Claudette

Atasha’s Point of View

It was at this moment when I questioned my decision why I put my trust on this white witch so easily. I recalled trusting some people in the past because even though they flaunted their bad behaviors toward me, I still managed to give them the benefit of the doubt as I wanted to acknowledge even the small amount of kindness they had.

I was that kind of werewolf. I was used to giving people chances, which only contributed to all the worst things in my life. I could not understand why I was like this… perhaps because I was unloved and unwanted for a long time, so when I encountered a lot of people, I wanted them to love and accept me?

I could feel the rage creeping in me slowly and into my veins, my lips pressed together and had formed a thin line and my first clenching tightly.

I wished I could partly shift right now and attack her, but I knew I wasn’t in the right place to do it. Elijah then held me in my arm, pulled and covered me as if protecting me from the witch.

“We don’t want any trouble, witch,” he said, seemingly trying to negotiate with her. “If you don’t intend to help us, then might as well free us now.”

The witch didn’t answer and only glanced at me with a blank expression on her face. Elijah’s grip on me went tight. It was as if he was only trying to control himself, keeping his emotion, especially rage, at bay. But any moment, he was prepared to attack the witch and would never hesitate about it.

“If you ever lay your finger on her, I will tear you apart with my own teeth,” Elijah said warily, almost like a low growl.

“Impressive,” the witch finally spoke, her voice filled with a sarcastic tone. “Fret not. I don’t want any trouble either, which is why I led you to my place.”

“Then what happened to the door?” I pointed my index finger to the area where the door we used to enter here faded from. “It was gone. Can you explain it? How can we trust you if you’re making us feel that you’re trapping us.”

“Don’t worry. Even if you aren’t here, that door will fade on the ground. That is how I set it up so no strangers will trespass in my home,” she said. “To put you at ease, let me introduce myself to both of you instead. My name is Claudette, and I am one of the witches who has been dispatched to this world to assist the Highest Priestess.”

Elijah and I looked at each other. So this witch was somewhat relevant, indeed.

“Both of you are werewolves, which made me a little concerned because you are not supposed to be here, spying, in witches territory. If the Highest Priestess discovered that you were here, you will face a dreadful fate far worse than being cursed,” she added then glanced at me. “I am certain of that.”

I became anxious as every word she said dripped off warnings. I was all too aware of the possible consequences but hearing it from a witch was far different. It doubled the terror engulfing my entire body, and I couldn’t ease myself.

“Are you trying to threaten me? Will the Highest Priestess you mentioned serve my death?” I asked through my gritted teeth.

“I am afraid it will be worse than death. What could possibly be worse than being cursed with the incapacity to transform into a werewolf? Once the Highest Priestess finds out about you, she will curse you. You will receive a punishment for coming in here to seek justice. Receiving a lifetime punishment of unending difficulties in life is comparable to receiving a death sentence…” She smirked and shook her head while crossing her arms against her chest. “Until the end of your final breath, you will be tortured by anguish and grief, and you will not be able to quickly escape it not unless you are brave enough to kill yourself. And if the Highest Priestess is in the mood, she might cast a twisted spell.” Then she glanced at Elijah. “That the only one who could end your agony is none other than the love of your life.”

“Stop talking nonsense…” Elijah said firmly.

"Isn't it a terrible twist of fate?" She asked and laughed a bit.

"Claudette, please. Just tell us why you brought us here,” I inquired.

She walked to the chair made of stone and settled herself on there then looked at us. “Don’t be afraid. Like I said, I don’t want any trouble. We are here to only have a conversation. Have a seat.”

She pointed to the stoned chair across her. Elijah still was not moving and so did I. I looked at the white witch, Claudette, contemplating whether she was trustworthy or not. She seemed to have a fierce attitude and slightly rude behavior, unlike Devon who was soft and friendly.

“Elijah, what do you think?”

He inhaled sharply, brows still furrowed as he looked at Claudette. He did not want to let our guard down, that was for sure. I held his hand and squeezed it, which made him turn to me. I looked at him intently, signaling him that we should try to converse with the witch first, hear whatever she would tell us and then from there, we could decide what we would do.

“It’s alright, we will only talk to her,” I assured him.

“But if she makes one wrong move, I swear I won’t hesitate to fight her.”

We heard Claudette’s laugh. “Werewolves will always be werewolves… You tend to bring war whenever you feel like doing so. Negotiation isn’t really one of your options, that’s why you battle against one pack to another. You are all born warfreaks.”

“You can’t comment on something you don’t have the slightest idea with,” Elijah told her.

“Stop it, will you? Can we just talk without including conversation that will enrage each party?” I butted in. We haven’t started our conversation but these two appeared to want to start a fight already.

“Fine,” Elijah replied and walked to the chair across the witch then sat on it.

Claudette then glanced at me, jerked her head a bit, gesturing me to sit as well. I sighed, then sat beside Elijah whose glare could definitely kill if only it was possible.

“Can we put our trust in you?” I asked Claudette, a bit hesitant but also curious at the same time.

“I should’ve done something to harm you from the start but I didn't. It’s up to you if you will trust me or not.” She let out a huge sigh. “I want to talk to you because you mentioned that Devon helped you.”

“How are you related to Devon?” Elijah inquired, his curiosity was piqued.

“Devon was the only witch who I befriended with in the past. We have been best friends since we were young. We grew up in the same neighborhood in Witch Mountain and learned how to perform magic and cast a spell together as we want to be successful witches in the future. However, she decided to get away from Witch Mountain and I haven’t heard about her since then until I found both of you here. She is someone who’s very precious to me, which is why I can’t harm both of you,” she expressed herself. “I thought she’s dead already. Even her mother, who fled from Witch Mountain and decided to work here, didn't want to tell me where her daughter went.”

My eyes widened upon hearing her last statement. “What exactly do you mean by this? Is it true that Devon’s mother is just here working?” I asked.

“Devon's mother is the Highest Priestess of this world," she explained. "She is the one who leads us here and is the one who established this underground world for witches.”

"That validates my suspicions, but I was surprised to learn that her mother is the Highest Priestess of this world," I explained. “All this time, Devon had been waiting for her mother to return. She even thought that her mother had already died after meeting with some werewolves in the past. I bet she will be happy once she finds out that her mother is still alive.”

I felt a small amount of excitement inside my chest as I wanted Devon to be happy. She missed her mother and even though she didn’t say it verbally, I’ve seen through her eyes that she yearned for a mother’s love.

But then, the memory of a woman who I saw in the church when I was young started to linger in my thoughts. It gave me a sheer determination to see the Highest Priestess myself for me to figure out if she and the woman who I suspected that had cursed me was the same witch or not. I needed to do everything to see her personally, and I would do it at all costs.

“Claudette, is it possible to set up a meeting for me and the Highest Priestess? I want to see her to resolve my issue…” I said.

The expression on her face suddenly changed. It was as if she became upset when I stated my concern.

“You are not meant to see the Highest Priestess!” she yelled at me.

“You don’t have to yell at her!” Elijah complained.

“But it is important. I badly want to know if she is the same witch who cursed me back in the Silver Moon Pack territory and if she is the one I am looking for, I want to know how I can cure myself…” I told Claudette, my emotions were becoming high that my eyes almost got teary. “I want to see the Highest Priestess, not just to resolve my own issue, but also for me to let her know that her daughter, Devon, adored her and had been waiting for her visit. She was living alone in her secret place, not knowing whether or not her mother was still alive, after she had traveled to the werewolf land to provide some services. She needs to know that her daughter has been waiting for her all this time!”

Claudette seemingly gave it some thoughts before she nodded at us. She sighed in defeat, as if this whole thing was against the rules but then she had no other choice but to help us given our situation.

“Fine, but make sure no one else in the other priestesses would see the both of you. You have no idea how dangerous it is to be right here…” she said.

I was about to say something but I was forced to stop when the ground began to shake. Claudette uttered a magical spell and in just a seconds, a new door appeared behind her.

“Come with me,” she said as she stood up.

Elijah and I were both confused but chose to follow her lead. As soon as we entered the new door, we were routed to another house. A plain rock cave transformed into a breathtaking living room with a high ceiling and an overstuffed brown sofa with a large picture of an attractive lady on the wall. The chamber was illuminated by a large chandelier and some floating candles, similar to those I'd seen previously at the wooden cabin.

“Let's get this done together. I will help you prepare for your meeting with the Highest Priestess. Additionally, I wish for my friend Devon and her mother to reunite, but I knew Devon would be adamantly opposed to the thought of her mother becoming a priestess in this cult. Please help us convince her to return to where she belongs. In return, I will guarantee to help you convince the Highest Priestess to help you remove the curse that was casted on you…”