Adeline’s words are met with the longest silence yet. All of them gape at her and then look back at Tasha who nods to confirm what Adeline had said. She is also the first one to speak and asks Adeline, “How do you even know that?”“Because I was also at Lilia’s place once...” she says.“It means you knew all along?” Damion asks, “Why the hell didn’t you tell us when we were out helping Evarius in the quest of the book or doing literally anything else? We could have planned something else.”Tears well up in Adeline’s eyes as she says, “I didn’t tell you because I was the one who told Evarius that Tasha is a Serafina witch, and I knew you would hate me for it.”“What?” Exclaims Esther, “What the hell are you talking about, Ad? Why would you do that? Did you not know who he was?”A tear rolls down Adeline’s cheek as she says, “I knew who he was but I wanted to save the one I love. I am sorry, Esther.”“No,” says Esther angrily, “that’s not how it works. You have put the lives of so many
Lilia looks around the room and her eyes stop at Adeline. She could hate her for putting Tasha in such a position. Her life was already in danger, but now the rifle is on Tasha’s shoulder. Adeline is not looking at anyone and staring down at her hands and Lilia can see that she genuinely regrets what she had done. Lilia does not approve of what she did. But she doesn’t hate her either. Nadia had waited for her for almost a century, of course, she wanted to help her out.“Ad,” Lilia says softly, “It’s okay. I don’t hate you. God knows if I had been in your position, maybe I would have done the same for someone I love.”“That doesn’t make it right,” says Adeline as a tear drops on her hands that are folded in her lap.“No, it doesn’t,” says Lilia, “but we all mess up. We are all, well, not humans, but yeah.”“I am so sorry,” says Adeline.“It’s okay,” says Tasha, “Honestly, I think he would have found me one way or the other. He already knew Lilia. As I would have practiced more, I am s
“Well, yeah,” says Esther, “At least the weather is beautiful because of the rest of it...”Brent comes and stands beside her and she asks, “How are you feeling?”“I feel okay.”Esther looks at him trying to gauge whether he is telling the truth and says, “You sure? After Damion and Lilia...”“Yep. I feel fine. I can’t say I didn’t imagine this might happen. Although it was still a surprise, it wasn’t a shock. Honestly, it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s in the past. She has moved on. I have moved on. I’ll always have a love for her, but it’s not like before, for which I’m glad. I am happy for them.”“That’s good. You deserve someone who truly loves you. Everyone does. But especially you because you are the nicest person I’ve ever met.”“Glad it’s dark and you can’t see me blush," Brent says smiling.Esther laughs.“That’s very sweet of you,” he says, “Thanks. But how about you? How are you feeling?”“I - I am mad at Adeline, of course.”Esther takes a deep breath and says, “Why didn’t s
“Yeah, the Junta will do that,” says Damion, “they want to protect Lilia as much as we do!”“They probably will,” says Tasha, “but what are the rest of us supposed to do? Stay within five kilometers of Lilia all the time for the rest of our lives if we want to stay alive?” Tasha says.“I don’t mind,” says Damion.Tasha gives him a mock smile, while Esther says, “Of course, you don’t. But the rest of us, no offense Lilia, have lives that don’t revolve around her.”“And,” says Lilia, “Evarius is always going to be on the lookout and will capture anyone who leaves the spell’s periphery, and then I’ll have to go because I am not letting anyone die. We need to find a solution that makes sure all of us are protected.”“Then ask the Junta to cast a spell on all of us...” says Tyrus half-heartedly.“Like they are going to do that,” says Esther, “they don’t give two shits about anyone else here. Also, what I don’t understand is why it is only the Oswyn bloodline. Tasha, did Evarius tell you wh
Evarius does not answer and instead looks at Tasha. She looks fidgety. He steps a little closer to her, looks into her eyes, and says, “Tasha, relax. I’m not going to hurt you. I would never do that, and if someone wants to hurt you, they’ll have to get through me first till I’m alive.”His gaze flits from her eyes to her lips that are slightly apart and he is tempted to pull her closer and kiss her. He quickly steps back.“Well,” he says, collecting himself, “let’s sit and talk.”*As Evarius turns around to lead the way, Tasha takes a deep breath to calm her heart that is going haywire and she knows that now it’s not out of fear.They enter a large sitting room. Tasha sits on one side of a sofa while Evarius sits on the other. She has now composed herself and asks, “So, what is it because if you’ve asked me to come here to convince me to kill my best friend, I am not going to do it Evarius. I cannot.”“And I am not asking you to.”“What?”“I understand, and I am not going to ask you
Adeline is waiting in the kitchen for Esther to come. She is standing because she is too nervous to sit. Having Nadia by her side has made the process easier, but the one other person she wants just as much as her or maybe even more is her sister. Esther has been by her side through all of it and if it would not have been for her, she would not have been here at all.Esther enters the kitchen, and for a moment they just look at each other, then Adeline says, “I am really, really, sorry, Esther. Truly.”“Why didn’t you tell me, Ad?”“Because I didn’t want to bother you. You were already handling such a mess due to me. You had warned me about Tasian, and I didn’t listen. I did not want to add another thing to the list. It was not because I didn’t trust you or I was afraid of how you would react. You are the one person I trust more than anyone else. I love you Esther, and I am truly sorry that I hurt you.”*Esther keeps standing at the same spot after Adeline's speech ends. She had thou
Brent is sitting on his bed. He has just woken up and now all the memories of last night were falling into place one by one. They are a bit hazy towards the end, but he remembers saying some stupid stuff to Esther. Oh, God! What would she think of him? Was she feeling embarrassed right now? ‘Cause God knows he kinda is. Not because he hadn’t meant it. He had. He likes Esther. He likes her a lot actually and maybe it had taken him to get drunk to loosen up a bit to accept this even himself. But she is a friend. She is only a friend. What if she thinks that he had been inappropriate and what if she doesn't talk to him again? He should apologize to her before she gets any ideas.He quickly gets off the bed and goes to freshen up and shower for the day. After he is ready, he stands in front of his room debating whether he should go to Esther’s room to apologize or wait for her to come downstairs. What if she is already downstairs? Moreover, he has to apologize for being inappropriate, and
“Hey,” Brent says, coming a little closer to Esther, “would you like to go to my lake house with me?”“Today?” Esther asks, looking intrigued.“Yes, right after this.”“Sure. Why though?”“Well, I said last night that I want to remember everything. All of it and all of you. With everything else, I meant that too.”Esther smiles, kisses him lightly, and says, “I’ll go anywhere, as long as it’s with you.”After all of them are done with Breakfast, Brent says, “You take anything you want. We’ll stay the night, and I have to get some things too. How about we meet downstairs in about twenty minutes?”“Sure.”Esther goes upstairs while Brent goes outside. He wants to make this special, and there are a few things he would need for that. After about twenty minutes, he has kept all his stuff in his car, and when he goes back inside, Esther is waiting for him. She walks up to him, and he takes her small bag from her.“I can carry it,” she says, “you know.”“Of course, you can! I just want to be