Page 70 of Magic and Medicine

He said it so quickly, the words reverberating from the depths of time and reaching into my mind. I knew their meaning. Czernobog had sworn on his blood and power to never enter this realm or hurt me. The magic in me recognised the bargain and demanded his release. We had defeated him, but I felt robbed of my revenge, of my last dying wish.

‘Let his spirit go, my love.’ Leszek entwined his hands with mine, pausing when he felt my resistance. ‘Please, there is no light without darkness, and his death would shatter the world. Let him go.’

Rage, pure unbridled rage, flashed in Czernobog’s eyes when he realised Leszek wouldn’t let me kill him in fear that the act would condemn the world to chaos.

‘You think you’ve won? She will die. If I can’t have her, no one will. My poison is in her blood. Look at her. See how she burns….’ He said, hatred dribbling off his words, and I took my hand away, ripping apart the tethers that held Czernobog’s spirit to mortal flesh. His voice faded into silence with the death of his host.

‘Farewell, nutjob.’ I said, staring at the blank expression to check for signs of life. The man who dreamed of becoming a god lay there, broken, with arms splayed to the sides. The Coven’s voices faded from my mind, and I looked around. Adam was with Nina. He scooped her off the floor, cradling her while my friend tenderly lay her head on his shoulder. She sent me a faint smile as he carried her out, and I smiled back, rising slowly. I wanted to face my destiny standing.

The room spun, and bitter laughter rose in my throat. Will my dignity be taken from me, as well? I looked around, dazed, sweating as I overheated, and shivered simultaneously. I’d lost all feeling in my shoulder some time ago. Now, there was only pain.

‘I wish we had more time,’ I said, touching Leszek’s face, and I swear his skin was paling before my eyes.

‘Can you create a temporal distortion? We need time to get to Gdansk. I need my island, our home, to extract the poison from your bloodstream.’ He said, searching my face for confirmation, but I shook my head.

‘I know how to dismantle such a spell but not how to make it. It always happened by accident, and don’t forget, it’s a big no-no.’

A delirious giggle escaped my lips, and before I knew it, I was in Leszek’s arms, travelling at speed out of the temple. The field was full of corpses, but far more people were standing and walking around. I recognised shifters and a few vampires, but some regular humans stood with Nadolny, guarding the remnants of Rostov’s little army.

‘I’m taking her to the healer,’ Leszek said to Nadolny, who nodded.

‘Then go. I will clean up here and let your men know if I find anything worth your attention.’ I would admire how effortlessly those two men cooperated if I hadn’t felt so sick. I clung to Leszek’s body tighter when he carried me away, my tears falling as soon as we were out of sight.

‘Nina, will she be alright? Promise you will look after her.’

‘Adam will. He seems to be fond of your outrageous friend,’ he said, bundling me into the car, pausing as he touched my face. ‘Don’t you dare to give up, Sara. I need you and forbid you to give up. I promise you will live, my brave Firefly, but please fight for me, my love,’ he said, cursing when my head lolled back.

‘I’ll… try.’ I whispered, and he jumped into the car. The screeching of tires was the last thing I remembered.

Pain exploded through my body and filled my existence. No sight, sound, or smell existed in this hell of agony. I screamed but heard nothing, then something else appeared in my awareness, a coolness laid against my forehead, then sound. I was still screaming, but someone else was speaking, offering soothing words that further pushed back the pain. I don’t know how much time had passed, waves of torment cresting and falling, taking my consciousness along for the ride. Finally, it faded enough for me to hear him, my Wolfie, with his cheek against mine, whispering to me.

‘I know it hurts, love, but it will end soon. You are strong and brave. I never met a woman like you, and it humbles me you chose to be mine. Just hold on a little longer, Sara. Please, I cannot live without you.’ The anguished plea reached through the haze, but I couldn’t answer. Instead, my hand slid over the covers, reaching for his.

The moment I moved, he held my hand with desperate gentleness and lifted it to his lips. ‘Sara?’

‘Water,’ I croaked. My lips were dry and peeling, but I felt his arm slide under me, and I was lifted off the pillows and placed on his lap. The cold glass rim touched my lips, and I sighed when cool liquid flowed down my parched throat.

‘Here, take small sips,’ another fluid touched my lips. This time, it was bitter with an aftertaste of lemon and magic. I coughed when it tingled on my tongue, but I felt better and strong enough to open my eyes. Faces, faces were everywhere. Veronica stood closest to me, still holding a vial. Michal was right behind her. When I focused, I could see Tomasz and Adam, and much to my surprise, my boys, leaning against the wall.

‘What the fuck?’ I coughed out, looking around. I was in Leszek’s bedroom. I vaguely remembered he wanted to take me home, but why did they all come here?

‘You almost died, my love. We were worried.’

I laid my hand on his chest and turned to look at him. His face looked haunted, gaunt and sickly. Even his eyes had lost their usual lustre.

‘You said I was dying, but you’re the one who looks like a week-old corpse.’ I said, wondering what kind of liquid Veronica gave me because I continued to improve. My eyes went to her, and she snorted.

‘The Leshy fought through the night to keep you alive. I wouldn’t dare to tell the man who made you immortal that he looks like shit, but whatever rocks your boat. Still, hearing someone telling off the Forest Lord is always a pleasure,’ she said, shrugging as I sat there blinking.

‘Immortal?’ I looked at him, but he turned away to avoid looking at me.

‘Everybody out. I need to talk with Sara in private.’ He said, and our friends left the room without a word of protest.

‘Immortal?’ I repeated.

‘The blood I gave you came at a price. I should have asked you, but I was afraid you would refuse, and there was no time to explain how much I wanted you to stay by my side. I will beg on my knees for your forgiveness, but I refuse to regret my actions. If not for the gift of my blood and power, you would have perished from Czernobog’s venom.’

‘Hmm, I didn’t have a chance from the start, did I? You just decided I would belong to you.’ The situation, already beyond bizarre, left me spinning. Being alive surprised me, but being woken in a room full of people, only to be told I was now immortal? That took the biscuit. Not forgetting, of course, that Leszek, despite his promise, had unilaterally imposed his will on my life. I was happy to be alive, but being immortal was never something I’d wanted. I looked at the man who held me in his arms, watching him become increasingly nervous.

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