Maya clutched Steve's arm, her grip tight and desperate. "The woman in the photo," she choked out, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "She’s my mother."
Steve’s eyes widened in shock. "The... the one who left you when you were a kid? Are you absolutely sure?"
Maya could only nod, her throat constricted with a painful lump. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
Steve’s shock turned to concern, his hold on her becoming more reassuring. "She... she attacked you? That’s seriously messed up!" His voice was a mix of disbelief and anger, his protective instincts kicking in.
Maya’s thoughts raced, a whirlwind of confusion and fear. Her mother—the woman she’d been trying to understand—was the same as the wolf she’d been investigating. And Clarissa knew.
Steve’s voice softened as he spoke into her hair. "What are you going to do?"
Maya couldn’t answer. She didn’t have the strength to think through the chaos swirling in her mind. Instead, she buried her face in his shirt, clinging to him as if he were the only solid thing in her world.
-----
Meanwhile, at the lake, Casandra felt the power of the re-spelled, once-incendiary crystals swirling around them. She stood with a heightened awareness, her nerves tingling as though she were on fire. The sensation was unlike anything she’d ever felt.
"It’s coming," she murmured, a sense of inevitability drawing her closer to the water.
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Eliane’s eyes widened with concern as she unfolded her arms. "Casandra, what are you doing?"
"I can feel it," Casandra said, stepping into the icy water with determination. Despite the biting cold, her gaze was fixed on the shifting shadows below.
As Casandra waded deeper, the water began to bubble violently, as though it were boiling. The cold intensified, but the bubbles grew more frantic. Then, through the roiling water, the crystal skull—a crucial artifact they needed to defeat the Witch-Hunters—emerged, surrounded by furious swirls of liquid.
"Hurry!" Austen’s voice cut through the chaos from the beach. "Grab it before it fully forms! Quick!"
Casandra didn’t hesitate. She lunged for the skull, which, in its current state, resembled a massive crystal jellyfish more than a traditional skull. The moment she grasped it, a rush of power surged through her, leaving her breathless and exhilarated.
"This is incredible," Casandra breathed, stumbling back toward the shore, her face flushed with the intensity of the energy coursing through her.
Austen, his gaze sharp and focused, motioned for Eliane to step forward. "Your turn."
Casandra gave Eliane a reassuring smile. "You’re going to love this. It’s amazing."
Eliane approached hesitantly, her expression guarded. Taking a deep breath, she reached out and placed her hands on the skull. Her eyes widened in awe as she experienced the powerful rush that Casandra had felt.
Austen’s voice was firm, "Whatever happens, keep your hands on it. Don’t move."
The sisters exchanged a look as the skull began to take shape, the chaotic energy molding into a clear, defined form. It shrank down to the precise shape they needed.
"It’s done," Austen declared, his tone relieved.
Eliane pulled her hands away immediately, standing up as Casandra held the skull aloft, a mix of triumph and wonder in her eyes.
Their Coven’s unbinding had been a dangerous gamble, and the others might be worried, thinking death was the only way to achieve their goal. But it didn’t matter now. They had the crystal skull, and they were ready to confront Eben and his Witch-Hunters with it.
Eliane cleared her throat. "We need to go. The others will be worried, and we can’t keep Eben waiting, not with April and those demons crawling under his skin."
Casandra nodded, slowly rising to her feet, the power of the skull still coursing through her veins. She felt invincible, but the sudden spell that hit her left her knees weak and her vision dimmed.