Chapter 106 - A strong bridge

**Hopes pov**

I look at Ambrogio, who looks a a bit uncomfortable.
“The bill?..What have you promised her?”
“Not much..nothing we will miss.”
“WHAT?” Callum roared and actually made Ambrogio flinch which made me have to stifle a laugh.
“You know how witches are..talismans here and talismans there..apparently a part of the first born werewolf, the first born vampire and the creator of the race can become a powerful talisman…and it doesn’t even need to be a specific part, a little fur..some hair..a few drops of blood.” I turned and looked at Callum.
“What do you think?” I asked him through the link
“If it brings her back to us, its a small price to pay” He reached out to put a strand of hair behind my ear.
“But its your call.” I turned back to my old enemy.
“Fine..but there is something else we need to talk about first.”
Ambrogio let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face before meeting my gaze. His nervousness was gone, so was the smile and warmth in his eyes. It was replaced with coldness and betrayal.
“I suppose you want to talk about Zara? About how I’ve been under her spell? How she’s ridiculed me, made me doubt my own sanity? Sure, we can talk about it, maybe you can even enlighten me why? What made her do that? What have I ever done to her?”
“Calm down!” Callum’s voice had a warning tone but I placed my hand on his chest, I could do this. I sat down on the table in front of Ambrogio and took one of his hands between mine. Luna rolled her eyes in my head and Ambrogio himself looked very surprised.
“She did it for the oldest of reasons..she did it for love...”
“But she doesn’t love me, it was all an act..”
“No, she doesn’t, she loves her grandmother. What Tatiana did to you earlier today, lived for a moment in your memories, Zara did that with Zandra but to a greater extent..she lived in her memories, the very darkest of them...” I see a shadow of pain in his eyes, he knows which memories I’m referring to.
“She loves her so much she wanted to make you mortal, she wanted to remove the stone around your heart and give Zandra the choice to kill you or to let you live.”
Ambrogio’s face softened again and he relaxed, if there was anything he could relate to it was apparently the love for Zandra. After a moment of silence, he looked at both me and Callum.
“You have my word that I won’t hurt her…I promise you this too..If Zandra wakes up and she decides she wants to give her life to end mine, then I myself will give her the wood to place in my heart.” With those words he stood up and left the room.
Callum and I both exhaled and looked at each other.
“I should have listened to you…” I said giving him a kiss.
“Yeah? What did I say?”
“You begged me to stay in bed with you today.” He laughed and kissed me back.
“There’s always tomorrow baby. Right now we have a room with sixteen white witches, a black one with five gorillas on leashes, the Father of Vampires and two of his strongest sons..we should go in there and make sure everyone behaves.”

There was a murmur of loud agitated voices in the dining room when we entered.
“Zandra would never want to be touched by dark magic”...
“Cooperate with her kind..it’s blasphemy, the mother will punish us”...
”There are sixteen of us, we can break the barrier ourselves”...
”Of course I should take the role of lead witch, I’m the oldest of us”
“If we get her back she’ll be pissed because we’re here with him, in the same place where his slaughtered her entire village”
Ambrogio and his sons were leaning against one of the walls, he looked dangerously clenched and irritated. Looking around, I noticed that the only one who looked happy in the chaos was Tatiana.
“Cousins, cousins..calm down. We’re all here for the same thing and let’s be honest, none of us are really here for Zandra…not really.” Tatiana smiled and narrowed her eyes at the others.
“What an insult!” A woman spoke, she looked like be in her fifties, but of course, with witches you never know.
“Insult you say? Dear Adriana, I know your little brewery is dilapidated and a bird whispered that craftsmen are already booked next week..And you Petra, finally back on this side of the sea and you too have plans next week, isn’t that right? Expensive plans I would say… So, cut the bullshit... You’re all here because he’s paying you, exactly like me so let’s get to work and plan how to tear down the barrier!” She spoke with an impressive weight in her voice and one by one the others fell silent and nodded slowly.
“We need a place where the four elements are strong and we need a bridge.” said the woman named Adriana.
“A bridge?” I asked.
“Yes, a bridge between light and dark magic. Preferably not a witch but someone who is touched by magic”
“I do it, I am what I am because of magic right?” Ambrogio looked hopeful.
“Sorry dear, you are what you are because you disappointed God, the magic only made you stronger and to be honest it would be a very dark bridge.” Tatiana walked past him as she spoke and gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder.
“I do it..” We were all startled by the voice in the doorway.
“Cathy!” Callum rushed forward and scooped her up in his arms.
“And you are?” Tatiana looked at the newcomer curiously
“I’m Callum’s little sister, we’re both descended from Zandra and we both have generations of werewolf blood in our veins, so not witches. Neither of us is light or dark so we should be able to build a strong bridge...together.” She looked at her brother and he nodded silently and kissed her forehead.
“So, one point settled. Next is the location.”
“There is only one place…” Ambrogio spoke quietly but I heard him and I knew the place he was referring to.
“The lake…Zandra’s lake below the waterfall… she has a strong connection to the place, the water is fresh and strong, the earth around is fertile and there is always a gentle breeze there.” I looked at Ambrogio as I spoked and a sad smile was on his lips, did he know? Did he know the lake heald her after he tore her appart? Did he know It was the place where Aayla took her last breath and where Zandra buried her? Luna cried inside me, she knew Zandra’s connection to the place better than any of us.
“Then it’s settled, I’ll leave it to you and your light magic to prepare her”
Tatiana left the room with her goons in tow.
“I don’t know if I like having her here loose and unguarded.” I looked at Callum to see if he agreed with me.
“Relax, she may be dark but she’s not stupid. If I know her right, she’s probably looking for the kitchen…or a bottle of bourbon.” Ambrogio accompanied us out into the hallway, we probably all felt that we should let the witches do what they needed.
“Can I see her?” His question was expected, yet I didn’t know how to answer.
“Ambrogio...I don’t know”
“Please, I just want to sit with her for a while...there are some things I need to say...even if she can’t hear me, I need to be able to say them in case she doesn’t... in case she doesn’t come back. Please Hope…Luna?” Again I looked to Callum for help.
“Hey, don’t look at me, I’m familiar with the pain from her cane! Although with a little luck she will wake up when he is there, I placed the cane next to her.” He laughed and gave Ambrogio a clap on the back before leaving us.
“Ghaa..okay..I guess its fine, I take you to her.”
We walked up the stairs in silence and with each step I felt more emotions coming from Ambrogio. Nervousness, anticipation, joy, sadness, fear...pretty much the same emotions the rest of us had.
“I put my trust in you, the slightest change you notice you let us know okay?”
“Of course…” I could hear how dry his throat was which worried me a little.
“When did you last…eat or drink?…you know what I mean.”
“It’s not thirst that makes my throat dry Hope..years without food couldn’t make me hurt her, you don’t need to worry.” I nodded silently and took a step to the side, giving him a reassuring smile and watching as the door closed behind him.