CAPTURING THE CULPRIT

The buzzing inside the drawing-room echoed ever so loudly, like a million bees swarming inside one's ears. As the young hunters approached Anne, everyone else stepped away clearing a path and providing space.

Anne watched in horror are the other servants abandoned her to the hunters' mercy.

"N-no! I just not feeling well! Please!" she begged. Tears already forming in her, now that Darius thinks about it. Anne has long curly red hair. Which is one of the underlying signs of being a witch.

Darius turned to Brennan, wanting to know what he thinks.

"Let's double-check first," Brennan suggested.

"We need someone come with us, you and you" Darius pointed at the two girls they met in Lady Wilson's room. Nodding quickly, they went forward.

"We will check for the devil's mark, lead the way. An empty room will suffice." Darius said as he took one of Anne's arms. Helping her to stand.

"No! No! Please! I'm innocent!" she begged while trying to pull her arm away. But her cries fell on deaf ears.

"Girls in the east wing," the butler told the maids.

"Yes Sir," they replied simultaneously.

As they climb the stairs, the sound of footsteps thumps in Darius's heart. If Anne was a witch, they will have to dispose of her.

Of course, killing is not new to him. But a part of Darius doubts this one, just the thought of it is leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. As if something is terribly wrong.

The door creaked open, and they took Anne inside.

"This is what will happen, you two will need to strip her and check every inch of her skin. Look for any mark, it could be a pentagram or any sigil at all… if you found one, you will need to tell us. Therefore we can examine it ourselves." Brennan explained.

"And if anything happens that could potentially endanger your lives just scream," Darius instructed.

"Understood Sir," with those words they closed the door. Leaving the young men on the other side of the door.

As they waited, Darius could hear Anne and her uncomfortable gasping. She must be trying to hide her body as much as she could, of course, he couldn't blame her. But this is important, the process could either save her life or condemn her.

As the shadows of the night, cast over the window of the manor. The door finally opened, just in time as the other servants started to light the lamps along the halls.

Both Darius and Brennan entered the room. When they meet the eyes of the maids, they shook her head. Turning to Anne with pity in their eyes.

They had found nothing.

Darius looked at Anne sadly, her tear-stained eyes directed to the ground as she bit the inside of her cheeks. She wanted to say something… but she's trying her best not to.

"Anne, we're sorry…" Brennan began, only gaining a scoff from the girls. Such humiliation cannot be easily undone.

"We can't really do anything about this now, but you have to understand that it has to be done." The sound of Darius's voice took everyone's attention.

"The bigger problem comes first, if Anne is not the witch then we have no lead at all…"

"Was that all the servants in the manor?" Brennan asked.

"Yes, that's everyone." One of the girls replied.

An outsider of course was expected, the test was merely to eliminate the possibilities of the witch being a servant. Now that it was not the case, they will have to find other ways to find the culprit.

"We will need to search for hex bags or maybe some voodoo dolls" Brennan figured.

'Do we?' Darius thought. The doubt in him grew bigger, it was just a gut feeling… but what if it was something else completely.

A knock was heard from the door, Darius being closest, immediately opened it revealing the butler.

"Good evening, I just want to check on the situation."

But as soon as Darius shook his head, the butler frowned. Knowing that the problem was far from over.

"I… I had the other servants prepare dinner. Maybe you should rest for the night, you traveled a long distance yet you went straight to work. Please let me guide you." The butler offered, stepping aside to allow the young men to exit the room first.

"Excuse me, but… where is the Master of the house?" Brennan asked, his question making the butler stop on his tracks.

He cleared his throat, "I… um… he away to take care of some business." But his lie was as clear as glass.

"He's running away from the problem," Darius bluntly said.

"Um… the dining hall is this way." The butler stated, finally decided to lead the way, avoiding the question.

The hunter only shrugged it off, it's not like it was any of their business.

By the time they finished dinner, the moon had already taken over the sky. The pure white clouds floating so calmly in the heavens.

Standing near the window Darius stared at the night sky, his eyes twinkling under the faint moonlight and dashing stars. A soft frown adorned his lips, his mind wandering off far and beyond.

"What's your plan?" Brennan asked as he approached the other.

"I'm not sure… there are some missing pieces, making it impossible to solve the problem." Darius admitted bitterly. "Even after recognizing the fact that it wasn't the work of a witch the possibilities are just endless."

"Well first we have to-" a loud scream erupted the conversation. The high pitch sound ripped through the warm summer air, disturbing the silence of the night.

The young men immediately run in the direction where the scream erupted from, leading them to the familiar polished oak doors of the master's bedroom.

Without any hesitation, Darius opened the door. Revealing the lady of the house, struggling against the maid.

"I will kill that thing," she screamed trying to reach for her child, now wrapped in a warm blanket, and was held by a young maid. The young girl holding the child closely, trying to protect it from the raging woman.

As the woman screamed the child giggled, such innocence does not understand the gravity of the situation.

"Stop it now!" the woman screamed, her eyes burning with hate.

"Take the baby out please," Brennan ordered.

While the maid only nodded before exiting the room.

In the corner of his eye, Darius caught a glimpse of a sparkle. The color of white and green, just outside the window. A tiny spec of unknown light, faintly gleaming in the dark.

But when he turned to look at it, the light vanished. Disappearing in the blanket of darkness.

Eventually, Lady Wilson calmed down and was put to sleep. Her breathing is was even and her withering form now at peace.

"Brennan, you should rest first. I will guard for the time being, in case anything happens," Darius suggested to his companion.

"I understand, wake me up once you get tired," Brennan replied, taking a chair in the corner of the room.

"A-ah, there are rooms prepared for you, Sir. You will get better sleep in there." One of the maids suggested.

"No, here is fine. Besides if anything happens, I would like to be able to respond immediately."

"Understood Sir"

Tick Tock

The grandfather clock clicked into the night, while purple eyes remained open. While Darius was still wide awake, waiting for anything unusual to happen.

Darius could only sigh as he stared at the flickering lights of the candles, all the while Brennan and the maids are passed asleep. Chest heaving up and down as they breathe.

It is the late hours of the night, yet nothing happens. Not a single sign of the enemy, not a single clue to lead the way.

Everything appears to be normal, so what causes such rage from the Lady.

Could it be that she's actually just losing her mind?

A subtle whimper was heard, as Lady Wilson turned in her bed.

'My child,' she whimpered in her sleep. Her face contorted with sadness and pain.

It was always the child…

Suddenly, it clicked. Like a lock that had been picked.

A gut feeling spreading in him. Twisting everything inside like a coiling snake.

Could it be? Darius feared.

Standing abruptly, he went to Brennan. Harshly shaking the younger man, "Wake up Brennan, wake up" he whispered. Gaining a hum from his companion.

"Wake up already!" he said while gritting his teeth.

Having enough, he lightly smacked Brennan's face.

"W-what?" the lad asked.

"We need to go,"

"Huh? Go where?" Brennan asked, still confused due to his half-asleep consciousness.

"Just come with me," Darius pulled Brennan, forcing him to stand up.

"Hey, wake up" he woke up one of the maids first. The young woman immediately opened her eyes.

"Y-yes?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Take us to the nursery," Darius commanded.

"T-the nursery… but that's…" the maid was reluctant. What on earth will these men do in the nursery?

"Now," Darius ordered.

"Y-yes, at once Sir" the maid quickly stood up and took a glass lamp to light the way.

Darius could feel his heart thump against his chest. If he was correct, then… the problem could be more troublesome.