Chapter 45

Glancing at Brooke and Hollie nervously, I followed the strange woman back into her shop. My nose crinkled at the strong floral scents of soaps and perfumes that filled the air. Delicately, I put my hand in front of my nose and sneezed loudly, blushing furiously. Didn’t this woman know how to open a window in here? I glanced back at the woman as she made her way around her counter and proceeded to lean over it while staring at me curiously. The more I stared back, the more I began to realize that I recognized this woman. But I couldn’t work out from where.

“Ahh, I do apologize my wee one,” Greta cooed sweetly. “The smells in here can be a bit much for the trained nose. You do get used to it in here. Now, what can I do you for?”

“You said you were expecting us?” Brooke butted in rudely, pointing towards Greta. “Do you even know who we are?”

“The question is, do you know who I am?” Greta sang sassily before giggling excitedly. “Everyone knows who you are. But do you even know who you are?”

“Yes, you’re Greta. Hattie told us that you may be able to help us,” Hollie answered sweetly, glaring at Brooke warningly. “How do you know who we are?”

“Of course, I know who you are. How wouldn’t I” Greta purred softly before glaring at Elena. “I think you know my daughter. She lives up in the Palace. Or did. Before she was ruthlessly thrown out by your boyfriend!”

“Oh, great!” scoffed Brooke sarcastically. “And I expect you are a bitch too! Just like your daughter!”

“Brooke! Davina’s your daughter!” I gasped in shock, finally realizing who Greta looked like. “Did you give Davina the Deadly Nightshade to kill my grandmother with?”

“What!? No!?” shrieked Greta angrily. “I don’t even stock Deadly Nightshade! Not since Davina’s father tried to poison me with it years ago. I had no choice but to stab him. It was self-defense. He was trying to kill me!”

“See!” Brooke chuckled happily. “Mother like daughter. Both of them are bitches! Carlton will be dicking you next!”

“Um, okay Brooke. That’s enough,” spluttered Hollie nervously at seeing Greta’s enraged face. “I do apologize for Brooke’s attitude. Look, I don’t mean to be nosy but we really need to find out where the Deadly Nightshade came from. Elena’s grandmother was killed by it.”

“I’m sure you already know that answer. Hattie has already told you,” Greta sighed tiredly. “Everyone knows that Walter’s weedery is the place to go for anything dark and dingy. And I’m truly sorry about your grandmother. It really is a nasty way to go!”

“We need to find out who is callous enough to do it to my grandmother,” I explained sadly. “Whoever it was left a note, saying that I would be next. This is why I need to find them. I need to keep my baby safe.”

“Davina is a lot of things. But a killer isn’t one of them,” Greta nodded sadly while glancing down at my growing baby bump. “I’m sorry to hear that someone has threatened you. But I don’t think it is Davina. You may have lost your grandmother, but I lost my daughter the day she was selected.”

“Hasn’t she come back to see you?” I asked surprised. “I thought that she would have by now, now that she is no longer tied to the Palace?”

“No, she hasn’t,” explained Greta tearfully. “She says she has her new life with Carlton or whatever that boy is called in his black Palace.”

“The Black Diamond Palace!” I nodded understandably. “Please, no offense but Davina isn’t the sweet and innocent little angle you think she is. She has done things in that Palace that has made people hate her. Trust me. She is very much suited to Carlton.”

“I believe you. I really do,” sniffed Greta slowly before smiling gently at me once more. “I want to help you. As a mother myself, I know what it means to protect your children. You will find your answers at Walters. I can assure you that. But be careful!”

“Be careful?” Brooke replied suspiciously. “Why? What do you know?”

“Nothing,” Greta replied shaking her head. “Walter is just as fishy and slippery as the waters his shop stands on. He will try to get something out of you first before he gives you the information you require. If I were you, being a woman, I wouldn’t go alone.”

“Thank you,” I grinned, grasping Greta’s hands in mine, shocked to feel how cold her skin was. “You’ve been a great help. I shall make sure you will be rewarded for your help. And I hope Davina, the old Davina that you knew, will come back to you one day.”

Smiling, I awkwardly let Greta’s hands go and stepped back. Glancing at Brooke and Hollie, who was staring at Greta suspiciously, I beckoned them to follow me. Hurriedly, we made our way to the door, eager to be out of this strange shop and even stranger woman. The little bell above the door tingled as we opened it, letting bright sunlight flood into the shop. Just as I was about to step out into the warmth of the sun, a loud rasping noise made us turn around and gasp in shock. Greta was standing in the middle of her shop, coughing and gasping for air as she clutched her throat with one clawed hand, while the other grasped a small wooden chalice. Her eyes suddenly stopped rolling and locked onto mine as a twisted grin grew over her face followed by a loud thump as the chalice fell to the floor, spilling its purple contents.

“Be careful, my princess as the end is nigh! The beloved knows and Thana is coming for you. It’s too late for me! This is my punishment for helping the Sunray!”

I gasped as in slow motion, Greta arched her back, resounding in a loud crack, a pained scream escaped her lips as she collapsed into a pile on the floor. Hollie ran up to the slumped body and felt around her neck. Gulping, Hollie stood up and looked at me, white as a ghost.

“Greta’s dead!”