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They continued their journey to Shadow's Kiss. They were to stop to eat some food earlier but the more distance they put between themselves and the dark witches the better.

Now that the dark witches knew their foes better, the more they would come back prepared.

Dante was given food to eat as the carriage moved on with the shadow riding the carriage now. The others had refused to eat until they got to an inn which was their next stop. This would be where they would spend the night.

The day was dark and one could hear owls hooting in the forest that surrounded them by the time they arrived at the inn. After this inn, there was a village but if they chose to continue their journey, they would get there by morning.

There was light in the lower part of the inn but the rooms above it were darkened. This was not unusual as most people would be asleep at this time.

Leonard opened the door for Clarissa and helped her from the carriage. Then Dante was helped out as well.

She looked up at the sky, there were no stars in it. Rather clouds that held no rain but shadows seemed to gather. So far it had been a bloody night, fitting the look of the sky.

Raphael pulled on the handle of the door to find it locked. He then knocked on the door of the inn. He waited for some minutes and no one answered the door. He wondered if they were asleep. The pretty princess would have his head if there was nowhere to spend the night. He knocked a second time and was about to knock for the third time when the door was finally yanked open.

The lady who stood in front of him. was quite beautiful.

Raphael smiled, working his charms on her.

She blushed, enamoured by him. " Welcome, sir. Would you like a room? " she asked, looking down her lashes at him.

" My company and I would like some rooms, " he replied with his sexy grin.

She looked past him to see the people that stood waiting to be let in.

She opened the door in haste. " My apologies. "

She looked at the clothes the lady and the child wore. It seemed that they were rich.

She thought business would be good tonight.

Clarissa noted the scent of candles made from scented herbs and crystals sitting on a plate. It seemed the owners believed in the protection of gemstones.

The girl who had let them in took notice of their weapons and said no word. She went behind the counter to ready to give them keys to whatever rooms they desired.

Leonard noted that some of the key slots were empty which meant there were other guests in the not too shabby inn.

The cat scrunched up its nose smelling something rotten and something else that seemed fresh.

" How many rooms would you like? " she asked, smiling at them.

Raphael, who felt there was something odd about her, smiled and asked her name.

" Elaine, my Lord," she replied gushing.

Clarissa and Leonard rolled their eyes.

Raphael couldn't lay his hand on what was disturbing to his mind. " Tell me, Elaine... " he leaned against the counter. "…what are the best rooms you have? We need rooms right across from each other. "

She turned and faced the board where the keys were hung.

He looked at the back of her gown to see a red mark that seemed like blood which was weird. He smelt no blood.

The cat narrowed its eyes on her.

She turned back to face them. " It seems there are four free rooms on the same level and you won't be having neighbours so there will be no disturbances. Two of the rooms face the other two. "

He smiled at her and nodded as if happy. " I will take them. Thank you, my fair lady. "

He stretched out his hand for her to place the keys and she did so without hesitation.

When his hand clasped hers, he checked for that zap of power that witches tended to give up there was nothing.

He had suspected she was a witch but he was wrong.

So he winked at her wondering what was wrong with him? Perhaps the fight with the witches was confusing him.

The lady left her position behind the counter to show them to their rooms. When she had shown their rooms to them, she turned to leave with a seductive look at Raphael and he stopped her.

" My lady, you seem to have a red mark on your gown. "

The look on her face froze but she immediately smiled and laughed it off. " Pardon my tardiness, before I answered the door, I was just about to take a bath. Earlier today, I prepared some beef stew for the guests and the blood got on me. Perhaps you would like some. "

" Thank you for the offer but we have travelled long without resting and wish to go to sleep now. " he said with a polite smile.

Her smile might have seemed perfect like that of a doll's but there was something in those eyes she couldn't just hide.

She left, bidding them good night.

When they finally settled in, they noticed a bottle of wine and some candies sat in their rooms awaiting them.

Clarissa decided that she wante to speak with both Leonard and Raphael. She left Dante in the room while she spoke with them.

Dante took from the candy and let the cat down. Eating the candies he took, he put two more in his pockets and then went to sleep while the adults talked.

The cat moved past them to investigate the smells from earlier.

" We need to make sure the dark witches do not continue to follow us. " Clarissa said to both men.

They were in agreement with her. Even these few hours they would be spending here would be dangerous.

" We will go through another route but my lady it seems you are also keeping a secret from me. " Raphael said, raising a brow. " Those dark witches that attacked us, it seems they were out to kidnap you not kill you. "

Clarissa narrowed her eyes at him. He was as perspective as she thought. Was there any need to hide it from him? " You're right. They were trying to kidnap me because they believe I inherited my mother's powers as a moon blessed witch. "

" Did you? "

" No, " she said sternly.

It seemed this was a touchy subject for Clarissa.

" If you don't mind me checking, I can see if your powers are locked down. " he offered.

" I have had many tests done. Trust me the greatest magicians and witches have tried. I have no powers. " she said testily.

" Still a trial would bring no harm. "

Just to let him make a fool of himself, she stretched out her hand to him.

When he placed his hand on hers he felt nothing just like he had felt nothing from Elaine.

He pulled away and smiled apologetically. " It seems I was wrong. "

" Now you know, " she said, turning away from him.

" We leave early tomorrow, something is not right about this place and Elaine. "

She nodded and went back into the room feeling a pinch in her heart. She wondered why it still hurt that she could not inherit her mother's powers.

When she locked the door behind her, she saw the child fast asleep. Then she looked at the candy that seemed less than it was before she left.

Children and their sweet tooth, she thought, shaking her head.

She looked at the candies wondering what flavours they were. But she noticed something weird. The candies looked too expensive to be served at an inn like this. The wine also.

She feared something was amiss.

She went to Dante and checked his pulse only to see that it had weakened considerably. It was too low, his heart also was beating slower than normal.

Could it be that the wine and candies were poisoned?!

Author's note

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