The Silver Witch's Mate

Another body

Once Sylvia returned to her room, she placed the heavy crown down on the table, feeling the weight leaving her head, she took a sigh of relief. It was such a hassle to have to wear this every time she went out. Maria quickly came to take it and put it in it's rightful place.

"My queen, may I ask the real reason you chosed those two young ladies? Their abilities are low and they might not be of much help to you" Maria asked carefully.

Sylvia paused for a moment before she turned towards her "Then... Do you suggest I chose someone from the spirit coven or someone from the circle sisters who will do nothing but spy on me and try to look for my weakness the moment I let them close?"

Maria sighed "I know most of the other covens in higher ranks are scheming but you still need to chose someone with real abilities my queen. Only then can you be protected properly"

"I can protect myself Maria. You don't need to worry about me" Said Sylvia, taking off the cloak from her back and the rest of her clothes as she got into the bathroom where she slipped into the tub while Maria came to stand next to her.

"Even I am aware of your powers but you know how they say, no matter how strong you are, there's someone stronger out there. In that case, don't you think its better you take people who you can tap powers from if--"

"Stop it, Maria" Sylvia gave her a stern look and she gulped "I already made up my mind. If I encounter a stronger enemy, then so be it. I either be killed or be captured" It wasn't like she cared about dying anyway. She sighed.

It didn't take long for her to finish her bath and she retired to sleep.

...

The sky was dark and an almost full moon hung above her.

She was staring at a person's body lying there in the cold floor, a person very familiar to her and slowly, she moved forward. He was still in his wolf form and had his eyes closed. Blood gushing out from so many places. He was not dead yet but she knew he would die for real soon. This realization made her body start to shake as an intense pain spread through her. Perhaps, if this was days back, she wouldn't care about his death but not now. She didn't want him to die just yet.

She wanted to hold him in her arms but just as she took a step forward, she heard a loud noise and immediately, smoke filled everywhere. Thick heavy clouds of smoke that covered her vision and made her unable to see anything. So she ran forward blindly to the spot where she had seen his body just now but that spot was empty, the body missing. He was not there.

Sylvia held her chest, breathing out heavily and saw some two other men whom she knew approaching her as the smoke slowly dissipated.

"Where Is he?" They asked, looking around and one of them caught the cloths lying on the floor.

Sylvia hurried to take the clothes from him and she recognized it as the clothes he had been wearing before he changed. She couldn't comprehend what was happening.

Taking a step forward, she looked around and noticed something on the ground, some parts were covered with sand and she bent down to pick them up but she froze when her hands touched them. Gulping, her heart began to beat fast in her chest as she slowly picked up the iron looking things. They were claws. His claws. The iron claws!

...

Sylvia woke up with a start. A shrill noise rang in her head and she held it. She was used to having thesame dreams every night that she wasn't surprised anymore.

She got down from bed and approached the window. As she opened it, she saw the bird that was on it fly away. It was early morning and the day was just starting to break but this day was not like any other day. She will be setting out on her mission to find the so called Iron Claws who she strongly believed was a copy cat. The real one was dead! Or perhaps she just wanted to believe that.

A knock came on the door and Maria came in. They prepared for the day and as usual, Sylvia didn't have her breakfast with the others. It was served to her in her room. They finished and both got out. Sylvia walked down some stairs and then entered the corridors. Moving to enter a room with double doors. She was dressed in nothing but plain clothes, surprising those who were in the room.

"What? Why do you all look so surprised?"

The two girls she had picked were inside along with her god sister, Racheal and someone else whom she didn't think was suppose to be here.

"Gerald? What are you doing here?" She asked him.

Gerald's jaws clenched as he looked away from her and answered with his head bowed a little "I'm going with you"

Silence followed for a while before Sylvia slowly step towards him. Although she was dressed in plain clothes, her aura did not leave her. That aura that warned not to get too close if you don't want to be damned. She arrived in front of him and Gerald was not afraid of holding her gaze. Her sharp eyes pierced into him and for a moment, he wanted to turn away but he held himself back knowing what she was like.

Sylvia's lips parted to say something and Gerald thought she was going to refuse right away. She hated it when someone does not follow her order but she surprised him by blinking and tilting her a head a little to the side as she she looked at him "Okay" She uttered and his eyes narrowed.

She walked away from him and faced the girls who had their hands folded at their front in nervousness. Sylvia could see in their eye that they weren't willing to go on this mission with her. Of course they were scared and probably already bade their families a goodbye like it was their last time.

"I expect you have both prepared a plan"

The two ladies glanced at each other and Sylvia could tell that they hadn't thought out anything yet.

"I'm quite disappointed" She said and turned around to face Gerald "Do you have anything?"

Gerald stepped forward "I found out where he is rumoured to live. If we can find our way there then we have a chance" He added "A tiny one"

Sylvia nodded and turned back towards the girls. "We will be stepping into the werewolves territories. I'm sure that sounds scary to you so if you do not want to be burnt alive, use your head and make sure you do not get caught"

"Yes, my queen" They both agreed.

"Did you prepare the scents?" Sylvia asked Maria and she nodded "I packed everything you will need"

Sylvia trusted her so she didn't bother checking those things but just then, a knock came on the door and a woman rushed inside, breathing heavily.

Sylva frowned as she approached her "What's wrong Lillian?"

"Th-they..." The woman tried to breathe and Sylvia had to wait until she got back her breath "They found another body!" She announced and a gasp erupted from behind her.

Sylvia's gaze hardened and anger brewed in them. Fine. Since you want to play this way, i'll make it my life's mission to destroy you!

Seeing the woman's expression, she could tell it was someone important that has been found.

"Who was it?" She asked the woman who now began to cry.

"Madam Kate" Lillian replied in between breaths "She was found inside the forest this morning" She looked up at Sylvia "She was killed last night"

A coven leader.

Sylvia's eyes narrowed. Madam Kate was someone she had seen just last night. Except she had gotten out on her own, there was no one who would take her from this walls. The werewolves or other beings weren't able to step into the walls of the witch palace as it had been made and surrounded with wolfsbane.

Then how did she die? Why did she leave the palace walls last night?