PS: Please vote for the book ‘Belle Adams’ butler’ which is the fifth book when it comes to power stones.
At first, Fleurance pointed out how it was because of Penelope that her daughter was in this state but after some more heated discussion, Gerald said,
“What has happened has turned to the past. Mistakes has been done and sadly, there’s nothing we can do right now. Grace should have known better than to behave like that,” he didn’t want to rub salt against his wife’s wound but that was the truth. Maggi had no problem with Penelope and it was Grace’s action that had put her where she was today.
“Let’s look at the positive side that Grace is still breathing,” he rubbed Fleurance’s shoulder who broke down in tears.
Penny and Damien walked out of the room after a while, giving the elders the room with their daughter. Walking back to their room, Penny went to the patio to look at the sky that had turned blue. Clutching her hands on the rails, she looked down at the water below her that constantly kept moving.
Damien came to stand next to her, watching the horizon, he said, “Don’t heed to her words, she’s just feeling helpless seeing Grace in that condition.”
Penny shook her head, “I didn’t,” Fleurance loved her daughter and anyone could tell that. Her actions were justified out of worry, “How long does it take for a pureblooded to heal from a wound like that?”
“Two weeks I guess. Grace’s body is stronger than the average vampire. Maybe just a few marks but she will be fine,” he then asked her, “How are you feeling?”
“I am okay… It was a really long day. Everything came to an end.”
“It did.”
“Do you think we can visit the forest later?” Penny asked him to see him nod.
Penny and Damien stayed in the room for a while where Penelope fell asleep out of exhaustion as she had been up the whole night. Seeing Penny asleep, Damien stepped out of the room and went to meet his parents who were still in Grace’s room.
Lady Fleurance, sat next to her daughter, holding one of Grace’s hands with a sullen look on her face.
“Murkh said if needed he would come visit Grace to make sure she was progressing when it comes to the healing,” he let his father know.
Gerald gave his son a nod, “That’s good. Bring him over tomorrow so that we can make sure there are no complications.”
“I will be going to the council. There are a few things that need to be reported,” he then left the mansion to go to the council. Walking up the wide stairs and corridors, Damien made his way to the council room and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he heard the head council’s voice from the other side of the door, “Damien,” Rueben looked surprised to see him there.
“Good morning, I hope I am not disturbing you,” Damien said to see Rueben move his hand in the direction of the chair for Damien to take a seat.
“Just the usuals, waiting for the doc.u.ments to be sent by Councilman Mathias. What can I do for you?” Rueben asked knowing the pureblooded vampire had come to the office this early because he had something important to say.
“Do you know a man who went by the name Robarte? A vampire,” Damien started to see Rueben shake his head. It was taken that Robarte didn’t catch the higher officials eyes as he had been laying low by just enjoying his time as a converted vampire in the society while using his small status to satisfy his needs, “There used to be a mansion near to the East coast of Bonelake which was removed from the map when the new map was made and the new map was recreated by Councilwoman Ava who was trying to house some of the black witches.”
Damien placed the two maps on the table which he had brought along with him, “You will need to ask the councilmen to go through the missing houses to see how many other black witches reside in them.”
Rueben took hold of the scrolls and pulled it open to look at the markings of cities and villages across the land of Bonelake that had been drawn, “I assume you have killed one of them?” the head council asked him.
“He’s dead but that is not what I came here for.
There are some girls in there, in the mansion where the black witch used to live. All dead, and I am assuming them to be slaves that were bought from the black market.”
“How many of them? Are all dead?” Rueben’s face turned to a frown.
Damien gave him a curt nod, “All dead. Maybe it’s time for the council to place a new edict that could save lives rather than being killed one after another,” he proposed to the head council. Too many slaves had died and there was no count to it. Though the council couldn’t get rid of the establishment because it would end up with riots and more illegal ways of trafficking people which would be difficult to get a hold on, the least they could do is provide some sort of health insurance that could guarantee them to live longer.
“I am not sure how that will go but I will propose it in the meeting.”
“I hope you do, Reuben. Most of them are in an unrecognizable condition. Once you have picked up the bodies, burn the house down. There is still some magic in there which would be better to be burnt than just cleaning up.”
“How did you end up there?” Rueben asked curiously as there was no case being run and Damien wasn’t given one as he had only come back from Mythweald with the rest of the other council members.
“My butler and sister went missing. The witcher held them captive,” Reuben raised his brows hearing this, and Damien had to give a short recap on what happened so that Penelope wouldn’t come to be questioned.
The councilmen and councilwoman who had been part of the job to close the portal that was opened by the black witches were sworn to keep the event secret which also included what Penelope was so that she could continue living her life like a human in the other’s eyes
“I am glad to hear they are alright but have you thought about the other witches who escaped the night of the ritual? Don’t you think they will come for you?” Rueben asked Damien out of concern knowing how vengeful the black witches were.
Hearing this Damien shook his head, “They won’t surface for a good few years. Penelope made sure to lock most of their magic away and even if they want to run the ritual it is not going to be any time soon.”
“That sounds better.”
Once he was done talking to the head council, Damien went to Murkh to get medicines for Grace. Before heading back home, Damien remembered Piers was still in there, therefore he went to Varreran’s mansion to get him back.
During the time of the evening, which was when Penny had woken up the pair went to the forest where Penny spent her time in front of her father’s grave.
Her mother was gone, her so-called uncle was dead with her and the only family member who lived along her was her aunt, Caitlin. She didn’t move her lips but sat down on the forest ground with the green leaves looking greener and bright under the evening light of the sky that fell on the forest where she was right now.
Though now all memories were good, she was thankful for a few things and she had decided to keep them close to her heart. Cherishing them as they were meant to be taken care of. Now with her mother gone, the spell that had been placed on her when it came to her memories started to flood like water that was unable to keep in her mind anymore. Most of them were sad but at the same time, there were even good ones.
Her mother had erased all her memories when it came to her father making it appear as if he didn’t exist but he existed more than her mother did even if they had spent less time with each other.
They were beautiful and warm. To know her father, even more, she felt fortunate about it. If there was something she was regretful about, she wished she could have remembered him sooner so that she could rest him somewhere safe and also wishing how things could have been different if he had found out about Laurae’s intentions before she had killed him.
Damien stood right behind her, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the large tree while looking at the girl who was trying to transcend her thoughts and feelings to her father.
Penny had come a long way, her journey had been hard but finally she would be able to breathe. Her mother was dead. The black witches who had been wanting to open the portal and unbind the magic had gone to hiding. She had found her father, and though he was long gone, this was the place she could come to return too.
Seeing her stand up, and turn around to look at him, he looked at her. The mouse had turned somewhat to a fierce cat in his eyes.
“Finished talking?” he asked her, pushing himself against the wall and walking to her.
“Hmm,” she nodded her head.
Damien took hold of her hand but he didn’t apparate from there with her, instead, they started to walk so that they could spend some quiet time together walking towards the bridge that connected the mansion.
.
The event can be found in your inbox now, go there to claim your ‘Damien’s loyal peasant’ badge.
