Anger bubbled in her body thinking about it. The black witches, most of them had to be removed, they had to be killed, to let them know what fear meant. Right now they were freely moving in the forest and entering the towns, and the villages but they had to be taught on what fear was so that they wouldn't attack and abduct children in broad daylight. 

"Can't we do something?" Penny asked, turning herself towards Lord Alexander, "What about using spilled magic on the grounds?" 

Alexander shook his head, "That is something we cannot do. Most of the magic which was spilled was nothing but the tapping of forbidden magic."

"What?" Penny didn't read or hear about it. 

"If you ask the church to do it, they won't agree to it. Truth to be told, white witches who serve the churches and the council are under the oath of to never touch the forbidden magic."

When Damien felt Penny's gaze on him, he knew the doubt she had on her mind, "Some of the tappings takes place without the knowledge of the council. Most of the rules that are placed are often bent for one's own needs and purpose."

"The council turned some of the white witches to black witches," Penny realized to have Alexander correct her thoughts. 

"The council didn't know back then that the spilled magic meant touching the forbidden magic which they were not supposed to use. By the time they found out, it was too late."

She now understood part of what happened in Wovile. The inn they were staying in belonged to the white witch and she had tapped into the forbidden magic. Once a person touched the forbidden magic it was nothing less to a drug. And for a person to resist it took a lot of will power.

She didn't sleep the rest of the time and waited for Damien to complete the report which he was supposed to give to Alexander which was to be sent to the head council to let him know what had been going on in Valeria. Apparently there were too many people who often gave out wrong information which ended up into something else. 

Penny sat on the stairs outside the mansion. Sitting near the pillar with her legs pulled close up as she looked at the dark dawn breaking through the sky. 

The butler who had seen the lady sitting outside and taking some fresh cold air went to the kitchen to come up with a tray, 

"Lady Penelope, would you like some tea?" he asked her. Penny had been lost in thoughts and she looked to her side a little startled.

"Ah, yes. Thank you," she thanked him for bringing her warm tea in this cold weather. The sky didn't lighten and still had the dark clouds in there making her wonder if she would be able to see a glimpse of the sun, "Don't you have it?" she asked him. 

"I do, milady," the butler answered, his response coming to be more mechanical than natural. 

"It is lonely to have tea alone. Why don't you bring yourself the tea out here? I insist," Penelope said who was yet to take a sip from her cup which the butler had given her. 

"Apologies, milady but butler's having food or drink in front of their owners or guests is considered to be impolite," the butler said, folding his hands together in front of him. 

How pish posh, thought Penny to herself. The butler didn't appear to budge from here if she would try pressuring him. She wondered how the butler was doing in Quinn's mansion. The poor man was scared to his wits ends at the thought of some ghosts haunting the mansion. 

"Will we have snow today?" she asked him, making conversation.

"Yes, milady," and the conversation died. Lord Alexander sure had a peculiar butler who spoke less. At the same time, she found the cat who was named Areo who belonged to the Lord. The cat walked to her, it's head rubbing against her leg which made her smile. She used her left hand which was free to rub behind its ear, touching the cat's black fur. 

"How old is he?" Penny asked as she continued to pet the cat.

"Older than Lord Alexander," the butler said not knowing the exact year of the cat. 

Wow, that old? asked Penny in her mind. 

The fur was so soft which made her remember that Damien had his dog sent here to Valeria but she hadn't seen him here. Curious she asked the butler, 

"Is Baxter here?" 

"Master Damien's dog? He was here last month but he has been sent to work with the council for the cases that need his a.s.sistance," Penny nodded her head, going back to her tea to sip and drink it. The warm liquid felt good as it went down her throat in this cold weather. She hadn't eaten anything since last noon. She hadn't felt hungry and she had stayed that way until the tea touched her tongue. 

She wondered if there was any food right now in the kitchen as it was still early for breakfast to be set at the table. 

"Thank you for the tea," Penny thanked him, giving the empty teacup back to him. The butler bowed his head and went back inside, leaving her sitting at the stair along with the company of the cat. The cat, swis.h.i.+ng its black tail left and right came closer to her, she heard him purr.

One second she was ready and picked up the cat in her arms and the next second Penny didn't know what happened but to have her heart leap in her throat in fright with the cat that had transformed to a bigger cat. A panther!