The Hunter and The Hex

Chapter 7

》 Rune 《

I had stepped into the Wishing Well with my anger flaring after watching the weasel exit the shop. I had suspected the witch had expanded the hex pushing the sod past his breaking point however I was not prepared for the sight of the obviously shaken woman. She spun around weilding a ritual knife and I caught her wrist easily disarming her then I caught the look in her strange green eyes, wild and scared she was trying to suppress her fight or flight response.

Even as she apologized all I could focus on was the red hand print painting her throat. We shared a cup of questionable tea, ordered food and I even helped her clean up, all the while my eyes kept drifting back to her throat. She had left off the majority of her jewelry her throat was bare of anything except Kevin's handiwork and a single silver chain from which a amethyst point hung, her slender limbs were unadorned by the clutter of bracelets and even her ears were piercing free save for the dath and cartilage piercings but those pieces were clearly stainless steel, not something that could be holding an enchantment.

It has to be the necklace. I told myself as I pulled her floor cushion up to mine. We had polished off an impressive amount of gin already, and she was talking freely of the town and the people but I needed more specific answers. I grabbed the bottle of gin as she laid back against me, her eyelids heavy with drunken exhaustion.

She never saw me pour the powder into the clear liquid from the compartment on my silver signet ring. I tilted the bottle back pretending to drink from it, mixing the henbane into the gin, then handed the bottle back to her. "Drink up lovely and I'll walk you home. I don't think we're getting anything else done tonight." She giggled softly and tilted the bottle back taking a few big swallows, she stared at the bottle silently as she pulled it away from her lips. I plucked it from her grip and smoothly stood bringing her up with me.

She swayed on her feet and I smiled helping her collect her things. We left the shop after turning out the lights and locking up. It was past midnight and the town of misthaven was living up to its name. Thick fog had rolled in from the ocean blanketing the empty mainstreet in a thick sheet. We walked for a few minutes until I got tired of catching her as she stumbled and instead opted to simply carry her.

I swept her up into a princess carry and she looped her arms around my shoulders burying her face into the crook of my neck. I carried her up the front steps of her house and nuzzled her gently "which key unlocks the front door little bird." She hummed softly in response, not really an answer but then her slender finger pointed at the lock and I heard a soft click before the door slowly popped open.

"Do you believe in magic Rune?" She muttered without lifting her head and inwardly I grinned, the henbane also known as witch's drug was working. I walked into the house closing the door with my foot as she continued talking, "wait don't answer that, of course you believe in magic. You're a hunter." She sighed softly and I shivered as her lips brushed over my pulse point. I smirked as I carried her up the stairs finding her bedroom with relative ease. She laughed as I tossed her onto the bed with a gentle bounce and looked down at her.

"How long have you known I was a hunter little witch?" She waved at me dismissively, "Before I ever saw you. You're hungry like the wolf!" She giggled again, and scooted up on the bed until her head hit the pillow. I followed her, stretching my large form over her slender frame as I gripped her necklace and with a sharp yank snapped it from her neck. "Ouch! F*ck! Rune it has a damn clasp you know." She groused and I watched waiting for the charm to fade.

She stared up at me with a perplexed look, "you dosed me with henbane so I'm guessing you're wanting some information, not sure why that involves destroying my necklace." I tossed the necklace aside and fit my fingers over the nearly faded marks on her throat, my hand significantly larger than the one that had created them "tell me witch, how old are you really?" She closed her eyes as she ran her fingers up into my hair sighing softly, "22… but shhhh everyone thinks I'm 24. I had to pretend to be 18 to get my life setup here."

I lifted my hand from her throat and gently brushed her cheek, "are you using an enchantment to hide yourself?" She smiled, opening her eyes partly, "the town is warded, no one can find me here." I arched my brow, "good to know… but I meant are you hiding your true identity. What do you really look like? " she looked at me like I was stupid, "why would I hide myself? That seems like an awful lot of magic for very little reward."

I shook my head and ran a thumb over her lips, "no, no way, you're too… this has to be a charm or enchantment." She furrowed her brow for a moment then understanding filled her eyes and she laughed, "oh the poor hunter can't rationalize being attracted to the evil little witch so it must be my evil wily witchy charms ensnaring you." She shoved at my chest but I didn't budge. "Just like a man, you blame your body's response and your own lack of willpower on a woman whose only crime is simply existing as she was born. Get off me and get out. ' she snapped her cheeks reddening in anger.

I grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head, securing them with one hand over her slender crossed wrists as I supported myself over her with my elbow. "Did you hex Kevin Anderson?" She scoffed and turned her head away until I gripped her chin with my free hand bringing her gaze back to mine. She gritted her teeth as she answered her eyes glaring a hole into my very soul, "yes, and if I had to do it all over again I would make it 10 fold worse."