Chapter 17 – Unexpected visitors.
Jeremy POV
The penthouse doors slid shut behind us with a muted thud, sealing out the city noise and the night's violence.
The moment my boots crossed the threshold, a blur of white and gold slammed into my legs.
"Fen—"
I barely finished the word before he leapt fully, paws striking my chest as his weight knocked me half a step back. I laughed, instinctively bracing, arms wrapping around his thick neck as his tail wagged hard enough to be dangerous.
"You're going to break something one day," I muttered, grinning despite myself.
Fen huffed, warm breath against my cheek, tongue lolling as he pressed his forehead to mine. His eyes—far too intelligent for any normal dog—searched my face, as if checking for injuries that didn't exist.
Alfred closed the door calmly behind us.
"Master Fen has been… restless," he said evenly. "He does not approve of your nocturnal absences."
Fen gave a low, possessive growl in agreement, then immediately dropped into a play bow.
"Oh, so you're mad and you want to play," I said. "Typical."
I let my jacket fall to the floor. Fen bolted, skidding across polished marble, grabbed one of his reinforced chew toys, and tossed it at my feet with dramatic enthusiasm.
For the next several minutes, the world narrowed to motion and sound—Fen lunging, me dodging and countering, letting him slam into me with controlled force. He was fast. Faster than any normal animal had a right to be. Strong, too. Every movement carried intention.
This wasn't a pet.
This was a bond.
When he finally collapsed at my feet, panting, I crouched and scratched behind his ears. He leaned into it instantly, eyes fluttering closed.
"You did good," I murmured.
Alfred appeared silently, holding a sealed container.
"A reward," he said.
Fen's ears snapped up.
I handed him the treat personally. He took it gently—always careful with me—and padded off to his corner, content.
Only then did the night's weight finally settle into my shoulders.
"I'll shower," I said.
"Of course, sir."
Hot water washed away the grime and the faint scent of iron. I stood under the spray longer than necessary, letting my mind drift.
The werewolf.
The girl.
The witches in the shadows.
Too many threads intersecting too quickly.
I shut off the water, dried, dressed in clean clothes—dark, comfortable, unhurried.
I had just adjusted my cuffs when there was a knock.
"Sir," Alfred said from the other side. "We have a visitor."
I paused.
"Visitor?"
"Visitors," he corrected. "Two."
That was enough to tell me it wasn't casual.
They were waiting in the living room when I entered.
Two women stood near the panoramic window, city lights reflecting faintly in their eyes. One was tall, sharp-featured, her posture rigid with restrained urgency. The other carried herself with quieter intensity, fingers twitching slightly as if holding back something volatile.
Sabine Laurent.
Agnes.
New Orleans witches.
I stopped a few feet away, hands relaxed at my sides.
"You're a long way from home," I said calmly. "What are you doing in my penthouse?"
Sabine turned first. Her gaze locked onto me instantly—searching, assessing.
"We're here to ask for your help."
Agnes nodded. "Someone close to us is dying."
I tilted my head slightly.
"And you decided to come to New York. To me."
"Yes."
"That assumes you know who I am." I said releasing a bit of my Aura.
I saw surprised flickered across their face but it was soon replaced with delight. What the fuck.... I want to scared you a little and you are glad.
Sabine shook her head.
"We don't."
That earned a faint smile from me.
"Then why come to me if you don't know who I am?" I asked a little confused.
Agnes inhaled. "I performed a clairvoyance ritual. We were looking for a way to save her. We didn't see faces. We didn't see names. Only a room."
She gestured around the penthouse.
"This room."
It became clear to me. Sabine had clairvoyance abilities before Celeste took over her body. But they shouldn't be able to use it on me because of my magic immunity. I guess Mother Nature had strengthen her ability.
I studied them for a long moment.
"And how did you conclude it was me you needed," I asked, "and not the furniture?"
Sabine's jaw tightened.
"We sensed him." She said motioning towards Alfred.
Alfred, standing a step behind me, inclined his head politely.
"We know what he is," Sabine continued. "And yet, the strongest presence in this penthouse isn't him."
Agnes looked directly at me now.
"It's you."
Silence stretched.
"There's a terrifying amount of vitality coming from you," she said quietly. "Enough to make us question whether you're human at all. But you are. And that's exactly what we need."
I withdrew my Aura and I saw surprised flash across their face.
"How about now?" I asked already feeling smug
"You....How is that possible?" Sabine blurted out. "You seem... different. Like...."
"An ordinary human." Anges finished for her.
I looked at her and saw questions written all over her face. She didn't say anything probably because she doesn't want to offend me until she receives my help.
I glanced at Alfred.
"What about you?." I asked him.
"I don't feel any difference sir." he replied calmly.
That must be because of our bond.
I turned back.
Sabine met my gaze.
"You are… different. Special. We don't know why. But we believe your blood is strong enough to counter what's killing her."
I turned fully to Alfred.
"Opinion."
Alfred faced the witches instead of me.
"Why," he asked politely, "should my master involve himself in your affairs?"
Sabine didn't hesitate.
"Because we will owe him."
Agnes added, "A favor from witches. One he may call in at any time."
Alfred looked back at me.
"What do you wish to do, sir?"
I considered it.
Witches owing me.
Not fearing me.
Owing me.
Sounds useful.
Who knows when it will come in handy and besides I can finally know their hideout.
"That could be useful," I said finally.
I nodded once.
"Alright. Take me to her."
I wasn't about to waste an opportunity.
....
The East Village was quieter than usual when we arrived.
The antique shop looked unremarkable—dusty windows, dim lights, the kind of place people walked past without noticing.
Inside, the air was thick with old magic.
Sabine led us to the back, past shelves of artifacts that hummed faintly. She pressed her palm against a wooden panel. It slid aside, revealing stone steps spiraling downward.
The deeper we went, the heavier the magic became.
Underground, the coven chamber opened wide.
Candles lined the walls. Symbols were carved into stone. Thirteen witches stood in a circle, chanting in low, synchronized tones.
At the center—
Davina.
She lay on a stone altar, skin pale, lips faintly blue. Dark veins traced up her neck. Her breathing was shallow, uneven.
I stopped cold.
So it was her.
As I stepped forward, several witches flinched.
One of them whispered, "That's impossible."
"There's a cloaking spell," another said sharply.
Sabine turned, startled. "There is."
Their eyes flicked to Alfred.
He frowned slightly.
"I see nothing."
Which meant—
The spell didn't work on me.
I looked down at Davina. The scent hit me then—wrong. Corrupted. Animalistic.
I frowned.
And for the first time since entering, I reached inward.
System.
[Yes?]
What's happening to her?
[Werewolf venom.]
My eyes narrowed. Explain.
[The venom introduced into her system is mutating aggressively. It is lethal not only to vampires, but to witches as well. Her magic is accelerating the spread rather than resisting it.]
I looked back at the girl on the altar.
The scratch.
The werewolf.
So this was the consequence.
I knew Mother Nature won't give witches all these powers without a weakness so this is it.
Making werewolves venom to both witches and vampires but unlike the vampires which has Klaus that can cure werewolves bite with his blood witches doesn't have an original hybrid (part witch and werewolf/vampire.).
I exhaled slowly.
The witches were watching me now—uncertain, hopeful, desperate yet wary.
I straightened.
"Get out of the circle," I said calmly.
They hesitated.
Alfred's voice cut in, polite but absolute.
"I suggest you listen."
One by one, they stepped back.
I rolled up my sleeve.
"Let's save her."