Chapter 22
The Hidden Truth
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"You're kidding, right?" Jane said, a faint tremor of fear creeping into her voice. She forced a laugh, though it came out hollow. "You can't be serious. You're just saying this to mess with me. Cater saved me—he's a good guy. He's nothing like his father! What gives you the right to call him a Flesh Eater?"
The room fell silent, the weight of Jane's words hanging in the air. The three witches exchanged glances before Lady Maria stepped forward, her expression cold and unyielding.
"Your friend is a demon, Jane," Maria said sharply. "A hybrid—half demon, half vampire. Both sides of his nature are fighting for control, and neither side is pure. Tell me, Jane, have you ever wondered how he feeds? Do you think he drinks the blood of animals? You're wrong."
Jane stood frozen, her fists clenching.
Maria continued, her tone harsh. "Cater doesn't feed like you think. What if the monster that's been terrorizing Avalor is closer than you realize? He's not the savior you believe him to be. Once the humans are gone, we witches will rise to take control. And Cater—well, he'll be the weapon that paves our path."
Jane blinked, stunned by the sheer audacity of Maria's words. And then she laughed—a sharp, bitter sound.
"You have some nerve," Jane spat. "You call me a traitor, but look at you! You're worse than anything you accuse me of being. My mother was the leader of the witches' coven before she died. I was supposed to take her place. But you, Maria—you labeled me a traitor, stole my position, and forced me to live in hiding among humans. You think you can come into my room, accuse my friend of being a Flesh Eater, and threaten to take my powers? Over my dead body."
Maria's lips curled into a thin, cruel smile. She stepped closer to Jane, her eyes narrowing. "You're blinded by loyalty, little girl," she said. "But fine. Let's make a deal. If you can prove your friend isn't the Flesh Eater—and if he doesn't kill the prince—then I'll leave you alone. Your powers will remain yours. But if you can't stop him, then I'll take your powers, and Cater will die. Is that clear?"
Jane's laughter softened into a bitter chuckle. She leaned closer, her defiance unwavering.
"You seem to forget one thing, Maria," Jane said. "Cater can't be killed. The Sword of Death is the only thing that can harm him. You witches might be powerful, but even you don't have access to that weapon."
Maria didn't respond. She simply straightened, her expression unreadable. With a wave of her hand, she turned and headed toward the swirling portal that had reappeared behind her. Clara and Sara followed without a word.
As the three witches disappeared into the portal and it closed behind them, Jane remained rooted to the spot, her mind spinning.
"They're lying," she whispered, her voice trembling. "There's no way Cater could be the Flesh Eater. He's been trying to find it… not—" She couldn't even finish the sentence.
Her knees buckled, and she sank onto the edge of her bed, burying her face in her hands. "It can't be true, right?" she muttered to herself, trying desperately to convince herself. "It's not possible…"
But as the witches' accusations echoed in her mind, doubt began to creep in.
Finally, she pushed herself off the bed, her resolve hardening. "There's only one way to know for sure," she said under her breath.
Jane stormed out of her room, heading toward Cater's quarters. Her steps were hurried, her heart pounding as her thoughts raced. But as she rounded a corner, she was abruptly stopped by Alex, the head chef, flanked by two castle guards.
"There she is," Alex said smugly, pointing at Jane. "The little troublemaker who dares insult Prince Alric. By the king's orders, she's to be punished."
Jane blinked, confusion flashing across her face. "What are you talking about?" she asked.
Alex sneered. "Don't play dumb. You called Prince Alric a disgrace to Avalor, didn't you? Now, you'll answer for your disrespect."
The two guards stepped forward to seize her, but Jane raised her hand, stopping them in their tracks. She took a step closer to Alex, her voice low and dangerous.
"Framing me now, are we?" Jane said, a sly smile spreading across her lips. "Well, go ahead. Take me to the king. I'll gladly tell him all about your little obsession with his son. I'm sure he'll love to hear how his head chef has been drooling over the prince behind his back."
Alex froze, her smug expression faltering. "You wouldn't dare," she hissed.
Jane stepped even closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Try me."
For a moment, Alex glared at her, her face red with anger. Then, she turned to the guards and waved them off. "It seems I made a mistake," she said through gritted teeth. "You're free to go."
The guards hesitated, but when Jane nodded, they walked away.
As Alex turned to leave, Jane called after her, her tone mocking. "You might've won this round, but next time, don't underestimate me. I may be a servant, but I'm not someone you can push around."
Alex didn't respond. She simply stomped away, her frustration evident in every step.
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Once Alex was gone, Jane continued toward Cater's room, her determination growing stronger. She pushed the door open and locked it behind her, taking a deep breath as she scanned the room.
Casting a spell, her eyes glowed faintly as she searched for anything out of place. Her gaze landed on something under the bed—a bag half-hidden in the shadows.
Jane pulled it out carefully and placed it on the bed. Her hands trembled as she opened it. Inside, she found Cater's clothes, torn and stained with dirt. But as she dug deeper, her breath caught in her throat.
At the bottom of the bag lay a blood-stained cloth.
"No…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her hands shook as she picked it up, staring at the dark red stains. The room spun around her as realization sank in.
"It can't be," she murmured. "Cater… is the Flesh Eater."
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