Witch

Ch. 4: The Stranger

My master appears to have troubles in his sleep; for this is how humans react when there are things haunting them in their minds while they are in deep slumber. Most of these nightmares could have meaning, while the rest can be a result of the imagination called fear.

Reonor squirm restlessly in his sleep, clenching his fist and squeezing his face in discomfort as he flips his head repeatedly and begins to fight the air, as he struggles to wake from his nightmares, finally opening his eyes wide and gasping for air. I could almost hear his heart race when he jerked out of his sleep.

He sat up on his bed and began massaging the bridge of his nose, before taking his robe and putting it on, as he finally rises from the bed and strolls around his chambers. He stands before the window and open the curtains for the cold breeze to rush in the more; for he probably wishes that the breeze shall come and leave with his thoughts.

This is not the first that he is having these things that haunt him; for these things that haunt him in his slumber must be the reason he neglects the people of Tanghour. Though, he is a tyrant that the kingdom has ever known; he never neglected his people. Even if he learns to abuse power, he has no time to do that.

And now, all he searches is spiritual protection, even if he is facing the consequences of his sins, which he must have been aware of. However, I will not assume that he completely regrets all the decisions he had made in the past; for it is what took him to his throne.

Reonor sighed; for he was in distress. As he turned around to look at me; for he probably felt my gaze, he only gets a glimpse of my presence. I had left him to have his time alone.

He finally leaves his chambers and walked into the chamber of an unconscious maiden. This maiden had hair as black as the forest at night, even with the softness of her hair as it shines in its darkness, little lips as red as roses, black markings on her pale skin like that of tattoos; she had what appears to resemble that of coal shaped in form of her hands and finally her waist resembled that of an hour glass.

He had brought her to his palace five days ago and she had been this way ever since. Poor maiden, I wonder what had happened to her. And now, she is in the mercy of a man who might toss her into the forest if she does not wake soon enough.

However, it appears that when he sees her, all his worries seizes in his mind; for all I see is admiration and fascination in his eyes. He gazes at her with his usual evil smirk; for admires her form; for she appears to be threatening and deadly as him with her beauty. He does not only admires her beauty; he is fascinated by the aura she carries, even in her unconsciousness, and the magical powers she can never hide.

“Tell me, why shall you desire to take your life when I, who is a mere mortal, envies the power that you have?” He suddenly spoke.

He reaches for her face and brushes some of her hair from her face, only to take a look at her face properly as he caresses her cheeks, finally taking his hand off her. I presume her pale skin is very soft to touch; for he was tempted to touch her.

Suddenly, she moved her eyebrows; for she must have felt his touch, as she opened her eyes slowly and bats her eyelashes. She rises from the bed and looks around the chamber, before shifting her gaze to Reonor. He met the eyes, which were of different colours; her right eye was green as an emerald stone and the other eye was blue as the sea.

With astonishment, he froze at the spot staring, and he dared not to move; for he probably did not desire to appear like a threat to her. However, her expression tells me she feels cornered.

“Who are you and why have you brought me here?!” she demanded.

“I should be the one to ask who you are; for your form is not that of a human being, but that of... a witch,” he replied.

“I am not a witch,” she protested.

Her hair suddenly began to appear as if something is poured on the top of her hair; for her hair had changed to being red like that of human blood. Her hair appears as if it is not the only thing that changes; for her dark arms changes to that of the normal skin of a human.

“Please, who ever you are, let me go,” she pleaded.

“I am afraid, I shall not do as you have asked. If you are out of my sight, you may be of harm to yourself and that of my kingdom,” he replied.

“What?!”

Her face changes to a confused one; for she probably does not remember anything about what ever incident that had put her in that condition.

Is it me or does it appear that my master is lying to her? For he does has a specialty for lying, especially when he carries a face of pity to cover his lie. However, she began carrying a face of askance.

Reonor finally moves towards her, trying to break the distance between them as she began moving back.

“Do not come any closer,” she ordered.

“I assure you, you shall not be hurt if you... just stay calm,” he said.

“Stay away from me.”

He watches her closely; every step she takes as he still moves closer to her. She turned to the double doors that leads to the balcony and escaped. He chased after her to the balcony as she climbed the rail and stood on it, ready to jump the cliff.

“Do not dare to...”

She finally jumped, reaching for the ground like she was diving into an ocean. However, she landed on her toes like that of a feather falling on the ground, without a sound.

Reonor had ran to the rail as he searched the ground, only to find her surrounded by his armed guardsmen pointing their spears at her.

“An invader!” one of them said.

“Lower your weapons; for the witch is my guest,” he ordered.