[-In a tunnel of the vampire coven-]

"I can move properly now. Thanks!" Booth told Malia.

​​

But Malia insisted.

"No! I can handle it. Let me just help you. Don't worry, I won't tarnish your manly reputation." Malia mocked at Booth because she knew that Booth does not want to look weak to his fellow hunters.

Though, Booth was feeling differently at that moment. He did not mind Malia's persistence because seeing her worried and concerned for him made him enjoy the moment.

Only silence was his reply from Malia's teasing.

And Malia noticed the sudden smile on Booth's face.

"Now, why are you smiling? Haven't I told you that I do not have time for your silliness?" Malia reminded Booth.

"I haven't said anything at all. Plus, is it bad to enjoy this moment, hmm? You just got kidnapped for few hours then you are acting so sensitive." Booth made some excuses to avoid the real reason what made him smile.

"Fine by me! Just don't make me go through with your silliness or else I am leaving you behind." Malia warned Booth with a serious look on her face.

Booth kept smiling because it was not that often he gets this kind of moment with Malia.

Usually, it is always work, training and family stuff with Malia.

Right now is a rare moment for Booth to enjoy.

Alone time with Malia …

Physical contact …

Genuine concern for him …

And most of all, being this close to her.

Skin to skin.

Then the thought about Malia's tracker pierced to her nipples visited his thoughts.

'Damn it! Damn it! Erase! Erase! I have no time for a hard on! Not this way, idiot!' Booth thought to himself as he shook his head.

"Are you alright? Tell me the truth because you are acting really weird, Booth!" Malia wondered.

"Seriously, I am alright! Let's just walk through the exit and we are through this tunnel." Booth tried to change the topic.

Both Malia and Booth were walking towards the exit of the tunnel.

Until a dark creature appeared right through the huge gate of the tunnel.

"What's that?" Malia wondered to the sight of a dark creature appeared few meters away from them.

"That's a banshee!" Booth informed Malia.

Based on his experience in the past, he had an encounter with his previous team taking down a banshee.

Which took 4 hunters with anti-magic weapon to take such a dark creature.

In their surprise, they prepared for another battle.

But the dark creature, Xiara was more surprised to them.

Unaware to the situation, Malia was simply preparing for another battle.

On the other hand, Xiara was trying to confirm in her mind if it is really the supposed dead mate of the current Alpha King and the next chosen one that is destined to rule all supernatural beings.

"T-t-this could not be! I-I w-was right … YOU ARE NOT DEAD!" Xiara stammered at the sight of Malia.

Looking exactly the same with the one she had an encounter in the past. The same individual that they thought of as the next chosen one.

Though there was something off because Xiara could not sense any werewolf aura within Malia.

So doubt surrounded Xiara once again.

There was one thing that can make her confirm.

'Her magic essence as a witch!' loudly thought by Xiara.

No matter what is … if a certain witch uses her powers, banshee can sense its magic essence imprint which only a banshee could see through the color of the wavelengths and vibrations that a certain magic essence emits.

The banshee prompted for a loud deadly scream.

"DEATH SCREAM!!!!" Xiara exclaimed and then a powerful deadly scream came out from her mouth.

A powerful surge of energy was released from the banshee's mouth.

Rendering both Booth and Malia immobilized at the moment.

Falling to their knees.

"Arrrghhh!!" Booth crouched down harrowing in pain from the deadly voice of the dark banshee.

At the same time, Malia was in a sudden trance while covering her ears.

Instead of screaming or harrow in pain like what Booth was going through, Malia was suddenly remembering some fragments of her memories.

*** Fragments of Malia's memory ***

{-First Fragment-}

Around the entrance of a forest

"Now, who is responsible for attacking my mate?" a frightful query was given to the dark creatures.

Sight of banshee with flying winged creatures above her.

A furious Malia standing unnerved from the number and sight of the dark creatures.

---

{-Second Fragment-}

While the banshee was screaming, Malia summoned a powerful lightning bolt above the banshee.

---

{-Third Fragment-}

Malia reminded Fluffy to keep the dark banshee steady and prevent her from escaping.

"Here I come … Better not let that banshee get away, Fluffy! Or else you will be punished." Malia threatening and warning Fluffy for the first time in their journey together.

*** End of the memory ***

"Fluffy … the banshee?" Malia whispered as she tried to put the pieces together.

Though, she has to get rid of the banshee first.

"Take this!" Malia exclaimed

She commanded some bits of the rocks lying around, attached it to the grip of Booth's anti-magic weapon, and aimed it directly to the chest of the screaming banshee.

-Whoooosh!-

…

…

Perfectly landed on Xiara's chest.

Dark blood dripped from her mouth and wound.

Xiara lodged the anti-magic weapon out of her chest.

"UGGGH!" Xiara struggled to stand.

Confirming who it was.

"I-I was right all along …" Xiara bit her lip and covered the open wound caused by the anti-magic weapon of Booth.

Unraveling the truth may have cost her a lot.

Risking her life for the truth was worth it for her.

…

…

Malia and Booth gasped for relief after successfully stopping the banshee from screaming.

As soon as they were able to gather their wits and recomposed themselves, the banshee was gone already.

For few moments when they were trying to breathe and recompose themselves, Xiara was making her way for escape.

Knowing that she would not stand a chance against Malia.

Especially with her wound.

-Moments after-

Due to her desperation for escape,

Xiara returned to where Zaeqir and the other dark creatures were.

From a distance, the winged creatures, lady harpies spotted Xiara bleeding to her death and fell unconscious to the ground.

"Zaeqir! It's Xiara, she is wounded!" one of the harpies alarmed the great necromancer.

"What?!?" Zaeqir's response.

Immediately they went to Xiara's side.

Zaeqir tried to examine her wound.

"Her wound is caused by some anti-magic weapon. My dark powers won't take effect on her wound. Meaning, there is only one reason for it … a hunter wounded Xiara with an anti-magic weapon. There may be some other hunters around with anti-magic weapon. Going alone was truly not a good idea." Zaeqir was evidently disappointed with the current situation.

He continued,

"Take her body! We are leaving now before we fail from our true objective here." Zaeqir gave his command to the harpies.

After summoning a portal, they left the coven of vampires.

Bloody …

Wrecked …

And with the corpse of AJ impaled on a huge sharp pike made of rocks.

---

Back in the Lair of the 'Dark Lord' …

Zaeqir arrived with not totally fulfilled.

He may have succeeded attaining an anti-magic weapon for his experiment.

Xiara is currently in a state where if she dies … she cannot be revived.

The necromancer placed her body in an ancient crypt.

"This may slow your impending death once again. I must make new arrangements to keep you alive." Zaeqir whispered to the dying body of Xiara.

One of his minions greeted him.

"Is there any problem, Master Zaeqir?" asked by the furry man.

"Oh, Lucius! I am just wondering what Xiara discovered … risking her life for it." Zaeqir wondered as he replied to the newly resurrected Lucius.

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Notice!

[1] Chapters issued on April 2021 will be 3x a week temporarily. But the privilege chapters will be released the same number. I apologize for the temporary inconvenience.

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