.
When they left the mansion, Belle couldn't stop but release a sigh of relief, "I don't want to meet that thing again," she said not bothering to peep outside the window and wave her hand at the switcher, "Why not tell the council about it?" she asked Lucas.
"The council is the most unreliable place right now," said Lucas to her. One because there were already corrupt people in there, there was a reaper who was helping and then there were switchers, "If word went out that it was you who found it, we will soon have another ma.s.s murder in the mansion. What did the switcher say?"
"Nothing much except for the fact that it wanted to be me?" to have another person like her, she couldn't imagine it and she didn't want it, "Lucas...I still don't know what my purpose is. Is it to deflect death? Am I supposed to save people? But you spoke something about the b.u.t.terfly effect."
Unconsciously, her hand touched her neck and then the chain that she wore around her neck to realize what happened, "They can't handle silver," Lucas looked at her, "She hugged me but it burned her neck. I don't think the switcher knew about it either."
"I will have to ask the church to create the silver bullets for the switchers," Lucas could understand the unease and the loss of direction she was feeling, "You might be part of the alignment of stars but that doesn't mean you stop living your life and live in the moment of saving the world," he offered her an understanding smile, "We just create ripples, milady and with everyone trying it the ripples will turn to waves. You don't have to worry about the alignment of stars if you don't want to."
"It is too late to say that," she smiled back.
Lucas didn't want to say she could go back because she was needed to drive through the whole process of the prophecy but at the same time, he didn't want her to have more heartbreak than what she was feeling at the moment. Lucas had no option but it didn't mean he wouldn't give her one.
"My parents were killed for no reason. Turning a blind eye to what is going on in the world will only invite more death, isn't it?"
He gave her a nod before placing his hand on her head as if meaning to pat her and said, "You did well," Belle leaned closer to his touch.
Belle did grow strong, thought Lucas to himself. The Harriet's as expected were useless and were only following the words of the switcher who had taken their form of the daughter while it was the switcher who was meeting the witches. Like the witches, the switchers were desperate to live in this realm and prey on the others.
"Let me take you to meet someone today," he announced that had her wonder where he was taking her. The carriage traveled away from where the switcher was residing to stop after a while. This time when Belle stepped out of the carriage, she stood in front of the building that read with the board 'Edith's dance cla.s.s'.
Curious she followed him inside the building.
The receptionist who was working on something at the desk looked up when she heard the sound of the footsteps and her eyes widened at the man who entered. Not because she knew who he was but because of the way he looked. Her eyes then s.h.i.+fted to look at the girl who had come to the dance cla.s.s she bowed her head to say,
"The dance rooms are closed as they are being cleaned. The next cla.s.s will be taken tomorrow," she informed, her eyes looking at the handsome butler.
Lucas smiled at the young lady who felt her heart melt with that small action, "We are here to meet the instructor. We would like to add some more routine to milady's existing schedule."
The receptionist nodded her head and got up from her seat, "Please follow me," she smiled at Lucas while ignoring Belle's presence. They walked down the stairs that were lit with the torch of fires on the wall. The more Belle followed, the more she realized how different the place appeared to be as if it were not part of the building.
The lady knocked on the door, and said, "Milady, there are guests who want to meet you."
"Send them in," came the voice of the woman who Belle recognized to be of the dance teacher.
The receptionist opened the door and closed the door behind them.
"Cross," the woman's eyes narrowed looking at Lucas and he gave her a pleasant smile. The woman looked at Lucas as if not expecting him.
"Afternoon, Edith," he greeted her.
Belle's eyes darted back and forth between Lucas and the woman who used to teach her how to dance. By their greetings, she could tell that they knew each other. Why did the woman call him 'Cross'.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here," she said and her eyes then fell on Belle and she smiled, "I did expect you," Belle felt even more confused with the woman's words.
Before she could question, anymore, Lucas introduced the woman, "Belle, meet the oracle Edith. She's the one who read and wrote the prophecy for the black witches."
Belle remembered the last words they had exchanged and she realized the underlying meaning in those words of the woman.
"Please take a seat," said Edith, and Lucas pulled the chair for Belle that had the woman note at the simple gesture.
The woman then spoke in a whisper that barely moved her lips where Belle didn't hear a word that was spoken,
'To think you would be here out of the all place. There are people searching for you.'
'I know,' Lucas replied in the same whisper.
Lucas smiled at the woman which Edith found to be strange because she knew him for years and this person never smiled.
