Twilight Witch

Chapter 27

I travelled back to Zolona and Echo, eager for their help. To my surprise, Cora held several pieces of fabric as well as a notebook. The fabrics were teal and lime in color, blinding my eyes in blends I wasn't used to.

Cora held the notebook, showing a faint colored pencil drawing. "How did it go?"

"We found a secret room," I said.

"This castle has no secret rooms," Zolona said.

"Then explain the huge silver door in the west hallway," I said.

Zolona raised an eyebrow. "There's never been a silver door there."

"As I said, new room. It's filled with all kinds of books and..." I began.

"Anything else?" Zolona asked, shrugging off the question.

"Dusk thinks Mara was a part of the murder. He's insane," I said.

Zolona looked at me sternly. "She talked with 4758 before the attack. She also hasn't been here. She might've been involved."

"Mara wouldn't have done this!" I clenched my jaw.

"Yes, but she can really be underhanded sometimes. There's really no telling," Zolona said.

"I trust her with my life!" I said.

"If Raven trusts her like that, we should give her the benefit of the doubt. We just don't want Dusk to bother Mara to the point where she hurts him," Echo said.

Zolona nodded. "That could be a strong possibility."

"Mara wouldn't do that unless he struck first," I said.

"I doubt it will happen," Zolona crossed her arms, "But it might."

"How was the training?" I asked.

"Zolona says I'm a natural, but I sure don't feel that way," Echo said.

"But you are a natural," Zolona said.

I smiled and gripped a knife in my jumpsuit's holster. "Only one way to find out."

Echo's eyes widened. "I'm not fighting you."

"Come on, Echo! Are you afraid to fight a girl?" I asked.

"I just don't want to fight you," Echo gulped.

Zolona raised an eyebrow. "I thought you weren't scared of her."

"I'm not," Echo said.

"What are we waiting for?" I picked up a staff from a nearby table. It was blunt, so it'd be a good choice.

"Don't go easy on him, Raven," Zolona said.

I chuckled. "Trust me, I won't."

"This will be clean, got it? First one on the ground is the loser," Cora said.

I was surprised to see his sword met my staff.

"Not half as bad as you thought?" Echo asked.

I took two steps back and lunged at his chest, but he avoided-- refusing to defend with his weapon.

"Smart move," I said.

"Echo, you'll lose balance if you don't use that blade correctly," Zolona said.

"Sorry," Echo said.

"Try something else?" Zolona asked.

He attempted to mimic my attack, but he was still jabbing at me rather than gliding through. His pitiful mistake.