Foreboding, p.6
Foreboding, page 6
part #2 of The Black Eyed Witch Series
Ashley nodded and moved from rooftop to rooftop while monitoring the Naguals. Alice sensed several humans on the top floors and spotted several open windows. She had to choose a window with the least amount of humans in the vicinity. With a calculated leap through the window, she landed on all four on the floor, the boards creaked under her weight. She hoped that none of the nearby humans in the nearby rooms heard it.
She was in a small storage room filled with all kinds of fabrics and linens. All nicely stashed against the walls, being separated by colour and material. In the centre was a two-sided high shelf filled with roots, plants, tree bark, molluscs and other plants and dead insects used for colouring.
She sensed two females approaching and hid behind the shelf and hoped that they would not separate, cornering her. The door opened and the two chatty women were gossiping about some designs they didn’t like.
“Give me a hand, will you dear?” said one of them.
Alice peaked around the corner and saw how they carefully took a roll of linen from the wall and with some difficulty dragged it out of the room. The door was left open and Alice sneaked forward and could sense no one else nearby besides the two women who tied up the linen on ropes near a hole.
“I still can't believe we can’t drop it down. It will not damage this material,” said one agitated.
“I know. But do you want to get less pay?”
“Of course not. I’m sorry. I got carried away again.”
“It’s all good. I know how you feel. One day we can leave this place with our husbands and have a more relaxing life.”
With haste, Alice dashed past them and down the stairs. The women looked around, wondering where the ghastly wind came from.
She reached the room where the Nagual’s and the man had their meeting. It was a simple room with a rectangular table in the centre and small shelves against the walls. The scrolls were all neatly stashed together. One part was tagged as ‘new’ and she took the top scroll and read it.
Ashley followed the Naguals as they walked towards the main street. Several people greeted them and some markets offered them their products. She wished she would have Alice beside her to hear what they may talk about.
Soon they arrived at the mayors building and entered. Ashley found it suspicious why they would see the mayor for a deal about fabrics. She could sense the Naguals as they entered the room with the mayor inside. The window was closed and so the neighbouring ones. Nothing to hold on to and breaking the windows was out of the question. All she could do is sense them and wait.
Shortly, the Naguals left the room. Ashley lay flat on her stomach as she peered over the edge, waited for them to exit the building but they did not. She continued waiting, thinking that they had a little chat with someone. More time passed, and she wondered what was taking them so long.
She could not stand it any longer and hastened to an area where there were no people and leapt off the roof onto the ground. She rushed to the entrance and entered.
It was a small reception area with one middle aged woman filing some scrolls in a shelf and next to her a guard, who scanned Ashley. He nodded his head, and the woman waved faintly before she continued with her duties. Ashley felt compelled to ask where the Naguals went but weren’t sure if they even knew what they were. Ashley moved to the mayor’s room and knocked at the door.
“Enter,” he said.
He looked surprised at her when she entered.
“How can I help you this time? I hope this is important because I’m fairly busy here,” he said with an impatient tone.
Ashley wanted to make something up but decided to be frank and ask about what the Naguals wanted from him.
“I know that the Naguals came to see you. Why?”
“Very simple. To lure you away from your friends.”
Just now she realized that she could not sense him at all but before she could retreat, a sharp stung at her neck turned her world black.
Alice could find nothing of use in the scrolls. The recent ones were all well documented of recent trades and deliveries. Nothing pointed out about some shady business between the Naguals and the owner. She felt frustrated that all the sneaking and observation turned out to be nothing. Ashley and Ronan were her only hope that they may have come across something to indicate that the Naguals may be up to something or who could be this creature who turned half a town against them.
There was no point to linger any longer and dashed up the stockroom and jumped out the window back onto the roof, opposite the building. As she could not sense either Ashley or her friends, she jumped on a less populated street and walked towards the mainstreet.
Some markets offered her food, clothing and other accessories. Some were more persistent, lowering their price in hope for a sale. Alice politely declined them all.
She reached the main street and wondered why she hadn’t sensed Ashley yet. The Naguals would not have a casual stroll around town for pleasure and Ashley would never strive far off without waiting for her or at least returning to inform her. Seeing the mayor was a possibility, but the thought occurred to her that Ashley may have gone to see Ronan and Lithia.
Alice saw Ronan and Lithia exiting the building together with a woman as she arrived at the dungeon. Maria held her torn clothing together and froze in her tracks when she laid her eyes upon Alice.
She looked scared at Ronan and Lithia, thinking this is a trap.
“What’s wrong with her?” asked Alice confused.
“She was made to believe all witches eat humans and killing monsters is just a visage,” answered Lithia humorously.
“Seriously? After all this time and humans still believe in it?” said Alice surprised.
“According to her, some guys fed her and her friends lies about your kind,” continued Ronan, “like eating humans and killing monsters is just a diversion, so as if humans don’t pay, you kill all the children and some other stuff I did not bother listening to.”
“What?”
“She said that she had never seen these guys before but were dressed wealthy and held a speech at several places in town, recruiting people. They claimed that Levra protects us, uses us to keep Gordon on his throne while we kill anyone who defies him. Looks like her and the others were the only ones who fell for it,” said Lithia with her arms crossed while she looked sternly at Maria.
Maria sank her head in shame and avoided eye contact.
“How could I know? They sounded so sure of it,” said Maria close to tears.
“Maybe now you think first before you believe anything. Admittingly, you accepted it rather quickly. You may not believe us but maybe we have proven to you that witches don’t eat humans?” said Ronan to her.
Maria looked directly into Ronan’s eyes, a faint smile as tears shed down her cheeks. Suddenly her head got pierced with an arrow and she collapsed to the ground. They immediately dispersed from the area and drew their swords, facing the direction where the arrow came from. An archer stood at the wide-open gate and held his bow in his right hand, next to his quiver full of arrows. Shortly, the mayor emerged with several guards behind the archer.
“I can’t sense them as humans. Just like the others,” said Alice.
“Me neither,” confirmed Lithia.
“We must have missed something, or this creature knows how to delude us,” said Alice.
The mayor waved his hand and a few guards dragged Ashley to the front. She was covered in blood and grunted in anger as she laid her eyes upon Ronan. It was strange for Alice and Lithia as they could sense her but could not tell why she is outraged by looking at Ronan. The mayor motioned to the guards, and they released her. Without warning, she charged at Ronan and her blade was millimetres away from slicing him in half. Lithia and Alice grunted heavily as they tried to confine Ashley. Ronan quickly stepped back as he glared at her raging eyes. It was clear this was not Ashley. Her and Ronan were good friends and never had an argument together. Finally, Lithia and Alice managed to restrain her and Alice quickly used the opportunity to knock her out. Ashley fell limp in their arms.
“What have you done to her?” snarled Alice.
“So, it looks like I was blinded as well,” said the mayor firmly, “you are indeed monsters who kill innocent humans. Even him, who was supposed to observe you. Your friend has been witnessed by survivors, how she nearly killed half the town. Children included. I would kill you right now but it’s after all prohibited to kill witches and certainly royal guards.”
“What have you done to her?” demanded Alice.
“We gave her back to you,” responded the mayor calmly.
“Who are you?” barked Lithia.
“I’m the mayor…”
“Stop it. We can sense that it’s not him,” snapped Alice.
The mayor grinned and later chuckled in amusement.
“Oh, you witches. I have to admit, you caught on pretty quickly where I may strike next. Nearly ruined my plan too.”
“Then who the fuck are you?” asked Lithia.
“Someone who likes to give you a taste of being hunted.”
Lithia and Alice scoffed, Ronan even chuckled in disbelief.
“Are you for real?” asked Ronan. “You think they have never been hunted throughout their lives? Where have you been all this time? In some cave deep inside the mountains?”
“Oh, I am fully aware,” he said with a sinister tone, “I have been planning this for a very long time. I had to wait for the right moment but you sped up my plan. And no, I will not tell you what you did wrong. Oh no, this is not that kind of being hunted. I have a much bigger scale in motion.”
“If I wouldn't know any better, you are seeking revenge. You intend to turn as many humans against us as possible” said Alice.
“Whatever you want to call it. I would suggest you run now. Unless you want to kill every human here. But then, you may miss a few who would testify seeing you all killing an entire town.”
The knights and guards drew their swords, archers readied their arrows, spears pointed forward. Lithia gasped in surprise as she took an ox stand. Alice and Ronan took several steps back, thinking about what they should do. Ronan moved quickly to Lithia and tapped her on the shoulder and whispered they should leave.
“But they are already dead,” she said.
“We don’t know that. Better don’t take any chances just because you can’t sense anything.”
Lithia grunted in frustration, sheathed her sword, grabbed Ronan and jumped over the wall to their left.
“We will find you, you son of a bitch,” threatened Alice as she grabbed the unconscious Ashley and followed Lithia.
Chapter 11
Alice and Lithia undressed the unconscious Ashley and wrapped her up in a blanket. They have washed her in a calm river deep in the woods, where they could only sense wildlife. Ronan insisted on guard duty as he did not want to take the risk of another attack if Ashely should awaken and out of respect to her state of undress.
It surprised Alice and Lithia that she hadn’t awoken as she lay in the cool water stream. Not even a twitch or a shiver or a grunt.
As Ashley lay calmly on the fresh green lawn next to the riverbed, Alice sat next to her, observing for any movement. No one knew how long she would be like that. It has been hours since they escaped Botora and the sun was setting. No one had spoken about what happened. No one knew what to say. At this stage, Ashley was their concern and everyone hoped that she may shed some light on what occurred.
Lithia went to Ronan, who was eating some berries he found. He hadn’t eaten all day long and craved for some nourishment.
“Looks like we will stay the night here. Who knows when she will wake up,” said Lithia to him.
Ronan just swallowed the remaining berries before he spoke. “If so, I better gather some wood before it’s too dark. Well, for me that is.”
“I will do that. You better take a rest.”
He nodded and slowly walked back to where Alice still sat next to Ashley. Lithia soon returned with a big load of wood in her arms. He grabbed several twigs and lay them on dry leaves. With his flint, he quickly had a fire going.
The fire was in full blaze, the wood crackling mildly and Ashley still hasn’t regained consciousness. Alice sighed in concern and occasionally stared at Ronan how he maintained the fire. Lithia returned with a rabbit and gave it to Ronan. He thanked her and immediately skinned it, gutted it, then impaled it on a stick to roast it over the blaze. Lithia sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
Alice could not help but admire him and how much they love each other. A human with none of their abilities and he wanted to be with one. Her feelings for Ashley were slowly fading while her feelings for Ronan grew. She hated herself for it, knowing that Ronan would not give in to her and that she could not find the courage to tell Ashley how she felt.
As much as Alice tolerated Ashley’s exciting and energetic behaviour, it became tiresome and wanted to relax after a stressful contract. Occasionally she managed to ask Ashley to the maze or at her two favourite places that are tranquil and derelict. She asked herself if she could control her emotions with no one noticing, and if any should, she wondered if they hid it from her.
She looked at Ashley and continued hating herself for thinking of Ronan instead of her wellbeing. Ashley, who may rest like this for a long time or may not wake up. She stared at the fire to get rid of the thoughts.
The rabbit was finally through and Ronan used his dagger to cut it in pieces and handed a leg to Lithia and one to Alice.
“No, I’m not hungry. Thank you,” declined Alice kindly.
“Alright, but try it on her. Maybe she will react to it,” said Ronan.
Alice grabbed the piece and held it under Ashley’s nose.
No reaction.
Alice sighed and handed the leg back to Ronan, but he declined.
“You better eat. Who knows when we will have the chance again,” explained Ronan.
She looked at Ronan how he ate his piece and then at Ashley. Eventually, she took a nipple while her thoughts wandered between Ashley and Ronan.
Ronan finished eating, drank some water and soon went to sleep, while Lithia kept guard for the night.
The beams of the rising sun shone through the trees. The vaporizing mist made the woods look surreal but calming as birds sang and other animals strolled through the forest. Ronan slowly woke up as the beams shone into his face. He grunted in discomfort and turned away. Alice was still next to Ashley, and Lithia stood by as she greeted him.
As he splashed the cool water of the river in his face, Ashley slowly opened her eyes and gazed upon Alice. She smiled at her and rose. Alice quickly retrieved the descending blanket before it exposed her breasts. Ashley looked bewildered at her and was confused where she was and why Ronan and Lithia stared at her. Why Lithia gripped the pommel of her sword. Soon she realized that she was naked and looked baffled at Alice, who also shrugged at her. She held the blanket to her chest while she continued scanning everyone's expression.
“Okay? What did I miss?” she finally said.
“Are you still intending to kill Ronan?” asked Alice.
The question completely baffled Ashley and looked at him how he hid behind Lithia, gazing partly over her shoulder.
“Why would I want to kill him? He is the only human I trust. You all know that.”
“So you can't recall what happened in Botora?” asked Lithia.
Ashley opened her mouth but froze as she tried to think what occurred the last day.
“I remember… being on rooftops… following Naguals… then the mayor and everything turned black. That’s what I can recall for now.”
Lithia lowered her guard and Ronan cautiously emerged from behind. Ashley stared at his distrustful expression towards her.
“Darling. You are scaring me. What happened? What have I done?” asked Ashley confused.
“Somehow this creature got the drop on us, as the mayor and his guards were all hypnotised,” explained Alice, “he brought you out, covered in blood. The mayor… I should rather say, that thing said that you have killed half the town. Once you lay your eyes on Ronan, you tried to kill him. Lithia and I prevented you from that. You were unconscious for the entire night and we washed you in the cool stream of this river and hoped you will regain consciousness.”
Ashley stopped breathing, jaw wide open in disbelief.
“I did what? I thought that thing can’t control us?”
“We are all baffled by it,” said Lithia, “but why you and not us? Him? This thing said he wanted us to get a feeling of being hunted but on a larger scale. We think that this thing seeks revenge and wants to turn all humans against us. Provoking a revolution. But that’s just a speculation. We’ve hoped you may shed some light on this fiasco.”
“I wish I could but I can’t recall anything. Shit, I just hope I can remember. We are heading back to Levra to inform Gordon about all of this?”
“Yes. It's good that you are awake. Transporting you being unconscious would have been difficult. We retrieved our horses before the guards and knights attacked us,” stated Alice.
Ashley nodded and requested for her armour. Ronan again wandered off while she got dressed. Once she was in her full gear, she approached Ronan, who turned his side towards her, ready for an attack.
“I’m so sorry for attempting to kill you. I have no recollection of this event and I hope you know that you are the only human I trust and care for.”
“I guess this is not your fault, but you certainly shocked me. Well, us. I just hope there are no side effects and you suddenly snap and intent to kill me again,” he explained bluntly, eyes still focused on her.
Ashley sunk her head, fearing that she may never gain their trust again. Not even Alice. Both of them stood by as they observed her. She could not hold back her tears and sobbed. Ronan gently put his hand on her and she grabbed it and threw her arms around him as she cried on his chest. Surprised by her emotional outburst, he laid his arms around her. Alice came over and laid her hand on her.
“We will find this bastard who did this to you.”
