The Blind Sorceress and the Midnight Beta

Chapter 8: Relentless

                                                                                           Tempest

I was really excited and I couldn’t wait for the ritual, which could un-blind me this time. Hopefully. Fingers crossed. I hope the universe would hear me this time and treat me well.

The air sizzled when I finished the incantation. Heat traveled from the soles of my feet that flowed upward to my legs, thighs, upper trunk and head, settling in both my eyes. It concentrated there for some moments. I had no idea how long. Maybe a few minutes. Suddenly, a throbbing light appeared, but I couldn’t make out anything. Just that. I finally saw a horizontal light. And then… it was gone. I held my breath, wanting for it to come back. But it didn’t.

Oh, please… Come back! I mutely begged, fully aware that the back of my eyes were pricked by despair.

Tears flowed down my face in frustration as I was back and surrounded by darkness—the place that I so wanted to leave and never go back to. But of course, I was trapped there all alone once again. As I always had been.

I couldn’t help but scream in frustration until my throat felt raw. I didn’t care if anyone would hear me at that moment if ever the barrier I placed around my haven was torn down. My heart seemed to be wrung tightly inside my chest.

Face up towards the sky, I continued to cry. The wind hissed harshly, making my hair stand on end. Then I felt the cold and fat droplets touch my already damp face, and rain started to pour down, beating everything on Earth. Me included. I let the cool water pelt down on me, which I hoped from deep within me would soothe my exasperated heart and soul.

I so wanted to feel anything or something else, but it all came down to pain and bitterness. It had always been like this whenever I tried to use my magic to un-blind myself. I began to feel tired in all of this. But still, I didn’t want to give up. I wouldn’t. For as long I breathed.

***

I sat down on the big wet rock and listened to the waterfall. It was the only thing I could hear after the rain poured down for a couple of hours. Well, I could only guess. The earth was muddy and soft. I didn’t care if I was soaked to the bone and dirtied all over.

The scent of freshness and dampness of trees, leaves and grasses filled my senses. Not long afterwards, I heard howls of wolves, which accelerated the pounding of my heart. However, I stayed still. Maybe they were not coming here. This area was still a part of my three-mile radius, wasn’t it? Now I wasn’t even sure.

I waved a hand and wiggled my fingers to check if my barrier was still up. There was a frizzle that sounded in the air, so I was assured it was up and guarded my haven. The wolves couldn’t get into my territory unless there was a hole or something that my magic may have “missed.” And I hoped it hadn’t. Otherwise, I might have an encounter with these creatures and be forced to kill them.

I knew I was not into that, but if I was forced for my own survival especially that I was all alone and no one would give a damn about me, then I’d say in advance “sorry to their unfortunate asses.” If only possible, I still wanted to see the world before I died. So, yes. I’d fight for that.

The howling came closer and closer. I calculated there wasn’t only one of them but a few. It could be there were three of them or more. But not more than five.

I didn’t budge in my seat, wondering if there was a moon up in the sky or if the stars twinkled at the moment, after the rain. Sometimes I wanted to imagine how a rainbow would look like after the rain.

I heard a few times that my fellow coven members had seen such a beautiful thing, which I couldn’t relate since I was bloody blind! So, yes. I couldn’t imagine it since it was all dark in my mind. But now, I did remember the horizontal throbbing light. What could it mean? That I’d be able to see soon? Was my magic having a delayed effect? I certainly hoped so! It was always better to be late than never.

Hope rose from deep inside me that I was thrilled.

My back straightened when I heard wolves growling nearby, and one grunted. I grabbed my wet cape, trying to listen to my surroundings and being more alert than ever. What if the Silvermoon Pack was just somewhere around here? If that was the case, my grandmother wouldn’t be too far away from them since she wanted to destroy every one of them.

A whimper of a wolf took my attention, and I focused on it. Was the wolf hurt?

“Tell on us again to Alpha Ivan, Zhivka and you’ll be dead!” A familiar voice, which I first admired, assailed to my ears.

Well, this guy just surprised me! He tried to make a pass at me at the river… When was it? Just a few days ago? And now, he threatened someone who was just like him.

Hmm. Who’s Zhivka? Maybe this one is better than that bloody awful shifter.

A low growl sounded, which I presumed was Zhivka’s. Very well. This shifter must be brave. But there was another whimper I heard, which followed the growls and loud thumps on the ground. I could just imagine someone was thrashed there and was ganged up.

I hate wolves, I decided. They were a pack that would prey on a single target and swarm at it. It wasn’t fair!

The mewls and thuds stopped all of a sudden, making me hold my breath. What now? Why did they stop? Had they somehow left my area? I surely hoped so.

I slowly got up to go back to my cabin.

***

By next morning, I opt to entertain myself than to be cooped up in my cabin and think what went wrong with the bloody incantation last night because until now, I was still so literally blind!

Oh! It was so frustrating!

I heard the chirping of the birds, the gentle whoosh of the breeze and the sounds of my boots that either stepped on mud or twigs, breaking them. The ground was soft, and the earthy smell was stronger than ever.

I wondered what happened to the wolves last night. They couldn’t possibly kill each other if they were in the same pack, could they? Well, my limited knowledge on them wouldn’t satisfy me right now. I wished I listened to my grandma’s stories about them. Just that I always let them pass from one ear to the other.

I stopped and listened as though someone was right behind me. Could I be wrong?d soul.

I so wanted to feel anything or something else but it all came down to pain and hurt. It had always been like this whenever I tried to use my magic to un-blind myself. I began to feel tired in all of this. But still, I didn’t want to give up.

***

I sat down on the big wet rock and listened to the waterfall. It was the only thing I could hear after the rain poured down for a couple of hours, I guess. The earth was muddy and soft. I didn’t care if I was soaked to the bone and dirtied all over.

The scent of freshness and damp trees, leaves and grasses filled my senses. Not long afterwards, I heard howls of wolves, which accelerated the pounding of my heart. However, I stayed still. Maybe they were not coming here. This area was still a part of my three-mile radius, wasn’t it? Now I wasn’t even sure.

I waved a hand and wiggled my fingers to check if my barrier was still up. There was a frizzle that sounded in the air, so I was assured it was up and guarding my haven. The wolves couldn’t get into my territory unless there was a hole or something that my magic may have “missed.” And I hope it hasn’t. Otherwise, I might have an encounter with these creatures and be forced to kill them.

I know I’m not into that, but if I’m forced for my own survival especially that I am all alone and no one would give a damn, then I say in advance “sorry to their unfortunate asses.” If only possible, I still wanted to see the world before I die. So, yes. I’d fight for that.

The howling came closer and closer. I guess there wasn’t only one of them but a few. It could be there were three of them or more. But not more than five.

I didn’t budge in my seat, wondering if there was a moon up in the sky or if the stars twinkled at the moment, after the rain. Sometimes I wanted to imagine how a rainbow would look like after the rain. I heard a few times that my fellow coven members had seen such a beautiful thing, which I couldn’t relate since I was bloody blind! So, yes. I couldn’t imagine it since it was all dark in my mind. But now, I did remember the horizontal throbbing light. What could it mean? That I’d be able to see soon? Was my magic having a delayed effect? I certainly hope so! It was always better to be late than never.

Hope rose from deep inside me.

My back straightened when I heard wolves growling nearby, and one grunted. I grabbed my wet cape, trying to listen to my surroundings and being more alert than ever. What if the Silvermoon Pack was just somewhere around here? If that was the case, my grandmother wouldn’t be too far away from them since she wanted to destroy every bit of them.

A whimper of a wolf took my attention, and I focused on it. Was the wolf hurt?

“Tell on us again to Alpha Ivan, Zhivka and you’ll be dead!” A familiar voice, which I first admired, assailed to my ears.

Well, this guy just surprised me! He tried to make a pass at me in the river… When was it? Just a few days ago? And now, he threatened someone who was just like him.

Hmm. Who’s Zhivka? Maybe this one was better than that shifter.

A low growl sounded, which I presumed was Zhivka’s. Very well. This shifter must be brave. But there was another whimper I heard, which followed the growls and loud thumps on the ground. I could just imagine someone was thrashed there and was ganged up.

I hate wolves, I decided. They were a pack that would prey on a single target and swarm at it. It wasn’t fair!

The mewls and thuds stopped all of a sudden, making me hold my breath. What now? Why did they stop? Have they somehow left my area? I surely hoped so.

I slowly got up to go back to my cabin.

By the next morning, I opt to entertain myself than to be cooped up in my cabin and think what went wrong with the bloody incantation last night because until now, I am still so literally blind!

Oh! It was so frustrating.

I heard the chirping of the birds, the gentle whoosh of the breeze and the sounds of my boots that either stepped on mud or twigs, breaking them. The ground was soft, and the earthy smell was stronger than ever.

I wondered what happened to the wolves last night. They couldn’t possibly kill each other if they were in the same pack, could they? Well, my limited knowledge on them wouldn’t satisfy me right now. I wished I listened to my grandma’s stories about them. Just that I always let them pass from one ear to the other.

I stopped and listened as though someone was right behind me. Could I be wrong?