Page 41 of Sorcia's Heart
Jace chuckled.“Apparently, you are.”He kissed Annika’s forehead once more before turning and shifting seamlessly into his wolf form.Annika followed a moment later, her smaller but equally agile wolf form brushing against his side.Jace nudged her neck affectionately, then took off in the direction they’d come from.
Sorcia paused long enough to snap her fingers, making the robe disappear so they wouldn’t leave any trace behind.Taking to the air just above the treetops, she and Marcus followed Jace and Annika.Sorcia had trailed Jace on a run before and knew he wasn’t pushing himself to his full speed—at least not yet.Just as that thought crossed her mind, the smaller wolf leapt up and nipped at Jace’s furry neck.He growled low at her, but moments later, he picked up the pace.
The two wolves raced through the forest, weaving between trees with effortless agility, leaping over logs, and ducking under low-hanging branches.Their speed was impressive, even mesmerizing, as they navigated the dense woodland with precision.
When they finally stopped, Jace and Annika circled an area, sniffing intently before sitting on their haunches.They both looked up at Sorcia and Marcus, who floated down from the sky and landed softly on the forest floor.
By the time their feet touched the earth, Jace and Annika had shifted back into their human forms.Without hesitation, Sorcia snapped her fingers, conjuring the robe again.Anikka smiled as she slipped into it, ignoring Jace’s dramatic sigh of exasperation.She bent down, scooping a handful of dirt and leaves into her hands.
“Smell this,” Annika said, holding out the mixture to Sorcia.
“What am I supposed to be smelling?”Sorcia asked, cupping Annika’s hands and leaning in for a sniff.The earthy scent was tinged with something unfamiliar.
“Nothing natural,” Annika replied grimly.
Sorcia sniffed again, frowning as the smell pricked at her senses.“Wait…is that metal?”she asked, tilting her head and sniffing once more.The faint tang of iron or something similar lingered.
Annika extended her hands toward Marcus.He bent down, inhaling deeply before pulling back with a sharp frown.“You’re right.There’s something metallic in it.It’s faint, but it’s there.”
Looking around, Sorcia noticed the trees nearby.Their branches drooped unnaturally, and the leaves were dull and brown—lifeless compared to the emerging springtime hues they’d seen elsewhere.She pointed toward the trees.“These don’t look like the others we’ve passed.The colors are off, and the branches seem…weaker.”
“What’s going on here?”Marcus murmured, scanning the area.
Jace nodded toward the trees.“We noticed the same thing.My pack runs through here regularly, and the trees don’t usually look like this.We’ve also spotted some odd, new configurations in the area—trees bending and growing in strange patterns.”
He gestured over his shoulder.“We’re going to keep running the perimeter and see what else we can find.But we wanted you to see this first.”He glanced at Annika.“Ready?”
She smiled up at him, and a moment later, they both shifted, taking off into the forest.
Sorcia dispensed with the robe again, then crouched, running her fingers through the dirt.It felt oddly compacted, as if life had been drained from it.“Nothing’s growing here,” she observed, her voice heavy with concern.
Marcus knelt beside her, scooping a handful of the soil.“You’re right.Most of it is packed down…and toxic, maybe?”He snapped his fingers, summoning a glass container.“Let’s get a sample.I have a lab in Chicago that can analyze it.We need to know what we’re dealing with.”
Sorcia carefully transferred a handful of dirt into the container, sealing it with a soft click.“Whatever it is, it’s not natural.It smells…off.”She straightened, brushing her hands off against her leather pants.
Marcus stood and tucked the container into his jacket pocket.“Let’s find out.While you check in with your people, I’ll call my team and let them know to prep for an immediate analysis.”
She nodded and walked a few steps away, giving herself space to focus.As she reached out through thesphaera, her attention snagged on a tree nearby.It seemed to be shaking—not in response to wind, but something internal.Filing that observation away for later, she closed her eyes, connecting with her coven.
When she rejoined Marcus, her expression was tight with frustration.“Zelda’s felt several tremors today, but every time she starts to get close, the anger vanishes.”
Marcus nodded, his jaw tightening.“That’s promising, though.It means we’re zeroing in.He’s close—and running out of places to hide.”
“I agree.I asked Jane and her team to join Zelda and help narrow the search in her area.If they don’t sense the demon’s emotions again by the end of the day, they can return to their original grids,” Sorcia said, her voice tight with determination.She sighed deeply, rubbing her temples as if trying to ward off the exhaustion creeping in.“I just want to find Bethany and save her from whatever torment that bastard is putting her through.”
Marcus stepped closer, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders.His presence was steady, grounding.“We’re going to find her,” he promised, his voice firm.He lifted the glass canister filled with the strange dirt.“I have a feeling this is a solid lead.”
Sorcia nodded, but worry still clouded her expression.She glanced at the sky, the sunlight beginning to wane.“It’s still daylight.We’ll need to fly higher so we aren’t spotted by any humans below.”
“Agreed.We’ll need goggles and warmer clothes.It’s cold up there.”
With a snap of their fingers, their outfits transformed.Heavy jackets, gloves, and ski goggles replaced their usual attire.They looked like they were ready to hit the slopes.
“Follow my lead,” Marcus said, taking her hand.A moment later, they blasted into the air, climbing as quickly as possible to avoid being seen by anyone hunting or hiking in the forest below.The rush of the wind was biting, but their gear kept the worst of the chill at bay.
When they reached a high enough altitude, Marcus turned to her, gesturing ahead.“Let’s head straight for Chicago.”
Sorcia followed his lead, keeping an ear out for any planes.Freaking out the passengers of a commercial flight by flying alongside them wasn’t on her agenda.Thankfully, the sky was clear, and they pushed on.
