51. Bloodied Vision

**MAEVE**

“This is not good, Maeve. This is not good.” Esmeralda shook her slowly, biting into her wrinkled corner of the lips with her eyes fixed elsewhere.
Xander and I narrated every last detail we could remember about my time in the realm of Ametrine, where she had astutely trapped me in. She had ambushed my thoughts with the only purpose of her selfish motives to return to the land of the living in order to re-establish her power. And since none of us were equipped with ancient witchcraft, Esmeralda was our last resort.
We needed answers, and we needed them fast.
“Yeah, we have guessed that so far,” Xander muttered, slightly distastefully. “And that’s the reason we are here. Esmeralda, there has to be a way to get rid of Ametrine.”
Easier said than done. How do you get rid of a powerful, all-knowing original witch capable of creating her own universe on her own terms?
A pregnant pause hung between the three of us as Esmeralda’s eyes slowly found ours. But it seemed like the cloudy thoughts were still encircling her head. “In all these centuries, psychics were never found. If it was the case, they were either old to live a day or killed mysteriously. But if Maeve’s identity has been discovered by Ametrine, there is a high chance that her followers are already hunting.”
From beside, Xan’s wolf growled so loudly, I could feel the tremors through my veins. Is this what shifter she-wolves think, too, post-marking?
“They can come for her but they won’t be returning alive,” Xander roared, his eyes glowing silver.
I quickly placed a hand on his knees and squeezed, offering all the comfort I could afford. “Please calm down. If we can amicably settle this…”
“You are not getting this, Maeve,” Esmeralda cut in exasperatedly. It was the first time that I have seen her so unsettled and concerned. “This is not a dispute of the human race. It is about the reclaiming of ultimate power for a supernatural - the original supernatural, if I might add. Peace has nothing to do with this.”
“Well, in that case, I can’t hide behind this pack and wait for her crazy followers to come after me,” I said with the fiercest voice. “Putting innocent lives, humans or not, are not in my nature.”
A slow, sad smile stretched the corner of Esmeralda’s lips. “You are right, dear,” she agreed softly. “You are destined for special things - things above humans and us, supernaturals. And that would be your strongest suit.”
Her sun-lined, deep set of eyes tried to convey something I failed to understand. When I exchanged a look with Xander, he seemed clueless as well. ”I don’t follow you, Esmeralda.”
She took a deep breath, clutching the cane tightly to shift her posture. “The reason Ametrine could pull you into her realm was because of your ancient blood and your talisman, heaven knows what and how she procured.” Contemplating for a moment, she began again. “But since she has already discovered your magic, you have to perfect it and make it your ultimate weapon. She found you through magic, so you have to defeat her through magic itself.”
Her word replayed in mind, weighing the advantages, but Xander’s brows furled.
“How on earth is it safe?” His voice was low and forceful, almost a growl. “It’s her magic that led to this pit and if she starts practising, how is it going to protect her from the inevitable? This is a bad idea,” he warned.
“Do you have a better one?” Esmeralda challenged. “From what I can see - you have two choices, Xander. One, we protect her as long as needed because Ametrine is going to come for her eventually and Maeve cannot live her entire life looking over her shoulder. Two, she strengthens her power through magic and builds a fighting chance. That’s all the wisdom I can offer from my experience.”
I looked at Xander, nodding my comfort as I could easily feel the storm roiling inside his head. And I understood where he came from - all he wanted to do was protect me. But right now, I needed more than protection.
I needed to be able to protect myself.
“I think she is right, Xander,” I said softly, even though in his mind, he warred with the options.
His head abruptly turned to Esmeralda. “And who is going to teach her magic?” he demanded. “Who can we trust to keep her identity safe from those twin sister’s followers?”
It seemed like Esmeralda did have an answer for us already. “Maeve is not exactly a coven witch, so she doesn’t need to access similar powers or spells. She is the descendant of the original psychics and therefore only a shaman can perfect her magic. All we do need to do is help her channelize it.”
“How do we find a shaman now?” I asked curiously.
A smile appeared on her lips as she answered, “My dear, I am an ex-witch who comes from a legacy of witches. One of my aunt, in order to preserve her heritage, married a shaman.” She took a deep breath before revealing the identity of the person who could potentially sharpen my skills. “The last time I have seen Hugo, he was still living in that old woodhouse of the Pelrose forest. He is a man of extraordinary talent and a very private person. He is exactly what you need to hone your magic.”
“Pelrose forest is not inside our territory,” Xander raised his concern before I could vocalize my thoughts.
“Shamans are more orthodox than witches,” Esmeralda defended. “And all the more reason, they would avoid werewolf territory. Besides, her magic is suppressed here. Therefore, to achieve and utilise her full potential, we need a neutral ground and away from supernaturals.”
“Okay, if that’s what it takes,” I answered quickly before Xander cuts in.
And like I dreaded, he swooped in at the exact moment, making his disapproval clear. “Not so fast, no.” His head shook like he was trying to reason a child. “You are not leaving this territory without protection. Bad enough you have to expose yourself in this manner, there’s no way I am leaving you alone in a forest with a stranger who can potentially harm you.” He turned to Esmeralda. “No offence, but I can trust a stranger with my mate. Especially someone with her secrets.”
“None taken.” She raised her palm in defense and gave an acceptable nod. “I understand your concern, Xander. You have every right to be worried about her, which is why you should accompany us.”
“Okay.”


**XANDER**

No matter what they would tell me, I knew it was a terrible idea, but it was also the only way to save Maeve from this ancient, pain-in-my-ass witch.
As we slowly rose to depart, having the conversion nearing an end, I realized that Maeve had gone suspiciously quiet. Her brows were drawn together as her mind fought to concentrate.
“What happened, Maeve?” I asked, smoothing a hand over her as she jolted. “You look worried.”
“I caught a scent, something weird,” she mumbled, still trying to grasp her thoughts.
“Your senses are slightly heightened,” Esmeralda cleared her doubts.
“But how is that possible?” I asked, letting the question hang in the air. Maeve was not a shifter, and hence, it was unlikely that there would be any remarkable change after that I have marked her.
Esmeralda chuckled as she slowly rose with the help of her cane. “Don’t forget that she has more magic in her blood than any shifter wolf walking on the face of the earth. The mark only enhanced it.”

***

Maeve and I strolled down the pebble decorated path of Esmeralda’s house, absorbing each and every implication that would eventually lead us to war against ancient forces. But, among all, I was still entranced by Maeve’s newfound senses.
So, I could not help but ask her. “Is it true, that your senses are heightened? Is there anything you feel differently?”
Wordless, Maeve wove her fingers with mine and squeezed. “I don’t know about other things, Xander, but I do feel our bond. If that’s what you are asking. I felt it before as well, but not as powerfully.” And she paused before leaning in and whispering with a mischievous glint in her pretty eyes. “And I know what you are thinking too.”
“No way.” I chuckled and risked a challenge. “It’s just a ploy you are using against me, kitten.”
“Am I?” One of her brows arched higher. “ I know that you have already decided that you shall waste no moment in killing the shaman, should he pose a threat to my life. Telling me I am wrong,” she dared.
“Isn’t that obvious? I’d kill anyone for you.”
“We need him as our ally, Xander,” Maeve reminded me sharply. “I am sure a homicidal intention is not going to work in our favour, otherwise…”
Her voice trailed off, and her eyes went blank. Even though she was staring at the path ahead of us, it was as though her mind had been locked somewhere else. Her fingers on mine loosened, and before I could jerk her into sense, a small trickle of blood seeped down her nostril.
Shit. Not again.
I had heard from her plenty of times whenever she had a vision, the detailed nuances of how her body went physically numb, but it was the first time I encountered it. With all my might, I grasped her shoulders and shook her body until Maeve could snap out of it.
“Maeve, what happened? What did you see?”
“I had a vision,” she whispered. “A vision of massacred werewolves.”

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***Do you think her vision would come true?***