9

I chant out loudly, the candles going out one by one in succession around us as though a puff is wafted in succession, followed by the fire. A second of darkness before all explode back to light with a combustive boom that creates tiny sparkles around the room. Like pouring lighter fuel onto a tiny ember of a flame and igniting a volcano eruption of light.

Cornel jumps to his feet in alarm, crying out in anguished pain like a dying animal, his body stiffening and twisting as he fights the internal agony. He grasps his heart with both hands, clutching at his chest as though to claw out what it is I am causing, before falling to the ground in a heap. Slumping down in a heavy unceremonious clatter into a deadweight of non-motion. I watch, undeterred and unaffected as he lays groaning and writhing, just as Cora returns, cradling the vial and bloodied dagger against her bosom, eyes wide as though she’s still reeling from what I made her do.

She gasps at the sight of him, rushes forward, laying both down on the table to my left and begins to try and help his groaning self back to his chair, smoothing back his floppy hair and cradling his head in her arms. Her distraught concern evident in finding him this way.

“Don’t touch me… get away. I can’t……… wait.” He attempts to push her away, but she dodges and manages to cling on. Cornel’s panicked reaction softens as he realises his hunger pangs are already dampening with every second that my spell entwines into his respiratory system.

'What happened?' He groans, holding a palm to his head and one to his chest as he slumps back accepting her assistance, his eyes still red and the hint of his feeding teeth further poking out. He is mid transition to his other self, the side only seen when eating, and I need to complete the spell before the delayed reaction hits him.

'Drink this.' I pour the remnants of my scorched spell into the blood and with a twist of my fingers watch it swirl into the dark red depths and disappear. 'All of it.' I command. Thrusting it his way.

I hand it to him, his own fingers shaking and stay put, watching as he does as he’s told to be sure he takes every last drop. The taste of blood is an instant crux for him, his face shifting to its true form as he gulps it down, his eyes glowing luminescent, his pretty features sharpening demonically and teeth growing more visible than usual as he greedily gorges on the fluid.

Cora moves away, keeping her distance and I can read the fear within her expression. The witch has probably never witnessed his feeding side, and this will haunt her for a while yet. It’s a hard thing to digest to see the one you care about become a whole other kind of creature. It’s not a new sight for me.

'He won't hurt you.' I soothe. 'He won't have the urge to unless he tastes human blood again and then the spell will be undone. As long as it’s animal only from here on in, it will hold.'

We both observe him as he finishes the drink and seems to calm as he inhales slowly with satisfaction. Cora still maintaining more distance than necessary, and I can sense the trepidation and doubt.

'What did you do?' Cornel is breathless when he finally finishes the last drop, some of his strength returning almost instantly, his eyes searching mine as Cora moves back to him slowly. His face smoothing back to ethereal beauty and hiding the monster within once more, so she feels able to relax. Teeth and flashing eyes gone. He looks relieved and confused and I know that he will be feeling the effects as though he’s drunk himself full on human blood.

'I cured your hunger and tweaked your digestive response; you can now live a happy boring life on whatever animal takes your fancy and it shouldn't impair you a whole deal. The urge will occasionally flair up but nothing you can’t handle. Don’t switch back to human unless you intend to go back for good as it’s not easy to find me to fix it again.' I warn in a jocular manner, taking the goblet and placing it back beside the dagger and wooden bowl on my table and turn my back to give the pair a moment. Satisfied with my task being carried out well.

'Did you have to make it so painful?' He laughs, holding his chest as Cora beckons to him and seems to instantly lose all fear with the return of the face she loves. She trusts him to know his own ability to control himself.

'No gain without pain. There's no fun in if it doesn't hurt a little bit. You're a big strapping vampire who should be able to take it.' I turn and wink at him before walking to sit opposite them on a nearby couch, smoothing out my clothes and clearing the air around us from the residue spell smog. Now I can get things in order.

'Now where were we before that little distraction? I feel like we will now have some focus and productivity.' I’ve done my duty and now want to move on because I hate gratitude and awkward thank yous. I was never one to do anything for that reason.

'Really Leyanne, Thank you. I can already feel a difference. You have no idea what this means to me.' He turns to Cora, smiling and kissing her quickly on the cheek, his accent more prominent with his excitement and unable to conceal his happiness. I raise my eyebrows in acceptance and clear my throat. Nothing in this little happy scene is making a dent on my emotions and my impatience wants them to move along. Lovey dovey displays always leave me feeling cold and irritated.

'Now....the vision.... Cora?' I try a little more forcefully. Making it clear we now have something better to discuss.

'Umm, yes.' Cora drags her eyes from Cornel, perched on the seat beside him now and focuses on me again, her eyes shining with happiness. 'Thank you.' The dragging out of this irritates me.

'It's a spell you should learn. Again!' I chastise her, reminding her it’s a skill she was once taught, and then brush further talk away with the wave of a hand, feeling no remorse at the crestfallen expression hitting Cora's face.

'We have something important to focus on now. We need to figure out how to find this mortal before he turns proficient serial killer of super-naturals, Cora.' The serious tone and topic seem to make both sit taller and nod in agreement. Cora returning to business mode and leaning in again despite my denting her feelings. Finally taking the hint.

'I’ve been channelling a coven for a few weeks in the hopes of insight and not long after my first vision, days ago, I began to see something new.' She smooths her skirt and eyes me warily. Tweaking my interest.

'Such as?'

'I can show you, here.' Cora holds out her hand to me, a pause as I stare at it and click on what she wants. It seems embarrassed by her lack of skill she now wants to show she does still possess some tricks. I take her fingertips in mine gracefully and relax to allow her to project onto my mind, the wisdom she wishes to impart. We both lean forward towards one another and close eyes instinctively.

'I think one of the coven witches must be a seer, yet she has no idea. She’s young, and natural at whatever her gifts are but completely naïve to it.' We begin to breathe in unison as Cora mutters a German chant, connecting her memory to mine and bringing the darkness alive with visions of things she has seen these past weeks.