13 Witches Cursed ADELAIDE

Chapter 9

Zahn and Adelaide's little escapade went unnoticed, even with the fire. Zahn had to move into the main house, since his normal lodgings were now charcoal. Aadin had not yet returned to the house three days later and Adelaide and Zahn had become as if they were strangers. Adelaide had tried to reach out to him, but he was nowhere to be found. It was if he was avoiding her. Adelaide knew it was the curse. Nothing had gone right since the moment they met and now his little home had been lost because of her.

Adelaide's fears would be unfounded, had she known what Zahn had been up to. He was beginning to think there were forces at play here that were not because of a curse, but rather someone intent on hurting them both and using the curse as a cover. Zahn was investigating this theory and had found more evidence than he imagined he would.

At the remains of his charred home, he found the remnants of a torch, a half charred basket and most importantly, a glass jar with flecks of burned fibers...which he thought may be the start of the fire. It had been poorly set, and was not the job of a professional. It was not the result of a curse either. Someone had set the fire and the intent was to kill them both. He was then reminded of the two ruffians who had attacked Adelaide. The one man speaking to his brother, telling him that he promised something to him before his brother killed him.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

His brother sending him instead of attending the wedding himself. The carriage, the fall off the cliff. The attack on Adelaide and now a second fire. All of them were intent on hurting Adelaide and all of them were intended to look like accidents. Accidents that could be explained simply because of the curse.

Zahn ran.

He ran until he got to the house, up the massive stairs in the house, ran until he barged into Adelaide's quarters unannounced. She was startled by his sudden intrusion.

"Pack." He said. "Grab whatever you need that will fit into one bag. Do it now."

Adelaide was scared. His face was fearful and she had never seen fear on his face. "What....what is going on?"

"We don't have time to talk. I need you to grab your stuff this minute. Do it Adelaide!" Zahn screamed.

Adelaide was shaking. If Zahn was scared then they were in trouble. She moved quickly, rummaging for a few of her special things that could not be replaced. She didn't worry about clothing...she could conjure what she needed.

At the height of the panic, Talla entered the room, carrying Adelaide's laundry that had been freshly washed. The moment she saw Zahn's face she panicked...throwing down the pile of clothes and darting out the door. Zahn chased her, dragging her back into the room. His hand covered her mouth and she was struggling.

"Zahn! What are you doing! Leave her alone! Let her go!" Adelaide screamed as she tried to release her maid from Zahn's rough grasp.

"Why did you set the fire? Tell me now!" Zahn yelled to Talla.

"What? Why are you asking her that? She didn't set the fire!" Adelaide said, defending her friend.

Just as soon as the words left her mouth, she saw Talla's head fall in shame. It was an admittance of guilt they were unable to overlook.

"Talla?" Adelaide whispered, shocked.

Talla began to cry...no, wail. She fell on her knees at her mistress's feet. "Please forgive me...please forgive me!"

Adelaide was stunned by the betrayal...so stunned she had to sit on the chest at the foot of her bed.

"This is unbelievable. How did you know Zahn?"