A Sorceress From the Future

Chapter Seven

When I was seven years old, my father and his friends hatched a plan to rob a convenient store over a warm crate of bear. During those days I would plop myself on the floor with my crayons and a roll of tissue and wait for my father’s instructions. His friends called me “TB”, Tiny Butler. Sam, Miguel and Tony were all ex-convicts. The beer gobbling that Monday evening was actually a celebration, they had just completed their five-year-sentence in the “can”. My father and his friends had grown up together in a small town somewhere in Alabama. According to Tony, my father had been the most sought-after guy in high school. Apparently, he had both the beauty and the brains. At this point Tony would begin snorting manically. Soon after Miguel and Sam would join, slapping each other on the back and mimicking models on TV commercials while pointing at my father. It was hard not to burst into laughter given their comical acts but I had known better. I had furiously bit the inner flesh of my cheeks and pictured my father’s leather belt with the large almond colored buckle thrashing my back, tearing my skin. I might have only been seven-years-old but I had already seen my father’s monstrous side.

Three days after the warm beer celebration, Tony, Miguel and Sam showed up at our porch with wrenches lodged in their waistbands ready to execute their ploy. Sam proceeded to head to the fridge while Miguel began fiddling with our switches. Tony had told me once that Miguel had been well on his way to being an electrical engineer. This was before both of his parents were murdered in a robbery gone wrong and he was left to fend for himself. On the day Tony had told me this grim tale, I had rushed to hug Miguel. He had been shocked at first but then his rigid features relaxed and he buried his face in the nape of my neck. That night my father had dislocated my shoulder.

Tony had always been the easy going one. He even brought me gifts. Sometimes candy, other times crayons. Among the three, it was him I liked most.

“Where is your pops kiddo?”

I shrugged my shoulders even though I knew he was in his room entertaining his “lady friend”.

“I brought you candy…”

As usual I shrieked in absolute joy and embraced him. Years later I would discover the reason why an ex-convict, who was barely making ends meet, was constantly buying me expensive candy.

As my father said, nothing in this world is for free.

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“Y-ou d-did it…y-you saved h-him…”

My heart was still palpitating, my breathing labored. It had actually worked! I had my doubts, I even thought I would lead him into an early grave but it had worked. Months of taking care of Miguel had finally paid off. At the time he was diagnosed with lung cancer, he had been beyond broke. I had to do research online and whip up concoctions from basic kitchen ingredients. The roots in the physician’s layer had resembled almost everything I had constantly stolen from the farmer’s market for Miguel’s treatment. Herbs had the ability of boosting a person’s immune system. If the King’s lungs had been attacked by a virus, my concoction would have neutralized the infection especially after using the make-shift syringe. The effects were taking place, the King’s health was visibly getting better. Unlike the King, however, Miguel had not been as lucky.

This was proof that magic was non-existent. I had used science to heal him not spells and a wand.

 I slowly moved aside as Luke and Barry approached their father. The King was struggling to open his eyes as his hands weakly reached out for his sons. I watched as tears freely rolled down Luke’s cheeks. Barry reached out for his brother’s hand and squeezed it. My heart clenched, this was family, this was what it meant to be in a family.

“Father…stop straining, we shall lead you to your chambers…you will recover from there under the care of the physician…Please, do not strain yourself father…”

“And the kingdom? My people? The Ninth Order…”

“No no father, worry not…Chi’s walls are impenetrable…they wouldn’t dare infinge our kingdom knowing what awaits them…”

I angled my head to examine Barry. He had gone rigid at the mention of “The Ninth Order”. I scarcely wondered if they thought I was a part of this group. Although I had to admit, their choice of names was completely bad ass. An image of me dressed in a leather outfit and riding a motorcycle in full speed suddenly flashed in my head.

Ha-ha Nina, you can’t even ride a bicycle.

“The girl…”

“I will take care of it father…”

The King groaned in pain as he tried to sit up. Barry leaned forward and took his father’s hand into his. He then gingerly pushed him upwards. Catching his brother’s drift, Luke helped to gently pull his father from the bed.

“Wait…wait…where is the girl…”

Luke stiffly turned towards me, beckoning me with his eyes. I didn’t move.

That bastard wanted to hang me! By some weird force of nature, I had survived drowning only to wind up in a century where gallows existed! Wait, did they have guillotines?

“P-please…”

I huffed rebelliously. He was not better off than his brother. He would have let me be hanged.

“Young girl…I understand your indifference…It’s not everyday you visit a new time and a death sentence is passed on you…”

I froze, he knew. He understood that I had somehow teleported through time. He could help me get back. If I didn’t, my father would follow through with his plan.

I couldn’t let him do it.

“Please sire…I mean my King…I mean your highness…I mean yours regal?”

A chuckle sounded, surprisingly it had emanated from Luke. I huffed.

“Please call me Matthias…I suppose you do not have Kings where you come from?”

“No…we have presidents now, although I suppose there are some states with Kings…Can you help me get back?”

Luke and Barry angled their head curiously. In fact, everyone in the room was simply staring at me.

Now they think I am telling the truth.

“All in due time, allow me to rest-“

“But I need to get back home…there is something I have to do…”

King Matthias regarded me coldly, I suddenly felt uncomfortable. Had I just interrupted a King mid- speech? The corners of his dried lips lifted; my agitated nerves relaxed.

“Tomorrow a feast will be held in your honor. My sons will arrange everything to your liking. You will be dressed, fed and wined…After the guests leave, I will tell you everything you need to know…Now first, allow me to show gratitude for what you have done…”

For a long time after King Matthias, his sons and guards vacated the room, I had simply stood there mulling over the King’s words. At the stroke of first light, handmaidens were sent to draw me a bath and prepare me for the feast. As they scrubbed my back with pumice stones and poured warm fragrant water on my scarred body, I couldn’t help but smile in utter bliss.

For the second time, the grim reaper had failed to have his way with me.