Back in the forest ~~~~
"What brings you here, my Highness?" The witch asked, her face partially hidden inside the hoodie of her cloak, as she sat near the fireplace, stirring a pot.
It was a typical witch site, the one that they portray in children's books.
Maximus couldn't help but look at the grandeur of the place that was hidden behind the Hut facade.
"I have a few questions about a couple of things, Amanda. And I need you to change this ring. The time is almost up," Maximus sat on one of the chairs in front of her, his aura changing completely, and the witch turned to him, a soft smirk playing on her lips.
"And here I thought my Highness came to meet me. Guess, we witches are only remembered when the royals want something," Amanda whispered before she bent and poured a clear liquid into the pot.
Maximus noticed how the liquid vanished into thin air, and the witch was stirring an empty pot. This wasn't the first time he saw something like this.
"If I were you, I wouldn't look into a witch's Magna Pot even if that witch is my friend. You never know what kind of magic and trouble she is stirring," The witch said, still not raising her gaze at the man.
After a couple of seconds when the man in front of the witch didn't say anything, she sighed.
"So, tell me. What questions brought you to my hidden Hut?" Amanda said.
"It's -" Maximus started, but before he could speak another word, Amanda raised her finger in the air to motion for complete silence.
She finally took her hoodie off, her green eyes not looking into the dangerous man's eyes as she looked around, sensing the weird aura he brought with him.
Amanda sniffed the air before clicking her fingers, making a crystal ball appear out of nowhere.
"Do you smell something?" Maximus asked, unbothered as he leaned back in his seat.
It was just like that all the time. Every time he would come to meet her, she would smell the air around him and tell him what kind of company he was staying with and if it was right or not.
She tapped the crystal ball, her brows quirked before a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"You have come with a guest. A very unexpected and untouchable guest, I must mention," The witch said, confusing Maximus.
"What do you mean by an untouchable guest?" He asked.
Amanda didn't say anything. She just moved her index finger on the crystal ball, her pupils dilated as she looked at the girl scooting down to catch her rabbit.
Seeing her witch's rabbit that doesn't go anywhere near any species, going towards this girl who had extended her hand towards it, Amanda's eyes beamed.
"The god's favorite," Amanda whispered, a weird maniacal smile appearing on her lips as she kept looking, ignoring the man sitting in front of her completely.
"Can I meet her? Only a touch would be enough. I won't hurt her," Amanda finally looked up, unable to keep the excitement off her face.
"What do you mean by god's favorite? Even I feel an otherworldly presence around her, and it almost feels like ..." Maximus paused.
"Home?" Amanda asked, amusement dancing in her eyes, and the man's eyes turned dark. He glared at the witch, a clear indication that she should choose her next words very carefully if she didn't want to stir her own fingers in this pot.
"Illusion," Maximus corrected her.
Amanda smiled.
"For a man like my Highness, who doesn't show any reactions easily, to glare at me like this, I am sure he has felt something different about the girl too. Has he?" Amanda asked.
Maximus didn't say anything, but the answer lay in his silence.
The witch didn't say anything for quite some time before she tapped her crystal ball again.
Something cloudy moved in that crystal ball and she sighed. He couldn't see it, but she definitely could.
It was as if she saw something sacred, the witch raised her gaze to him, her gaze landing on the door behind him.
"Do you believe in second chances and rebirths, my Highness?" The witch asked, her green eyes looking straight at him this time.
Maximus didn't comment on anything. If his curse was true, if the monster living inside him was true, if what that Gypsy told him was true, then rebirths were true too.
"Do you perhaps believe in destiny?" Amanda asked, and Maximus's eyes started to turn amber.
"Don't cross your limits, Amanda. If I were you, I wouldn't say this forbidden word in front of me. You know I am not a man who is born with a destiny," Maximus clenched his fists around the couch, his strength breaking the armrest and the witch in front of him sighed.
She stood from her place and walked to one of the shelves where some hidden ornaments were.
"What do you want to know, my Highness? There is a reason you brought her with you. You are looking for answers too, but you are not ready to hear them," Amanda commented before she turned to him.
"Your ring is wearing off. Let me give you something new this time. It would be more effective in keeping your identity," Amanda brought what looked like a blue stone engraved in gold patterns over it that matched his eye color.
"The tear of an angel," Amanda said, placing the locket on a red velvet cloth in front of him.
"Wear it. I collected it, especially for you," Amanda said before looking back at the crystal ball where the girl looked a bit scared of something.
"I don't know if this is the answer you are looking for, but here is the hint I can give you," she whispered.
"When the voices call you, you shouldn't be pulled down by them.
If you try to unbox them slowly, you will only hurt yourself and no one.
This is a secret of the afterlife, scars never fade, the illusions might be the truth, the truth might be a mirage.
If all you need is love, it's hidden, if all you need is passion, it's out there for you.
Protect what belongs to you, your love is fooled," The witch said while looking at the crystal ball.
Maximus looked at the witch and when she didn't add anything else, he grabbed the locket.
"Thank you for the locket," Maximus stood from his place.
"I am just repaying my debt and showing gratefulness for saving my life," Amanda stood before looking at the man.
"If I am crossing my lines this time too, please pardon my suggestion, but if I were you, I would keep this girl protected under my wings. She is not what you think, and what she is, you won't ever be able to fathom," Amanda said, following the man towards the exit.
"Can I at least get a strand of her hair?" Amanda requested, and Maximus froze in his place.
A strand of Delilah's hair?
"If you as much as stepped close to this girl, Delilah, I will ensure you are drinking your own blood while cooking your own meat," Maximus threatened the witch before he left the hut.
He saw Delilah facing the other side with a stick in her hand, her form trembling and sighed.
~~~~~~~~
Maximus looked at the garden, his gaze subconsciously going towards Delilah's room.
'What are you hiding Miss Rosewood? What are those energies around you? What was that golden glow in your eyes? What did you see that night? Who was behind you?' Maximus thought about all the questions before he drew the blinds, taking off his ring, and making Jacob, who was eating his food silently, choke.
His Highness removed his ring? But why?