46 Chapter 46: Her Solo Trip (1/2)

ELINA: I didn't take Simon Withstone's armor just for fun. I needed it.

It wasn't hard killing Simon. He was unsuspecting. Maybe he thought I was too beautiful to be a witch. He asked what I was doing out on the rough road with my husband. That life would be easier within city walls. Life would be enjoyable in Larose.

He had his hands on my shoulder. I didn't like that. So I killed him. Turned him to dust.

But I made sure not to damage his armor. Because I needed it.

I slipped out of bed. Put on the armor. Then left the room. Stood outside the room for a moment, see if Salem will follow. He didn't. Stayed where he was, breathing softly.

Good.

Quietly went down the stairs and out of the King's Lodge.

The streets were quiet. Deserted. Nothing and no one. A lonely gust swept the streets, like a cleaner who only worked at night, taking with it the grime in the air, the dust, the feelings of yesterday. When the people of Larose woke up the next day, they'll breathe in the pure air, feel at ease, and then all at once they'd get back to work, tarnishing what made them feel whole and pure.

I stood on the porch of the King's Lodge. Waited. There was nothing. Salem wasn't going to follow me.

Good.

I breathed in. Breathed out. Closed my eyes and focused magic to my ears. Far from Larose, I heard the emergency signal of witches. And now within the city walls, the cries of agony where deafening.

How annoying.

I put my hand to my throat. Focused a little magic there. Time to make my own signal.

I said, ”Quiet.”

A moment of silence. Then the emergency signal grew into a frenzy. The invisible howls echoed all over the city, the magic bouncing off the walls, like a thousand bullets ricocheting all at once.

”QUIET!”

The emergency signal faded.

I said, ”Only one of you speak. Tell me where you are.”

A faint voice sounded.

”Here, deep underground, oh great witch.”

I smiled. Flattery won't work with me. But I appreciate it.

”What part of the city are you in?”

”We don't know.”

I said, ”Keep speaking. I'll find you.”

Instead of speaking, the voice began a hymn. A few other voices joined. The choir glid across the rooftops, intertwined with the wind, touched my hair, my hands, leading me forward.

I followed the hymn. It grew louder with every step. It led me along the mainstreet, away from the shuttered shops, far from the King's Lodge. Eventually I entered a different part of the city. A part that didn't have many residents, didn't have many shops. What stood out was a stone building with a church spire on top of it.

Heh~

Is this the Church that hired Salem to capture me?

Interesting.

There were guards stationed around the building. The heavy wooden entrance was guarded by two men.

Breaking the windows would create noise. Killing all the guards quietly would be difficult.

But there was still a way.

I put my hand to my face and changed into Simon Withstone.

Simply walk through the front door.

I stepped out from the shadows and marched towards the building. Towards the door.

Made a salute, a nod there.

Walked past the guards and put my hand on the door.

”Hey you there, stop!”

I froze. Looked back. A guard had stepped up, his hand on his swordhandle.

He said, ”Who are you? Who sent you here?”

”Orders,” I said. Like that would explain everything.