So, I looked up again, and as a bolt of lightning cracked in the sky, the bird swooped down even lower, opened its massive beak, and then tried to dig into my flesh with its extended talons. I was tired of hiding, and I knew we had to end this once and for all, so I pounced into the air and stretched as high as possible with my paws extended outward.
I managed to reach the fucker, and as I looked into its eyes in midair, I dug my claws into its wings and then bit down into its meaty neck. The bird let out a terrible scream, and the taste of its blood in my mouth felt like pure adrenaline as I brought it back down into the earth. I was on top of it now, and it squawked and scrambled as I quickly bent down to rip its throat out with my teeth. Hot, delicious, boiling blood filled my mouth, and my eyes rolled into the back of my head as I dug my teeth deeper into its raw meat. Then I quickly began to devour the bird as a feral instinct took over my entire body.
Alexander enjoyed it, too, and we dug so deeply into the creature’s throat that we accidentally decapitated it.
Hell, yeah, boss, Alexander finally said. We’re done here.
You’re right, I agreed as I licked the delicious blood from my fangs, even though I wanted to stay behind and eat the entire thing.
But as soon as we turned around to leave the carcass behind, a pair of glowing orange eyes were staring right in front of us, and when lightning struck again, I saw a massive, black beast that was hunched over.
The creature was twice my size, and I recognized the animal from the Book of Beasts, but I’d never come across it in real life. Its head was as large as a wolf, and its mouth was so wide it reached from ear to ear. When it slowly parted its jaws, I could see rows and rows of jagged, yellow teeth and bleeding gums. My heart began to beat like a violent drum as the creature edged closer and closer, and then it lowered itself toward the ground and bared its long, yellow fangs at me.
What is it? Alexander whispered in my mind.
A boggart, I replied in a grim tone, and they’re nearly impossible to kill without a wand.
As lightning split the sky once more, the last thing I saw was the boggart leaping into the air to rip out my throat.
Chapter 15
The beast landed right on top of me, and without hesitation, I bit into its shoulder blade until I tasted blood. As soon as my dagger-sharp teeth sunk into its flesh, the boggart yelped, tossed its head back, and then tried to use its massive fangs to clamp down on my throat. The bastard was twice my size, and at least three times stronger, and I squirmed underneath its body as it continued to reach for my neck. The only thing that prevented it from killing me were my paws, since I had them pressed up against its chest as I tried to shove it off me. When the boggart was dangerously close to reaching my gullet, I swung my paw, extended my claws, and used all my strength to cut swiftly and deeply into its wolfish face.
I managed to slash three perfect symmetrical lines into its flesh, and when it turned to glare back at me, blood dripped down its face, and it bared its teeth in retaliation. Then the asshole tried to lean down and bite me once more, but before it could tear my head from my neck, I used my back feet to hurl it off me. It took all my strength, but Alexander’s lower legs were strong, and the creature went flying off and crashed a few feet away from me.
I swiftly pulled myself up from the ground and then took a quick step back, but the beast wasn’t finished with me yet.
Not by a fucking longshot.
Cole, Alexander shouted in my head, use my wings!
But we can’t fucking fly, I argued.
No, use the blades!
Blades? What blades?
As blood rain and hail fell from the sky, the boggart hunched its arms and back and prepared to charge at me. I flapped my wings from the bottom of my back, and I suddenly realized they were larger than when we entered the maze. More importantly, there were also sharp, silver, metallic edges on each wing’s tip. The appendages were honed enough to stab the animal repeatedly until I killed it, but I wondered where the fuck the blades had come from.
I didn’t have time to question how the wings had evolved so quickly, though, so I just stuck with being grateful. Then I batted my wings and waited for the boggart to make its next move.
Come on, you fucker, I snarled in my head.
The beast edged toward me, but I could see the hesitation in its eyes as it tried to get nearer. It was a stubborn son of a bitch, but so was I.
I just needed it to get a little closer, and as soon as it was within reach, I’d bring down one of my wings and stab it in the head, back, or wherever I could.
The animal must have sensed my intentions, because it started to swerve around me carefully, and slowly. It kept its yellow eyes focused on me and then bared its teeth. Thick drool dribbled down the boggart’s jaw, and I knew it was growing impatient.
My eyes watched the creature as it hunched down lower into the earth and then prepared to pounce on me. So, I took one small step back and then flapped my giant, leathery, sharp-edged wings. The sound of my fluttering wings beat into the air like a drum, and finally, the boggart charged.
The beast snarled and then bolted toward me, but right before it could pounce on me again, I took a giant step back, and with my wings spread out, I hovered a little into the air. I wasn’t flying, but I was still above ground. Then I waited for the right moment before I used one of my sharp fringed wings to swiftly jab the boggart in the eye, and the creature yelped as it darted back and furiously shook its head.
I took the small window of opportunity to glide toward it and stab it again in the back, and the boggart cried out as I continued to use my lethal wings to penetrate it repeatedly. It was quickly losing blood, and it struggled to stand back up.
Finally, when the bleeding wolf-monster looked up at me, I saw a pitiful eye staring into my soul. All traces of bloodlust and hunger had vanished and were replaced with desperation.
But it was too late for that.
So, I quickly slashed its throat with my claws and then watched as the life left its remaining vibrant eye. When the boggart was lying dead on the earth, and a pool of blood was spreading from underneath its bulky body, I took a deep breath and then looked up into the sky. It was pitch black, and there was a full, yellow moon that hovered directly above me, but all was calm. The blood-rain, hail, and thunder had finally stopped, and the air felt oddly serene.
When I caught my breath, I could sense something pulling me toward the northern path ahead of me, and I realized it must have been the way out.
Let’s get the hell out of here, I said.
Agreed, Alexander responded. I’m done with this fucking place.
We ran toward the northern trail, and finally, I could see the narrow pathway, which led to the end of the dark labyrinth, but before we could reach the exit, I thought I heard a small wail. The sound made my heart clench with fear, and when I looked around, I spotted Silvia slouched against the bushes with an elongated cut across one of her eyes. As I quickly headed over to her, I noticed her breathing was raspy, and I could see dark blood splattered on her stomach.
Silvia! Alexander cried out. No!
It’s still Morgana, I reminded him. By the power of the blood pact, she’ll be okay, we just need to get her out of here.
I looked around to make sure the coast was clear, and as I carefully slumped the cub-sized black bear over my back, I could feel Silvia and Morgana both drifting out of consciousness. I adjusted the bear on my back, and Silvia was quite heavy, but I could still manage it. When I was ready to move on, I stared at the full moon ahead of us. It lit the end of the maze like a beacon, and I knew we were so close to getting the hell out of here. So, I waddled toward our escape, but just before I reached the exit, the ground began to violently rumble, and then the earth started to split open. I nearly fell into a crevasse, but luckily, I took a quick step back.
Careful! Alexander warned.
I see it, I muttered.
More of the earth began to split open ahead of
us, and with an unconscious bear on my back, it was going to be challenging to dodge over these openings, but I had no other choice. If we didn’t reach the end of the labyrinth, we’d be sucked into one of these gaps, and I wasn’t about to let that happen.
We had to escape, no matter what.
What’s the plan, Cole? Alexander asked in a nervous tone.
We’re going to make a run for it, I said. Be ready.
Oh, shiiiiit, he groaned.
I adjusted my feet before I focused on the massive cavity right in front of me. I had no other choice but to jump across it, and it was a fair distance.
Before I leaped for our lives, I took in a sharp breath, shifted Silvia off my back, grabbed her with my sharp fangs by the scruff of the neck, and then pumped my wings to rise into the air.
My massive wings extended like two kites, and soon, I found myself hovering above the cracked earth and staring down at the crumbling labyrinth. We weren’t very high up in the air, but we were a safe distance from the sudden crevasses that decided to open up. I glanced behind me, and Silvia was lying still on my back with her eyes closed, and she wasn’t moving an inch as we soared across the maze and toward a giant willow tree.
We’re fucking flying! Alexander gasped.
No shit, I chuckled.
I flew a little higher, and my exhilaration escalated. Even with a small, black bear on my back, I was strong enough to hover high above the crumbling labyrinth, and I felt instant relief when I flew down toward the giant willow tree, where the rest of the familiars were waiting.
As soon as I landed, all the animals came toward me, and their expressions were human-like as they huddled around us. I gently craned my back down and laid Silvia on the soft earth before I looked at the others.
How badly is she hurt? Akira’s voice asked as Damien’s body gently nudged Silvia’s.
Pretty bad, I suppose, I answered. I found her unconscious, and she wouldn’t even stir awake when we flew across the rest of the maze.
It’s a good thing you found her when you did, Faye added, and her little ferret nose twitched with concern. We were terrified when we saw the labyrinth falling apart.
It was pure insanity, Penelope said as her orange panda stood taller on its legs. I didn’t know what to think when I saw it all falling apart.
Yeah, it was unexpected, I grumbled. What the hell were the professors thinking?
Satan, I just hope those cuts won’t scar, Vesta purred as she flicked Ursula’s pink tongue in the air. That would be the worst… where are the professors? This needs to be taken care of immediately.
As if summoned, I heard the sound of a twig snapping behind me, and when I whipped around, I saw Vanessa and Evanora slowly approaching us. It was strange to watch them from Alexander’s point of view, and when I looked up at them, they exchanged pleased glances with one another.
“Looks like they made it back in one piece,” Vanessa purred as she stared down at us with cold, blue eyes. “Let’s have them return to their bodies, shall we?”
The dark-haired witch snapped her fingers, and then a large cloud of purple smoke appeared. As the wisps dispersed, we saw our human bodies floating in the air high above us, and it was so peculiar to see me, and other others, all hovering in the air like limp ragdolls.
“Alright, you lot, just close your eyes and picture yourselves soaring back into your own bodies,” Evanora explained. “It should only take a moment.”
We all closed our eyes, and it felt like a pair of sturdy, invisible hands yanked my soul away from Alexander’s body and shoved it back into my human form. A moment later, we had all returned to normal, except for poor Morgana, since she was still trapped inside the unconscious Silvia.
“You need to get Morgana out of Silvia,” I said as I glared at the two professors. “Now.”
Vanessa cocked a sharp eyebrow in my direction, but instead of lecturing me for my disrespectful tone, she took a step closer toward the unconscious black bear and then bent down. The familiar’s breathing was shallow, and when the dark-haired professor placed a hand on the bear’s back, she turned to look at Evanora.
“Pull Miss Morgana out,” Vanessa instructed. “I’ll take care of her familiar.”
Evanora nodded and then approached Morgana’s hovering body. The pink-haired professor placed an index finger on the unconscious witch’s forehead, and then the beautiful brunette’s pale blue eyes parted open. Morgana’s face was pale with shock as she looked around, and when the brunette spotted her injured familiar, tears welled up in her eyes while she slowly returned to the earth. When her feet were planted on the ground, she ran toward the bear and Vanessa.
“Oh, Silvia!” the bookworm cried out. “No, no, no!”
“Calm down, Miss Morgana,” Vanessa said in a surprisingly gentle tone. “She will be fine. I’ll take her to the infirmary and nurse her back to health. You can see her in the morning.”
“Alright,” Morgana sniffed as she tried to hold back her tears.
I put an arm around the bookworm as Vanessa shadow ported back to the castle, and I tried to soothe my lover by gently rubbing her back in circular motions. As I attempted to comfort her, Akira took a step closer with Damien by her feet, and she took Morgana’s hand in her own.
“What happened?” the dark-eyed witch asked in a faint voice.
“Something emerged from the bushes,” Morgana breathed as her lower lip trembled. “I didn’t get a good look at it, but it slashed my… err, I mean, Silvia’s stomach, and then sprinted away before it could finish me off.”
“Satan,” Faye breathed with a wince. “All I encountered were a few naughty gnomes and the blood-rain.”
“Same,” Vesta added, and she pursed her plush plum lips. “I didn’t come across anything too vicious… the maze was gorgeous, and it was difficult to concentrate on anything but the majesty of it all… but no, I was not confronted with anything I couldn’t handle.”
“Morgana,” I said as I looked into her desolate eyes, “was the creature that attacked you a boggart?”
“I-I don’t know,” the bookworm stuttered. “It was too dark, and everything happened so quickly… why do you ask?”
“Because that’s what attacked me,” I replied.
“Did you say a boggart?” Evanora interjected, and her voice went up a few octaves as she stared at me with wide green eyes. “That can’t be. I never placed boggarts inside the maze.”
“But I saw it,” I argued. “I’ve seen what they look like in the Book of Beasts. I managed to kill it, right before the maze began to crumble, but I know what I saw.”
“Wait… you were still inside when the labyrinth came apart?” the professor asked, and her face paled drastically. “But… my design was tailored a specific way… it wasn’t supposed to self-destruct until everyone was safely out.”
“Do you think someone could have tampered with it?” I asked after a long moment.
“Like who?” the pink-haired professor huffed before she shook her head. “No, it’s impossible… I must have made a mistake.”
“Well, did you mention the maze to anyone else?” I pushed because I refused to believe the ever-diligent professor would make such a careless mistake.
“It was a topic of discussion during the ball, but I don’t see what that has to do with anything… ” she answered in a tentative tone. She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, but then she stubbornly shook her head again. “It doesn’t matter, the point is you all made it out alive. Now, let’s head back to the castle.”
“Wait--” I started, but then Evanora snapped her fingers, and we were shadow ported back to the academy.
As soon as we were back in the corridors, Evanora flashed each of us a tight smile and then sighed.
“Well done out there,” she praised as if it had been a total success and no one had been injured. “I suggest you enjoy a hearty dinner and call it an early night.”
I opened my mouth to argue but then thought against it.
There was no point in quarreling with the professor. She would probably conduct her own research to figure out how things went wrong in the maze. I could sense it and see it in her bright, emerald eyes.
She didn’t buy her own story.
Evanora swirled in her skirts and then slowly disappeared from view.
“Listen, I’m not eating,” I said as I turned to smile gently at each gorgeous witch. “You should go… you all need to recover your strength. Especially you, Morgana.”
“Yes, master.” The bookworm nodded.
“Come along,” Vesta cooed as she placed a hand on Morgana’s back. “I know a tea which will certainly help you calm down.”
Before they turned to leave together, Penelope slowly faced me and looked into my eyes. A modest blush crept across her cheeks before she lowered her eyelashes and then stared intently at her feet.
“I-I just want to say,” the tangerine-haired witch began, “you really kicked ass back there, Cole. Well done. I’m impressed.”
“We told you he was amazing,” Akira remarked with a proud smirk. “You shouldn’t have ever doubted him.”
“It’s fine.” I shook my head before the feisty Penelope could throw an insult back at Akira. “Just go and take care of yourselves. I’ll meet up with you all later.”
I watched as both groups of women disappeared around the corner and then smiled to myself when I realized how close they were all becoming.
Which meant they were even closer to becoming mine.
With that lovely thought in mind, I sharply spun on my heels and then made my way down to the study hall. As I crept through the hallways, I used my premonition skills to sense if I was being followed. Lex had left me feeling paranoid, and now I was extra careful each time I headed down into the secret cellar. This time, I didn’t feel anyone on my tail, so I bolted toward the special bookcase and then down the passageway. When I passed the uncovered portrait, I was mildly surprised to see the mysterious woman was still there and covered in blood.
“Who the fuck are you?” I whispered as I stared into her pale blue eyes.
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