Page 34 of Sorcia's Heart
Her voice grew quieter as she looked back at Sorcia.“I’ve never seen anything like it, Priestess.The branches moved, almost intentionally, forcing me to stay on the ground.I decided to run, thinking I could take flight once I got past them.But by the time I came around the corner…” Her voice broke slightly.“That’s when I found you all here.And Bethany was gone.”
Marcus’s frustration boiled over.“It still doesn’t make any sense.Trees don’t have the ability to interfere with magic!”he snapped.“How the hell could they stop you from flying?”
“It’s the elves,” Sorcia said flatly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.She turned to look up into Marcus’s eyes, her green gaze steady and fierce.“Remember when I mentioned the glowing eyes earlier?”
The word hung in the air, weighted with ominous meaning.
“Elves,” Marcus repeated, his tone laced with realization and simmering frustration.His jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists at his sides.“That explains a hell of a lot.The interference, the manipulation of the trees, the signals being blocked—it all fits.Damn it, Sorcia, how deep does this rabbit hole go?”
Sorcia pressed her lips together, her mind working through the possibilities.“Elves are forest creatures,” she began, her voice carefully controlled.“Their power is connected to nature, and if they’ve allied themselves with Hazelton, they’d have the ability to manipulate the environment to their advantage.”
Jace’s growl rumbled low in his throat.“Have you ever heard of elves aligning with demons?”he asked out, his voice sharp.“They’re territorial, sure, and self-serving, but this?It doesn’t add up.What’s Hazelton offering them?”
Sorcia shook her head, her brow furrowed in thought.“I don’t know.Money?Protection?Maybe he’s promising them something they think they can’t achieve on their own.Their forests are dying, Jace.They’re desperate.”
Several more witches flew into the area, landing lightly but staying back as they tried to understand what was happening.They formed small groups, whispering, trying to understand and be patient.
Viktor, who had been silent until now, folded his arms over his chest, his dark eyes thoughtful.“Desperation makes people do dangerous things.If the elves see Hazelton as a means to save their forests, they might be willing to overlook what he’s truly capable of.”
“Or they don’t care,” Marcus interjected coldly.His blue eyes burned with restrained anger.“They could be so focused on their own survival that they’re willing to let the rest of us burn.Damn it!”
Sorcia placed a hand on his arm, her touch grounding him.“We need to stay focused,” she said softly but firmly.“If Hazelton’s using the elves, we need to figure out how deep their involvement runs.Are they just helping him hide?Or are they fully aligned with his plans to break the seals?”
Marcus exhaled sharply, some of his anger ebbing away as he met her eyes.“We can’t waste time, Sorcia.If Hazelton has Bethany and the elves are backing him, then we’re not just dealing with a demon and his tricks.We’re dealing with an organized force.”
Sorcia nodded, her determination solidifying.“Then we need to act fast.Althea, send word to the council.Have them gather every scrap of knowledge we have on elven magic and demon alliances.If the elves are manipulating thesphaera, we need to find a way to counteract it.”
Althea nodded, her earlier shame replaced with purpose.“Yes, Priestess,” she said, her voice steady.
Marcus’s gaze lingered on Sorcia as she began issuing commands, his anger now tempered by a fierce protectiveness.He knew the stakes, and he wouldn’t let Hazelton—or anyone else—take her from him.Not now.Not ever.
Jace leaned to Marcus while Sorcia continued to issue instructions via thesphaerato her other witches.“My pack has run into elves a few times.They’re forest creatures, and we prefer our pack runs to be in the woods.I’ll give them this much—trees do smell a hell of a lot better than humans.”His smirk faded quickly as he added, “But they’re tricky bastards.And if elves are involved, this just got a whole lot worse.”
Sorcia turned back to the men and nodded, her mind racing.“If Hazelton’s recruited elves, it explains how he’s manipulating the trees to interfere with our magic.They’re aiding him.”
It was Viktor who asked, “Still, it doesn’t fully explain why the elves would align with the demons.Demons are notoriously self-absorbed.”
Sorcia sighed, rubbing her forehead.“More importantly, we’re not enemies with the elves.They’re a sweet, kind, and gentle group.Annoying, yeah.But not cruel.They live in the woods.They help the trees grow and the trees help them survive.It’s the perfect combination.”
The silence that followed Sorcia’s declaration hung heavily in the air, tension radiating from the group.Finally, Jace broke it, his deep voice steady and resolute.“I’ll get my pack to sniff out the elves.We’ll talk to them and get some information.”
“That would be great, Jace,” Sorcia replied, her gratitude evident in her tone.“Thank you.”
Jace nodded, his dark eyes fierce with determination.Without another word, he shifted into his wolf form.The enormous wolf loped away, his movements growing faster and more fluid with each stride until he disappeared into the distance.
Viktor spoke next, his voice smooth but edged with steely resolve.“I’ll get my clan to start searching as well.We’ll spread the word that one of your coven has been captured.While Jace handles the elves, my vampires will locate potential hiding places.After searching for that ass who was changing humans into vampires several months ago, we’re very well acquainted with the hiding places in the city.If Hazelton’s smart, he’ll be well hidden—but we’re smarter.I’ll be in touch.”
Before Sorcia could respond, Viktor was gone, vanishing in the blink of an eye with his characteristic vampire speed.
For a brief moment, Sorcia allowed herself a small distraction.In the back of her mind, she wondered who would be faster: herself flying, Viktor running, or Jace in his wolf form.It was an intriguing thought, one she mentally filed away to discuss with her friends once Bethany was safe and Hazelton Birchsmire was captured and punished for his actions.
Her focus returned, sharp and unyielding.The stakes were too high to linger on idle curiosities.Sorcia turned to Marcus, her resolve unwavering.“We have a lot of work to do,” she said.
He nodded, his expression mirroring her determination.“Then let’s not waste another second.”
Chapter 18
Theairinsidetheforest cell was thick with the scent of damp earth and sap, the musky sweetness of decaying leaves mingling with the crisp sharpness of freshly snapped bark.Hazelton barely noticed it; his attention was focused on the witch.Bethany’s breathing was uneven, her anger rolling off her in waves, palpable even in the stillness of the cell.Her wrists strained against the coarse, twisting vines that restrained her, and her hair was mussed from her struggle, a few strands plastered to her sweat-dampened brow.
