Chapter 425: Chapter 425

"Her.... She’s the one I want. Was her name Ingrid? That’s a lovely name you gave her," She murmured, savouring the word like a drop of honey on the tongue. Then, after a pause, her wicked smile deepened, and she nodded,

"Yh, all three of them,"

The Timeless Witch added as if it was an afterthought, but the smirk on her face indicated otherwise, making the silence that followed suffocating. It was as if the air itself had thickened, trapping them in an unseen force. Aliya’s breath hitched as the Timeless Witch tilted her head, amusement flickering in those unreadable eyes. At first, a touch of amusement brushed past Aliya as she thought,

’Those Brats? That’s all she wants?’

Then she narrowed her eyes, ’I could care less about those three...’ But just as quickly, Aliya smothered the thoughts, refusing to let the cunning witch see through her, but who was the Timeless Witch?

’Is this a trick?’ Aliya asked herself because, from her point of view, it was too good to be true. It took a few short moments before it dawned on her,

’.... but I need those three for my next steps though....’ A frown creased her face, and the Witch took everything that in. ’What does she mean by the fact that she wants them? What for?’ Aliya pondered and couldn’t help but ask,

"What do you mean by the f-"

"It’s exactly as it means.... And I’ll that as an agreement. It was great doing business with you .... Or not."

Aliya watched, flabbergasted, as the Timeless Witch walked towards her patio, dismissing her words as if she was just air!

"... and oh..." the witch added as if an afterthought, making Aliya cringe,

"The fact that they are mine now means that they are off-limits to you. You know what happens when you touch something of mine, right?"

That annoying wicket smile remained on her face throughout, but she never raised her voice. Aliya was irritated and angry beyond reason, for she understood very well. Aliya would go against anyone in her life except that little old witch in front of her. The Timeless Witch remained passive and did her deals only, but she was something else when provoked.

For some tactical reason, all creatures tried to avoid her, except the greedy ones who paid prices that they always regretted later, but to her, they were just deals, and she got her time worth from each transaction. This was also why it was strange that she demanded the three and rejected Aliya’s time. If there was another reason for this, it was lost in Aliya’s emotions.

The thrill she had received from the days had all been dwindled to almost nothing!

The Timeless Witch left without looking back, as the smile fell of her face, replacing a calmness that was synonymous with the environment that she was in.

Gabriel rubbed his eyes and sat up on his bed, his tiny fists clenched the blanket as his eyes scanned the room.

His lower lip quivered, panic creeping into his chest when he realized he was alone. He had been used to room for a while but after Shelby had disappeared on them, an unknown part of him had been awakened. Gabriel thought that everyone would leave him and he was on edge. His small body tensed, and the urge to cry bubbled up like an unstoppable wave....until a memory surfaced.

"Gentlemen don’t cry," his mama had told him, her voice gentle but firm.

Gabriel sniffled, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill. His little hands rubbed at his eyes, and with a deep, shaky breath, he forced himself to sit up straighter, comforting himself with the notion that his mother would return soon. She always did!

Swallowing hard, he lifted his chin and clenched his tiny fists with determination, just like he’d seen grown-ups do. He would wait. He would be strong because gentlemen did not cry.

Just then, a rustling outside on the balcony caught Gabriel’s attention.

Gabriel’s eyes beamed like stars as he saw a young girl standing on the balcony.

He scrambled from the bed and came to the glass windows that separated them. The little girl smiled, her eyes twinkling with an unspoken promise, and beckoned to him with a small wave of her hand, when he stopped by placing his hands on the glass..

His tiny feet shifted forward instinctively, drawn by curiosity, but then ... Ingrid’s voice echoed in his mind.

"Don’t go out of this room."

Gabriel hesitated, remembering how scary Ingrid had been a few hours ago when she and Samantha had talked to him. His little fingers curled into the fabric of his clothes as he glanced back at the door behind him. For a moment, he was torn, uncertainty flickering across his face. Yet, the girl continued to smile, radiating warmth and patience as she waited.

Gabriel’s hesitation lasted only a few seconds. Without another thought, he reached for the patio door handle, pushed it open, and stepped out.

It never even occurred to him to wonder why he had never seen this girl before. Or why she was there at all.

"Who are you? I have never seen you before.... And why do you have that green glow? It’s so beautiful,"

The Timeless Witch smiled at Gabriel’s innocence,

"Wow! I’ve always wanted a friend like the one that Ingrid had back in the orphanage...."

"Hahahahahahaa... I doubt you want someone like that...."

"Well, you’re right. I heard that she went to the stars... Will you be going there too?"

Gabriel sighed in relief when she shook her head,

"I don’t want a friend who will go to the stars. Mum Aliya is already here, but I don’t like her as much as I thought I would, ... oh sorry, my name is Gabriel.... Just like the angel!"

"Oh, nice to meet you, Angel Gabriel. You made my day." The Timeless Witch stretched her hand for Gabriel, and he moved closer, smiling enthusiastically,

"Move away from her, Gabriel!"

Ingrid’s sharp voice interrupted whatever Gabriel had been about to say.

Ingrid had only been gone for a moment.

’I knew that I couldn’t trust Gabriel to stay put!’ she lamented to herself as she moved fast and inserted herself between Gabriel and the Timeless Witch, her small frame rigid with protective defiance. Ingrid’s eyes, sharp with suspicion, darted over the stranger’s delicate features, searching for something ... anything .... that made sense.

"Didn’t I tell you not to come out?" Ingrid snapped at Gabriel and took a few steps back, widening the gap between them and the witch.

"Sowwwwyyyy...." Gabriel lowered his head. He did not even put up a fight because he knew he had disobeyed. HE felt guilty but liked his new friend.

"How did you get here?" Ingrid demanded, her voice steady despite the unease curling in her stomach. "And what are you?"

There was no doubt in her mind that something was off. The girl was too still, too composed as if she had been expecting the question all along. The part of the estate she was in was secluded, and no one could circumvent the place, not to talk of a child. Also, Ingrid had been badly scarred by that Witch Helper incident, so she did not see his person as a child. No child could act that mature, and she just did not feel right!

Ingrid also knew that with the cloaking spell that Currey had placed there, not many people could breach it, but for someone to lure Gabriel out, spoke a lot about who or what that person was.

Finally, it was the way the girl’s smile barely wavered... it sent a shiver down her spine.

"Heheheee... you’re a smart one, I like you."

"Well, I don’t like you ... and you did not answer my question!"

Ingrid took another step back while maintaining eye contact with the witch, and then she said,

"Gabriel, get back inside!"

Gabriel dropped all playfulness and rushed back inside. He knew Ingrid well enough to know when she was serious.

The witch stopped and then rephrased her words, following how Ingrid narrowed her eyes,

"Your birth mother, Aliya, has generously bestowed you three to me-"

"That woman is not my mother, so whatever deal you have with her is of no concern of mine!"

This got the Timeless witch to raise her brows,

"Really interesting... but what can I say?"

She opened her palms and shrugged,

"Once a deal is done, there is no going back, and it’s in your best interest to take this one, little one!"

"I don’t care! That woman has nothing to do with us! Anyone who goes against Mummy is a bad person!"

Ingrid skewed her head as if now remembering that her initial question had not been answered and then asked,

"Are you hesitant to answer my question because you are the one hurting Mummy? Are you helping that woman?"

"Why would you say that?"

"I smell her on you!"

"Oh, this is getting interesting...."

Ingrid looked the Witch dead in the eyes and said, "I also want to make a deal with you!"

"You do? I thought that you did not like me?"

Ingrid hesitated at that but stood her ground and held her chin higher,

"Tsk... tsk... tsk.... Like mother, like daughter... You are a little different, though, and I like that, Ingrid."

Ingrid’s eyes widened in shock as she knew that she had not told this girl her name! The Timeless Witch continued,

"How did you even know to make a deal with me?"

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