Chapter 159 - The missus’ return
Scarlett scowled as she used the Loci’s senses to observe the woman who had teleported into her office.
What was Mistress doing here, now of all times?
The Loci was noticeably opposed to her presence, emanating antipathy and revulsion through their bond. Even if Scarlett had never felt anything resembling distinct thoughts from the artifact, it was clear that it wanted the woman gone.
“Is something wrong?” Dean Godwin asked, giving Scarlett a curious look from where he still sat on his couch.
She turned her attention back to him. “…There appears to be an unexpected guest. Excuse me for a moment.”
Just as she set upon leaving the room to address the situation, she noticed Mistress tapping her staff on the floorboards of her office, creating a shimmering gate in the air. An identical gate materialized in the lounge where Scarlett and Godwin were, and the woman stepped through it the moment after.
Mistress met Scarlett’s unprepared expression with a beguiling smile. “I see you’ve made some new additions to your house. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this unwelcome.”
As in their previous encounters, the woman wore a gold-yellow robe with a crimson red inside, and a white marble mask covered the upper half of her face, embellished with golden inlays and scarlet rubies for eyes. Her pale, almost white skin contrasted with dark red lips that curled upward. “Oh? It seems like I’m interrupting something.” Her gaze shifted to Dean Godwin. “How rude of me.”
Scarlett couldn’t tear her eyes off the woman. Mistress hadn’t contacted her since their encounter with the Cabal, so why would she suddenly appear now, when Godwin was here? What were the chances that this was just a coincidence?
Scarlett glanced at Godwin, unsure how he might react.
The wizard scrutinized Mistress closely before looking to Scarlett. “An acquaintance of yours, I presume?”
She nodded slowly. “One could say that. This is…”