With swift reflexes, Nicole scrambled backward to her starting position.
To her relief, the serpent then relaxed, lowering its head and shedding its aggressive stance.
It soon became clear that this remarkable serpent was more than just an animal.
It acted as a guardian for its unseen master.
This realization explained why the witch clad in red had confidently left Nicole alone, knowing her sentinel was vigilantly on guard.
Lying motionless, Nicole focused on conserving her energy while her mind raced to devise a plan.
The mysterious pill given to Nicole by the witch had surprisingly invigorated her, especially in her abdomen.
Having had significant surgery on her stomach, Nicole was usually sensitive to any sensations of cold or heat.
Yet, this pill emanated a comforting warmth that soothed her internally.
While the true purpose of the pill remained a mystery, it seemed harmless for the moment.
Nicole guessed it was likely meant to restore her health, as the witch had laid out.
But Nicole couldnât help wondering about the witchâs ulterior motives.
Once her body was fully restored, what did the witch plan to do?
âs BunnyBookery Echoes of the witchâs earlier words haunted Nicole.
The witch had spoken of bringing a man back, which left Nicole suspecting it was Roscoe she referred to.
This troubling thought weighed on Nicoleâs mind, casting a shadow over her other concerns and keeping her alert throughout the day.
As dawn broke the next morning, the witch clad in red returned to find Nicole already awake, looking visibly healthier.
The pill had indeed been a potent elixir, capable of revitalizing even those close to death.
Nicoleâs cheeks were now flushed with a rosy vigor, a testament to the pillâs efficacy.
With practiced ease, the witch in red drew another pill, swiftly opened Nicoleâs mouth, and placed it inside.
She watched intently to ensure Nicole swallowed it before preparing to leave.
However, Nicole quickly called out to her.
âWho are you? What did you give me?â
The witch clad in red halted her steps, turned back toward Nicole, and smiled chillingly.
âHave you not looked into me, Miss Curiosity? How have your investigations failed to uncover who I truly am?â
It was evident that the witch clad in red knew of Nicoleâs covert investigations.
Realizing that denial or deceit would be pointless, Nicole opted for a direct approach.
âI know youâre a witch, but I donât understand your intentions.
â
âWe wield our power to maintain the balance of the universe, a concept far beyond the grasp of ordinary beings Like you.
â The witch clad in redâs voice dripped with disdain, as if she were an exalted entity and Nicole merely an insignificant bug.
âAnd yet, arenât you in the service of the Watts family? Doesnât that mean you clean up our mundane messes?â Nicole countered sharply.
A scornful laugh escaped the lips of the witch clad in red.
âWhat are the Watts to me that I should bow to their will? My involvement with them was merely a facade, a strategy to advance my own goals.
â
The witch had cleverly portrayed herself as vulnerable to gain the Wattsâ protection, using it as cover to search the city for those her tribe sought, ultimately delivering them to her clan for dark purposes.
The Watts needed her services, creating a symbiotic relationship that benefited both sides.
Why not engage in this mutually advantageous deception?
âAnd what exactly did you give me?â Nicole asked, posing her third question.
The witch clad in red chuckled lowly, amused.
âThat, my dear, was an elixity worthy of royalty.
The wealthy would pay fortunes for just a taste.
If you werenât so crucial to my plans, do you think I would have graced you with such a valuable gift?â
The elixir, a culmination of a decadeâs painstaking efforts, was a rare and sought-after concoction.
It contained the distilled essence of venom extracted from numerous serpents.
With just three doses, it had endowed Nicole with remarkable vitality, cleansing her body of any ailments.
Even with Nicoleâs major surgery from the past in the picture, her recovery had proved to be extraordinarily swift after digesting the pills, far surpassing that of an ordinary person.