CHAPTER 76: I WANT YOU

After purchasing a few more miscellaneous items, everyone returned to the mansion.

The sun had already started to set, covering the city in a chilling blanket.

As soon as she walked through the front door, Agnes froze upon seeing William talking to two priests. Among the two was a figure she was familiar with...

Father Augustus.

He was the same man she had met several times over the past few years. The man next to him was an older priest with more sophisticated clothing that showed his higher standing in the church.

"We understand your urgency, Lord Herbert, but—" Father Augustus stopped in the middle of his sentence when he saw people entering the house.

He turned to the bulky man before him and asked with a frown, "I thought you said that Lady Herbert was ill."

William was startled, but when he saw Agnes, he understood his confusion and awkwardly introduced the woman.

"Father Augustus, Father Nelson, this is Lady Inez Blackwell. She is a guest at my house."

’Wait, calm down. They don’t recognize me in this form, and now even my voice is a little different.’ Agnes forced herself to calm down and greeted the two men with a smile on her face.

She could feel her body turning cold from fear of being recognized. Fortunately for her, the awakening had changed her a lot, both mentally and physically.

"Pleased to meet you, Father Augustus, Father Nelson."

"Pardon my rudeness, Lady Blackwell." Father Augustus leaned in a bow as an apology. ’Why do I feel like I have met her somewhere?’

"Are you a noble, perhaps?" The older priest asked with a solemn look on his face. His expression was not something the situation warranted but something he always put on.

"Not at all. I am just a businesswoman." Agnes kept her replies short before excusing herself.

"I will go back to my room; I have a lot of packing to do. While shopping, we found a decent place available for rent."

William wanted to stop Agnes, but realizing how stubborn she was, he just nodded and let her do as she pleased.

***

The maids placed everything Agnes bought on the bed and left her alone in the room.

’I have to act quickly and with care.’

When the door to her room opened again, Agnes stepped out of it in one of the new outfits she had purchased. This dress was less fluttery and more practical to move in.

It was a vintage wine-colored dress with white frilled collars and cuffs.

Without wasting a breath, she moved with purpose in the direction of the maid’s quarters. On her way, she saw a room with an open door.

When she drew closer to the room, she was able to catch sight of little Tess sleeping under the shade of a mosquito net in her bed.

Seeing the girl, she paused and thought, ’I want to help Tessa. She is so young; she does not deserve this fate.’

Ever since what happened last night, Tessa had been in low spirits and slept almost all the time.

’There is nothing you can do, Agnes.’ Jinn’s voice echoed in her mind.

They had yet to sever the connection between them since he thought it was best for him to guide Agnes through the plan in real time.

’After all, the one responsible for everything you have witnessed and all the cursed things that happened in this house was not something her mother was responsible for.’

Even though she already knew what Jinn was going to say, her stomach sank and her heart tightened in fear as the next words settled in her mind.

’She is the one who is behind everything.’

Agnes shook her head and corrected him, ’it is not her; it is the demon inside of him. Those foul creatures deserve to be burned alive with a red-hot iron rod in every inch and hole of their body.’

Jinn offered no retort, and soon Agnes calmed down as well. Many things change, but some things don’t, just like Agnes’s love and care for the kids.

In fact, Jinn never even thought Agnes was capable of thinking even cruel things like that.

"I am sorry." Walking again, Agnes whispered under her breath.

’For what?’

’I said those things about demon...’ Sensing the guilt and regret, Jinn realized what she meant and stopped her.

’You are mistaken. I am a devil, and demons are demons. They are lowly beings, servants of our kind. Besides, I’m not really concerned about other devils, let alone demons, so please curse away. I kind of like hearing you speak so unfiltered.’

Agnes dared not to say anything out of sheer embarrassment and quickened her pace. Soon she was outside the familiar room.

With careful movement, she opened the door and peeked inside. Only after she confirmed that the maid was alone did she step into the room.

Seeing her devastating state, Agnes calmed down and approached the bed. "We meet again."

This time, she did not want to have a one-sided talk, so despite what others thought or cared for, or the dangers she might be exposing herself to, Agnes pulled the cloth tied to the maid’s mouth.

"Haaahufff!" Once the gag was removed, the maid took in a deep breath. The glowing pus under her skin had already spread around most of the parts of her face.

"Do you want to die?" Agnes’s voice was colder than she intended it to be, but the maid surprisingly no longer shuddered or even showed any reaction.

She just lay there on the bed, with a resigned look on her face. A look only someone who had given up to despair had.

"Or do you want to live?"

Those words were like a tug of hope that pulled the light out of the darkness back into her eyes.

"W-what?" The woman asked with trembling lips. Instead of looking at Agnes like she was someone there to save her, she looked at her with wariness and distrust.

"They say you have been tainted by the devil. Touched by his foul breath. Even though we know none of that is true, they will not listen to a word you say."

Tears she did not know existed slipped out of the maid’s dried eyes.

Agnes slowly backed away from the bed and took a seat on the chair stationed in the corner. Her eyes never left the tied woman’s.

’What is this feeling of weird deja vu?’ Shaking off her thoughts, Agnes leaned forward and asked, "If I say I can give you another chance to live, what are you willing to give?"

What do I even have to give?

Why is she asking me this?

What if this is a trap?

What if she kills me after taking me away or does something worse?

None of these questions appeared in the maid’s mind. Her mind clouded by fear and her heart worn out from despair, she only saw one thing: the ray of light reaching out to her.

So she decided to hold on to it with everything she had. "Anything. P-please save me."

"What if I say..." Agnes paused before a smile appeared on her face. She leaned back into the chair, letting her hair sway, and said. "I want you."