Adela Augusta Blood Famine

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chaise

Grimly Chaise watched as Minerva held outstretched hands over his father's chest. The glow that emanated from her fingertips was mostly a yellow-green color, but would occasionally crackle with a sharp and jagged purple light. The tendrils of thick fluorescent luminosity both mesmerized and scared him. The soothing color if only for a moment, made him think that Adela could be right, that maybe witches could be misunderstood. His dad's breathing steadied and his convulsions stopped so it was almost easy for him to overlook the crooked purple strokes. But there was a reminder of the darkness he was warned of when it came to witches. Chaise looked around at the flora around Minerva. Beautiful was never a word he would have used to describe the Blood Lands, even lively felt like a stretch, but he now realized how much life it actually held, and Minerva was draining it.

Chaise shifted his eyes to the dead ring of grass beneath the witch. She sat kneeling on both legs having removed her boots and rolled up her simple pants. When Chaise inquired what the purpose of this was she simply said it helped her work. He'd think about what that meant later, but for now, he examined the perfectly circular pattern of death beneath Minerva. He tried asking her questions, but she needed to concentrate and didn't seem to be in a talking mood. So he just stood with his arms crossed and watched. She was right though. He could let her help and possibly kill Henry or let him face the odds on their own, which we're looking anything but good. He didn't have much choice, and Adela had Minerva make it for him. Fortunately, it appeared to be the right one. He breathed a heavy sigh.

He'd have to apologize to Adela if she ever stepped out of the mist. Part of him wanted to go find her, but he couldn't leave his dad unattended. He worried that leaving Adela by herself could prove to be just as dangerous though. He'd forced her to lead earlier so that he could keep an eye on her but that almost resulted in her demise multiple times. If he hadn't been there to help her navigate she very well could be dead. Well, dead dead.

"You can go after her." Minerva suddenly muttered to him, her eyes closed.

"I'm not leaving my father alone." Chaise answered.

"Alone? Am I no one now? Or is it that even while I save his life you don't trust me?"

"The second one." Chaise answered honestly.

The glow of lights vanished abruptly, the light fizzling and dissipating as if smoke.

"What are you doing?" He asked, unintentionally raising his voice.

Minerva stood up dusting her legs off. "Eh, he's healed enough. He's not dying, well for now anyways."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I staved off his illness, but didn't cure it. Shame he seemed like a nice guy. Kinder than his son anyways." Minerva's eyes flicked down towards Chaise's sword which had his hand on it again. "Are you prepared to fight a witch Chaise?" She asked. "I owe you no allegiance, Princess Adela however is a little more deserving of my presence. If you won't check on her I will, and if you seek to strike me down, I'll fight with all I have. And trust me Chaise you won't like it."

Chaise released his grip but didn't let it stray too far from the blade. "Forgive me, Minerva. I've never met a witch before, and the rumors are... well, bad and convincing. Can you help him? Cure him for good I mean."

Minerva looked over her shoulder at Henry, and then back to Chaise letting out a heavy sigh. "It's not impossible."

"Could you try?"

Minerva walked back towards Henry and knelt down. She gave Chaise one scornful look and then outstretched her hands. With her eyes closed the light began to glow again, and the ring of death beneath her instantly expanded, sapping more of the land's strength and life around her. In an even tone, she commanded, "Find Adela. I've spent too much time here. The Dawn Blades will surely find me now."