Tris
I was reading some old spell books—ones witches and lizards used to learn spells from. It's kind of like a kindergarten book, but I only remember this much. Still, I want to level up. Even a kid can understand that if there's good power, there's dark power too.
Leo doesn't want to talk about my attack. I should make him tell me. We're bonded—we shouldn't keep secrets from each other.
I held my thoughts because I found something interesting: a freezing spell. Wow, you can freeze someone for days… Whoa, I should try it on Leo… hmm, I'm smiling… the evil thoughts in my mind want to try it soon. How about… right now?
The sudden opening of the door startled me.
Leo entered the room. He was smiling, but I felt like he was pissed and trying to hide it.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"What happened?" I replied.
"A question with a question?" Leo came to me and hugged my waist tightly.
I closed the book and gently stroked his hair.
"I don't want to fight with you. You know that, right?" I said, giving him a subtle threat.
"Hmm… please, just for a moment, and I'll be all yours," he insisted.
"Really? Okay, should I keep talking or stop talking?" I teased. Today had been hell for both of us—we spent so much energy dealing with Siya and her mate.
I heard Leo's deep breaths. He had fallen asleep. I didn't disturb him. I opened my book and kept reading.
It was almost midnight. Shely was standing at the door with food. I wanted to eat, but Leo was on my lap. He's a light sleeper—one small move and he'll wake up. I gestured to her that we wouldn't be eating and asked her to close the door slowly on her way out.
Two hours passed. I was feeling sleepy too. I quietly closed the book, but Leo woke up with a heavy breath.
"It's all good. I'm sorry I woke you," I said, feeling guilty.
"No, it's not you. Someone just entered our territory," he said.
I heard a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Leo said, standing up.
"Take me with you," I asked. I wanted to be part of everything with him.
"You need to rest. It happens every now and then. Maybe someone entered unknowingly." He opened the door. Jermy was there, waiting. "Go to sleep, don't worry," he said and left.
Well, he was right—but he forgot that my powers are back. I could still sense his scent fading away. I walked toward the hall. Everyone was moving around. K was with Olivia. Siya—where did she go? I should do something.
I saw Shelly walking out of the kitchen.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Someone barged into our territory. We need to find out who it is before something happens," she replied, looking worried.
"Yeah, Leo told me this happens now and then," I said, trying to fish for more information.
"No, this is different." She grabbed my hand tightly. "They usually confirm within minutes, but it's been over an hour and they haven't figured it out." She pulled me toward the stairs. "Go to your room, okay? Don't leave the mansion," she said.
I walked upstairs to my room, opened the window, and jumped out—landing safely.
Thank God I grabbed the car keys before talking to Shelly. I knew they wouldn't let me get involved. I drove toward the Warlock Mansion.
As I arrived, I noticed more guards than usual. Some wore different outfits. I wasn't sure if they'd let me in. I stopped the car in front. I regretted not having my phone—I should've called Mom to let me in.
A man ran toward the car and opened the door for me. I was surprised.
I stepped out, and he handed the keys to someone who parked the car.
"This way, sir," he said, showing me the entrance.
I didn't know if he mistook me for someone else, but at least I was inside. So many people were there. In the middle of the night—what was going on?
"Holy shit! What are you doing here?" I heard K's voice. She ran toward me in anger. "Are you out of your mind? If my brother finds out you're not at the pack house, he's going to kill everyone in the pack."
She looked terrified.
"Can you do me a favor? It's for everyone's good," I said, making a puppy face.
"You'd better come up with a good idea," she said, grabbing my hand and heading toward Mom's room.
"Tell him you brought me here because you wanted to watch over me, and you don't trust anyone else to do it better," I suggested.
"Roger that," she smiled. She liked the idea.
She contacted Leo through the mind link.
'Why didn't you tell me K came to pick you up?' Leo asked me through link.
'Don't worry about me. Focus on your work,' I replied.
He didn't sound pissed, so that went well.
We reached my mom's room. What a sight—it was full of everyone. Who wasn't there? Siya, her mate Bryan, Mom, Aunt Alina, Zarina, Albert and couple of more people whome I am not aware of.
"What are you doing here?" Mom asked.
"Oh, Bubble," Aunt Alina sighed and closed her eyes.
"You know exactly what you're doing here," Siya laughed. Despite what happened earlier, she seemed totally fine.
"We're doomed," Bryan said, worried. He is well aware of Leo's temper.
"Tris?" Albert looked shocked and concerned.
Everyone started bombarding me with questions. Why? How? When? Shouldn't?
"Don't worry. I took care of everything. Basically took the blame for everyone," K said. "Come on, worship me for saving your asses." She was totally happy about credits.
"Who are you fooling? Everyone knows you won't even take blame for your own mess," Siya taunted.
"Just know that bro is okay with him being here under my watch," K replied, taking the credit for nothing.
"Okay, guys—what's going on?" I asked.
"We don't know much. The person who entered is not a normal human, and we don't know how to find him," Albert explained.
"Yeah, I heard wherever he goes, he spreads his scent all over the place," Bryan added.
"The scent is so dark… it's not like a rotten wolf or usual dark magic," Siya said.
"Has anyone contacted pack members to ask about their search plans?" Mom asked.
"They don't have any clue other than the Archi," Siya replied.
"How do you know it's dark magic?" I asked. "What is Archi?"
"We have strong witches who can sense power, even if it's not being used—just from the aura, we call it Archi," Aunt Alina said.
"Can I talk to one of them?" I asked.
"I'll try to contact them if they're available right now," Mom said. She approached a photo with a candle in her hand.
"Albert, I think you should be with Leo. That would make me feel better," I told him. He left in a blink.
"K, I want to go to the Central Library now," I said.
"Siya and I will escort you," K said, and Siya nodded.
I turned to Siya's mate. "Bring the witch to us as soon as you find one, okay?"
"On it," he said and left with Mom.
"Aunt Alina, do you know how to stop it from moving forward?" I asked.
"I don't think we have enough power to restrict it," she replied.
"Okay. Let's see what we can do," I said, and the three of us left the mansion.
Siya was driving—she's fast.
"I want to talk to Leo. Is there a way to find out what's going on without disturbing him?" I asked.
Siya looked at K.
"Okay, let me try if she's free," K said.
After a while, we reached the library.
After a brief silence, K sighed.
"What happened?" I asked.
"The situation is terrible. That black magic is so powerful it's not only affecting normal people's minds but also playing with werewolves' minds," she said, looking terribly worried.
"Shit," Siya muttered. "We need to do something."
"Is Olivia okay?" I asked K.
"She's not on the field, but people who came in contact with the air where that thing passed… they're getting irritable, hurting themselves, scratching their skin, and losing mind link contact," K explained.
"Let me contact Leo," I said.
We were walking toward the center of the library where Obryan was waiting.
"Don't worry, he's not on the field either," K said.
"I'm not worried about him—I just want to help," I said.
Obryan was so knowledgeable—he read books all the time and had a great memory.
"Obryan, I need books with information about black magic that controls minds," I said.
"That's in the prohibited section. Let me take you there," he said, and we followed him.
"Siya, can you call all the students who are available to help?" I asked.
"On it." She said.
'Leo, can you hear me?' I tried contacting him. I hope I am not disturbing him.
'I'm sorry, I'm a bit busy right now.' he replied.
'I know. Listen to me—don't follow that thing, okay? Just let it go where it wants. We can't put lives in danger. Instead, call a witch who can put all affected people and pack members to sleep.' If I am right.
'Tris—' He sighed.
'This is the only solution for now. I'm going to find the answer. Just keep everyone safe. Isolate the area where it's heading ' I came up with the best I can for now.
'we do have witches to track him but...?' it's hard to move people at once.
'I'm sure we'll figure out the solution soon. For now, people's safety is more important.' I was trying to stay calm as possible.
'Okay, let me see what we can do.' Leo said.
"Here it is—all of it," Obryan showed the old book collection.
I could feel the intensity and darkness in the air.
"Okay, which books specifically focus on mind control?" I asked.
"These," he said, adjusting his glasses and pulling out some books using the moving stairs.
"Obryan is a normal person," I said as I opened one of the books he handed me.
"Wow! How do you know?" K asked.
"If I were the enemy, I wouldn't choose someone who could actually use these things," I replied.
"There's no doubt—Albert was right. You're really smart," Siya said.