The Phoenix Witch

Chapter 6

Christine's P.O.V

I tried to keep my footsteps silent as I walked through the dimly lit corridors of cadrill, prodding my brain for the way to the archives. There was a chill in the air, making me shiver and curse myself for not wearing my jacket. A bat flew by making me jump and I cursed again, something I noticed I've been doing a lot since I got here. I walked down a staircase to find another dead end and sighed, I racked my brain again for the way but found nothing and walked back up, Let's go right I decided and went on. A bat flew too close and I jumped, bumping into a wall, and winced as pain shot through my hand. I turned towards the wall and saw that it had moved a little, I pushed and it creaked a little but did not budge. I sighed, tired from days of exertion and lack of sleep, and tried to think of anything about a secret room in the layout of this castle. Nothing came to mind so I walked toward the balcony and leaned against the railing taking in the fresh air.

The sky was clear but the stars were absent, I looked down towards the courtyard and saw the beautiful gardens, a glint of something black near the fountains caught my eye, and I squinted trying to get a better look at it. It was the shape of a man I concluded and as if I was compelled, I walked down the stairs and into the courtyard. My eyes were fixed on the man as I walked further into the courtyard and neared him. In the blink of an eye, the man was gone, and I blinked, my stupor broken, I stepped closer to where he once was and froze as I felt an excruciatingly strong power from behind me. It came close, goosebumps trailing my skin, A soft fingertip brushed against my neck and I stilled my brain freezing, The fingertip trailed down my hand and my brain finally started working, I caught the hand pushing it away and spun adjusting my stance and saw deep red eyes staring back at me, it was no shock that it was a vampire but what did shock me was that it was Matthew.

'What is up with us meeting like this?' I joked trying to calm my trembling hands and racing heart. This did not help him and I relaxed my stance showing him I was no danger or prey. This seemed to relax him a little and I asked again more seriously now 'Matthew, what's wrong?'

He stayed quiet and stared as if observing me, We stood there for over a minute and stared at each other's eyes before that deep, glowing red eyes of his turned back to enchanting emeralds. I raised an eyebrow silently questioning but his face was still stoic. I sighed closing my eyes in exhaustion and opened them to see him gone. What the hell is up with him? I thought and too tired to search for answers I left it for now and decided that I would ask him tomorrow.

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Matthew was acting like last night had never happened, it was kind of surreal to see him drone on about unchecked facts and details only a vampire could catch sight of. We had a healthy discussion on how to proceed and our plan was still unchanged, we were to catch our traitor and fish the information out of them. This was of course the best most suitable option but something in my gut told me that The Council had something to do with this, one that no one was eager to tell me. Fine, I thought I'd find out myself, my snooping skills finally coming to good use. Our meeting was dismissed and I had yet another day of aimless wandering before our plan could be enacted or before the Council called another meeting, so I decided to first ask my nan for any information on the council's important issue. I made my way to her room and knocked, I heard a soft come in and I went inside.

'Hey Nan'

'Christine hi, is something wrong?' She asked as if knowing my frustration.

'Oh, Nan do you think I only talk to you when something is wrong?' I joked and she raised an eyebrow seeing through my poor joke. I sighed and rested my head on her lap remembering how I used to do it when I was small. She brushed my auburn bangs from my face and said 'Christine, you can tell me anything you know that right? I can practically see the curiousness in those beautiful hazel eyes and feel your frustration'.

I looked up at her gaping and she chuckled 'I'm a witch Christine, I can feel auras and yours is filled with frustration' OK I did not know that I thought and wondered about all the things I could've learned I was a normal- 'come on out with it Christine' she said and I sighed answering
'Nan, what would you do if you had a gut feeling so strong that you had to against some very well-read, experienced experts?'

'I would follow my gut, Christine, we teras are known for having amazing instincts. Your father was like this, so indecisive about his instincts, I always told him to follow his instincts but to never go in blind' she said reminiscing old memories, smiling sadly.

A warmth and a piercing sensation found their way to my heart and I swallowed trying not to remember those memories, forced a smile at her, and said 'Thank you, nan'. She looked at me with concern and when she saw that I wasn't going to open up she sighed and forced a smile.

Just as I was about to walk out I heard a whisper 'You have to tell me some time'. It sent all those memories that I was trying so hard to suppress right into my head and I shed tears, the first in ages after the incident, I didn't bother wiping them as I walked back to my room.

A shining orb was hovering over my head, repeating a message in a shrilling voice, I blinked my eyes waking my senses from the abrupt disturbance. 'You are summoned to the throne room, please come immediately' it said. I groaned feeling lazy and very cozy but my curiousness and anticipation won over. I washed my face, put on a high ponytail, set my bangs, checked myself in the mirror happy with my clothes, and braced myself for the meeting. I didn't know for sure what it would be about but I had a feeling that I wasn't going to like it.