Cookbook for A Witch; The beginning

The aimed arrow

That evening Serena didn’t knew what to do first. Between prepping the horses for the demonstrations and shows she had to do a million other things. She was sorting arrows when Karis stood still beside her.

‘You are good with horses right?’

‘Yes why?’ Serena asked, stretching her back as she looked in the arena.

‘Arian is being a total asshole, his rider fell of and we can’t catch him.’ Karis explained. That horse looked furious and it didn’t need a horse connection to see that. Serena gave her friend the arrows and walked over to the arena. Arian reared, scratching his hooves over the ground,running of before anybody good get to his reins.

‘Why even let this horse participate?’ Serena asked out loud, not knowing if somebody would answer to begin with. Karis hurried behind her, both standing there, watching boys ran after a horse that wouldn’t submit unless you asked nicely.

‘He is the best horse, but that clearly comes with a temper.’ ‘It isn’t the temper.’ Serena nodded towards the rider who slammed that wip frustrated against the ground. Serena walked into the arena, focussing her attention on the animal. Arian stood still in the corner, pointing his ears towards her. But as soon as he saw a person approach he took off again.

‘Keep chasing him won’t help.’ ‘You have a better idea?’ His rider asked. Serena hated people like that, it made her more rebellious than she wanted to be.

‘The show starts over ten minutes, people want to warm up their horses, hurry up!’ The boss yelled. Serena breathed out, walking passed the rider towards Arian. He stood still again, looking at her as she pushed her own calmth and focus over to him. He didn’t move a muscle while she carefully walked over to him. She stretched her hand and he lowered his head before she grabbed the reins, petting him on the neck.

‘Walk him for a bit, he can’t perform like that.’ His rider commanded, angry over the fact Serena could catch him. She rolled her eyes and looked aside to Karis who walked over.

‘Do I need to dismount him?’ She asked.

‘Yeah, don’t think he will shine today.’ Serena muttered. People started to get back to work while riders walked in with horses and gear. Serena turned to Karis who carefully started loosening the girth. She stroke the horse over his head, reassuring him of the situation, the tensed environment around him.

‘You have a talent for horses.’ Somebody stated. Serena and Karis both turned their heads on the same time. Both looking first to the black mare before their eyes traveled up to the boy.

‘She really has,’ Karis started, pulling the saddle from Arian. ‘and that's my cue to leave.’ She followed. Serena turned around to her best friend who winked while walking out with the saddle, leaving her all alone with the stranger. Serena signed, pulling up a friendly before turning around to him.

‘It’s just understanding.’ She said softly. She hoped the walking would shake him off but the mare started walking beside her.

‘I would call that more than understanding, you are really good.’

‘Thanks, I guess.’ Serena reacted, giving him a short smile before nodding towards the bow and arrows. ‘You must have some talent to.’ She went on. The boy smiled, a smile Serena couldn’t ignore, even if she wanted to.

‘Wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t.’ He answered. Serena smiled quickly, looking aside to the mare. ‘Her name is Artemis.’ He introduced his horse to Serena. She smiled, every time she looked at that horse she couldn’t resist a smile. ‘And yours?’ She asked, braver than she ever thought to be. A wide smile spread over his pale face, charming almost. ‘Storm.’ He nodded politely. She was almost asking where he got that weird of a name but she swallowed the words by standing still at the entrance of the arena.

‘I wish you the best of luck Storm.’ She nodded politely, ignoring that feeling inside to stay a little longer. The mare pressed her nose against Serena’s arm and the girl smiled again. ‘You to.’ She whispered. She threw Storm another look before walking out with Arian.

The stands were packed with people who wanted to watch the competition. Serena sadly didn’t had any time to watch any game as she had to wash the horses who already had their competition, making them ready for the night. She was carrying two buckets of water over to the stables as she saw Storm and Artemis leave the arena. He had a wide smile on his face, not even pointing his mare in the right direction as she did it herself. Her ears turned Serena’s way before Storm looked up to.

‘Is that a victory smile?’ Serena asked polite. The mare stopped without orders, pushing her head down towards one of the buckets. Serena immediately served one of them to the mare.

‘She likes you.’ Storm noticed softly.

‘She is a really beautiful horse.’ Serena muttered, stroking the long manetop away out of the mare her dark eyes. While the mare so slowly drank there wasn’t a real conversation. Not until she was ready and started licking her own lips.

‘Can I buy you a drink?’ Storm asked. Serena opened her mouth, looking around before turning her blue eyes back to him. ‘After you are done.’ He followed. That one was harder to get from underneath. ‘Fine,’ she hesitated, looking back up to him. ‘I’m having a break in ten minutes or so.’ ‘I see you at the pasture?’ He asked, the corner of his lips slightly tugged up. Serena nodded, grabbing her buckets of water while the mare walked away. Serena breathed out, turning the corner where she found Karis.

‘Don’t say a word.’ She warned her best friend.

‘I wasn’t planning to.’ Karis answered joyfull. Serena signed, trying to find a way to slow time or at least to get underneath that drink. The more she thought the closer it got her until there was nothing else then the darkness of that evening and Storm sitting on that fence. Serena looked at him before she looked at the sky, pretending this didn’t meant anything as she walked over to the pasture. The mare was the first was to notice her but it didn’t took long for Storm to turn around. They were so in sink which each other, almost like they could read minds and Artemis was telling him she was coming. She forced a smile on her lips, pulling her hair loose before climbing onto the fence. He offered her her favorite drink.

‘How did you know?’ She asked frowned.

‘A simple guess.’ He smiled, again that smile she couldn’t resist on ignoring. The mare turned slowly around and walked away towards the other horses.

‘Who are those?’ Serena asked, rather talking about something then awkwardly sitting aside him. It really was a one way street, Storm seemed super relaxed in the situation.

‘That’s my brother his pony,’ he pointed to the little grey one. ‘and that are Xan and Kerano, Kerano is Spanish schooled while Xan works often with hawks and stuff.’ He explained further.

‘You work with birds to?’ Serena asked curious.

‘Not me, we all kind of have our speciality.’ Serena nodded on those words, tilting her head as she studied the horses. She looked down in her glass, taking a sip before turning her head back to Storm.

‘You never asked for my name.’ She started. A little amused smile came on his lips and he grabbed into his own black hair, shifting it back over his head. Serena followed those movements with her eyes before settling back in the same blue she carried around.

‘Because I know it already.’ He smiled charming.

‘I heard.’ ‘What did you hear?’ He asked curious.

‘Karis told me something about you putting an interest in my last name.’ She said with slightly squeezed eyes. He followed that gesture as he leaned in a little closer. Funny enough Serena didn’t found the urge to move away.

‘It’s a beautiful last name.’ ‘That is your defense?’ She laughed. Storm chuckled, shaking his head while drinking from his bottle.

‘I heard about it before, in class I think.’ ‘I looked it up.’ ‘Really?’ He sounded surprised. Artemis turned her head almost on the same moment, both looking at Serena curiously.

‘If my friend is telling me that a boy is interested in my last name I rather look it up so that I know you won’t get crazy thoughts with it.’ She explained, a little confused by his look. He looked fast over to the mare before smiling quickly.

‘Offcourse. Was it an interesting discovery?’ He asked smoothly.

‘I’m not a witch, if that is what you were after.’ ‘You sure?’ He asked, it almost sounded serious.

‘That is not a compliment.’ She reacted right back. He pressed his fingers against his lips, turning his head away in embarrassment.

‘That was not where I was going for.’ He confessed.

‘Then where were you going for?’ She asked curious. His expression came smooth, serious, way to intens to her liking.

‘Getting to know you better.’ He answered honestly. Serena took in a small breath while nodding softly before drinking her little bottle empty.

‘I need to get going.’ She pointed back to the stables. She didn’t wait for an answer, she just jumped from the fence, as she started walking she heard him move.

‘Serena.’ ‘Hmmm?’ She turned around. He sat half turned on the fence, so nonchalant, so … good looking.

‘Nice talk.’ He winked and Serena bite her lip while turning back around, suppressing the upcoming smile as she walked on. This couldn’t be happening, she couldn’t fall for the new boy, she wasn’t that cliche.