.

Penny looked at Damien who had paused himself from talking, "Did Bathsheba mention how many people had been affected by the change in the stars?" 

"She didn't but my guess is that it takes place in an odd number. There are three of you so far, at least that is what I would like to believe," Damien turned around to look at her, "Penny, you need to make sure to never get exposed. To keep your ability to yourself until we know it is safe. Some of them must have been tipped with the alignment of stars and the unique abilities you people have been gifted."

"Is it because we pose a threat to society?" she knew that with every gift came a drawback but until now she had found none. If it truly was so, it meant she couldn't tell it to Father Antonio and learn more about what and how she could utilize it. Right now she was on her own. It was funny how they had trusted a black witch yet here she was being careful when it came to the white witch. But then she didn't know that betrayal and trust when broken could hurt this bad. 

Damien shook his head. Walking back to her, he ran his hand over her hair, smoothening the strands and letting his hand fall back to his side, "It is because you pose a threat to them. The ones who are trying to create chaos. We don't know what's going on and if my theory is really right it is a possible one."

Penny didn't know how to react to it. There were people who were scared that she and the others could or would stop them? 

"Each of you might have an ability which differs from the other which forms to something that they are worried that it might stop the plan they have. Every little dust particle has its own story which can change the very life of people. Given that your own ability helps in purifying the solution which is used to corrupt and create havoc by using the vampires, that alone is enough to stop the black witches."

It was an interesting theory, thought Penny to herself. For Damien to draw out something so quick she wondered what that brain was made of.

"The council usually likes to dissect people. Inside out to know the new creatures and they won't stop hunting you down before it leads to death. Not because they would inflict execution but because there are people whom I doubt now are partaking along with the black witches," somewhere as he said that, Penny caught a small frown on his forehead. He was worried, "The Duke is looking after the girl as he is evidently involved and in love with her. Whatever her ability is would never be received because it is better to not trust blindly and you never know where the word might spread. Don't you agree?" 

Penny let out a sigh of breath from her lips. 

"I won't let anything happen to you. The witches have only tried to attack us which turned out unsuccessful," he a.s.sured her. 

"Do you think it is possible that the witches got the wrong people thinking they were the ones with abilities?" she asked. If the witches weren't planning for another attack it was possible unless they thought they had killed the one with abilities. 

"Might be," he muttered under his breath. There was nothing to worry in Damien's eyes as he would be there with Penny most of the times but one never knew how the circ.u.mstances changed. 

It must have been hard to lose family members overnight, thought Penny to herself. 

"Anyways, I didn't bring you here to talk about it. Quick, give me your hand," he said raising his hand for her to take. His quick change in mood and the raise in enthusiasm were something, "It is beautiful weather," he clutched her hand when she placed her hand on top of his palm. 

They started to walk deeper into the forest. There was patchy work of the snow on the forest ground. Damien directed her on where to place her feet as she walked. The last time they were here this same man had made her climb a tree and right now he was holding her hand to make sure she didn't stumble on the forest ground. The clouds that had been hovering in the sky thickly in the morning and at noon now started to move. Trying to clear itself for a few moments before the night could replace it. 

With the clouds that moved away came the last rays of the sun for the day, reflecting on the forest which turned the surrounding green and orange. 

"Where are we going?" she asked him curiously. 

"You will see," came his answer, continuing to lead the way until they finally came to an open s.p.a.ce where there was gra.s.s in midst of the forest but that wasn't all, "Go on," he said letting go of her hand. 

She stared at him wondering what he was up to. Damien was an odd man which was why she wasn't sure if it was a good idea to follow his word, "Is this another test?' she asked him. 

"You said you would trust me, mouse," he reminded her making her smile.

Opputunitist master.

She did say that to him.

Taking one step after another towards the gra.s.s, she saw something rise, b.u.t.terflies with different colors that started to fly in the air. It had been a while since she had seen so many b.u.t.terflies. Some flapped their wings to fly while the others went back to settle down. With the sunlight that fell right here at this place, it turned gra.s.sy area to a magical one. 

Penny couldn't help but smile. But the b.u.t.terflies weren't the only reason why she had a smile on her face right now.