"He will hurt Cassie." Zeeva completed and they laughed while Crystal just stared at them.
"Wait, girls." Crystal said and they faced her.
"What is it?" Lily asked, rolling her eyes.
"But, you guys should reason this. Cassie takes Asher as a friend. How do you think she'd feel if Asher hurts her?" Crystal asked.
"That is none of our business, Crystal. Don't tell me that you're no longer interested in this. Should I tell my mother, the queen that you care about her prey now?" Lily snapped.
"No! That's not my point. I wanted to suggest that isn't it better we make Asher earn her trust before hurting her?" Crystal suggested and they burst into a fit of laughter.
"That's an absurd idea. Where did you come from? Jupiter?" Stella mocked and they laughed again.
Crystal was embarrassed and just kept quiet.
"I'll do what I find interesting, Crystal. Your opinions are not welcome here, so take it elsewhere. After all, I am the crown Princess of this coven." Lily said.
"I'm sorry." Crystal bowed and Lily smiled satisfyingly.
***
THE RAYNERS

ASHER'S ROOM
"Asher dear, come have dinner. You've been in your room all day." Benita, his mother yelled from outside as she banged on his door.
"I'm not hungry." He answered from within and she sighed.
"Since when did all these start?" She muttered to herself and hit the door again. "Asher, you know I love you. Whatever is wrong with you shouldn't stop you from eating. Please, come and eat, even if it is just a spoonful." She pleaded.
"Mum, stop stressing yourself. I said that I am not eating. There is nothing to eat for. Nothing can cloud the thoughts of chosing between disobeying one's father or betraying a friend." He said and she sighed.
She disappeared and appeared in his room. He was sitted in his bed, sulking. She went to sit down beside him and held his hands.
"What is wrong, dear? What's the matter?" She asked and he faced her
"I'm not happy at all, mum." He said.
"Yeah, it's obvious that you're not happy. Now, tell me, you know mum loves you." She cooed.
"Do you know that Harven and Roanna have a heiress?" He asked.
"Yes, your father told me about it." She answered.
"Dad wants me to train her so we could use her later. He said that, it has something to do with the throne of pure magic." Asher said.
"So, why are you sad?" She asked.
"Because, I don't want to do it. That girl is innocent and naive. She trusts me already, do you want me to break that trust?" He asked rhetorically.
"Asher, do you like this girl?" His mother asked.
Asher looked at his mum and asked, "Mum, why are you asking me such a question?"
"Because, I know the kind of son I have. I haven't seen you complain whenever your dad gives you a mission to accomplish. You kill at will without looking back or caring about what others felt. If you, Asher, my son should care about someone losing trust in you, then you like that person." She said and he bent his head.
"I don't like her." He said.
"Asher, don't forget that I can read minds." She smirked and he pouted.
"Urghhh! Mum, give me some privacy." He said and she chuckled.
"I can't help it, Asher. Your mouth says you don't like her but your heart is saying something different." She smirked.
"Jeez, mum! Stop already. Fine, I like her but as a friend." He said and his mum glared at him.
"Asher likes someone as a friend? I don't think so." Benita said.
"You know what, mum? I'm fine now. Let's go and eat." He said and stood up, dragging her with him.
"No, we need to settle this." She said and made him to sit down.
"Okay. Don't read my mind this time." He requested and she nodded.
"Since you don't want her to lose trust in you, I'd advice you follow your heart and do what is right. Also, talk to your father, I am sure that he would understand." She said.
"I hope he does because if Dad wants something, he does everything he can to get it." Asher said.
"I know that so I'm gonna help you talk to him." She said and he hugged her.
"Thanks mum, you're the best." He said.
"Let's go eat then. We must not drink blood always, you know." She winked and he smiled.
"Yeah." He smiled.
***
THE NEXT DAY...
LAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Rayner sat in his office when Asher entered.
"Hey, dad." He smiled nervously.
"Hi, son. Come sit down." He said, gesturing to the chair facing his.
Asher walked over to where he was and sat down. "I want to discuss something with you." He said.
"Go ahead, son. What's going on?" He asked.
"I don't want to train Cassie to our advantage anymore. If I should train her, it should be for her own good and not for the purpose of exploiting her." Asher said.
Mr. Rayner's countenance changed immediately. "What did you just say?" He asked.
"I don't want to do it anymore."
"You're the ruthless Asher. You have never flaunted my orders, don't tell me that you like her?" His father snapped.
"Dad..."
"No! Don't speak, Asher. Just give me reasons why you want to back out." His father asked.
"It's..."
"Because you like her right?" He asked and Asher kept quiet. "No problem then. But have you sat down and think whether she likes you too?" He asked and Asher bent his head. "You don't need her. Imagine that she hears about all the lives you've tajen, what do you think that she's going to say?"