Cookbook for A Witch; The beginning

The front door cracked, a weight I easily pushed with one finger. It stuck a little, making me look down in annoyance. Those stores always looked as old as the owner did and I always kept asking myself why. The smell of herbs, the silk smell of the salt water rolling down the beach was one of the many things you could smell. How deeper I walked into the store how more the smell caught up with me, the smell of old books … books with a past. ‘Can I help you?’ She clearly didn’t looked up yet or otherwise she wouldn’t ask me. The old lady sat bowed over a book, turning a page. Dust started dancing in the scarce light that privileged her to read. My eyes wandered neglecting from the teethed necklaces towards the old lady behind the counter. She looked up and her body cramped right there on the spot. I couldn’t resist as the corners of my mouth vibrated on her discomfort. ‘You know who I am so,’ My finger stroke over a piece of deerskin before giving her a smug grin. ‘you know why I’m here I presume.’ ‘I can’t help you.’ She was quick to talk, a little to quick maybe. She closed the book she was reading and pushed it protective against her chest. Like that would help her if I grew impatient. I signed, keeping that forced grin still on my face. It was the same old song. Every shop like this I entered was a direct disapproval to my actions. How rare they may be were, I found them, every time again. ‘They all say that. But in fact you are the oldest one on the list Greta. Be kind and give me the answer I’m looking for.’ The low treat in my voice was not something she could ignore as I stared down to her. I was looking for years and I wasn’t planning on stopping before I found what I was looking for. ‘Fine.’ She muttered, leaving the counter to walk towards the door, looking into the shimmering light like the real danger could arrive any minute. ‘They are with me.’ I nodded outside, to the five man standing there awaiting orders. On of them walked over to the store and Greta opened the door judgemental, making my right hand smile before his heavy black shoes walked over the fragile wooden floor. ‘It’s in the back.’ Greta pointed. ‘No magic.’ Yari warned her. ‘I’m to old for that kind of magic.’ She said reluctantly. Greta stroke her hands through her grey hair, to be honest it had a lot resembling with the cobwebs we passed. ‘Charming house.’ I couldn’t resist commenting on the one thing witches had in common. I had to bow my head while entering the room. Greta pointed uss both to sit down but none of uss did, knowing all too well witches always held something behind, just in case. She threw us a frustrating look before she turned to a bookwall. I looked aside to Yari who was following her carefully with his eyes. It took her awhile but in the end she turned around with a old thick book. ‘What do you know so far?’ She asked me. ‘I want my daughter back, for that I need a whole lot of old magic.’ She looked at me, for a very long time and I pushed up my eyebrows, waiting for whatever she was thinking or planning. ‘There is only one bloodline with that kind of magic. Find the witch, find the right way and you get your daughter back.’ She explained. It wasn’t like she had another choice. She opened the book to a certain page, illustrating a family tree. Yari and I bowed over it, searching for things that may look familiar. ‘Nova? I thought those were a legend?’ Yari spoke as first, critical as always. My eyes roamed over the page, over the pictures of people to old to be even alive. Yari thought the same thing, throwing me a fast look. ‘Nova witches, doubtlessly the tales around campfires, the fear for many of you. They were the most mighty, the strongest witches ever alive.’ Greta explained. ‘These pictures are from way before I was even born. They can’t be alive.’ Yari pointed critical out. I stretched my back, rolling my jaw while looking down to Greta. ‘Every bloodline lives on, even if there wasn't a Nova witch in ages, they still walk the earth.’ ‘So, find me one. There are thousand people walking around with the Nova name.’ I reacted. She threw me an impatient look and I instantly smiled again. She turned around, taking a little jar from the case. ‘With sand?’ Yari asked. ‘I didn’t know your race was so wrong informed about uss.’ She snapped back. I laid my hand against Yari his chest, knowing his temper often got the best of himself. ‘Yari doesn’t believe in witches.’ I explained. Greta looked back to Yari, for the first time shocked since we walked in here. I followed her gaze towards my right hand. ‘You should, we were the ones creating you.’ ‘Think you missed some beauty marks in the process.’ He reacted dryly. I chuckled, turning my attention back to Greta and her little jar of “sand”. ‘Thank the Nova witch if you find her, they are the creators of evil. I’m glad they made those defaults, leaves me breathing when I want to walk outside by day.’ ‘Lead us in the right direction and we are gone.’ I interrupted the upcoming discussion. Greta gave Yari a short look before she sprankled the content of the jar over the family tree in her book. Yari and I instantly made a step back as she rose her hand over the book. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes before she started whispering the language of a witch. ‘Ubi est ultimus Nova sanguinem in pythonissam.’ It was silence for a bit before she opened her eyes and looked up to me. ‘Information costs.’ She said with an almost friendly smile. I rolled my eyes, looking aside to Yari who pulled money out of his jeans, handing it over to her. ‘Europe.’ Greta announced. ‘Europe?’ Yari repeated confused. ‘She is in Europe.’ ‘She?’ Yari asked. ‘Europe is big.’ I noticed, ignoring the fact we would have to deal with a female witch to begin with. ‘I don’t have that kind of power anymore. Be careful with a Nova witch, females are stronger. If you find a young witch you can’t force her. If you threaten her she won’t develop her powers.’ Greta explained, like she all of the sudden cared about the girl. ‘They are far more complicated. And now get out of my store.’ She weaved with her hands. ‘Always nice doing business Greta.’ I thanked her. ‘I don’t want to see you again.’ She reacted. I felt the wind stroke my back as she slammed her door shut, immediately followed by the lock. Like that would help her. ‘And?’ The others asked. ‘We got some answers.’ Yari nodded, looking aside to me. ‘Europe?’ Europe it is.’ I nodded.