Tangled By Fate

"You said that the snake was breathing fire. Did it move?"

The thug leader tried to recall. "No… the snake didn't move. But the fire around the snake moved. It was a small fireball. It surrounded the snake's head. The fireball made the snake look like it was breathing. It was such an unusual ring."

"That's it? What else do you know about that woman?" Darius urged him.

"Her hair… It was peach black. I've never seen hair like that before," the leader confessed.

"You gave enough description. Was there anything else you forgot to mention?" Darius probed.

"That… that woman told me that if we succeeded in taking care of that noble lady, she would give us another task."

Darius frowned when he heard it. "What task?"

"…I don't know. She didn't say anything else."

"All right, I'm going to report. Behave when I'm gone." Darius put down the whip on the desk and left the cellar.

The thugs screamed from behind.

"Please save us…."

"Please spare me…"

Darius didn't heed their words. He went upstairs and freshened up as he reeked of blood. After that, he went to find Sebastian. He found him in the kitchen as he expected.

"Are you done interrogating?" Sebastian spotted him and asked.

Darius replied, "Yes, I found who the culprit is. Someone paid them fifty gold coins for this job."

It was Sebastian's time to raise an eyebrow. "Fifty gold coins?"

Darius spoke his mind, "I wonder what Catherine did to offend that woman. She wanted Catherine to disappear without a trace. Also, she wanted to give another task to them if they were successful."

Sebastian frowned. "So, who is that woman?" He felt like he needed to find out the culprit badly.

Darius told him, "A woman with dark skin and shiny black hair."

Sebastian sighed. "There are many women out there who look like that, Darius. What's specific?"

Darius took his time to reply, "She had a golden snake ring, and its head was surrounded by a fireball."

Sebastian was stunned. There was no way he wouldn't know who that woman was. "Then it means…"

"The next target was possibly Veronica," Darius concluded.

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"But why Cathy? If her target was me, she should have gotten me first. Why putting Cathy on the line?" Veronica wondered.

She was standing outside Catherine's room. Sebastian and Darius told her what they found out and who could be the next possible target.

"Maybe it was a test," Arthur answered her doubt. He came to see his wife and got to meet the three of them outside, in the corridor.

"I don't understand. Just for a test? Did she want to see if they were capable of doing that? Then why didn't she check it on me first? Cathy is completely innocent. She never harmed anyone. Just because she has a grudge against me, she would go for my friend – I cannot accept this."

The more Veronica thought about it, the angrier she became. "I hope this is just an impulse. As long as she apologizes and promises not to harm again, I'll forgive her."

"This is not you who needs to forgive her," Arthur mentioned. "Catherine was the one who got frightened and suffered. Let her be the judge."

"But that woman is important for the tower, and you know it," Veronica was restless.

Arthur patiently stated, "Nica, a culprit is a culprit. She did something wrong. She will be punished. A person cannot replace others, but a talent can."

Veronica heard him and calmed down. "I'm sorry. My head was so occupied that I kept thinking about myself. I should have realized how Cathy felt. I will let her deal with this. But from what I think, she won't ever forgive her after what she had gone through."

"That would be for the best. Shall we go to sleep?" Arthur asked her.

"Then who will take care of Cathy?" Veronica was concerned. "I need to stay by her side in case she has a nightmare and needs someone to console her."

"I will," Sebastian gathered some courage and declared. "I will stay with her."

'Should I let him stay? What will Cathy think? I'm sure she will be safe with him, and I'm tired after using my healing power. If I don't rest now, I will have a bad morning. I do think Sebastian would be a better choice than Vincent, but it doesn't matter what I think. It's Cathy's choice. I can just give her an opportunity to see how Sebastian can treat her,' Veronica pondered.

She thought this through before replying, "All right, just call for me if something happens."

Arthur glared at his subordinate from behind.

Sebastian gulped as he felt the intense glare. "…I will. I will make sure to call you if something needs your assistance," he promised while thinking in his mind, 'There is no way I will call you, Mistress. If I do, I won't be able to see another day.'

"Good." Veronica was assured and left with her husband.

"Don't tell me you are planning to pounce on her now that you got the chance," Darius remarked when only the two of them were left in the corridor.

"What are you talking about?" Sebastian was flustered.

"What? Did you think you are good enough to hide your love sickness?" Darius grinned. "So, will you attack her while she is sleeping?"

"Only you will do something so dirty to a woman." Blushing hard, Sebastian glared at him.

"Enjoy the night!" Darius sang as he walked away.

His room was at the end of the corridor. Zinnia, Merlin, and Ironin's room were right beside his. Occasionally, they all stayed here. Whenever they worked till late at night, they spent nights here.

Sebastian stared at Darius as though he was drilling his back. Later, he slapped his chest.

'I need to calm down. She bled so much. She is sick. I shouldn't think of anything inappropriate,' he repeatedly told himself.

After that, he entered her room.. His eyes landed on the sleeping beauty.