Chapter 49

"Mrs. Red," I heard a familiar voice behind me. Turning around, I found Valarie, still not aged a day. She looked the same as she did when I first arrived here. "Do you need some help with that?"

Narrowing my glance to my hands, I realized I needed help with getting inside the dress Jacqueline picked out for me. A part of becoming a Queen was to dress modestly and always classy, even when one was a witch.

"Yes," I released my breath along with my stomach while laughing quietly at how much I had gained. Turning to the mirror, I slapped my hands over the table. "I just don't understand. I barely ate anything over the few weeks in England and I was dead for a couple days so this weight gain is surprising."

Valarie came behind and zipped the dress down before bringing the rim off the sleeves towards me. "You might be pregnant."

I almost jumped out of my skin upon hearing that one word. "That would be amazing." However, I didn't want to give myself hope until I had started seeing symptoms.

"Perhaps it would be, especially for Fiona." She tightened the corset first before plopping on the dress and it fitted me just right.

When I looked at the mirror, my face was rather red with holding my breath for the few seconds Valarie tried to push me into the dress. It was a beautiful one, gray colored, corresponding with the storm that was going to arrive in Lunaris when I went there.

Valarie picked up the coat that came along with the dress and she strapped it around my neck. The cloth fell over my shoulders, keeping me warm. I slipped my hand underneath my hair and pulled it out from the back, letting it flow freely. There wasn't much I could do with my hair as it was fried with the dye I shoved in it a few weeks back.

I lowered down to the chair and asked, "How was she? All these weeks?"

Valarie took a sharp breath before pressing the powder on my face and underneath my eyes where my bags stood out the most. "She was happy but often ran to the roof to look for something. I suppose she had an idea that you two were going to return from your journey one day and she'd be standing right there, to see you."

My eyes flickered to Valarie while a smile crept on my face, "Really?"

"Yes, Mrs. Red, she's growing and she knows who her Mother is."

"Oh," I placed my hand over my chest and wept out of joy. My daughter was comfortable here. She remembered nothing of her past or the days she was taken away from me.

And she knew who I was.

Once ready, I went down the stairs to Luciano who was standing and waiting for me by the end of the stairs. His eyes locked with mine and I shied away, hiding the lust of last night.

Yesterday. It was one of the memorable days of my life and I wished to repeat it again and again. For a minute there, I felt happy, alive and loved. There was no worry in those twenty four hours but when the day went by, all the worries returned and I was back being terrified and anxious.

Luciano pulled his hand out at my direction and I took it before taking the last step down the stairs.

"Is everyone coming along?" It looked like that.

Anna was slouching over the couch with her mini dress and Ben was checking her out. Jacqueline and Cordelia were prepared as well. However, one wasn't—Vincent.

"Father will be staying here and looking after Fiona along with Valarie. The rest are going." Luciano replied after a long minute.

When Anna saw me, she stood up, raising her hand, "Me too! I'm going." She exclaimed, her dress running up towards her thighs. "Don't worry, I'll seduce any witches that do not agree with you becoming the Queen."

I shared a little laugh with Luciano before turning my eyes away from my sister. Where did she even get these ideas from? Where!? How?

A stream of cars followed us when we left the town. As per Luciano, it was protection against anything we were going to face. The witches were a fool to think I was coming alone and all vulnerable to their magic and demands. I needed people by my side, not only against witches but also against Lisa and Damon—the friends that turned into enemies.

It was a long drive to Lunaris so we left early in the morning. I did remember to share my goodbyes with Fiona who was probably having her breakfast with her grandfather right now.

"Do you plan on talking with Lisa?" Luciano asked me between the ride.

I turned my attention away from the window and glanced at him. "Of course." I said, my voice hard and brisk. "More like arguing with her."

"Don't kill her."

"I wouldn't go as low as that, Luciano." I frowned at him for even thinking that.

Lisa may had the horror inside her to kill my grandmother but I wasn't going there revenge. I didn't want to kill her, just settle things between us.

We arrived in the gloomy, witch town after a couple of hours. The sounds of our arrival rang across the town and people hid away. The parks, the gardens and ponds were empty. The streets and the roads had a few people on it. We didn't have any problem reaching Holbert Mansion—Gretel's house and the house of witches as well.

Jacqueline had informed the council earlier that we were arriving and they were prepared for us. Upon entering the house, a servant greeted us and took us into near a door. I presumed it was the meeting room, where the council was gathered.

The servant raised her finger at me and then at Jacqueline, "Only you two are allowed to go inside. The rest of you will have to wait."

"Bullshit." Luciano grunted and came in front of me before reaching the handle of the door.

The servant muttered a spell but before it could take place, I stopped it.

"Inceptictum." Jacqueline interrupted, throwing the servant away from us. "We do not take orders from anyone around here." She continued, fury in her eyes.

Why wouldn't anyone be angry? The witches, these witches, they controlled us for years and forced their decisions upon us. We weren't going to take any of their bullshit.

Luciano pushed the door open and a hundred witches came in our view. The room was a meeting room as I assumed. The witches were gathered by a large wooden table with a trunk fixed over it. My gaze flickered around, turning to everyone.

The witches were seated, except for one. Madeline. Gretel's right hand witch. She was the same woman I defeated before the solar eclipse. Defeating her showed Gretel that was powerful enough to leave and complete her task. It was the only way out of this miserable hole.

"Great to see you again, Red." Madeline said. "Although, we didn't expect an audience."

"An audience is what comes along with me." I stepped forward and into the room while the rest followed me. My gaze turned towards Lisa who was seated among the witches. "Is this a human council or a witch council?"

Madeline turned her head around, "Lisa is a part of the council, take it or leave it."

I scoffed, "Pfft."

There wasn't much I could say as Jacqueline's hand fell over my shoulder and she stopped me from attacking Lisa any further. I was going to tear her apart.

"We are here now and as you can tell, Red is here to take her crown so hand it over to her, sweetie." Jacqueline said to the woman.

"Oh, it's not going to be that easy." Madeline replied.

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