Josef looked at the debris of the large entrance of his mansion. The guards were all bleeding, some of them dead.
"General," one of his people approached him. "We currently have two death and— "
"Did you see it?"
"No sir. We believe it was a witch."
"To blatantly do this on my residence? Only an other- worlder would have the courage." Josef narrowed his eyes. "A spell strong enough to penetrate our walls that had been laced with antimagick circle?" Josef mumbled. Just like the palace, his house had been built with anti-magick circles that could stop witches from teleporting in and out of the residence.
The antimagick circle would also weaken the ability of a Daemon and even Demons around. How could someone be that strong? This was mainly the reason why he had to come here to check for himself.
"Hm?"
He lifted an eyebrow and looked at the black liquid that he noticed near his foot.
"What is that?"
"I— " the man lowered himself. He nonchalantly touched the black liquid and hissed with his finger turned red.
"What was it?" Josef asked.
"It— It burned my hand!"
Josef’s expression immediately changed. He turned around and ignored his men’s voice as he used his magick to fly towards the main residence. He didn’t hesitate as he barged into Ava’s study room but all he saw was the unconscious Johnson and a trashed place.
"That woman— " he squinted and looked around. This room was an exception to the antimagick circle. He did this for two reasons.
First, he wanted Ava to think that she could use her magick freely even if she was inside his house.
Freedom.
The Duke knew that women from the other- world were very particular with those things.
The second is because he wanted Ava to perform magick so he could test her.
But this?
He gritted his teeth and stomped his feet. The house shook, and the walls cracked.
"Find her!" he said in a low dangerous voice. He refused to believe that Ava had the time to get out of this place. First and foremost, this house was like a maze. There were so many rooms, a hallway, and stairs. Someone unfamiliar would definitely get lost in this maze-like house.
Plus, Ava couldn’t use her magick outside of this study and her bedroom which was located across this room.
He stormed off and went towards Ava’s bedroom and just as expected, he couldn’t sense any presence inside!
The explosion must have been a distraction. A way for him to focus his attention on it. Now that he thought about it, everything must be Ava’s plan.
After all, the one that was used to attack the gates was a powerful potion that can only be brewed by a witch!
"Find her and bring her to me!" his voice echoed inside the whole house. Though he still sounded calm, anyone who knew him was already shivering from the magick that accompanied his voice.
"Hm?" he lifted his brow and started walking towards his own study.
How could it be possible?
Standing at the door of his study, Josef frowned and examined the room. Ava was clearly inside waiting for him.
He started asking himself how she found this place but he knew he had no time to think about it now. At least not now.
He walked inside the room and just as he expected, Ava was inside.
She was standing just in front of the painting.
Before he could speak, Ava asked.
"Who is she?" she asked.
"You, of course," Josef said calmly. It was as if the anger that he felt earlier vanished as he smiled and stood next to her. He watched the woman in the painting. "I decided to paint it... after that night."
"That’s not me," Ava said, her voice almost inaudible.
"I don’t think you — "
"Who is she?" Ava asked. This time, she removed her eyes from the painting and turned toward Josef. "That woman isn’t me," she said.
"I don’t think I know what you are talking about. I painted— "
"How?"
"Pardon?" he asked.
"The painting is old."
Josef lifted an eyebrow. As if a thief that was caught red-handed, he put both of his hands behind his back.
"She is... my lover. A couple of hundred years ago... she vanished. And I have been looking for her ever since."
"I don’t believe you," Ava said.
"It was the truth. I suspect, she ran away to your world. And that is mainly the reason why I came here. I was waiting for her and me— " he gulped and stared at her face. Remorse can be seen in his sad eyes. "I think I just found her. I found you."
"That is not me," Ava said. "That woman... "
"Is you," Josef uttered. "A powerful Daemon. You ran away from our world and I— " he lifted his hand and touched her cheek. His calloused hand slowly stroked her cheek, giving her warmth and a weird sense of comfort. "I finally found you. My mate."
"I— " Ava blinked almost innocently. Almost as if she believed him. Then she took a step back. "So... you did all those things because you think I am your mate? Why not just asked me when we— "
"I knew Damon would say something different. You came with him and I suspected that he knew about you. That he knew about my mate. So I had to test him. I made him choose. Alexandra or you."
"So, this is the reason why you wanted to test my magick?" Ava asked. "You wanted to confirm if I am indeed the Daemon that you are looking for?"
"Yes." Relief flashed in Josef’s eyes as he moved closer and held her cheek. "Can’t you feel it? The humming in your veins? Was it calling for me? I am your mate. Don’t you feel it?"
"I—" Ava frowned as she stared at him. It was as if the current atmosphere froze when she saw his face move closer to hers. And before she knew it, his lips were already on hers.
But that— that didn’t last too long.
The next thing that Josef knew, he was already struggling to breathe.
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