THE WOLF PRINCE'S MATE

CHAPTER 3: THE WITCHING HOUR

I grabbed my bag and ran after him. A guy joined us midway. Walking beside Jason, he looked at me in distaste. Of course he would. He was an elf and their kind didn’t mix well with mine. Despite the same gods, we were very different beings, witches and elves. Usually, Sappy would have wanted to come with me, but she decided to stay back and guard the room, so I let her be. I told her that I’ll be back soon before leaving with Jason. I wore a pair of black sneakers and locked my room behind me before leaving.

On the way, a couple of more people joined us. Jason was talking to a boy whom I

recognized to be a guy from my Elemental magic training class. Another warlock, who was also a part of the student council. But he was not from my country, rather from somewhere across the continent. He was reporting something to Jason when I approached them. Jason was technically a year senior to us and his instructor in the council. Our eyes met and we exchanged a smile. As they finished talking, he left and Jason and I entered the main hall together.

The main hall was a huge building with more than a couple dozen gothic pillars that were the highlight of this hall. We usually used it for assemblies and announcements and initiation events. We took our seats and Jason usually sat on the first benches with other council members. I was on the 6th row between a nerd with glasses who was in my advanced oriental history lecture and another guy who was one of the few warlocks we had here in this University. We would chat sometimes. The hall settled down in a few minutes and the huge clock behind the podium struck 3:30. It was the witching hour.

Olivia Van Guard, our headmistress entered the hall and in a swift motion as if the air around her was commanding the attention.

“Dear students, We all have gathered here today because of an utter tragedy that has befallen us. Fate is a cruel and twisted thing. It makes us laugh or weep, depending on what it has in store for us. I am extremely saddened to tell this to you all that a beloved student of the arts, Miss Lisa Bowen had parted from us today. She was found dead by a team led by our professors in a secluded area of the campus’ forest.”

As she took a pause, gasps erupted from all around the hall and a girl started crying somewhere.

“A thorough investigation will be held and during that time, no student or professor is allowed to leave campus grounds on any reason whatsoever. Day scholars will be provided residence in our many campus residencies and classes are postponed until further notice. May Lisa's soul rest in peace amongst the gardens of Hecate. This meeting is concluded.”

She left as quickly as she came and commotion started again. This time around, louder. I knew Jason would be too busy to accompany me so I left for my room. I came via Jason’s car and now that he isn’t with me, I would have to walk this short distance. The warlock who sat near me offered to walk with me but was held back by a few friends of his own. So, I left first.

It was a full moon tonight and the sky shone bright with moonlight as if Selene was in her full form. Usually I would have enjoyed this night but tonight, it feels like a bad omen altogether. If I were to think about what has occurred in the last 24 hours, it would make one to believe that the murder had definitely something to do with my coven. I cannot shake the familiar feeling of dread.

The dewy magic in the air tonight, which I am sure a lot of people would have noticed and the missing eyes of Lisa would conclude that a spell was performed by a witch or a warlock or a being that commanded some form of magic. This is definitely not going to do well for our already suspected reputation in the University.

The road tonight was deserted even though so many people were around. I cannot blame them. Everyone was shocked and spacing out. My psychic abilities were picking up all kinds of emotions right now. I walked on the footpath as vehicles went by and in a couple of minutes, there was no one to be seen on the road. I was lost in thought when two big hands came and pulled me into the treeline.

----------------------------

I was snatched deep in the jungle before I could scream and my hands tied behind my back and my mouth taped. They tied a cloth around my eyes as well so I could not see where they were taking me. I was in deep trouble. As if witches aren’t already threatened in this country,

I was a daily target. So, if these people taking me are one of my aggressors, I am as dead as Lisa Bowen.

This man carried me for a minute, his hands suggestively snaking all over me. I struggled but it was no use. I can use magic right here but it would only create a bigger ruckus from this already sensitive situation and I promised my mom to only use magic inside the campus for either educational purposes or strictly self-defense. And this seems too early for self-defense. It can turn out to be a harmless prank for all I know. At least that is what my subconscious told me. My subconscious was an extremely non-violent person.

Another minute passed and I start feeling cool damp wind on my face and a stinging sensation on my skin. This didn’t feel harmless anymore. The air started suffocating me and I started struggling harder, throwing my limbs in a haphazard manner. I knew what this was. This was Black Ivy, a plant that was known to be extremely poisonous for witches. I tried using magic but the black ivy was messing up with my senses.

“I think it is suffocating her. Look the little witch can feel it already.”

This was definitely one of Bree’s boy toys. Now this was feelt even realer.

“Calm down. It’s not like we are using this on her. I will let her loose once we reach there.” Another voice came which I identified and the guy from earlier today at the bonfire.

I realized that this was planned and I started panicking in reality. Black Ivy also suppresses magic and from what I can feel there was loads and loads of it around me. We reached a water body and they opened my restraints. And took off my blindfold. The first thing I saw was tons of Black Ivy around me growing everywhere that a person can step. We were in a cave of sorts, with a couple of cars parked in this space. The guy called Teddy was the one who was carrying me and he placed me on a jeep’s bonnet. I ripped apart the tape from my mouth and I thought it would be less suffocating but I started feeling the effects of this garden ten folds as I heaved for oxygen but all I got was Ivy pollen.

It started making me dizzy. On one hand I was trying to not slip off the car and on the other hand, fighting my consciousness from slipping away. If I fell onto those plants, I was done for.

Apparently, these oafs did not know that I am a witch of a pure bloodline and the consequences of me merely falling on these plants could result in me dying. What were these even doing in the campus. I was at a loss. Tears started falling and I pleaded to whatever feelings of empathy these monsters had left.

“Ple- Please. Take me away from he- here.” I made eye contact with everyone. Bree wasn’t there. Just the guys. She was making them do her dirty work. I looked at Teddy. He wavered.

“Come on. Don’t tell me the witch who did not cry no matter what we did to her is afraid of some plants now?” Teddy brought me here, yes but he definitely did not understand the effectiveness of this plant. It was used as a torture method for witches in the early ages.

“You don’t un- understand Teddy. I could die.” Of course, he did not understand. He was a dumb buff werewolf. If witches had any superhuman strength, I would have bolted long ago from his grasp.

He wavered more. But I could not wait for him to make up his mind now. I collected all my remaining strength and sent back a signal to my parents’ estate. I cannot use magic anymore. They will come to save me. They will have to.

As the last bit of magic left me, I started slipping and couldn’t hold on to the windshield anymore. My eyelashes fluttered but Teddy caught me.

“Bree told me it would only weaken and scare her. I did not want to do this to her. She is a witch but I am not cruel”. He growled at another werewolf nearby. Teddy was an alpha and apparently the ones near him were not as they all cowered in fear. Except one. My vision was blurry but I could see him stalking towards me.