Dante glanced at the half-eaten bread, its surface crawling with mould, lying on the floor and sighed in disgust.
"This stuff just ruined my appetite," he muttered under his breath.
Beside the rock-hard bread lay the corpse of a woman. From the stench alone, she had been dead for at least a week. Flies buzzed greedily around her, and Dante swatted a few away in irritation.
The more he waved his hands, the more aggressive they became, so he stopped trying and let them be.
He crouched beside her body, staring into her hauntingly open eyes in thought.
There was a prominent slash across her chest.
"This couldn't have been done with a sword…" he muttered, leaning closer. "No. It's too deep. This is—"
His eyes narrowed.
"An axe."
****
Kate clutched Leo's arm tightly, her eyes filled with desperation.
"Please don't go anywhere with this witch," she pleaded, casting a hateful glare at Elena. "She's leading you straight into a suicide mission!"
Elena scoffed and rolled her eyes.
She would question Aunt Kate about her origins later but that will be after she found Amber.
"Mum, Elena isn't a witch," Leo said impatiently, trying to pry his arm from her grip. "I've told you that already."
"You and I used to be on the same page," Kate snapped. "What has gotten into you? She must have bewitched you!"
"You and I both know Elena doesn't possess magic—"
"Yet," Kate cut in sharply. "Or she might be hiding it."
"I don't have time for this bullshit!" Elena snapped.
"Leo, let's go."
Her sudden aggression startled Kate so badly that she loosened her grip without realizing it.
Leo smiled sheepishly and waved.
"Don't worry, Mum. I'll be back before you even notice."
Kate stood frozen, watching her only son leave.
"I hope you never find that ugly friend of yours," she hissed. "She deserves to die just like her father!"
Elena stopped.
Her hands curled into fists.
No. She wouldn't let her aunt's poison get to her.
She took another step—
"And after she dies, her miserable mother is next. The entire Cedric family will be wiped off the face of the—"
A sharp slap echoed through the tavern.
Leo froze in shock.
"Don't you ever say something like that again," Elena said darkly.
Leo stared, stunned. She had been beside him just moments ago—
Then it hit him.
She had slapped his mother.
He rushed forward, pushing Elena away as he steadied Kate.
"Mum, are you okay?"
Kate clutched her cheek, eyes wide, then turned and walked upstairs without a word.
Leo rounded on Elena.
"How could you do that? You know how my mother is. You should've just ignored her!"
Elena said nothing. Her fists trembled at her sides.
"I'm talking to you, Elena—"
"Do you think your mother still has her powers?" she asked suddenly.
Leo paused, brows knitting together.
"Of course she does. Magic doesn't disappear with age."
"Then let's go."
She turned and walked out. Leo followed.
Their walk was tense and silent.
"What were you getting at earlier?" Leo finally asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You asked about my mother's powers."
"She's clairvoyant," Elena replied.
"I know. But her visions are unstable. She sees things, says things—"
"Sometimes," Elena interrupted. "But what she said today… there was truth in it."
Leo sighed.
Elena continued "She was desperate for you not to come. She called it a suicide mission. Then she said the Cedric family would die. She might have seen something without realizing it."
"You're reading too much into it," Leo said. "You know my mother. She's foul-mouthed."
"But she sees things."
"Sometimes. And they're rarely accurate."
Elena stopped walking.
"After we find who sent that bird, go back to your mother. I'll continue the search for Amber alone."
Leo stared at her.
"You can't be serious."
"We'll do this together," he continued firmly. "Whether you like it or not. People care about you, Elena. I'm not letting you risk your life alone. And after all this—"
He smiled.
"We're getting married."
Elena shot him a glare.
"Fuck off."
Leo chuckled as they approached a small, wretched building. It looked so fragile Elena feared it would collapse if a strong wind passed.
"We're here," Leo said. "Come on."
"Are you sure this place is safe?" Elena asked cautiously.
"Relax," he replied, scratching his head. "It's solid. I think."
He tapped the bag containing the bird.
"We don't have time. The scent won't last much longer."
Elena straightened, determination hardening her expression.
"Lead the way."
Leo smirked mischievously his back turned to hers.
"Yes ma'am."