Chapter-8

Giselda crouched over a flower hedge and emptied all the contents in her stomach. She wiped her mouth furiously and stood up. "Are you done?" She heard a deep voice ask making her squeal in surprise.

Regal stood five meters behind her with a bored look on his face. His sword which was strapped around his back gave a glint in the sun. His hands were covered by a pair of dark gloves. She stared at the cloak secured around his shoulder and his hair tied in a bun then looked away shamefully.

"Why do I have to answer you? What are you doing here anyways? Aren't you supposed to be with that woman?" She asked rubbing her hands on her dress in an attempt to fling dust from her dress. "I would mind my business if I were you." He replied coldly watching her suck in a breath which almost sounded like a scoff.

"I do not like how you openly disrespect me Regal." She said glancing sideways. "Neither do I hold any form of allegiance towards you so why should I respect you. Besides respect isn't imposed it is earned. Once you earn my respect don't preach about me disrespecting you in my face again." He added with raised brows.

"Anyways the Prince said I should hand this to you personally and he apologizes for not making it himself." Regal said handing her a red envelope with an imperial seal.

She snatched it and slipped it in her pocket. "I'll be taking my leave since my work here is done." He said walking away from her. He mounted his horse and with a kick to its side, t galloped away. She smiled to herself and made her way to the greenhouse.

******

A thick mist enveloped Hyacinth once she stepped into the underworld. The air was humid, and the smell of death hit her nostrils. She heard whispers and cries of agony as she maneuvered her way through the mist and also making sure to avoid any contact with any lost soul.

Even though she was immune to their mind manipulation she didn't want to experience entering oblivion. She stopped when she came across a pier with a boat which had a rope securing it to a small horizontal bar. "Welcome back Igris de Thanatos." A tall shadowy creature said standing beside the boat.

"I thought I've told you to refrain from calling me that Keres." Hyacinth said. "Pardon my rudeness young mistress." The creature bowed then spoke again. "I assume you're going the Queen of curse's domain." Hyacinth nodded.

The ride was a silent one and the only sounds distracting her from her tarin of lights were the cries of souls. An old cottage appeared in the middle of nowhere. The lights were on and Hyacinth saw shadows hovering around. The boat jerked to a stop and Hyacinth climbed down.

She walked in to the house and total darkness greeted her. The lights came on within seconds and a figure appeared before her. Th e figure had long white hair that reached mid-thigh. As if it had a mind of its own it flowed in the air with a glow. The figure milky skin which was unusual for a dead person. Her black gown hugged her curves.

"Welcome Hyacinth Igris Arae de Thanatos!" Hecate exclaimed, her eyes beaming. Two skeletons appeared behind Hecate and took hold of Hyacinth by the shoulder. They dragged her to the lounge room much to her dismay.

Hecate on the other hand had a please look. She took a seat and eyed Hyacinth. "Oh my child what brings you here!" Hecate finally asked. A cup of tea appeared in her hand.

"I thought I told you to refrain from addressing me by my full name. I'm sure you put Keres up to it too." Hyacinth said watching a mug float to the table in front of her. She looked between the mug and her great grandmother. To think the woman before her caused a great misfortune- she looked too ethereal to have done it. And to think she was the exact replica of Hecate was a mystery.

She felt Hecates scrutinizing gaze on her especially coming from her third eye- it sent chills anytime it moved in its socket. "What nonsense have you done to your hair! You're tainting my great name child." Hecate said with slight distaste.

Her cup clinked on the saucer. "Your great name has made my life a living hell Hecate." Hyacinth shot back in anger. Hecate's expression turned cols making the room chilly. The place became dark, and Hyacinth felt the house vibrate at her Great grandmother's fury. She had to hold her seat and set a barrier to protect herself from flying objects.

"I won't tolerate disrespect from you Hyacinth." Hecate minced out forcing Hyacinth into submission with her aura. "I'm sorry great grandmother." Hyacinth mumbled. I don't have time for this. Tell me what your question brought you the land of the dead." Hecate sighed rubbing her temples.

Hyacinth let out a sigh of relief and spoke." The curse on the Royal Family tell me everything about it." Hyacinth said stretching her cup for a refill. Even tea in the land of the dead tastes better than at Cassien's.

Hecate paused, perhaps processing the abrupt question. "I've told you all about what more do you want to know." She sighed placing her cup down. "It's affecting me too great grandmother." Hyacinth said eyeing her. "I thought as much." Hecate muttered to herself and stared at Hyacinth.

"The curse was supposed to affect Helio's first great grandson because of that idiot's mistake." Hecate said with a strange look on her face. Hyacinth could see the longing in her face. It was sad even in the land of the dead she couldn't have him out of her mind.

"You haven't told me what he did to deserve the curse." Hyacinth said lowly. Hecate snapped her head to Hyacinth. "Talking about it ruins my mood, makes my blood boil and makes my tea bland." She grimaced clenching her fist then relapsed to silence.

Hecate ran her fingers through her hair. "Remember the black dragon heart I told you about." Hecate asked her Hyacinth nodded. "The one supposed to give infinite power and supposed to be passed to the next chosen one?" Hyacinth added remembering the countless times Hecate mentioned it.

"Yes, yes. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to harness its power." Hecate sighed and placed her cup down. "Humans and witches have never been at peace because they feared us. They fear the power we wield. Look at the things we do; mind manipulation, reversing time, controlling the weather and even the power to bring the dead. I mean why won't they fear us."

"Because of this feud we had with them my coven and I signed a peace treaty with the then Crown Prince Helios. You know how they crave our power, those filthy creatures!" Hecate spat in disgust.

" I was the guardian of the black dragon heart and because of my friendship and love that I had for Helios I told him about. I even swore an oath to never tell a soul it- a foolish mistake I made.

"How foolish, I thought he would make me queen." She said coldly. "Helios on the other hand coveted its power and wanted to become invincible but what I didn't tell him is anyone who uses it becomes corrupt. That's the one thing I do not regret. You see it has to choose you- you have to be worthy if its power."

"So, what did he do? He stole it and killed my people with his army breaking the treaty. I still remember the cries of agony of my people. I had to flee." She shook her head reminiscing the bloody war.

"Because I was struck with pain, I cursed his entire generation. I cursed all his heirs from his son to his great grandson- basically all his male heirs. They won't live past the age of thirty-five and they'll live their lives as living corpses. It would start with their heart which would rot away followed by their brains. His heirs will rot alive- the pain they'll feel will be excruciating. Not only that the blood of his heirs will be food for the undead and demons."

Hecate said grinning. "The antidote is simple hell need the first white haired witch after me and that's you. White haired witches are rare and come after every century." She ended sipping her tea casually.

"How does that affect me?" Hyacinth asked. "I don't even know what my curse is, but my powers are blocked- I can't have access to it fully. Faust is my reservoir of magic, and he cannot shift to his true form because of my predicament." She complained staring at her shaking hands.

"But you have gotten yourself fine vessel my child." Hecate shrugged. "How do you even know that?" Hyacinth asked dubiously. "It's hard to keep my eye on you from here but I can see that mark on your wrist. Word of advice, don't fall in love with him- I made the same mistake and so did your mother." Hecate smiled softly.

She gave Hecate a look. Why would she fall for Regal? "Have you perhaps been in contact with Helios's descendant?" Hecate asked seriously but when she got no answer she spoke. "I entwined your souls together with activating magic. I'm sure the first time you met him the curse activated."

"Tell me do you hate now?" Hecate asked her. "Not really -I don't know. I have a neutral feeling for him." She answered at her lap in deep thought then snapped her head to Hecate. What did you do?"

"I can't tell you that as for your power fluctuations it's because of..." Hecate paused then shook her head. "I can't tell you that either I'm under an oath. What I can tell you is find that black dragon heart. I don't know where Helios hid it. Find it before the humans do." She added with a frown.

"Mother is the one who put you an oath to it right?" Hyacinth asked quietly and Hecate looked away. "Well find it before the humans do, and someone is waiting for you so leave my domain now." Hecate tilted her head and raising her hand, and eye appeared on her forehead. It glowed red and a force paused Hyacinth out of the house.

She felt herself falling into the foggy lake before everything went blank.

She felt herself falling into the foggy lake before everything went blank.