Unending lies

When I stepped out of Clark's car, I noticed Stefan resting against his car in the distance. I approached him and came to a halt in front of him. I was about to lash out at him when I noticed a young man in his car, and Stefan appeared to notice that I was gazing there.

"Oh, he's the witch I'm referring to."

Hearing the word "Witch" makes me feel even more guilty! I pulled Stefan away from his vehicle.

"What's with that look?", he pointed his index finger to my face.

“Did you kill Talia?”

I asked without hesitation, and he didn't seem to be startled because his expression was still the same.

"Yes"

My eyes widened at his answer. How can he say that as if nothing happened?

“Why?” I hissed.

"Because she’s a threat to us, and didn’t you tell me to make her silent?”

I slap my forehead at what he has said.

“Yes, I ask you to make her silent but I didn’t think that you’ll go that far! You could just erase her memory”

Why does he is making me feel that this is my fault?

“Because witches can’t be compelled. I don't have a choice, that was the best way to keep her silent"

I closed my fist tightly as I sigh. I feel like I betrayed Herone twice in a row, first by having an alliance with Dominic and second by killing her witch best friend who was just supposed to help me break the compulsion but now ended up dead.

"You. always. have. a. choice!!" I pushed his right shoulder using my index finger.

"And that was my choice. Celestine that's how I deal with things, get used to it. And by the way, welcome to our world"

He turned his back on me and walked away. I quickly wiped away my tears and followed him. Yeah, right welcome to the other side of the world where lives have no value.

I remained silent as we walked through Madforest and only Stefan and Andrew the witch was the only one talking. When we reached the spot where I buried the white brooch, we wasted no time and dug it up. Since Stefan is such a gentleman, he just let me and Andrew do all the work, what an ass.

"Wait"

We stopped digging and Stefan put his index finger to his lips while he was listening intently.

"Someone's here. Hide."

Stefan said but before Andrew and I could hide, someone stopped us, three girls with serious looks on their faces.

"What do you need?", Andrew asked them.

"You know what we need"

The woman in the center pointed to the area where Andrew and I were digging.

“Let’s make this easy, give that to us and no one will get hurt”

"I don't think so"

Stefan smirked at them and pulled me next to him. At the same time, the women raised their hands and spoke in another language. Suddenly we heard a loud sound and it was very painful to hear. The three of us shouted in agony as we covered our ears. Stefan tried to stand, but a woman forced him to fly away. Andrew, on the other hand, gradually gained his power and attacked his fellow witch, resulting in the unpleasant sound to stop. Stefan took that opportunity to fly the twisted wood to the witches. It landed right in the other girl's stomach, causing her to fall. Then with a blink of an eye,

Stefan snapped the head of the two remaining girls.

Andrew helped me stand up and Stefan threw us the shovels we were holding earlier as if nothing had happened.

Wow. Great 4 dead witches in a day.

We continued digging and when we finally got the brooch, we went straight to Stefan's old house here in Madforest. When we arrived, Andrew immediately prepared for the living room and I went out first while he was arranging things.

I sat on the stairwell outside the front door. I can't stop thinking about what happened earlier. Those witches died because of me, well, not literally but they were definitely looking for the white brooch that I hid. I let out a deep sigh when I felt Stefan's presence, then he sat next to me.

“Stop overthinking things you can’t control”

I wish I could do that, but I feel like I’ve been doing things wrong.

Stefan suddenly took my hand and put it on his lap then he took something from his pocket. He took out a bracelet and put it on me.

"This will protect you from any compulsions"

After he attached it, he removed my hand from his lap as I stared at the bracelet.

"Yeah, it will protect me from you"

"I'm sorry about that. It’s just that---"

"You don't trust me. I get it."

I cut him off and I noticed that he was staring at me seriously.

“No, I just don’t want you to be put in danger because of me”

When our eyes met, I immediately averted my eyes then I cleared my throat.

"So uhm. Where did you get that witch?" I tried to change the topic because I feel awkward.

"Andrew is Robin's friend."

"Who’s Robin?

"He's my brother"

I looked at him because I was a bit surprised that he is now saying his brother’s name.

"Your brother's name is Robin? So, what you're batman now?"

He smiled and shook and I just laughed for no reason.

It's good to see him smiling.

"It’s done”

We both turned to Andrew who was holding the white brooch.

-----

After Clark and I made a wish, then we released the lantern together. It's just sad that our families aren't here to celebrate with us. When I can no longer see the lantern, I turned to Clark.

"What did you ask for?", I asked my cousin.

"I wish that everything will be alright."

I smiled back at him and rested my head on his shoulder. After the event, Clark and I went home because we don't feel like talking to anyone who will just ask us about our family.

"About the white brooch"

I stopped as I climbed the stairs and looked at Clark.

" They already located it and they sent some witches to get it"

I swallowed hard and I can feel some sweat coming out of my body. The brooch is already cloaked, there's no chance they can find it right? Or there is? If something happens to Andrew the spell will be gone.

“Have you found it?”

I asked nervously. Clark removed his jacket and turned to me.

“They said it was in the Madforest, my mother already deployed three witches to get it”

I tried my best to hide how surprised and nervous I am because those girls won’t be coming back anymore since Stefan already killed them and if they found out they might do some investigation.

“That is why you need to be careful that white brooch is filled with dark magic, whoever stole it might be dangerous”

I nodded while avoiding his eyes. Guilt is slowly eating me inside.

“You should rest”

Clark taps my shoulder then I went to my room.

Am I making the right decision?

-----