Article 17

The stone cobbled path clicked against my heals as I made my way through the town. ‘Murder’ was written upon my face as my dress flowed behind me. The crowd of people made a narrow pathway for me to walk through. He sat upon the stake, his head low, his eyes bleeding. I gave a smirk and gripped his lower jaw hard with my right hand, forcing him to look at me. I scanned his face. He choked up some blood and spit it at the floor. I pushed his face away and took a few steps back.

“This man is accused of witchcraft and will be sentenced to death by fire!” I yelled, the executioner handed me the torch. I turned to the crowed and raised the torch. The crowd roared with violent curses. I lowered the torch and turned back to the man. “You shall die so that we may live.”

He coughed up more blood and this time spit it upon my dress. “The council will have your head for this, Caita.”

I let out a loud laugh and lit the wood below him. He immediately began to scream out in pain. The flames had soon engulfed him and the screaming stopped. The smell of burning flesh filled the air and the sound of cheers and curses roared louder than ever when he finally died.

“No, they will thank me for this.”

I left the mess to the executioner and his men and quickly left the scene. AS the ground turned into dirt I snapped my fingers and Fosena came to my assistance. I ran a hand across her head and climbed onto her back. I grabbed onto her mane and led her toward the cabin. She was a good horse, fast, beautiful, and most of all loyal. Her mane and tail were black as night and the rest of her body would shine a dark red in the sunlight. In a few minutes I was safe from civil eyes. I let Forsena do as she pleased while I concluded my work.

“You know you are not welcome here, Shelia.” I let her know before I even had a chance to close the front door to the cabin.

I waved my hand over the fire place and it roared to life giving heat to the cold. I untied my shall and hung it on the wall. “Jinxx wants to speak with you.”

I turned to the forest witch who as always was wearing tight brown leather pants, a tight brown coat and a bow and arrows were laying on the chair beside her.

“Why?” I asked.

She shrugged and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket on the dining table. “Ask him yourself.” She got out through a mouth full.

I rolled my eyes. “He can wait I have my own business to attend to.”

“Mhmm.” She shook her head and put the apple down. “You’re suspected.”

“Of what?” I clenched my hands into fists.

“Ask him yourself.” She paused slightly after every word and picked the apple back up. “I’d go now if I were you sunset is coming.”

I caressed her face, and smiled at her. “You think there’s something worse out there in the dark before me? I’m the only thing to fear in the dark.”

Like usual the travel to the council took less than three hours. The iron gates loomed overhead as I neared the entrance to the castle. Two guards stopped me on my way in.

“State your business witch.” They said in unison.

I kept a straight face. “Jinxx summoned me.

“Regarding?” One of them asked.

“Seriously? He wouldn’t tell you I’m coming?” I was starting to get frustrated.

“Let her in!” A wizard I remembered as Leo ordered. The two guards stepped aside as the iron gates opened. “Please, come in, Caita.” He motioned toward the giant stone castle.

Forsena’s hooves clicked against the stone as Leo lead me through what seemed like an abandoned castle. The trees were wilted, moss had grown over toe stone on the ground and on the walls. The door opened by itself when we got within ten feet of it. It opened to a gloomy hallway. The windowless walls were lined lanterns.

“Leave your horse.” Leo ordered.

Obviously I wasn’t going to take her inside. I got off and let her roam the courtyard. A few seconds of walking down the hallways and a few turns later I was finally greeted by the all too familiar council room. A round table sat 13 chairs. Jinxx sat alone with seven candles were lit up in the middle of the table.

Jinxx cleared his throat and motioned for me to sit in a chair. I turned around to see that Leo was closing the door on his way out.

“What’s this about handsome?” I asked him.

He brushed a strand of black hair away from his face with a marked arm. “The uh…” He had not looked at me until this point. “A girl in your village caught you sneaking away and tonight there was a plan for a group of men to…” He looked away from me and stood from his chair. “Kill you.”

“Why? I never did anything in that town how could they…” He cut me off.

“The girl saw you, Caita!” Jinxx yelled, making the flames on the candles grow in size and stay that way. “She fucking saw you preform magic, Caita! How could you not know a child was following you?! For days this has been being planned!” He took a breath and the candle flame returned to normal. “We have to move you.

“What?!” Do you know how long it’s taken me to take control of that village?!” I raised my voice to him.

Jinxx raised his hand and slapped the side of my face. I gasped and fell into my chair. “You have caused this council more trouble than you’re worth, Caita. You know I love you but you have to work with me here.” He took another deep breath. “We can’t keep doing this.”

I looked down at my hands. I had stopped the sting in my face and healed the mark he had given me. “Why can’t I work here with the council? You know how good I am I can be of help here.”

He took my face into his hand and looked me over. “Theres another village close by. 50 miles maybe, you’ll be set up there. Make up your own story you can keep your name.”

“This isn’t…” I started.

“What? Fair? No, we’re witches. It’s never going to be fair unless we finish was we started.” The door to the council was opened. I could feel Leo’s presence. “Leo will show you.” He turned away, “oh, and your cabin was burned as soon as you left.”

“You son of a whore.” I cursed through clenched teeth.

Leo escorted me out before I had a chance to say anything. What would have been said anyway? Everything I had worked for for the past ten years was gone. All my spells, all my hexes, gone. He was going to pay for this, somehow.

Jinxx was right when he said that it was nearly 50 miles. But this was no village I wanted to be at. It was disgusting. Shelia would love it though. The stone pathways were kept up. The trees were green and lush. The people actually smelled good, well that was a plus at least. The men weren’t very attractive either.

“This is it?” I asked. “Jinxx expects me to live here?”

“There’s an empty house on fourth that’s in your ‘fathers’ name I’m sure you can come up with the paper work or the money or whatever you need.”

“I’ll be back in a week to check up on you.” Leo stated before he made his leave.

“Check up on me? I’ve never had to have been checked up on.” I raised my voice a little.

“You fucked up, so now I have to keep you in check.”

I turned to retaliate to see that he was gone. I grumbled cruses under my breath and lead Forsena by my side through our new village. Stares were shot my way. Obviously as the new comer I would be getting this for a while. I came upon fourth and saw a house that emitted a feeling. A lonely feeling. That was it. There was a hitching post on the back and I went to try to the door. It was unlocked and I stepped inside. It was dusty and smelled of mold. No furniture was in sight.

I sighed and closed the door. “Home sweet home.”

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