Chapter 12
VIOLET ROSE
Lucius Ashford. The president of Kinara, and the man who ordered curses to be hunted down in the first place. He was viewed as a hero to some, and a devil to others. Violet, of course, fell under ‘others’. If it weren’t for that man, no one would have to be living in constant fear of being killed for being born a certain way. If he hadn’t normalized murdering curses, her parents would never have turned like that, and Violet and Iris wouldn’t be living like this. That’s why when the man emerged from the limousine, Violet could only view him with contempt and bloodlust.
He was dressed in an expensive-looking white suit with his black hair slicked back over his head. He was fairly young for a president, being in his early thirties. He had a shortly trimmed beard amplifying his already sharp facial features, and he had intense, calculating blue eyes that sent a shiver down Violet’s spine. He wore a creepy, mannequin-like smile as he waved to the cheering crowd.
I could do it right now. If I use my curse, I could kill him.
Violet’s arm twitched, and she felt blood roar in her ears.
However, there was a soft touch on her arm that stopped her.
“Calm down,” said Kade. “We can’t make any risky moves right now.”
“What are you talking about?” growled Violet. “This is our chance!”
But when she looked back, Kade’s face was paler than hers, and he was trembling.
“No, knowing that man, he’s exposing an opening on purpose. We’ll just be giving him what he wants if we take the bait.”
Knowing that man?
“Sounds like you have experience dealing with him.”
“I encountered him once in the past. And once was enough. Just trust me, we can’t play into his hands. For now, we just need to focus on getting in.”
“…fine.”
After one last glare at the president, Violet tore her gaze away to focus on the mission at hand. She looked at Elena, who was clinging to a part of Kade’s suit with one hand, her knuckles completely white.
“Lucius Ashford,” spat Kade, hardening his words as if just saying his name was a displeasure. “Remember him. That’s who we’re fighting against.”
For a moment, Kade’s mysterious silver eyes held such a cold, emotionless aura that was uncomfortably similar to Ashford’s. His eyes harbored no bloodlust, no murderous intent. Just a fierce intensity that Violet couldn’t completely understand.
“We should try to get in as soon as possible,” he continued. “Nothing good will come from staying here too long.”
He then gently pat Elena’s back, his pressure now completely gone. Now, he wore a comforting smile, assuring them that everything was going to be okay.
“Let’s head into the party now, shall we?”
Honestly, it was scary how quickly he could switch his demeanor. Violet and Elena both gave a small nod before swimming to the entrance through the endless waves of people crowding their way, the deafening cheering still ringing through their skulls.
***
“Whoa…”
“…”
“Seriously…?”
The fake IDs from Ajax worked perfectly, and Elena, Kade, and Violet now stood frozen at the sight of the party, all of them entranced by the fantasy-like setting they had found themselves in.
The whole floor was made of a smooth, milky quartz, with giant mirrors coating the seemingly endless walls. Enormous chandeliers floated above their heads, and there were long tables stretched out throughout the entire room, all advertising unique, mouth-watering food and drinks. The room itself was big enough to be called a small stadium, with two flights of stairs on either side leading up to a single, lofty platform. Everyone in the room seemed so dignified, making it hard to believe that they were the same people they had seen in such an uproar outside.
Even though she had dressed for the part, Violet couldn’t help feeling out of place in such a pristine ambience that the room radiated.
So this is how the exorcists are living while phantoms are struggling so much. This is how they’re rewarded for murdering us.
“Let’s spread out,” came Kade’s voice in a soft whisper. “Remember, we’re just here to eavesdrop, not interrogate. If you hear anything, report back to me, and I’ll get the information out of them.”
Violet wanted to ask how exactly he was going to do that, but something told her some questions were better unanswered.
She watched as Kade disappeared into the crowd, holding his head high with an air of dignity that made him blend in perfectly. Elena, still gawking at the scene, drifted over toward the food tables like she was caught in a trance.
Guess I should start moving too.
She started walking around, trying desperately to overhear any important conversations, which was easier said than done. Chatter was everywhere, which drained out the sounds of everyone's voices and made it almost impossible to focus on a single conversation.
However, she did get the gist of what most of the conversations were about. Every single one of them were praising and being praised on “Making the world a better place.”
Also, is it just me, or are people looking at me funny?
She could feel multiple gazes piercing through her as she walked across the room. Violet kept checking the mirrors to see if there was anything off about her, but she couldn’t find anything.
Is my dress weird? Do they somehow know I’m cursed? Did the fake IDs fail? They could be getting suspicious.
“Excuse me,” came a voice.
Violet quickly turned around to see a beautiful smiling woman, seemingly in her late twenties, wearing a formal white suit that made her look more cool than pretty. Her eyes were a clear hazel color, and her jet-black hair was tied in a bun above her head like Elena’s.
Violet’s eyes glided downward to the front of the woman’s suit, which was decorated with multiple shiny medals and badges.
She’s a general.
“Yes?” Violet answered after clearing her throat.
She forced a smile, reminding herself of the role she’s playing.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Are you new?”
“Oh, um, yes. Yes, I’m new. Nice to meet you, General.”
“No need to be so formal,” she responded before taking off her white glove and offering a handshake.
“Claire White. Though I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”
Oh.
Violet took her hand with a firm grip and even harder expression.
“Of course I’ve heard of you. You’re famous for your work, after all.”
General Claire White. There wasn’t a single phantom in the world who didn’t know that name. There was even a saying that went, “If you ever encounter the woman named White, then you might as well be face to face with the grim reaper.”
Not one curse ever saw her face and lived to warn the others. She was a legend; a monster who had snuffed out two of the original ten camps single-handedly in her first year of serving the military, earning her the position of the youngest general in history.
And that same Claire White was now shaking Violet’s hand with a friendly smile on her face.
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