The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

“It's about the Shota's magic,” Zeriyah said, her dark gaze traveling the faces of everyone in the Court.

“What happened?" | leaned forward against the giant table, my deep gaze moving from Amelie whose eyes were now focused on the black crystal ball in her slender fingers. She looked as though her mind was lost somewhere in it.

“Last night during the Blood moon, Amelie had two visions. One was of an all-out war and the other was about Shota's magic,” Zeriyah paused, her dark gaze found mine. “It's free."

Several gasps broke out, and | was left completely speechless for a fucking second. That's not possible,” | muttered more to myself, clutching my hands together.

“I do know that. We were told Vladimir had fled after the attack. and the Shota's magic was imprisoned back in its cage by you. But the visions are never clear, but they never lie as well. Something must have happened or gone wrong during the ritual. But that darkness found a vessel last night,” she said calmly, pausing for a second as if giving me time to process everything she said. But everything she said just didn't make sense. Nothing could have gone wrong because I wrote the spell myself.

“Tell us everything that happened last night,” she said again calmly, settling on her seat, right beside Amelie.

1 pulled my eyes closed, thinking deeply about everything that happened that night. “The ritual was going just fine, and then | began

the spell, but Nikolai realized it. Coven witches had tried to attack me, and so did Nikolai, but | was almost finished closing the crack within its prison walls. And then...” | paused, trying to remember everything in detail, but | couldn't. It was as if there was a glitch in my memory. | shook my head, "The next thing | remembered is sealing the crack, and there was some kind of magic explosion from the phoenix stones,” | added exactly how | remembered.

“This is terrible,” One of the Council members said. “Now how do we know if this darkness is truly free or not?” Everyone's eyes returned to Zeriyah and Amelie who still hadn't said a word, and her eyes were still trapped on her black crystal ball.

I watched the woman for a second, sighing deeply. Zeriyah was right about one thing. Visions are not always clear, but they never lie. If truly something had happened during the ritual, | would have known through my dreams. But | haven't had any since the Blood moon.

“It's impossible to know for sure,” Zeriyah shuffled in her seat. "This dark magic is like nothing we've ever encountered before. It's been in existence at the dawn of magic itself until Shota found a way to channel its dark powers. She was the very first witch who harbored this magic until the old Council found a way to stop her,” Zeriyah explained, and | listened to the familiar words.

learned about the witch in one of Nikolai's journals. Shota was one of the most powerful witches of her time, but she was dark and wanted more power. She harbored this dark magic for many centuries, spreading its darkness around our realm. The ancient Council tried many times, but there was nothing that could stop her.

That was when the ancient Council decided to imprison this magic forever. That was the only way. They anchored a blood ritual, sacrificing the lives of many supernatural kinds to create a magic, powerful enough that could trap the Shota's magic. It was some kind of prison, and it worked. That was why Vladimir wanted this war more

than anything. He needed a blood ritual to fully unleash what had been imprisoned.

“Even if truly the Shota’s magic has found a vessel. We could still stop it. Without recreating the Blood ritual, it will never be fully free, so before that, we must stop it,” An Elder wolf voiced.

“And Vladimir? How are we sure it isn't in him?" One of the Council members said.

“It could be Vladimir or someone else. We can never be too sure. This darkness is tricky and cunning at the same time. We have to find it before it fuses with the soul of its vessel.” “And how do we know who the hell is harboring the magic now?" Damien, the demon overlord, questioned, and drifted again to Zeriyah.

“That's exactly what | wanted to talk about,” Zeriyah said. “There's a way we can find out. It's a long, tiring process. But it'll work.”

1 leaned forward with my clasped hands under my chin, eager to hear what Zeriyah had to say.

Slowly, she started explaining her ideas. It had to do with some ritual and my eyes rounded when she made mention of Shota's remains.

Zeriyah nodded, and before anyone could ask anything, she voiced.

*Shota's soul had already been fused with this dark magic that when the ancient Council had imprisoned Shotas magic, she died in the process. And her bones were in the Council's possession throughout the centuries. With this, we could find out the new vessel for this magic, and we would need your help, Sheila.” “Whatever you need,” said, sincerely wanting to help in any way | could.

“And what happens after?” Killian asked from beside me.

“We stop them at all costs. It would be much easier now because once this magic is completely free, it will be the death of us all,” Elder Noah muttered coldly. But | couldn't blame him. I had seen what doom lay ahead for us all if Shota's magic was truly free.

1 had fallen into some deep thoughts as the meeting progressed, talking about Amelie’s vision of the coming war. But | couldn't give them my undivided attention. Something was bothering me with everything | heard today, but | didn't know what it was.

It was only as | felt Killian's hands on mine, | shook out of my’ thoughts into the chaos around me. It was Amelie and she was being led away by some witches. It seems like she was having one of her visions and the black crystal ball in her hand had a pale glow in it as well as her eyes.

“We can't stop it. No one can. It's too late," She kept mumbling until she faded out of sight and | was greeted with a pounding ache against my skull and growing exhaustion.

“Sheila,” Killian brought my attention to him, squeezing my hand warmly. "What's wrong?" “I don't feel well, Killian. | would leave first," I said, and before Killian insisted he came along with me, Valerie decided she would leave with me.

1 left the Council's castle with Valerie, after bidding my brothers goodbye. We were riding side by side on our horses back to the Pack when Valerie broke the silence between us.

“Alright, tell me. What are you thinking about?” she asked, keeping her face up ahead the route we had taken.

*Amelie’s visions," | paused. “The Shota's magic,” | added as Valerie listened quietly without uttering a word. "I don't know why, but | feel on the edge.” “You do not trust the certainty of Amelie’s visions?” She asked.

“No,” | replied sharply. It wasn't that. It was precisely the opposite. | sighed, looking her way. "If truly Shota's magic roams free, it means | failed to keep that darkness from ever finding a vessel. And I'm responsible for that. What if Vladimir's the vessel? You have no idea how dangerous that is. I've seen what will happen if Shota's magic is ultimately set free. Everyone is going to die, Val, if again we fail to stop it." She stopped walking, turning to me. "What do you mean you've seen it?" *I do have dreams, Val. It started when Vladimir took me. It took me a while before | realized they were visions. Chaos, war, and deaths,” | explained honestly.

“You have the gift of foresight, like Amelie,” she moved closer. "Tell me of what you've seen since the Blood moon.”

“Nothing,” | came again. "Absolutely nothing," I replied weakly, feeling the painstaking ache against my skull. “I haven't had them since the Blood moon.” “That's unlikely.” “I know," | said, nodding. “The more reason | need to help Zeriyah find out if this magic is truly free, and who exactly is harboring it." “I agree. And | swear, | will help as well, but | do agree with Killian t00. You need good rest, Sheila. | may not be able to see, but | can feel it. You are exhausted, Sheila,” she took my hand. "Holy goddess, Sheila, your body is so cold.” “Alright,” I whispered more to myself, as we approached the warrior waiting for us with the horses. | also do agree, | needed some rest t00. These past few days were taking a toll on me, and now more than ever, | needed to be at my full capacity to help the Council find out the vessel harboring Shota's magic. Hopefully, this time we will

be able to stop it.