Page 36 of Sorcia's Heart
A heavy tension settled over the room, broken only by the faint hum of the crystal ball as it spun faster, the black surface pulsing like a living, breathing thing.The tension was palpable, thick enough to choke on, as the implications of Sorcia’s words sank in.
“Bethany’s just the beginning,” Sorcia said finally, her voice low but laced with iron.“We have to stop him before it’s too late.”
Sorcia straightened up, crossing her arms over her chest.“Hundreds of years ago, the demons walked the Earth freely.For a long time, they didn’t bother anyone.They just walked around being miserable, and were basically considered fairly benign.But eventually, they grew impatient with the status quo and started to experiment.The demons slowly learned how to steal and harness our powers.Fairies weren’t affected in any way, which is odd since fairies have similar powers to witches.”
The room fell into a tense silence, the only sound the faint hum of the crystal orb as it spun slowly in the center of the table.Its soft glow pulsated with energy, casting flickering shadows that danced across the walls like restless spirits.
“How did they figure this out?”Zelda demanded, her copper curls seeming to bristle with her fury.“Demons are stupid, brutish creatures.They shouldn’t be able to pull this off!”
Sorcia sighed, shaking her head as she traced a finger absently along the edge of the polished table.“We don’t know exactly how they learned to transfer power, but over the centuries, they perfected the skill.That’s what made them so dangerous to us.”
“Ridiculous,” Zelda spat, her freckled face flushed with frustration.“It’s infuriating!”
“We agree,” Marcus said, his voice calm but edged with steel.His steady presence was both grounding and slightly unnerving.
“You’re right, Zelda,” Sorcia added, her tone quiet but firm.She glanced at the crystal orb, its glow intensifying as though in response to the discussion.
Jane leaned forward, her caramel-colored eyes wide with alarm.“And now you think this Birchsmire demon is going to ransom Bethany to get to you?”
“Exactly,” Sorcia admitted grimly.Her voice softened, but her resolve remained unshaken.“Bethany would rather die than let herself be used like that, but I refuse to let it come to that.We’ll find her.”
The crystal orb vibrated suddenly, sending out a series of erratic pulses like a heart beating too fast.Everyone turned toward it as it emitted a faint chiming sound, startling them.Sorcia reached out to steady it, her fingers brushing the surface, and the vibrations subsided.
“Even the crystal is furious,” Zelda muttered under her breath, her own anger simmering just below the surface.
“That’s not all,” Sorcia continued, her voice hardening.“An elf is involved.”
“Elves?”Jane and Zelda exclaimed in unison, their shock palpable.
Jane shook her head, incredulous.“But elves are peaceful!Why would one align with a demon?And in the city, no less!They draw their power from the forest.”
Sorcia pressed her fingertips to her temples, fighting the wave of frustration threatening to overwhelm her.“I don’t know why yet, but we’ll find out.Jace and his pack are already tracking the elf.Once they have a lead, we’ll question it.”
“What do you need us to do?”Jane asked, her voice steady but tinged with a quiet fury.
“Maintain the grid search,” Sorcia instructed.“Keep monitoring the tremors in thesphaera.If Birchsmire and Bethany are still in the city, we’ll find them.”
Marcus stepped forward then, his arms uncrossed, his movements deliberate.“Not necessarily,” he said, his voice heavy with thought.He locked eyes with Sorcia, his expression unreadable but intense.
“What are you thinking?”Sorcia asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then braced his hands on the back of a chair.“I don’t think Birchsmire is targeting Bethany just for her power.I think she’s bait.”
The crystal orb vibrated again, this time sending out sharp sparks that fizzled in the air.Sorcia pressed her hand against it, trying to calm its agitation.
Marcus’s voice lowered, almost to a growl.“He’s after you, Sorcia.”
The room seemed to freeze.Zelda and Jane exchanged a horrified glance.
“For what purpose?”Sorcia asked, her voice icy but controlled.“Bethany is a powerful witch.He can do plenty of damage with her.”
“But with you,” Marcus said, his tone heavy, “he could do a hell of a lot more.If he controls your power, he could break the seals on the demon prison.”
The orb erupted into a sudden flash of white-hot light before settling into a steady, furious glow.It chimed again, the sound sharp and accusatory, as though it was scolding them all for letting things get this far.
Zelda’s freckles seemed to darken as she scowled.“Then you’re not leaving this room,” she declared.
“That’s not an option,” Sorcia shot back.“If I stay hidden, Bethany suffers.I won’t let that happen.”
