Gabriella’s POV
“It’s because she has both parents loving her and she never got the chance,” I responded to her.
“And according to what Gabby told me, I’d say she’s harboring the pain of a past heartbreak and wants everyone else to feel that pain as well,” Nick added.
“That’s a part of it, but it goes beyond that. Estella is a special child. She began exhibiting some of her wolf qualities at a young age, even before turning 16. Your daughter is a true alpha-powerful, brave, and resolute. Dedusa sought a strong vessel like her to possess, to feed on that power. Your daughter is the only powerful being on Earth who can fulfill Dedusa’s quest to become what she desires,” Margaret explained in detail, shedding light on the situation.
“So you’re saying she recognized my daughter’s potential and decided to exploit it? I despise Dedusa. I wish I could confront her face-to-face. I’m certain I’d give her a run for her money,” I said, feeling my anger rise. Suddenly, we heard Estella talking in her sleep, her words filled with menace, “I will kill them all, I will destroy what they love, and I will rule for life.”
“Estella, Estella,” I called out to her.
“I will wipe out their bloodline and spare no one. I’ll be reborn, and chaos will reign in this world,” my daughter continued to mutter, saying things that made no sense. It was clear that Dedusa was using her as a conduit for her intentions. I was determined not to let Dedusa’s twisted dreams become a reality. I vowed to stop her at any cost, no matter the sacrifice. It was a promise I was resolute to keep.
“Margaret, please find a way to save her,” Nick implored, placing his hands on my shoulders to calm me down.
“I’ll do my best. We still have time. It will take until the next full moon for Dedusa to fully take control of your daughter,” Margaret explained.
“The next full moon is happening next Saturday. Can we find a solution by then?” Nick asked, his concern for our daughter evident in his eyes.
“I can’t be certain, but we won’t know until we try,” Margaret replied.
“So, if we can’t find a solution, we might lose our daughter forever?” I asked, my heart heavy with fear.
“Yes.”
Nicklaus’s POV
“You’re not grasping the situation. Dedusa has chosen our daughter,” I tried to clarify.
“And who is Dedusa?” I was thoroughly confused by my mate’s response. I wished I could understand who this Dedusa was. Then she said, “Dedusa is an evil witch who seeks to become immortal.”
“I’m sorry, dear, but I still don’t comprehend. An evil witch usually resides in a human body. How could she possibly enter our daughter? Are you protecting this witch? Has someone cast a manipulative spell to control our daughter like a puppet?” My anger surged as I questioned, ready to confront anyone attempting to use my daughter as a vessel. I hoped my mate wasn’t concealing information about the puppeteer, and I suspected that Dedusa might be a witch.
“No, I am not protecting anyone. No one is using a spell on our daughter. Dedusa and our innocent daughter have become one, and Margaret is trying to come up with a solution to save her. I can’t let Dedusa harm my child,” she cried out, her distress palpable in her words. Her reaction unnerved me, adding to the gravity of the situation.
“Whoever this Dedusa is, I won’t allow her to harm my innocent daughter. Please, tell me what you know about her,” I inquired once more, driven by the need to understand our adversary fully in order to devise a plan to protect our daughter.
“I don’t have many details, but from what Margaret has said, she believes Dedusa to be a legend. She was once a beautiful and powerful witch who turned into an evil spirit. She can possess any human she desires with just a single glance. That’s all I know,” she replied, a mixture of confusion and concern evident in her expression.
The revelation was bewildering. A once-powerful and beautiful witch who had chosen to become an evil spirit and possessed people with a mere look it was both intriguing and unsettling. “It’s an unusual situation, but regardless of who she is, we must find a way to eliminate her. To do that, we need to thoroughly understand our enemy. Margaret seems to be the key to making that happen.”
I felt the need to encourage her, even though I harbored skepticism about the witches. Right now, we had no better option than to rely on Margaret’s knowledge.
“Yes, you’re right. Thank you for giving me hope again. We have to save our daughter,” she responded, her voice a mix of determination and gratitude.
I observed her, the worry evident on her face. I knew she needed rest; the burden on her shoulders was too heavy. Gently hugging her from behind, I assured her, “She will be alright. Let’s wait for Margaret and see what our next steps should be. In the meantime, let’s focus on bringing down her fever.”
“Alright, I’ll do that,” she agreed, her exhaustion clearly visible. Her eyes revealed her need for rest, prompting me to suggest, “No, you should rest now. I’ll take care of it. Freshen up and take a break.”
She nodded, appreciating the suggestion. She left the room, and I locked the door after her departure. Sitting down next to Estella, I managed a faint smile. “Estella, my precious daughter. I’m sorry you’re in this situation because I failed to act sooner. Can you forgive me?” Gently stroking her hair, I suppressed my own emotions, not wanting to burden her further.
“I’ll find a way out for you. Just hold on a little longer, my darling.” I settled down on the bed beside her, my gaze fixed on her as fatigue gradually overcame me. In the midst of my concern, I drifted off into sleep.