Chapter IV. A daring plan

The siblings took over the throne and changed everything. Even the witches they used to betray their brother were not spared, they hunted and killed them to tighten any loose ends. They killed all of the members of King Neyra's consorts and some of the vampire elders that were against them. They gave powers to the vampires in their kingdom who in turn, killed as many human serfs and peasants as their greed led them.

The royal siblings soon began a campaign to extend their kingdom, allies of King Neyra rose against them but they were individually not strong enough to win. Every kingdom that fell under them was enslaved.

Only the legend of the just ruler gave hope to the humans in the kingdom. His coffin was hidden somewhere in the castle, no one had been able to find it to awaken him, no one but these witches.

"If we miss tonight, we might as well bade our freedom goodbye. Tonight will be the first blood moon in centuries, the time when the king is at his fullest power," Harmonica began, she looked from Josette to Elsie as she spoke.

It took their coven many years but they found the king's resting place, it was unguarded but impenetrable. It was also said in the legends that King Neyra was always more powerful under the blood moon just like most vampires.

"We only have an hour to complete the mission before our missing presence is noticed, those blood suckers are having a banquet and we all know what that means for blood and pleasure slaves," Harmonica continued but her eyes trailed away from her friends into the sadness ahead. "If we—if we fail…"

Elsie held Harmonica 's hand and squeezed it gently. "We won't fail," she assured her, she knew how much the success of their mission means to Harmonica .

Josette topped her hand on Elsie's own. "We have worked too hard for this, the supreme mother of the earth won't let our efforts be in vain," she said, smiling.

Harmonica looked at her cohorts, one to the other, with their supportive words, she felt inspired to go through with the mission." We meet at the walkway at sound before they start ringing the bells, no tardiness, this is our only chance at freedom," she said.

Josette didn't need to be told she was the one being addressed, she was fond of coming late for everything except of course for every meal, she was never late for that.

She lifted her hands in surrender. "Fear not Harmonica , I will be on time."

Harmonica looked deeply into Josette's eyes and narrowed, she was still doubtful that the latecomer wouldn't make it in time especially since she was an important part of their plan but she had no choice but to trust her.

She sighed and ran her fingers through her curly hair in a bid to calm her nervousness.

The mission was not simple, the royal castle of Vitenigea was heavily guarded with well-trained half-vampire guards and nothing got past them.

Slaves were restricted from visiting some parts of the castle unless they were with their masters or were sent by them, none of which the witches had.

…

When it was nightfall, music was heard coming from the grand hall and soon after, vampire Lords and nobles from different parts of Vitenigea started pouring in , they were all invited by the royals.

It was a time that they showed off their wealth and status by wearing their best clothes and Jewelries. On such occasions, the royals usually arrived last since they commission the event.

Blood slaves and pleasure slaves were usually summoned in the later part of the evening so the witches had limited time especially Harmonica who must be present because she was the pleasure slave of the first crown prince.

Harmonica and Elsie were already waiting at the walkway, both pretending to be chatting while resting on the balustrades. Harmonica in particular was fancily dressed which caught the attention of passersby.

Underneath her dress, she was nervously tapping her foot. "Where is she?" She whispered to Elsie flashing her teeth falsely.

"I don't know!" Elsie replied equally with a whisper before she let out a peal of fake laughter like her cohort said something funny.

"I swear to the mother of the earth if she doesn't show up, I will—"

"You will what, Harmonica ?" Josette interrupted Harmonica , smiling casually like she did nothing.

The two waiting witches heaved out in relief and shared a hug before they continued conversing.

"Where were you?" Harmonica asked, frowning as she prepared to scold Josette.

Josette's smile quaked showing a brief sadness in her eyes but she was quick to lift her lips. "I had to run an errand, forgive me for my tardiness."

It was at this point the other witches realized what was off about their friend, the side of her face was stained with what looked like charcoal and her russet garment was dirtier than before.

They could roughly guess what caused her to be late but Elsie still had to ask, "Are you well, Josette?"

"Yes!" Josette's voice rang out louder than usual as she laughed in a high-pitched tone. "Why would you think something is wrong with me? Do I look different from before?" She asked but didn't wait for a reply as she lowered her voice to say, "We don't have much time ladies, I think we should get going."

After saying that, Josette took the lead and started walking ahead of her friends but she moved with a limp in her steps. Harmonica and Elsie glanced at each other and then back at the limping Josette.

Harmonica took Elsie's hand and squeezed it gently. She smiled at her. "It will be over soon."

The only times Josette was late on her own accord was when she had to cater for her mother but on other occasions, she was probably serving her punishments and because of her weak body, she was always left injured by them.

The witches made their way through the walkway, pretending to be heading to the grand hall but as soon as they got an opportunity, they slipped away from the walkway into the bailey.

Because there was a jubilee going on, the guards on the battlement were more concentrated on watching the outside of the castle than the inner courtyards although they were some who were still watching.

Luckily for the witches, Elsie made a potion that could make one invincible for a short period of time To which the girls already drank before they left their secret meeting room.

Elsie made the potion to only work after Josette casts the complementary spell that came with it. In the split second that they slipped away from the walkway, Josette cast the spell, instantly granting them invisibility.

However, the invisibility had one downside, their scents, breathing, and movement could still be heard. They were in the general garden and the one they needed to be in was that of Princess Geishana.