I sat there in misery for what felt like hours, waiting for the blood witch to show up. My mind raced through all the things I could have done differently to prevent this from happening. The only conclusion I reached was that I needed to stop being so anti-social. Despite Damon's faults, he had proven himself trustworthy thus far. And while I had issues with weres in the past, I wouldn't hold that against them. I stood up and began pacing back and forth, contemplating how much power I wanted to exert for this rescue. If I allowed myself to go too far, I could cause more damage than good. However, if I unleashed just enough power to overpower everything in my way, I could easily overcome the obstacles that lay ahead.
"Lady Mara, we have just received a call informing us that Belinda has arrived and is on her way here. Once she arrives, it will take her approximately 20 minutes to cast her spell. Depending on her power levels, she may need to cast it multiple times as we get closer to Christi's location," Blair reported respectfully before turning around and rejoining the rest of the pack. The sudden change in attitude surprised me; I suppose Damon must have given them a warning on how to treat me.
Examining my hands, I noticed the eight rings and two bracelets adorning them. Each piece served as a form of suppression, keeping my powers in check and allowing me to maintain a relatively normal level of supernatural ability. Today, however, I made the decision to increase my power from its current 1% to approximately 30%. With determination, I removed the bracelet from my left wrist. In an instant, I felt my power surge up from my core, infusing every cell of my body. My bones hardened to a strength surpassing that of diamond, while my skin became tougher than the most durable carbon fiber. The energy I had previously expended for the day was instantly replenished, and then some. Adjusting to this heightened level of ability would be a challenge, considering I hadn't utilized it in centuries. But those asshole's had taken Christi from me, and I refused to lose another child under my protection. I was prepared to tear down the entire world, if necessary, to retrieve her.
Amidst my nearly euphoric state, I failed to notice the impact my power surge had on the group of predators standing a short distance away. With the exception of Damon, they involuntarily shifted into their full animal forms, their fur bristling as they cowered behind the Alpha. Some even fled down the street in fear. Finally becoming aware of their reaction, I turned my attention to them. Damon spoke up, his voice filled with bewilderment, "What the hell was that? It felt like a dragon was about to devour me. The only thing that prevented me from shifting and instinctively preparing to fight was my Alpha nature. Is that what your full power feels like?" He shuddered and shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts and regain control over himself.
"Oh, my full power? Nah, that was just a tiny taste of what I can really do. I figured I'd give myself a little warm-up before we go all out to rescue Christi. Turns out, I must have gotten a lot more powerful since the last time I unleashed some of my mojo. I mean, I've never seen such a dramatic reaction from you poor puppers and kittens with just a fraction of my power. Impressive, right?" I paused, a sarcastic tone lacing my words, before continuing, "But enough about that. How much longer until this delightful witch arrives? Because, you know, I'm just sitting here twiddling my thumbs, and being idle is definitely not my favorite pastime." As I spoke, I stretched my limbs, taking note of the exhilarating changes coursing through my body.
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"What the hell are you, lady, if that was just a fraction of your power? Anyway, I had a friend pick her up, and they should be here any minute," he explained, just as the screeching of car tires reached my ears, followed by a silver BMW sliding up to the curb. "And there they are," he pointed, indicating a somewhat familiar tall, lanky man with tattoos and a standing mohawk emerging from the driver's side. He skillfully used his hip to close the door and leaned against the car's side. From the passenger side, an elderly woman with white, frazzled hair that could have been as old as me, judging by the wrinkles covering her hawk-nosed face, emerged.
"Remiel?" I exclaimed, my voice laced with disbelief. "What the hell is one of the god squad doing here? If you dare to lay a finger on Christi, I will destroy you here and now without a shred of hesitation." I glared at the tall figure before me, unmistakably Remiel, also known as the Angel of Hope. He was one of those celestial beings who would swiftly eliminate Christi on sight, solely for the crime of existing. Anger surged within me as I contemplated Damon's audacity in involving one of their kind in this mess, despite my explicit warning about the dire consequences of bringing angels into the equation.
"Woah, woah, woah, Mara, that is what you go by these days, right?" Remiel interrupted, seeking to clarify. "I left the heavens and relinquished my position as the Angel of Hope because, honestly, I didn't quite fit in with the whole 'smite now, ask questions later' types like Mike and Gabe. These days, I go by Ren, and I've been aware of Christi and her mother for years. I never harmed them before, and I have no intentions of harming them now. The reason I haven't actively assisted them myself is because you took them in, which gives me the opportunity to help others facing similar situations. So, just relax. I assure you, we're on the same side," he explained earnestly, and I knew that even with all their faults, angels couldn't lie. I decided it was probably safe to trust him, but I would still keep a close eye on him. Just then, the woman I assumed to be the Blood Witch Belinda hobbled her way up to me.
"I'm sorry to tell you that Angelina is dead. Those bastards who took Christi will pay for their actions, and I will wipe them off the face of the earth," I declared to Ren, my determination burning in my voice. Then, I turned my attention to Belinda. "I'm going to offer you my blood as payment for your services. However, you must be prepared for it. I've never allowed any blood witch to partake in this ritual in over ten thousand years, and my blood is likely the most potent magical substance you'll ever encounter. I advise you to start with just a drop to acclimate yourself to the power it releases when consumed," I cautioned her, unsure of the exact consequences that would arise from her ingesting my blood to boost her own power. The potency of my blood could be fatal to vampires, so I felt a sense of apprehension about giving it to her.
“You expect me to believe you are that old? Ha I am over 300 and I have never heard of you. Just give me your blood, little girl, and I will decide if it is even worth my price.” She sneered at me, extending her hand with a dagger. Knowing that the dagger would barely scratch my skin, I swiftly drew one of my swords. In a blur of movement, faster than anyone other than myself could perceive, I sliced a deep gash across my index finger, allowing droplets of blood to well up for her to collect. Belinda stumbled back in surprise at my sudden actions but quickly regained her composure. With an angry glare, she stepped forward and swiped her finger across the wound on my finger, smearing my blood onto her own digit before greedily putting it into her mouth. For a brief moment, nothing happened, and then steam began to rise from every inch of her body as if she had stepped into freezing air. That's when the screaming started—a piercing cry of agony that echoed through the air. Belinda collapsed to the ground, writhing in torment as if she were being subjected to unimaginable torture.