Irina was dying of curiosity. She couldn’t hold it any longer. Uttering what had haunted her mind since yesterday while they were walking inside the woods. “Lucas?” Leading the way under the shadow of thick naturally arranged tree branches that full with leaves which started to become yellow and brown. “Yea?” He replied. “Do you know why you can read The Cotts when my father asked you to read it?” “The Cotts?” He saw Irina nodded. He vaguely remembered what was written on the black leather book. “I think I do.” “You do?” “Yes, because it’s the book of prophecy.” Her facial expression was a combination of disappointment, relief, a question on why he insisted to chase her, and a feeling she didn’t recognize when she said “Ahh…” “Is there something that I need to know?” Asked Lucas. Irina didn’t want to reveal anything. She gave Lucas a shrug as a respond. They sat by the river bank. A serene bree

Irina opened her red swollen eyes slowly. She could feel Lucas’s hand tightly held hers. A large rectangle polished table and many chairs came into her vision. “We’re here.” Said Lucas softly. He brought her hand closer to his face then lovingly planted a kiss on it. His action managed to gain her attention back to him. “This is common room where we usually gather to share knowledge and information amongst the three kingdoms.” “Ohh…” Came her short respond. The door swung open harshly. Three curious eyes glued at Irina’s hand. They were halted by the door. On the way from surprise to shock. Lucas calmly let go of his kiss on her hand, but still kept her hand in his. “Irina, these are Julian, Sebastian, and Hilda.” Irina nodded. He continued. “Everyone, this is my wife, Irina.” “Wife?” Sebastian’s eyes turned wide while Hilda and Julian took the news in a respectful manner. By the mention of wife out loud made her feelin

“That’s should be a warning. The fact that she knows me. I mean, I just arrive and the only people I’ve met is the three of you.” Said Irina. BRAAKKKK!! Hilda was over excited as a piece of riddle almost solved in her head, causing her press too much force than she meant to when she hit the table. Everyone was stunned. While Irina had double amount of shock as she sat next to Hilda. “We still willing to hear you out, even without that slamming.” Said Sebastian. Hilda ignored him. “Remember when we got back from Center Isle?” “Yes.” Julian replied as the same time as Sebastian said. “Yea…” “You’re right!” Sebastian agreed. “She’s gone when we’re back here.” “Missing.” Hilda corrected. Sebastian shrugged. “Whatever. She obviously not here then.” “The timing was by chance the same as when they captured King Armand and the others.” Hilda voiced her first suspicion about Deandra. “Do you mean she help

Center Isle few moments before, the dusk sun colored the evening sky in contrast with the color of snow that covered the ground evenly. Hurried foot step touched onto the hard-stoned floor in a desolate alley inside the castle. Lucas held Irina’s hand tightly as he led the way back to the passage room. As the night would come, dark creature’s sense of awareness increased and sharpened. They could certainly sense the present of uninvited three witches within the castle. While Sebastian followed behind Lucas and Irina unknowingly the reason. They turned and entered an open parlor. The passage room was at the end of the alley across the parlor. Crossing the parlor hurriedly in silence towards the alley, Irina had something absurd in her head. Almost reaching the alley, Irina pulled Lucas hand and stopped. Making Lucas knitted his brows together, irked by her sudden behavior. He held her hand again. “I don’t want to hear anything!” His eyes were fixed int

Each of them rode a horse instead of taking a carriage. Since it would broaden their night view and also easier for them to detect the presence of uninvited dark creature. They rode the horse slowly as winter wind blew freezingly. The group was consisted of two ladies and four men. It was pass mid-night. They were taking a round to make sure all witches and non-witched save as regular witch didn’t know many defense spells. Sebastian stepped down from his horse followed by Julian and Captain H, while Hilda, Deandra and a healer remained on their horse since this was the last house in town. Hilda gave the horizon in the West Kingdom a fancy stare, the moon looked larger above the vast thick ice made from the frozen sea. She had the thought that she would be amazed by the incredible scenery before her if this was naturally the season of winter. While her eyes busy wandered, a little neigh came from the horse next to hers. Turning her head to where the noise came