Conspiracy (2)

With the sweet coconut scent filling the room, Leah didn't need to raise her head to know that Lucius was the one who had just stepped in. Her mood immediately turned sour when she recalled what he had done at the dining table.

"Ruff ruff!" Max barked happily and jumped off the bed to go meet Lucius.

She didn't understand why her dog liked Lucius more than her. It was just vexing. The bed sank as Lucius sat on it. He wore a rather stoic expression as he glanced at Leah, who lay calmly as if his presence was unnoticeable.

"Did you come in here uninvited just to sit and stare at me?" Leah asked, after minutes of silence.

"I was just contemplating something," Lucius replied calmly.

"Well, your musings are none of my concern. Can't you find somewhere else to think?"

Lucius chuckled, his handsome lips stretching. "Ah, you are a difficult one, Leah."

"And who can blame me? I have a specific dislike for toxic people," Leah closed her eyes again and feigned yawning. "Now I would like you to leave so that I can get back to what I was doing before you barged in here uninvited."

Here she was racking her brain, trying to figure out which particular maid was going to poison him, but the man was adamant about disturbing her.

"I'm sorry about what happened at the dining table," Lucius said, his voice measured yet with a small hint of restraint.

Leah's brows furrowed slightly. Was Lucius apologizing for his lewd actions at the dining table or for his guest's behavior? She immediately sat up and finally faced him. Max lay cozily on his lap, taking a nap. It was quite strange that the dog always slept like a cat whenever Lucius was there.

Her eyes moved from Max and settled on Lucius' face. She figured that he was probably apologizing for the latter.

"It's fine. If that's all, you can leave now." Leah gestured towards the door.

Lucius sighed. "My presence does bother you, doesn't it?" He lowered the dog from his lap and stood up. "Someone will bring lunch for you later."

"There's no need. I will have lunch in the dining room with everyone else."

"I don't want you to leave your room, Leah," Lucius said, his face dead serious.

"Why?" Leah asked, surprise evident on her face.

"Because I won't be eating lunch today, and I don't want you to step out from this room."

Leah scoffed. "That is none of my business, and I don't care about what you want." She wore a sarcastic smirk on her lips.

"Hmm. Okay." Lucius smirked devilishly, a meaningful glint in his eyes before leaving the room.

With narrowed eyes, Leah hurriedly stood up and moved towards the door, but to her dismay, the door was locked. She tried pulling on the handle repeatedly, but the door didn't budge.

"That jerk," Leah cursed under her breath.

She walked back to the side dawer to retrieve a pin from it which she then used in the key hole. It only took a few moments and the lock clicked. Leah smirked, glad that she was good at picking locks. She immediately left the room in haste. She needed to find the maid who was going to poison Lucius, is she hadn't already done it.

....

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the second mansion, a few of the younger witches who were ready to learn to awaken their elemental powers were seated in circle around Samara who has been teaching them the basics for some days now.

The session was going on well, until Priscilla came in through the main door completely drainched and decided to join them. Her presence caused Samara to stop speaking for a moment, as her eyes scanned Priscilla from head to toe. Priscilla had a rather nonchalant and amused expression as she returned Samara's stare. Samara finally tore her eyes away from Priscilla and resumed her teaching. Samara did a great job at ignoring her till the session was over.

"Those little ducks were enjoying your lecture," Priscilla commented when she and Samara were the only ones seated.

Her eyes drifted to the young witches asending the stairs, obviously heading to their various rooms, before she glanced back Samara.

"It's a shame you couldn't show them a demonstration," Priscilla continued. "I'm sure you would have loved to, right?"

"What do you want?" Samara asked, coldness sipping through her voice.

A sly smirk appeared on Priscilla's lips, which only lasted for seconds before it dissapeared. Samara didn't blink for even a second, her eyes were focused on Priscilla, waiting to see if she would do something.

She was well aware that Priscilla wasn't here to just agitate her, she definitely had some agenda

Priscilla exhaled softly, her face turning slightly gleam. "I just wish we could go back to the way we used to be. I really miss the old days."

"Cut the crap Priscilla. We both know that you don't care about that, You're here because you want something." Samara folded her arms crass her chest and leaned back on the chair. "So tell me, what do you want?"

"I need a small portion of your essence."

A witches essence was the core of their magic. It is like a trees; it could be nourshoured and grown, but much growth could explode the essence, so witches always ensure to keep their essence at a minimal rate or even store some in pysical objects for safe keeping.

"You must have lost your mind to even think that I will give you a part of my essence."

"I think you will give me what I want, because I also have something that you need," Priscilla clicked her tongue in arrogantly.

Samara's eyes narrowed. "And what is that?" she asked.

"A solution to your problem." Priscilla's eyes drifted down to the blue emerald gem necklace around Samara's neck. "I know that Alexander made you put a surpressor on yourself, and that is the reason why you've been unable to use your magic or even leave this place. Correct me if I'm wrong."

Samara was unable to speak because Priscilla was right. She wanted to leave and go into hiding again but she couldn't.

"You can't remove this surpressor, Alexander made it himself and his magic is a hundred times stronger than yours," Samara stated the known fact.

"Hmm, you are right," Priscilla reasoned. "But you are one of the strongest witches alive and you have a trace of his magic in your essence. I think I can reach his level of power with your essence. It will only last for an hour or so but that will be enough."

Samara was silent, contemplating Priscilla offer. It was too good to be rejected but she didn't trust Priscilla's intentions. Priscilla wasn't that selfless, if she was going to help her, then there was something much greater she was expecting to achieve from her essence.

"Give me a week to think about it," Samara finally spoke after minutes of silence.

Priscilla smiled. "Splendid." She said and stood up. "You may not believe me but I still wish we could go back to way we used to be" She said before walking away.

.... In Lucius study, Lucius sat behind his desk with a stoic expression as he went through the files Sam sent to him this morning. As he had suspected before, someone was stealing from him. Whoever this thief was, had been very smart in covering his trail well for the past three.

Lucius smirked as he viewed the document in his hands. To think that the thief had decided to steal from his personal account this time instead of his company's account.

He was still engrossed in the files when Grace barged in without even knocking. Lucius eyes swept towards her to meet her upset eyes. She had never stared at him this way before...

"We need to talk," Grace said, her tone rather flat.

Or used that tone with him. So he concluded that whatever she wanted to talk about must be very serious.

"Am all ears," Lucius said as he dropped the files on his desk.

"Did I do something wrong?" Grace asked in a low tone as she moved closer to his desk.

"What do you mean?" Lucius questioned.

"You threat me like I do not exist. You never send for me. The only thing you do is send me off on some fancy vacation." Grace sighed. "This morning you promised me that we would spend sometime together after breakfast, but you did not send for me instead you asked Sam, your assistant to take me out.

"Are you done?" Lucius asked with little to no concern in his voice as his attention moved towards the door.

He stood up immediately and brushed past Grace who still looked dumpfounded by his blank reply.