Chapter 2
Speaking of creatures who wish me dead, I have noticed the woman seated by the bar counter gazing at us several times. Was she one of them, too? Was she a member of the Circle of Red? No way could the red circle have followed me all the way to Bournville. I had ensured that those witches could never happen again, and I’m not kidding—whoever did earned a medal or something. However, something about this weird woman gave me the creeps. Although I couldn’t identify her, I knew she desired me as well. “Iris” I turned her around as we danced by sliding my hands up to her waist. Not wanting to attract the notice of our observer, I muttered softly into her ears, “Don’t freak out or anything but- I think the woman by the bar is spying on us.” I immediately regretted that I had even brought up the woman I had described to Iris, who yelled out, “WHERE?!?” and frantically shook her head in search of the person I had mentioned. Oh goddess, let Iris handle everything when things get a little too close for comfort. I murmured, glancing at the woman with the red hair in braids and the black suit, “Fuck it, Iris! I said don’t freak out or she would notice. You are freaking out.” She was sipping from her, glass without realizing it, a proud smile on her face. She was now facing us. I have to use caution in whatever action I take next. In a tremulous, whispery voice, Iris continued, “Isabelle—she doesn’t smell… human.” I could see the horror in my dearest friend’s eyes. She shouldn’t have to deal with the mess I’ve been dragging her through for the past fifteen years, so I felt terrible for her. In actuality, every monster we had come across had acknowledged that they were pursuing me and not her. The monsters weren’t targeting her. But because of me, she was always going to be in danger. However, I don’t know how the demon found me. It was incredibly difficult for me to keep a low profile for the past three years, but I tried my best. I cast a cloaking spell to make it nearly hard for the Red Circle to find me or Iris. I even went so far as to bound my witch powers by wearing a charm bracelet my mother had given me. So far, it has worked, at least to keep me off their radar. A group of exceptionally skilled mercenary witches known as The Red Circle. Fortunately, I haven’t encountered them in a long time. They were assassins and had been pursuing me for a number of personal reasons. My aunt, who is accountable for my parents’ demise, is the head of the Red Circle, which is a significant factor in why they were pursuing me. Just thinking about it made my stomach turn into a knot. Don’t worry so much, I could just be imagining the whole thing. I’ll go out through the back and see if she is going to follow. Don’t worry it’s going to be okay.” I appeared to be smiling. I was certain that I wasn’t dreaming. Though I was very sure the woman on the other side of the bar wanted me dead, I didn’t want to worry Iris any more. She’s already endured enough. Iris asked, holding my wrist back as I turned to go, “Do you need backup?” I winked at her and made my way out of the dancing crowd, saying, “No, It’s okay. I got this.” I left the club by going out the back door, which led to a silent, shadowy alley. It was pitch black everywhere, with the lovely moon overhead serving as the only source of illumination. It illuminated everything below, shining brightly. Now, where in the world is she? I questioned myself as I searched for our stalker creature. The chilly night air was stinging my face as I withdrew my silver knife from my boot and gripped the helm tightly. It belonged to my mother, and I took it everywhere I went. Whenever I held it, I had the impression that she was still here, keeping an eye on me. I swept those, melancholy memories from my head with a swift brush. I had to pay attention to the threat below. The elderly British voice behind me shocked me, “Are you looking for me, darling?” I clenched my grip around my dagger, protecting it from behind. “Oh fuck—” I said as I took a closer look at the woman at the bar. She appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties, dressed in black makeup, and covered in several tattoos and piercings. She was dressed all in black, and I have to say, she looked fierce. Her hair was long and plaited, with an Auburn red color. I inquired, “What do you want?” to which I already knew the answer. All she wanted was one word. Me! and just me. She craved my blood, just like any other monster. She obviously wanted me too, as I had assumed, saying, “Isn’t it obvious, darling, I just want you.” Just as my mother had warned me fifteen years ago before she was killed, they all wanted me. That awful memory, which has been bothering me in dreams since I was a child, made me cringe a little. That was until I met the man with the butterfly tattoo. My mom also mentioned that he could be able to help me with my destiny, melancholy memories from my head with a swift brush. I had to pay attention to the threat below. The elderly British voice behind me shocked me, “Are you looking for me, darling?” I clenched my grip around my dagger, protecting it from behind. “Oh fuck—” I said as I took a closer look at the woman at the bar. She appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties, dressed in black makeup, and covered in several tattoos and piercings. She was dressed all in black, and I have to say, she looked fierce. Her hair was long and plaited, with an Auburn red color. I inquired, “What do you want?” to which I already knew the answer. All she wanted was one word. Me! and just me. She craved my blood, just like any other monster. She obviously wanted me too, as I had assumed, saying, “Isn’t it obvious, darling, I just want you.” Just as my mother had warned me fifteen years ago before she was killed, they all wanted me. That awful memory, which has been bothering me in dreams since I was a child, made me cringe a little. That was until I met the man with the butterfly tattoo.
