Chapter 8%
We also found a peaceful plot of land and reburied the bodies properly.%
Once everything was done, Harlan dusted the dirt off his hands and gave me a sarcastic grin. “Halle, your ancestors fought tooth and nail with my people over this land. And now? Not only did someone dig up their graves, but the land still ended up in our hands. If they could see this, I bet they’d crawl out of their coffins just to give you a good beating.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “If they really could come back to smack me around, at least I’d feel a little less guilty.”
Maggie looked puzzled, so I explained, “A hundred years ago, my ancestors and Harlan’s clan–the Blackfire Tribe–fought over this land. My family won in the end and settled down here. But anytime outsiders tried to come near, the Blackfire Tribe would use their black magic to scare them off.”
Looking at my ancestor’s new grave, I continued, “As more of our people moved to the cities, this area started attracting curious outsiders and thrill seekers. To keep the Blackfire Tribe from harming anyone, we turned this land into a family burial ground. Every generation, we’d draw lots to pick someone to guard it.”
I gave a half–hearted smile. “Never thought I’d be the one to screw it all up in the end.”
Maggie wiped the dirt from her cheek and tried to cheer me up. “Halle, I already got revenge for you. A few days ago, I hit Janice with several different kinds of witch’s hex. She’s probably losing her mind by now.”
I planted the last gravestone and turned to her, eyes soft. “Thank you, Maggie. Really. For sticking by me and helping me through all this. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve died in the Stanleys‘ hands-“}
Before I could finish, Maggie threw her arms around me and burst into tears. “Don’t thank me. If you hadn’t taken me away from that hellhole, my father would’ve sold me off by now. You saved me first, Halle. I should be the one thanking you.“}}
We stood there hugging and crying, messy and loud.
Meanwhile, Harlan rolled his eyes and muttered, “Alright, alright. Can we move past the emotional sisterhood moment already? For the record, the Blackfire Tribe’s not the same as we used to be–we don’t go around poisoning people for no reason. This time was just payback, that’s all.”
Then he gave us a look. “Are you seriously not going to thank me? Who flew all the way to the capital to save you? Who healed your injuries? Who helped you rebuild your entire ancestral burial ground? And I even let go of all the times you bullied me when we were kids!“%
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right, Mr. Harvey. You’re the real hero here.“}}
Maggie gave him a big thumbs–up. “You’re amazing, Master! You’re the best!“}
Harlan looked pleased with himself–until his expression turned serious.
“So now that the land belongs to the Blackfire Tribe, you don’t need to guard the graves anymore. What are you gonna do next?“\ His question caught me off guard.
I’d spent years focused only on protecting the burial site. Then I met Alexis, and suddenly my entire life revolved around being the perfect Mrs. Stanley. Now that everything had fallen apart, I didn’t know what came next.
Harlan saw the hesitation on my face and gently suggested, “If you haven’t figured it out yet, why don’t you stay with us for a while? You can learn dark magic with Maggie–it might help clear your head.“”
I nodded. And just like that, I started a new chapter–trainin
Chapter 8%
We also found a peaceful plot of land and reburied the bodies properly.%
Once everything was done, Harlan dusted the dirt off his hands and gave me a sarcastic grin. “Halle, your ancestors fought tooth and nail with my people over this land. And now? Not only did someone dig up their graves, but the land still ended up in our hands. If they could see this, I bet they’d crawl out of their coffins just to give you a good beating.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “If they really could come back to smack me around, at least I’d feel a little less guilty.”
Maggie looked puzzled, so I explained, “A hundred years ago, my ancestors and Harlan’s clan–the Blackfire Tribe–fought over this land. My family won in the end and settled down here. But anytime outsiders tried to come near, the Blackfire Tribe would use their black magic to scare them off.”
Looking at my ancestor’s new grave, I continued, “As more of our people moved to the cities, this area started attracting curious outsiders and thrill seekers. To keep the Blackfire Tribe from harming anyone, we turned this land into a family burial ground. Every generation, we’d draw lots to pick someone to guard it.”
I gave a half–hearted smile. “Never thought I’d be the one to screw it all up in the end.”
Maggie wiped the dirt from her cheek and tried to cheer me up. “Halle, I already got revenge for you. A few days ago, I hit Janice with several different kinds of witch’s hex. She’s probably losing her mind by now.”
I planted the last gravestone and turned to her, eyes soft. “Thank you, Maggie. Really. For sticking by me and helping me through all this. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve died in the Stanleys‘ hands-“}
Before I could finish, Maggie threw her arms around me and burst into tears. “Don’t thank me. If you hadn’t taken me away from that hellhole, my father would’ve sold me off by now. You saved me first, Halle. I should be the one thanking you.“}}
We stood there hugging and crying, messy and loud.
Meanwhile, Harlan rolled his eyes and muttered, “Alright, alright. Can we move past the emotional sisterhood moment already? For the record, the Blackfire Tribe’s not the same as we used to be–we don’t go around poisoning people for no reason. This time was just payback, that’s all.”
Then he gave us a look. “Are you seriously not going to thank me? Who flew all the way to the capital to save you? Who healed your injuries? Who helped you rebuild your entire ancestral burial ground? And I even let go of all the times you bullied me when we were kids!“%
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right, Mr. Harvey. You’re the real hero here.“}}
Maggie gave him a big thumbs–up. “You’re amazing, Master! You’re the best!“}
Harlan looked pleased with himself–until his expression turned serious.
“So now that the land belongs to the Blackfire Tribe, you don’t need to guard the graves anymore. What are you gonna do next?“\ His question caught me off guard.
I’d spent years focused only on protecting the burial site. Then I met Alexis, and suddenly my entire life revolved around being the perfect Mrs. Stanley. Now that everything had fallen apart, I didn’t know what came next.
Harlan saw the hesitation on my face and gently suggested, “If you haven’t figured it out yet, why don’t you stay with us for a while? You can learn dark magic with Maggie–it might help clear your head.“”
I nodded. And just like that, I started a new chapter–training with Harlan, learning the ancient arts of the Blackfire Tribe alongside Maggie.
One day, after we’d gone up the mountain to gather fruit and were on our way back, Alexis showed up.M
“Halle. I finally found you.”
I wasn’t surprised at all.%
Considering how long the hex in Janice’s system had been working, if he didn’t show up soon to beg how to lift it, she really would die.S He rushed over and grabbg with Harlan, learning the ancient arts of the Blackfire Tribe alongside Maggie.
One day, after we’d gone up the mountain to gather fruit and were on our way back, Alexis showed up.M
“Halle. I finally found you.”
I wasn’t surprised at all.%
Considering how long the hex in Janice’s system had been working, if he didn’t show up soon to beg how to lift it, she really would die.S He rushed over and grabb
