The Witches Brew

The Capture

    “Next one won’t miss.” His tone, stern but gentle, caressed her ears softly, even with the threat. Not turning around, she didn’t move a muscle. Fear had taken hold. This wasn’t what was supposed to happen, she thought to herself, when grandmother found out she was going to be in so much trouble. Her ears listening to his voice again. It was like smooth velvet. “Do you know someone named Nia?” Leon asked.

    The venomous tone did not go unnoticed. Her body went ridged and it didn’t escape his eyes. He watched her very intently. Yes, she thought, she knew Nia. It was her grandmother. Why did this have to happen to her? Couldn’t they leave her alone? Tears welled in her eyes at the thought of all the possible outcomes of this encounter. None of them were pleasant in the least bit. Her soft voice broke the silence, and it was just as angelic as her singing voice. “I don’t want to fight. Please just let me go.”

    “I believe you. However, I still need to know about your coven.” Leon sighed and watched her look around. It was clear she was looking for an escape, so he called for help. The horn sounded and the trackers began to zero in on the place. Still the girl didn’t move but the wolf growled taking a step forward. 

    “Elijah!” Her voice was stern, but it was clear she never got loud at anyone. The wolf walked over to her and sat glaring at the man in front of him. Her fingers went through the soft fur as she didn’t turn towards him. “Please don’t do this.”

    ‘He means you harm, you should be running.’ Elijah spoke his baritone voice sounding in her head so clearly. It was clear to her he was upset she was still standing there, but how could she escape? Unless he missed, she would be dead before anything else happened. Looking towards the black watered lake she remembered a cave located under the waterfall. There is no way he would be able to swim to it; he couldn’t hold his breath long enough. 

    ‘I will go to the cave and exit through there.’ Andraya said, communicating silently to the wolf. Turning to the lake, Elijah lunged at the Prince to distract him, as Andraya jumped into the freezing water, holding herself still beneath the water’s surface. Elijah left after a minute not harming the prince at all, he disappeared into the forest. Leon panic looking into the black waters, but he saw nothing, just the reflecting moon. Was she trying to drown herself? Without thinking he jumped in after her, looking around for her body but he couldn’t see it. Not that he could see much in the night the water seemed to go on straight into the abyss. 

    Breaking the surface, he swam over towards the waterfall and dived again. Nothingness surrounded him like a dark tunnel, he continued down. Maybe she sank to the bottom? As he looked around a faint orange glow caught his eye. Swimming towards it he felt his lungs begin to burn. Pushing on even as the burn intensified making him want to scream and let the water in. The light danced in the water bouncing off the small underwater cave walls, it was much brighter now. Almost there. He grabbed the ledged and with all his remaining strength he pulled. The cold air hit him as he clawed his way over the edge on to a flat ground. Black spots danced over his eyes and his lungs burned even with gulps of air. Falling to his side he heaved trying to gain some sense of rightness. Squinting his eyes in the light he saw a fire though it looked like a ball of orange in his blurred eyes. Next to the ball looked like a figure. He couldn’t tell, so he tried to blink it away. After a few minutes it cleared, and he had seconds to see. The limestone stalagmites glittered with orange as the light hit the water dripping down. It roared and cackled as it brought warmth and light, but it was the beauty next to the fire. His cheeks turned pink when he realized that smooth creamy skin was bare. 

    There was an ear-piercing screech that echoed in the small cave causing it to seem even louder. Before Leon could even respond he was being thrown back into the water. Andraya quickly put her clothes on and reached into the water. He was too far down but when she closed her eyes blue light spiraled down towards him. Lifting him up towards her, grabbing his arm she pulled with all her weight. Panting she laid him down, tears filled her eyes as she looked at his lifeless form. Running her hands over him, a warm white light swirled between her hands and his body. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean it.” 

    Tears fell as she placed his head in her lap and hummed. The song had always brought warmth and comfort to her. Her hope was to bring him the same, her hands on either side of his head. It was a soft glow that she couldn’t see as she continued to hum. This glow passed through him which had an effect as he turned and coughed out water. He continued to cough as she backed away, his vision was still blurring but he knew she was crying. “Why are you crying?” His voice was horse and hurt even when he whispered. 

    “I-I-I thought I had killed you.” She was crying because she thought she killed him. Crying over a man who was trying to kidnap her, Leon was baffled by her. Was she really a witch? Borris had always made them out to be vicious but this girl was extremely sweet. Didn’t matter she was a witch and she would be brought in. “I am sorry. It was a reflex to...”

    Leon blushed as memories came back of entering the cave. Watching as she moved away from him and pulled her knees close wrapping her arms around them. Her head was resting on it, but she looked away from him, so the hood covered was all he saw. “This doesn’t change anything; I still need to take you in.”

    “You could pretend you didn’t see me.” She said softly still not looking at Leon. Why did her words sting? He didn’t want to forget her, even if she was a witch, she was absolutely stunning. He reached out for he, but she stood up and stepped away from him. Leon stood up and stepped towards her. Water dripped from his hair and he had to slick it back to keep it out of his face. The stone floor had been darkened by the drips from Leon, water still dripping from his body. The fire warmed his skin, he hadn’t even noticed how cold he was until then. 

    Leon felt like he wasn’t thinking straight, he didn’t want to question her. There was an urge to protect her, what kind of magic was this? Two steps away from her he continued and reached out to grab that damned hood. He had to know who she really was, what she really looked like? It was a simple curiosity right, he groaned when she moved away from him. “Why are you being so difficult?” 

    Andraya looked towards him and shook her head. “Your family has been killing witches and I’m being difficult.” Andraya scoffed as she looked at him and then the exits. There was an opening by her that lead out of the mountain. “Take this and stay to the right it will lead you right out of the mountain.” 

    Leon was flabbergasted that she jumped back in the black death pit. Looking he paced he wanted to just forget this, but he had to bring her home. Jumping in after her, he swam and just went straight up. Taking in gulps of cool crisp air as he looked around and saw his men. Swimming to the shore he was greeted by an arrow to his face. “A pay cut is the least of your problems if you don’t move.” 

    Junior looked furious and kept his short sword to the girl’s neck. She held her hands up making absolutely no movements. Leon walked over to the group and wiped the water from his face as he smirked. His hand reached out inches from the hood that covered her from him. “It looks like you don’t have a choice now. Gently tie her hands, we don’t want to hurt her. Now what do you look like.” 

    The fabric fell and rested against her back, but everyone was staring shocked. Long pale blonde hair that fell in waves framed her slender face. It didn’t look long or narrow, not even with large light blue doe like eyes. The soft skin had an ethereal glow under the pale moonlight, and those pink lips just spoke to him. Leon drank in her appearance like a life source, even Junior was shocked. Shaking his head, Junior moved taking her arm and pulling it behind her, reaching to the front he untied the cloak. As it fell from her form revealing that she was small and slender. She had a perky chest that was pushed up by a corset on top of her dress. Leon thought she looked soft and felt his blood rushing, coughing he had to look away from her. He thought she must be unreal; her beauty had no comparison and her compassion just added to it. 

    Andraya tried to pull free but she couldn’t. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked away and Junior was shocked to see the pointed ears of an elf. Once her hands were secure, he turned her so that he may look into her eyes. Could she be? His grip on her upper arm tightened as he looked around into the tree line. “Are you half elf girl?” Junior knew his voice came out harsh especially when she flinched and looked away from him. “Well, are you?” 

    Still no answer which was frustrating because he didn’t know. Unless she answered then they had to treat her like a prisoner. Junior wasn’t surprised when Leon picked her up bridal style, the look in his eyes said the boy was falling for her. Reaching the horses Junior thought he saw a white blur running towards them but then it was gone. Shaking his head, he rolled his eyes when set the girl on his horse, of course. “You think that is a wise move. You are crowned Prince after all, maybe someone else should ride with her.”

    “No! They aren’t touching her.” Leon practically growled as he climbed up on his horse keeping her between his arms as he grabbed the reins. He felt the blood rushing again, as he got to see water droplets fall into the valley of darkness. Swallowing he looked up and ahead trying to not get caught staring at her. Junior chuckled and got on his horse.

    Soon you could hear the thundering hooves racing down the dirt road. Junior had a feeling he knew who this girl was and while they hadn’t found Nia, they may have found someone much more important. His mind wondered to the mystery girl as they made their way back. Could she be the lost princess? Would she even have a dire wolf if she was stolen at such a young age? These and many more swirled around in Junior’s head. Feeling a small twinge of jealousy, because she was on Leon’s horse.