Chapter 5: Incoming Chaos

Bewildered and appalled, the villagers started throwing stones and rocks at Claire and her daughters, only for the stones to shrivel into dust as they hit her disintegrating barrier magic.

"You are all very brave—I must commend you," Claire said mockingly, her tone carrying a hint of restrained fury. "So, who was it? Who spilled the beans? Who saw me when I killed Theodore?"

"Liar! You're evil!" a young man shouted. "You didn't just kill Theodore—you killed your daughter. I saw you! Throw the stones!"

The villagers obeyed, hurling more rocks in desperation, but each one turned to dust upon contact with the barrier.

"We can't kill her! She's... she's the devil!" someone cried, their voice trembling in fear.

Claire's daughters, Amy and Amanda, clung to her, confusion and fear evident in their eyes. Amy's voice cracked as she asked, "Mom, where is Alicia? What happened to her? And why are they throwing stones at us? We didn't do anything wrong! Where is Theodore?"

Amanda joined in, tears streaming down her face. "Mum, please—where is Alicia?!"

Hearing and seeing her daughters' heartbreak shattered Claire's fragile resolve. Her insanity receded, clarity returning to her mind as she collapsed, weeping uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry... Theodore... Theodore... killed... killed..." Claire stuttered, her voice breaking into incoherent sobs.

Her vulnerability gave the villagers their chance. With Claire's guard down, they launched a direct attack, striking her unconscious.

When she awoke, she found herself bound and unable to move. Ahead of her, her daughters were being manhandled while being chained by the angry mob.

"Let them go this instant, or you'll regret it!" she threatened, her voice hoarse but filled with determination.

An older villager sneered. "Don't you dare move, accursed witch! You'll tell us your history—how you got those devilish powers—or your devilish children will lose their heads!"

Terrified for her daughters, Claire pleaded, "Wait! Please don't harm them. I'll talk." She hesitated, her mind racing. "It was... given to me by the gods... to combat the—"

"Combat what?" an angry old man interrupted.

Before she could respond, the village chief, Barcelos, stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face. The sharp sting forced her into silence, her composure barely holding.

"The gods gave you powers to combat what, exactly?" Barcelos demanded.

Amy shouted from where she was restrained, "Mom, don't tell them! They're ignorant!"

Amanda nodded, her voice trembling but firm. "Mum, don't worry about us. Don't spill it. Let them kill us—we want to meet Alicia. We miss her!"

Their words broke Claire's heart, tears streaming down her face as she whispered, "My loves, no... they will die... they will all die if they know the truth."

Barcelos's patience snapped. "Pass me the horsewhip!" he barked.

"Yes, sir!" a young man replied, handing him the whip.

Before proceeding, Barcelos turned to the crowd. "Let us honor the young man who exposed the devil residing amongst us. Demalia, we the burgesses of Ameria thank you. Step forward!"

Demalia puffed out his chest, his voice cocky. "Oh, it was nothing. I simply saw her burying her daughter and burning her husband at the stake. That was all. I was heading out to hunt and caught the devil in the act."

"Reward this man handsomely!" Barcelos commanded. The villagers cheered, their voices rising in a triumphant roar.

Barcelos then turned back to Claire, whip in hand. With grim determination, he slashed the whip across her back.

"Talk!" he commanded with every strike. Claire's skin began to peel, blood pouring from her wounds effusively.

She tried to summon her barrier magic, but her mana had been completely depleted. For the first time, she was utterly powerless.

"Please... stop!" Claire begged, her voice barely audible.

Her daughters cried out in unison, "Mom! Nooo! Stop it!"

"Ready to talk now, huh?" Barcelos snarled.

"No!" Claire gasped, refusing to break. She turned to her daughters, her voice desperate. "My loves, please—don't say anything! They will all die if they find out. They will all die!"

Another sharp lash tore across her back, and she screamed in pain.

"Mom, no!" Amy cried. Unable to bear it any longer, she shouted, "It's the Ozyrks!"

"No!" Claire pleaded weakly, shaking her head. "Don't—don't say it!"

Barcelos frowned, confused. "What's an Ozyrk?"

The villagers began murmuring, their confusion spreading.

"Did she say Osiris?" one asked.

"No, she said Ozyrks! What's an Ozyrk?"

Amanda screamed through her tears, "Ozyrks! Now let us go!"

The twins didn't do the smart thing, but they did the right and just thing.

Claire murmured, "It's all over. You ignorant dolts... you're all going to perish. I tried to warn you—you all brought this upon yourselves."

Twins, listen to me—you may have brought destruction to this village by saving me, but I want you to know that they asked for it. The gods won't blame us.

Claire used up her last strength and shouted, "I'm proud of you!"

Immediately, a bit of her magic reignited. The sense of euphoria hastened her recovery, and her mana started to refill.

"I'll teleport you to the other side of the world. This half will be destroyed in a few hours."

Barcelos, already frustrated, yelled, "Shut up, hag! What are you spouting?!"

The twins looked up at Barcelos and smiled.

"They're the creatures that will kill every single one of you! Our existence is the only thing keeping them at bay. You will all perish!"

Claire smirked through her pain, pride flashing in her eyes. "That's my witchlings. Be strong."

She began chanting a teleportation spell, her mana slowly reigniting.

"Mom, please don't leave us! Not yet!" Amy and Amanda cried.

"Be brave now," Claire whispered, her voice trembling. "You've already threatened Barcelos. Don't be scared now. Survive and thrive, my brave little witchlings."

With a final flash of magic, the twins vanished in the blink of an eye. The villagers stood frozen in shock, their faces a mix of dismay, awe, and terror.

"They're gone! They vanished!" someone exclaimed, their voice breaking.

Claire smiled faintly, her body weak but her heart filled with contentment. "My babies are safe. You will all perish. Your ignorance has led to your downfall."

Her mana depleted once more, she slumped to the ground, still chained. The villagers, furious and bewildered, dragged her up again for execution.

"Drop the guillotine! Burn her body on the same stake she burned her husband!" Barcelos commanded.

Claire laughed softly, the sky above darkening with an eerie, ghostly overcast.

The jeering crowd grew blurry and motionless in her vision. For the first time in a long while, she felt peace.

"I feel content," she whispered to herself. "I'm not afraid. Knowing my witchlings are safe... it's enough."

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered her final words: "I'm not to blame."