Damien knew at one point the woman was ruffled up. Of course, no one knew where the lady had been and what she had done. Though she had told others that she was on council work, the truth was she had traveled there for her very own purpose. The woman was known to be poise and imposing but Damien was even worse than she was to let things slide.
He wouldn't have kept for a meeting before but it wasn't the time to lay back and watch what was going on in here or outside the council. If he didn't do it now, sooner or later Penny would be dragged into this thanks to her mother where the other witches knew Penelope's existence and whose daughter she was.
"Actually we have not one but two witnesses. Lord Nicholas, had accompanied Kreme. Is that right, milord?" Damien said turning to the man who had been sitting there quietly without saying a word. The people in the council hadn't expected the Lord of Bonelake to take part in the meeting except to be a spectator like most of them.
"I did and what a.s.sociate Kreme is telling is the truth," upon Lord Nicholas' words, Councilwoman Ava glared at him.
"This is a bunch of lies! Where is the proof?"
"A thief will never leave a trail behind but when the thief is so worried at the thought that they weren't meticulous enough, the very same thief goes back to check if everything is alright without realizing they leave something of theirs behind. To make the story short we found a kerchief in Councilman Creed's house the night he died," Damien said walking back and forth on the floor.
He snapped his fingers for the guardsman to show everyone the kerchief as it was lifted up, "If you're wondering why no one ever questioned you, it was because proofs were being collected for what you have been doing behind the council's back. We don't have many councilwoman who work here and no one as the initial of A.K woven into it."
Councilwoman Ava smiled, the corner of her eyes showing fine lines of her age, "I have visited his mansion several times for work. It must have dropped without my notice at some point in time."
Damien stopped walking and gave her a nod, "That might be a possibility. Tell me, do you like the smell of flowers?"
The woman didn't know why he was asking her that question but she gave him a nod to say, "Yes. Yes, I do."
"I heard you usually press a flower, Gardenia to be specific in your handkerchief to keep the fragrance if the flower is fresh in it. Is that right?"
"Yes. I don't understand what you are trying to get to by bringing up unnecessary things here."
"I must say, the older elder council members have no patience at all. Or is it because you are a human that you lack it knowing you have less time?" Damien asked the woman.
Councilwoman Ava appeared to fume where she stood. Her voice lowered so low that only Damien could hear her and the head council as he wasn't too far away from them, "You think you are above us when I have been here for a longer time to speak in such a tone."
"I am the way I am. Didn't you know that since the beginning of the time?" Damien then lowered his own voice for her to listen, "Did you think I am one of your members who will bow my head just because you are part of the elder group? You are still a lowly creature in my eyes."
This struck a nerve in the woman's body.
"How dare you," she gritted her teeth.
"So as we were speaking earlier," Damien turned back the topic, not wasting any more seconds on the little banter, "One of the councilmen found the kerchief right on the day when Creed died and in that kerchief was a fresh flower. We got it checked by our beloved doctor in the council and here are the reports for it. We never were able to find out why and what happened to Creed but now that you are here we would like to hear it from you," Damien waited for her to speak while the woman gave him a baffled look.
"I didn't even go there-"
"Linguine says otherwise," Damien interrupted her.
The woman furrowed her eyebrows, "After I had the pleasure to put him out of the carriage while we were on our way to Creed's mansion, the next day he complained to his superior where the matter went to the head council. He said you had asked for his a.s.sistance in the mansion in clearing a few things out but because of me, he couldn't help you."
"But I didn't go there that night!"
"Where else did you go then?" Damien asked her intrigued, "You said you didn't go there but the councilmen here had a.s.signed you the work status of going to meet Creed but you weren't here nor were you there. Before you speak about staying in your mansion, we heard you weren't home for the whole week."
The woman gritted her teeth the way Damien was spinning words. Damien knew that councilwoman Ava and Creed had been working closely with each other while helping the black witches. One who worked inside the elder council while the other worked from outside.
Damien knew only Kreme had travelled but by taking Nicholas' false alibi, they had only cornered the woman to make her fret while targeting her in different directions. He also knew who was behind Creed's death but the intention had been for a good reason and putting her in the spot would not only have her speak out about the black witches soon but would also clear the suspicion people had on Lord Nicholas over some of the past deaths that had taken place.
Right now the woman didn't have an answer to his question.
"Let me answer it for you," said Damien, "You were the one who killed Creed."