Chapter 205 - Opal's Discovery

Delaney looked at the witch standing in front of her. She felt a warmth against the small of her back and realized Miles had moved and was there, gently supporting her. She glanced up and met her brother-in-law's green eyes that reminded her so much of her husband's. She wished Vincent was here but she was happy to at least have Miles by her side.

"What is it?" she asked Opal quietly, "If it wasn't a potion then what was it?  A kind of medicine to help my chances of getting pregnant?"

The little witch took a step forward, shaking her head, "I'm afraid not my Lady."

"Then what was it?" Miles demanded in annoyance, raising the lantern so they could see her better.

Delaney already felt her stomach beginning to twist and her heart beat faster.

"Lady Adair... I'm afraid this isn't a medicine made to help you have children... It's actually intended to do the opposite."

As soon as the words hit her ears Delaney stumbled back and was glad to have Miles already in place to catch her.  Her hands flew to cover her mouth and a pained sound escaped her.

"What are you talking about?" Miles demanded of the witch, "So you're saying whatever was in that bottle was meant to keep them from being able to conceive a child?"

"I'm sorry to say that is the whole purpose of the mixture," the witch shook her head, "Whoever gave it to you my Lady... They wanted to make sure you and Lord Adair did not have a child."

Delaney felt her head spinning. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. It couldn't be true.  Surely she hadn't done something to even further ruin her chances of staying with her husband.

"Who gave you the potion Delaney?" Miles grabbed her arms in a tight grip and looked at her with an intense gaze, "I know you said you shouldn't tell me who it was but you have to now.  Who gave you the potion?"

"So I... So I will never be able to have a baby now?" Delaney turned to look down at Opal, unable to think of anything else yet.

The witch sighed, "I don't think the effects are permanent but..."

"Oh thank God," Delaney choked, interrupting the other woman.

"But," Opal continued louder, "There is a chance it has caused some damage.  You may have to wait for your organs to heal before you expect a baby to come."

"Wait?  Wait how long?"

"Weeks... Maybe months... There is no way to tell how long it will take your body to recover and flush out this poison so you can get pregnant."

"But," Delaney shook her head sadly, as tears fell down her cheeks, "But I don't have months."

"It's alright," Miles spoke, pulling her into his arms, "Don't worry Delaney. We will tell Vince. He'll understand. Maybe this will be just the thing you need to get him to agree to give you more time to have a baby. Maybe he'll end up realizing he can't end your marriage after all."

Delaney nodded but tears were already streaming down her face and she felt like her heart would shatter.

"Wait Lady Adair I brought you this!"

They turned to look at the woman who scooted forward, holding up the second bottle to her.  The liquid inside was a lighter color and not as thick as the previous mixture had been.

"I can't use the magic to help me, Opal," she shook her head sadly, "I can't pay whatever price it would demand.  Especially not if it's taking a life."

"This isn't magic," the witch shoved it into her hand, "This is a medicine.  It's made of herbs and roots and things to help you conceive.  I can't promise that it will work but I can say it has helped many women before.  Take a spoonful every day and it might even help your body flush out the poison faster."

"Thank you," Delaney whispered, clutching the bottle to her chest, "I will take it religiously."

"May I have the other bottle?" Miles asked quietly, holding out his hand for it.

"Why?" Delaney demanded, "It's a poison."

"We can bring it to the King as evidence," he answered seriously as he took it from Opal, "Then Daniel can punish whoever supplied it to you.  Now tell me who that was."

"Do you remember the name of the witch?" Opal interjected, "The one who made it for you?"

"I don't," Delaney frowned, shaking her head as she tried to remember, "She looked unlike anyone I've ever seen.  She wore strange clothes.  It was like a robe that barely even covered her.  There was... There was a golden broach that held it together..."

"And what else?" Opal asked, eyes alight, "What else do you remember about her?"

"She had beautiful red hair and wore black makeup on her eyes and... and... and she never spoke.  Not a single word."

"Luna!" Opal exclaimed, looking up with wide eyes, "Was her name Luna?"

"It was!"

"Luna cannot speak," Opal shook her head and looked worried now, "But she's not good Lady Adair.  She's not from this land and does strange magic.  It's dark.  She came here and quickly became known for her poisons.  She vanished many years ago and none of the other witches were ever able to learn where she'd gone.  Now we know."

"What is she talking about Delaney?" Miles demanded, "Where did you meet this witch?  You have to tell me!"

Delaney looked up at him now and took a deep breath.

"I met her in the castle... She lives there with Daniel's other witches."

Miles's face went slack as he stared at her.  "W-What do you mean?  This bad witch lives in the castle?  Daniel allows it?"

"He might not know she's known for her poisons or that she's bad," Opal suggested, "That's something known by other witches but usually not everyone else."

"But he allows her to live there?"

Delaney slowly nodded.

Miles frowned, dropping his gaze, "I don't understand... Why would Daniel give you a potion from a witch?  Why would he want to keep you and Vince from having a baby?"

"It wasn't Daniel," Delaney spoke up quietly, "It was.... It was Sophia."

Miles's eyes snapped to hers, "The Queen?  The Queen got you this potion?  But why would she not want you and Vince to have a baby either?  It doesn't make any sense."

"I don't know," Delaney shook her head, her eyes began to sting with tears again, "But it's... it's not fair."

Truly looking at her now, Miles saw the pain she was in.  He took her on his arm and turned back to Opal.

"We can't thank you enough for all your help," he said seriously, "I'm going to take my sister home now."

"Do be careful how you handle the issue with Luna," Opal warned, "She isn't an evil woman exactly.  She doesn't intentionally hurt anyone.  She just doesn't care about the lives of others or the pain she may cause them."

"Thank you Opal," Delaney managed though she felt her heart aching, "Go home now and get out of the cold."

"You do the same, my Lady."

Miles helped Delaney up the slope and when he looked back she saw his eyes widen as he realized the witch was already gone.

He helped her along through the woods until they came to their horses.  Somewhere in the distance, they heard the howling of the wolves and the sound sent a chill down Delaney's spine.  Miles seemed to be unsettled by it too because he quickly helped her up into her saddle before climbing into his own.

They didn't speak as they rode back towards the house at a quick pace.  Delaney looked over and saw her brother-in-law was frowning.  She knew he would be thinking over everything he had just learned and she was as well.

She was having trouble focusing on anything else though except the fact that she had lost all this time when she could have gotten pregnant.  If she hadn't started taking that stupid poison maybe she and Vincent would be announcing their own baby would soon be arriving.

Her heart ached and felt as if it would stop beating.  This was all her fault.  Vincent blamed himself for them not having a child yet but now he would know the blame was on her.  She had ruined everything and now she might have even lost her future with the man she loved.  All because she had made such a stupid decision.

The haunting words from the witch Helena floated into her mind.  She could have a happy life but only if she made the right choices.  Maybe this was the choice she had made that would now take away her happy future.  Biting her lip as tears spilled from her eyes Delaney could only shake her head.

Time after time she seemed to continue to make the wrong choices.  Any chances she had had to have a happy future she had been choosing to throw away.