.
Lucas wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad thing that Belle did back in the town. According to her, she had identified the black witch by her nails. It was one of the easiest ways to know if the person was a human or someone who belonged to the darker side of magic. There was something that gnawed at the back of his mind.
Not everyone was able to identify witches. To be able to spot a black witch, it was a rare talent.
"If I may ask, Miss," Lucas spoke to Belle, gaining her attention from the tea to look up at him, "Did you speak to the witch about anything else?"
"I wanted to search if there was any book or if anyone had spoken about the land of the dead," she gave him an awkward smile to which he didn't react, "So I asked her if I could get some historical books. Books that belonged to the first generation of the pureblooded family…"
"Let's be glad that you didn't ask about the witches," Lucas commented, "Is there something else that you spoke to her about?"
"I asked her if she owned the library and she said she did which of course is a lie. And there was something written on the wall behind her. It said something about whoever goes there will die."
Lucas gave her a nod and then asked her, "Would you want me to bring you more biscuits?"
"No, that will be all."
From the patio, Lucas then heard Barron's voice, "I know the librarian. She is a black witch and the magistrate your vampire princess reported to is a corrupt man," chuckled Barron, "I cannot believe you spoke to her about the land of the dead. This is why a mere reaper knows nothing."
Lucas ignored Barron's words. Bowing his head, he left the room.
A few minutes later, Lucas took his leave from the mansion itself and went to the town that Belle had visited. He neither stepped inside the library nor did he step inside the magistrate. Keeping a distance, he kept his eyes on both the witch as well as the traitor magistrate who was hosting the black witches in the town.
Usually, Lucas ignored things like this as it didn't interest him but this time he wanted to check himself on what was going on.
If it was going to be something that didn't concern him, he would let it go but if it did, then people were going to die. One of the best parts of the souls was that once a person died, they often forgot what their lives were like after the shock of death waving into their bodies. Some remembered to only forget in the end.
It was the words that he was interested in, after some time, he finally decided to step inside the library to be greeted by the black witch. Like Belle had said, the librarian appeared to be very much a witcher. Probably this witch wasn't hiding her true self well, thought Lucas to himself.
"Welcome to the library, how may I help you?" she asked him.
Lucas looked around the library to find not a single person who was in here. It was deserted and quiet and somewhere not far from where he stood, he could smell death. A person who was probably killed by the black witch.
He looked at the woman, giving her a smile to ask, "Could you call Mr. Simps?" he looked behind the woman to notice that there was no writing as Belle had mentioned.
"Mr. Simps?" asked the witcher.
"Yes, the man who owns this library. I was asked to pick up some of the books from him," Lucas said to the woman.
The woman smiled back at him with the same vigor to reply, "I am afraid Mr. Simps isn't here today. He has gone on a vacation. Didn't he tell you?" she gave him a perplexing look.
"Is that so? How strange. He definitely told me the date today which is why I am here. The books need to be delivered to the council," everything worked in the name of the council. At least that is what he had come to pick up when he was working as a reaper. At the mention of the council, he saw how the witch looked a little irritated before the reaction hid away.
"Maybe I can help you? What kind of books is it?" the witch asked already making up plans to kill this one who was asking for the owner. It was never good to keep people like him out when he was openly asking about the owner. The black witch had made sure to silence any troubles and she would do the same with this man.
"The case was red in color with strapped belts around it. It must be placed in his house. I suppose if Mr. Simps didn't give you the house keys you might not have access to it," he could see how the witch was trying to get him out of this place, "But that's alright. He often gives his keys to the woman next door. I am sure if we ask her she would be kind enough to spare the key for a quick moment."
"That's alright, I have the key, Sir," said the black witch, she put her hand in her pocket to pull out a black key, "Please follow me," she said starting to walk and he did just that.
By now both Lucas, as well as the black witch, had built a castle of lies, one going after another.
The black witch went to the back door and she used the key she had been using to unlock and then push the door open for Lucas to step in but the man gave her a polite smile,
"Ladies first."
The witch gave him a tight smile this time, she took a step inside the room that was attached to the house and Lucas followed her in to see the lanterns lit in here which was a pa.s.sage. When they stepped into the house, the black witch turned to say,
"You said the book was re-" and she noticed the man who had been following her had disappeared from sight.
