Chapter 28: The Rotten Rose
Wardell sat in the dim light of a small, dusty chamber at Saint Falcon Elementary, his human disguise immaculate. The guise he wore-a kindly priest with warm eyes and a soft voice-had worked perfectly. The nuns had welcomed him, and no one questioned the presence of a visiting clergyman offering prayers for the sick.
But it wasn't divine guidance that had led him here.
"Do it," the voice whispered, serpentine and insidious. The presence of the cloaked witch lingered just behind him, her form shrouded in shadow even in the light of a single flickering candle.
Wardell hesitated, the weight of the black rose in his hands heavier than it should have been. The flower reeked of decay, its petals wilting even as it pulsed with dark energy.
"You promised to help me," Wardell said, his voice low and shaky. "You said this would secure my place on the Council, to show them I'm more than just my mother's puppet."
"And it will," the witch murmured, her tone both coaxing and commanding. "But power must be claimed, Wardell. It is not gifted freely. Curse the girl, and the blame will fall on Dani. The Council will see him as reckless, and Joy's precious family will turn against her protector."
Wardell's fingers tightened around the stem of the cursed rose. The thorns bit into his skin, drawing blood, but he didn't let go. He could feel the magic curling through him like smoke, clinging to his soul. It was a spell of torment, designed to rot away its victim's life force while spreading doubt and fear among those closest to them.
"What if someone figures it out?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"They won't," the witch replied sharply. "Not until it's too late. The scent of the curse will lead straight to Dani. His proximity to the girl makes him the perfect scapegoat."
Wardell swallowed hard. He wasn't sure what unsettled him more-the plan itself or how easily the witch seemed to manipulate him. Yet he knew he couldn't back out now.
He had waited for Dani and Joy to leave Eesome Manor before slipping through the Magic Realm gate, his disguise crafted with care. It wasn't difficult to infiltrate Saint Falcon once he arrived. The nuns had barely questioned his presence, eager for a man of God to offer blessings in their troubled halls.
Now, standing in the shadows of the school's infirmary, he looked at the frail figure of Lili Eesome lying on the bed. Her pale face and soft breathing made him hesitate again.
"She's just a kid," Wardell muttered.
"And you're just a pawn," the witch shot back coldly. "Do it."
His hand trembled as he leaned over Lili. Gently, he placed the black rose on her chest. As soon as it touched her, the flower's magic seeped into her body, spreading through her veins like poison. Lili stirred faintly, her lips parting in a soft gasp before falling still again.
Wardell stepped back, his heart pounding. The witch's laughter echoed in his ears, low and cruel.
"It's done," she said. "Now leave before anyone sees you."
Wardell nodded, adjusting his priestly robe as he turned to go. The witch's presence faded, her task complete. Yet as he walked down the hallway, the faint scent of rot clung to him, a reminder of what he had done.
He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the wave of guilt rising in his chest. This was for the greater good, he told himself. To secure his future, to prove his worth.
But as he exited the school, leaving behind the faint cries of Lili's brother calling her name, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd crossed a line he could never uncross.
