Chapter 67

“Yeah, Tae’s right. It’s getting late into the night and witches could be roaming around since we’re near Mount Vesuvius.” Irene added. I watched as Ella neared a knocked-out Michelle, and I almost forgot that I was still spell-bound to her.
“How will we bring Michelle with us without waking her?”
“I’ll carry her,” Yoongi offered. All of us then held hands, preparing ourselves to teleport back to Ella’s coven where the rest of the witches could help us unbind the spell Michelle has on me in case she resists.
In three seconds, we were back in the coven, where the candles flickered at the energy we radiated when we fell to the floor. We teleported in the receiving area, and from here I could hear talking just above us. It must be Marie and the rest of the witches.
Before we could move, Ella stopped us, looking up where the noise could be heard, and her brows were knitted together in confusion.
“What’s up?” Irene asked.
“Something’s not right…” She whispered. This made my heart drop.
“What do you mean?” Taehyung asked, trying to follow where Ella was looking. After a few moments of silence, Ella shook her head as if dismissing the thought.
“Never mind, I must be overthinking things.” She spoke. “Just let me go first, just to be sure.”
And so, we went upstairs and entered the room where the noises came from. But as we got inside, we were met with all the witches knelt down in one side of the room, their hands behind their back as if something invisible were tied around them, and their mouths were pursed together, unable to talk or scream. Their eyes held emotion, a look of panic and terror.
In front of us was Marie being held by the neck by an unknown woman.

 
“Who are you??” Ella demanded as she stood in front of us. The woman turned around and I couldn’t help the slight gasp that left my lips. Why does she look oddly familiar…?
She had sharp features; her thin almond-eyes stared at me with a mixture of shock and realization. Her long pointy nose protruded underneath the moonlight that spilled through the windows, and her red lips were plump and full. Her curly jet-black hair fell just below her waist but despite its length, it still managed to look silky and shiny even in the dark.
Despite her fierce stare at us, she looked more like a beautiful goddess of the light. And my mind still itched as to how this woman looks vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t seem to pin on who she exactly is.
“Give me the girl and no one gets hurt,” the beautiful woman demanded. She didn’t have to say my name to know that she was looking for me.
“Woman, let her go. You’re being surrounded.” Taehyung tried as he took a few steps closer, both his hands held up in defense.
Seeing Taehyung’s sudden movements, I watched as her grip on Marie’s neck tightened and Ella gasped.
“No!”
“One wrong move and her head rolls off.” The woman threatened, the anger dancing in her eyes. “Do as I say and give me the girl.”
Every fiber of my being shouted at me to not make a move and stay within the circle, but another part of me was drawn to her, like she had some kind of effect on me that I never knew was there before. She intrigued me, and my thoughts ran as cogs turned trying to decipher who she was. Surely, she isn’t just another random supernatural trying her luck on taking me away to win the prize.
“I’m counting to ten seconds. If she doesn’t come near me anytime soon, this coven will be deemed nonexistent.” The woman said again as she squeezed Marie’s windpipe and the poor woman wheezed as she tried to pull her away.
“Who is this woman and why does she give off such powerful energy?” Yoongi whispered behind me as he continued to carry an unconscious Michelle. Ella could only shrug.
“No one’s moving? Alright fine, ten seconds is almost up.” The woman shrugged nonchalantly. I could see the way Marie’s eyes widened in fear at the same time Ella cried out.
“Wait!” I exclaimed. The woman immediately stopped her actions as she faced me. “I’m coming with you, but you have to unbind the spell first. My soul is bound to this unconscious woman, and she probably won’t be awake anytime soon.”
The woman stared at me for a few seconds, contemplating, before she shrugged and lifted her free hand with a snap.
In that same moment I could feel the invisible chains weighing my soul down come free, and I took in a deep breath at the refreshing feeling of being able to breathe properly without heaving.
“You, okay?” Irene asked worriedly and I nodded.
“Y-Yeah, I think she just broke the spell.” I replied quietly. I looked back up at the woman and she was staring at me expectantly.
“I did what you asked. Time to go.” She said again. Why does she sound so relaxed now?
“Don’t worry, little one. We’ll come find you again.” Taehyung whispered. “We’re going to end this game and you’ll be home soon. I promise.”
“Just try to call us if you can. You know you can speak to me; I’ll be listening to you all the time.” Irene added.
“Don’t die on us, Lil’s. We’re coming to get you again.” Yoongi whispered.
I took in a deep breath as I moved around Ella, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze as I made my way towards the woman. I could see her smile growing as I neared, watching as her grip on Marie slowly softened.
“Let her go, please.” I told the woman, looking her dead in the eyes. “Let this coven go. I’m coming with you.”
She finally let go of Marie’s throat and the woman fell to the ground in a hard thud, gasping for air as she sobbed at the pain. Ella quickly ran towards her and began healing her neck. I watched as the woman freed the rest of the witches, seeming to be unafraid at the possibility that any of them could lunge at her suddenly.
But she was quick; she held my wrist, and I could feel myself being sucked away once again, a cloud of darkness blurring my vision as I locked eyes with Irene one last time, trusting that they would find me again.

In a matter of seconds, the teleportation stopped, and I fell against cold tiles as I coughed away the black smoke that entered my lungs.
“Sol, close the windows and lock the doors before you leave and clear this floor. I do not want any other witches here while I am not finished with Lucifer’s spawn just yet. Wait for my signal if all else is clear.”
It was the voice of the same woman who took me. I looked up and blinked away the dizziness and surrounding me was a modern-looking room lit with yellow and white lights. I pushed myself off of the floor and continued to look around.
It was like being inside a five-star hotel room; the king-sized bed in front of me was clothed in black and white blankets and cases, and next to it was a tall lamp engraved with gold and silver linings. All the furniture matched the polished wood design, and above me was a crystal chandelier. There was a door behind me that led to what seemed to be a wide balcony, but the glass doors were closed and locked. Another side of me hung a giant flat-screen TV and below it was a coffee table surrounded by a black leather couch set.