78 - The Prisoner Under the Hood

78 - The Prisoner Under the Hood
Chapter 78 : The Prisoner Under the Hood

Aniya backed away from the prisoner, her hands so tight in fist forms by her sides, she almost couldn’t feel them. Her heart was racing so loudly, it was all she could hear. All she could feel was fear, along with this wreaking sense of loneliness in her peril.

Where was Ikrus?

The prisoner moved to a sitting position but that was all Aniya could see. Their face was still greatly hidden by the hood and the rest of them by that black tattered cloak.

Aniya didn’t look away even when the prisoner went still again. Not when the prisoner seemed like they would be still forever.

She had questions but they felt too dangerous to be asked.

Then the prisoner stood up, slowly. For a moment, it reminded her of that intruding presence she had encountered and reported to Ikrus?

Where was he?

Where was he when she needed him?!

The prisoner moved closer and Aniya took a step back.

The prisoner was taller than she was. Seemed to be here on a mission. A mission to kill her.

“Who sent you?” She finally asked but that question did not bother the prisoner in the slightest. Instead, they hastened their steps, as if her words had reminded the prisoner that time was running out to do what they most.

Get her killed, by Ignas! She should have just stayed quiet!

Then her back hit the hall as the prisoner reached for her. Yanked off her veil. Aniya moved instinctively too and pulled back the prisoner’s hood.

Something chilling spread in her veins at what she saw.

Eyes completely black. A symbol on her forehead: a black moon surrounded by three black stars. A mole on left corner of her bottom lip.

Something about her felt so wrong, it chilled Aniya to her bones. Her hand snapped back to her side as if she had been burnt.

But the woman looked unfazed. Instead she held up her palm to her face, where on it, several intertwined lines had been drawn.

Was she making a reference to her scars?

This time around when Aniya spoke, her teeth clattered.

Maybe it was because of the dread in the air? That awful aura that clung to this woman like a stench? Was that the presence of death?

Her death?

“Who sent you?”

She should probably bargain? But what could she bargain with? She had nothing.

Ah!

But the prisoner just remained in front of her, staring intently at her scars.

Could she even understand her?

By Ignas, what kind of situation had she found herself in.

IKRUS! Her mind screamed for the only name that she knew could help but she only heard back silence.

The prisoner’s hand dropped to her side, she took some steps back, without looking away from Aniya. Then she slid a dagger. It stopped at her feet and Aniya grabbed it immediately.

The woman pulled out her own dagger, chanted something underneath her breath and Aniya felt something shift in the air.

The light in the dungeons began to flicker madly with every word. Strange presence seemed to creep around them. Everything felt wrong.

A WITCH!

Aniya gulped as she looked around at the dungeon, terrified. Her grip was shaky, her body trembling.

Was the castle going to collapse on them?

Was this the end?

Then she noticed the witch’s blade turning red then blade.

What?

Why did the woman need magic to kill her?

Or did she want to use her for another purpose?

Whatever it was, she was ready to fight it till her last bre
ath. For Arlo. For herself.

Thunder struck.

Then the witch launched at her.