CHAPTER 357: WHICH IS REAL-I

In the midst of such darkness, no one could pinpoint whether something had occurred and knowing that there was a terrible presence that had slipped, Arabella whispered a spell that immediately lit a fire on her hand.

Cassius seeing the source of light immediately grabbed her waist towards him, bringing her closer in case of danger.

Feeling supported with him guarding over her shoulder, she whispered another spell, placing an index finger over her lips before pointing in front of her, toward the place where she felt the presence.

A green thread immediately shoot from her fingertips, reaching directly toward Alice who was still sprawled on the ground with blood now dripping from her mouth. In front of her was a young man with eyes as red as blood yet it also held that bright hint of green with it.

The young boy was holding tight to Alice’s jaw, anger crossing to his face as if he was about to kill her when he noticed the thread that had wrapped around his ankle, tearing his attention. He darted his eyes toward Arabella and furrowed his eyebrows even further, "I am not the enemy."

Arabella was startled.

"You are not a witch?" But how could that be? This was magic! It’s witchcraft and yet it’s done by a man and a vampire!

Noah then felt something on his arm and quickly pulled away to no avail as sharp icicles had pierced through his arms, digging holes into his flesh.

"HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!"

Alice’s laughter boomed throughout the place as the guests panicked and tried to leave the place only to fall on their steps without a light source.

"I knew it!"

Alice leaned forward, wiping the blood off her mouth as she stood up to her feet.

"Never have I ever seen such a face on you, Circe!"

Circe?

Both Arabella and Atlas immediately flinched at the name, their eyes snapping over the young man who had been called as "Circe" by Alice. Sure enough they both were also in disbelief as Circe had died long ago... they didn’t have proof of her death but they knew as well that she is a woman and she wasn’t a vampire.

But the expression on Noah’s face that had turned ugly seemed to have turned into an evidence.

"But..." The word clung to Atlas’s tongue. His gaze fixed on Noah, though the young man refused to meet it. Strands of dark hair veiled his eyes, shadowing his expression. And yet Atlas couldn’t shake the thought, if it was truly Circe inside that boy’s body...

"Alice," Noah then said flatly. His face was unamused but his tone was full of mockery that it almost sounded playful, "you fled with your tail between your legs last week, and yet here you are again. I do hope you’ve brought a plan this time."

Alice giggled, shoulders trembling as a sharp, piercing laugh split the air. She rose to her feet, her smile wicked. "Don’t worry," she cooed, eyes glittering. "I came with a plan."

Before Arabella or Cassius could even draw breath to question her, it happened.

A pale, long hand shot out of the shadows, clawing toward Arabella’s face, reaching to drag her away.

But Cassius moved faster than lightning. His fingers closed around the intruder’s wrist, then its elbow. With a single, brutal wrench, he tore the arm clean from its socket.

The wet rip of flesh and sinew split the air. Arabella flinched, a shudder crawling through her at the sound, even as the severed limb dangled from Cassius’s grip like a discarded toy.

Cassius gently held her hand, "Can you lift up the darkness?"

"I can try to light fire across the room," Arabella whispered, her voice quick with resolve.

Cassius gave a sharp nod. At once, she murmured the incantation, her words weaving through the air like sparks. Fire burst to life, racing along the edges of the walls. Flames spread and cast a fierce glow into the suffocating dark, illuminating the hall enough for people to move without stumbling.

Cassius lifted his hand, signaling Helena. She responded instantly, guiding the startled guests toward the exit. In moments, the crowd surged as one, desperate for escape.

But before the great doors could open, a violent gust of wind slammed them shut. The wood groaned as the iron locks sealed with an unnatural force. Even as five men threw their weight against it, the door did not yield.

Arabella’s breath caught. Her eyes slid toward Noah. Deep down, she already knew. The steady, suffocating power rolling off him... this was his doing. His magic gripped the hall like a vice, trapping them all inside.

"Let them escape," she asked the witch, "If you are really Circe, then you aren’t someone who would let the innocent die."

Noah raised his eyebrows, "You speak as if you know me well, girl. But don’t worry, I’m not here to take anyone’s life but this one." He pointed toward Alice who was still grinning from one end to another.

"Do you truly believe you can be rid of me?" Alice’s smile was thin, her hands lifting as she gestured toward Noah’s bleeding arm. "In case you’ve forgotten, dearest, you cannot heal yourself. You’re already halfway to death."

Noah didn’t flinch. His gaze swept coldly across the room before he spoke, his voice steady, commanding.

"If anyone dares leave this place, they will die."

A ripple of unease spread through the hall.

Atlas’s eyes widened, his expression hardening as he pieced it together. "The doors, there’s explosive magic waiting outside!" he shouted.

It wasn’t a threat, it was protection!

Arabella nodded and Helena immediately told everyone to calm down and settle in their places.

On the other hand, Cassius studied the entire situation but to prevent another hand for trying to grab Bella from his arms, his sense were more in tune to the other presences he felt in the room, one that was more worrisome as they were naked to the eyes.

Noah’s lips curled in something between a smirk and disdain. He raised his hand slowly, deliberately. The blood trailing from his wound lifted into the air, hardening into scarlet crystal. It twisted, sharpened, and solidified into a spear that hovered beside him, its tip aimed directly at Alice’s throat.

"What will you do now," Noah asked softly, almost tauntingly, "that your clever little plan has already failed?"

Alice turned and laughed, "Failed? Hardly! Today’s plan is to kill you and watch out because it’s about to take place, Circe!"