CHAPTER 413: PUPPETEERS AND SUCH

There were three other people in the lounge room, but Morgana only had eyes for Katherine. The two of them sat facing each other.

One breathed easily while the other looked as though her bottom rested upon invisible nails. Arabella could tell which of them felt which way.

The stifling silence brought nothing good and so Persephone hastened to put an end to it.

"So? Are you going to tell us or will you just gape at the poor girl? Her heart can give out you know,"

"Let me Marvel at her sight, Persephone," Morgana’s voice was steady, her eyes sparing not a glance at anyone else but Katherine.

"Why so dramatic about it, my dear friend?"

"All the drama is for the simple reason that this young woman right here should be dead and done with,"

The gasp that had escaped Arabella filled the entire room and echoed back to their ears.

Her delicate hands wouldn’t let her brooch out of their grasp as her fingers pressed on the metal for an ounce of comfort.

But before anyone could ask more questions, Morgana took a deep breath and carried on, her irises boring into the open ones of poor Katherine who held her heart, "Like I said before, whoever worked on it knew damn well how to go about their craft. They left me no path to trace back towards them. In other words, they made no mistake, but...," Morgana’s pitch rose all of the sudden, "As complex and well made as their potion was, it still followed a bare bones recipe known to all witches,"

"What sort of recipe?"

Arabella had not yet seen Persephone so at the edge of her seat.

"The puppeteer’s potion," Morgana said simply.

"Why? Who would want to do that to me?" Katherine’s tongue untwined and blurted those words at once in a haste.

"Not you, my dear," Morgana corrected her calmly, "This potion was never meant for you,"

"I am no expert by any means but... If I’ve ever heard anything about the puppeteer’s potion, it’s its dedication to one single target," it was Persephone that had spoken again.

"Yes," Morgana nodded, her gaze still soldered on Katherine.

"Who... Who was it meant for then?" Arabella’s voice cracked, betraying her emotions.

"I couldn’t tell you that," the witch paused momentarily before adding, "I can tell it wasn’t meant for her due to the severe side effects she faced. Disorientation, memory flukes, time slips and full collapse of her circadian rhythm... Had I been here when it had first occurred, I would have clocked it without testing, but I only wished to make sure of my theory after the facts,"

"But you said she’s supposed to be dead," Arabella held her peace no longer.

"Why yes! If left untreated one of the symptoms happens to be death upon repeated use,"

"Repeated use?" Katherine’s entire body clenched, "So, Edna used this potion on me, not because she wished to control me but simply for the side effects,"

"No," Morgana replied almost immediately after Katherine, "I highly doubt that, but it remains a possibility," her head shook from left to right ever so slowly.

"Oh Lord!" Arabella cried, "It was me, wasn’t it? The potion was meant for me! Edna tried hypnosis to get rid of me before and when that didn’t work, she thought her better bet was to take control over me and guide me out of her life with her own voice," both hands clutched at her brooch as her eyes failed to meet anyone else’s in the room.

"Somehow, I highly doubt that as well,"

Morgana’s words made everyone’s eyebrow but hers rise.

"I thought you said you didn’t know who the potion was meant for," Persephone’s spine straightened further.

"I don’t know who it was precisely they targeted, but I can tell you it was a vampire,"

The silence that followed her words felt nothing like the one that had them by the throat before the start of their conversation.

The voice that broke it that time around belonged to the person that had remained completely quiet up until then.

Arabella’s eyes snapped towards her husband the instant he took his first breath upon opening his mouth, "It may have been meant for me," said Silas.

"If this Edna girl truly was in love with you as you claim, then yes, it is probable,"

"We still have to deal with the second rat among our ranks,"

"Silas," Persephone grunted.

He did not flinch once, "Is there a way witchcraft can help unmask them? They are, null doubt, part of our close circle and therefore it shouldn’t take long to shine a spotlight on them,"

He seemed to ignore the glare from his mother and the look of horror from his wife as well as Katherine.

Arabella’s eyes remained on him, ruminating on every conversation they had on the topic. Never had he been so adamant that the traitor was so close to them.

Did he suspect anyone in particular without sharing the information?

"Well, not exactly, but I am taking my precautions as we are having these conversations," the grin on Morgana did not put Arabella at more ease than she felt before.

Her stomach twisted and turned at the idea that he’d point the finger on someone they’d known. Someone they shared so much with without foundation.

She had a theory of her own. One that involved Allegra, but her heart still ached to even consider it.

"May I have more, please?"

Before more could be said between them, a small and sweet voice reached Arabella’s ears.

Not a few seconds had gone by until Ada crossed the threshold of the lounge room, hand in hand with Remus whose eyes glistened with light and life.

"I am afraid you will have to be a little more patient," Ada let out an awkward chuckle, "You’ve eaten all of what was available, and they have to make more of it first,"

"You shouldn’t be here," Silas’ cold voice ripped a shiver out of Arabella.

The young woman stood to her feet and rushed to take Remus’ hand, "That is alright. You may carry on with the conversation and brief me about it later," she smiled.

"My apologies, my Lord," Ada looked between all of them, "The boy was growing restless and wouldn’t settle down in any vampire’s company. I feared things would escalate," she grimaced an apologetic smile.