“Why would you make such a ridiculous deal?” Hellebore asked as I closed the door. How long had she been here? I sighed, “You’re spying on me now?” I retorted before adding, “If we pushed her right now, she would reject us both, and I haven’t exactly made the best impression on her, mother.” “You can say that again?” she sneered as she gestured to me, “Still haven’t got the witch to undo her spell, I see.” She stated as she watched me use the crutches to return to the bed. “No… I’m using these for fun.” I lifted the crutches as she frowned at my sarcasm. “You can’t even get a witch to do your bidding, how are you supposed to control demons?” She shook her head, disappointed. "Maybe I should've picked Rook." “I told you once and a hundred times before. I don’t want to be King never have. It’s you who wants me in a place of power so you can make me into a puppet king.” I bit out angrily. Her face reddened with anger as she walked towards me and grabbed my chin hard; long nails digg
I have some time before I have to go help collect herbs and since I basically know nothing about you, how about a game? I asked as I struggled to start a conversation with Samuel. The agreement Sin and Samuel made did not sit well with me. It made me feel like a prize to be won and I didn't want them to see me as an object, So I figured this game would make him see me as more of a person than a prize to win. “What kind of game?” Samuel frowned, looking at his leg. “I can’t exactly move without the bloody crutches.” I shook my head. “It’s not that kind of game. It’s a stationary game called twenty questions.” “What’s that?” “We take turns asking each other questions and answer honestly, I’m not exactly sure what the original game was meant to be, but my friends and I just used it to ask each other questions. It was how we learned about each other and our group's secrets.” I smiled. “Ok, can we pass on a question?” Samuel asked, looking uncomfortable. “You get one pass.” I smiled
It had been four months since Samuel and Sin had made their arrangement. I had also worked with Abigail to control my magic and was improving faster than we had hoped. I still felt like everyone was keeping things from me. Especially the guys, the more I was with them, the more I noticed similarities in their appearance and mannerisms. Samuel still refused to take off his stupid hat. My relationship with the two men seemed to be getting more entangled. The more I spent time with them, the more I was drawn to them, If I were asked to choose between the two, I don’t think I’d be able to. Sin was impulsive, kind, flirty, and I found him easy to talk to and the chemistry was natural, with Samuel we had long conversations about different things, he was smart and a little awkward, which I thought was adorable; Although I noticed that he sometimes had an impulsive side that reminded me a lot of Sin. I loved spending time with both of them; I have gotten myself in a mess that I don’t know h
I hated leaving Amaya with Samuel, but I had no choice if my plan was to be put into action, I needed to be far away from her, and if Abigail was missing had it already started? I headed towards the village searching for Abigail, As I reached the path heading into the village, she ran into me. I looked down at her panicked face as she looked up at me, confused. “You need to go Sin, or the plan won’t work, I believe they will come after us soon, there are rumors going around town that Pastor Gideon has some kind of secret weapon to find witches, everyone in town is talking about it." “Calm down Abigail, our plan will work.” I spoke to her as she rushed through her story. “But I didn’t think I would be putting my own daughter in danger.” She sniffed as she looked at me, tears in her eyes. “Why did you pick her?” “To be honest, I didn’t know it was her, it was a coincidence, I swear.” I reassured her. “I only found out she was your daughter when I saw the oracle. Have you known the w
I had gone to check the cave to see if Abigail had gone there, but it was empty; I had checked the surrounding paths as well, but came up empty-handed. Feeling defeated, I returned to the cottage to see if Samuel had any luck; he had gone into town to talk to the Pastor and check the village to see if Abigail got held up there. I had just finished lighting the fire in the hearth when Abigail entered, looking a little frazzled. “I was looking everywhere for you.” I accused as I walked up to her, taking her basket and setting it on the table. “Sorry dear, I got stuck in the village longer than I had expected. An illness has broken out, and I had to make a house visit to the Benham’s place. Their children are ill." “That’s awful, are they going to be, ok?” "I am not sure." She sighed as she sat down at the table. " Last winter took a toll on the village, so many people struggled to find food and without proper diet illness sets in, people are struggling." I walked over to the fir
Livid, I followed as Pastor Gideon took Amaya to the church, how had I not realized he would come for Abigail tonight, he had told me it would be soon. I had planned for Amaya to be gone when it happened. The damn device I gave the pastor just signed her death warrant. My mother had promised me Amaya would be safe. I followed as he walked inside the church and headed towards the cellar; he opened it and the two men that had Abigail threw her in before Pastor Gideon threw Amaya in beside her. I gritted my teeth as anger consumed me, how dare he even touch her, but to treat her this way. I clenched my fists vowing that he would pay for this! After the door was closed, Pastor Gideon locked it and looked at his two henchmen, “Guard this door until we have proper cells built.” He ordered. The men nodded and moved to stand on either side of the door. The courthouse was being renovated, a back portion was being built on for cells and an office. Pastor Gideon left the room, and I followed
I got up off the floor and went to open the door, not surprised finding it was locked, I pushed against it but it didn’t budge, resorting to beating on the door demanding I be let out. It was oddly therapeutic to beat up a door. I did this until my fists were bloody. “Amaya dear, stop. We are not getting out of here.” Abigail spoke from her spot on the ground. "What about my abilities? Won't they work?" I asked as I tried to will my ability to work. Abigail shook her head, "No, they are working with someone who was able to ward this place against our type of magic." Even though I knew it wouldn't work, I had to try, I focused all my anger to try to get the door to shake or move or break anything, but nothing happened. "Amaya, it is no use, you are wasting your energy, dear." She repeated as she stood and walked up to me, pulling me away from the door. “You don’t get it; it doesn’t matter what we say we are dead.” I whispered as tears fell down my face, “They did horrible things t
“What’s wrong?” Rook asked as I sat beside him in the dining hall. “You know what is wrong.” I spat as I looked at my food. For my plan to work, I had to wait around for her to be tried and almost executed, but I also had to stay away. It was maddening, not even my day-to-day duties as King could distract me. “I know, you just seem more irritable than usual.” “Do you have anything to report? Did Hellebore or your brother share anything with you about what is going on?” He shook his head, “Sorry, I believe I may be on the chopping block with you on this one. My mother, not that she was much of one, has turned on me for siding with you.” “I am sorry. It must be hard for your mother to betray you like that.” I felt bad for Rook. All he wanted was to be accepted by his family, he never said as much, but I could tell by his drive to better himself and to become stronger. He worked hard to make himself into the type of leader that an army could look up too. Unlike his mother and brother