Andria's POV
"We don't back out", I instructed my wolf.
A strange scent suddenly filled the entrance, its strength so overwhelming that our bodies began to weaken.
"Aria, Larissa, are you all there?, Hang on, it is the wolf's bane," Mel called out before she passed out.
Larissa had already passed out. I guess I'm the only one still half awake. My vampire senses must have prevented my total blackout.
A sturdy-looking old woman appeared at the entrance. She smelled like herbs, dried flowers and smoke. "Must be the old witch", Athena whispered to me before she passed out.
I could hear the whispers of insects and birds before I gave in to the wolf's bane.
Ten minutes later..
A soft light glistened in the room. It was dimly lit like the cliche old witch's home. The sturdy woman sat near the fireplace, her back to me, chanting weird stuff.
I slowly looked around in search of Mel and Larissa, but they weren't here with me, and suddenly my eyes lit up in panic.
"Looking for your friends? Don't worry, they will be here soon. Now, child, what brought you to my home?" she asked, turning to face me.
Just then, the door opened and Mel and Larissa came in. "We have been looking for you Aria... How is she also here?" They gasped as they gestured to the old witch.
"She was just in the other room, she led us to this room where we could find you." Mel explained in a panic filled voice.
'A mirror witch? that can't be possible,' I muttered under my breath.
I have heard of this kind of witch before, I never knew they existed, I always thought there were nothing but myths. They were known to practice dark and evil magic. It is hard to see a good mirror witch.
"Who is she?" Larissa fired at Mel.
"Oh, I'm sorry for not letting y'all know that she was a mirror witch, because obviously I didn't know", Mel replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
Larissa looked very perplexed and a little bit angry with Mel's reply. She didn't take a second to fire back at her.
"You are lucky we are not yet dead."
The old witch watched them banter like children, letting out a slight chuckle.
"You will be dead soon if you refuse to respect my sanctuary." The old witch cut in, shattering their little banter, then paused to let the words sink in before continuing with her introduction.
"I am Lady Iskareth of Northwood. I've lived for three hundred and forty-five years," she paused again to get the attention of Mel and Larissa who were sizing themselves up.
She sure looks and sounds like a good mirror witch, although Athena felt very uneasy.
"I'm sure you children didn't come to my home to fight?" She stood up and moved towards us. She takes the little stool in front of us and sits down there.
"Yh, we came here because of her," they gestured towards me
Then, with a torch in her hands, she brings it to my eyes. I squinted at the ray of light from the torch, but she firmly said, "Open your eyes, kid."
I forcefully opened my eyes. "You seem to have so many unanswered questions, now let me know them."
I looked towards Mel and Larissa, and they just nodded. "Tell her", Athena's voice came out soft but firm, and that was all the confirmation I needed.
"I can't control my scent." I blurted out
"Ok, let's see. Have you tried to mask it before? Lady Iskareth asked, then turned to the counter, where piles of old spell books were, including some portions.
"Yes, I have. I applied a mask control ointment, but it couldn't mask my scent.
She walked towards the mirror, a weird, round mirror, close to the counter.
She muttered some words, like incantations of Latin or Greek, before walking towards the counter, picking up one of the spell books, two portions, and a bowl, and placing them on the table in front of the mirror.
She recited some spells over and over again. "Tekesh malish merandum" before picking up one of the portions.
She poured out two drops from the portion, then continued her chant. It was strange to me; I have never felt safe around witches, but now is not the time to think about it. The greater fear is the Dravari.
Lady Iskareth picked the other portion and then poured it into the same bowl and went back to the counter while reciting the same chants. She picks up a stick, returns to the bowl and begins to stir.
After a while, she moves swiftly to me and applies the potion to my forehead.
But all I could see was Aven. How did they get here? Was this a trap all along, or am I hallucinating?
Athena was drowning in excitement, and soon I could smell my heat. "Little mate, you can't control your heat, huh?" Tristan said, coming closer.
Damon touched my hair and inhaled its scent. They were crowding me, and I couldn't control my reactions.
"What is going on here? Leave me alone!" I screamed.
"Why run from it, mate, let it consume you", Damon breathed the word. My breath became haggard, I was suffocating from the desire, and that's not what I wanted from the old witch.
"Why now?"
"It is called the siren's musk. For a while, it may seem like your mates are around, and it will trigger your heat." I heard Lady Iskareth's voice call me out of the illusion, the Alpha heirs suddenly vanished, leaving a confused Mel and Larissa.
They were gathered around me, as if something terrible had happened to me. It looked as if they had been calling me for some time now.
I was confused. I came to mask my scent, and I only got triggered.
"It's part of the process. Finding the problem and then the solution comes after that," she replied softly, "Only my voice could jolt you out of the hallucination." Lady Iskareth explained and paused
She walked to my front and once again pulled the stool in front of me and sat down, before she continued.
"While you were in your little fantasy world, I tried some portions for masking scents on you, and they seemed not to work; they only increased the effect of the hallucination, thereby increasing your heat.
"So, does it mean that there's no solution?" Larissa asked, and I could see that she was growing increasingly impatient.
It was already two hours past midnight, and we needed to return before the day brightened to avoid suspicion.
"There's only one reason why this is happening." Lady Iskareth suggested as she returned to her consulting mirror and started another chant.
"Lamas drakeris dione".
Then she swiftly turned as if she had a sudden realization. "You are a Lunara-blooded she-wolf'