That woman wasn't ordinary! A trickster spirit, perhaps, who was trying to have fun by scaring a human.
Elvira grunted and ran towards that woman. "That's it, spirit! You're dead for messing with a witch! You have wasted my time, and now be ready to face some deadly consequences!"
What she saw next stunned her because the woman before her turned into its spirit form with red glowing eyes, but it had a familiar face. It was her friend Charlotte.
"It's me, Elvira!" she said.
"Charlotte!" Elvira exclaimed. "I am so glad you're okay! I knew you were smart enough to survive that forest wizard ambush!"
"I am glad you got out of there unharmed, as well." Charlotte's face turned grim. "I survived, but wizards captured my entire family! You have to help me out."
"That's terrible, but how can I help?" Elvira asked.
"I saw your sister Valaine, and she told me you're here to spy on the wizard that attacked my clan that day. I know he is keeping them somewhere! Let's kill him together!" Charlotte's eyes were burning with rage.
"Calm down! We can't do that because I am on a mission, but I'll do what I can to free your family," Elvira assured her friend.
"I am sorry for attacking you with my problem right away," began Charlotte. "I have been looking for you and my family for weeks."
"It's okay. We'll find a solution. Just don't ever set foot in Devil's Groove Forest. They are keeping a watch."
"Thanks for warning me," said Charlotte. "But I think I am the only one who survived that attack. I have been scouring the lands for a while now, but no one has crossed my path. Except for my clan, your coven is the only place where I know people. I went to your village and stayed there for a few days until Enchantress Lilith came to take her daughters."
"Oh, no!" Elvira covered her mouth. "She must have been very cruel to you!"
A red tear fell out of her glowing eyes of the same color. "Valaine and Leona took care of me and begged her to let me stay with them, but she told me that King Agror's kingdom was no place for a lowlife like me. Then she asked me to leave before she would have me removed from her land by force."
"She is a heartless woman, Charlotte." Elvira moved forward to place a hand on her friend's shadowy arm. "Don't take her insults to your heart."
"I know, but I was worried for you, too. You're lucky to have the gift of concealed power. It was courageous of you to accept a mission to spy on a ruthless enemy, but what you're doing here? Did they find out about you?"
"No." Elvira wasn't even sure what to tell her. "I came with him here today for a reason."
Charlotte looked around the woods in fear. "He is here?"
"Don't worry! He is somewhere else in the town. He is meeting someone here today. I made up a lie to come and find someone familiar in this town because I needed to send a message to my uncle. I would use magic, but since King Agror's kingdom is heavily guarded, I don't think anything could reach my uncle before going through the watchful eye of his guards."
"What's the message?" asked Charlotte. "How is he letting you stay with him? Are you sleeping with him? Poor Elvira, it must be terrible to bed him!"
"I am not sleeping with him. It's something different, but I think he is interested in me, but I don't have time to explain everything. You need to take this message to my village and find someone reliable to carry it to my uncle. It's urgent," said Elvira.
"Okay. What is it?" The spirit asked.
"King Agror wants to kill me," Elvira replied.
"What!"
"Yes, he sent warlocks to murder me. I survived because of the wizards, but those warlocks took his name to save their lives," Elvira apprised.
"You should come with me, Elvira. It's not safe here. What's the point of staying here if it was only a death trap?" Charlotte insisted.
"I can't leave! I have found an opportunity to get a cure for my curse, Charlotte. The wizards have ample knowledge about cures for witchcraft, and we need to free your family. How would we ever be able to do that if I left right now? So, please, take this message and make sure it reaches my uncle."
"Elvira, it's dangerous to stay. Are you sure there isn't anything you have found out about them yet that we can use to get what we want?" asked Charlotte.
"No!" that word came out of Elvira's mouth like a reflex. But why? Just a while back, she attempted to flee with a revelation about Wivior being Efeus' grandson. Then why was she not willing to tell Charlotte? She was only sexually attracted to him, but why did she want to protect him then?
"Nothing significant. The wizards have the red witch killing staff in their hideout. I don't even know where their hideout is because it's well hidden," Elvira added.
"Okay." The spirit had no reason to doubt her loyalty. "You must promise to meet me again here. Do what you need to cure your curse, then return to this town. I'll bring your uncle here to talk to you. Please try to find out anything you can about my family."
"I promise," Elvira gave her word.
Should Elvira tell her uncle about Efeus's grandson? She reconsidered that idea. It would be so much easier to capture him on the road. Those words sounded horrible in her mind! Her kind would tear him apart if they ever caught him. She couldn't do that to Wivior. They would need to find another way to cease the war.
Unsure of her feelings, she didn't want to hurt him. Whatever relationship they had was the reason she owed that.