Chapter 48: HONESTLY YOU DISGUST ME!
Eva followed the two men with a calculated calm, her every step measured and precise.
She had always been skilled in stealth, and tonight, she would need every bit of that skill.
She moved through the shadows, her senses heightened, keeping a safe distance as the men led her to the construction site.
The unfinished bakery loomed ahead, its skeletal frame outlined against the night sky.
The men spoke in low tones, but Eva's keen ears caught their conversation.
"We need to burn this place down fast and get our pay from Lady Seraphina," one of them said.
Eva's heart sank. Lady Seraphina had somehow found out about Diaval's secret project.
Her mind raced, piecing together the implications. Seraphina was known for her underhanded tactics, always seeking to undermine Diaval to ensure her son Adrian's success.
'So that's who she was talking to the previous night,' Eva thought.
The men set to work, their brutish figures moving with surprising agility.
Eva watched as they doused the area with oil and struck a match, the flames quickly taking hold.
She noted their crude banter, the vulgar way they spoke about women and their anticipated rewards.
One of the men, however, seemed hesitant.
"I don't know, man," he muttered.
"This feels wrong. We shouldn't be doing this."
His companion smacked him upside the head. "Don't be stupid. As long as we get paid, who cares?"
Eva decided it was time to intervene. She climbed onto one of the beams of the unfinished building, her legs crossed, her red hair almost glowing in the moonlight.
"Good evening, gentlemen," she said, her voice smooth and seductive.
The men turned, startled. Their eyes met hers, and she saw the effect immediately. Her eyes, now a captivating pink, held them in thrall. They were caught in her power, unable to look away.
"Why are you here?" one of them demanded, though his voice lacked conviction.
Eva smiled, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"I could ask you the same. But let's not waste time. Tell me, who sent you?"
The men were powerless to resist. They spilled everything, their voices trembling.
"Lady Seraphina. She hired us to burn this place down. Said it was to stop some project Diaval was working on."
Eva's blood boiled at the mention of Seraphina's name.
"And you think that's worth destroying someone else's hard work? Worth harming innocent people?"
The men looked ashamed, but her power over them was absolute.
"Please, we were just following orders."
Eva stood, her expression hardening. She spoke an incantation, her voice rhythmic and powerful:
"Water's grace, douse this flame,
By my will, end this game.
Flow and surge, swift and fast,
Quench the fire, make it past."
A gush of water erupted from her outstretched hands, dousing the flames before they could cause too much damage. The fire was out, but the anger within her burned bright.
"Now, apologize," she demanded, her tone icy.
The men dropped to their knees, begging for forgiveness. "We're sorry! Please, don't kill us!"
Eva possesses a unique and powerful ability known as "The Enchantress's Gaze."
When she activates this power, her eyes transform to a captivating pink hue, which instantly mesmerizes anyone who looks into them.
Victims of her gaze fall under her spell, compelled to obey her commands and speak only the truth.
This power is exceptionally useful in coercing information from enemies and avoiding physical confrontations, as it can subdue even the most resistant minds.
However, the use of The Enchantress's Gaze comes with significant drawbacks. Prolonged use of the power causes internal bleeding and severe physical strain on Eva, limiting how long she can maintain control over her subjects.
Additionally, the power's effectiveness diminishes if used repeatedly on the same person, making it less reliable for long-term manipulation.
Despite its potency, Eva must use The Enchantress's Gaze judiciously to avoid debilitating side effects and ensure its continued efficacy.
***
Lady Seraphina walked through the hallways of the mansion, her mood sour. Mira brought her a glass of orange juice as requested.
"Thank you," Seraphina muttered.
Mira nodded and left, but not without Seraphina adding, "That girl pisses me off. Matter of fact, I lost count of how many people in this mansion are on my throat. If only I was the First Lady, all of them would be gone."
She walked into her room, noticing the window open. Irritation flared.
"Who the fuck left this window open?" she cursed, moving to close it.
Then she saw it: ropes tied to the window ledge, leading down into the darkness. Her heart skipped a beat.
Following the path of the ropes, she gasped in horror.
Two men hung by their necks from the window, their lifeless bodies swaying gently. The men she had sent to burn down the bakery.
Her initial shock gave way to anger. "Idiots! Dying so easily!" she spat.
She didn't even feel a single pang of remorse.
Turning back to her room, she stopped short, her eyes widening.
Eva was sitting on her bed, a calm yet dangerous smile on her face.
"You," Seraphina hissed. "You did this."
Eva nodded, her expression unflinching. "I did. But I didn't kill them. They did that themselves, under my influence."
Seraphina's anger flared. She lunged at Eva, attempting to slap her. Eva caught her wrist, twisting it just enough to cause pain.
"Don't even think about it."
"You've ruined everything!" Seraphina screamed.
"Do you know what you've done?"
Eva's patience snapped. She slapped Seraphina hard, followed by a punch that sent her sprawling onto the bed.
"What I've done is stop you from sabotaging Diaval's work. Your jealousy and pettiness disgust me."
Eva moved to Seraphina's desk, rummaging through it until she found the checks Seraphina used for her flower business.
She wrote an amount of 3000 gold coins on one and motioned for Seraphina.
"Get over here."
"No! Don't touch me!" Seraphina screamed.
Eva ignored her, using her sharp claws to cut a small slit on Seraphina's thumb.
Blood dripped onto the check as Eva pressed Seraphina's thumb onto it, creating a bloody stamp.
"This will pay for the damages you caused."
Seraphina glared at her, fury and fear mixing in her eyes.
"You'll pay for this," she hissed.
Eva's eyes glowed red, her face partially covered in scales.
"No, you will. And you'll do well to remember this: if you ever try to sabotage Diaval again, there will be worse consequences."
With a final threat, Eva slashed a small cut on Seraphina's neck, enough to make her bleed but not to cause serious harm.
"The bodies outside your window are your responsibility. The guards on patrol around the mansion are approaching, and they will see them soon."
As Eva left, Seraphina screamed curses and spat at her direction, but Eva was already gone.
"You fucking BITCH!!!"
"UGGH..."
Eva moved quickly, her mind racing with the events of the night. She had dealt with the immediate threat, but Seraphina was a persistent foe.
As she made her way back to hers and Diaval's room, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She had protected Diaval's dream and sent a clear message to Seraphina. But she knew this was far from over.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone