Page 21 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)

“You got involved with a vampire! I won't help you, I won't take part in this.” She pushed the book towards Violette, raising her hands.

“Please, Eve…I need help. It's for the person I love. For my father. He is ill and Dante promised me a cure for my assistance and this spell, in this stupid book, can help with it. I owed him,” the anxiety was creeping into Violette’s voice.

Eve hovered, the words about her father touched her fragile heart. Her brows bent, eyes filled with regret, but the next thing she said was not what Violette had expected.

“I'm sorry, but this is dark magic. I won't do this.”

“It's not like you have a choice,” Dante's words cut the air, his voice cold and slightly distant, bitter as before. There was nothing left of the sweet tone.

“Or rather to say, Violette doesn't really have it, but you do. Formally. You either help us, or I'll burn this forest with your lovely witches to the ground,” he declared, his eyes grew dim.

Violette turned her head the vampire's way as he approached closer. Too stunned to speak, she couldn't believe what she heard.

Eve shuddered. “You can't do it.”

“I'm a vampire, weren't you the one who said I am one of the most terrible creatures to exist?” he sneered darkly.

“You can't. This forest–”

“Protected by magic? Do you think I don’t know? You should have listened to your sisters better when they'd said that meeting a vampire does not lead to good things,” with these words he took out a small brown pouch out of his pocket. “Ever heard about Ignire Omnia ash?”

Awe crossed Eve's face. She turned pale in a twinkling.

“You won't dare…”

“It really won't be difficult for me. I have no sympathy for you and those you know.”

Violette's eyes flew to the little bag in his hand.

The powder that was considered an ash was extremely hard to get, it had a ruinous power so it became forbidden to have.

There were only a few powders like this.

And, she couldn't remember which one the vampire was referring to, she recalled her knowledge of Latin. Ignire Omnia… Burn everything .

Her knees went weak. This powder could engulf everything in a terrible fire, turning this forest into ashes in one night. Dante was playing violently, unfairly. And why in the world was she surprised when it was so clear who he was ?

“Wait! You didn't tell me about it,” she called out. “We didn't agree that way!”

“When will you learn that I don't require your approval for anything, Little Witch?” he simply voiced, not bothered by her protest.

“It's not fair…” The color drained off her face, her jaw tightened. Meanwhile, the witch in an emerald cloak backed away.

“I don't play fair. It's not effective.” His gaze became gloomy. “I need the spell. And I don't care how I'll get it.”

“You're a menace to this world…” Eve whispered, her voice shuddered. “And you…” She looked at Violette, her forehead creased.

Violette swallowed, the witch looked at her with such longing and disappointment. She expected sharp words in her direction, but Eve's tone didn't sound angry. Instead it was miserable and draining.

“I'm sorry for you,” she said and lowered her eyes to the snow just for a second. “I wasn't exaggerating saying vampires are a curse. Get lucky to get rid of this disaster because it seems like he’ll doom you and he’s already halfway through.”

Violette’s heart ached. She didn't want to trick this girl, who was nothing but nice and compassionate…Too naive, she would admit. This girl with dreams in her eyes really wanted to help them but now…It didn't matter anymore. Violette opened a book in front of her face once again .

“It says…” Eve brought her gaze to the vampire watching her and immediately dropped her gray eyes to the yellowed pages of the book.

“In order to break the spell, you need a person who voluntarily agrees to help, without the influence of any charms. This person will lead to the sacred place where the curse will be ready to be broken.

This person is a guide and a key . Without them you won't find the place and you won't come in.”

Violette listened carefully to the witch's speech and did not take her eyes off the pages, which again had emitted warm light.

“The light of the moon, blue iris and resting place of the great love will lead you where you need,” she finished.

“Is this some kind of a riddle?” Violette gasped.

Nobody answered and Eve seemed to be too nervous to raise her gaze to either the vampire, or to Violette.

“You know where it is, right?” A cold voice left Dante's mouth.

Eve pursed her lips, still looking at the book, avoiding any eye contact that would give him a sign of something she wouldn't want him to know.

“Is it here, in the forest?” he asked again.

“There's an iris field on the east…” The girl sobbed.

“You' re free to go, witch,” Dante ground his jaw and Eve's eyes glistened with tears.

A lump stuck in Violette's throat, she couldn't find the words, so she just watched as Eve slipped away. Only a long emerald cloak blowing in the wind flashed between the snowy trees, merging with the forest.

“It was cruel!” As soon as the girl disappeared, Violette snapped. “You didn't tell me you were planning to blackmail her!”

“I said the witches will help us, who cares why?” he said impassively.

“Well, if you're so heartless, why didn't you lure her then or what do you vampires do? Why did you choose to hurt her instead?”

“These witches have protection spells. Such snobs,” he growled and turned to go away.

The anger was boiling in Violette's veins while he just walked away like everything was alright. Like it was fine what he just did.

She was burning a hole in Dante's back with her gawk on their way, keeping silent, however he could feel how she stared at him with such malice.

“If you think I will feel guilty because you stare at me then your attempts are pathetic.”

“No, I'm just trying to make you uncomfortable,” she scowled.

“Who told you I'm uncomfortable with you staring at me? Do it as long as you want if my appearance makes you feel better,” he simply aired.

Such shameless audacity to tease her after everything that happened.

“Oh, you have a big ego if you think I'm enjoying looking at you,” Violette grumbled.

“Sure, keep telling yourself that before bed. Maybe if you say it often enough, it’ll come true.”

And she could deny it hundreds of times, but in truth he was right – she was enjoying watching him.

She was wondering what he looked like under this mask.

The silhouette of his face seemed sharp and even.

She couldn't see his chin and nose, and she could barely make out what his lips looked like, but for some reason she assumed that he was incredibly handsome.

Probably because his facial features seemed highly sophisticated to her.

His eyes were so languid, and no matter how dark they were, she wouldn't call them frightening, even if they reminded her of darkness that made the stars in the sky dim.

Something sad and unsearchable was in it.

And his long dark lashes complemented his thick expressive brows.

He had this cold and yet gentle gaze which made him highly charming and interesting.

Maybe it was a mystery that was never meant to be solved – the worst are always the most handsome.

And Violette wasn't better than any girl, she could easily fall for his looks if she hadn't known the truth behind them.

She tried to think it's because he was a vampire and he probably had this vampire charm that makes him this captivating.

This was just magic…beautiful deceptive magic that lured her into thinking he could easily be one of the most beautiful men her eyes had ever witnessed.

She didn't have any other explanation, she hadn't even seen half of his face, there was no way she was not enchanted.

She didn't want to talk to him, she wasn't signing up for lying and using people for her benefits.

She wasn't cruel and she didn't want to be.

What they did to that witch was ruthless and the way Dante wasn't feeling that he did something bad was driving her even more crazy, making the guilt dig its claws deeper into her skin.

She wasn't responsible for his actions but it felt like it was half her fault and it made her feel horrible.

She could stop it all, she kept telling herself but the truth is she didn't know how. Could she really?