The Messenge (Iva and Nick) novel Chapter 412

The Gente’s Bargain-2

What?”

“Freedom.”

Melissandre frowned.

“That makes no sense.”

“It does when you understand what I am.”

The genie lifted one hand.

Purple energy curled around her fingers.

“I am not a demon, and I am not a dead soul, although your kind has called creatures like me both because you fear what you cannot understand.”

She smiled.

“I am a genie.”

Caleb’s expression remained cold.

“And you accepted the witch’s command for freedom?”

“No.”

The genie looked toward Iva’s reflection in the polished stone.

“I accepted it for something far more valuable.”

Melissandre’s eyes narrowed.

“What?”

The genie laughed.

“Power.”

The word echoed through the chamber.

“I wanted to become stronger than anything in my realm, and the witch possessed something I

could not obtain myself.”

“What?”

“A stone.”

“What stone?”

The genie looked almost pleased.

“The Vaelithra.”

Melissandre inhaled sharply.

Caleb noticed immediately.

“You know it?”

“I have heard of it.”

“Then explain.”

Melissandre swallowed.

“The Vaelithra is an ancient enhancement stone, supposedly formed when concentrated magical energy crystallized inside a dimensional fracture.”

The genie smiled.

“It does more than enhance magic.”

Melissandre continued cautiously.

“It can amplify supernatural abilities beyond their natural limits.”

“Yes.”

“And it can permanently alter the strength of the creature using it.”

“Yes.”

Caleb stared at the genie.

“So the witch promised you the stone.”

“She promised me access to it.”

“And in exchange?”

The genie looked at Iva.

“I was ordered to become the guardian of the seal.”

Melissandre’s expression hardened.

“Your task was to keep Avalon imprisoned.”

“Yes.”

“And erase Iva’s memories.”

“Yes.”

Caleb’s eyes darkened.

“You destroyed her life for a stone.”

The genie suddenly smiled.

“No.”

Her voice became quieter.

“I protected my reward.”

Caleb stepped forward.

“You call this protection?”

“She would have remembered.”

“Exactly.”

“And if she remembered, the seal would have weakened.”

Melissandre’s eyes widened.

“So her memories were connected to Avalon.”

“They were the bridge.”

The genie looked directly at Caleb.

“Every memory she recovered strengthened the bond between them, and eventually Avalon would

have broken free.”

Caleb’s breathing became heavier.

“You made her forget her own child.”

The genie shrugged.

“I did not remove everything.”

“You took pieces of her life.”

“I followed the rules.”

“You watched her suffer.”

“Yes.”

Something inside Caleb snapped.

His Lycan power exploded outward.

The ritual stones lifted from the ground.

The walls groaned.

The genie laughed.

“Go on.”

Melissandre shouted, “Caleb!”

He stopped himself with visible effort.

His chest rose and fell.

The genie watched him with fascination.

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