Chapter 218: The Order Of Warlocks
S-Sacrifice? My body shook in horror. The Order wants to sacrifice my baby?
I sucked in breath, gripping my bodice tightly.
"The Endless is yet to be born, and time is of the essence. Patience was never the foundation of the Order."
Corvin was suddenly next to me.
"You carry the Endless in your womb; they won’t wait until the cries are heard."
"I’ll be the sacrifice," I mumbled in a gripping realization that unleashed a state of terror within me.
"Correct. The Order might already be here to claim their prize."
Did he come to warn me? Is that why he’s telling me all this?
He was exposing everything about this Order. He may not belong as he claimed, but he was still a warlock.
I peered at him from the corner of my eye, forcing myself to speak even though the words felt heavy in my mouth. "You said you’re neutral."
He sneered. "Yes. Do you question that? I won’t blame you if you do, but I stand by my words. You asked your question, although exceeding the five, and I answered honestly."
"You said it yourself, my baby’s future is shrouded in mystery, with endless possibilities. You may have desires that might endanger my child."
"Magic has weakened, the craft has lost its meaning. Sacrificing the Endless to bring back its strengths is a bit old-fashioned for me. I believe the Endless is not worth existing just to be sacrificed."
He walked to the window where the moon shone, hands resting on his cane as he sighed heavily. "My time is up, I must leave now. Beware, Mother of the Endless." He struck his cane on the floor. "Faces are not what they seem."
Corvin was gone, leaving behind no traces. I stood motionless, my expression blank.
I didn’t know how long I lingered, grappling with everything Corvin told me. I shouldn’t trust him. He could be part of the Order, and simply came to confuse or lure me.
What should I do?
I was more confused than I have ever been, and I’m shaken by everything I heard. I thought I was dealing with an intruder, but this was far from what I’d imagined.
Warlocks.
Order.
Corvin claimed they could be here already. If he could easily slip through the borders, then the others could too. They could be close by or even within the castle grounds already.
My fist clenched tightly until I could feel my nails digging into my skin, but the pain was numb to me. Corvin claimed I cannot speak of him, but that doesn’t mean I cannot speak about the others.
"Eloise! There you are, I have been looking everywhere for you." Diana hurried to my side. "Are you alright?"
I wish I could say yes, but I can’t. I didn’t know what to do except just stand there like a statue.
"Eloise?"
I set my eyes on Diana, who smiled widely.
"Is something the matter? You look pale."
I opened my mouth, but the words hung. I didn’t even know where to start.
"Well? Is there something you want to tell me?"
"You wouldn’t believe me if I told you."
"All the more reason to tell." Her smile got wider, making my skin crawl. I wonder how it could stretch that much without hurting.
"Are you okay? You were just as drained by this night’s event as I was."
She shrugged. "Maybe it grew on me."
"I find that hard to believe."
"Do you?" She placed her hand on my stomach, eyeing it like she could see through it. "How far along are you?"
She should know that.
"Now you’re just being funny."
She giggled, stepping past me, and my eyes followed her movement in puzzlement.
With her hands behind her back, she observed the paintings as if for the first time. "You must have a lot on your mind. Do you feel pressured? What a silly question to ask, certainly you do."
She’s acting strange.
"Did you have something to drink? Don’t tell me you took more wine than you can handle. I recall your tolerance is just as low as mine," I said, amused, trying to lighten the mood.
However, there was no bratty comeback from her as usual.
"To have such a great purpose upon your shoulders. Wouldn’t it be glorious if you met that purpose and found peace?" She glanced my way, and her eyes were so dark I could barely see a hint of light, and her smile was wider, reaching her ears.
Faces are not what they seem.
Corvin’s works rang in my head, and a cold chill seized my spine all the way to the back of my head.
"Why don’t we go back to the Ball? The others will be wondering where we are," I began softly, keeping a fake smile plastered on my lips.
"Are you sure? This place is much quieter and private. It’s good for the baby." She dipped my gaze to my stomach almost like she wanted to open me up and see within.
"We don’t want to keep those elderly ladies waiting. You know how chatty they are. They keep asking about my health. I’m sure they will come looking if I take too long." With each word, I was closer to the door, my heart pounding in my chest and slowing me down.
"Yes, they worry about you so much," she giggled,
My pulse raced and panic filled my lungs, but I did my best not to show how alarmed I was.
That was not my Diana.
I grasped the door handle, and like a surge of sensation, I felt the very jaws of death behind me.
The door yanked from my hold and slammed shut by an unseen force, and a loud clank filled the air.
"Why the hurry, Mother of the Endless?"
My entire body went stiff, yet I found the courage to turn when I heard whooshing sounds. I gasped when I saw who stood was no longer Diana but a man wearing a white mask that was identical to Corvin’s.
"That’s unfortunate..." He spoke in his masculine voice. "Did Corvin the Black get to you first? That traitor."