Page 119 of Plug and Tame

And mine with it, Kira thought sadly, because how could she go on without him? There would never be anyone else for her, not while he was alive and doomed to never be happy.

I have to stop him before it’s too late.

But she wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the witch. Would she help her? Or was this a trick?

Barbara gave a soft groan and massaged her neck, which cracked audibly.

Kira studied the witch more closely—the last time she’d seen Barbara, she’d been an old woman on her deathbed. Then she’d been revived and transformed by Nathaniel’s blood into a young woman. Now, she looked to be in her early forties. The years had made her more attractive, and there was a subtle hollowness to her cheeks and a generous criss-cross of crow's feet at the corners of her eyes.

She’s been exerting herself. She’s definitely older than the last time I saw her.

Kira did not want to make the mistake of underestimating Barbara, however…she had no time to lose. “I have to get to the wedding. Nathaniel needs me.”

“That he does,” Barbara agreed pensively.

“Will you help me?” Kira continued, growing exasperated with each passing second. “Please?”

“Of course, dear, that’s why I’m here.” She rose to her feet, pulling a long dagger with a cruel, jagged blade from her belt. “Always happy to help a friend of Nathaniel’s.”

“Wh-what are you doing?” Kira gasped, trying to back away, but her heels had sunk into the ground and she lost her balance and fell.

Fear rippled down her spine as Barbara advanced, her eyes manic as she twirled the knife threateningly. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment.” She lifted the knife high, ready to plunge it down into Kira’s chest. “I knew the day would come when I spill your blood in these woods.”

This witch is fucking crazy.

Kira freed one heeled shoe from the earth, but the other was entangled in fine tree roots that wouldn’t let go, snaking up her leg of their own accord.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Her gaze snapped back to Barbara as she tried to block the blade, but it never came. Instead, Barbara lowered it, grabbed her wrist, and cut a tiny slit onto the top of her forearm.

“Today was foretold,” Barbara said, her excited face inches from Kira’s.

“What?” she stammered, watching a bead of blood trail down her arm.

“I had a dream many moons ago—a prophecy, if you will—that I would reopen the portal for you. Although in my dream, it was your palm that I cut. That would be more poetic, don’t you think? But I find cuts on the hand are such a nuisance; they take forever to heal. Still, blood is blood, and you know what they say about blood: better out than in! At least when it comes to magic, anyway.”

Kira was still staring at the witch in horror. “I thought you were going to fucking kill me!”

Barbara frowned. “Nonsense, deary. I’ve always had back trouble…” She lifted her arms again, grasping her wrist this time as she stretched them above her head, the dagger glinting in the orange sunlight. “The portal is the best way.”

“Next time I’ll walk,” she snapped as the roots that had been trapping her receded with a giggle.

“Walk? Goodness, no. Wintermaw Keep is on the other side of the Capital. You’d never make it in time, not even in your wolf form.”

Kira sucked in a breath of air, relieved she was still alive.

Barbara began to chant words Kira did not recognise, her hands trailing bright blue plasma as she moved them in patterns through the air.

Awknisi ohkisa vaskezak zsemlelmesz.

Baylhk amayn.

The plasms formed a rectangular frame where the old portal had been, but through it, Kira could only see the birch trees beyond.

“Now, deary. This is not a permanent portal, so it will only be open for a short while. Now, I need your blood to help activate it. Just let a few drops trickle onto the ground beneath it. Yes, that’s it, there you go—”

No sooner had the first drop of blood landed on the dry leaves than a loud whoosh sounded. The air distorted violently, whipping Kira’s hair back and lifting the tutu-like hem of her dress as the portal flashed white, then blackened. A split second later, an image appeared of Nathaniel’s room.