Page 46 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

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Wisp appeared in front of me. She hadn’t been around for a few days, and I thought maybe she had disappeared. She flickered red and moved down the hallway before pausing.

“Do you want me to follow?”

She burned bright orange and twirled happily. My darkness hummed as I followed Wisp toward my father’s throne room. The door was open and the room empty, which I thought was odd. Wisp moved back behind my father’s throne, where velvet drapes hung. Was something behind there? An urgency filled me as I darted behind them only to be met with... nothing.

I looked at Wisp, who burned bright purple.

“I don’t know what that color means,” I whispered harshly.

“We don’t have much time.” My father’s voice had me holding my breath. Wisp burned bright purple still as I slowly peeked around the drapes.

A woman with hair as bright as my fire magic stood in the room with him. Her eyes were an odd shade of purple as she looked around. Her ears were not pointed like a fae, but I could feel her power pulsing from her. Her cloak was purely a style choice, as it was made of black lace and thin. I could see her soft yellow dress through it.

“Where is Thea?” The woman hissed my name with hatred. Bitch.

“Who fucking knows?” My father sighed. “But guards are watching her; don’t worry, she won’t recognize you even if she sees you.”

“What do you want me to do this time?”

“I need you to trap Cassius and his family in their castle so that they cannot escape.”

My heart pumped anger through me. What was my father doing? My darkness seeped from me in black tendrils, ready to kill anyone who meant harm to Cassius.

“When?” she asked, bored.

“Around the wedding. I will give you specifics when I get them. I just wanted to make sure you will be available.”

“Fine, but this is the last time I want to do this. You will take care of Thea too because I will not lose my coven to that bitch.”

“Calm down, Yerma. Thea doesn’t even know that she is part blood witch, let alone who you are.” My father rolled his eyes.

Yerma, the name from the contracts I found to hurt Exile.

“If she breaks her curse, she will kill me too. So, make sure she can’t,” Yerma snapped viciously at my father. “Did you hide herbloodstone like I told you to?”

“Well, if you do what I ask, then she will never break her curse. Take this and get the fuck out of my castle.” He shoved a small velvet sack toward her. I could hear the coins clanking. Payment. Yerma sneered at my father before snapping her fingers and turning into a raven, flying off.

My father left, slamming the door on his way out.

Stepping forward I glanced at the map that Wisp was twirling around. The map had nothing marked on it, but Wisp shrunk herself down and illuminated a small section of the woods in Cerithia. I didn’t know what she wanted.

My darkness hadn’t given me a chance to think about this. It had twisted around me, and suddenly I was standing deep in the woods. Wisp was not with me. The night was falling, so it made it difficult to see anything until the soft glow of light appeared through the trees. I walked quietly toward the fire but stopped when I realized it was a small village. Cottages lined a cobblestone path.

The small homes were charming. The moss and flowers growing over them made them blend into the nature around them. A moment later I saw a raven appear, swooping close to the ground. Then suddenly it transformed into Yerma. This was her coven. She began walking away, and the witches on the path moved quickly from her.

Shit.

When she disappeared, I continued to hide in the woods. I didn’t know how many witches were there, but my plan was to break into a cottage and get answers from one of the members.

I watched as an older witch moved into her cottage. I waited patiently to make a move. It wasn’t until I saw smoke barreling out of her chimney that I crept to her door. I slipped in, ready to pounce, only to turn and see her watching me as if she had been expecting me.

“Thea.” She greets me.

My brows furrowed as my darkness didn’t reach forward and wrap this woman up. “Lock the door, will ya?”

I did as she asked before watching her cover the window blinds.

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