30 Chapter 30: The illusion

"Hey! Come back!" She complained.

Zack took a deep breath and smirked. "Nice trick baby, but you're dealing with an Alpha." He said, pointing his finger at her, as if in warning.

Elize laughed. "Oh yeah?" She said, raising her hand "I think sometimes you forget who I am."

Zack's eyes widened in shock. He took a step back, but it was too late. He was back lying flat on the rock and he couldn't move his limbs.

"Elize this is not funny! You could-"

"Shhh little woflie. Tonight I'm taking the lead." Elize said, climbing on top of him.

She raised her hand and snapped her fingers. His clothes were suddenly torn apart, with nothing at all to cover his nakedness. Elize unconsciously bit her lips, his bare body arousing something in her. The man in front of her was perfection. She ran her fingers through the hardness of his stomach.

Suddenly she heard it. It sounded like many wolves were howling together. Alarmed, Eliize got off from Zack. She looked around, but all she could see was the silhouette of pine trees and the eerily calm clearing. There was an overhanging sense of fear hanging in the air, she could feel it in her bones. That's when she noticed it- the moon was unbelievably large. She drew a deep breath as she understood that it was not normal.

"I beseech thee air, tear apart the veil and uncover the evil that surrounds us." She whispered under her breath.

Suddenly strong winds started moving around violently, slashing at her surroundings. Elize quickly released Zack from the spell and put a shield around him. She then braced herself for what was to come. Her hair was flying around her as the wind picked up more force.

"Elize, I am unable to shift. What did you do? Release me at once!" Zack shouted.

"Please stay there Zack. I need you to trust me." Elize said without looking back.

"Elize please! I can't protect you if you don't let me out!"

Elize turned towards her mate. He looked desperate, trying to push the shield open. As he delivered a punch at the shield blindly, a sharp pain shot up her chest. She screamed as she clutched her chest and fell down.

"Elize!" Zack screamed, alarmed at the sight.

Elize looked up, her eyes pleading at her mate. "The shield! Don't force it open." She said, her voice wavering.

Zack took a step back from where he stood and nodded, wearing a painful expression. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Elize nodded, taking a deep breath. She felt better. The pain subsided swiftly. She looked around, the wind was growing more violent and a few trees were falling down around the edge of the clearing as if cut by a giant sword. Slowly but steadily she could see tears on the fabric of the sky above them. Her eyes grew wide at what she saw through the gaping holes.

"Wraiths." She whispered under her breath.

There were at least two dozen of the creatures hovering in the air above them. As soon as they noticed what was happening around them they shrieked and launched towards Elize. Fear gripped her.

"Elize no! Let me out baby please!" Zack screamed behind her.

Elize ignored him. She knew that if she let him out, he wouldn't stand a chance against so many of them. As far as she knew, wraiths could only be destroyed by magic. She was glad that she had put a shield around him at that moment. The worst thing that could happen was that she'd die protecting him, but at least he'd be safe, Elize thought. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. An idea suddenly came to her mind as she remembered something.

She bent down, picked up a sharp rock and quickly slashed both her palms. Blood oozed down from her hands and dripped down on the ground. She raised both her hands and screamed, "Let my blood become daggers, let them pierce the heart of the creatures and cleanse them from within."

As soon as she finished the spell, her wound became wider and more blood started coming out of it. Elize screamed in pain, but refused to lower her hands. The droplets that fell out of her hand suddenly started taking the shape of various seven pointed stars. Elize could feel her strength draining out of her.

"Baby let me out please!" Zack's screams grew louder.

"I'm sorry Zack." She whispered, without looking back. A slow smile crept up on her face.

She could see it, various angry red eyes flying towards her. The wraiths shrouded in darkness were flying towards her in an otherworldly speed. The creatures shrieked, extending their claws toward her. It was almost about to reach her. Elize was in pain, as the spell thrust open her wound further. Her feet wavered, and she staggered back for a moment. But she quickly held herself straight. She closed her eyes and released the spell from her palm.

"EEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeekkk" The wraith nearest to her screamed.

Elize opened her eyes at the right moment to see it catch fire right in front of her. The fire that enveloped it was blue. It raged high, as it swiftly burned the creature within it. Soon the whole area was filled with screams. It sounded like a million nails being rubbed against a blackboard.

Elize looked around her in wonder. Blue fire burned in the air all around them, enveloping the whole area in its light. She started feeling dizzy. She knew she couldn't hold on anymore. Elize leaned on to a boulder and looked back at her mate. Through her blurred vision, she could see that he was crying. She smiled, seeing his desperation.

"Lacero!!" She heard the voice from somewhere ahead, standing out among the shrieks of the wraiths. It sounded as if so many people shouted at the same time. Her surroundings shook, and all of a sudden, the sky which had huge gaping holes shattered like a mirror.

"Don't be sad baby. It's over." Elize said, looking at Zack.

Suddenly she started coughing violently. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and turned away from him. She didn't want him to see her like that. She looked at her hand, holding on to the boulder. Blood covered both sides of her hands. Although the blood on her palms were dry, there was fresh blood on the back of her hand. Her vision started blurring once again. She smiled as she felt her body suddenly sway and lose balance.

"Elize!"

"Elize!"

"Elize!"

So many people screamed at once. So many familiar voices, Elize thought as she was falling down. She had no energy to open her eyes anymore. She wanted to sleep. Someone caught her before she hit the ground. Strong arms enveloped her as warmth seeped into her body. So many voices were shouting around her, but it was all muddled. Elize didn't want to concentrate anymore. She was too tired.

'It's okay child. You did well.' A familiar voice whispered in her ears.

"Who is it?" Elize asked.

'Open your eyes and see for yourself.' It said.

Elize slowly opened her eyes. She was surprised, at the ease with which she opened her eyes. Only a moment ago, had her eyelids felt like iron blankets. Surprised, she looked at the direction of the voice. Before her stood, the luminous figure of a familiar woman.

"The spirit of Ruah Yareach!" She exclaimed.

The woman laughed. It sounded like a thousand temple bells ringing at the same time in tune- terrifying yet beautiful. 'You recognized me right this time.' She said, opening her arms wide.

Elize smiled and ran into her arms. She hugged the woman tight. So many emotions swelled inside her heart. But right now all she could think about was how safe she felt in her arms. The woman slowly caressed her hair. That's when she noticed that she was not in the clearing anymore. They were standing in a sea of blue roses. She raised her hands and saw that they were fully healed.

'You're in the realm of spirits.' The woman replied, sensing her confusion.

"Am I dead?" Elize asked, burying her face in the woman's chest.

'No my dear. You're just resting.' The melodious voice answered.

Elize stepped back and cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"Then did I kill all the wraiths?" She asked.

'Surprisingly yes. How did you figure out blood magic?' The woman asked, smiling at her.

"Well I remember the last time a wraith drank my blood, it died. So I figured that if I used my blood, maybe these ones will die too." Elize shrugged while explaining.

'Aren't you incredibly smart?! But what if you died during the process? Weren't you scared?'

Elize sighed. "Not really." She replied, "All I could think about was Zack. I wanted to save him, whatever the cost may be."

The spirit laughed again. Elize looked down, embarrassed.

'It's okay Elize. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Love can only make you stronger. Look how far you have traveled as a witch today, fighting to keep him safe.' The woman said, patting Elize on her back.

Elize smiled, her chest swelling with pride at the encouraging words. Then she remembered something. She looked up at the woman and asked, "Where did the wraiths come from? And why were they hidden?"

The spirit sighed. She replied, 'You were trapped under an illusion spell and that is why you were unable to see them. But it's strong magic, it was a big illusion. No ordinary witch can do anything like that. Someone knew that you'd come to the area and set you up.'

"But who? I don't have any enemies. I just arrived on the Island a few months back." Elize asked.

'I cannot answer that child. Some things are not meant to be revealed. You will find them in due time.' The spirit said, trying to assure her.

"Is that why I was drawn to the stream? Did I teleport there because of the strength of the illusion?"

The spirit smiled, and placed her hand on the young witch. 'No my child. That was your destiny calling you. That's all I can tell you now.'

"But-"

Before she could protest, the spirit waved her sleeve at Elize, making her slightly dizzy. Her vision started blurring again.

'Remember child, you're the chosen one. You're stronger than your enemy.' The woman's voice echoed in her head as she started falling once again.