Chapter 61 – Dark Auras
“But nothing makes a room feel emptier than wanting someone in it.“– Calla Quinn
Third Person POV
“I don’t like this.”
“What do you mean, Phoebe?”
“Too many eyes are around us. Our allies aren’t the only ones on the streets.”
Phoebe’s amethyst orbs tailed the pedestrians strolling along the warm summer streets of central San Jose. Pulsating colors surrounded each individual, generating a sea of rainbow only she can see. Detecting auras have helped the witch out of dangerous situations with ill–minded people, and she felt lucky to be blessed with such an ability. She doesn’t use this ability often, but she figured now is as good a time as any.
Sapphire’s golden hair danced with the wind from the driver side window as her blues concentrated on the road ahead of her. Her mate, Isaiah, now a newly bonded member to Garnet Moon, focused his attention on the streets. With the aim to finding their friend, the three joined the statewide search party. They recently came back from the popular supernatural club in the city, The Den, speaking to some supernaturals if they’re
familiar with Osiris.
Some didn’t know who he was, others refused to answer. All hope seemed lost. However, those who were unusually forthcoming in their answers laid cryptic messages for the trio that brought chills down their spines.
“The end is near. Soon, your souls will be devoured by imminent darkness.”
Phoebe’s leg bounced as she thought back on what her fellow witch had said. Her smile dripped in malice and her aura pulsed with corruption. Whether that witch was forced to bind themselves to darkness or not bothered her. Some witches practice black magic without the intention of hurting others, but that one was more than prepared to create mayhem. Judging by the watchful gazes she felt against her back, there was a slew of similar witches and sorcerers with the same mindset as the cryptic one back at the club. Phoebe ground her teeth to quell her frustration, pressing a hand to her leg for it to stop bouncing.
Corrupted auras were everywhere. And it made her uneasy. She feared the same happened to Kiya. With Osiris and the legacy he left behind with her and the other avatars, the witch held no doubts that he’d done something wicked. Phoebe shook when she recounted the collection of night terrors she had from her treatment in the run–down asylum.
“Should we tell Alpha Anthony?” Sapphire asked, arching an eyebrow. She eyed Phoebe through the rear–view mirror. “Could Osiris have his minions out here?”
“I…” Phoebe pondered in thought. “It’d be best to inform him of the recent developments. There are people. with malevolent auras and intentions, but it wouldn’t be wise to assume they all come from Osiris. Some people just have negative energy.”
“We can’t take any chances.” Isaiah spoke through the tense atmosphere. “Back in Chicago, my old pack did
Chapter 61 – Dark Auras.
things the old–fashioned way. When we’re sure about who is involved in what, we snatch them and take them in for questioning. Nine times out of ten, we get the information we’re looking for. With Kiya’s disappearance, we need every lead we can get.”
“Should we really kidnap people off the street based on unfounded suspicion?” Sapphire asked, turning a corner. “It unethical, not to mention illegal. If we were to take someone, it should’ve been that freaky witch back at the club. What the f*ck did she mean by ‘darkness will eat our souls“?”
“Cryptic bullshit.” Isaiah retorted.
“Not exactly.” Phoebe quipped. “Dark witches exist. Some are nice, but some can be petty. I don’t know if Osiris would be arrogant enough to have his minions out on the street, knowing well we’re searching for Kiya.”
“Villains have to slip up some time.” The blond shrugged her shoulders. “Once they get too comfortable, they
make mistakes.”
“Osiris is smart. He kept an abandoned facility running with hybrids and avatars for who knows how long, avoiding detection. His plans fell because his servants, Nadia and Lucien, betrayed him. If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
“It is tough to pick apart the mind of a villain when you know nothing about them.” Isaiah sighed, rubbing his thumb over Sapphire’s free hand as she controlled the steering wheel with another. His mate smiled lovingly, pink blossoming on her cheeks. A ‘ding!‘ resounded from Phoebe’s cell phone, pulling her attention away from the street. When she read the message, her eyes widened.
“Miss Lyra spotted Kiya not too far from here!”
“Shit, really?!” Sapphire gasped. “Where?” When told the address, the woman slammed her foot on the gas pedal and rocketed toward the location where Kiya was last seen. Her heart pounded in both excitement and fear because it meant that their family was close to recovering her.
It gave her hope.
When the trio arrived at their destination, Lyra and Nikolai caught them up on what happened. Kiya’s scent had long disappeared since then, but Lyra’s tears have not dried. The devastation of a mother is a powerful sensation that is complex to comprehend. It hurt beyond measure. Encouraged by Sapphire and Isaiah, the married couple drove home to rest. It took time for Nikolai to pull his wife back into his car because she forced herself to stand in the alleyway, hoping that her daughter would run up and give her the biggest bear hug.
It broke her heart further when it didn’t happen.
The trio stuck around to search the area further. The shadowy, desolate alleyway was a direct contract to the populous sidewalks. Shops and stores lined from one intersection to another. Perfume, fresh linen clothes, assortments of different foods, children’s laughter, and muddle conversation amalgamated in the city’s atmosphere. As it is downtown San Jose, it attracted many inhabitants and tourists looking for a good time.
The breeze, softer than a feather, licked at the exposed arms of the trio as they split up to cover more ground. Sapphire and Isaiah went one way while Phoebe went the other. The witch blended in with the crowd
Chapter 61 – Dark Auras
seamlessly, despite darting her head around. She passed by people with the dark auras that bothered her earlier, involuntarily shivering at the level of hatred embedded within. Her instinct is to help to purify their energies from their evil affliction, but those beings disappeared faster than she could blink. It is as if they don’t want to be found.
Or helped. Not everyone can be saved.
After about ten minutes of searching, she stopped to purchase a water bottle from a concession booth, tired and thirsty.e
she downed the chilly liquid down her parched throat, a mighty surge of sinister energy knocked her off balance.
Full of hatred, evil, and…sadness? It was unlike anything she had ever felt.
Darting her eyes around for the owner of the aura, her purples landed on a pair of glowing reds. On the far side of the street, Phoebe spotted Kiya sporting a stoic expression. Her aura, ordinarily a glittering silver and blue, donned a cloak of black and crimson. Kiya stared back at her witch friend, unblinking and unmoving. “Kiya?” Pho
“Kiya?” Phoebe whispered, hoping that what she is seeing isn’t a mirage.
Kiya blinked, her impassive expression shifting to shock. She turned on her heels and took off down another alleyway.
“Kiya! Wait!” The witch screamed, ready to run after her. This was the closest she has come to finding her friend, and she wouldn’t stop now. But her hope decimated when the blaring of car horns killed her focus and she was yanked back to the pavement by two pairs of hands. Her water bottle dropped, crushed savagely by a passing bus.
“Phoebe!” Sapphire exclaimed, frightened. “Why did you run off like that?”
“Lyra wasn’t wrong! Kiya is here!” Both Isaiah’s and Sapphire’s eyes widened in shock. “I called after her, but she disappeared in another alleyway. She seemed…spooked.”
“How peculiar. Lyra said when she saw her, she smiled and waved.” Isaiah mentioned. “What the actual f*ck is going on here?”
“I…don’t know. I’ve seen nothing like this.” Phoebe glanced back at the spot where Kiya was at, dispirited.
“We might have to cut this short…” Sapphire droned, a hand working through her golden curls. “Alpha Anthony texted us, telling us to come back.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know, but its urgent.”
“But we can’t leave!” Phoebe shouted. “We’re so close!”
“Alpha Anthony specifically asked for us. We’ll notify the members already out here to search this area, but we need to return.”
Phoebe couldn’t go against her Alpha’s orders. As much as she loathed it, she had to return. Sending a silent
Chapter 61- Dark Auras
prayer to Hekate to protect her friend, the trio trotted back to Sapphire’s car and drove down the road back to
the thick redwood forest.
All felt Phoebe’s disappointment.
Neron
It has been nonstop searching over the past few days. Recent reports from Garnet Moon told me that Anthony had deployed his soldiers into the streets, just as I have. Relief blew through me like a wisp of cool air; having many trusted people searching for my mate brought me ineffable joy.
I’m
hopeful. We’re going to find Kiya and bring her back safe and sound.
Valerian and I are in my office, chatting about our recent findings in Carson City. While there have been no sightings of either Kiya or Osiris, information gathered from the habitants of The Witching Hour club were helpful to an extent. Osiris was a frequent flyer, prowling for prey. His efforts were awarded when he left the club with a couple of witches and other beings.
However, he hasn’t visited in a month. The timeline matched up to when Kiya told me when Osiris began tormenting her.
Son of a bitch. I can’t wait until I get my claws in his throat.
Diana, a precious bird, took a nap with her tiny head resting against my arm. Looking down at the bundle of feathers, my heart soared. Diana is the most adorable creature I ever laid my eyes on, so small and cute.
“Kiya is cuter.” Onyx butted in. “Always!”
Yes, Kiya outranks Diana any day, but I wanted to marvel at the owl. I’ve grown to care for her, even love her. I love Diana, even when she attacked the Omegas for their chicken parmesan dishes the previous day. Why the hell is this bird fixated on human food when she has a full forest of insects and rodents she can snack on?
“Nero.” Kwame walked in with a folder at hand. “Pardon my interruption, but I have some information that can benefit Ariel in her soul separation.”
“Oh?” I arched an eyebrow, sitting up fully in my seat. Ariel has remained in the dungeons since her discharge and I made sure she is fed throughout the day. She hadn’t let Odessa in control of her body once. “What have you found?”
“After communicating with the Elders of Garnet Moon and Elders from packs in the southern states, I’ve learned that a pair of female elders have extensive experience in performing several rituals, including soul separations. They reside in Amethyst Moon, a pack deep in Las Cruces, New Mexico–Estella and Marjorie Angell. I phoned them an hour ago and they’ve agreed to perform the ritual for Ariel.”
“That’s great!” I proclaimed, cracking another grin. Ariel would be so happy when she hears the news. “Arrange for them to come-”
“Way ahead of you.” My Gamma winked, always one step ahead of me. That’s what I appreciate about Kwame
the most, his quickness and preparedness. “They’ll be taking the next flight out of New Mexico and should. arrive within a day or two.”
“We’ll arrange accommodations for them in case they rather stay in a hotel or in our home.” I announced, taking the folder from Kwame. “At least we have one part of our problems settled.”
“Any news from the searches?”
Valerian shook his head. “Nothing so far, but we aren’t giving up. But I’m concerned about my wife. Raina has been praying every night for her sister’s safe return, but it is taxing on her health. Just this morning, I found her vomiting her breakfast in our bathroom. Thank Goddess Adonis was asleep, but she’s putting herself through so much stress. She truly wants Kiya back.”
This I didn’t know. I can’t allow one of my best ranked wolves to collapse under stress. I made a mental note to instruct Raina to rest. We all want Kiya back, but she shouldn’t sacrifice her health.
My phone suddenly buzzed. Anthony’s caller ID flashed on the screen. Hey, this could be a lucky break! Answering immediately, I listened to my fellow Alpha deliver news that dramatically altered the trajectory of our mission.
I was beyond furious. Onyx growled after listening to the phone call, becoming unruly. He needed answers as much as I did. My hands clutched my phone tight as I felt my canines lengthening with my fury.
Shooting up from my seat, I seized the attention of my Beta and Gamma. “We’re needed at Garnet Moon,
now.”
Kwame and Valerian wasted no time hopping into my car shortly after. Diana, roused from her nap, followed. I mind–linked Omar, Kwame’s father, to watch over the pack, Raina, and Lorelai in my absence, including my father. What normally took five hours to get to California took three because I broke every speed–limit law known to man. There wasn’t any time to waste.
Once
we entered on Garnet Moon territory, two people were handcuffed together, perched on rocks under the gleaming sun. Both blonds, the woman held fearful blue eyes and the man with angry reds. Kiya’s friends and family, many sporting angry scowls, circled them. Unable to control myself, I marched up to the both of them. and stared them down with the power of a thousand suns. suns.
“Who are you two?”
The woman shrunk under my glower, shuffling closer to the man in fear. The man, however, didn’t falter. “My name is Lucien, and this is my partner, Nadia. We have information concerning your missing wolf and Osiris. But we won’t say anything unless you grant us asylum.”
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