Page 145 of Her Dark Promise

I lifted the kettle and filled her empty cup. She looked over out of the corner of her eye. “Have you not taken care of me? Have you not cried over me when you saw me injured?” I sighed and set my lips in a thin line. “It seems like we have both allowed fear to rule our lives.”

Such a cowardly thing to do,she signed and bent her head down and took another sip of tea.

I leaned across the table, placed my hand atop hers, and squeezed hard enough to get her attention. “We arenotcowards. We have both lived through unspeakable atrocities that were out of our control.”

She nodded her head, but I wasn’t sure if she believed me. After a moment, she asked, “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

I set my teacup down and gave her my full attention.

“Please tell me if I am out of line, but,” she turned until she looked directly at me, “I came out of my room the day you told the three of them about your past.” She hesitated. “I saw everything. I didn’t mean to intrude, but I didn’t know how to get out of it.”

I raised my brows and nodded for her to continue. “I was wondering how you found out about the witch. What made you so sure that it was her?”

I cocked my head to the side, wondering what prompted this. She saw my confused look and rushed out, “I am only asking because there might be something in that part of your history that could help us figure out how to break the curse.”

I contemplated her question. I could see her unease, but instead of answering her with words I lifted my right hand and conjured a ball of shadows. I concentrated my memories on it until an image appeared.

I could hear Emilia gasp, “Is that you?”

“Yes.”

I could see her focusing back on the ball of shadows and light as the image became clear.

I said to Emilia, “I didn’t want to believe it, but I couldn’t deny what I saw the day Belle died, her words…everything about her felt different that day. I knew I had to get to the bottom of it before it ripped me apart.”

We watched my younger self walking through the halls, talking to herself, making her way to the servant’s quarters to confront her, hesitate, and then slip into an alcove along the hallway.

I saw Emilia sitting up a little straighter.

At the end of the hallway, we could see Circe passing by, cloaked. We watched as my younger self pulled up her hood and followed after her.

She kept to the shadows and stayed back far enough to not raise suspicions. They curved around the edges of the castle and into the treeline of the forest. She stopped and hid behind a tree when she saw Circe stop in a cluster of trees under the arch leading to the pond. She didn’t have to wait long until another cloaked figure emerged from the darkness.

“You’re late.” The voice sounded like a female.

“It couldn’t be helped, Audra.” Circe took off the hood and placed her hands behind her back.

The woman, Audra, uncloaked herself and placed a fisted hand over her heart. “Merry meet, high priestess.”

Ausra had long strawberry blonde hair that reached well past her hips and would have probably been longer if her hair wasn’t in braids. She had scars all over her body and was missing an eye.

Circe placed a fisted hand over her heart. “Merry meet, sister.” Circe looked around and kept her voice down. “I have news.”

“So, is it true? Did you kill her?”

Circe lifted her chin and nodded. “Yes, it couldn’t be helped. She found out about Princess Calathea’s powers, and I am certain she had plans to tell her father.”

Emilia gasped beside me.

Audra nodded slowly. “A shame, but good riddance. One less Everhart in the world, murdering our people. Our plans are still in motion?”

Circe took a deep breath. “Yes, but the plans have changed.”

Audra’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“I believe if the princess is to take the crown, she will bring peace to our people. Peace that will last. She will stop this war.”

“You’ve grown attached.” The words came out sharp, and Circe’s face hardened. “Even if she can take her father’s crown, how keen will she be on murdering him to get it?”

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