"This barrier has been here since the end of that war, right?" says Mara. "Yet, I am here. And I came to Silver City less than a year ago. One way or another, Sylviana's barrier let me through. Don't you think there's a reason for that?"
I remain silent. I don't like this theory. It's even crueler coming from her of all people, and she has no idea. Mara takes my silence for doubt, and she bites her thumb.
"It's not even my theory, to be honest. I talked to your sister-in-law, Nora. She is the one who thinks... this might have been Sylviana's plan. She may have foreseen me coming. I didn't really believe it at first, you know. However, while I was coming here, I couldn't stop thinking about what Nora said, and... so many things don't add up. Do you know what I found out? I came to Silver City to ask questions about witches. My mother could be a witch, from what I know. And... I am a witch. I am the only witch in Silver City, and all the others are kept out. What else could it be?"
I shake my head. I don't want to hear this...
Nina arrives with Mara's cheeseburger, and I watch her start to eat, regretting I didn't order something too. My werewolf stomach is unhappy only being able to watch. Why the hell did I choose to be so stubborn anyway?
"So, are you going to help me or not?" asks Mara.
I frown.
"What are you talking about?"
"I want to know more about Sylviana," she says, "and about the other witches you fought too. I have no witch to teach me anything, just a grumpy witch hunter, so you'll have to make do for now."
Oh, Moon Goddess, this has to be my personal hell.
Chapter 13
Dang, even if I don't remember the last time I had an actual cheeseburger, this one has to be the best. Maybe it's because I am damn near starving after coming all the way here. This is just so good, and warm too. I feel myself getting a bit better, after being exhausted and drenched...
Facing me, Liam stares at the burger, but I can't tell if he's hungry too or just avoiding my eyes. That guy is really not willing to talk or help me out. I feel like I need to push him to say every single word. Moreover, how dare he be so... sexy? I don’t think that guy has any idea what he looks like right now. His sleeveless shirt shows off his muscular arms, and his wet hair is a bit too much for me to handle calmly. He keeps brushing it with his fingers, and every time he does, he looks like one of those pop stars Kelsi likes to fawn over on the TV. He has that kind of effect, and it's damn dangerous when I am trying to have a serious conversation with him. To stop looking, I focus on my meal. Thankfully, it's rather easy. I eat with my fingers, a bit shamelessly, but as Ben says, there is no bad way to eat a good sandwich...
"...What do you want me to do, exactly?" he asks. "I am not a witch teacher, I am a witch hunter."
I roll my eyes. This guy needs to win an award for most negative person around.
"You knew Sylviana, for starters," I say. "All you werewolves did, from what I understand. Plus, as I said, I think she knew about me, or she was suspecting it. Is there any way she left something for the next witch who came to town?"
He sighs and shakes his head.
"I don't want to talk about Sylviana," he says.
"Well, I don't care, because I need to know and I'm going to stick to you like glue until you spit it out. I'm not asking you about personal stuff, Liam Black, I want to know the witch stuff. How did she use her powers? Did she have some books, some wand, a magic spell, or something?"
He looks at me like I am a child and rolls his eyes.
"No, Mara, it's not like in books..."
"What about a magic circle?"
Ah, there we go. His expression changes immediately. I kept it to ask at the end on purpose and it worked. Even if he denies it now, it's too late. He definitely knows something about magic circles.
"Spill it," I say, licking my finger.
Liam makes a strange expression, gulping down while looking at my fingers covered in ketchup, and has to look elsewhere to answer.
"Yes, I know she had one. How do you know about magic circles?"
"I have one too."
"What?"
"Hey, I'm the one asking questions," I retort. "You didn't want to answer so let me ask before you get yours. What else did Sylviana use? We found an old herbology book at my place. Ring a bell?"
"Yeah, she had a ton of those... She was an Earth Witch, so everything was related to that. She had dozens of plants, a few herbology books, and... just stuff like that. But no magic wand or whatever that you could use. You're a Fire Witch, I doubt any of her stuff should get in your hands!"
