The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 180: The Familiar that Disappeared

Chapter 180: The Familiar that Disappeared

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, and hours into days. Things started becoming normal at the Cursed Castle as no one ever discussed the incident of whatever happened on the day of Annalise’s visit to the Royal Palace.

Since she needed time to think through the matter, or more like needed a break from it, the dark lords decided to give it to her and focus their attention on other important things for the time being.

The special guests at the castle were more or less now a part of the little family and almost everyone had opened up with each other. These days, it was a common sight to see all the lords and ladies in the house present for the meals in the dining room and spending some time together discussing things either related to normal life or the case of the Portal Hall incidents.

While the men started spending some time sparring outside in the garden to train and keep themselves in shape for any unexpected moment, the women were either reading through most of the books in the library to get as much information as they could or just helping the servants with the housework as it was their way of relaxing and having a good time.

"Lisa, I haven’t seen that familiar of yours this entire past week even for once. Where is it?" Leela suddenly asked as she lightly moved her hands through the water that had lots of rose petals floating on its surface. Sera had even added some fragrant oils in it to make the bath more relaxing.

Annalise let out a small sigh as she shook her head before replying, "I haven’t seen it either since the very day we returned. It disappeared right before I entered the gates of the castle." She confessed as she remained sitting there in the pool with her eyes closed and her back pressed against the side of the pool.

She didn’t need to open her eyes and look at Leela to know that the latter was undoubtedly staring at her with her jaw hanging open in surprise.

"You can’t be serious! Are you telling me that you have absolutely no clue about the whereabouts of your familiar that just disappeared in thin air?" Leela asked as she kept looking at Annalise who was too calm considering the situation. Familiars were divine gifts of magic that rarely chose a master in this era and since Annalise had one, she should take really good care of it but her current reaction didn’t seem like she cared much about the little lion.

It seemed like Annalise guessed tge direction of Leela’s thoughts as she added, "It’s safe and is somewhere in the castle. I can feel its presence all the time and I know that it has been either getting familiar with every corner of this place or is up to something but I know that it’s safe and here with me."

Leela’s expression changed from surprise to understanding as she nodded her head in realization. Of course, Annalise wasn’t someone who would not care about her familiar, instead, she seemed like someone who would love and adore it to no limit.

"It did appear mischievous. I won’t doubt if it is really out there doing something unimaginable." She muttered while relaxing in her spot against the opposite side of the pool from Annalise. The two of them had been in the pool for almost over half an hour by now.

The warm water was so comforting and relaxing after the long day that they both had spent trying spells and learning new charms. The library was filled with great books that held some really unique and never before seen spells that seemed to exist in the past during the dominant era of Seelie Realm.

Annalise suddenly opened her eyes and stood up from her spot while draping a black robe around her body before she stepped out of the pool. "I’m done with my bath. You can stay here longer if you want but I’ll be heading to my room." She informed Leela as she signaled Freya, one of the new female servants, to help her with getting dressed for the night.

A huge smile appeared on Leela’s face which carried a hint of teasing as she spoke, "Sure, go ahead. I can understand that you need to return to your room now. Unfortunately, I can’t relate as I don’t have even one husband let alone three of them."

Annalise just shook her head but didn’t respond with words. Instead, she just followed Freya to the other side of the screen to get dressed. Freya was really good with her work, almost as good as Sera whom the chief female servant of the Grand Duchess taught herself since an early age.

She first used a quick spell to dry Annalise’s long wet hair and then applied a scented mask to her hair to make them feel smooth and shiny. Then she simply combed her hair and left them loose before turning her attention to the lotion that she applied all over Annalise’s body. Lastly, she helped Annalise in a simple silk nightgown of deep blue color and a robe of mat thing color over it.

"Thank you, Freya. I really appreciate your work." Annalise took tge chance to praise the woman who seemed almost surprised but also happy with the compliment and bowed her head in gratitude.

Since she was all set for the night and sleep was calling her name, she headed straight to her bed-chamber on the second floor. The moment she reached her room, she was well aware of the presence of a person inside her room.

Taking in a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped inside before locking it behind her and moving deeper into the room and toward the bed where the dark fae was hiding his beautiful naked body beneath the velvet blanket.

The fae looked at her with a soft smile playing on his lips as he spoke, "I hope I’m welcomed here."