"It thought black witches weren't this concentrated in the land of South," said Penny to Damien as they made a check inside the kitchen to catch any suspicious activities there and if they could find any potions. 

"It wasn't before. At least not the last time I visited here. The witches who are running the ritual and planning, they must be making it easy for the black witches to turn these lands into a hub.

"Are they here?" she asked him, "The witches who are going to perform the ritual and unlock the black magic."

"That is what Piers said. He said something about the land that has been the most tainted and when he meant tainted it was death the witches were speaking about. The most unholy place. Though this is a land of humans, the death rate is equal to the number of deaths that have taken place in the other three lands of the empire," they started to walk away from there, seeing the humans who had come out of their houses over the sound of the gunshots and screams, "Are you hurt?" he asked her. 

"I am fine," said Penny as she had been pulling and stretching her arm after being thrown and pushed into a corner earlier during the breakdown of a fight, "Did you get every single one of them?" she asked him. 

"Yeah, we can't leave anyone alive because we don't know when they will tattletale it to the boss witch. We still need to get your food. Worse case, we can go back to Bonelake and return here," Damien suggested seeing her shake her head right away. 

"No that would not be necessary. I am sure we'll find something on our way back to the room. Or maybe in the forest," Penny suggested. 

"Forest is much safer compared to the villages here. You never know what they are going to feed you." 

Once they had found the fruits in the forest, Damien took Penny directly to the room without having to wake up the owner of the inn and they headed to bed. Penny's mind was active and she was finding it hard to fall asleep even though her body was exhausted right now. 

Damien ran his fingers over her forehead and head, hoping she would be able to fall asleep as the morning that was to come was going to be busy. 

"What's keeping you awake?" he asked her, lying next to her.

"I don't know," Penny whispered back. She gulped the little ball of anxiety that was forming in her chest and had bubbled up. 

He continued to gently move his fingers over her forehead that trailed the side of her face and her before pulling her close to him, "Just two days and it should settle in. If it is your mother you are worried about crossing paths with, the last I heard she wasn't here but in Bonelake."

"I wonder if it is because it is the first time I am taking part in something big," Penny said, calming her mind while laying down in his arms. 

Damien could tell that the weight of being the one to lock the black magic was weighing Penny's mind right now. 

"You will do fine. Don't forget that you are related to Aunt Isabell. She did great things, you are bound to do it too. Who knows, this might be your ticket in keeping up the names of the white witches," hearing this from him, Penny pulled away to look into his eyes. 

"I know the people we met today were lower-cla.s.s black witches and the ones we are going to meet tomorrow and day after tomorrow, the level of fighting people through is only going to get difficult in time…"

Damien kissed the top of her nose, "You have me. There's nothing to worry about. Don't be a scared mouse. If you look back and see, you will see how far you have come from where you started. If it is the strength you seek you already have it with you and if it is encouragement that you seek, then I am here to cheer you."

"I will make sure nothing happens to you," Penny promised to see him grin. 

"I am sure my mouse would be there with her upgraded weapons ready to beat the s.h.i.+t out of the black witches. Don't forget though, don't trust anyone but your instincts. We don't know what the black witches have prepared. With Ava out of the picture, there is no one to relay information to the witch hunters or black witches who are involved."

Penny pursed her lips, "They must already know that the council had caught on to it. What if there are other council members who are involved?" 

"For now everyone is being closely monitored," said Damien to her, "Even if the council members were taking part in the plans of Creed as well as Ava's work with the council, I doubt they will make a move right now and would instead hibernate knowing well what fate awaits them. And speaking about the same, the woman should be executed by now."

"Damien," Penny spoke his name, her green eyes peering up at him.

"Hm?"

She craned her neck to kiss his lips, and then say, "I love you."

"I love me too," he joked before kissing her back, "I love you too." Smiling, Penny snuggled in his chest to close her eyes while trying to get the sleep she would need. 

Back in Quinn's mansion in the land of Bonelake, Lady Fluerance stood outside the patio watching the stone made bridge. It was midnight and her daughter had not returned back home. It was unlike her to stay outside this long as she often returned home by the hour of supper. 

She stood there waiting for an hour more before her husband, Gerald came to bring her in, "She must be upset over what happened. Give her some time. If she doesn't return by tomorrow afternoon," he had heard about it from his wife on what happened in the morning, "She needs to know to perceive on what is right and wrong as she she no more a child and you need to stop supporting her actions, Fleur."

"But-" the woman frowned to be shushed by her husband, 

"The world is changing and as elders, we need to change too. Damien has marked the girl and you cannot force him, knowing how he is. And coming to Maggie, she deserves a second chance of having a partner who fits her and without us seeing if the person fits our society. She has already been through enough of it, is it so hard for you to accept her happiness?"

"You're telling me to leave the values we grew up with."

"I am asking you to change it in time. When I took you to be my wife, you promised to keep the children happy and it is time you proved your words," saying this he took a step away from her, "Get some sleep. No matter how angry she is, he should be back by tomorrow."