258 They were sorry
The girl looked at the amulet with confusion. But then it dawned on her that someone must have gifted the amulet to Hazel and she was giving it to.. Her! To protect herself.
She was risking her life for saving a maid like her. She felt touched but at the same time ashamed to care so much about her life when she had sacrificed so much.
"I.. I can not take this, my lady. I trust you that you will protect me.`` She shook her head and did not take the amulet from the hands of hazel.
"But if I die, I want you to help my family. They only have me to protect them after my brother's death." Hazel knew what the girl was thinking so she did not pressurise her anymore.
She even knew that the girl would not die, yet she nodded because she knew no matter how much she would assure the girl, the fear would not go away from her heart.
The carriage soon passed the capital and continued to run in the darker paths. The maid looked out of the window while her heart thumped fast in her ribcage.
"Umm.. why are we going so far away from the capital?" she asked in a low voice while a layer of sweat started to form on her face when it was already a windy evening.
"Witches can not hide in the capital. Most of them were captured and killed or were forced to work with Vincent to save their life.
You do not need to worry. I will only take you to those who are standing against Vincent in this war. But this couple did not like my husband too and are trying to kill him.
So, you can be assured.'' The maid did not know how it could be called an assurance when she was taking them to the witches who did not like her and wanted to kill her husband but looking at her calm face, she could only nod.
If worse comes to worse, she would run in the night when everyone would be sleeping and take her family far away from this place.
Soon the carriage stopped in a dark area. A ruined building came into view with a lack of lights, it looked like a haunted house.
"This.. this is the place?" the maid asked in a fearsome voice when Hazel sighed.
"Yes, i know, they should spend some money in repairing but the woman is too greedy and the husband is hopeless in front of her.'' Hazel shook her head as she opened the door and walked out of the carriage only to see that old witch standing in front of her with a lantern in her hands.
She was looking straight into the eyes of hazel with a cold look on her face when hazel coughed.
"I mean, she knew how to handle the matters of money well. Your silver hair and silver eyes suit you better." the maid who was standing behind hazel frowned. When she looked at the old woman, her hair was brown and so were her eyes. She looked like a normal old woman except the frown on her face that made her look like an evil witch.
"What.. what did you say?" The woman stared at Hazel with horror and then at Lucian who jumped from the carriage with cold and accusing eyes.
"You.. you spilled the beans to the wife of a vampire?" she could not believe him. Her whole body trembled with anger. She was about to beat him when Lucian hid behind Hazel.
"It was not me, as she said, she could see the truth." he spoke in a hurried voice. He knew that if his aunt would not believe him, then she would make sure that he would not be able to walk for a week with her spells and her hands.
The old woman frowned and opened her mouth to shout at him when his words finally sunk into her mind. She looked back at Hazel whose eyes were twinkling.
Hazel nodded to her unasked question which earned a gasp from the old woman.
"But how.. I have tested it personally.. You did not have traits of a.." she shook her head. The silver hair they had taken, she had checked so many times until it withered with experiments and could not be used anymore.
With that thought, she jumped and pulled hazel hair , earning a wince from her.
"Hey, you could have asked for it politely!" Hazel mumbled but as if the old woman could not hear it anymore.
She was staring at the hair as if she had earned some rare treasure. She took the hair in her palm and clenched her hands into a fist as she turned to walk into the inn without giving them another glance anymore.
"What.. What was that?" asked the maid, clearly horrified. Though she did not understand much. She was scared of that old woman who was glaring so hard as if she could kill through her eyes.
"Umm, I apologize for the actions of my aunt. She is a bit.. Well cranky and obsessed with things.
Come with me, I will take you to the sane people." he offered with a smile that let others feel better.
She nodded her head hesitatingly and followed Lucian and Hazel in. The passage was cold and dark but as the door of the building opened, she could feel the warmth of the place.
There were a bunch of kids playing in the hall who turned to look at the door when it opened again and when their eyes fell on Lucian and hazel. Their eyes shone and they ran towards her with all their strength.
"You are finally back. We have thought that you have forgotten about us." shouted one of the girls as she hugged Lucian while many took hold of hazel.
"And I thought that you were disappointed because of our behavior last time. We.. We are very sorry for not getting your intentions."