She tricked us!
SHILHI’S POV
I threw the last mandrake into the cauldron pot as I prepared another set of potions for Alpha Zadok.
Joy filled my heart at the thought of his face when he finally realised what a fool he was – A joy I planned to share with the exterminated clan of witches after I sacrificed them at the heart of the dark forest.
Poor Ithra. I wondered how she would feel knowing she was but a means to an end.
The pot’s content boiled under the threshing fire, and I put in the secret ingredient of the Alpha’s potion – A sealing spell.
My mouth moved, and murmurs of chants filled the air. The pot grew green, and a wicked smile touched my lips.
Everything was perfect. It was only a matter of time before I took my revenge and made the werewolf race pay for the evils wrought against the witches.
After 12 years, everything was finally coming into place.
I dished the potions into small bottles and left them on a table in the greenhouse, just beside another bottle that held the consciousness of Shilhi.
“Just wait, I’ll have another body, and you can return to this one.” I cooed, touching the bottle that shook furiously.
I wouldn’t lie. Taking over Shilhi’s body twelve years ago wasn’t easy.
Being part wolf, she had a strong loyalty towards the Bloodmoon pack – especially towards the Alpha.
For two whole years, I lived inside her, suppressed by her gigantic will and waiting for an opportunity to gain control and send her packing till I executed my plans.
My opportunity came during one of the mating ceremonies, which saw her mate rejecting her for being partially a witch. In one moment of hating the werewolves and the pack, I was able to influence her hatred and finally take root as a co-owner of her body.
From that day, everything went downhill for her and upwards for me until I had full possession of her body. Now, Shilhi was lost, and her life shut in a bottle.
The fact that the so-called Alpha and other friends didn’t seem to notice a hair out of place for the past ten years since I inhabited this body showed that looks were deceiving. It was the best camouflage.
“Shilhi!” I heard a desperate yell from outside the door and immediately braced up. It was show time.
Mustering the most concerned Shilhi’s voice, I asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Rogues! They are everywhere!” Azriel said, looking like a fish out of water.
I nearly rolled my eyes at his dramatics. Of course, I knew there were rogues! I brought them in myself.
“What?! Where is the alpha?” I asked with widened eyes.
“Athaliah’s gone to find him. He stepped out of the event some time ago and hasn’t returned.”
I didn’t miss his pained undertone at the mention of Athaliah. Poor and rejected beta, how would he feel when he finds that while he was busy with his personal affairs, the alpha and the witch left for the dark forest?
Courtesy, me.
Soon enough, the door opened, revealing Athaliah panting heavily. Their eyes met, and I saw the utter pain and devastation between them. Each for different reasons.
“Zadok’s gone! I can’t find him! Including Ithra!” She reported, terrified. “No matter how hard I try, I can’t reach him. I can’t even feel his presence throughout the land.”
“The lands are crawling with rogues. If they took him, they would try to mask his presence to cover their tracks.” I supplied, praying they were stupid enough to believe that.
“He’s an Alpha. They shouldn’t be able to mask his presence that easily.” The thought-provoking Azriel said, and their eyes returned to me, awaiting an explanation.
“Not if the rogues are working with a powerful witch and the Alpha resists his wolf abilities with potions,” I said, looking between them as I played my last bet. “Did you say Ithra is missing too?”
“I knew it. That girl is not to be trusted. She tricked us!”
Athaliah seemed nuts, and so did Azriel.
“Ithra doesn’t have powers,” Azriel said, more to himself.
It seemed like he was having a hard time believing it.
“With a witch, you can never be too sure. If she hid her powers and allowed herself to be humiliated to gain entrance and skill in the blood moon pack, what can she not do?”
Azriel snarled, “If you knew she wasn’t real, why didn’t you say so earlier?!”
“I recently found out that the ancient witch’s book was missing. Ever since, I kept a close eye on Ithra. While I continued my search for it.” I walked towards the shelf and squatted.
With a click sound, I opened the hidden drawer on the last shelf and dragged out a dusty blue book – The real ancient witch’s book.
“You said the book was missing,” Athaliah sneered, impatience rolled off her in bouts.
“I set a trap just in case Ithra had other things up her sleeve. I got her in here and dangled the bait in her eyes.” I cleared my throat. “Eventually, she fell for it. But that’s beside the point. I picked up the fake version of the book in the woods on my way from picking herbs. Someone got a little angry at the lack of results and burned a part of it.”
“She must have known you were onto her and decided to act fast.” Athaliah said, “We need to do something, Azriel. Zadok might be in danger.”
I smirked at her desperation. They were buying it. Good. I needed more time to perfect my master plan. I couldn’t risk these peasants getting in the way.
“First things first.” I continued, “You need to secure the lands. Rogues are everywhere, and it’s only a matter of time before they take over the town.”
“Done. I will situate guards around the farm to keep the rogues away. Please try your best to keep the book safe. If Ithra is truly behind this, she could be coming for the book.” Azriel said, his claws elongated as he spoke.
He transformed halfway into a wolf.
“Got it,” I said, holding the book closely.
With that, they left the greenhouse, transforming into a wolf as soon as they hit the woods. Things were getting interesting.
I picked up a timer and set it in motion. In a few more weeks, I will be in my body and reunited with my clan in the dark forest.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.
The ancient Witch’s Clan.