Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Ora’s POV

“Mother,” my voice came out as a trembling whisper. She didn’t even turn to look at me; her gaze fixed on the scene out of the window. My heart pounded against my ribs as I waited patiently for her to turn around and look at me.

In the past, if I was patient enough, she would forsake her anger and talk to me again. But, not today. Today, she remained seated like a statue; ignoring my presence. I knew it was my fault but her indifference hurt deeper than her scolding. If she punished me; this intense guilt that was gnawing my insides would probably fade.

Rubbing my clammy palms on my trousers, I tried again, “Mother, are you alright?”

Zap! I was hit with a strong surge of energy. I staggered with the impact and a gasp left my lips. Holding the pillar for support, I said in a pleading voice, “You have to give me a chance to explain, mother…. I didn’t do anything deliberately.”

With a swoosh of her hand, she appeared right in front of me. She pinched my cheeks roughly and said in a voice dripping with hatred, “What is left to explain, you little brat! You have already destroyed everything.” Tears brimmed in her eyes as she continued, “Taking you under my protection turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life!”

Her words sliced my insides like millions of daggers. I gulped and looked into her eyes with a pleading expression, “Mother….”

This only flared her hatred even further. Releasing me abruptly, she snapped, “Stop calling me your mother. You lost that right the day you killed your sister.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks and a pained whimper escaped my lips. Dropping to my knees, I held her leg, “Mother, please don’t say that…. I… I didn’t kill my sister. She was killed by The Grand Magus.”

“Yes, she was the one who cast the spell to kill my daughter but you were the one who gave her the reason. So, you are the one to blame. Yes, you didn’t place the bomb that destroyed our mansion but you gave the information needed to carry out the attack and that is just the same.” Her voice grew louder with every word she spoke; like an epiphany of rising crescendo.

“Mother, I didn’t….”

“Don’t you dare try to lie to me, Ora!” She roared before I could complete my sentence. “Do you really think nobody knows about your association to that wolf boy!?”

She kicked me away and spat, “I will never forgive you, Ora! Never!! If you have even a bit of respect left for me, don’t try to meet me again. Your presence disgusts me.” With those words, she teleported out of the room.

Tearing my hair, I burst into a bout of heart-rending sobs. I don’t know how long I remained on the ground, sobbing and whimpering. But, slowly the pain, despair and grief turned into numbness; as if soul had been sucked out of me; leaving behind a lifeless carcass.

Sandy’s face flashed in my mind. If it weren’t for him, none of this would have happened. Dark and pure rage simmered in my heart. It flowed through my veins infusing me with the blind urge to take revenge. Sandy had made a huge mistake by betraying me. Now, it was time to make him pay.

Wiping off my tears, I teleported to the place I never wished to see again. The cold walls of the cave glared at me, taunting me with the emptiness; as if saying my life was just an endless void.

Valence had imbibed the walls of this cave with magic that tended to bring out a person’s worst fears. I had been here countless times. So, I was able to retain my sanity even with the plaguing thoughts haunting my mind. A normal person could even go crazy.

This was the reason Valence insisted on meeting people here. She liked them to be vulnerable.

With a soft crackle, she appeared in front of me. She looked as alluring as ever in her perfect get up; long flowing red gown, heavy make up and exquisite hairstyle. If I didn’t know better, I would have mistaken her for a noble lady.

“Ora! What a pleasant surprise! ,” She sneered, waving her arms animatedly. “I thought I would never see you again.”

I lowered my gaze and placed my right hand on my chest as a symbol of submission, “I am here to repent for my mistakes, Grand Magus. I will accept any punishment that you decide for me.”

Her long nail dug into my skin as she lifted my chin and looked into my eyes, “You should know better than to play games with me, Goldilocks.”

I looked right back at her, “I don’t know how to play games, Grand Magus. If I did, I wouldn’t have been so easily fooled by that wolf boy.” Pausing for a moment, I continued, “You were right, Grand Magus. Werewolves are not to be trusted.”

She released her grip on my chin and took a step back, “Seems like someone has betrayed my lovely Goldilocks….” Her voice was full of mockery, her gaze bore into me as if I were the most insignificant creature in the world.

It took every ounce of my will power to retain my composure but I managed to nod, “I was stupid enough to trust a werewolf. I told him about the Blue Icepeak and he used it to attack our coven.”

Her eyebrows twitched and her expression turned icy, “So, it was you….”

I dropped to my knees, “I never wanted to betray our coven. He lured me with the promise of love and I ended up trusting him…. I am really sorry, Grand Magus…. I apologise from the depths of my heart.”

“What am I going to do with your apology? Can it fix the damage?”

I shook my head, “It won’t…. please tell me how I can atone for my mistake….”

“There is a way but I am not sure you will agree to it….”

“I promise I will, Grand Magus. I will do anything…,” I begged in a desperate voice. She was my only hope. I had no idea what I would do if she turned me away.

Her gaze lingered me for a few long moments before she finally spoke up, “I want you to lure that werewolf who betrayed us. Think you can do that?”

Drawing in a deep breath, I nodded, “That should be easy….” I tried to keep my voice firm. Still, it trembled with a kind of anxiousness I didn’t like. Sandy didn’t think twice before betraying me. There was no reason, I shouldn’t do the same.

Grand Magus must have sensed my hesitation. She didn’t sound happy when she replied. “We will talk once you have handed over that man to me.”

With these words, she teleported out of the cave leaving me alone….