Page 49 of Sorcia's Heart
Trent let out an exaggerated sigh and looked up again, feigning disappointment.“Pity.”He turned his attention back to the trucks, assessing them with a disinterested shrug.“So, we’re driving these beauties filled with toxic sludge to some warehouse?”
“Exactly,” Viktor replied, his tone smooth but carrying an edge of finality.
“And after that?”Trent asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Viktor allowed himself a small smirk, tilting his head thoughtfully.“I think it would be fitting to locate whoever is responsible for the illegal dumping and…” He paused dramatically, his smirk growing.“Perhaps return their precious cargo directly to their home.Poetic justice, don’t you think?”
He turned his sharp gaze to Hortense.“Would that satisfy you, little one?”
Hortense’s neon eyes flared indignantly.Climbing down the tree with an almost regal defiance, she stood as tall as her petite frame would allow.“I’m not little!”she snapped, her voice carrying more fire than her stature suggested.
The group collectively chuckled, and even Sorcia, nestled against Marcus, stifled a laugh.Hortense’s cheeks glowed an even brighter green as she stomped her foot.“I’m not!”she insisted.
Trent raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.“Noted.”With a shrug, he gestured toward the trucks.“Want to ride with me?You can fill me in on all the tree drama.”
Hortense’s neon glow flickered nervously.“Thank you for the offer, but…” She hesitated, eyes darting toward him.“Well, you’re a vampire.And you’re…scary.And I need to lead the rest of the way to their friend.”
Trent tilted his head as if considering her words, then gave her an easy shrug.“Fair enough.”He turned to the other vampires, his voice booming.“Let’s roll!”
Within moments, the vampires moved with military precision, dividing themselves among the trucks.Engines roared to life, headlights slicing through the forest darkness.One of Sorcia’s witches soared overhead, clearing a path through the dense woods as the convoy rumbled forward.
When the trucks had disappeared into the trees, the clearing fell into an almost eerie silence.The air was heavy with the scent of disturbed earth and lingering exhaust.
Hortense fidgeted, her green glow dimming slightly as she looked around at the remaining group.After a pause, she squared her shoulders and said with a determined edge, “I think we might be able to make a deal.”
Chapter 28
Sorciafroze,herbreathcatching as Hortense’s words echoed in her mind.Despite the weakness still lingering in her limbs, she straightened, willing herself to appear stronger than she felt.Beside her, Marcus stood as well, his arm sliding around her waist.The warmth and steadiness of his touch bolstered her resolve, calming the trembling in her hands.
“What kind of deal?”Sorcia demanded, her voice low and sharp.Her fingers twitched with barely contained anger, and faint sparks of electricity flickered at their tips.She didn’t yet have the strength to unleash her full power, but her magic was returning, fueled by her growing fury.
Hortense shifted uncomfortably, her green glow flickering faintly.“I didn’t know what was hurting my trees,” she began, her voice quiet but strained with emotion.Her gaze darted to the earth around them.“I didn’t know some bastard buried something that would poison the forest, killing everything I care about.”Her voice rose, raw with anger and remorse.“But you—” she gestured toward Sorcia and Marcus—“you figured it out and fixed it.For that, I owe you.”
“What do you know?”Sorcia pressed, taking a step closer.Her movements were deliberate, her body coiled with tension.She didn’t want to scare the elf into fleeing, but her mounting suspicion and frustration demanded answers.Her fingers sparked louder, small zaps crackling in the air around her hands.
Hortense hesitated, her wide eyes locked on the sizzling sparks at Sorcia’s fingertips.She took a step back, but Sorcia followed, relentless.“Look at me, Hortense,” she commanded, her voice firm and cutting through the tension like a blade.The elf’s neon green eyes flicked up to meet hers.“My friend has been gone for five days.Five.Days.”Her voice cracked slightly with the weight of her anguish, but she pressed on.“I don’t know if she’s even still alive.You were leading us to her before the vampires showed up.Please, could you take us to her?”
Hortense seemed to shrink under Sorcia’s intense gaze, her glow dimming slightly.For a long, agonizing moment, the only sound was the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.
“Yes.I have her,” the elf finally whispered.
The words hit Sorcia like a physical blow, a mixture of shock and relief rendering her momentarily speechless.A tense silence enveloped the group, broken only by the faint crackling of the magic still sparking at Sorcia’s hands.
The electricity in Sorcia’s fingers surged with renewed intensity, crackling louder.“Show me.Now,” she ordered, taking another step forward.
Hortense hesitated, her hands trembling as she raised them in a gesture of surrender.“Okay,” she said quickly, turning and heading into the shadows again.
Sorcia followed, her eyes scanning the darkness.Every step felt heavy, her heart pounding with anticipation and dread.When Hortense finally stopped at a copse of trees, Sorcia recognized the area.Something had felt off about it earlier, but she’d been too exhausted to investigate.
The elf glanced back at Sorcia, her expression pleading.“Promise you’ll help me?”
“No,” Sorcia snapped, her voice hard.“You kidnapped my friend.I’m not promising anything until I know she’s alive and unharmed.Then we’ll talk.”
Hortense looked conflicted but nodded, acknowledging the fairness of Sorcia’s terms.She reached out and touched one of the trees.The bark shifted and groaned, the sound resonating through the clearing as the trees parted to reveal a figure within.
“Bethany!”Sorcia cried out, her voice breaking with relief.
Bethany stirred, rubbing her eyes against the sudden light filtering through the trees.When her gaze focused on Sorcia, she gasped, her face lighting up.“Sorcia!”she shouted, stumbling to her feet and running out of the circle of trees.
