But Marisol could see through Leticia's facade. She knew there was more to the story, and there was a battle looming for goddess' sake. What better time to find out about something so crucial? Leticia had already held off on her for far too long, Marisol wasn't about to let her off the hook that easily.
"Don't start with that now, Leticia. Spill it already." She warned firmly.
With a defeated sigh, Leticia relented, "Fine, I'll tell you. But you're not going to like it. There's a reason I've been keeping this information from you."
Marisol's heart raced with anticipation as she waited for Leticia to reveal the big secret.
"There's an ancient dagger that has the power to wipe out Guinevere and her coven once and for all. It's the only weapon that can destroy her completely."
Marisol's eyes widened in shock at the revelation, her voice pitching. "Why are you only now telling me about this?? We've been wasting all this time here for nothing!."
Leticia's gaze was heavy with remorse as she croaked out a reply. "Marisol, using the dagger, comes with a heavy price. It requires a hybrid to wield it, and even then, the consequences are dire. No one who uses the dagger survives, not even you."
Marisol felt her heart drop to the bottom of her feet. She sucked in several deep breaths, her fingers coming to massage her temple. It was no news, just how twisted ancient magic tends to be. She knew what it meant to sacrifice oneself for the greater good, but the thought of losing her life in the process was almost too much to bear.
"So you're saying that if I use the dagger on Guinevere, I won't survive it?" She repeated, grim, and Leticia nodded, her expression grave.
"I'm afraid so, Marisol."
Marisol's mind raced with conflicting emotions as she grappled with the weight of Leticia's revelation. She knew that defeating Guinevere was their only hope for peace, but Marisol had never imagined losing her life at such a pivotal point of it. It wasn't just about her. It was about Cedric and her parents too.
"Yes. I didn't make it known because, although it would mean putting an end to Guinevere's tyranny once and for all, it's your decision and only yours to make. If anyone else found out, they weren't going to agree."
Marisol nodded. She could sense that there was more to be uncovered, but she'd heard enough for now.
She suddenly felt heavy. Her wolf was agitated. It wanted another way out, but the new energy within her was oddly calm.
"I don't know if I'm strong enough to make that sacrifice," Marisol muttered truthfully "I thought I was ready to do whatever it takes to put an end to Guinevere's reign of terror, but now I'm not so sure."
Leticia offered a sad smile. "I understand, I've been there too."
Marisol raised a brow, and Leticia snorted. "When I discovered the dagger, I was annoyed. I wanted to destroy it."
"Why?" Marisol blurted out, a little disconcerted.
"The dagger destroys Guinevere and the whole of Ember Coven. I am a part of the Ember coven. It didn't make sense that I would discover what would lead to my own demise. That's when I understood the prophecy. Your father is a hybrid too, and if he uses the dagger, he'll succeed in wiping out not only Ember Coven but everyone in his pack. Do you understand?"
Marisol shook her head, feeling utterly lost.
"Right now, you're like a lone wolf, Marisol. You may be mated to Cedric, but you're not bound to Redwood. And I know you noticed the shift when your parents arrived. Your bond to Cedric effectively cuts you off from Dark Moon. So if you die, no one will be affected. Cedric may feel the worst effects, but he won't die because you may be bound to him, but not in its totality. Atleast not yet."
Her candidness hurt more than Marisol could've imagined. She nodded, deciding that would be enough for today. She pushed herself to her feet, wanting to get out already. When she'd begun interrogating Leticia, she wasn't sure what to expect, but she was certain it wasn't this.
"Remember. No one should know about this until your decision is made. And I don't want to sound insensitive, but you need to hurry up with that decision."
Marisol swallowed thickly. Her jelly-like legs carried her to the door. Just as she reached for the doorknob, a thought sprang to her mind. When she turned around, Leticia was back in camouflage. That sent a shiver down Marisol's spine. Leticia was not at all who she seemed to be. She distractedly wondered whose face it was she'd been wearing all this time.
"What's your real name?" She asked.
"Genevieve," came the reply.
Marisol nodded, "Do you not feel any sort of connection to her? You're identical twins."
Leticia smiled, "She thinks I'm dead and has been trying to corrupt my essence for more than a decade. I feel her. I know her every move, but she doesn't feel the same way because she believes I don't exist anymore and is only interested in harvesting my powers."
"What do you think will happen if she finds out?"
Leticia looked away, "I don't think I can resist her. She's much more powerful than I can ever dream of being. If she finds me, we're doomed. No matter what decision you make, find that dagger. I hid it in the library, in a hidden castle."
Marisol sighed, her heart broke for herself, Leticia, her parents, and worse of all, Cedric.
Just as she made to cross the threshold, Leticia spoke up again, "I've become a liability to you, Marisol. We are all now liabilities. Do not come back here. And even if you decide to sacrifice yourself, don't wait for her to wake up from hibernation. She's in her weakest form now. Use that opportunity to end it quickly. You may be powerful, but you're no match for her, at least not yet."