Robert by Sam Crescent

naturally expect that witch to be evil. But the thing with witchcraft is that, no matter what, there needs to be a balance of power. Like vampires. We’re the undead—we are neither dead nor living, so we have a natural balance. Werewolves are neither a wolf nor a human, and that balance limits their power. Witchcraft is tricky, because the balance depends on the individual.”
    He gave her time for all the information to sink in.
    “So a witch has to be equally good and bad?”
    “Yes. The magic needs a balance to sustain itself. With that balance, witches can survive an eternity in which they never age or weaken.”
    “What happens to a witch who isn’t balanced?”
    “The power consumes them until there is nothing left of the person. In other words, they burn themselves out. It’s like one minute they’re there and the next they’re a dead shell. But again it is always different. Some take a while to burn out.” He stopped, turning away.
    “What happens to cause imbalance?” she asked.
    “We’ve been in a long-running battle with the wolves. They are destroying the balance by breeding humans—better known as mongrels—into the clan.”
    “Humans that have been turned into werewolves?”
    “Yes. Natural-born werewolves were like that from birth. Consider it an extra piece of genetic code.”
    Katie watched him refill her cup. “The wolves are disrupting the balance.”
    “Yes, and so the battle between the kinds commenced. Wolves have been wiping out witches and vampires for centuries. The furry little bastards have remained in hiding for a while. We knew they were in Beyer West, but unfortunately we’ve not been able to find them. The fact that wolves can adapt to live among humans has made it easier for them to hunt witches.”
    “That’s why the vampires and the witches work together?”
    “Yes. May I say, you’re an excellent student?”
    Katie beamed a smile.
    “Witches have died in this fight. When they take on a pack, they use a massive amount of magic. They live on the balance of natural forces but in battle they pick up reserves of magic—both good and evil. It’s too much to balance. The body simply can’t cope. The witch might kill her opponents…but then she dies.” He choked out the last bit.
    Katie watched as he reached into one of his cupboards for the brandy bottle, opened it and took a huge gulp. She winced, knowing what the powerful liquor could do. Many months ago she’d tried the same medicine, only to be left with a bad head, upset stomach and a bitter taste in her mouth.
    “What about me?”
    “What did your parents tell you?” he asked, still with his back to her.
    “I kept my magic from them. It wasn’t until they died that they told me it wasn’t safe. I haven’t been able to control it and it just gets worse.”
    William nodded. “I take it they visited you in a dream because, you know, dead people walking around is going to get a lot of attention.”
    “It was left in a note. A note and a film. They’d taped themselves. Bizarre, really, I know. What’s going to happen to me?” She knew that it was going to be something bad. The news that vampires didn’t hunt witches to kill them had been a relief, but it didn’t change the deceit Sophie and she had perpetrated. Katie had been right, she should have just answered to the Council, then she wouldn’t have to be worried about Sophie.
    He turned to her then. “Do you want to live?”
    What a strange question. She nodded. “Of course I do.”
    He took the cup from her hands, helped her from her seat. He moved the hair away from her neck. Every touch made her gasp. Her nipples budded and goose bumps erupted on her flesh. “Do you trust me?”
    She shook her head.
    “Good!”
    He bit down into her delicate, exposed throat. Katie screamed, fighting to get away from him. William was feeding from her. She could feel the blood leaving her body. The strike from his teeth sunk into her neck. The points dug all