The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

RAIHANA ~

"Here... I can feel something here," Delsanra murmurs. I nod, looking around at the ground, which doesn't show any signs that it was once a witch graveyard. There is nothing that shows signs of witchcraft, as if someone didn't want anyone to know. We begin taking out our supplies, working quietly with only the sounds of nature and the ominous silence of this place surrounding us.

"Ri."

I look over at Delsanra, seeing the concern in her eyes as she observes me. She has been the sister I never had ever since she and Rayhan found one another. Since the beginning, we were inseparable. After Chris, she is the one who knows me the most.

"Are you sure about this?" she asks me.

I nod. "I am, but if you don't want to, I don't want to force you -"

"I'll do what I need to. This isn't about me. I just want to make sure you're sure about it."

"Yeah, I am. Thanks, girl," I say as I finish sprinkling some ash and herbs on the ground. Delsanra is lighting the candles as she places the crystals needed on every point of the star.

"Who will give us a name?" she asks.

"Ahren."

She smiles as if she should have guessed it and nods. "I should have figured that out. Is this what he was doing?"

I shake my head. "No, he's just sending me the list. I don't know what he wanted to do, but I think it was something to do with those working on the barrier.

But I asked him if he could do this for me."

"I see. I'm glad he wanted to help and not just go off to whatever he is always up to. I swear sometimes I feel like he's working on something else... like things he just doesn't share. He's growing up, and I can see there's more than mischief in his actions. They're all growing up, all of our children, and in a world that is becoming terrifying. I worry for them." She tilts her head, pausing for a moment and giving me a smile.

I nod, and she looks down, sighing softly as she continues to draw a few smaller symbols, her eyes glowing red. She's in her demon form, a form that is otherworldly and extremely beautiful.

"So do I, but we're here for them, and we will do our best to protect them and prepare them for the future," I answer as I step back, allowing her to draw the symbols on the final two points.

They're forbidden symbols that must be drawn by her in her blood. I can feel the darkness she's channelling. Feel the air around us becoming colder, darker and that deep sense of unease settling into the pit of my stomach.

A reminder that this is a dangerous move.

"We will. I heard from Yum Yum that Leo wants to change the law to state that all children must remain in school until at least the minimum age of twenty-one to push their training to full capacity. Visit Job ni b.com to read the complete chapters for free. If you are not reading this novel on Job nib.-com, some sentences are incomplete. He's changing the very system that Alejandro created these schools for, but I get it, even though it's scary."

Uncle made these schools so our children didn'tthese schools for, but I get it, even though its scary

Uncle made these schools so our children didnt need to hide in human schools, so they could be themselves and learn how to use their strengths. A place where no one needed to abstain from sports because they were too strong or worried they'd be found out. I look up at the now cloud covered skies and nod. "! thought he might. Leo is not just schooling them, he's creating an army out of them.*

My eyes meet hers and she nods, turning her head sharply as a black puff of smoke appears and Ahren lands on his feet.

My heart skips a beat. It's the second time I'm seeing him in this form, and it always chills me. I've never seen anything like it... but he quickly transforms back to himself and flashes me a cheeky smile.

"That witch is a mean one. And she's grumpy," he says with a dramatic sigh before he holds out an old scroll.

"I'm taking it she didn't give you it," I remark. He shakes his head. "Well, I'm sorry I had you steal."

"It's not stealing, just borrowing..." he trails off, his eyes sweeping over the ground.

"Alright, you can leave now," I say as he looks up at me and then at his mother.

"I think I'll stay. Just in case."

"Just in case what?" Delsanra says.

"I already know you are using dark magic. Which you shouldn't be. So, I'm staying." There's a finality in his voice that makes both Delsanra and I exchangelooks.

"Don't go using that alpha tone on us. Stay back then." Delsanra scolds.

"Sure, but think we can take a selfie, Mama and son in our true forms?" He winks.

"Ahren!" Delsanra scolds, but smiles at him. "Ok fine, but let's get the answers we need first."

"Deal," he says before he steps back and decides to sit down by a tree and takes out an apple that I have no idea where he got and bites into it as if we aren't about to summon a dead witch's spirit.

I look down the list, and I can easily tell which ones were the strongest from just their blood that was used to write their name... I go down the list. I'm going to have to choose wisely. Someone who would have the answers....

I finally stop on one from around eight years ago.

It's harder to summon the longer they have been dead.

"Kalendra Isabel Esteren..." I exhale slowly.

"Alright, so that's the one?"

I nod. "Yeah," I answer, tossing the scroll back to Ahren, who catches it and pockets it.

Delsanra flicks her hands, and all the candles.

suddenly burn bright, and only then do I realise how dark it has become. My eyes scan the surroundings as she begins whispering a spell, most are words that make no sense to me. Darker spells that Endora made her learn, spells manipulated and created by Endora herself.

I see the glimmer of pain on her face as she keeps chanting, her hair defying gravity as it flows slowly around her. Her heart thunders, her feet braced, her arms spread. I hear her whisper the witch's name in her words before her head snaps back and I feel a surge of power.

Fire suddenly surrounds her, and I am forced to step back, the intense heat and sheer power swirling around us. It grows higher and higher.

"I, Delsanra Diana Silver, summon you, Kalendra Isabel Esteren, to give me the answers that I seek from you. Come forth, daughter of Hecate, and answer me!" Her voice is deeper as it resonates from all around, strong, melodious and mystical, yet one that holds true power.

The sudden whispering that surrounds us makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Feeling the unease that we have caused the earth, but just when I feel it's getting too much, the flames subside slightly, and the hazy white outline of a woman made of smoke and light appears with the fire.

"I am Kalendra Isabel Esteren, daughter of the light.

You have used dark magic to call me to the land of the living. One that I am not meant to dwell in. What do you want?" Her anger is clear, and I think I can make out burning green eyes, but I am not sure.

Delsanra looks at me. When we entered the graveyard, I did share what I wanted to ask them.

Knowing they will only answer to her.

"Forgive me, though I need not ask for it, but I had no choice. You are of this land, of this island, where now only one witch remains. Tell me why the land of the sons of Roja, which should be rich with witches, is not? Tell me why this place is not blessed with the protection of magic- of witches, to protect their Rey Carmesí?"

She's silent as she stares at Delsanra, her demeanour shifting. As predicted... and as I hoped, she is one of the ones who was loyal to her island and king. Now to see how true my prediction is.

She opens her mouth, struggling, almost as if she doesn't want to answer, but she has no choice.

"Because it was a witch hunt, headed by the one who was thought to be the most loyal to the El Rey Carmesí of my time, he betrayed him. A command was given to spill the blood of every single one of.

my sisters. To destroy us all in the hopes that our king will be weakened."

"Who betrayed him?" Delsanra asks.

"Until now we do not know his name because he' ironically had magic on his side." She frowns and I glance at Delsanra. Every second of keeping her here was harmful to her.

"Why did they want to weaken him? To kill the Djinn?" Delsanra asks.

I watch the spirit carefully as she shakes her head." If it was that, I would have died happy," she answers bitterly.

"We need to ask the right questions," I murmur."

What was the name of this Crimson King?"

I need to know exactly which of Enrique's ancestor's time she was alive for.

"Answer the question, what was the name of El Rey Carmesí who was betrayed?"

The witch glares at me before answering her. "Yamil Escarra."

We need to check Enrique's family tree as soon as possible.

"So, on purpose, someone wanted to weaken Yamil.

Escarra. Tell me what you know about the guardsmen?" Delsanra asks.

"They are the protectors of El Rey Carmesi. We called them the leaders of the wolves of fire. They have the ability to create armies of wolves who hold magic, too."

"That we know, as long as the king holds the Ash Stone."

"Correct."

"And if he doesn't, what can they ask for?" I ask crossing my arms.

"I do not answer to you," she hisses.

"Answer the question. If the king does not possess the Ash Stone, what are the consequences?" Delsanra snarls.

I frown, I can see it's draining her, she won't be able to keep her for much longer, and watching how the witch smirks I can tell she's delaying. She chuckles and I turn sharply to see what she is finding amusing, only to see blood dripping from Delsanra's nose. "Del!" "I'm fine. What are the consequences?!" Delsanra snaps, her voice icy.

"What do you mean? Why would they ask for something? They are created to serve their king. The Ash Stone is simply something to unlock their full potential."

Delsanra and I exchange looks. Then where did all these misconceptions come - Hugo? Everything we know came from him... he has to know more.

"And can a guardsman betray and defy their king if it means to protect him?"

"They are created to obey him, and unless he is poisoned, which they all are by the djinn, then yes his hold becomes weak-"

The flames burn higher and Delsanra lets out a scream as she falls forward. Ahren is suddenly in front of her, catching her as the graveyard is plunged into darkness.

"Mom!" He lifts his hand, and I can see blood. Guilt and worry rip through me as I rush to her side and instantly whisper a healing spell.

"I'm fine..." Delsanra groans. She's back in her human form again.

I feel a glimmer of relief, but don't stop performing the spell, my mind spinning with what we havelearned.

So, if anything is possessing the king, like a djinn, their command is not absolute," Ahren murmurs." But Enrique isn't possessed, so how did that crazy woman get him to agree to make her his Luna?"

"D-did he even try to command her to stand down?" Delsanra murmurs. "Or was he made to believe he had no option?"

Both were possible but I don't respond.

Concentrating on Delsanra's heartbeat and only when I feel it calming and her breathing becomes stronger do I feel at ease.

"We didn't get much. I'm sorry I couldn't hold longer," she adds.

"You held on long enough. We learned more than enough. Thank you, Del. I know Hugo knows more and I want to know what he's withholding or why he lied. Secondly, we find out who Yamil Escarra is, and who betrayed him. Then we find out why they wanted the witches gone, and we know they were

working with magic. And we find out how and if the guardsman did defy Enrique or if he assumed it."

"I think that definitely gives us some answers and direction to work with," Ahren says, his voice void of humour as he brushes his Mom's hair back, a deep frown on his face. "How can I help?"

"We need to learn about Yamil Escarra. Think you could look into it?"

Ahren's eyes glimmer. "I think I can do that."

I nod. "Good. We don't have time. The Blood Moon is so close. We all need to work on finding these answers before shit hits the fan."

"I'm fine. I promise you that selfie someday soon," Delsanra murmurs as she sits up, smiling at Ahren as she touches his cheek. "And we need to find the link between the Crawlers in all of this," she adds.

I stand up and stare at the candles that have gone out.

"There has to be... after all, Kat said Enrique was able to destroy them. We are missing something, and I think that when we learn what that is, we might just find the entire truth."