Page 124 of Valpar

“I trust that the little pixie won’t be interrupting me, will he?” she crooned.

Karma shook his head while I stared at her wide-eyed.

What in Hades was going on?

Esmeray giggled and offered her hand. I looked between her and her hand several times before I reluctantly took it, and she pulled me up to stand.

“Where is Ivy?” My voice shook as I watched the white petals fall to the ground.

Esmeray’s shoulders rose, then fell. “With the soil now. She deserved it, she questioned me.”

Snickerdoodle, we are in bigger trouble.

“Walk with me, Calliope.” She held out her arm for me to thread into. I turned to see Karma shaking, and he waved his hand for me to follow her. I didn’t have a choice. She could turn me into flower petals too, so reluctantly I went with her.

She hummed while she walked and led me past the thick bushes and slowly down a hill embankment. As she walked, small flowers flowed behind her despite the dead area around us. How can something so pretty do something so evil as to kill someone?

We stopped as we came to an old abandoned or fort more like. Stones lay overturned, debris scattered everywhere. It looked like it was once a grand fortress, maybe even a mansion back during its time.

“My mother used to run a coven here,” Esmeray began. “Some of the strongest witches and warlocks trained in this area. They had a vision, one that would reshape how Bergarian would be today—if she and the rest of the coven and not been killed.”

My body was stiff, but as she told me she’d lost her mother I relaxed. Perhaps she needed a friend to talk to. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t imagine losing a mother. Especially one you deeply cared about.”

Esmeray frowned and turned to me. “Indeed.”

“What happened?” I tried to show sympathy toward her. Ivy wasn’t a great person, but maybe this woman needed someoneto talk to, someone to let out her feelings with. Perhaps she was going to rescue me?

Her frown deepened. “There was a golden dragon named Horus, led by Queen Melina, who stormed into the threshold and set fire to all the coven. Eventually swallowing my mother’s entire body.”

Uh oh! Nope, not a friend, not a friend.

Red flags, big, big red flags.

I slowly stepped away from her.

I’ve heard this story before. Aunt Melina told me about the coven that tried to overthrow the Golden Light Kingdom’s court from the inside, before the war. The Sorceress Prinna was powerful and tried to pry apart Uncle Osirus’ kingdom.

“Ah, so your mother was the Sorceress Prinna, the great Sorceress Prinna. Ah yes, she was, ah, very wonderful.” I continued to back away and Esmeray watched me curiously.

“She was. She was a vision. My father, at the time, kept me in a cabin in Vermillion territory to keep me safe, since I was too young to fight. When I found out about her death, I swore I would get revenge one day. Lo and behold, just a few days ago, a vengeful little fairy and pixie searched for a witch who wanted to ruin the life of the king and queen of the Golden Light Kingdom’s favorite human.”

I continue to back away from her, my legs being scratched by the briars.

“I-I’m not the favorite. I think they find me just funny and interesting. Like a court jester.” I held the bottle tight to my chest.

As I retreated, Esmeray took slow strides toward me, her presence palpable. Vines slithered in her wake, entangling the trees, constricting them, dragging them down with a resounding crash. The thud reverberated, igniting a tremor in my chest, as a surge of fear coursed through me.

“I don’t believe that to be so,” she said smoothly. “I’ve watched on my own. They do care for you. I just cannot get too close to the kingdom. You see, I am not as powerful as my mother—yet.”

I felt the blood rushing to my ears, the pounding in my chest grew louder. When I turned to run a vine slipped around my ankle. It only gave me so much slack until it pulled me back for her to taunt me.

“You see, I’m still far too young to be a sorceress. I can’t get near the palace because Osirus is too strong. So, I had to wait until the fairy and the pixie brought you here. Your orc won’t find you either, and by the time the king finds out where you are, you will be long dead. It will pierce him through the heart and make him weak with sorrow,” she crooned.

I panicked when the vines wrapped around my legs. I tried to push them down, kick them away, but she just giggled and held her hands out like she was some messiah to all of Bergarian.

“I’ll put this realm back where it was supposed to be, under dark magic, and take over the Earth realm where humans will be enslaved.” She cackled and put a hand over her mouth. “Baby steps, I’m getting a head of myself.”

“Help!” I screamed out when the vines wrapped around my torso and my arms, pinning them down.

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