Episode 10

The house of La Cruz was established by greedy and depraved men. Sick in both mind and body, now Mr. Cruz, the owner, was in a fury. A fire had claimed four of his top patrons, rumored to have been with June. Yet, her body was nowhere to be found.

The house stood closed, in mourning and at risk of police scrutiny should any hint of prostitution be discovered, for his protector was dead. His sole leverage was blackmail against the remaining clients with records of their liaisons and photographs. He wasn't foolish; in this line of work, one had to be shrewd.

In a rage, he lost June, whom he could have sired daughters upon. She had been young, with many fertile years ahead. To vent his frustrations, he went to the boys' room, fortunately few in number, and whipped them all, drawing blood until exhausted.

He emerged stooped, met with the sight of the woman responsible for it all. He sneered at her tears, a young woman aged beyond her years, shoved her aside, and retreated to his lavish quarters filled with modern comforts, while his "employees" slumbered in the basement.

Beneath the basement, June was confined once more, yet she was no longer defenseless and now had the support of earth and fire. It was the earth that convulsed beneath the basement floor, dislodging locks and felling the door.

"Earth! You were magnificent, thank you."

The gentle undulation in the ground showed Earth's pleasure. Now, it was Fire's turn.

"Come, Fire, just a little, to light my path."

A small flame appeared in her palm, illuminating her way up the stairwell to the dungeon level. The flame stretched towards the torches, brightening the entire area, and a voice reached out.

"Did you make it?"

June, moved by the sight of the speaker, recognized the creature she once was. The cell had no key, no lock.

"Why don't you escape?"

"I'm bound for witchcraft. I'm a wolf, not a witch."

"I see."

June stepped back, thinking of Earth, which remained still, then of Fire, which quivered.

"Fire, Fire, burn through the barrier before me."

She extended her hands, and the fire roared, melting the cell door and its bindings into molten iron, which Earth promptly absorbed. June helped the female onto her back and left, carrying her to the surface. She opened her mind to her father and relayed the nature of their surroundings.

Malek saw the vision and knew the location, promptly leaving the clinic in wolf form for the witch's cottage, howling his approach. Transforming back to human, robed, he explained everything to the witch.

"So they've abducted and imprisoned her in the dungeon?"

"Yes, she's asked for a portal to extract her."

"Are you sure it's not a trap?"

"Hold on, I'll reconnect with her."

Malek reached out to June, learning of her urgency due to a weakened companion in need of aid.

"Yes, it's her and she's concerned; let's hurry."

Merheia conjured a portal, and they emerged beside the two females. Malek carried the other female, while Merheia assisted June, exiting in front of the witch's hut. Merheia detected the curses on the female, leading her through another portal to her workroom, closing it before father and daughter could follow.

Malek bid his daughter farewell to avoid raising the Alpha's suspicions by absenting himself from the clinic.

"Bathe, eat, rest. Rosa is immensely worried."

"Thank you, father. I'll visit once recovered."

"Be cautious, daughter, and refrain from seeking trouble."

She laughed, and he surrendered to his wolf, departing. She went to her room, uninterested in Merheia's sorcery, only hungering for rest.

After a cleansing shower, she donned a dress, seeking sustenance in the kitchen. Devouring Rosa's prepared meals straight from the fridge, she recalled the paucity of her childhood meals.

Her heart seared with the remembrance, she decided to recover and visit Rosa, planning to dismantle the house and free the captives, armed with a special retribution for the despicable Cruz.

She retired to bed and fell into a deep sleep, oblivious to Merheia's magic in the adjoining room. Breaking a blood curse was no small feat. Suspecting this magic against her, Merheia prepared her tools, stepping into a portal to the stone circle where June had been, laying the female in the center.

Merheia ignited herb candles, arranged special crystals, and poured a painstakingly crafted liquid over the female. Invoking the elements, she chanted an incantation in ancient Gaelic to break the blood spell. The sky darkened, lightning struck the stones, and brittle bloodlines shattered.

After her work, a deluge washed over them, restoring the female to her true form.

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