Chapter 7
Ella's POV:
As Marcel pulled me away from the school, I felt like I was in a daze. Everything was happening so fast, and I couldn't wrap my head around it. Evelyn was missing, and someone who looked exactly like me had taken her.
"That wasn't me," I kept saying, trying to explain to Marcel. "I don't know who that is."
Marcel's expression was grim, but he nodded. "I know, Ella. I think we're dealing with a shape shifter. And this isn't the first time they've taken your form."
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. A shape shifter? Taking my form? I couldn't even begin to process it.
Marcel promised to explain everything later, but for now, finding Evelyn was the priority. I wanted to come with him, to help search for our daughter, but Marcel was firm.
"Ella, you need to go to a safe hotel and stay there until I come back. You'll slow me down, and I don't know how dangerous this threat is. I need to be able to focus on finding Evelyn without worrying about protecting you too."
I understood, even though it killed me to stay behind. I made Marcel swear that he would bring back our daughter safe and sound, and he promised with his life.
As Marcel sniffed the air, trying to pick up Evelyn's scent, I felt a surge of hope. He was going to find our daughter, and he was going to bring her back to us.
Marcel's eyes locked onto something, and he took off, following the faint scent of our daughter. I watched him go, my heart pounding with fear and anxiety. Please, Marcel, find our daughter. Bring her back to us.
Marcel's POV:
I sniffed the air, trying to pick up Evelyn's scent. But it was almost non-existent, as if something was blocking it off. I growled in frustration, my mind racing with possibilities. Maybe it was the doing of the shape shifter, trying to throw me off the scent.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. I couldn't afford to get frustrated, not now. I had to use all of my senses to track down Evelyn, no matter how faint the scent was.
I closed my eyes, concentrating on the tiny fragment of Evelyn's scent that I had managed to pick up. It was a thread, a tiny thread, but it was something. And I was going to work with it.
Anything is better than nothing, I told myself. I had to find Evelyn, no matter what it took. I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to her. I would blame nobody but myself, because I knew she would have lived a normal life, free from any trouble, if I hadn't come back into their lives.
But I had come back, and now Evelyn was in danger. And I was determined to find her, to save her. I would do whatever it took, no matter the cost. Evelyn was my daughter, and I would protect her with my life....
Author's POV:
The shape shifter, disguised as Ella, held onto little Evelyn's hand as they walked into the woods. The trees towered above them, casting long shadows in the fading light.
"Mummy, where are we going?" Evelyn asked innocently, looking up at the woman she thought was her mother.
The shape shifter smiled, her eyes glinting with a sinister light. "We're going somewhere better, but it's a surprise. I can't tell you now," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
Evelyn's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Okay! But will Daddy be there?" she asked, her voice full of hope.
The shape shifter nodded, her smile growing wider. "Yes, sweetie, your father is already there, waiting for you. Let's hurry up, shall we?" she said, her voice dripping with malice.
As Evelyn nodded and skipped along beside her, a wicked grin spread across her face as she felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. Her plan had worked out perfectly, each step carefully calculated to create a diversion and throw Marcel and Ella off her trail.
First, she had disguised herself as one of Marcel's workers, whispering rumors and half-truths about Marcel's supposed demonic powers. It had been easy to fan the flames of superstition and fear, and soon the entire town was talking about Marcel's alleged devilry.
Then, she had donned a new disguise, blending in with the locals as she incited a mob to go after Ella. The poor woman had been completely unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows, and the shape shifter had reveled in her fear and confusion.
But all of that had been just a distraction, a clever ruse to keep Marcel and Ella busy while she carried out her real mission. And now, with Evelyn safely in her grasp, the shape shifter felt a sense of triumph.
She led Evelyn deeper into the woods, the trees growing taller and darker as they walked. Evelyn seemed oblivious to the danger, chattering happily about her day at school.
The shape shifter smiled to herself, her eyes glinting with malevolence. She had Evelyn right where she wanted her. And soon, she would be taking her to the coven, where she would be sacrificed in a dark and ancient ritual.
The thought sent a shiver of excitement down the shape shifter's spine. She was so close to achieving her goal, and nothing was going to stop her now.
The shape shifter, still disguised as Ella, brought Evelyn to the heart of the witch coven. The air was thick with the stench of decay and death, and Evelyn's eyes widened in fear as she took in the eerie surroundings.
The witches, a group of hooded figures, began to chant and perform their dark rituals. Evelyn grew more and more uncomfortable, her eyes fixed on the shape shifter who still wore her mother's face.
"Mummy, I'm scared," Evelyn whispered, tugging on the shape shifter's hand.
The shape shifter's expression twisted into a scowl. "You are no child of mine, Demon spawn," she spat, her voice dripping with malice.
As she spoke, her body began to shift and contort, her face elongating into a dark, sinister visage. Evelyn's eyes went wide with terror as she realized that the woman standing before her was not her mother at all.
"What did you do to my mummy?" Evelyn asked, her voice trembling with fear.
The shape shifter's smile grew wider. "As we speak, your precious mother is being burnt alive," she cackled, her eyes glinting with malevolence.
Evelyn's face crumpled, and she began to sob. The witches closed in, their hands grasping for her. One of them produced a dagger, its blade glinting in the flickering candlelight.
But just as all hope seemed lost, Marcel burst into the scene, his eyes blazing with fury. With a swift swipe of his hand, he slapped one of the witches' heads off, sending it flying across the room.
"Daddy!" Evelyn cried out, her eyes shining with tears of joy.
"Get your hands off my child!" Marcel growled loudly, his eyes blazing with fury as he charged at the witch who was holding the dagger.
With a single palm punch to the chest, Marcel sent the witch flying back, her body crashing hard against the cemented wall. She died instantly on impact, her neck snapping in two with a sickening crack.
The other witches were momentarily stunned, but they quickly regained their composure and began to fight back. They started chanting and waving their hands, casting enchanting spells that caused Marcel to scream out in agonizing pain.
Marcel's body began to contort and twist, his muscles spasming as the magic washed over him. He stumbled backwards, his eyes wide with pain and his face twisted in a grimace.
Evelyn, who had been watching in horror, suddenly found her voice. "Daddy!" she cried out, running towards Marcel with tears streaming down her face.
But the witches were relentless, continuing to cast their spells and adding to Marcel's agony. Marcel's vision began to blur, and he felt himself falling to the ground, unable to withstand the onslaught of magic.
As Marcel's body lay on the ground, wracked with pain, Evelyn's weeping voice seemed to pierce through the darkness. "Daddy...please...don't leave me..." she sobbed, her small body shaking with fear.
Marcel's eyes, which had turned a dull gray, suddenly flashed with a fierce light. The laetus spirits inside him stirred, responding to Evelyn's desperate cry. Marcel's body began to transform, his muscles bulging with newfound strength, his speed increasing tenfold.
In an instant, Marcel sprang to his feet, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. He charged at the witches, his movements lightning-fast. He pulled two witches' hearts out of their chests, his hands moving with deadly precision.
He then turned to another witch, pulling her arm out of its socket with a sickening crunch. He bit her face off, his teeth sinking deep into her flesh.
The shape shifter, realizing she was next, tried to run. But Marcel was too fast. He caught her by the back of the head and pulled out her spinal cord, her body crumpling to the ground.
The leader of the coven, realizing she was couldn't match his strength, quickly grabbed Evelyn and held a knife to her neck. "Make even the slightest move, and she's gone," she threatened, her eyes glinting with malice.