Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Emilia's POV

When I reached the assigned location, I found a woman instead of Michael. Was the person behind all of this someone else? I halted and backtracked my steps but like the fool I am, I crashed into a bush, drawing everybody's attention.

I cleared my throat and tried to say in a confident voice, "I am here like you said. Now let Nivaan go."

When I didn't get a reply, started walking toward the woman clad in a black gown. My eyes darted around the clearing, assessing the group that had gathered. There were about six of them in the vicinity. However, I had the feeling that there were more.

It would be stupid even to try fighting so many of them. My only consolation was that Nivaan would be free now. I was about to reach close to the woman when two men grabbed my arms and held me firmly in place.

My eyebrows furrowed as a strange sense of dread grasped my heart. What if they didn't let Nivaan go even after capturing me? F***! How could I be so stupid? I should have thought of something better than just walking up to them.

I glared at the woman and snapped, "You already have me. Now, you must let Nivaan go like you assured!"

"What is the hurry, hun?" The woman said as she moved closer to me. She patted my cheek and continued, "I will let him go once the ritual is over."

"What ritual?"

"You will find out soon..." the woman replied cryptically as she beckoned the guards to follow her. I was dragged to the basement of an old, abandoned fort. I was prodded along a long corridor.

It was so dark and dingy that I found it difficult to breathe. Once I got adapted to the musty air, I perceived some other scents; bloodflower, cinnamon, and charred wood. As we moved forward, a strange sensation developed in the pit of my stomach.

Warning signals blared in my head and my wolf started getting restless. She wanted me to get out of this place as soon as possible. I did try to free myself; several times. But, I wasn't strong enough.

We stopped in front of a large metallic door. It seemed pretty sturdy but it just swung open the moment the woman drew closer. It was almost like the door had followed her command.

I kicked myself inwardly for even thinking about such an absurd idea. The men holding me shoved me forward. I stumbled into the room and was immediately assaulted by a strong stench of stale blood.

There was a flash of light almost like a ball of fire had spiraled around the entire room. A few moments later the entire room was bathed in a soft glow. A gasp escaped my lips as I saw the sight in front of me.

Hundreds of candles dazzled in the form of an eleven-pointed star. There was something placed near every point. I took a step toward the design. My heart jumped to my throat and a scream escaped my lips when I saw what it was.

My hands flew to my mouth and I staggered as far as I could from the design. I closed my eyes tightly but the image of the bloodied mass lingered. Terrified, I snapped open my eyes again. Pointing my index finger towards the bundle I stuttered, "W.. What in the fucking hell is that?"

"It's the baby I killed two weeks ago..." My heart went numb and I continued to gape at the figure lying like a mass of decayed meat. There were ten bundles like that. Did that mean? No...no...no... I couldn't even think of something as cruel as this.

Tears rolled down my cheeks, "Please tell me that you are joking.... I just... can't..."

The women's demonic laughter echoed in the room as she closed in on me. I tried to run but the men were blocking the way. The woman stopped a few meters away from me and said in a dangerously low voice, "Do you want to find out whether I am joking or not?"

My throat went dry and my heartbeat went all haywire. I tried to talk but my voice was barely audible. So, I shook my head as firmly as I could.

"Magus, Don't you think we should wait for the baby to be born?"

"We just need a life that is conceived under the Lupus Constellation. Sacrificing this pregnant woman will be enough to finish the ritual," her voice was completely emotionless.

My entire body broke out in cold sweat when I realized that they were talking about my baby. I drew in deep breaths and gathered every ounce of strength that was left in my body. This was probably my last and only chance to escape. I curled my fingers into a tight fist; directing all the anger that I felt into those closed fingers.

With a swift move, I punched her right in the face. She screamed and dropped to the ground. It happened so suddenly that the man got distracted. This moment was enough for me to kick him in his groin. Then, I pushed him aside and started running blindly.

I hadn't even reached the end of the corridor when my steps faltered and I stopped. I tried to move my feet but it was like they were stuck to the ground. I was grabbed from the back by an invisible force and moments later, I was back in the ominous room.

The woman was standing there with a sinister expression on her face. I had no idea how I could tell that when I couldn't even see her face. Gulping the lump that had formed in my throat, I asked, "What are you?"

"Haven't you figured it out yet?"

"No..."

"You have but you don't want to admit it to yourself. You don't want to accept the fact that you can never escape from me," She snorted as she raised her hands. The large candle placed in the center flared up before lifting into the air. It hovered over the ground for a few moments before making its way toward the woman.

Everything clicked into place; rituals, candles, sacrifices. She was right. I was so doomed! There was no hope for me. Even the strongest werewolf in the world couldn't fight against a witch.... So this is how my life was going to end: unwanted, unloved, unprotected. I wasn't afraid of dying. Honestly, living is way scarier than death. My only regret was that I couldn't save my baby....