Dark in the Dollhouse Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Bewitcher

Read chapter 10 of Dark in the Dollhouse by Haspberry on NovelPedia.

Ushered into a new spring, the residents of the majestic garden glimmered and revelled without a hint of melancholy. Only the wilting flower remained still, cackling, and ever so slowly breaking. “Ugh...” Yuliana groaned as she woke up. A splitting pain made her head throb. She slowly got up from the sofa and yawned, feeling sleepy and heavy headed even after just waking up. She remembered fragments of being under a dark dream, but couldn’t quite make out any of it. She looked down at herself and fell into deep thought, Hmm, other than the obvious changes that occurred to me because of Ingesting the First Act of Blood Mantra, I don’t feel as if there is anything wrong with me. Thank goodness, I seem to be alright. There are no changes within my memories. I still don’t remember my past. There doesn’t seem to be any noteworthy changes within my ichor either, not any I can feel at least. Phew, looks like all my worries were for naught. Yuliana sighed as she relaxed and leaned into the sofa. Her stomach churned in pain. Although she had recovered from the initial pain of Ingesting a Series Artistry for the first time, the lingering aftereffects still pricked at her. “Good morning, or should I say evening? Did you have a nice nap Yuli?” Evander said as he put a plate with a cup of tea in front of her. “I did. Thanks for this Evan,” Yuliana smiled as she picked up the teacup and took a sip. “Blegh!!” she instantly spat out the contents. Evander laughed. He said, “It’s a special medicinal tea I concocted. It’ll help you recover your strength, so drink up!” “You could’ve warned me you know? It’s way too bitter,” she said with a frown. She added, “Sigh, then again, it’s wrong for me to expect an actual warning for you.” “Glad you’re catching on,” he replied with a smirk. She gulped. In one chug, she downed the whole cup of tea. “Ugh...” she groaned and fanned her tongue. Her whole mouth burned with the heat and bitterness of the tea. Evander raised his brows. “Wow, you’re quite the someone to down a whole cup of hot tea. You could’ve asked for some sugar you know?” “What?” she asked back. That was an option? she thought with her mouth agape. Evander laughed again. “Honestly, I didn’t add it on purpose to see your reaction but I expected you to at least ask for some afterwards. Although herbal, tea is still tea. You can take as much sugar as you like,” he said as he picked up the teacup and the plate. “Eh? I feel so stupid now...” she said as her face reddened in embarrassment. She hid herself behind her palms. Evander chuckled. “It happens to the best of us. Anyways, I’m curious. How does your Artistry work?” he inquired. Yuliana smirked. She said with a proud look on her face, “Throw the plate.” “Oh? Where?” “Anywhere you’d like.” “If that’s so... then,” he chucked the plate upwards. Yuliana let out her hand. A hollow circle formed at her palm as it glowed with a crimson shade. The plate changed it’s trajectory and approached Yuliana with a frightening speed. She caught it skilfully and handed it back to Evander. Evander raised his brows as he whistled. “That was pretty nice. So you can pull objects towards you?” “Yeah, I can also Repel them. Try throwing the cup at me.” Evander nodded and threw the cup at Yuliana. She used her extended arm and without letting it come in contact with her palm, she threw it back as if returning a catch. “Wow, so is your Artistry centred around magnetism?” Yuliana thought for a second and replied, “It’s wrong to boil it down to just ‘magnetism’. My abilities extend beyond that.” Yuliana smiled and said, “throw the cup at me again please.” Evander abided and threw the cup. This time, Yuliana did the same motions but instead of bouncing it back, she made it float in the air. Her brows furrowed. Still smiling, she said, “If I can accurately balance the forces of Attraction and Repulsion, I can make an object float like this.” She moved her hand and made the teacup go up and down. She moved it around like a