The Heiress Of The Mystics

Chapter 7

Sage’s sharp eyes caught them slipping into a hidden tunnel, a sly grin curling on his lips. “They think they can get away, huh?” he whispered to himself, his voice cold with anticipation. As he watched them disappear into the darkness, he saw their figures accelerate, desperate to escape. Without hesitation, Sage began to pursue, his speed relentless.

Catherine’s breath came in ragged gasps as she slowed, her legs aching from exhaustion. Her chest burned, and sweat dripped down her face. She wanted to continue but body begged her to rest and she couldn’t do so, Sage was still behind them, tireless and relentless, his shadow looming over her like a predator.

Adam’s voice broke through her haze of fatigue. “I think we should stop. She can’t keep up anymore,” he panted, glancing anxiously at Catherine’s strained face.

Ambrose, biting his lip in frustration, nodded. “We can’t keep running forever. We’re just tiring ourselves out for nothing. We need to come up with a plan,” he said, desperation creeping into his voice and his eyes dart around for ideas.

Meanwhile, Stefan’s consciousness slowly returned, clouded by pain and confusion. His head throbbed with a fierce, pulsating ache, and the world around him was a blur. Memories of the war and his brother's reckless actions flooded his mind.

“Ahhh… Sage, you’re so damn crazy,” he muttered, rage boiling within him like molten lava. His fists clenched instinctively, but weakness overtook him, and he collapsed back onto the cold ground. His head pounded harder, each beat echoing his frustration.

He forced himself to move, dragging his battered body out of the ruined palace. Hunger gnawed at him with relentless intensity. Spotting a freshly killed werewolf nearby, its blood still thick in the air, Stefan’s instincts took over. With a savage growl, he lunged, sinking his fangs into the creature’s neck and draining every drop of blood, desperate to regain his strength.

Once he was done, he wiped his mouth, spreading his wings with a powerful flap. His eyes gleamed with renewed vigor as he soared into the sky, scanning the land below. His mission was clear: find the baby and settle the score with Sage.

Back in the woods, the group scrambled to devise a plan. Sage suddenly appeared before them, an evil grin twisting his face. “Well, well. We meet again. This time, brother’s not here for you to display your crazy shenanigan,” he sneered, advancing slowly, his claws glinting menacingly.

Adam’s fur bristled as he growled, “What’s the plan now?”

“I… I don’t know. We have to fight,” Ambrose declared, shifting into a dark gray werewolf. Adam transformed into a reddish brown wolf, both snarling as they charged at Sage.

Sage’s fangs and claws flashed in the sunlight as he met their assault. The sound of snarling, scratching, and growling filled the air. Ambrose and Adam fought fiercely, each strike causing Sage to scream in pain. Catherine seized the moment to check on her baby, trembling but determined to keep her safe.

Suddenly, Stefan appeared, his presence commanding and fierce. With a brutal shove, he knocked Ambrose and Adam aside, forcing them into the trees behind him.

Stefan’s gaze locked onto Catherine as he approached her slowly. But Sage, sensing an opportunity, sprinted towards her, desperation in his eyes. Stefan’s attention shifted as he intercepted Sage with a powerful punch to the chest, sending him flying.

“I’ll deal with you later,” Stefan growled, turning back to Catherine.

Adam, still stunned, lunged at Stefan with a clenched fist but Stefan dodged with ease, grabbing Adam’s arm and twisting painfully, causing him to cry out. With a swift, punishing strike, Stefan sent Adam crashing into a tree.

Catherine’s heart pounded as Stefan’s piercing eyes locked onto her. She clutched her baby tightly, ready to fight if necessary.

Ambrose and the weakened Adam staggered to their feet, rallying to Stefan’s side. They fought desperately, their pain evident but they were still willing to protect Catherine and her child.

“Run, Catherine,” Ambrose urged urgently. “We’ll hold him off.”

“I want to help!” Catherine protested, eyes blazing with determination. “Let me fight!”

“No,” Ambrose said firmly. “You must protect the baby, it's her they want not us.”

Stefan flung Adam aside with a violent shove. Adam hit his head on a tree and collapsed, unconscious. Ambrose swung at Stefan, but was swiftly countered with a brutal punch which knocked him off.

Stefan’s eyes flicked to Catherine, who was now trembling. She stumbled, her legs slipping and tumbling into a deep valley. Her heart clenched as she looked at her baby, tears welling in her eyes.

She took a shaky breath, calming herself. When she heard her daughter’s faint cry, a flicker of hope ignited within her. She gently cuddled her baby, whispering soft words of comfort as she rocked her.

Suddenly, Stefan’s voice echoed through the trees. “Come out. I know you’re here,” he called, his tone both commanding and desperate. Catherine’s heart hammered. She knew he could sense her.

Hiding behind the thick branches, she carefully unwrapped her baby’s blanket, tearing a large piece of her dress to create a makeshift wrap for the child, She made a fake wrapped baby with the baby's original wrap.

Just as Stefan’s eyes flicked in their direction, the baby’s cry pierced the silence.

Catherine’s heart pounded as she whispered a tearful goodbye, running away before Stefan could noticed the child was there.

Stephan thought that she was with the baby and ran towards her until she was at the very end of a cliff.

Stefan’s voice rang out again, “Give me the baby,” his tone pleading, almost desperate. The urge to protect her child overwhelmed him—more than the desire to kill.

Before he could reach her, Sage appeared, sword in hand.

Catherine jumped before Sage could come close to her which brought a triumphant irk on Sage face.

Sage chuckled darkly. “She’s probably dead by now. The water’s too rough for anything to survive,” he boasted, flying away to brag to their father about his “victory.”

Stefan’s heart ached with guilt and sorrow. “Maybe because she’s just a baby,” he whispered, a rare flicker of remorse crossing his face. But guilt gnawed at him—he had done worse than kill a child, and yet, he felt nothing but emptiness.

Shaking his head, Stefan spread his wings and flew home, hoping that returning back home would somehow ease the burden of his guilt.

As the current dragged Catherine deeper, a mysteriousness shadow emerged from the shadow beneath the water, chanting some otherworldly words that brought the fainted Catherine out from the water to the shores.