Chapter 100 Lucy
Alex’s POV
She stands between my legs, as she rubs her palms together and starts chanting low beneath her breath. All of us in the room are quiet not wanting to interrupt her work. The air in the room starts to pick up as the wind tussles my hair a bit. I close my eyes as she places her fingers gently on my temples. Her fingers feel light, and she applies a very gentle pressure, suddenly I feel an electric hum as her magic touches my temples. I feel pressure buidling behind my eyes. It's not painful but it's like searching through my mind with an inner eye, opening a door that was locked.
Pausing her chant she murmurs “ Signore do not resist, resistance makes it harder to pick up their signature”
“I will try not to resist”I reply calmly letting out a deep breath though my mouth. I feel Luca shifting his hands on my shoulders, his presence ,solid calming, grounding me, helping me melt further into the sofa. Angelica is quiet as she continues to observe from her seat opposite me.
Slowly she starts chanting again he low hum fills the space. All of a sudden I see a vision behind my closed eyelids, memories of breakfast, me and Luca laughing. My first glass poured, followed by the second, then my third glass. I hitch a breath trying to catch the face but nothing.
“That's it” Lucy whispers “Can you please hold on to this moment?”
My heart starts hammering in my chest as I try to freeze the image .I feel a bead of sweat trickling down my forehead and I resist the urge to reach over and wipe it focusing on the image with all my mental strength “ I cannot see her face” I snap loosing my calm “He face is still blurry”
“Signore Alex, that was the aim of the spell” she replies gently “Memory altering magic will not erase all your memories but it splits them in blurry parts”
Her fingers press firmer into my temples and the image gets a bit clearer for a moment, then it's gone. A new one takes over one of the ladies brushes her hand against mine suggestively and clinks her glass with mine. Her voice is soft syrupy and way too seductive.
The art of seduction by a Jezebel
I feel my fists clench on my thighs instinctively ,And Lucy lets out a deep breath
“that's the second spell seduction magic”
I hear Angelica then “ Can you see what he sees?”
Lucy answers while keeping her fingers pressed firmly on my temples.
“ Yes I can see exactly what he is seeing now, the spells are layered . One was to lower his guard ,then to seduce him and finally to blur his memories. Whoever carried them out is very strong seasoned witch”
I let out a gasp as my fly eyes open ,Lucas hands tighten on my shoulder for a moment.
“ Like High council Level probably?”
Lucy pauses from the looks on her face she is conflicted between her high council and the truth
“Or any other witch with access to the libraries”
The room grows quiet as we ponder over her words. My stomach twists in tiny knots
as apprehension fills me once more.
“Will you be able to trace the witch or wizard”
Frederic flashing in the back of mind. He has
\-Reason
\-Power
\-Means
\-He is number one on my suspect list
“I will try” she answers honestly “The magic is strong so tracing it won't be easy, also there is one more thing”
I freeze for a moment “Did you see something else?”
She removes her hands from my temples and takes a step back “ The princess was the primary target not you”
Her words make my heart sink but I am not
Surprised after all, they don't know me I already suspected this.
Angelica huffs “ The princess? How do you mean cousin?”
Lucy looks at Angelica then back at me again “It's a trick to destabilize the princess. If she is isolated emotionally it will be harder for her to master her powers”
Something twitches in my chest painfully if that's the case the list of suspects just got larger.
\-All the council members are suspect a now
Luca curses under his breath “ So it wasn't about dishonouring Alex?”
She shakes her head “Not at all”
Lucy says “Signore Alex is just collateral damage I am afraid”
And we fell right into their trap. Alessia is now:
\-Angry
\-Bereft
\-Isolated
Panic surges through me as I raise quickly “If that's the case it's working”
Lucy meets my gaze her grey eyes knowing and calm “But for how long? It can only work if you let it”
Silence fills the room as I huff out a frustrated breath running my hand through my hair.
Exhaustion starting to cloud my eyes. “Whatever the case, we don't have much time we need to be there for dinner tonight. The culprits will be there watching and gloating”
Luca walks towards the chair and settles in “Yes that's why we can't miss it, we go, watch and listen. Let them think they have succeeded”
Angelica nods “ While Lucy continues to gather what she needs”
Lucy straightens “I will need to access your memories again Signore Alex, to make it easier to trace”
I tilt my head at her “Sure whenever you need to just say the word I say immediately” Before she can answer there is a gentle knock on the door and we all pause looking at each other. The knob is turned gently and Mara steps inside her eyes move around the room seeing the mess before settling on me Her eyes not giving anything away.
“Excuse me I did not mean to interrupt”
she says gently “We are about to serve dinner. The high priestess asks me to fetch you”
Her gaze falls back on me for a moment eyebrows raised but she says nothing and I dont explain the mess. The whole coven probably already knows and I don't owe anyone of these cold tricksters any explanation except Alessia and soon enough I will make sure she gets it.
I nod once “We will join you soon”
Mara nods her head then turns around and leaves shutting the door behind her .I look at each person in the room then paste a fake smile on my face “Its Showtime folks, lets give them one for the books “