Chapter 4
Severus's life had been ruined by a night that happened a long time ago. He had lived for so long that he now knew he didn't want to continue living, but previous attempts at suicide had yielded no results. He didn't know what kind of being he was, so after extensive research, he finally decided to turn to a witch. The curse that led to his family's death was now a part of him, and being a witch only made everything worse.
Despite the darkness that loomed over him, there was a silver lining – he wasn't aging; still a 17-year-old youth. This aspect of his existence pleased him immensely. Illusion powers might also be added to the mix, making him unstoppable. Despite the moral implications, theft became a source of empowerment for him. Illusions made everything possible, and he reveled in that power.
"Hey Benedict, what's on your mind again?" Emma inquired.
"Nothing, Emma, absolutely nothing," he replied.
He had found a way to keep himself occupied. Working was a necessity, and relying solely on stolen goods wouldn't buy him a house. Plus, being idle all day bored him; he always enjoyed trying new things. Jumping from one profession to another, he never stayed in a job for more than three years – it was risky to have people notice he didn't age.
"Hey, are you free tonight? We're going to a new bar with the gang. You should come with us," Emma suggested.
"I'll pass. Bars are not my thing, you know me," Benedict responded.
"You're not anyone's 'thing,' Benedict. You can't just sit at home reading books forever. We won't live forever, you know. Life is passing by, and you're still young. Have some fun for once, please," Emma insisted.
Being over a century old makes activities labeled as "fun" seem absurd. Benedict found solace in his antisocial lifestyle. Moreover, he couldn't bear losing someone again, so avoiding closeness seemed like the better option.
As he finished work and slung the postman bag over his shoulder, he passed by a nearby children's park. A red-haired girl swiftly passed him, dropping a necklace. Retrieving it to return, Benedict noticed it was familiar – it belonged to his mother.
-Cursed hunts, 1503.-
"Why is this necklace so important, Mom?"
"This belonged to my great-great-grandmother. Cherish it; it's not valuable in terms of money, even though it's worth a fortune. It's about our family's legacy. Your name, Eileen, is inscribed on it. Your grandmother named your mother after it."
-Current time, 1504.-
While handing back the necklace to the girl, he couldn't help but feel the fire within. This was his chance for revenge. The necklace was no longer hers; it belonged to the Witch Hunter.
-Present time.-
This necklace, his mother's, now served as a symbol of his revenge. Slowly wrapping the chain around his hand, he allowed the magic to take hold of his illusionary form. As the illusion engulfed him, he felt his body shrinking. Once again, he was a 9-year-old child. Running up to the girl, he touched her shoulder.
"Hello, I'm Severus."
For a moment, he felt detached, using his real name again.
"Hi Severus, I'm Lily."
"You dropped your necklace while running; I wanted to give it back."
"Ah, thank you so much. This necklace means the world to me. If I lost it, my mom would be furious."
"It's a beautiful necklace. Why is it so important?"
Smiling, he saw the excitement in her eyes. Being a child had its perks; you wanted to share everything.
"According to my mom, it's been a family heirloom for centuries. My mom has had it for over 400 years. It says Eileen on it, my great-great-grandmother's name. In fact, my mom named me after her because of this necklace. Pretty cool, huh?"
While his body burned with conflicting emotions, he smiled. To ask her why the necklace was so important felt like tightening a noose around his neck. That necklace belonged to him, not to the granddaughter of a murderer.
"That's a great story. Would you like to be friends? You seem like someone I'd really like."
"I don't think you even need to ask. I already adore you," she replied, shaking his hand.
As they shook hands, he couldn't help but smile. His revenge would unfold based on a friendship that was built on a carefully laid plan. The Witch Hunter's necklace would be his once again.