Chapter 104: Chapter 104: YOUR NEW BABYSITTER

VALORIA WILDEROSE

I can’t tell if she’s pulling my leg or telling the truth. But she stares at me so intensely I’m unable to doubt her.

So Elowen was a wolf, and she’s lived almost as long as Azrael. The lore of this world just keeps expanding the more I find out about Azrael’s past.

I’m hit with a subtle feeling that I might never truly know who he really is with a thousand years’ worth of past behind him.

I also don’t know what to do with this new feeling, knowing he turned her.

Did he beg her to become one out of some grand reason to make her stronger? Protect her? Is that some kind of pickup line he used to grab chicks centuries ago?

“I see the same fire in your eyes, Valoria. Burning brightly.”

Now I frown. I smack her hand away from my hair, snapping out of my daze.

“You and I are nothing alike.”

She smirks.

“We’ll see about that soon enough.”

She pulls away rather than attacking or killing me in one swift motion.

I imagined meeting Elowen again would mean instant death or another trick that would leave me debilitated, but she’s letting me go scot-free…

“Why are you telling me all of this?”

She pauses midway to the door, tossing her hair aside to look at me, her sleazy smile on her lips again.

“You think Azrael is helping you? Protecting you from the things that go bump in the night?” She chuckles mockingly. “But the only thing he’s doing is placing an even bigger target on your head when he’s no longer around you. I’m telling you all of this because the look of devastation from wishing you’d listened to me will be much more enjoyable to watch.”

Her smirk is even more unnerving.

Elowen spins around on her stiletto heels, walking towards the door again. This time she pauses to wave at me before stepping out and shutting the door behind her.

The tension also leaves with her, and I can breathe again.

I didn’t realize just how much she affects me until she’s gone and my clenching fists and tensed shoulders relax all at once, though my mind races with more thoughts than it had before.

Regardless, I push it all aside, refocusing with her gone. I remind myself that nothing else matters anymore. I need to stop letting words affect my state of mind.

Affect me.

Yet I’m so much of a hypocrite that I can’t help but think about what part Azrael has to play in all of this.

At this point I’ve mentally moved past deluding myself that I hate the man and he doesn’t affect me at all, but whatever this desire is remains unimportant.

Loyalty to the goddess and my freedom still come first. Nothing else matters.

I open the book in my hands, staring at the cryptic note written inside over and over again.

I reread the letters as if they can jump out of the pages at any moment or disappear, doubting the possibility that it was in fact meant for me to read.

But then there’s the fact that before I picked this book on deciphering ancient languages, it was covered in dust, which meant I’m the only one interested in it.

This could be a prank from Azrael.

But then it doesn’t seem like the kind of game he would play. He seems more direct on matters concerning his curse.

Elowen?

She has no idea I have an interest in the dagger. No one else does.

I give up on thinking and deciphering, deciding to just do.

I follow the instructions that come with the cryptic note.

Finding the fifth shelf on ancient medicines and the empty wall right next to it that has always appeared too naked, almost like it’s left empty on purpose.

I feel the wall, knocking against every corner until I stumble across a hollow spot.

Next I have to push in.

The space slides right in with enough pressure applied, and the second I let go, the wall space gives way, sliding aside to reveal a secret compartment in the wall—extremely dusty and old with thick cobwebs.

I can’t believe this is actually happening. It all feels like something straight out of a childhood fairytale—hidden compartments and secret clues.

I dig my hand into the dark filthy space, reaching out for the clue I’m supposed to find to believe whoever this person is, is on my side.

I feel around until the tips of my fingers collide with something.

I reach in and slowly pull out a book the size of a small yet sizably thick journal—cover made from animal skin and pages from some kind of ancient brown paper, thin and fragile.

And its contents: from the first page I realize it’s filled with information detailing the parts of the sacred dagger, the infamous god-killing blade, from the sharp blade to the gemstone attached to its hilt, and drawings and sketches about every simple detail.

I chuckle with disbelief, staring at what I have in my hands—this gem, now possibly a vital clue in finding the remaining pieces, sitting in the palm of my hands.

It confirms that the information is legitimate, and now whoever this mystery supporter is, they have my trust.

I’m struck by a feeling that this won’t be the last time they will reach out to me.

I close the space quickly, dropping off everything else I’ve been looking into back in their respective shelves, excited to begin groundbreaking research.

I practically skip to the door, wanting to run back to my room and lock myself in for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately that plan dies the second I open the door, and standing right in front of me is Eros.

Instinctively I shove the book behind me before he can see it, scared that somehow news of me finding something I clearly should never have seen finds Azrael.

Luckily his eyes hold the usual uninterest in whatever it is I’m doing in secret. It’s why he’s never bothered me since he granted me access to use the royal archives.

“Eros… it’s good to see you after so long.” I force a smile through my teeth, trying to act as natural as possible.

“Lady Valoria. I’ve been assigned as your new babysitter starting today,” he announces in a tone that describes how delighted he is about the arrangement to a T.

He isn’t, and it’s the first time I’m hearing of this. I raise a brow before my mind instantly shifts to Azrael, and it makes sense.

I sigh from frustration and guilt at dragging another unwilling person into this.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize empathetically.

“It’s okay.” He brushes it off with a sigh, probably used to the whims of his impossible-to-please master. “Now, where were we going? I will be escorting you from now on.”

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