Chapter 108: The witch

The next morning, Hazel sat with Rita, Janet, and Akeelah, staring at the strange objects on the table with a frown.

She had barely slept after everything that happened, and she still couldn’t understand why someone would go as far as kidnapping her just to take something from her.

"Why don’t you want me to tell Caius about what happened?" she asked Rita. "I don’t even know what they were trying to steal from me. How am I supposed to stay quiet when I don’t know what I’m dealing with?"

Rita picked up the chain and the ring, placing them where Hazel could see them properly.

"This is Light Witch power, and it’s dangerous."

Hazel turned to Janet and gave her a look.

"Didn’t I tell you? Witches are witches!"

Janet pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh at her expression.

Rita sighed. "Calm down, Hazel. Just because we’re Light Witches doesn’t mean we’re all good. The only difference between us and the Dark Witches, apart from our powers, is the colour of our energy. But if Caius finds out that someone from our side is involved in this, he may decide to end the entire Light Witch race. He could also stop supporting us."

She looked frustrated as she placed the objects back on the table.

"I’ll find the person responsible. I’m very sorry this happened to you."

Hazel raised an eyebrow.

"How exactly are you going to do that? Go to Doris and force her to speak?"

Akeelah sighed before Rita could answer.

"The High Priest hasn’t been herself since yesterday."

Hazel looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"She’s been acting strangely, and we haven’t been able to get much information from her."

Hazel didn’t bother asking more questions. Her attention had already returned to the ring and chain.

"What are these things for?"

Rita picked up the ring.

"This can steal another person’s abilities."

Hazel froze. " What the heck??"

"Yes. It can take away a person’s special ability and transfer it to someone else. From what I can see, they were most likely trying to steal your vision."

Hazel’s fingers tightened around the edge of her seat.

Her vision! She looked at Janet, who seemed just as worried. "Are you sure Doris is the only person behind this? Whoever planned this must know what Caius is trying to do. They knew about my ability, and they knew how important it was."

Janet shook her head. "We don’t know if Doris was working alone."

Hazel clenched her fists. "No wonder they were so desperate to get hold of me!"

She reached for the chain, but the moment her fingers touched it, she pulled her hand away.

"Ah! Why is it so hot?"

The chain was burning. Rita’s expression changed as she stared at it. She no longer looked like the playful witch Hazel was used to seeing.

"That had better not be what I’m thinking," she muttered. "Let me confirm something first. But if I’m right, Hazel, you’re in much bigger trouble than we thought."

Hazel swallowed and looked at her nervously. "Or maybe my opponent is just as powerful as you."

Rita blinked. For a moment, she looked at Hazel before turning her face away.

Hazel noticed her reaction and frowned. "What’s wrong? This is common sense. You said Light Witch energy is identified by its colour, right? This one is red, and it’s hot. That must represent the energy of whoever used it."

She pointed at the chain. "The protection rings you gave the high-ranking wolves have blue ruby stones, and they’re cold. So why is this one different?"

Hazel raised an eyebrow. "And why in flames would Lydia want to take away my abilities?"

Rita didn’t have time to be surprised that Hazel had already connected the pieces. She rubbed her forehead and let out a tired breath.

"I don’t know! I’ve already called Luna, and she’s on her way here. Lydia has always misunderstood certain things, but I don’t believe she would go this far without a reason. Someone must have entered her head and influenced her."

Hazel scoffed. "Of course. Someone always has to be controlling someone whenever something goes wrong."

"That’s not what I mean," Rita protested. "Lydia is powerful, but she’s also my friend. I need to find out what happened before making any decisions."

Hazel leaned back in her seat, clearly unhappy with the answer. "Well, I’m going to that door today."

Everyone turned to look at her immediately.

"I’m going into the secret chamber. They won’t stop trying to take my vision, so I’d rather lose it while helping Caius summon whoever he’s trying to bring back than allow my enemies to steal it from me."

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Janet was the first to react. She quickly stood up and wrapped her arms around Hazel. "Thank you!" she exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that!"

Akeelah smiled, looking relieved.

Rita, on the other hand, clapped her hands excitedly. "Finally! I can finally be free to rule the Light Witches without worrying about all these problems. His Majesty will be at ease, too, and those people will think twice before coming after us again!"

Hazel stared at her. "Are you happy because I’m risking my vision?"

Rita stopped clapping. "No! Of course not. I’m happy because we’re finally going to settle this matter."

Hazel gave her a suspicious look before her attention returned to the chain.

There was still something bothering her. She remembered the woman in the secret chamber, the one with beautiful brown hair and a face that looked almost unreal. She had mistaken her for Caius’s mother, but Caius had already told her that his mother had blonde hair.

Hazel looked at Rita. "Caius’s mother had blonde hair, right? So, who was that woman? She looked like a goddess, and her hair was brown."

Rita chuckled and leaned closer to her. "That’s the witch who turned Caius’s parents into werewolves."

Hazel froze. "Wait... what?"

"Yes, she was one of the most powerful witches in history. She fought against her fellow witches because they wanted to kill Caius’s parents."

Hazel stared at her in disbelief. "Then why would Caius want to summon someone that powerful? I heard she was the strongest witch, and she even fought against her own people to protect his parents."

Rita nodded. "That’s right. And she’s my grandmother."

Hazel looked amused.

Rita raised her chin proudly. "She has an ability similar to yours. She can see things beyond what ordinary people can see. During the ritual, she will collect your vision, and once the process is complete, she will be alive again."

Hazel slowly looked away.

She didn’t know what to say. So that was what Caius wanted. He wanted to bring back a woman who had been dead for a long time, and her own vision was the price.

She sighed.

She still didn’t understand why he wanted to bring her back so badly, but she remembered the way he looked at his mother’s portrait. There was a sadness in his eyes that he rarely showed anyone. "Then I guess he really misses his mother," Hazel muttered. "I thought he wanted to bring her back."

Janet slowly turned toward Akeelah, who suddenly started coughing as if something had entered her throat.

Janet looked at Hazel in disbelief. "You thought she was a nice person?"

Hazel blinked. "Wasn’t she?"

Akeelah continued coughing while Rita covered her mouth, clearly struggling not to laugh.

Hazel looked between them. "What? Why is everyone reacting like that?"