Bonded

Chapter 2

The town of Salem laid five miles from the Sister's Covent. Sarah sat in the back of the two-wheeled cart wearing a brown wool cloak over her simple brown shift. The two servants, Jason and Thomas led the two horses down the old dirt road to Salem. A light coat of morning frost covered the dirt road leading from the Covent to town.

Sarah tightly wrapped her cloak around her body. She clutched the cloak tightly to hold the warmth inside her body as she shivered slightly from the late autumn chill. The sun helped ward off some of the chill when it peaked from behind the clouds. Sarah felt her teeth chatter as the cart bumped along the road. Sarah held her breath in excitement. Despise the cold and hard road. She loved the open lands that led to Salem. They were full of beauty and wonder.

'I wish I could live out here.' Sarah thought looking at everything.

Sarah looked wide-eyed in amazement as the rode past the marshes. She giggled as she watched the tall birds and other wildlife carry on with their morning. She had always felt an infinite towards nature. If she concentrated hard, her senses became alive. She could not explain it, but it was a feeling. She felt the animals as the buried into the earth making their homes for warmth and protection. Ripples of warmth spread through her body as the tall birds walked through the marsh water. Sarah breathed out a long sigh, watching her breath come out in a mist. The beauty of nature around her made her feel at peace.

"It is truly beautiful out here." Sarah spoke aloud looking up and saw a bird flying overhead.

"Excuse me mistress?" Jason answered back, not hearing the response.

"I was talking aloud to myself, Jason." Sarah replied with a smile.

"Yes ma'am." Jason grumbled and shivered slightly.

"Jason can you please call me Sarah?" Sarah asked.

"I'm sorry mistress, but the Headmistress would have our hides if we did." Thomas answered looking back at her.

"Oh fine." Sarah responded with a frown and looked out at the open road.

It did not take long for Sarah's spirits lift. A brown field rabbit hopped alongside the road and looked at her. Sarah let out a delighted laugh that made the two men jump. Sarah covered her mouth with her hands and giggled. She blew into them for warmth and tucked them back under her cloak for warmth.

After an hour on the dirt road, Sarah saw the wooden gates of Salem. The walls were at least fifteen feet high with a large open gate. Two British guards stood at attention by the front gates watching everyone who entered or left the town. The guards eyed them carefully as the rode into town. Sarah thought it was funny that she was holding her breath.

'Am I excited or anticipating something?' Sarah thought as she let out her breath in a long sigh.

The town of Salem assaulted her senses with wonder and dread. The wonder came from the sights and sounds of people moving about, trading or carrying items. Dogs barked, horses neighed as they passed by her. She smelled the tanging sea salt air coming from the harbor. She felt as if her neck would break as she turned her head tying to take it all in.

The dread came from leaving the pure open plains and marshlands. She felt as if something ripped from her soul as they entered the town. It was a strange feeling, which she had not felt before. She felt her pulse quicken and her heart beat faster as they passed through the gates. She felt like an animal trapped in a cage, with nowhere to run.

'What is happening to me?' Sarah thought, her hand going to her heart. She took deep breaths trying to calm down.

By the time she was calmed down, the servants found a location to park the cart. Sarah saw they were in an open courtyard near the marketplace. Sarah stepped off the cart and stretched her arms and fingers upwards to the sky. She felt her muscles loosen as she stood on the tips of her toes. She moaned lightly at the wonderful feeling that ran through her slim body as she lowered her arms. She rubbed her bottom with her hands trying to get the numbness out after a long ride to town.

"Here you go." Sarah said handing the list to the servants, "Please secure the items that the Quartermaster requires. I wish to go exploring."

Sarah saw the anxious looks on their faces at her request, "Is something the matter?" She asked.

"Mistress," Jason answered clearing his throat, "We have been ordered to stay with you."

"Jason, Thomas." Sarah replied looking at both of them, "I want to look around by myself. I only wish one moment alone."

Sarah held out the list giving the servants an innocent look with her hazel eyes. She saw they were worried at disobeying the Headmistresses orders.

'Please, please,' Sarah thought hard and willed them to listen, 'Take the list ,and leave me alone for a while.'

Both servants eyes when wide slightly as they saw gold flecks in her, eyes brighten slightly. Sarah felt something strange happen to her as she thought. Warmth trickled down her arm to the outstretched list held in her hand.

"Nothing will happen to me, I promise," Sarah continued, "Plus I'm looking for something special for my mom." She lied.

Suddenly their faces became calm as Jason took the list. "We will do as you say mistress." Thomas replied.

The two servants walked off as if the conversation had never occurred. Sarah gave a confused look, but shrugged.

'I must have been that convincing.' Sarah thought with a wry smile. 'What shall I do first?'

Sarah spun around slowing looking at everything. She felt the eyes of the town's people on her as she glanced around in amazement. She always felt eyes on her either from the town or the Covent. She had a beauty, which a simple wool shift and bonnet could not hide. Her body seemed to radiate warmth, which made people feel at ease.

She remembered the time when two men had been fighting on this very street. Sarah walked up to them without thinking and placed a hand on both man. She warmth spread out from her heart, through her arms and fingers. It spread into the two men and instantaneously the men lowered their arms and looked around in confusion. It was almost comical, the way they scratched their heads, shrugged and walked off. Sarah thought no one had seen the event, but an old person with a wide brim hat standing in the shadows had noticed everything.

"Miss you need to move!" Someone yelled causing Sarah to jump as came out of her daydream.

She looked around quickly to see a man on a horse standing in front of her, "I am sorry sir." Sarah said flustered. She stepped aside and the man urged his horse along grumbling something about daydreamers.

Shaking her head to bring herself back to reality, Sarah walked excitedly towards the open stalls to see what strange things the sellers had. She looked at the open marketplace with awe. There was so much to look at. From simple wool to polished metal, everything was amazing. Several times shop owners would push times into her hands asking her to take them.

The sellers taken by her beauty and wanted them to have her stuff. She would thank them for their generosity, but would decline. It seemed odd to her that these people had a mistrusting look when she walked up, but then become calm and trusting when she glanced at them.

She did accept an apple from a nice older man. Taking a huge bite of the apple, Sarah left the marketplace and walked among the tall stone houses. She was amazed at how they built these structures. Some were one story, but most of the buildings in Salem were two story homes. Taking another bite of the apple, Sarah felt something tug at her arm. She quickly looked around in surprise. Oddly, she did not see anyone on the street. Suddenly she felt the tug stronger this time that is almost pulled her off her feet.

'What was that?' Sarah thought looking around wildly, she heart beating fast as she stumbled forward.

The tug became a gentle push on her lower back. Swallowing hard, Sarah stepped forward down the street letting the invisible force guide her. The force stopped pushing her and she noticed that she was standing in an open courtyard in front of an odd-looking house. The house looked dilapidated and old. Compared to the newer looking buildings, Sarah could have sworn it was the first stone house built in Salem. The old look of the house was not the only thing that attracted her. As she scanned the house with wide-eyes amazement, her eyes fell upon the front door.

'What a strange looking door.' Sarah thought stepping towards it.

She saw markings of different shapes carved onto the door, squares, rectangles and triangles all arranged in a geometric pattern. The bizarre thing was she felt warmth and friendliness as if greeting an old friend. She noticed a spiraling pattern in the middle of the triangles. She was mesmerized by how the pattern when on forever. Before she knew it, her hand reached out slowly on its own towards the door.

"What is going on?' Sarah thought trying to pull her hand back.

Closing her eyes and turning her head, she tried desperately to stop her hand and suddenly her hand stopped. Peeking with one eye, she saw that her hand had stopped inches from the door. Turning her head slowly and opening her eyes, she noticed that her hand hovered in front of the door. It felt as if the palm of her hand pressed against a wall. Quickly she glanced around thinking how foolish she looked with her hand held up in front of a door.

'Ha, they will think I'm a witch or something.' Sarah thought chuckling. The courtyard and streets remained empty.

Biting her lower lip she concentrated on the spiral in the triangle, she opened her eyes wide in bewilderment. She felt that same surge of warmth radiate through her body and into her hand. Just like when she handed the list to the servants. Suddenly the symbols on the door had a faded golden color.

'What is happening?' Sarah thought feeling her pulse quicken and her heart beating hard.

Her hand moved past the invisible barrier. She felt an odd sensation as if placing her hand under running water. Sarah's hand pushed through the barrier and touched the rough oak door. The door felt warm and familiar to her touch. What she thought earlier as an old friend was wrong. She felt love and passion, which warmed her down to the tips of her toes. Sarah's vision blurred and she saw a man with reddish-blond hair and golden eyes.

"What do you think you are doing, young woman?" Spoke a soft male voice from behind her.

Jumping in surprise, she dropped her hand losing contact with door. The vision of the man wavered and vanished from her sight. She spun around to stare opened mouthed at handsome man standing before her. The man had long reddish-blond hair tied back in a ponytail and eyes the color of the sun.

'I saw this man in...' Sarah thought, but could not finish.

His features were rugged and tan as if he spent most of his time outdoors. She observed that he hand a lean tone frame under his clothes. Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she swallowed. She looked away quickly, trying to hide the blush with her bonnet, which she felt creeping up into her cheeks.

"I ask you again, young woman." Repeated the man, "What do you think you are doing?"

'I know this man.' Sarah thought as she stared at the ground not wanting to look up. She could not find her voice to speak

"Are you hard of hearing?" She heard the man ask in a confused voice.

"She's admiring the craftsmanship of your door, Master Adam." Sarah heard a familiar voice answer for her, "Plus I think you scared the young woman."

Sarah looked up to see a man around Sarah's age wearing soot stained clothes. He stood with hands on hips and a lopsided grin on his face. Sarah smiled brightly upon seeing the man. She rushed past Adam and threw her arms around the man.

"Joshua!" Sarah cried out wrapping her arms around the man's thick neck.

"You know this woman, Joshua?" Adam asked watching the two hug each other.

For a moment, he thought he recognized the woman. She looked like someone he knew from a while back.

'I know her, but from where?' Adam thought trying to recall, but his mind would not release the memory.

"This crazy woman," Joshua said in mock surprise, "I am as confused as you are, Master Adam."

"Oh, Joshua you are so mean." Sarah said as she stopped hugging him and playfully smacked him on the shoulder.

Adam looked at her hazel eyes and golden hair, 'It can't be her. She had blue eyes, but that hair.' Adam thought.

Without thinking, Adam placed a hand on her shoulder. Instantly a warm presence of familiarity traveled up his arm from the touch. He pulled back his hand quickly as he took in a sharp breath. Then he saw flecks of gold in her hazel eyes and she the same look of familiarity crossed her face.

'Are those golden flecks in her eyes?' Adam thought, 'She recognizes me too.'

"You are from the Sister's Covent on the hill outside of Salem." Adam said and Sarah realized it was more of a statement than a question.

That I am, Master Adam." Sarah responded politely as stood next to Joshua.

"Hmm," Adam acknowledged rubbing his chin. Abruptly he turned, walking up to his front door. He opened the front door, walked in, and closed the door behind him. The whole time he felt her hazel eyes on his back.

"What an odd man." Sarah said as she watched Adam walk into his house. She turned to Joshua asking, "Who is he?"

"Master Adam is a witch hunter." Joshua spoke softly, looked around to ensure not one could hear them, and crossed himself.

"He is a what?" Sarah asked dumbfounded.

"A witch hunter," Joshua repeated, "He hunts witches." Joshua gave Sarah an obvious look of what a witch hunter does.

"There are no witches in Salem." She smirked thinking he was playing a joke on him.

"Well most people think there are witches here." Joshua said seriously.

He took her hand and leaned close to Sarah kissing her lightly on the lips. The kiss and the sight of Adam ignited a flame in her body. She smiled and moaned lightly at the kiss.

"Would you like to go somewhere quiet?" Joshua asked hopefully.

"Yes," Sarah breathed, "I don't have a lot of time, and I will be missed soon."

"Come on, I know a place." Joshua replied pulling at her hand to lead the way.

As Sarah and Joshua walked off down the street hand and hand, Adam watched them through the parted curtains. He could not shake the feeling that he knew this young woman. She was similar in every way to Jessica, except for the eyes and Jessica was dead.

'There is no way this woman could be Jessica.' Adam thought as he lowered the curtains, 'She is dead and I have to find the creature that killed her.' She shuttered remembering those deep blue eyes. 'You are going to drive yourself mad Adam.' He shook his head and sat down at his table.

As Adam lowered the curtains, a slim bodied shadow materialized out of a dark corner. The shadow glanced at the house and then to Sarah walking off with Joshua. The creature slipped back into the shadows and vanished.