POV Narrator:
Sunday 7 June 2020, Luna Nova
The holidays in Luna Nova were getting a little monotonous due to the search for the identity of the boss, what Hellene and Mary end up thinking about the option of trying to communicate with Mary and so they can have some chance, since she told about knowing who her identity is, but this could still have some danger due to what happened at the graduation, mainly because they are not very confident that Mary Brooks is on their side, although they want any opportunity so they can find out who is the mysterious witch responsible for all this evil that has been happening in the world of witches.
POV Hellene:
I just woke up one more day, I dink I am more sure of dis decision, take advantage dat it is a weekend to be able to go out a lettle, I go looking around in de room, I see dat Marianne is still sleeping, I dink it is time to give a workout, I go to de wardrobe, choose something to dress me, an ideal outfit to go out on a walk dis morning, I put on a pair of trousers and a tank top, ideal for today's workout.
"Okay, now we just 'ave to go out to train" I say while I grab some bottles of water and put them on my waist, dey are very cold.
I also put on a mask, stretch, leaving de room, I go for my morning workout to get more defined, I go down de stairs, to de outside, de day is really beautiful today, de sky is open with de sun rising early in de morning, it's time to get strong.
I start to stretch outside, doing de usual basics, warming up my body and increasing my flexibility because it's always good to do dat, den it's time to warm up, a basic walk around de hall of Luna Nova, I'm walking in de surroundings, still with the sky changing, soon it will be sunny.
"Good morning Luna Nova" I say alone while walking.
I dink dat besides de workers 'ere I must be one of de people who wakes up early in Luna Nova, I always see dem waving to me, it must be one of those jobs to 'ave to wake up so early to work 'ere, even more involving all dis 'ere.
Well I better keep trained, in a lettle while de most tiring part will come, until de morning it's less cold today dan yesterday, soon de summer will come and it will be better, because it's always so cold like dis in de morning
Some time later, when Hellene finished training...
Ok, I dink I'm done for today, my body is more used to it, if anything happens I'm ready, I drink de last bottle of frozen water and it gives me something in my body, relieving, it seems dat I'm pure steam, heh, but it's just a normal training dat I do, I dink dat after dis one if Mari wakes up I 'ave a plan of what to do today.
"Time to go back" I say as I jerk my hand a few times.
I go walking back to Luna Nova, after a full day it's time to go back, when I arrive dere I see dat Mari is still sleeping, how cute, I take de chance and go to de bathroom, I take off my clothes and let de water falling on my body, I take de chance to wash my hair today, it's been a while since I washed it after training so much, it's always good to be well taken care of.
I hum, just thinking, I dink dat today could be de day dat de identity of de boss will be discovered, at least I 'ope so, de water falling on me, very cold giving me dat refreshment, although de hot bath is more comfortable, but I would only do dat with Marianne, now it's good for me to use even de bath as a form of training
Soon I get out of de shower, relieved, and bath taken, I'm wrapping myself in a towel, drying myself, also doing the same in my hair, so it gets drier and does not drip, I wrap the towel on my head and go to de room walking dere towards de wardrobe. What should I wear today? Now I wonder if I should put on overalls, it might be a good idea.
"Well... Butt! Ahhhhhh" I look back and see dat Leclerc has woken up.
"Good morning Mari, finally woke up, which of de two do you dink looks cooler? De jumpsuit or I'll go with a pair of trousers and a tank top?" She turned a bit red, but it's because I must be without clothes, but den I see 'er pointing to de jumpsuit and it's a good choice.
I smile at 'er and den I go putting on a pair of panties and a sports bra den de jumpsuit and it really looks good on me, it just left me with a big butt, but dat's no problem, I put a jacket on top because it's a bit cold and also for style and I go putting on socks, den a black boot and 'ere I am, I can't forget de purple sash, I'll put it on my thigh and dat's it... I dink I'm ready for today.
"Wow, Hellene you look..." Said Mari awestruck.
"I wanted to try something different, today we are goin to 'ave a day with new dings" I tell 'er.
"Really? That's cool, what are we going to do?" Leclerc asks.
"Today we are going to de tower of Arcturus, I want to know if Mary's whereabouts are real, if we find out who is de boss everything can improve, we can jump to de next phase of de revolution" I said to 'er"
"Finally, I thought we weren't going, but we'd better be prepared too, because it could be a trap" Said Mari;.
"Not for nothing but it is good dat we really see dis, but anyway I tdnk we can do it, we will take de necessary precautions" I said to Leclerc.
"I'll get changed and we'll go in a minute, I'll even put on some matching clothes," she said.
Well I'll wait, I'm kind of checking de messages dey sent me and as usual Diana talking about how are de holidays and woah, dey've tested Croix and Constanze's mechs, it seems dey're advancing a lot in dis attack against de boss, she has no idea dat we 'ave some pretty powerful weapons to fight 'er and so we can do well. I make sure to get even something dat I kept hidden in case of emergencies, I hope my mum really doesn't find out that I 'ave dis.
She soon leaves de bathroom with de clothes she chose, also wearing boots, but with a legging, wearing a white coat as if it was a coincidence de way we were dressed, she even uses a spell on herself putting kitty ears on top.
"And so I'm a cat?" she asks.
"I... I'm looking very respectful" I say quite flushed.
"Oh what's the matter golden curls, are you embarrassed?" she said teasing me.
"Let's go kitten, before I end up getting crazier, I'd say you've become a Belladonna like dis" I say with a few giggles.
"And you're not far behind Xiao Long" I got a slap on de butt and was too embarrassed.
"Mari!" I see she even smiles at me.
Together we leave Luna Nova, taking de brooms in de direction of Arcturus, arriving at where de tower is, it's not far, it's kind of hidden in de forest, very different from de tower of Luna Nova, when we land we make a point of looking around and we even lean on each other's backs, which is de moment of my call, I whistle to call attention.
"Oh you can whistle that loud?" Leclerc said impressed.
"Dings my mother taught me, I remember I drooled all over myself as a child, but I soon learned, so more air passes through and a louder sound comes out" I tell 'er.
"Ah makes sense, I hope she doesn't come with a trap against us" De Frenchwoman said.
What we are looking attentively, what I could see was only a bird passing between de trees, I'll stay 'ere waiting for Mary's presence, we are feeling de surroundings, what I make sure to feel too, besides seeing, noticing dat dere is nobody by de trees, good at least dat.
I'm already feeling something approaching and I even turn to face de presence dat I felt that was approaching, already in a more defensive pose, I even wrap myself with Mary in a layer of protection around us was getting closer and closer, until de hooded girl comes out from de middle of the bush, holding a sniper, she appears in front of us and takes off the hood.
"You took your time coming" Mary said.
"We came because of de boss, you told us you know who it is, so what's so important information?" I'll be straight with 'er.
"Oh, that's right, I know what her identity is, but my memory's still been erased, which I can't really remember her face or anything, I'm still memory's like a puzzle" What the fuck, I thought she knew exactly who she was.
"What do you mean? I thought you knew exactly what de boss looked like" I say in frustration.
"I can know, there is some memory of it in my head, but I have to have some help to get it back, that's why I need you to pretend to be the boss in front of me and so redo the moment, who knows so my memory will refresh itself" Now I got confused for good.
"Do you want us to put on an act? But how can we do it if we don't know who is the boss?" Mari asks and I am also confused.
"Exactly, I even 'ave some suspicions, but do dey match up with what you think is de boss?" Mary nods 'er head
"That's what I want, but first I need you to earn my trust" She said turning 'er back to us and put de hood on 'erself.
"Wait!" I say holding out my hand.
"She's coming, I don't have that much time" Brooks said showing de Sniper and firing back towards where de boss was and den throwing a flash which I close my eyes on de spot.
"Marianne goes after Mary I go towards de boss, I 'ave a plan" I tell 'er walking out of dere.
I with my eyes closed use my advanced metamorphosis magic to look like Mary Brooks, staying in place and just waiting for de boss presence to get close to me, I even get in a defensive position when I open my eyes, de cursed one comes towards me, you knew we were going to leave, but now I'm going to find out your identity right now, I stare at 'er getting closer.
I soon saw 'er face to face, with 'er face hidden in dat hood and I was even scared, it's exactly de way Diana had described in de portrait she took, de deep red eyes, de hood, I go also hiding my face, not to reveal anything.
"Well, if it isn't de one who keeps running away" said de boss in a somewhat robotic voice.
"I just want to be left in peace, now that The Council has fallen we're the only ones left" I say pretending to be 'er.
"And you can be very useful creature, you have no reason to run away from me, after all my eyes are very attentive to you, you even tried to attack me, but how ugly, I thought we were allies - said de cursed one.
"We're not, I just want to stay in my free place, without your bother, now leave or I'll shoot more from where I 'ave dese" I say already threatening and she kept laughing, even in a creepy way.
"You don't want to do dis? You wouldn't stand a chance with dat sniper creature, I just want to know one ding, I know your memory's back, do you happen to know anything about me? Or who I am?" I could kick my biggest suspicion in 'er face, but I think I'll just pretend I don't know.
"It doesn't matter to me if I know or not, you kidnapped me and I want to be free from now on, the only thing I remember is that I'm Mary Brooks and my friends were targets" I say to 'er dat is goin towards me.
I am getting scared, in a defensive pose, she comes with everything in my direction to de point of standing behind me putting 'er hand on my shoulder, I am trembling, just by feeling 'er magic I notice dat I don't 'ave de slightest chance against dis witch, it's no small ding, not even my mother could defeat 'er and she is de strongest witch I know.
"How can I believe you're not lying? You just invited Hellene and Marianne to come here, I know well you must know something Mary Brooks" 'er hand was right on my chin staring at me with deep red glowing eyes.
"I did want their help, I wanted them to help me get my memory back and that might even include discovering your identity" Luckily I can fake a good English accent, but I admit to being scared shitless 'ere, I dink I'm going to need some more panties.
"Oh how cute, you think that would defeat me, oh how pathetic, you and your side will never come close to anything, I just make one last offer, join me as a sniper and I can guarantee you safety" And now what do I do, if I pretend to be Mary Brooks and be allied with 'er I might have a chance of discovering 'er identity, but I don't think so, Croix 'as already been destroyed for trying de same strategy so I won't fall for 'er trick.
"What guarantees me this security?" At de moment I ask dis she starts to get behind me again, I feel smaller dan I already am in those hands, which are passing over my face and my back, giving me total chills, she faces me again with those eyes, holding me by the chin with those huge and bladed nails.
"The safety I can't kill you, that's enough, you can't run away all the time" I dink I'd better defend myself I was putting my hand inside de cloak Mary was wearing and I'm pushed all de way back with a spell dat throws me.
I don't even 'ave time to react and take de revolver dat I keep hidden in de holster that was in my armpits, I would even manage to take it and shoot, but she appears in front of me and already intimidates with 'er nails stuck to my side, almost hitting my face which I am getting extremely terrified, I even cry with fear.
"What? Did you think you would stand a chance against me? I'm no fool, that's why I like to see my enemies' scared faces, you can cry more," she said and I'm running out of hope.
She was still scratching at my side and I honestly was swallowing my saliva with fear, not knowing how to react, dis is really scary 'ere, She den takes my face, I'm not even trapped or anything, she simply manages to make me intimidated to de point of being afraid to move, dis person is a menace.
I'm lifted up by 'er with magic and I'm really getting on de edge of panic, I don't know how to escape from 'ere, hopefully at least Marianne can, at dis point she's already too far away from 'ere, de problem is I can't even feel 'er presence or anything, I'm feeling soft.
"From the looks of it someone is quite scared, it seems you are already losing hope, but come on, I'll let you attack me, just to feel as hopeless as possible and understand the threat you are dealing with" Said de boss and I was swallowing saliva with fear and shaking like never before.
"Don't underestimate me, I can still seriously hurt you" I say trying to still play de brave one, but I am crying, I am terrified, dis woman can kill me at any moment, I feel it.
"Oh hahahaha, you wanna try? Come on, my arms are open, unload that revolver on me and watch the magic happen" She keeps prodding me, but I'm not going to fall for dat trick, I know she has 'er defence all focused so she won't be affected by de shots which could be a waste of ammo.
I already know what I'll do, try to eat time, so she won't wait for de coming of more people attacking 'er, dat's what I 'ave to do, soon Mary and Mari arrive and I can be protected against dis threat, I'll just give a shot to test, right in de forehead, I want to see what she's capable of doing, when I shoot, even concentrating magic she simply comes out intact, what I take de opportunity to teleport and stay right in front of de cursed one, what I give a well given punch too, with all my strength, but simply she stays in de same place, what I give a few steps back, trembling with fear.
"What was it, Mary Brooks? Did you really think your blows were going to have any effect? I think you'd better join me soon or else I'll show you what a real threat is, and you'll get one of the most humiliating deaths anyone could ever get," said de boss.
She even went walking towards me, which I go concentrating with magic, casting a spell towards de cursed boss, a metamorphie vestesse, only she is hit and on de spot changes to another one protecting herself from being discovered, which I'm already getting scared, I take de revolver out of de holster again, dis time I'll punch with my right hand, which doesn't do anything, but it's de expected, den I give a shot dat just comes out steam from where it caught.
"What a rough hand I'd say, looks like someone's equipped well even" She said as she felt my prosthetic and grabbed my neck.
"Dis hard hand has its secrets, it's not really a hand" I say releasing my prosthesis and fastening it on 'er neck who continues to hold me and den throws me backwards, I go on pushing to go press and so I will defeat de cursed one.
"Oh looks like someone's been pretending to be Mary Brooks, what a shame, Hellene McLaren did you really think you were going to discover my identity that easy? How pathetic" she said with my prosthetic neck as I returned to normal and stood up.
"Now let's see if me giving you a hand you'll be able to handle dis" I say forcing the prosthesis tighter.
Please Marianne come back soon I'm scared to death, but I can't abandon de fight here, after all dis I don't want to die, I don't want to... For de nine witches, I need to fight to de end, may you be able to find out with Brooks who dis cursed one is.
She simply makes de fingers of my prosthetic pop out and fall down breaking my hand into pieces, which I was already devastated about, but den she casts a spell that simply vaporizes de rest of de prosthetic, with almost nothing left but ashes.
"No! - I say crying and seeing de rest of the prosthesis with nothing left.
"What is it Hellene McLaren? Lost a hand? Where are you without your right hand? You are just like your mother, just as pathetic, but now it looks like she is going to 'ave some bad news for herself" De boss said and I was walking backwards in fear.
I try to walk further, but she appears behind me, like an intimidating mountain, which I turn around and try to punch with my left hand, which is de only good one, but nothing, she goes dodging as if it was nothing, I even try to use de arm without hand but she dodges too, I cast spells and she doesn't feel anything, she goes dodging and walking backwards until I lean against a wall and she faces me with dat red fixed on me.
"What happened Hellene McLaren the desperation hit?" Said de cursed one.
I go swallowing saliva, she goes passing dat sharp nail on my face, den moves 'er hand back preparing for an attack, I dink I'm about to die 'ere, so much so dat I'm lifted up held by de face, she goes staring at me with a scary look of who is going to leave me all destroyed.
"Now is the time that you will wish you were dead" She said already preparing de blade to strike me.
"Aren't you goin to kill me?" I ask 'er, already scared to death.
She was about to stab me with everything, but shots are heard, which then I go being let go, I leave my arm up for trying to lean on a tree and use at least de hook to escape, but I feel like something passing at once and me falling to de ground, I look up and see Marianne, I look forward and see de boss who had spun around and 'er nails were full of blood, I feel something very strange, in truly I don't feel anything.
"Hellene! No!" said Marianne shouting at me and please just run away.
"Oh pardon, I think I slipped, I think I'll be going, I've caused enough, let that message be very clear Hellene McLaren" She said dropping a piece of my arm in front of me, I'd already lost my wrist, now she ripped de rest of my arm off and den went about burning it in front of me with magic, walking away.
What? My arm? My arm! I see trying to climb up and I see dat I was without it, while de boss was leaving and Mari was going towards me worried and crying, I am getting a bit dizzy, everything is blurring, what I see is Marianne's despair, she coming close to me, everything is turning black, I dink dat must be what de end is.
POV Marianne:
No! No! No! I am a failure, I couldn't follow Mary all the way and now this, no! Hellene can't die now, I see her arm's all burned up, it's not enough her wrist, now my McLaren's lost her whole arm, because of the bloody boss, what a wretch, what a wretch.
"Hellene!" I shout as I hold her in my lap, I take off her coat and go about trying to rip it off to wrap it in a cloth so she doesn't end up bleeding any more than she is, her whole arm has been ripped off, as well as using a spell to block the passage.
I climb on a broom and go flying at full speed back to Luna Nova, this is a serious case, I can't stay here waiting, she could die if she keeps losing even more blood, it was an arm, but a lot of blood was on it, which is even more serious, I go with everything arriving back to Luna Nova, carrying my friend, through the corridors, she was dripping, Professor Babcock soon approaches us stopping my run.
"What are you doing running here? You should get a warning for that, no running in the corridors" said the teacher.
"Fuck you bitch, my friend just lost a fucking arm, I want to go to the infirmary, she might die you old bitch!" I couldn't resist, I'm furious, this is no time for this.
"Miss Leclerc that is not the way for a girl to behave" she said barring the passage.
"Fuck it, fucking punish me, I'm fighting for Hellene's life, look at this shit, you're seeing an arm, let me pass and go to the infirmary or I won't speak for myself" I tell her in a very serious tone that upon noticing even lets me pass.
"Oh sorry, quick let's go to the nurse" she said now listening to me.
Finally, this retard will cost Hellene's life, if she dies it's her fault and the boss, I'm already saying that, we arrive at the infirmary and I already lay Hellene on the bed relieved, but still tense and if she dies? And if she bleeds a lot, the nurse even takes a fright to see that she was like that.
"By the nine founding witches, what was that? Where were you guys?" She asks.
"Someone attacked us in Arcturus forest, it ripped Hellene's arm off, I was able to get there in time before the damn witch killed her, please save my friend, she can't die" I say desperate.
"Ah so the two of you were venturing into the forest, you see this is what happens when you go to a dangerous place, well I'm going to turn a blind eye to your behavior Miss Leclerc, a situation like this I can take lightly, but avoid it, this is not how a witch should behave" She said leaving the office while I was furious and very angry about the whole thing, while the nurse went to fix her arm.
"Well, it was an instant amputation, right above the elbow, I can cauterize it and stop the bleeding, but the recovery time is quite long, she must rest for at least two months until she recovers completely, and we will tell her mother what happened just in case" said the nurse.
"But is she alive?" I ask in despair.
"You saved her life, you had already cauterized part of the wound besides stanching it, now I will close the region so that nothing else comes out, I will need the mother's consent beforehand about what to do, you can even keep her like this until the process because it will be a risky surgery and..." I pick up my mobile phone without giving a damn.
"Don't tell anyone about this, I'll warn her mother myself, we can't waste a minute on this" I say already typing and sending a message to Mrs McLaren just as taking a picture of her arm.
Later when Laura arrives...
POV Hellene:
I woke up, still dying of pain, I am in a doctor's office, I look ahead and see my mother opening de door, crying with emotion, going to hug me I was still a bit confused by what happened, I only feel one ding dat is de unbearable pain of something missing, exactly de same when I lost my hand, now without an arm.
"My daughter, my darling, my love, you are alive, whew... You are 'ere" she said hugging me in despair.
"I'm 'ere mum, it was almost, I didn't make it" I say half frustrated.
"So Miss McLaren, what are we going to do with your daughter?" asks the nurse.
"I will take 'er to a hospital, I have managed to call a helicopter and we will go to Edinburgh where de surgery will be done" my mother said.
"But Mom..." I say half still dizzy with everything dat happened.
"But mother my ass, you come with me to your sister's house to recover, I don't want my daughter to die 'ere, it has gone too far, I don't trust dese witches 'ere" She said and I was getting frustrated.
"I'll stay with you at Diana's, it won't be all bad, I've packed our things, we'll come back here later okay?" I get the look of complete frustration on my face.
"But I..." I try to speak again but again interrupted.
"Hellene McLaren Cavendish you lost an arm, it is not a flu, you literally almost died today, we are going to de hospital and den home, you have to rest I am telling you, I am your mother, you better respect me soon,
dere are dings dat are already over de limit and an arm is one of dem, now let's go, and do not insist on staying 'ere" I 'ave nothing else to do, I will 'ave to obey my mother.
"Okay mum" I say half frustrated.
"Come on, we can't waste time, before your arm gets worse, you'll be back soon daughter, it's only for a while" said my mother and I'm still crying with rage, what de fuck, I could find out who is de boss.
"Mari, at least you made it, didn't you? Did Mary tell you?" I ask 'er who remains silent.
"Hellene, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, I failed, she managed to escape me, I even followed for a while, but she surprised me with another flash and yet another metamorphosis spell to transform into several birds, I'm a..."I shake my head in denial.
"You are not to blame for anything, we can still try, de real culprit is the one who did dis to my arm" I tell 'er who is still frustrated.
And off we went to de Luna Nova truck, which was carrying me lying on a stretcher to de other side of Ley's line, I was den left in a helicopter on de side, with my mother and Mari with me, both holding my only hand and giving me strength, but I am honestly discouraged and hopeless.
POV Narrator:
The boss showed that she is truly the threat and she is not joking, managing to intimidate and put fear into Hellene who is even quite brave, but who ended up getting trembling with the presence of the dangerous witch who ripped off more of McLaren's already amputated arm in an attempt by her and her friend to find Mary Brooks and thus discover the identity of the mysterious witch who has been causing so much terror to the world.
See you, arm witches...