Page 59 of Sorcia's Heart
Hazelton, trapped and fuming, glared at Sorcia.“You’ll regret this,” he spat, his voice low and venomous.
Sorcia tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer to the glowing prison.“No, Hazelton,” she said, her voice steady and full of resolve.“You’ll regret ever thinking you could take my coven, my friends, and my power.Your reign of chaos is over.”
The four women laughed, their voices echoing with triumph as they embraced.Relief coursed through them, the tension of the fight finally melting away.Sorcia glanced over her shoulder at the demon, now thoroughly trapped in his glowing, mummy-like prison of light.He writhed and growled, his fury palpable, but it was futile.The circles had tightened around him, leaving no room for escape.
Bethany was the first to recover.She stepped back, her smile radiant with Viktory.Carefully, she approached the imprisoned demon, her tone calm but resolute.“I’m taking you to join your brethren,” she announced.She glanced back at Sorcia, her confidence shining.“After hearing about the other demons being contained, I think it’s only fitting to send this one to join them.Any objections?”
Sorcia, her energy drained but her spirit lifted, shook her head with a tired smile.Her own ring of light still burned the brightest, a testament to the power she’d poured into the spell.“None,” she replied.“Let’s get him out of here before any humans stumble upon this.It would be...difficult to explain.”
Behind her, Marcus chuckled, his warm, steady presence grounding her.She turned to find him watching her with an affectionate glint in his eyes.“Don’t worry,” he said, gesturing upward.
Sorcia followed his gaze and gasped, laughter bubbling from her lips.A shimmering dome of magic stretched above them, concealing the scene from the outside world.It was a spell she often used for council meetings, but seeing Marcus wield it so effortlessly filled her chest with warmth.
“You’re brilliant,” she whispered, stepping closer.Without hesitation, she reached up and kissed him.“Thank you for always having my back.”
“Always,” Marcus growled, his arms sliding around her to deepen the kiss.
A polite cough broke the moment, and Sorcia groaned softly against Marcus’s chest before pulling back.She looked up at him, her forehead pressed to his.“We’d better deal with this,” she murmured.
Marcus sighed, his arm staying firm around her waist as they turned to face the others.“Guess so,” he said with mock reluctance.
On the ground, Hazelton had ceased his furious struggles.He now lay glaring up at the witches and the imposing figures around him.“You’ll regret this,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom.
“Doubtful,” Marcus quipped, his voice carrying an easy authority that seemed to irritate the demon even more.
“Priestess!”Althea’s voice rang out as she stepped into the dome, followed by several other witches.Their arrival sent a ripple of reassurance through Sorcia.Marcus must have adjusted the dome’s barrier to let them through, and the thought brought a soft smile to her lips.
She turned to Marcus, silently questioning if the humans outside could see anything.He shook his head with a subtle grin, and she relaxed.“Thank you,” she whispered before turning her attention back to Althea.
“Sorry, you were saying?”
Althea hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking between Sorcia and Marcus, before stepping forward with a determined smile.“I would be honored to take this demon to the prison,” she said, her tone steady.“If you trust me with the task.”
Bethany moved beside her, wrapping a supportive arm around the younger witch’s shoulders.“We’ll go together,” she said firmly.“We’ll protect each other until this demon,” she gestured to Hazelton, “is locked away for good.”
Sorcia leaned into Marcus, her heart swelling with pride.“That’s a perfect solution.Thank you both.”
As the two witches approached Hazelton, his defiance seemed to falter.His fiery glare turned into a flicker of fear.“What are you going to do with me now?”he hissed, his voice a mix of rage and desperation.
Bethany and Althea shared a laugh, lifting their hands in unison.Hazelton rose into the air, his glowing prison holding him firmly in place.Bethany turned back to Sorcia with a playful smile.“Flying okay?”
Sorcia nodded, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.“This feels like the perfect time to break a few rules.”
The witches laughed, their spirits buoyed as they took to the skies, carrying the now thoroughly defeated Hazelton toward his eternal imprisonment.
Sorcia let out a breath, her hands still warm from the spell-work and her heart lighter than it had been in weeks.“Well, that’s all done,” she said, her voice carrying to the gathered coven.“Thank you, everyone, for your support!”She glanced around at the growing crowd of witches, their faces bright with relief and pride.
“Tell them!”Zelda called out, her voice bubbling with excitement.She clapped her hands and grinned, her joy infectious.Beside her, Jane joined in, jumping up and down like a child at a birthday party.“We all want to hear the news!”
Marcus, standing close, slid his arm around Sorcia’s waist and pulled her against him.He kissed her temple softly.“Should we tell them?”he asked, his deep voice carrying a hint of teasing.
Sorcia tilted her head back to look at him, her cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and nerves as she laced her fingers with his.“Are you sure?”
“Definitely,” he said with a grin that lit up his face.
Turning back to the crowd, Sorcia lifted their intertwined hands high into the air, her voice ringing out.“We’re getting married!”
The reaction was instantaneous.A loud cheer erupted from the witches, their hands flying up in celebration.Some whistled, others clapped, and a few even wiped away happy tears.The joy in the air was palpable, a reflection of the bond between their High Priestess and her love.
