Chapter 5

  SHADOWS MUST BE FORGOTTEN

  Max woke up that morning with a strange sense of relief, as if the events of the previous night had only been a nightmare. He got up, looked out the window, and saw warm light bathing the street. But as he went downstairs, the smell of eggs and coffee brought him back to reality.

  —Good morning, Max. Did you manage to sleep? —Gabriel smiled at him, focused on not burning the eggs.

  Max looked at him for a moment, confusion still written on his face.

  —Not really… Gabriel, was Laura attacked last night? Was it real? —The room fell silent for a second.

  —Yes, Max… it wasn’t a nightmare. —Gabriel handed him a plate—. Eat something, sit down. Then we’ll go to the hospital.

  —My parents? —Max asked quietly.

  —We’ll figure it out, don’t worry. —Gabriel gave him a reassuring smile before excusing himself and leaving the dining room.

  In the hallway, Gabriel opened his bag and took out a crystal sphere that shimmered with white mist swirling inside. He squeezed it, and the sphere glowed red.

  —Emergency protocol —he murmured, but the sphere remained silent—. Is anyone there? I need help… strange things are happening here. Does this thing even work? —frustrated, he set the sphere aside and returned to Max.

  They ate breakfast in silence. Afterward, Gabriel pulled out a set of keys.

  —I found your parents’ car keys, Max. I’ll drive.

  The ride to the hospital was tense, and they both avoided speaking, lost in their thoughts. When they arrived, they asked for directions and entered Laura’s room, only to stop in shock: Laura’s wounds were healed, as if nothing had happened.

  —Max, I’m so glad you’re here —Laura’s mother said as she stepped out of the room upon seeing them—. It was a miracle. No one knows how, but she’s out of danger. Would you stay with her while I go get something to eat?

  Max nodded, stunned. When they were alone, he and Gabriel looked at Laura in silence.

  —Laura? —Max whispered, but she didn’t respond—. Was it you? —he asked, turning to Gabriel.

  —No… I can’t heal. —Gabriel frowned, observing Laura—. In fact, I have a theory… Her blood had a strange smell last night. It’s possible she was attacked by something demonic.

  At that moment, the lights began to flicker, and a whisper filled the hallway.

  —Dulcia somnia, anima mortalis… dulcia somnia, anima mortalis… —The female voice was hypnotic, and Max began to feel dizzy. Within seconds, his eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep.

  Gabriel shook him, unsuccessfully, as three women entered the room, moving with an unsettling grace.

  —An angel… —murmured the blonde woman with wavy hair, examining Gabriel with a chilling smile.

  —It seems no one told us this mortal was under the care of an angel —commented the second woman, a curly-haired girl who smiled at him kindly.

  —He’s not here for her; he’s here for him. He’s a Cupid angel —the third woman, her hair tied in a bun, looked at him with piercing coldness—. Oh, how rude of us. I’m Cristina, the blonde is Melody, and the curly-haired one is Tory. We’re witches, Gabriel, and we’ve come for this mortal.

  —You can’t take her. She hasn’t done anything wrong —Gabriel replied, stepping in front of Laura.

  —Easy, little bird —Tory said in a calming tone—. We won’t hurt her. We’re here to help.

  —Help her? —Gabriel asked, baffled.

  —Your friend was attacked by a Besta. If we don’t intervene, in a few hours she’ll feel a ravenous hunger, and this hospital will be her first feast —Melody said, pulling out her phone and glancing at the screen.

  —Gabriel, if you want, you can come with us —Cristina suggested, smiling reassuringly.

  —Max has to come too —Gabriel insisted.

  —One thing is taking an angel, another is taking a mortal. They won’t allow it —Melody shot Gabriel a sharp look.

  —It’s fine, he’ll come too —Cristina said, defusing the tension—. I’ll take care of giving him a false memory afterward. —She snapped her fingers, and Max jolted awake, disoriented.

  —What’s going on? —Max asked, confused.

  —We’re witches, and your friend has been infected with something supernatural. We’re going to help her, but we need to move fast —Tory explained bluntly.

  Melody approached Max, caressing his cheek with a smile that looked almost predatory. Then she placed her hands on Laura’s stomach.

  —Fluctua ut pluma —Melody murmured, her words echoing through the air as if they had no beginning or end. They floated, charged with an energy that raised goosebumps.

  Slowly, Laura began to rise from the hospital bed, her movements as light as a feather. Her hair drifted around her face, stirred by invisible currents, as the atmosphere in the hospital shifted. The air crackled with palpable electricity, buzzing intensely, making the lights vibrate and the windows tremble.

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Laura’s eyes remained half-closed, as if she were trapped in a deep dream, unaware of what was happening around her. Her body floated gracefully, guided by a force that did not seem of this world, gliding slowly toward the hospital exit. Every movement she didn’t make seemed dictated by an unseen wind, as though she truly were a feather carried by unpredictable currents.

  Gabriel and Max followed the witches to a large truck waiting at the entrance. Laura was placed inside, and soon they set off toward the outskirts of the city. After an hour, they arrived at an old tunnel sealed with strange symbols carved into the walls.

  —While darkness endures, light shall emanate from every sister —Cristina recited softly.

  The symbols lit up, and the concrete sealing the tunnel began to crack until it crumbled to dust. They drove through dense darkness, and soon roots burst from the ground and wrapped around the truck. Max and Gabriel were terrified, while the witches remained calm. Eventually, the roots withdrew, revealing a vast hall illuminated by torches.

  —We’ve arrived. Let’s get out —Tory ordered urgently.

  —Now? —Max asked, looking around warily.

  —Listen —Cristina said firmly—. Laura was infected with a very peculiar virus. In our world, there is a type of witch called a Besta. The pure ones can infect mortals and transform them. The first transformation is the most dangerous, because their hunger is insatiable and they can’t distinguish between friend and foe.

  The truck shook, and a savage roar echoed from inside. The doors flew open, and a creature emerged: Laura, her human face twisted, massive goat horns, goat legs, and wings instead of arms. Her red eyes gleamed as she looked at Max with a macabre smile.

  —Max, my friend… —Her voice was a mix of Laura’s and something far darker.

  —Don’t listen to her, Max —Melody warned firmly.

  —Silence, whore —the creature replied with a sinister laugh.

  —Circule fidei, tene tenebras… —Tory whispered.

  She shut her eyes tightly and began to chant, her voice low and solemn. A faint light rose from the ground, tracing a perfect circle around Laura. The glow intensified with each word, forming a pulsing ring of energy. Sparks danced along its edges as a steady warmth emanated from the barrier. The circle slowly began to rotate, reinforcing itself, while the shadows recoiled, unable to cross the luminous line.

  —Laura, it’s Cristina. I know you can hear me. Hold on, we’re here to help —Cristina said, stepping in front of Max and holding him back—. Max, don’t come closer. I don’t want to have to use magic on you.

  —Please, listen to them. They know how to help her —Gabriel whispered, holding him.

  The creature raised its distorted face, lips moving in a dark, guttural whisper that made the air tremble.

  —Venite ad me, bestiolae quae per umbras repunt…

  From cracks in the floor and the shadows in the corners, small dark beings emerged. A swarm of spiders, bloated bodies and eyes glowing like embers, crawled toward the circle, their legs scraping with a chilling sound. The circle flickered as each impact weakened it.

  Cristina closed her eyes and began another incantation.

  —Dominor mentem tuam, cede mihi…

  The creature screamed, a sound that seemed to tear the air itself. Its body convulsed, and the summoned creatures froze before dissolving into dark dust carried away by the wind. The creature fell to its knees, gasping, clutching its head, until its voice faded into heavy silence.

  —What did you do? —Max whispered, eyes wide with fear and awe.

  —Don’t distract her —Melody snapped, placing a firm hand on his shoulder—. She needs full concentration to keep her under control.

  Hours passed before Laura finally returned to normal. Exhausted, Cristina collapsed to the ground.

  —Damn it… you, mortal, come help me —Melody demanded. Max hurried over, and together they helped Cristina lie down gently.

  —She’ll be fine, she just needs to rest —Tory said.

  —I hate when she does this… She risks too much for strangers —Melody muttered, glaring at Laura.

  —You know she never abandons anyone. You should learn from her example —Tory scolded her.

  —So… what do we do now? —Gabriel asked anxiously.

  —Now we go to the cafeteria. We can eat while Cristina and your friend rest —Tory replied, leading them.

  In the cafeteria, Max and Gabriel sat nervously.

  —So… how does it work? —Gabriel asked excitedly, like a child facing an enormous candy.

  —How does what work? —Melody replied, frowning.

  —Magic.

  —Oh, easy. We take virgin blood, and its purity lets us invoke the magical essence of the environment —Melody said mockingly, enjoying their expressions.

  —Melody! —Tory sighed, rolling her eyes—. Don’t listen to her. Magic is inside us; our bodies produce it constantly. We use certain words in a specific order to give it intent, and that becomes a spell. Simple as that.

  Hours later, Max and Gabriel were left alone.

  —What do you think will happen to Laura? —Max asked, worried.

  —I don’t know… but she’ll be okay. They clearly know what they’re doing —Gabriel said, though he was uneasy.

  —Did you notice that Cristina seems to know too much? —Max added.

  —Yes… I think she can read minds. The first time she looked at me, it was strange… as if she saw something bad in my mind.

  —You? Gabriel Berht, the kindest person in the world? There’s nothing bad about you —Max said, caressing his cheek.

  Suddenly, Melody burst in.

  —Lovebirds, get up. Your friend’s awake and asking for you.

  They hurried to Laura.

  —Guys! I’m glad you’re here… Did we get kidnapped? —Laura asked, eyeing Melody—. That one definitely traffics organs.

  —Relax, she’s just a growling dog —Cristina said, recovered. Then she turned serious—. What I’m about to tell you won’t be easy… Laura Silva, you’re now a Besta witch. You’re nearly immortal, with accelerated regeneration and animal-related magic.

  —What?… —Laura was overwhelmed—. I almost attacked Max. Am I going to turn into that thing again?

  —You’ll be fine —Tory reassured her—. Next time it’ll be more controllable, and with time, you’ll master it completely.

  —More transformations? I’m a monster! Why me? —Laura cried.

  —Laura… we’ll get through this. There has to be a way to reverse it, right? —Max pleaded.

  —I’m sorry, Max —Melody said coldly—. This is who she is now. Accept it and control it, or repress it, and the beast will become uncontrollable. If that happens, the Witches’ Council will eliminate her.

  —Eliminate her? —Gabriel snapped angrily.

  —Yes. If someone becomes a danger, they’re taken out of the game —Melody said, mimicking a gunshot.

  Max hugged Laura tightly.

  —It’s okay… you’ll control it. I’ll be here to help you.

  Cristina approached Max, taking his hands.

  —Max… you’re human. You shouldn’t know any of this. I only allowed you to stay so you could say goodbye. After that… I have to make you forget.

  —Forget everything? Magic and… Laura? —Max demanded.

  —Everything. Laura must stay here, and to avoid problems, all humans must forget she exists. I’m sorry.

  —Please! I won’t tell anyone —Max begged.

  —Max… maybe it’s for the best —Laura whispered, holding him.

  Cristina took his hands firmly.

  —Obliviscere memoriam eius, obliviscere existentiam eius, essentia eius in aere evolat…

  The air grew heavy. Max’s eyes turned white as a pale mist rose from his body. When it faded, he collapsed unconscious into Gabriel’s arms.

  —What… what did you do to him? —Gabriel whispered.

  —What was necessary —Cristina replied softly, guilt shadowing her eyes.

  —He’ll be fine, Laura. When he wakes up, he won’t remember anything… not even Gabriel. Melody and Tory will take him home, and I’ll send Gabriel back to Paradise.

  —And me? —Laura asked.

  —You’ll stay here, in the Great Hall. It’s where witches go when they can’t control their magic. Here, you won’t hurt anyone —Melody said gently, showing her the room.