Another two dark witches had soon joined Makaila and Lilah Cohen. The four of them departed from London by a four-wheel-drive. Their journey to Lake District had been clearer thanks to Kris—if it wasn’t for his blood that he had freely given to Joanna’s fake son, whom she had killed right after Kris left them in the alleyway. With his blood, they were finally able to complete the spell to get to Jieun and Wooseok, as well as trapping Jieun in the Other Side.

“Of course they would find the boy first. You should have seen Kris’ face when I told him that he has a son.” Joanna chided as she drove through the highway. “Told you he’d come back to London.”

They could have succeeded their mission years and years ago but Kris wasn’t an easy target, and the mother and son were after all under the Ascendant’s protection. Now that Kris was exposed to the secret, the Ascendants would no longer protect Jieun and Wooseok. It was all about timing, but there were things that they had to risk and magic always had to pay its price.

Lilah hadn’t stop shaking ever since they left the capital city of England. Her cough was getting worst and her face was by now as white as snow.

“She has been using too much of her power.” Aaron, the only male witch in the group mentioned, as he took a glance at the Cohen sisters through the interior rear view mirror.

Makaila cradled her sister’s head. “Why did you go through with the spell if you know you’re going to die?”

Lilah looked at her older sister’s face that hasn’t aged since the last time she saw her. Lilah knew that Makaila wouldn’t let her go through with the spell if she knew that it would kill her. Nevertheless, the Other Side did acquire an exchange bargain for Makaila to be free, and Jieun had always been their chosen one. She was the reason why Makaila was being jailed in the Other Side after all.

“Because I know that I’m dying that I told Joanna and Aaron to proceed. They’ll need you. I need you.” Lilah explained weakly. “So, what was the Other Side like? Tell me.”  Her voice was hoarse at the last two words. 

Makaila caressed Lilah’s cold cheeks. “The boredom was an absolute torture. I guess I didn’t age because the day just repeated itself over and over again in there.”

“And what day’s that?”

“The day the demon child was born. 31st January 1998.”

♛♛♛♛♛

 “I can now assure of your safety. All of you.” Victoria said to Gayoon and Hongseok. “Wooseok and I had successfully created a spell to protect the house. Makaila knows where we are but she won’t be able to break the spell unless Jieun is in the house...in this world.” She explained.

“I guess we owe you.” Hongseok had said.

Victoria laughed slightly. “Not in thousands of years would I expect myself to be an aunt. The moment I’ve heard that I have a nephew was the moment when I thought I should finally believe in God.” She pursed her lips, briefly looking at Wooseok who was walking his way down the stairs and towards them. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to him. Or his mother. So, worry not, I’m definitely on your side.”

“Here’s the spell book.” Wooseok had said right after Victoria finished her sentence. “Mum gave it to me.” He mentioned.

Victoria took the book out of Wooseok’s hand and gasped slightly. “It looks exactly like my mother’s grimoire...except that it’s not.” She said as she flipped through some of the pages. “Do you know who’d she got it from?” She asked, averting her eyes from Hongseok to Gayoon.

“I remember she mentioned about a good witch…who lives somewhere in London.” Gayoon answered her.

“Does this witch perhaps know about Wooseok?”

Gayoon nodded her head. “I have a feeling she does. Jieun told me about a lot of things but when it comes to this witch, she doesn’t tell me much.”

“Do you happen to know the name of this witch?” It wasn’t Victoria’s voice who had asked, but Kris. He brought and stood himself next to Wooseok and their resemblance was unquestionable.

Gayoon looked at Hongseok. “We don’t.” The latter replied.

“And how sure is Jieun, to trust this good witch?”

“Well, enough for her to tell the secret I guess.”

“What a foolish thing to do.” Kris shook his head, furious. “For all we know, the witch could be Makaila’s ally.”

“Well, she was only trying to care for her son.” Jeered Hongseok.

Kris was about to lash something nasty out of his mouth but good thing Victoria was there to calm him down. “How about we ask her when she’s back.” Victoria gave Kris a warning look. “And in the meantime, we still need to find a way to get her back into this world.”

Victoria dragged Wooseok by the arm, and they sat themselves around the island in the kitchen, searching for the next spell to use.

“Don’t mind your father. He has a funny temper.” Victoria said to her nephew. “But he can be nice…sometimes.”

“Thank you. For helping me to get my mother back.”

“Well, she gave me a nephew. You…my own blood. So, I guess the least I could do is to protect her.” Victoria flashed the younger guy a smile.

“Mum told me I’d do magic because of my grandmother…from my father’s side. That explains your ability of being able to do one as well, right? But then, why don’t your brothers have magic too?”

“Well, in my case, it is a little complicated. But yes, my mother—your grandmother, was the reason of me being able to cast spells. While my brothers, they weren’t interested in magic but I’ve always been.” She nodded her head. “Though my magic was supposed to die along with the human me, I managed to lift the curse a while ago.” She explained, looking at Wooseok who was by now staring intently at her face. “Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to learn about our family. And I have to say, you’re definitely incredible with your magic. I am honestly proud of you.”

Wooseok couldn’t help smiling upon getting an unexpected compliment from who was supposedly a stranger to him an hour ago. “Thanks Aunt Victoria.”

“You can call me Aunt Vic, if you’d like.”

♛♛♛♛♛

Yuto studied the man who had claimed to be Wooseok’s father. Despite the current upturn over Jieun—his Alpha’s health condition, he couldn’t just ignore the fact that he absolutely recognised Kris’ face. In fact, he knew the man almost well enough.

“No wonder you look familiar.” A voice was heard coming from behind him.

Yuto turned and faced Han.

“You were that boy that my brother saved in Osaka, weren’t you?”

Nonchalantly, Yuto nodded his head. Though unlike Kris, he barely knew Han but he remembered him. He didn’t look like he had aged a day ever since the last time Yuto saw him. And then again, Yuto knew what they were. 

“Seeing that you’re in a pack of a royal clan now, I’d assume that you’ve been well?”

Again, Yuto nodded his head. “I have a great Alpha.”

“So I’ve heard she is.” Han smiled for the first time after all of the dramatic appearances earlier. “I know the time isn’t very appropriate but you should greet him at least. He’d be glad to see you.” Han gave the younger guy a subtle nod and patted him on the side of his shoulder before he walked away.

Would he really? Yuto thought in his head and let out an inaudible sigh.

♛♛♛♛♛

Kris leaned himself against the refrigerator, across his sister and son. One thing he was sure about Victoria was that she loved crafting spells, but he had never seen his sister looked as passionate as she was at that very moment. He could tell that his sister had come to accept and love Wooseok as her own too. The poor Vic