Cookbook for A Witch; The beginning

The face of danger

Karis didn’t show up for work that night. And how much Serena wanted to forget about what happened to her boss, she couldn’t. Everywhere she stepped she was expecting to see him barking orders. Even that was not her only thoughts, she hardly dared to look towards the pastures, knowing that Artemis would watch. She could almost feel the gaze of that animal burning in her back. She was hardly paying attention, doing the work but on a much slower pace. Serena grabbed some wooden swords from the ground when she recognized his shoes. She stood up, her eyes traveling up into the same kind of blue she grew so familiar with.

‘You look like you saw a dead man.’ Storm smiled, his charming usual self.

‘Funny you say that, my boss got killed last night.’ She reacted dryly, frowning as she saw his reaction. Storm immediately looked over his shoulder towards his boss, standing their tall and dominant as always, watching the both of them. ‘Storm?’ His eyes traveled away to the pastures, his mind seemed to go in overdrive before he shake it all together and looked back.

‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

‘I’m not believing a word from what you are saying.’ She tilted her head, still looking at him.

‘Let’s say I didn’t thought they would take this whole medieval thing this serious.’ He forced a smile on his lips, clearly with his head somewhere else. Serena slowly shook her head, walking passed him as she went back to the stables.

‘Serena wait.’ He caught up with her before she could enter the tent.

‘Why are you all watching me?’ She asked abruptly. That didn’t caught him of guard, more the other way around, he smiled.

‘Why you think that?’ ‘Ever since you arrived here I feel like I’m watched, if it isn’t you then it’s your boss or,’ she swallowed, shaking her head as she squeezed her eyes. ‘Your horse.’ She whispered.

‘Artemis?’ He asked curious.

‘Nevermind, I’m stressed out by all of this.’ She wanted to walk again but he gently gripped her elbow.

‘Ask yourself, why are you this good with animals, why can you influence them with your own feelings.’ He put up his hands, knowing she would retaliate on that. How did he know? She looked at him, feeling every bit of reassurance she had slips away. ‘You communicate with them, you control them, isn’t it?’ ‘Shut up.’ She whispered, turning around as she threw the wooden swords on another pile of wood.

‘I don’t want to upset you.’ He said, following on a distance. Serena wove her hands through her black hair as she hide behind the stables. She sat down on a bale, gazing in front of her as she replayed the events of the day. Why was Storm here? How did he know about her abilities? The nod Artemis gave … the dead of her boss. Maybe this was all a little too much for one day to take. She hardly noticed Storm standing a little further, waiting patiently.

‘It’s not because I’m good in catching horses I all of the sudden can talk with them.’ She reacted after a long silence.

‘No,’ he nodded honestly, slowly walking closer. ‘but there is more to it. You just didn’t explore it.’ ‘What do you want Storm?’ She asked, feeling tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes.

‘It is not what I want, it is what you need.’ ‘And that is?’ ‘Protection.’ He whispered. He stood still in front of her and slowly crouched down so she didn’t had to lift her head.

‘We are not living in Medieval times, remember.’ She muttered sarcastic.

‘Fine, then give me the opportunity to prove you wrong. Try to link, to connect, with Artemis. I know you know in your heart there is more to it.’ ‘Is that why you are watching me?’ Serena pulled her hand away before he could lay his around hers. He signed, looking away as he shook his head.

‘It’s not so black and white.’ He whispered.

‘Then explain.’ ‘I can’t, I can’t force you, you need to want this for yourself.’ He explained. Serena looked in his eyes, wandering what truth he was telling.

‘Against what do I need protection? Whoever killed my boss, it was an animal attack.’ She said, pointing towards the place her boss was found. Storm followed her look, signing before he looked back.

‘There are cruel animals in the world.’ He just said. What was that supposed to mean.

‘You know what killed my boss?’ She asked softly, turning her head to look back to him. He looked down to the ground and it was almost an answer on itself. Serena stood slowly up, walking away from him to a distance she called safe. ‘Am I in danger?’ She asked. Storm stood up, turning himself to look at her. He nodded, he just nodded and Serena walked away.