Chapter 96: Chapter 96

Chapter 96 Lies

LUCIUS' POV

I turned my head around to see who said that. I did not expect to see what I saw next.

It was a lady with a cloak floating in the air.

'Am I seeing what I'm seeing?' Neal asked through the mind link.

'Is that a witch?' Maia asked.

'I think so,' I replied.

'I thought all the witches died during the great war,' Maia said.

'I thought so too,' Neal added.

'I don't know either.' I replied.

"Yea, I am a witch. Before you get ahead of yourselves, don't get fooled by my looks. I know I look so hot and young, but I am old and experienced. I can kill you all with a snap of my fingers, so be wise," she said as if she read our mind.

"You are the one who cursed me?" I asked.

She floated right next to Uriah and stood there.

"Technically, it is not just me. Right, Uriah?" She replied, looking at Uriah.

Uriah looked at her with confusion.

"What?" Uriah and I both asked at the same time.

"Have you forgotten, dear? None of this would have been possible without you. You were the key to all of this," the witch said.

"What are you talking about, Tatiana?" Uriah asked.

Tatiana? Why does her name ring a bell, but I can't remember where?

"Why don't we do a proper introduction first, huh?" She asked.

Everyone looked at the witch as we waited for her to continue talking.

"I know you all might be wondering how a witch like me survived the Great War that killed all of my ancestors and the people of my coven," she began, glaring at me.

"Let's just say that I am a very old and very talented witch. Before the head of all covens cast the spell that brought the death of our people, I cast a special spell on myself. Our leaders gambled our lives with your lives - all you nasty creatures of the moon. I lost everyone because of you!" She said, pointing her finger at me.

"Me? What did I do?" I asked.

"You were given a choice, and you were selfish. You are a heartless person who chose yourself!" She yelled.

"Me? Heartless? If there was anyone who was heartless, it was Lucia! What kind of sick person gambles with the lives of people? Yes, I was given a choice! Either I kill my Mom, or we all die. I know you were there the moment she gave me a choice, and you saw how it was tearing me apart. You and I both know that I did not know what would happen. I was also a victim, Tatiana. Just like you were," I explained.

"You could have begged her! You could have made her change her mind. I lost everyone I loved because of you and your mom," she cried.

"Why are you blaming my mom, Tatiana? You said that it was his fault. Isn't that what you showed me?" Uriah asked.

"What are you talking about, Uriah? What did she show you?" I asked Uriah.

Tatiana looked from me to Uriah as Uriah walked closer to her.

"It is your brother's fault. He killed your mom, which caused the death of the lives of all the witches as well. Don't listen to him!" Tatiana said, convincing Uriah.

"Me? Stop brainwashing my brother Tatiana! You lied to him. I did not kill Mom, Uriah. Whatever she showed you was not true. What do I even expect from a witch like you? Of course, you are just like Lucia. You sick, manipulator!" I spat.

"Do you have any proof, Lucius? It is your words against mine. Unfortunately for you, I have proof. You don't," she scoffed.

I was fuming with anger.

How dare she manipulate my brother and turn him against me?!

"Why are you doing this, Tatiana? We both know that I was a victim like you. There is no point in getting revenge on me when I did nothing. Stop with all your lies!" I exclaimed.

"I will not stop until I get my revenge. You have no idea how painful it was to lose everyone I had in my life, all my friends, family, and my fiancé. I lost them all because of all of you," she spat.

"Stop blaming me for something that was not my fault, Tatiana. Blame Lucia! She did all of this. It is time you accept that your leader brought death to all the witches. It was never our fault. Wolves are innocent victims," I said.

"Stop! Both of you, shut up!" Uriah yelled.

I looked at Uriah, and he had tears running down his face.

"Just stop," he whimpered.

I wanted to approach him and comfort him, but I couldn't.

"Uriah, you have to believe me. I would never do that to our mom. You know how much I love her and how important our family is to me, so please don't believe the lies that she told you. She is trying to turn you against me so that we would fight each other, and one of us will end up doing her dirty work for her. Don't let her do that. I know deep down you care for me, and you know that I would never harm our family," I said, trying to convince him.

I hoped that it would be enough to convince him to doubt Tatiana.

"Uriah, my dear, are you going to listen to your brother's words alone?" Tatiana asked.

I stood there, thinking how I could get Uriah to wake up from the truth. He had been angry at me for so long just because someone brainwashed him and led him to believe that I killed our mom.

'Lucius, you have to break Tatiana to break into Uriah. She has brainwashed him and manipulated him really well. The truth has to come from Tatiana herself,' Maia suggested.

'You are right, but how do I break her?' I asked.

'She is still hurt. Use that to break her walls. Talk about her loved ones. Let her feel the pain again,' Maia said.

I thought for a couple of seconds with a question that could make her feel vulnerable.

"Tatiana, do you think your mom would be proud of what you are doing? Breaking the bond of brothers, ruining other people's lives, and cursing them for something they did not do?" I asked.

She looked at me with her eyes filled with tears. Her lips were quivering as she tried to stop herself from crying.

"What would your mom tell you right now if she saw you?" I added.

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