Chapter 51 - Witch vs Witch

In the eerie silence of her ancient house, Zorayda stood by the window, peering out into the night with a frown etched deeply on her face. Her dark eyes narrowed, reflecting the flickering candlelight that barely illuminated the room. The air was thick with tension as she clenched her hands into fists and angrily sighed.
"It seems Zelda has begun to interfere," Zorayda muttered to herself, her voice a low, menacing murmur. "I can feel her meddling, trying to undo my spell on Alpha Shane."
Though she couldn't see Zelda, her mortal enemy, Zorayda sensed the subtle shift in magical currents—a sign that her carefully crafted enchantment on Alpha Shane's heart was under siege. Frustration simmered within her as she paced the room, her mind racing with thoughts of how to counteract Zelda's intervention.
With resolve hardening her features, Zorayda reached for the antique rotary phone on the nearby table. She dialed a number she knew by heart, the metal dial clicking loudly in the quiet room. After a few rings, Jack's voice crackled through the receiver, filled with impatience.
"What is it, Zorayda?" Jack's voice was sharp, tinged with annoyance at being disturbed.
Zorayda wasted no time in responding, her tone urgent and edged with frustration. "Zelda is meddling again. She's trying to break the spell I cast on Alpha Shane."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, broken only by the faint crackling of the connection. Jack's voice, when he spoke again, was laced with barely contained anger. "Can't you eliminate her? Put an end to this interference once and for all?"
Zorayda's lips twisted into a bitter smile, though Jack couldn't see it through the phone. "You know Zelda is no ordinary witch. She's as powerful as I am, perhaps even more so."
Jack scoffed, his frustration evident in his tone. "Then what do you propose we do? Sit back and let her ruin everything?"
Zorayda's mind raced, considering her options. "No. We need a countermeasure. Something that will protect the enchantment on Alpha Shane and keep Zelda at bay."
Jack remained skeptical. "And what do you suggest?"
Zorayda's voice turned contemplative, her mind working swiftly through arcane possibilities. "There are ancient wards, rituals we could invoke. We could strengthen the spell, make it resilient against Zelda's meddling."
Jack grunted in reluctant agreement. "Fine. I'll come over. We'll figure this out together."
Zorayda nodded to herself, though Jack couldn't see the gesture. "Good. Hurry."
With that, she hung up the phone and turned back to the window, her thoughts consumed with strategies to outwit Zelda's interference. Outside, the night seemed to hold its breath, as if the very air itself awaited the outcome of their supernatural struggle.
The hours passed slowly as Jack made his way through the winding streets to Zorayda's imposing mansion. When he arrived, the house was cloaked in shadows, the only light emanating from within the windows where Zorayda awaited him.
Inside, Zorayda paced the length of the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps echoing softly against the hardwood floor. When Jack entered, his presence seemed to fill the room with a charged energy, his expression grim and determined.
"What's the plan?" Jack demanded, wasting no time as he closed the door behind him.
Zorayda turned to face him, her features drawn tight with concentration. "We need to fortify the enchantment on Alpha Shane. Zelda will continue to oppose us, but if we strengthen the spell with ancient wards and protective incantations, it might hold."
Jack nodded slowly, though skepticism lingered in his eyes. "And where do we find these... wards and incantations?"
Zorayda's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "I have books. Ancient texts passed down through generations. They hold the secrets we need."
Together, they retreated to Zorayda's study, a room lined with shelves upon shelves of leather-bound tomes and dusty scrolls. Zorayda led Jack to a large oak desk, upon which lay a particularly weathered book bound in faded leather and secured with a heavy clasp.
"This," Zorayda declared, running her fingers reverently over the ancient script embossed on the cover, "contains the rituals we seek."
Jack leaned in closer, his eyes scanning the intricate text. "Can you decipher it? Perform the rituals?"
Zorayda nodded confidently. "Yes, but we must act swiftly. The longer Zelda has to unravel my spell, the weaker our hold on Alpha Shane becomes."
Jack's jaw tightened with determination. "Then let's begin."
For hours they poured over the ancient text, translating and preparing. Zorayda meticulously set up the necessary components—a silver dagger, dried herbs bundled in silk, and candles of deep crimson. Jack assisted where he could, his skepticism slowly giving way to a begrudging respect for Zorayda's knowledge and skill.
As they worked, the atmosphere in the room grew tense with the weight of their shared purpose. Outside, the night pressed in, casting long shadows that danced across the walls with each flicker of candlelight.
Finally, as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, they completed their preparations. Zorayda stood before a makeshift altar, her hands steady as she held aloft the silver dagger. Jack stood beside her, his gaze fixed on the intricate symbols etched into the hardwood floor.
"We begin," Zorayda intoned, her voice low and commanding. With precise movements, she traced a circle around them, invoking ancient protections against meddling spirits and rival magic.
Jack watched in silence, his breath catching as Zorayda began to chant in a language older than memory itself. The words reverberated through the room, filling the air with a palpable sense of power and purpose.
Outside, a storm brewed on the horizon, the distant rumble of thunder echoing the tumultuous clash of wills between Zorayda and Zelda.
Hours passed in a blur of incantations and rituals, each moment fraught with intensity and anticipation. Sweat glistened on Zorayda's brow as she poured every ounce of her magical prowess into strengthening the enchantment on Alpha Shane.
Jack, his skepticism now replaced by awe, stood sentinel beside her, a silent witness to the arcane dance unfolding before him.
At last, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the heavy clouds outside, Zorayda lowered the dagger and stepped back from the altar. Exhaustion etched deep lines on her face, but her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"It is done," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jack surveyed the room, noting the subtle shift in the air, the newfound solidity of the enchantment that surrounded them. A sense of relief washed over him, mingled with newfound respect for Zorayda's abilities.
"We've done it," Jack breathed, his voice filled with wonder.
Zorayda nodded, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. "For now, at least. Zelda will not give up so easily, but our defenses are strong."
As they stood together in the quiet aftermath of their magical endeavor, a sense of camaraderie formed between them—a recognition of shared purpose and mutual respect.
Outside, the storm had passed, leaving behind a world washed clean by the rain. In the distance, the city began to stir with the early morning hustle and bustle, oblivious to the supernatural battle that had waged through the night.
But within the walls of Zorayda's ancient house, two figures stood united against a common foe, their bond forged through the crucible of magic and determination.
And amidst the quietude of dawn, a faint echo of Zelda's frustrated fury lingered, a testament to the enduring conflict that simmered between them.
"Trixie needs to be the wife and Luna of Alpha Shane, not that damn Giselle," Jack declared vehemently, his voice tinged with frustration as he paced the room.
Zorayda, standing by the ornate fireplace, nodded in agreement. "I understand, Jack. It's crucial for our plans. But Alpha Shane is not easily swayed, especially with Zelda watching over him."
Jack stopped his restless pacing and turned to face Zorayda, his brow furrowed with concern. "Can't you just... force him to see reason? Bend his will to ours?"
Zorayda sighed, the flickering firelight casting shadows across her features. "It's not that simple. Alpha Shane's mind is strong, and Zelda's protections around him are formidable. Any attempt to directly influence him could backfire."
Jack clenched his fists, frustration evident in every line of his body. "So, what do we do? Sit idly by while Zelda dictates his every move?"
Zorayda met Jack's gaze, her expression unreadable yet tinged with determination. "No. We find a way around Zelda's defenses. We strengthen our own spells, find weaknesses in hers."
Jack nodded slowly, reluctantly accepting the challenge ahead. "And how do we begin?"
Zorayda moved closer to Jack, her voice low yet resolute. "We need to gather more information. Understand Zelda's patterns, her vulnerabilities. Only then can we devise a plan that will give Trixie the rightful place she deserves."
Jack's eyes narrowed, his mind already racing with possibilities. "I'll start digging. See what I can find out about Zelda's recent activities."
Zorayda inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Good. And I will consult the ancient texts again. There may be rituals, spells we haven't considered—ways to counteract Zelda's influence without direct confrontation."