The Phoenix Witch

Chapter 29

Christine's P.O.V

I looked out of the window as we went down the streets, my mind swirling with recent revelations. How could he have not told me? It had been five years since that night and the memory was still engraved in my mind, the one of how I led my friends to death, the one where he declared his love for me at his dying breath. At the time, I was overjoyed and broken at his confession, but now I only felt the pain of betrayal.

"Are you okay, Christine?" Will asked, breaking me out of my muddled thoughts.

"Yeah, just peachy,", I said sarcastically without turning away from the window.

"Okay..." He dragged his words out and we sat in silence for the rest of the ride.

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"Why so tense?" Asked Rose as she walked into the room we were all gathered in.

"We have found information on the whereabouts of The Esecta", Will started saying, ignoring Rose.

"But that's not all, is it?" Charlie asked, probably sensing the tension in the room.

"No, it is not", I said as I sat down on the chair next to Emily.

"Oh! This is not good" Emily said as she turned toward me with a sorrowful expression.

Multiple confused looks were directed towards them, but before they could question their thoughts, Matthew spoke, " We were met with an organisation called The Stronghold in Ms Marley's home. The leader of this organisation knows where The Esecta is. We will be meeting them at 8 pm in a bar called Emblem"

"The Stronghold? I have not even heard of them, who are they?" Asked Charlie.

" It is an organisation of humans, I believe, who specialise in hunting the supernatural,", I said, rubbing my forehead and trying to ease my growing headache.

"Oh? Are they not our enemy then? " He asked again.

"I don't know much about them, but what I do know is that they hunt only the creatures who hurt humans," I said.

"How do you know so much about them? Rose asked curiosity in her eyes.

" Nobody knows much; what I know is very little", I replied deflecting her question.

" As if! She is only giving us the information her little boyfriend is letting her " Aderyn sneered from her seat.

Frustration and rage coursed through me at her words, how much more terrible could this day get? First, I meet my dead lover and now this vampire was accusing me?

"Boyfriend? At the Stronghold?" Charlie asked immediately, not letting anyone give in a word.

"Oh my!" Remarked Emily as she placed a comforting hand on my own.

"Yes! They were in love for years and now she is a spy- " Aderyn began again but was cut off by Will.

"Stop it, Ryn! Let her explain!" He said with a stern tone.

Aderyn gave him a dirty look but quietened down, finally giving me a chance to talk.

I blew out a breath,trying to release some of my frustration and said " Yes, I was in love with Rpy but that was 5 years ago. I was a naive teenager and he was every girl's dream, we worked together and in the end he died or ar least I thought he did. I did not know that he was involved with that organisation and nor am I a spy"

Silence coated the room as they processed my words, I calmed my beating heart as much as I could and prayed they wouldn't question it more. But my prayers were left unanswered as Matthew spoke his next words.

"You spoke of a team, who were they?"

I glanced at his emerald eyes and pondered on telling him everything, was I ready to talk about the pain I had endured to these strangers? No, I thought and decided to tell them the half truth.

I steeled my voice and emotions and said  " I um left my home when I was a teen and found Roy, well he and my team found me, they were a small group of hackers. They taught me everything about life outside my castle. We were truly happy but life happened and one day I lost them all. I thought I lost Roy but I hadn't, that's it. I haven't spoken to him since then and I don't wish to anymore. I am not working with them and I am only here to protect my family"

Matthew stared into my eyes, as if assessing if I was telling the truth and finally nodded. I sighed in relief mentally and and bent my head on the table to get some well deserved rest when an annoying voice spoke again, "Don't tell me you believe her, Matthew! She is lying through her teeth. We cannot trust a witch!" 

I lifted my head from the table and glanced at the ceiling and wondered how long I could take her judgement and insults before I would explode, a week or two? Maybe a few more hours? Or was my patience over now? Before I could come to a decision, Matthew came to my aid,

"Did you listen to her heart, Aderyn? She was not lying. I understand your suspicions but do not let them cloud your judgement. Our objective is to find the Esecta and she is helping us, you will be cordial"

His command rang through the room, a subtle power emanating from it. Everyone seemed to tense in reaction to it and I wondered why I didn't react? Was it because I wasn't a full witch or something else? I didn't feel fear as I stared at him, only a sense of gratitude to him.

"William, Rose, Charlie and Christine will be coming with me. Aderyn you stay here and protect the seer. We will be leaving sharp at 7, be ready. Let us all go rest now, we have had an exhausting morning" Matthew ordered, all the previous power gone and looking straight at me when he said the last line.
I gave him a thumbs up to infuriate him as I walked out of the room.

Em caught up to me in the corridor and asked,
" Are you fine, Christine?"

"Yes, I am"

" Don't try to lie, I am a seer remember? I saw your pain" she said.

I sighed In defeat and said, " I don't know, Em. He was dead to me, I had moved on but seeing him again brought up many feelings to the surface"

" I haven't had a dead lover come back to my life but I can tell that I am there for you, Christine. You helped me when I needed it and I will do the same"

I glanced at her as I reached my room and smiled at the life I saw in her eyes, she had come a long way.
"You're so different now, Em. So powerful and kind, thank you for being my friend in this daunting adventure" I said and hugged her. 

She smiled at me and said "Thank you, Christine, none of this would be possible without you, you've had a hard day go rest now"

I nodded and squeezed her hand in gratitude. "Goodnight!" I called to her as I left to my room.