Cookbook for A Witch; The beginning

The dead body

Before Serena knew it a whole week passed by in a flash. She kept working with the horses and she started to like the job so much she almost spend mornings their to. She and Karis had the time of their lives. But every time she walked past those pastures she couldn’t resist a look over to the horses. She never saw Storm through the day but always felt him watching through the nights. Aside the talking nothing changed much. Serena had a hard time keeping her distance from him yet … his boss made it easier. How much she saw that tall blonde man watching her, it chased the shivers up her spine.

Serena was hanging her free morning on the cough in the porch, looking through the glass, enjoying the sunlight and clear blue sky. She heard her brother from out of the living room practicing an old guitar he once got from their grandmother. Her phone went over and Serena pushed herself up, reaching for the phone that probably was going to tell that Karis was calling.

‘Goodmorning.’ Serena greeted her best friend.

‘You have to come to the village right now!’ Karis commanded almost breathless.

‘It’s our free morning, what are you always doing there?’ ‘Our boss got killed!’ Karis blurted out. Serena who sat half up pulled herself completely up, holding on to the backside of the cough.

‘What?’ She asked confused.

‘They found him this morning, brutally killed.’ ‘Oke, this is not a medieval role playing game right? Because I’m gonna get angry if this is all a joke.’ ‘He is dead Serena!’ Karis repeated. Serena opened her mouth, wanting to say something … anything but nothing came out. ‘Come to the village, the police wants to speak everybody who worked for him.’ She explained further.

‘Oke.’ That was all Serena could say as she heard the short goodbye. It took her a minute or so before she stood up and walked back into the house.

‘I need to get to the medieval village, something happened.’ She sounded upset enough for her mother to notice it right away.

‘Everything alright?’ Her mother asked concerned. Serena grabbed her bag and shook her head, exchanging a short look with her brother before looking back to her mother. ‘I explain later.’ She answered. Her mother nodded, Serena could feel her eyes resting on her until she was outside.

She probably never road this fast on her bike, not even taking the time to place a lock on it as she ran into the village. It was empty, no people walking around, no stands open. The only noise came from the main tent and stables were police officers and an ambulance were busy with whatever this was. So it was really true? Serena had it instantly cold as she looked for her best friend.

‘You can’t be here miss.’ An officer said, stopping her from walking into the tent.

‘I worked for him, my friend called me up,’ her voice faded as Karis ran up to her. ‘Here you are.’ She breathed in relief, throwing her arms around Seren without paying the officer any attention.

‘What happened?’ Serena asked.

‘You worked for mister Gurney?’ The officer asked, dismission their starting conversation with his duty.

‘We worked for him together.’ Karis nodded silently.

‘Did you saw him last night?’ He asked, pointing his attention to Serena who slowly nodded.

‘Before I left, I wished him a good night.’ ‘And seemed anything out of normal?’ Serena frowned, shaking her head. ‘No, he was very relaxed, eating a burger. He just nodded and walked on.’ She answered.

‘He was relaxed for the whole night, even when it got really busy. He didn’t seem different.’ Karis added to that. The officer nodded, penning down in a little notebook. Both friends exchanged a concerned look.

‘What will happen officer?’ Karis asked carefully.

‘We will investigate his dead. You are both good to go.’ He nodded politely before walking on. Serena looked after him, hardly thinking to breath before Karis grabbed her at her arm and pulled her somewhere more quiet.

‘What happened?’ Serena asked again.

‘I came earlier because they needed help with something and all over the sudden Bjorn started to yell like crazy. I didn’t saw his body but it was ditches somewhere behind the tent between all the wood. His throat was all tore apart, everybody was in shock.’ She explained.

‘Like an animal?’ ‘I don’t know, I hope so.’ Karis shivered and Serena threw her arms back around her friend. When she looked up the mare, Artemis, was looking at her. Not just looking, but really focused on her. Serena lifted her chin from Karis her shoulder, still looking. Artemis turned her head, looking up in the sunlight and Serena followed her gaze, squeezing her eyes together. Karis let go of her and Serena changed her attention back.

‘What will happen now?’ She asked.

‘They will wrap this up and the village will open like nothing happened.’ Karis shrugged.

‘You should go home Karis, you are all shaken up.’ Serena noticed. Karis wasn’t usually the one to admit to fear or an terrifying event but now she just nodded. Serena looked aside to Artemis who was still looking at her before she shook her head and walked Karis out of the village. She made sure Karis was safe and well in a cab before she walked back in, straight to the pasture where that mare was waiting for her.

‘I’m not going crazy, why are you always watching me?’ She asked out loud. People passing by must definitely think she is crazy, talking to a horse like that. Like she thought Artemis just looked at her and it made Serena more uncomfortable than she thought. ‘You all do nothing else than watching me.’ She whispered. Storm, his boss, this horse. Artemis looked back away, to the spot her boss was found.

‘You know something?’ Serena asked. She didn’t even knew why she asked it, what could a horse even do, start talking? To her biggest fear Artemis nodded and Serena walked back, turning around before she started running. This could not happen, that horse did not just nod. She wished Storm was here, just so she could yell against somebody. But just as always … he was nowhere to be found on bright daylight.