Chapter 32 - The Search Continues

Celeste had made it all the way to Texas, searching every pack for the Emerald Stone witch. So far, to her delight, she has not found her. It had been three days, and she was not picking up anything on any of those in the packs that had spells on them.

Brielle was angry and screamed at Celest every chance she got. Celest didn't care; she would still take her time. She enjoyed being out from under Brielle, and she knew that Brielle would not come looking for her or send anyone else to find her unless she failed.

Celeste was observing the pack below her, and she was disgusted. She knew this pack well because they often called on Brielle's services.

The Alpha enslaved humans and weres no matter what species they were. He also sold them to others to do whatever disgusting experiments or deeds they wanted.

Celeste wished she had the power to place a spell on the pack reversing the roles so the slaves could become the masters. She couldn't do that; otherwise, Brielle would be alerted that her spell had been tampered with.

Celeste sighed as she went on to the next pack to observe. The more she thought of it, the more she wanted to try and have the Emerald Stone witch hear her out. Celeste didn't want to be evil, but she didn't know if the witch could save her from Brielle. She was determined to try, though. If nothing else, hopefully, the Emerald Stone witch will kill her quickly and not torture her as Brielle would do.

Celeste went from pack to pack, searching and enjoying herself. She became more and more depressed as she watched the love those she observed had for each other. She knew she would most likely never have anyone to love her like that.

Celeste felt tears building in her eyes, knowing that even if she survived this mission, she would live a long lonely life. She thought maybe it would be better if she died by the Emerald Stone witches' hand, then it would save her from the loneliness.

Celeste didn't even realize that she had begun to slow her pace down, so she wasn't getting to as many packs as she had at the beginning of her search. She didn't care, though. Brielle wouldn't send anyone else to look. It would be too risky for her to have multiple witches out searching.

Celeste knew that Brielle didn't want any other black magic witches from other covens knowing about the Emerald Stone witch, or they would also try to get her stone. There was no other High Priestess as powerful as Brielle, but that wouldn't keep them from trying to outdo her.

The more packs Celeste searched, the more she thought this witch was probably on the West Coast, especially if she was a decedent of Jasmine. Jasmine and her mate had lived in California, so it would make sense that she would be there if she were a relative.

Celeste had thought about that when she started the search, which is why she started as far away as possible. She needed time to think and enjoy herself before she died. This may be her last time feeling free before being killed either by good or evil.
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Brielle was screaming at everyone and everything that she came into contact with. Celeste still had not found the Emerald Stone witch, and if she were not the fastest witch Brielle had, she would have killed her already.

Brielle could feel Celeste's enjoyment from being away from her, but she didn't care. She knew that Celeste was well aware that she was dead if she didn't find the witch. That didn't ease Brielle's frustration, though.

Brielle had just killed one of her servants because she came in without knocking first. It was the fourth one that she had killed today because of her anger. They did nothing wrong other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Brielle had her torture potions in place for when she had the witch. If she didn't bring the stone with her, Brielle had plans to torture her until she told her where it was. If that didn't work, she would torture every pack member until she knew who had it.

Brielle thought about calling in more resources for help, but she was too fearful that the other black magic witches would find out what she was up to. If that happened, Brielle would have a fight on her hands, she was sure she could win, but she didn't have the time or energy for that right now. Brielle screamed to come in when someone knocked on her door.

"Madam, I have some information for you." The witch who dared interrupt Brielle bowed as she spoke.

"Well, speak, don't stand there like an incompetent fool." Brielle was angry, and this witch dared to come in and waste her time.

"We have narrowed down the location of the Emerald Stone witch to the California area. We don't know what pack she is with yet, but when we placed the energy spell on the pack members you had as spies, we could feel the Emerald Stone, witch's energy is the strongest in that area. The witch appears to have her own spells in place, locking us out from finding her exact location, but I wanted to let you know what we found." Aria bowed, worried that Brielle would kill her because she didn't have better news. To her surprise, Brielle began laughing, and it sent chills down Aria's spine. When the High Priestess laughed, it was never good.

"Of course, she is there, she is probably related to Jasmine, and California is where she met her demise. I will let Celeste know to head to California immediately. Aria, have everyone ready to go once we have an exact location. Anyone that does not fight with me will be killed immediately. Is that understood?" Brielle knew Aria was terrified of her and was not a fighter.

"Yes, Madam, I will make sure they are ready."

Aria practically ran out of the room while Brielle smirked behind her. She enjoyed striking fear in everyone around her.

Brielle concentrated so she could speak directly to Celeste. She told her to go to California and start searching immediately. Once she finds the witch, let her know, and reinforcements will be sent. Celeste acknowledged Brielle and said she would head there immediately.

Brielle looked around her office. It was also her lab, but she had many other secrets there as well. Brielle went to her secret door and into the cave beneath her house. She had her secret weapons hidden there, and she needed to decide which ones would be the most beneficial for her to take.

Brielle slowly walked past each cage in her cave. She heard growling and whimpering depending on what was in the case. Brielle had every type of shifter locked in her cave. She had placed spells on them, so they stayed in their animal form and did whatever she wanted.

As Brielle looked in each cage, she thought about what benefit each shifter would bring her. She smirked when she got to the last cage, which was the biggest of them all. She knew this was the beast she would take with her.

Brielle knew that she would have to travel to the west coast with her witches, but she was not planning to be part of the pack fight. She would wait for the Emerald Stone witch to be brought to her in a remote area she would have ready for her.

The beast in the large cage began growling at her. Brielle laughed at him. As she looked at the beast, she brought her hand up and clenched her fist. The beast fell to the ground rolling in pain. Brielle laughed at the animals' misery.

She made her way back to her office now that she had that part of her plan in place. Brielle put all her potions together that she had prepared, and she made sure she had everything else she needed to cause the Emerald Stone witch the most amount of pain.

There was no way Brielle was going to let that stone get away from her this time. She didn't care what she had to do or who she had to sacrifice. It would be hers. Brielle also planned to kill the she-wolves that she had placed spells throughout the packs.

She had chosen unmated she-wolves so they could try and mate with the Alpha. Her spells would have sucked the power from the Alpha's as they carried the ultimate power. However, now she would have the stone, so there was no need for a backup plan. Killing the she-wolves would be the quickest way to stop them.

Brielle cackled to herself; she was finally going to get that stone. She would once and for all make sure no Emerald Stone witch survives.