Hello, my dear neice

Isabella's Point Of View

"Did you miss me, my little Bella." She yakked. I could see flashbacks of the carnage from the night when my mother and the entire Black Rose coven fought her trying to protect me. The day she killed my mother in cold blood, right in front of me.

I shook in uncontrollable anger, my eyes burning in rage.

"Delilah." I called out her name like acid dancing on tongue, watching her baneful smirk grow longer and wider.

"I'm going to kill you!" I grit out furiously, pulling out the cutlery knife I managed to sneak under my sleeve during dinner earlier. This was supposed to help me with my escape but fuck that, I would rather dedicate it to gutting her throat out.

I was going to make today be her last, in honor of the Black Rose coven. In honor of my family.

I lunged at her with remarkable speed, swinging for her throat. She easily stopped my attack by using her magic, cursing my right hand to feel so heavy that it couldn't move a muscle. It was completely immobile.

There was a vast amount of dark magical energy washing off of her. I have never seen a witch with this much power before. It was so dark and powerful.

Now, I was just inches away from her, staring face to face at the monster that destroyed my life. The monster who took away my family from me. She was the reason why I had to grow up as an orphan, I lost everyone I cared about because of this wretch, I wasn't going to rest until I killed her.

"Come on my little Bella, that is no way to greet your only aunt. I thought you would be thrilled to see me, just like the good old times when you would always run into my arms." She grinned, her obsidian black eyes glistening with an emotion I couldn't decrypt.

That's it. There were no emotions in it. It was just hollow and an empty void of nothingness.

"You slaughtered my entire family. Our family!" I scream, trying desperately to set my right hand free so I could gut open her throat. But my hand was unmoved, as it just pointed the cutlery knife at her. I could feel her magic hold it still.

I always dreamed about this moment when I finally faced her, I always imagined I would make her beg me to kill her which I would do eventually, but after making her beg for an easy death. But now I was at a complete disadvantage because I didn't have my magic.

"But darling, that was sixteen years ago, don't tell me you still haven't gotten over all that." She spouted mockingly. I grunt, trying to get my right hand to move a bit, but it was still stuck and without my magic I couldn't undo her dark spell on me.

Fuck this!

I dropped the silver cutlery in my right hand, catching it in a swift motion with my left hand which wasn't influenced by Delilah's magic.

Immediately with precision and speed, I swing at her neck again with the weapon in my left grip. I watched her eyes widen as my weapon came in contact with her throat, regretfully only managing to graze her neck a little before she sidestepped.

I groan as Delilah tossed me against a tall pillar in the room with a wave of her hand, I stifle a grunt, as my head aches badly. I didn't care about the pain that haunted my back on impact, I quickly picked myself back up determined to get the job done one way or the other.

I wasn't going to stop until I killed that witch tonight.

"I'm going to kill you!!!" I scream, heading to her.

"Enough!" She snarled, focusing her enchanting gaze on me. I crippled down on the ground, unable to move, it felt as if I was being crushed by a big Mack truck. She was using her magic to keep me from moving.

"And I thought you would be excited to see your aunt after all these long years." She shortened. "I had almost forgotten how much of a spoiled little brat you were." She couched bitterly, all I could do was scream out at her in rage. The pain and rage from not being able to do anything to that bitch was eating me up. I wanted badly to just wrap my hands around her throat and choke all the air out of her.

"Ahhh… I'm going to kill you! You sick bitch!" I chided angrily.

"Watch your tone Isabella Rosa Santacruz, your mother would be disappointed if she could see the way you turned out to be." She scorned, moving her finger over to the fresh cut I just made on her neck, healing the wound immediately with her dark powers.

"What did you do to Diego?" I questioned her. I knew she must be manipulating him somehow, he wouldn't be supporting her if he knew the things she did to his family.

"I didn't need to do much, I just helped him let go of the memories that caused him pain. Replacing his memories with those of you going wild and completely out of control then killing the entire coven." She snickered. That is why he hates me so much. His memories were altered to believe that I was the cause of his pain. If only I could show him the truth and get him to believe it was Delilah that killed our family, not me.

"How could you do that to him? You are even worse than the devil." I spat, feeling disgusted that she was capable of so much damage to his mind just to use him as a weapon. This was beyond diabolical.

"I wouldn't say that because I've met the devil and he is far worse than you think and closer too." She grinned. What did she mean closer? She couldn't be serious about the literal devil being close by, right?

"Besides, I came to discuss much more important issues with you, my little niece, so listen." She moved slowly over to the bed, her dark red robe cascading behind her as she moved.

She didn't seem to change from the last time I saw her. She didn't seem to age either, she must have discovered the magical formula for a longevity spell. She still had that void and emotionless look in her eyes like she did many years ago.

On the bosom her neck was the onyx pendant, the one Yennefer stole for her and the same lantrix used to imprison the Dark one, Namek. I needed to find a way to get it back, it was the prison used to trap the Dark one, and Namek cannot be set free from her prison. No matter what.

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say, I only just want to rip out that heart of yours."

"Oh, but you will want to hear this one. This story has a lot to do with you so listen very carefully you little brat." She asserted, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Don't you want to know the reason why I went that far as to kill our coven, our family. Your mother." She stated and I let out a little laugh.

"Reason?" I repeated.

"I don't care about whatever reason you think you have. You are just a deranged monster, and that's all there is to know." I grunt as a reply. I didn't need to know whatever reason she had, nothing could justify what she did.

"I wasn't always this way, you know. Even you would turn out this way if your own mother treated you like you were the devil. Your grandmother, Rosália, hated me, she never missed an opportunity to let me know that I was never going to be good enough. Not good enough to take her place. Not good enough to lead the coven. Not even good enough to be called her daughter. She saw me as a monster so I became one." She lipped, her eyes fixed on mine.

"But then I completely lost it when she chose Amelia, my younger sister, to take over the Black Rose coven instead of me. Our bloodline for generations to generations always followed the law of primogeniture, so it was unfair that I wouldn't get anything. I was the eldest, I deserved to be her rightful heir and not your mother, such injustice." She spilled angrily.

"See that made me angry, if they wouldn't give me the power I rightfully deserved then I'll just find another way to get it...

So I traveled, leaving the coven, that's why I was called the renegade witch, the witch that was never in one place. In my travels I learnt about black magic, sacrificial spells to gain more powers. But no matter how much power I consumed, it still wasn't enough. It was never enough to satisfy my deep cravings." Delilah drew in a quick breath.

"Then I started researching about the Santacruz bloodline and I discovered that our family had a thing for creating some of the darkest witches in history. I stumbled upon an old ancestor of ours, Namek of Gadot.

She was the same as me. Both of our mothers never gave a damn about us and we had an unsatisfiable desire for more power. And I discovered she was able to attain such power and that power could be mine if I could just let her out of her box." She paused, her knavish smile fixed.

"So that was why you killed everyone that night. You did it to set Namek free." I utter in realization.

"Correct. A spell to free the dark one takes a lot of dark powers, little niece, even if I absorbed the family's ancestral powers and all of your powers as the gifted one it still wouldn't be enough. I needed to channel the blood of all the innocent witches I killed that night, but I couldn't in the end because your mother hid you and the pendant. But do you know what else is powerful enough to give enough power to crack open the cage--?" She asked, expectant of an answer.

"The Blood Moon." I mouthed, everything finally making more sense to me now. That is why I was kidnapped right before the Blood Moon. They also planned to channel its power to set the Dark one free.

"Clever girl." She smirked. " The Blood Moon is drenched in the blood of countless lives-- both innocent and guilty-- it has all the power I need to set the Dark one free and when she is free, I will become the greatest witch to ever walk this realm."

"How does all of this have anything to do with me?" I queried, failing to see what any of this had to do with me.

"You still don't get it, child, it has every little thing to do with you. Didn't it ever irk you why it is that you are the spitting image of the Dark one? You are the reincarnation of Namek. You are nature's loophole, you hold the keys to the universe and also the key to setting the dark one free in your blood." I stared at her, finally putting all the pieces together. This is why I'm here.

'BLOOD IS KEY.'

The inscriptions in the Grimoire, this is what it meant.

I'm here to set the dark one free, because my blood is Namek's, and the only key to open the pendant lantrix.

My Blood was the key to unleash the Darkness!

"Soon the whole world will experience a change, and you have a huge role to play in the new world order that will come. Your blood will awaken the Dark one." Delilah used her sharp nails to slice open my neck. I groan a little at the stinging pain. Crimson blood flowed down from my neck.

"Contra le va sa ne sous…" Delilah whispered a spell and the blood levitated, pouring into a small glass container she held.

"This will do for now. Sleep well my, little niece." She waved her finger then left. Immediately she was gone, I was able to move again. Her spell on me was broken.

What my aunt was planning was crazy, I couldn't let her succeed with her plans. I wouldn't have a part to play in ending the world, whatever I had to do I needed to get out of here, and fast. I needed to escape before the Blood Moon.

*****

I had a dream. I knew it was a dream, because it was too good to be true. In the dream I was with Dimitri, soaking in his embrace and my head was buried in his warm soft chest. I felt at peace. For the first time in my entire lifetime I felt true happiness.

Then a terrifying feeling crawled up my neck, disrupting the air. And just like that everything began to fade away one after the other, and slowly I was captured in Darkness.

The day came fast, I didn't sleep a bit at night. I couldn't, the dream I had was an indication that I was going to lose everything I had. So I was up all night thinking about the plans my aunt Delilah had.

If Namek ever gets out, the entire world will be plunged in chaos and darkness. She will destroy everything and there would be no one powerful enough to stop her. I had to do everything I could to make sure she never gets out.

I was told by Heath that breakfast would be ready in a few minutes. I also discovered he was Rafael's beta and the second in command. I quickly got dressed in a white tank top and denim jeans. I was heading to the dining hall, when we were stopped on our way by Diego. He was wearing a long black cloak, his snow white hair curled to perfection around his face.

He gave his usual cold and domineering stare to Heath. "I need a word with her." He demanded, his tone icy and sharp. The other wolves growled lowly threatened by him, just waiting to attack the lonesome wizard, as if they stood a chance in a fight against him. Heath after a minute of deliberating, finally gave in with a grunt, he made a smart decision by ordering the wolves to stand down.

"You have just five minutes, wizard." Heath spluttered, his eyes sending a threatening message.

Diego led me into an empty room, instantly spelling the room so that no one could listen in on us or get in.

"Are you alright?" His voice finally broke the cold silence.

"What do you care if I'm okay or not? After all, you already told me I didn't mean anything to you, in fact you threatened to kill me the next time we met." I scoffed. He stared at me with his unrecognizable blue eyes. I wish I could read through his warded thoughts, so I could know how he felt inside.

"I-" he paused. "I Just thought I should check on you but it seems you are being taken care of by Rafael and his dogs."  He took a step back, headed towards the door.

"Do you know what Delilah is planning?" I ask, I didn't want to believe that he would be okay with what she was up to. I don't know why but I still wanted to believe that there is still hope for him somewhere. He wasn't far gone.

"Yes---" he hummed. I stared at him in disgust.

"And how can you be okay with this? How can you allow her to set the Darkness free? You know what will happen if the Dark one gets out, everything will die and there will be no light even in the sky." I screamed at him and all I got back from him was a dead blank stare. He knew how much death and chaos would ensue and he was okay with that. He didn't care.

"How can you?!" I half yelled. I could hear banging coming from the door, our five minutes were done and Heath was furious.

"Death is unavoidable for the new order we are making. After all the chaos a new world will be born, it would be in your best interest if you just join us." Diego said.

"You sound exactly like her, maybe even worse. At least she knows what she is fighting for, but you don't, you are just a blind soldier." I muttered. "I would rather die than live in a world like that." I walked away from him, to the door.

"You need to think and make your own judgments, Diego. Aunt Maggie would be disappointed in the person you grew up to become." I told him. For the first time I could see a glint of emotion flash in his eyes. I could see pain, confusion and regret.

Soon the doors busted open, letting in very angry werewolves. Heath growled at Diego who didn't even seem at least phased by his 'intimidation'.

"You are coming with us right now! The Alpha is waiting for you." Heath said, leading me out of the room.

I was seated across the table from Rafael, my mind just replaying everything going on right now. There was so much happening with so little time.

The blood moon was just two days away. The pack, or whatever remained after Rafael's invasion still needed me to break the curse. Dimitri needed me. I needed to figure out a way to escape and get back to the pack.

And there was my crazy aunt and her sick plans about letting the Darkness out. I needed to get the pendant from her and figure a way to stop her.

"A penny for those thoughts?" I heard Rafael's voice jut me out of my thoughts. I intended on using his obsession over me to my advantage so I could escape.

"It's nothing. I could barely sleep last night. Your business associate came to threaten me in my room last night." I replied.

"Don't worry about Delilah, she won't hurt you. I'm guessing she told you about our plans." He says.

"Yes." I admitted.

"I want you to join us Isabella, there's no need holding on to your previous life, you saw yourself that the Blood Moon pack was destroyed in the invasion, there's nothing left." He said, making me all the more furious, but I had to calm myself down for my plan to work.

"The world will be born again in two days and I want you to be by my side where I can protect you when it happens." He said. How chivalrous of him, taking away my powers and then offering me his protection. He made me feel sick to my stomach, I didn't know if I could keep up this act for long.

I reached for his hand on the table, watching as he stared at me in surprise, mixed with amusement. I felt like throwing up because of what I was about to do next.

"I also think that it would be to my benefit if I stick by your side. You are the only one that can protect me in all this and if the world is going to be reborn I would like to have a chance with you." I hiccuped, cringing hard within myself at my lies, thank the heavens he wasn't aware I was a Pinocchio.

I felt like puking my insides out. I wonder if he was buying any of this?

"I'm glad to see you finally coming to your senses. You made the right decision, because only I can really protect you." He obnoxiously went on. He bought my act.

"Yeah." I just hummed, sipping some water, quickly pulling my hand away from his.

***

The breakfast ended, thankfully, and I was able to get Rafael to grant me permission to leave my Chambers. I could only move around the confines of the Castle, I couldn't step out. But that was more than enough for me.

I explored within the castle floors, looking out through the balcony, trying to see how far the pack went. I couldn't quite see far because the view was covered in a fog, it was no doubt created by magic.

I also noticed, not too far from the castle, was a tall tower. It was closed off and the entrance was limited. It was clear that Rafael was hiding something up in the tower.

Something that he didn't want anyone finding out about.

I waited around in the kitchen until there was no one left around but Isaac. It was a risky bet to trust him but he was the only choice I had. In order to escape this hell hole I would need his help.

"No one is around now, we can talk." I whisper to him, as he draws close.

"Talk about what…?" He deadpanned.

"Isaac, I have to get out of here, there's a lot of my friends' lives at stake if I don't." I told him. Watching as he looked around nervously.

"You are speaking to the wrong guy, Isa. Even if I want to help, which I really do, I can't. I'm just a useless omega. Rafael raided my small pack, killing everyone in it. He only took slaves." Isaac whispered back with urgency in his voice.

"That fucking bastard!" I curse at him. "But if we don't stop him now what is going to happen is much worse than what happened to you and your pack. The entire world is at stake." I say, hoping he can understand the magnitude of the danger that was approaching.

"Okay Isabelle, what do you need?" He asks.

"Do you know any way of escaping this place?" I inquired, in a low tone.

"I haven't really been too far from the castle, but there is no escape. The pack is blocked and warded by a protection spell. Anyone who tries to cross the boundaries dies." He said, earning a sigh from me.

"But I hear that there's a magical portal, used to travel in and out. Far, far north." Isaac informed me.

"I guess I will have to find out for myself." I say, determinedly.

"Please Isabelle, don't. The portal is too far away, you won't even make it there without being caught and it's heavily guarded, it is impossible to even get close to it before you get captured or worse killed." Isaac expressed his disapproval of my idea, but I didn't have much of a choice now. I needed to formulate an escape plan as soon as possible.

I'm going to find a way out of here!

***Author's note****

Hello guys... Hope you are enjoying the book so far. Let me know your thoughts on the book so far… and what do you think will happen in the next chapter. Let me know in the comments and please vote and share the book. If you want to learn more about the book or characters faces you can find me on insta at heischerry

See you next chapter coming out tomorrow!!! Love y'all MWAH!!!

Chapter's Soundtrack: Love can be so lonely sometimes by Nick Wilson & Gabrielle Aplin(her voice is everything ❤️)