"I'll miss you," I tried hugging Kamila, but she pushed me back while shaking her head wildly.
"They might smell you on us, and we don't want to raise any doubts," Kamila was right. I didn't want my friends to get into trouble.
"I guess we are meeting for the last time," Delis said with a sad smile.
Two people who were not related to me by blood did what my family couldn't do.
They had asked me to go to the Blood Stone pack, but I wasn't planning to join another pack. I would go straight to a human town and live among them.
However, I wasn't willing to share it with my friends. It would be better if they knew less.
Kamila went to the closet and pulled out a black shirt, "This one is ideal. It has got inner pockets where you can hide the bottles."
She waved it at my face.
"I'll never forget you two," I told them, trying to control my racing heart. The reality was finally sinking in.
"Will you ever come back?" Kamila asked me, but Darius, who was putting the bottles in a Velvet pouch, uttered a sharp 'no'.
"I know you want revenge, Luna. But it's not worth it. Live your life— focus on building a family. Good people are still there in the world."
How well he knew me. I never shared that I was planning for revenge.
Maybe he was right.
"Kamila. Let's get out of here," he tugged her elbow, "Otherwise, she might get caught."
Kamila nodded in excitement and waved one last time before closing the door behind her. Now I was alone and needed to act fast.
I wish I could have had some more time to say proper goodbyes, but we couldn't take risks. Those good-for-nothing ladies were after my life, and I wanted to get out of here safe and sound.
By the time, they learn about the fire, I will be far away from that cursed place.
After a few deep breaths, I changed into the shirt Kamila had picked out, paired with comfy cotton pants.
After applying the scent suppressant, I poured a drop from the other bottle onto my palm and applied it to my clothes and face. Though it was just one drop, it felt greasy to the touch. I was still skeptical whether it would work or not. Soon, I will start fading into the air.
Next, I took out another bottle and let a drop fall on the edge of the bed. It fizzled a little before getting soaked into the garment.
A slight smoke curled up, and I knew that this room was about to go up in flames.
My heartbeat was wild as I was ready to leave. When I placed the bottles in my inner pocket, my fingers shook a little.
Just a few more seconds, and I would be gone.
That was when the door slammed open.
"T-tina?" I stood there frozen.
Shit! What is she doing here?
Her eyes were red as if she had been crying for hours, but when she spoke, her speech sounded slurred, and she seemed drunk to me. Bitterness was evident in her voice, "What magic spell did you put on him?"
My heart skipped a beat. How did she know about magic potions?
"Why is he not divorcing you? Why can't you just leave us alone?"
What gibberish is she uttering? My mind was too occupied with the plan of my escape. I didn't have time for this shit.
I needed to send her away.
"H-he is yours," I held her shoulders, "He only belongs to you, Tina," I quickly tried to calm her down.
She shoved my arms as if my touch disgusted her, "Liar! You wormed your way into his heart. It's been over six months, and he isn't ready to let you go. I was there when he invited you on the date."
Oh, Goddess. I couldn't let her see me fading in front of her eyes. It would ruin my plan. If I had to fake my death, it needed to look convincing to everyone.
The room was now heating up and was filled with smoke.
Tina suddenly raised her nose and sniffed the air, "Is it smoke? I smell smoke here…" She looked behind me and gasped. I turned around to follow her gaze and found my pillows on fire. The fire had reached my bathroom door, too.
Oh, Goddess. Please!
I made a silent prayer as it was my only chance.
"Your room… it has fire…" her lips curled up into a smile, and then she laughed bitterly, "I was here to give you a painful life. It seems you're about to get a painful death."
Before I could understand anything, she took out a tiny brown colored envelope and tore it open. I thought she wanted to show me something.
If that was the case, I wasn't in the mood to see any of her crappy collection.
"Tina… let's get out of here…" I said, turning again to see the fire that was now burning the walls of the room. I had started feeling suffocation.
We needed to leave the quarter. The potion proved to be too strong and didn't need ten minutes to work its magic.
"Patience, sweetheart," she murmured in a velvety tone, and before I could understand, she flung the paper in my direction.
Whatever it was. A powder or a detergent. It caused burning on my face.
"Ah! What is this!" I squeezed my eyes and heard her laughter.
"He is attracted to you because of your beauty. After this, he won't even think of coming closer to you. Hahaha."
This time, I rolled my eyes and pushed her away, "Get out of here!"
The room had heated up dangerously, and now I could feel the scorching heat on my body. I was about to be roasted.
She jerked her head slightly and squeezed her eyes as if trying to see clearly, "What is happening to you?"
She was referring to my partially faded body. The process had started.
"Nothing. It's just your mind playing tricks. We both will die, Tina! Go out!"
Before I could come up with any other excuse, Luna Tamia walked inside along with her minions, with concern etched on her face, "Tina. I was informed about the smoke, and I was looking for you. Why the hell are you here, you fool?"
Tina pointed at me in frustration, "She is after Sebastian and is trying to take him from me."
Luna Tamia rolled her eyes and grabbed Tina's arm, "Are you drunk? You must be hallucinating. I don't see Aurora anywhere. Maybe she is in the bathroom… already burned. Good Goddess…" she turned to her slaves, "Take her out. What are you staring at?" she screamed.
A tight knot formed in my chest, stealing my breath.
Wait.
What?
Luna Tamia couldn't see me?
I twisted my neck to the bathroom and then back to Luna Tamia
She…. She really couldn't see me.
It worked! The potion worked!
"B…but I saw her," Tina stammered, "And… I was talking to her and she…" Luna Tamia and other slaves dragged Tina out of the room.
I slapped my burning face and then decided to leave. It was good if Luna Tamia thought that I had already burned.
While running outside the palace, I ran past them, and none of them noticed me. Other slaves were rushing to my room to smother the fire.
My journey to my freedom had started, and I was running like crazy to get away from this cursed place.
But I forgot one thing.
Everything had a price.
Even freedom.