Wherever Tomin was, I would find Verena. I left armed with the only weapon I needed in my pocket, and I didn’t look behind me to where Kai was stood watching my departure from the tavern’s front door.
It had been a while since I had toyed with my past. Years I had spent lurking in the shadows, tracking down my enemies for me to end them. Although this time I had no plans on killing the Hunter who I had in mind. But at least the thrill of the hunt was back. I felt, all in all, like myself again.
Find Verena. Free her. Winthe Witch Trials. Become Grand High. Save the mortal world. Then, in the end, save witch-kind from the grasp of their previous demonic saviour.
“That is one hefty shopping list,”Emon hissed into my mind. His presence may not have been as comforting as Caym, but it was still better than nothing.
I smiled to myself, wind and fog whipping my face as I ran into the distance. “Never say I do things in half, Emon,” I panted, lungs burning as they filled with cold air. “Now, are you ready to play your part in saving the world?”
“Just do not blame me if this goes south, witchling.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
The slim shadow my body cast across the ground beside me shivered. In a blink, Emon had us falling sideways into the puddle of shadow, sinking into the darkness as we slipped out of sight, and out of mind. It was like plunging into a cold body of water. I held my breath, clenching my eyes shut until the sensation departed.
It lasted but a few seconds, although in this twisted realm, it felt more like days.
By the time my eyes adjusted to the light’s return, the shadow-realm left behind us, I came face to face with the first person I’d set out to find.
“Verena,” I exhaled, heart beating as the witch turned around, back haloed by the orange flame of a candle.
Her bruised eyes widened, as much as the swelling allowed, A small, broken sound left her cracked lips, followed by a sentence I had almost expected. “You shouldn’t be here.” Panic overcame her, forcing her words out in a choke. “Go. Leave quickly.”
“Can you stand?” I asked.
“Why aren’t you listening?” she shouted back. “Silly boy.”
I shrugged, eyes drinking in the small, suffocating surroundings. “I hear that a lot.”
Verena’s dark gaze flickered to something over my shoulder. Her mouth parted in what would’ve been a scream, if she’d had enough time to release it. Panic jolted through me a second before a heavy, dull object cracked into the back of my skull.
The world tilted on its axis. Once again I fell into the shadows, but this time it wasn’t demon conjured. It was a darkness made from agony. And then, there was nothing but peace, and quiet.
44
HECTOR
Granted, I had left room for error in my plan, but having my head whacked was very bottom on my list of possibilities. So when I came around, blinking away a heavy fog that seemed to sit behind my sensitive eyes, I felt pretty pissed off.
“I’ve checked the wound,” a calm voice said across from where I was sat. “It’s nothing serious. No stitches needed, at most a doctor might prescribe a couple of pain killers and tell you to get some rest.”
Verena was still sat against the wall I’d last seen her by. It was a relief that I’d not lost her when I was attacked from the back. At least my plan wasn’t completely foiled.
“How long have I been out for?” I grumbled, my mouth feeling as dirty and dry as the bottom of a bird cage.
“I’d say a few hours. Well rested. Now, keep your eyes open and keep talking. It’s not worth the risk playing with a possible concussion,” she replied.
I blinked away my grogginess, trying to separate the pain into a distant part of my mind. Looking up, I pinned my eyes on Verena. Relief unfurled within me like a rose to bloom to see her.
Verena leaned over her raised knees, chin rested on them as she hugged her legs to her chest with firm, unwavering arms. “He’ll be back soon,” she said.
“Good,” I replied, keeping my voice as chipper and light as I could muster.
There was barely any room between us. Apparently Tomin hadn’t felt the need to move me once he knocked me out, because we were still in the dim-lit cabin. It took me a moment to realise the need for his action. It was to get me secure; thick chains had been cuffed around both of my feet. I blinked away dust and salt as I trailed the chains up to a rusted-looking bolt on the wall above me.
“Chains have always excited Tomin,” Verena said, noticing the shifting of my attention. “I would say it was his speciality. Thanks to the last trial, he struggled. His hands have not healed… nor have mine.” She lifted her broken fingers, the skin an off colour as the digits bent to an awkward side.
“You should really do something about that,” I said, finding conversation hard.
