Bad Blood

Chapter 29

Hayley said" Okay. Good new, Dahlia still doesn't know that we're here. Bad news, she's given us until tomorrow night and then she's coming for Hope and Peter."
Jackson said" Then I say we get the hell out of here."
" Look, Jack, I wanna go as much as you do, but I think. Freya said that Dahlia was drawn to Hope's magic. No matter how far we go, she'll still be able to track us. At least this place is spelled. No one can do magic here. Not Hope and Peter or Dahlia."
" Sure this place spelled... but we've seen bigger magic than this break. I say we run while we can." Hayley put Hope down,
" It's risky either way. She's just so little. It's fair. Witchcraft and magic spells. She didn't ask for any of this. Which means that she wouldn't miss it if it was gone. Jack, maybe that's it. Dahlia can only sense her when she's using magic. So, what if there's a way of stopping her from doing it in the first place?"
" She's just a baby, how we gonna do that?"
" I have an idea. Although... it's dangerous. Especially now."
Aiden said" Let me do it. Look, whatever it is. It's my fault you guys didn't get away yesterday."
Jackson said" That wasn't your fault, Aiden."
" Please? Just give me a chance to make it up to you."
——
There was something growing, I hid behind Hayley, holding onto her stomach.
Hayley said" They're Dahlias. She knows we're here."
I said" I want Uncle Lijah!"
" Shh, shh." She put Hope down, getting on her phone," Oh, come on." She tried to wall phone," I need you to go get help now. Go. Go." We heard the whistling, I looked at Hayley, gulping,
" Hayley?" She looked at me, I want Uncle Lijah! I don't like it here! I want Uncle Lijah!
We saw Dahlia,
She said" Oh, what a beauty. Hello, my children. I-" She stopped at the barrier, I held onto Hayley's stomach, gulping." I was hoping for a more intimate chat, though I sense by entering... you would have me at a considerable disadvantage."
Hayley said" Why don't you come on in? I'd love to show you some hybrid hospitality."
" I only want to see the little ones who's been promised to me. Won't be long now. Surely you've noticed that the spell protecting you is growing weaker?"
" If you lay a finger on them... I swear I will make you suffer in ways even your evil mind can't imagine."
" Hayley, is it? I have no quarrel with you. Ester made this bargain long ago. It's most unfortunate that you've been dragged into it."
" You talk like you don't have a choice. But this is your doing."
" When I give my word, I keep it. And I expect others to do the same. Ester and I made a bargain a long time ago... and so, you see, those children are rightfully mine. The only question that you need ask... is would you deny me, knowing that it would mean your death."
" You're not taking them."
" You're frightened for your children. Heh. I can assure you, anything that Freya may have told you about our live together... she always had a flair for the dramatic."
" Yeah, well, it seems to run in the family."
" Well, then, of course, most of my troubles with Freya... stemmed from
The fact that I came for her so late in life. You know, she had such a strong memory of the family that I took her from. But Hope and Peter are still young. They won't cling to the memory of you or cry for you in their sleep. You can take comfort in the fact that for them it will be as if you never existed." I gripped tighter to Hayley's stomach,
" Come closer. Let's see how a witch with no magic does against me." Hope started crying,
" Oh, you've upset the child. Pity, you ought not waste your last hours with her this way. You should spend your time saying your farewells. Nightfall tomorrow will come all too soon. Goodbye, for now... little ones." I started crying, holding tighter to Hayley's shirt.
———
I heard arguing but I'm too sleepy to wake up, I cuddled closer to Hope.
After a while I felt something wrap around my wrist, I whined, Going to open my eyes,
I heard Jackson whisper" Go back to sleep, little buddy." I yawned and fell back to sleep.