Chapter Twenty One
“Melissa…”
The whisper of a feathery voice disrupted her deep sleep. For a moment, she believed that she was lost in a dream. Still, the bright, red reflection that penetrated the darkness of her closed eyes was indicative of a reality she had witnessed plenty of times within the past months. Much to her astonishment, Helena was summoning her. Melissa slid her eyelids open, but the witch had a surprise in store for her. For some reason she could not fathom, Helena was not in Melissa’s bedroom. The light was coming through her window from outside. Helena never had a problem violating her privacy, or the privacy of her brothers, and yet, she had chosen to stay out of Melissa’s cabin. Tension tightened the back of her neck. The witch had to have an extremely good reason for visiting her so late at night. Exhaling hard, she rolled out of bed, her eyes still on her window. The whisper rang in her ears once more, as she headed towards her closet, to the left of her bed. Melissa picked up her purple robe and put it on, stealing a glance down at Joe. Happily, he was still fast asleep. Tiptoeing out of her bedroom, she turned right, as the light in question reached her kitchen window as well, sending her pulse rising. Her curiosity might have been gnawing away at her, but she would not consider rushing down the stairs, in fear that she would wake an exhausted Joe. Therefore, she retained the same, slow pace, looking outside through her window.
Clicking her front door open, she leaned forward, and peeked through the gap. Indeed, Helena was standing alone, outside her cabin. Melissa pulled the door further open, and paced outside, throwing a few, furtive glances around her.
“I’m sorry to be bothering you at this late hour, but I had to see you. Alone.” Helena emphasized, intensifying her stare, as Melissa strode towards her.
“Why alone?” she wondered, shrugging her shoulders. “Can’t you talk in front of Joe?”
“I’m not worried about Joe,” Helena spoke in a firm tone, shaking her head sideways. “I’m worried about the demon that’s watching us through him. Besides, he is not essential to my plan. The only thing he has to do is state his will to break the contract to Azazel.”
“Then why did you say he had to be present?” Melissa pitched her voice louder.
“Honestly? I was hoping he wouldn’t come back,” Helena confessed, as a shadow of guilt darkened her eyes. “I was hoping he would spare us the trouble of having to face the demon.”
“Well, he did,” Melissa gave a firm nod, narrowing her eyes at her. “Tell me about your plan.”
“Well…” Helena took a deep, cleansing breath. “We are summoning him tomorrow night at Clover Lake. The trees and undergrowth near it are ideal hiding spots. I’ve just talked about it with your brothers. Dean and Ray agreed to hide in wolf form. Raul will also be hiding, but, in human form. They have been instructed to attack the demon’s hands, while Raul will be carrying one of these.” At that, the witch paused, reached into her inside pocket, and pulled out a long, shiny dagger. “It is made from one hundred percent silver. Here.” she continued, handing the knife over to her. “In case Raul fails, you will need to drive this dagger into the demon’s heart. It’s the only way to send him back down to hell.”
“Wait a minute,” Melissa spoke, a hint of suspicion in her tone. “What good is hiding going to do them? I mean, won’t he be able to smell them?”
“Not really.” Helena smirked. “Demons might be tremendously powerful, but they do not possess super senses, not even an ancient one like Azazel.”
“That’s great news!” Melissa commented, as her lips curled into a happy smile.
“Oh, there is one last thing,” Helena raised her index finger at chest height. “Kate will summon him tomorrow. I will be close by, monitoring the situation.”
“What?” Melissa squealed, as her smile fell from her lips. “Why?”
“Azazel has seen me trying to kill Joe, through his eyes. He knows my face. He knows I’m a witch. He doesn’t care if a shifter like you says that she can help him escape his fate but, can you imagine what he’ll do, once he realizes that I have had a change of heart?” Helena answered her question with a question of her own, her tone stiff.
“He’ll figure out our plan and kill him,” Melissa concluded, dropping her gaze from the witch, as she swallowed hard.
“Fear not, my young one,” Helena rallied in a sweeter sounding voice as she leaned closer to her. “Do you really think I would let any harm befall you or your brothers?”
“Still, it’s not the same,” Melissa complained, gazing deep into her kind eyes. “I’d feel a lot safer if you were there with me.”
“I will be,” Helena assured Melissa, smiling up at her. “I’ll just be out of sight.”
“Helena, please!” She begged her through a wobbling voice as she leaned towards her. “Your plan is a little too simple. What if something goes wrong?”
“The assault is simple,” Helena admitted, tipping her head down. “The rest of my plan isn’t. Have faith. Everything is going to be just fine.”
“Ok, what does that plan of yours include then?” Melissa asked in frustrated tones, thrusting her arms out, palms upward.
“I will trap him,” Helena spoke in a firm voice as her face hardened. “That is all you need to know.”
There was something amiss there. Melissa could still recall the witch’s reaction, upon her request to assist Joe. Even an immensely powerful witch like Helena was terrified. Now however, she did not seem at all intimidated. On the contrary, she was oozing with confidence. Melissa considered asking her what that confidence was based on, but, just when she was about to open her mouth, she realized that Helena’s last sentence was the only answer she was going to get. The witch liked to keep her secrets; the trick she had pulled on Marianne McIntyre had proved that proclivity beyond a shadow of a doubt. She had already decided on a course of action, but she had kept everyone in the dark. Helena would not change her tactics, even if Melissa pressured her.
“Ok,” she gave a reluctant nod. “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Melissa…” Helena’s voice forced to her to stop, before she could turn her back to her. “Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I want you to remember that I love you and your brothers as my own children. I spent years, mourning over the fact that I never received the blessing of motherhood. But, being around you is a gift, perhaps of equal value. You gave my life a meaning. I will always be grateful to you for that. Goodnight, my child.”
A sense of confusion rushed through her, as the witch vanished in a cloud of red smoke. Why would Helena confide in her like that? Nevertheless, Melissa’s fatigue did not allow her to seek an answer. She was so tired that she could barely stay on her feet. This was no time for riddles; it was time for a good rest.