Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Sandy’s POV

Over the next few days; we roamed together; teleporting to different regions of Halterland. Ora had insisted that Evaan stay back on all the trips. Evaan tried to use his impeccable reasoning but Ora was unmoved. She commanded him to stay back and gave him some grimoires to read. That kept his little mind busy while we scoured through markets, valleys and mansions.

If I am honest, I was kind of thrilled by the idea of being alone with her. I was tempted to make a move but her business like demeanor made me hesitate.

One evening, we had just explored the ancient ruins of Lorem when she stopped abruptly. She looked at me with a serious expression, “We can’t continue like this, Sandy.”

My heart skipped a beat on hearing this. Had she sensed my desire to make a move on her? I gulped and was about to speak up but the words wouldn’t leave my lips, “Ora…I….”

“I can feel that Evaan is growing restless. If we don’t do something, I am afraid, he will end up doing something more dangerous….”

I was glad that I didn’t speak my mind. Heaving a sigh of relief, I asked, “What would you suggest?”

She remained silent for a moment, her deep gaze boring into mine, “You should take Evaan and return….”

“What about his father?”

“I don’t think he is here, Sandy. If there was a werewolf around, I would definitely have heard something over the years…. Still, I will keep looking for him.”

“Evaan would never agree….”

“That is why I need your help.” She held my hand and urged, “We can’t let him get entangled in the world of sorcery anymore. Especially, when we don’t know the consequences… Tonight, I will use the Brisanje spell on him.”

“Brisanje? What is that?”

Her face flushed and she lowered her gaze, “I…umm… will wipe out all of his memories from the time he met me…. Y..You can say that you were the one who rescued him…” Her grip on my hand increased and she urged, “I know that this doesn’t seem right but it is in the best interest of Evaan. If he stays here, he might end up getting killed….”

“Have you ever done this before?”

She shook her head, “I would never do that to someone…. Years ago, I saw Grand magus perform this ritual…..” Her gaze turned distant, then she shook her head, “Don’t worry. I won’t mess it up.”

My lips pressed into a thin line and I nodded. She was right in a way. It was the best if Evaan returned to his mother. “What about the bond you both have?”

“I will keep looking for a solution. I will contact you once I find a way….” She raised her palm and a piece of paper emerged on it moments later, “I can use magic to send messages wherever I want.”

My eyebrows furrowed and I massaged the back of my neck, “Umm… what if I want to contact you?”

“You can leave a message at the inn….”

We discussed some more details as we returned to the inn. That night while having dinner, a strange temptation took root in my heart. What if I accidentally slipped and told and told Evaan everything? Then, I wouldn’t have to leave.

When Ora handed the spiked juice to Evaan, I was again tempted to switch the glasses.For some reason, my mind was working on a single track. It took every ounce of my will power to stop myself from acting on my thoughts.

That night, she put him to bed; tucking him carefully and patting his head until he drifted off, “He is such a sweet boy, Sandy. I really hope I can find a way to undo the soul binding spell. I want him to have a long and fulfilling life.”

“What about me?” I found myself asking before I could stop myself.

She tucked the blanket and turned to face me. Her eyebrows were drawn together, “You?”

“Hmmm… what do you think about me?”

“I never gave it much thought,” She said in a slightly flustered voice. However, her eyes gave her away. I could tell that she was still thinking about me. I cupped her face and kissed her before hesitation could entangle me in its grip.

I kissed her slowly, engraving the way her lips felt against mine in the depth of my heart. I would probably never get this opportunity again. So, I wanted to etch everything in my memories.

I held the small of her back and drew her closer, deepening the kiss. Then, she pushed me away; her expression unreadable. I had probably crossed the line this time. I wanted to apologise but didn’t get a chance.

“I… I will go and make preparations for the ritual,” she stuttered in a flustered voice and rushed outside. After that, she barely spoke a word. She took Evaan to the meadow beyond the inn. I followed her in silence, quelling the urge to talk to her with sheer effort.

The grass had been cleared from a large patch. An array of candles were spread on ground. There was a large circle in the center. Hundreds of arm-like patterns emerged from the circumference of the circle.

Ora teleported Evaan to the center of the circle and spread his arms and legs in the position of an eagle. Then she picked up a knife and slit open her palm, letting the blood trickle on the circumference. She held her palm steady until the red liquid had formed a complete circle.

Then she sat down in the lotus position in front of him. Her lips trembled as she started chanting an ancient spell. As the words resounded in the clearing, the candles started lighting up one by one.

The incantations grew in pitch and strength causing the floor to tremble. A streak of blood flowed out of Ora’s nose but she didn’t stop chanting. The candles flared higher and higher; their glow mingled together forming an orb of sorts.

The orb’s color changed from white to red to sheer black. Then with an abrupt flare, the candles went out. Ora’s eyes snapped open and her lips lifted in a victorious smile.

“Do you think it worked?” I finally asked once the ritual was completed.

“I am pretty sure it did,” With those words, she grabbed my hand and teleported us right behind our pack’s boundary. She handed Evaan into my arms, ruffled his hair and stated, “Take care….”

Her eyes drifted towards me, lingering for a split second. Then she vanished, like the soft wisps of thick fog on a sunny morning.