Witches of the Past: Mahrim

Chapter One

”Who are you and what are you doing here?” Mahrim said with a stern voice as she tried to hide the fear that was creeping into her bones. She felt the wind get stronger and for some reason, she felt the blue eyed witch in a way she didn’t quite understand. 

“My name is Elika” the witch said as she walked closer to Mahrim and gently pushed down the stick she held. “Do not be afraid, Mahrim, for I was sent by your mother”

Mahrim froze regardless. This was the first time she was hearing anything that remotely meant her mother was alive somewhere. Her father rarely and almost never spoke of her since the day she left. It made it difficult for Mahrim to ask questions she needed answers to. 

“My mother?” she whispered in disbelief. 

“Yes, your mother. Believe it or not she’s alive but she is in great danger as we speak. Apparently your father went to the Green eyed Witch clan to hunt some witches…” she paused and scoffed “I always told him this quest of his would kill him someday”

“Is my father de- dead?” Mahrim interrupted.

Elika looked up at her and down at the table she was running her hands on, gracefully. “Oh no no.. At least not yet anyway” she said. “But he will be soon if you don't do as I say”

“Why should I believe you?” Mahrim hissed as her fingers circled tightly around the turning stick again as she held it up to her face. 

“Because I've never done anything wrong to you” Elika said lightly, her blue eyes in all its glory against her dark skin.

“You took my mother away!” Mahrim retorted through clenched teeth. 

“Oh no no honey.. The Challuga took your mother away. The way she took every other witch you saw there” Elika Explained. “myself included”

“Why should I believe you?” Mahrim asked still unconvinced

Elika smiled. Her blue eyes started glowing even more brightly. “ I see you’ve grown up to ask a lot more questions than the first time I saw you. That’s a good thing.” She started before stating “Because The Challa will be here soon and will take you away too”

“Wh-Why?”

“Because you bear the mark of the moobies”

“The moobies? The spirit children with eternal life? Aren't they just a myth. The human gods who have the power of every living thing on earth.. That was a story told to us as children”

Elika smiled “it's good you're acquainted with the stories, Morri didn’t do such a terrible job after all” 

Just then Elika's eyes turned white and her body stiffened. Mahrim, shocked, just looked on. Her blue eyes came back after a few seconds and she said “Follow me.. The Challuga is on her way here”

Mahrim looked at her intensely. She didn't know what got into her but she packed her sack and decided to move with Elika. They got away through the field at the back. Mahrim had no idea where she was heading to but somehow she felt safe. A lot safer than staying in the house. 

They hurried through the grasses and the mud. Elika seemed not the least bit worried. Mahrim admired that. 

“She's nowhere to be found. The warm pot indicates she was here a few moments ago. What should we do now, Mistress?” One of the red haired witches said to the Challuga. “It seems someone got her before us'.

The Challuga smiled to herself but she seemed a little distressed. “We must find her! You must find her before she and her rescuer finds the book of enchantments. If they do.. They'll have the power to wipe us all from the face of the earth. Even something worse. We must find it first”

“But mistress… How's that possible? We know not where to start and we have no map or an idea where to find out” the same red haired witched said. 

The Challuga hushed her as her hands wrapped around her neck. “I am very much aware of this Diwandi. Your questions aren’t helping, do you understand?” Diwandi struggling for her breath nodded.

“Good” The Challa said as she let her go. “Prepare yourself... We would have a ritual at exactly midnight. Summon the witches of the four sides. Get everyone ready”.

“Yes.. Mistress” Diwandi responded. Words were spoken no more as all 5 witches present got on their horses and rode to the witches quarters.

“So you want me to babysit her?” Marshall pointed at the white haired girl crouching by the other side of the room.

Elika nodded, her gaze following his. “Please Marshall,  Do this for me. Do this for us. She's a very important part to getting what was stolen from us. Do this for our parents” Elika led on as she held her brother's hand gently. Marshall gave her a hard look. “ I don’t  what you're doing. I don't understand how white hair over there  is supposed to help but I'll try to believe you and trust you know what you’re doing because you know Dakaris do not appreciate being summoned from hell for just anything.” he said, taking one more look at Mahrim.

“How old is she?” He asked. 

“She's about four years younger than you. In human years” Elika explained absent mindedly as she dug into her sac. 

“Looks pretty innocent” He said, looking at her even more interested now. 

Elika saw how much and hit him on the head.

Marshall winced as his hand flew to the hurting spot

“Hey what was that for?”

“She's not for that” Elika corrected. Marshall had his way with the ladies. He was handsome, tall and dangerous. Every woman’s worst daydream. 

“What?” He scoffed as he looked back at Mahrim “She's not even my type, Eli” Marshall defended as he stole one quick look at her. 

“Whatever. Look, you'll take care of her and not try to get in between her legs. You'll pack your sack and you two will ride to the fall of Malyah and wait for me there. You will stay there till I give you a signal. Or I shall come myself. I’ll be headed back to the witches quarters and I don’t know how soon I can find you. But I will” She instructed in a final tone. 

Marshall looked over to Mahrim again and Elika hit him on the head again. “Please try not to sleep with her or seduce her or you'll go mad. She’s a witch and you know Dakaris and witches are not meant to go down that path. Is eternal condemnation what you want?'

“ I told you already, She's not my type, and besides, I am already condemned for eternity.” Marshall said through gritted teeth.

Elika hissed and stood up. Dusting her green gown and reaching out for her brown cloak. she called “Mahrim?”

Mahrim stood up “Yes Elika?”

“You'll go with Marshall.. He'll take you to a place where you both will wait for my orders. I'll go back to the witches Palace to know the next move the Challuga will take”

"Wait.. I'm still so confused.. I have no idea of what is going on here.. Where is my dad?. Why are the witches in the palace looking for me? I need an explanation. Or I'm not leaving.” Mahrim said.

“I'll explain everything to you…” she said softly. “I know you feel lost and confused but I'll explain everything when I meet you at Malyah” Elika assured her. 

“I'm going to Malyah now?.. I don't even know you well enough” Mahrim said now. She should’ve thought this through thoroughly but she barely had time to. 

“Yet you agreed to follow me. So why not go all the way?” Elika asked with a smile on her face.

Mahrim knew she was right. She agreed to follow a total stranger here anyway, with nothing but the Grey dress she had on and a sac of 3 other dresses. She moved her focus to Marshall. He too had perfect blue eyes like his sister’s but his were a lot darker,a lot more dangerous. Tall, not too muscular but no extra ounce of fat either. His dark skin was just a bit darker than her brown skin. He had perfect curly brown hair that loosely fell around his forehead. He was a beautiful man.

“And who's this?” She raised her chin to point at the man standing opposite her. 

“Like I said.. This is my brother Marshall.. He'll be your Guide”

Mahrim rolled her eyes. “I can't seem to catch a break. Now I'll be moving around with another perfect stranger?”

“Does she usually talk this much?” Marshall interrupted “Because I just won't take it” He said looking directly at Mahrim's violet eyes. 

Mahrim stared back defiantly “won't take going around with you either”

“Oh yeah? Well Eli... I love you but I won't do this.. Unless she'll shut it”

“I'll shut it when I please Mister” she shot a look at Elika. “Elika.. What is going on?”

“ENOUGH!” Elika ordered as Marshall and Mahrim levitated by the command of her hands. “If you both don't shut your mouths and do exactly as I say, I'll leave you up there and cast a spell of love on you. I think this journey would be easier if you couldn’t get enough of each other. Don’t you think?”

“What?!” They chorused.

Elika looked up at them and gently lowered them to the floor. “Marshall, If you really love me, Do this.” Then she looked up at Mahrim “if you really love your dad and would very much like to see your mum again, You'll do this too”.

There was silence.

She slowly let them down and waited for a response. 

Mahrim looked over to Marshall. Then at Elika. Throwing her hands in the air she said “Whatever” as she walked away.

Marshall rubbed his neck. “This is going to be a long ride”