smile, his eyes darting behind me. “I think it will be best to have this conversation once we are safe. And…” He looked at the cage next to theirs where a pair of children had their faces pressed against the bars, eyes begging for help. “We need to do something about them. We can’t just leave them to…” He glanced briefly at where the battle was still raging, as if afraid to look at it for too long.

Nodding, I signed for them to stay put, then stepped outside of the cell and went to the next lock. Aiming at the lock, I fired. It took me two tries this time, each shot causing the children inside to scream in horror and me—to sigh with relief when the ricochets didn’t harm them. I ran to the next one, firing again only for the weapon to make a strange clicking sound. Releasing the magazine, I stared at its empty insides, cursing under my breath.

I was just turning around to search for another gun when Lily’s shriek rose above the fighting.

“Look out!”

I ducked, more by instinct than anything else, and felt the air ripple above my head. Sparks rained over me as a long, sharp blade crashed into the bars.

Tall, long-haired, and covered with more rune tattoos than any hunter I had ever seen, it was hard not to recognize him, even if it wasn’t for my medallion hanging around his neck. Hope rose in my chest at the sight of the artifact—if I could get my hands on the power stored inside, then it was over. Once I absorbed my latent magic, dealing with everyone here would be child’s play. But the way the witch hunter let his weapon fall by his side like he wasn’t even afraid I’d attack, had me hesitating.

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