Chapter 78 – Farewell Lauterbrunnen

Leal is beyond words right now.

She couldn’t process everything happening because it was too fast and gave her nothing but nausea. She couldn’t pick up as fast as the others, resulting in her standing there, idle, while everybody else ran around and filled her ears with violence.

Seriously, can’t her life keep quiet for a while?

She didn’t even react when he leaned in for a peck and left, in what she tells you, is the most devilishly attractive way a man can go. He was biting his sunglasses in a way she couldn’t help but sexualize while firing straight into an intruder’s skull. Mind you, he was still in his all-black three-piece, an outfit not made for such action. And his slightly disheveled pushed-up hair—God, he was driving her insane.

“Leal!”

She was snapped out of her daydream with Big Rory’s frowning face. She was still holding her bat and was snapping her fingers in front of her.

“H-Huh?”

“Stop fanning over that man,” she scolded. “As much as I hate his guts, he’s right when he said you have to go. Get Anna and go!”

“But Big Rory, I can’t just leave you and the others here—“

“You can,” Rory cut her off. “We’re trained our whole lives to fight, we got this. Plus, your man is popping off out there,” she pointed to Axel outside. Leal followed her gaze and saw him outside, without a bulletproof vest whatsoever, just relentlessly firing with a pistol and snapping necks.

Again, in a tight corporate suit. She flinched when the blood splattered on his neck to the side of his jaw after firing at a nearby intruder.

“Leal!” For the nth time, Rory had to call her to snap out of her astonishment for him. “Get your daughter and leave! The cops will be here soon and you might be arrested!”

“Just go! We’re gonna be fine!”

With much hesitation, Leal ran up the stairs and grabbed their stuff, just putting anything she saw first in the bag. She opened the door of their room to see Izzy hugging the frightened Anna on the bed. They must’ve been hearing all the gunshots and bombs below.

When Anna saw her, she immediately ran to her thighs and sobbed quietly.

“Anna, my love,” she cooed Anna, scooping her shaking figure in her arms. “It’s gonna be alright, my love. Mommy’s here…Shh…”

“Mommy…scary…”

“I know, love…We’re getting out of here,” she repeatedly whispered comforting words to her ear, hoping to soothe her and her daughter’s racing heartbeats. They were both afraid, very afraid. But she had trust in Axel.

While Leal was calming Anna down, and herself, Izzy was packing their stuff and grabbing every sentimental object she could get with the very limited time. When Anna finally stopped crying, they quietly made their way down the stairs. The living room was a mess. There was a dead body with a blown-up head, and the window’s broken. All three of them desperately avoided looking at the mess. They exited using the back door, and to the chopper waiting patiently for them.

They were already inside. All they had to wait for was Axel and Ryker. They’ll be here soon, right? Right. Leal assured herself despite her deafening heartbeat and shaking knees.

Suddenly, she’s weak and frail. Like she was back in the Leal without Lilith.

But is Lilith still really there?

She failed to smell Axel when he entered earlier. She only did when he was dangerously near her. But on the bright side, her heart still exploded with feelings when his lips touched hers. It was still an ecstatic feeling as before. It was still there. Thank the Moon Goddess.

“They’re here,” announced Izzy when she caught sight of Axel and Ryker walking to the chopper with long strides. The two were bloodier than ever, looking the most dangerous they’d ever seen them.

Leal released the breath she’d been holding for a while and opened the chopper’s door more, wanting to greet him. She plastered a relieved smile that quickly fell the same time as his body.

He was on the tip of her fingers when a gunshot resonated in the place.

No!

Her heart raced as she desperately climbed out of the chopper to catch Axel’s falling body. Voices crowded her as tears blurred her vision. Even the clueless Anna started crying when she saw her Daddy on the ground, blood oozing from his back.

“O-Oh my God…Axel!”

When her hands felt the sticky, warm liquid from his back, that was when it hit her. Axel was shot. He was pierced with a bullet. His life is dangerously on the edge.

She couldn’t focus on anything else. She didn’t notice how Ryker shot the one who got Axel and even slit his throat. She couldn’t hear how loud Anna wailed beside her because all she could hear was his slow heartbeat and his deep and shallow breaths.

Her life is slowly slipping away from her hands.

“Help! Please! To the hospital!”

Albeit with shaking hands and weakening limbs, Leal still managed to wrap his body with a cloth and carry him without sweat thanks to the enhanced strength. He was carefully carried from the ground and to the chopper, where they quickly took flight.

“Please, hold on,” she whispered to him, hugging his body tightly. “Don’t die, please…”

“Schatzi…”

His voice was weak, and his mouth was dripping with blood, but hearing him call her that even at this time is otherworldly romantic. She can never get used to it.

“Don’t talk, it’ll worsen your state. We’re going to the nearest hospital,” she said. Her eyes drifted from his face to his hands that rose to hold hers. She slightly frowned when she felt a metal object in between their hands.

“N-No…S-Summon her…” His hand left hers, and she was greeted by a familiar necklace. It was a silver pendant with the same unreadable embossed Russian word. It was the one Denitslava gave her. How did he have this?

“You want me to summon who? Denitslava?”

He weakly nodded, shutting his eyes.

Can she heal him? She thought. Truth be told, Denitslava’s incantation process takes shorter than a trip to the hospital. And they have to find a hospital that operates on gunshot wounds.

Sighing to herself, Leal opened the locket and waited around for a similar entranceway back.

A few moments later, magic particles did appear in the air, floated around for a while, and materialized into a familiar redhead in another fashionable outfit. Anna, who was seated beside her, watched in amazement as Denitslava appeared from thin air.

“What the—Where are we?!”

Denitslava’s complaint was partnered by Izzy’s scream. For sure, she’s culture-shocked. Who wouldn’t? Right, Anna wouldn’t. She’s more amazed than shocked.

“What the fuck…?” Izzy faintly cursed.

“Oh—“ Denitslava finally noticed Axel’s state. “What trouble did you get yourself into this time, you clumsy ass?”

“Denitslava,” she intervened, earning a gasp from the young witch.

“Leal?! You’re with him?! Ugh, he’s a d i ck! How many—“

“Language, please. And I didn’t summon you for that. Can you please heal him?” She didn’t want to be rude or straightforward, but this wasn’t really the time to talk about their past. Axel’s on the brink of life and death for goodness’ sake!

“Fine, fine.” She rolled her eyes and crouched in front of him. She started whispering incoherently under her breath, as she placed her palm over his chest and closed her eyes shut. Meanwhile, Anna was squealing quietly upon witnessing a magical ritual take place before her eyes. It’s just like the cartoons!

Leal nervously anticipated the glowing magic particles to heal him. When it was finished, she couldn’t help but ask, “Is he healed?”

Denitslava shrugged before gesturing a half-and-half. “He’s sort of healed. The bullet’s destroyed, but his wound is still open. This is the most I can do without my herbs and potions. Anyway, he’ll live, for like, a day without medical attention.”

She nodded and gratefully smiled at Denitslava. “I’m sorry for the sudden call and thank you for the big help. It was nice seeing you again, Denitslava.”

The latter released a sigh and a small smile at her. “Nice to see you again, too—“

Both of them stilled upon feeling the chopper abruptly turn to the left. From the headphones, Leal could hear the panic in the pilot’s voice.

“We are experiencing a slight air turbulence, please do not panic.” This was repeated several more times, the panic in the pilot’s voice becoming more noticeable after every line.

Denitslava abruptly stood up, not minding the chopper’s shaky state, and placed her hands above, reaching for the ceiling.

“Mommy…” Anna clung to her tightly.

Her eyes flew to the window, where she caught sight of Denitslava’s glowing particles.

Using the headphones’ mic, Denitslava asked the pilot. “Where to?”

“T-To Madrid…Ma’am.”

What is she planning?

As if on cue, Denitslava turned to her and winked. She stopped holding the ceiling and removed the earphones, fixing her hair. And surprisingly, she can still hear her clearly despite the overwhelming air around them.

“I’ll be guiding this chopper to a peaceful path to Madrid. The next time you call me, make sure you’re ready to tell me all the details. Not now though, I have a date~” Denitslava spoke without moving her mouth and smirked at her before dematerializing and disappearing in the air. She’s not sure if Denitslava cast a spell that makes her the only person who can hear what she said because the other appeared to have not heard it. Her mouth didn’t even move!

Nonetheless, she’s very thankful for her help. If not for her, she would’ve lost the love of her life. Denitslava gave Axel a second chance to live. Denitslava helped salvage their relationship. With that, Leal wished Denitslava a happy love life of her own.

Witches aren’t always wicked.

Now, they’re off to Madrid. Then, to New York. She’ll be back to face her nightmares.