Shadows of Avarice - Book #1 (BxB)

Chapter 51

The witch stood in front of them, smiling as Xia and Dariya looked at her in stunned silence. Xia thought he was seeing things. Elvira was supposed to be dead and he could hardly believe that this woman was his mother. Twenty-six years ago, Elvira cast the curse on Osiris. The sultan was a child at that time, and Xia would have been an infant. The witch would have abandoned Xia shortly after he was born if that were the case.

He had so many questions for her, but none of them regarded why she abandoned him. At this point in his life, he didn't care if she was his mother. She left him, and he had a new family to care about. His grandmother and his siblings were the only family he needed. Elvira walking into his life now changed nothing.

"How are you alive? Osiris killed you," Xia said. It should have been impossible for the witch to be standing in front of them. Even with magic, she couldn't escape death.

She frowned, disappointed that this was the first question he decided to ask. "Aren't you curious about me being your mother? It was hard for me to leave you on that woman's doorstep, you know. I didn't want to leave my only child behind. I had no choice."

"I don't care," Xia put it bluntly. Why should he care after so much time passed? All he cared about was saving Osiris.

Her sweet, motherly expression changed to something darker as she glared at him. "This isn't the reunion I was expecting. I didn't realize my child grew up to be so . . . rude. You should be happy to meet me."

"Sorry to ruin your expectations, but you're a little too late. You cursed the man I love and he killed you. You shouldn't be alive." Xia stood his ground. He was up against a powerful witch and knew he shouldn't risk angering her, but she was the reason why things turned out this way.

Elvira took a seat at one of the circular tables. She raised her hand and in a flash, a teapot and three cups appeared. She didn't touch the teapot as it levitated above the cups and poured tea into them. "Take a seat. Let's relax for a moment to discuss everything."

Dariya and Xia were reluctant. They didn't know this woman and the tricks she could be up to. However, before they had the chance to refuse, the witch raised a hand, and something forced them towards the table. Dariya and Xia were pushed to the table, and whatever magic it was forced them to sit down as well. Their bodies felt heavy, as though they had no control over them. The feeling didn't last long, though. Once they were sitting, the magic disappeared.

She gave them a pleasant smile. "That's better. Since you've cooperated, I guess I should answer your question. I am, in fact, dead. The little king did kill me on the day that I cursed him. The reason why I am before you now is because of my magic. To elaborate, it's all because of you, Xia. When I planned on cursing the little king, I knew I would most likely die. As a precaution, I stored a piece of my soul inside of my child. With you holding onto a part of me, I was able to cling to this world."

"A piece of you . . . is inside of me?" Xia put a hand to his chest, but even with this new information, he didn't feel any different than he normally did. He never would have guessed that someone else's soul was inside him.

Elvira nodded. "Honestly, it's surprising that you were able to survive this long with a witch's soul in you. You're a mortal and unable to wield magic. My soul should have torn you apart, and it still might if you continue to hold onto it. I hoped that you would one day seek me out. Otherwise, when my magic killed you, you and my soul would have been lost forever. With you here, I will gladly take my soul back and become whole again."

"Wait. You knew there was a chance Xia could die from this, yet you still did this to your son? If it weren't for the things you did in the past, Xia never would have looked for you. You took a huge gamble on the chance that he would look for you one day," Dariya interrupted.

"If I had never gone through with my plan, then Xia would never have existed in the first place. I had no intention of having a child until I wanted revenge. Once I came up with the idea to curse the boy king, I waited and took precautions. I had a child, then took him somewhere he would be safe. Xia was raised in a good home, with many people who love him." She turned her attention to Xia as she said, "I could have left you with someone else who could have neglected you, but I didn't want you to suffer. Despite never wanting you and using you for my plans, I do care about you, Xia. You are my only son, and now that you're here, we can be together. All I need is my soul back."

Xia had to stifle a laugh. How could she believe that Xia would easily side with her after all this time and everything she admitted to? If he had to wager a guess, Elvira couldn't get her soul back without Xia willingly giving it to her. If she could, then she would have done so by now. Xia would not give it up so easily. If she wanted it back, then she would have to bargain for it. He knew what he wanted.

"Tell me how to break Osiris' curse, and then we'll discuss your soul. I refuse to give it to you without you agreeing to my terms," he demanded.

Darkness shifted in her eyes once more. "I can give you more than the boy king. All he can offer you are his riches, while I can give you powers you never dreamed of."

He couldn't stop himself from letting out a laugh this time. "I'm not like you. I don't need power when I have a caring family waiting for me to return and a husband who needs me to save his life. All I want is to break Osiris' curse, whether he wants to continue being with me or not. You can keep your power."

Elvira sat there in silence, contemplating her next move. With a sigh, she flicked her wrist once more, and a dagger appeared in the palm of her hand. She gave a mischievous smile and said, "This will heal the sultan of his curse, but it comes with a price. You will need to stab him in the chest with this blade and when you do, the dagger will require a sacrifice. Someone will have to die for the curse to be lifted. The person doing the stabbing with be the sacrifice."

She placed the dagger on the table, then pushed it across where it stopped in front of Xia. He didn't pick up the blade right away. If it required a life, then if Xia was the one who stabbed Osiris, wouldn't the witch's soul be in danger? She wanted her soul back, but this seemed like the wrong way to go about this.

The witch seemed to understand what Xia was thinking as she read his expression. With a chuckle, she explained, "My soul will not be in danger, sweetheart. Once you stab Osiris, he will be free of his curse, and so will I. My soul will leave your body and find its rightful place."

"Is . . . this the only way?" Xia didn't want to die in the process. He wanted to save Osiris, but was this really the only way to do so? Elvira was the one who created the curse. She should have had the power to make it go away just as easily.

She shrugged. "Perhaps. At least, this is the only way for me to get what I want as well. Magic comes with a price. Either you die by saving the man you love, or you die when my soul kills you. It's your choice, Xia."

It looked like she wasn't giving him any other option. Either way, his life was forfeited. At least with one of his choices, he could save Osiris in the process. The witch put on an act that she cared about him, but in reality, she was only doing what benefitted her and making him suffer in the process. The only good thing she ever did for him was leaving him with his grandmother.

Hesitantly, Xia picked up the dagger. The onyx blade felt heavy in his hands. Once returning to Rasea, he would need to make a choice. He felt his heart clench. None of his options were good for him, and the witch found this humorous. She was toying with him.

Dariya was the first to stand up from the table. She was getting tired of hearing the witch's nonsense. She grabbed Xia's hand and pulled him to his feet. "Let's get out of here, Xia. She's playing with your mind. We'll find another way to save Osiris; one that doesn't require your life."

He tightly gripped her hand as she led him out of the cavern, but he said nothing in response. The witch laughed as she watched them go before everything went dark around them once more. Their candle was the only light that guided their way as Elvira Murik disappeared.

The witch was gone for now.