Witch Bewitched (COMPLETE)

Chapter 46

Laughter preceded an unpleasant shock to Misa's right ankle. She was helpless to fight against her momentum, her outstretched arms the only chance she had to cushion her fall.

Dust spiraled over her, and Misa could feel something give on the base of her palm. A dusty boot stirred dirt into her face, followed by another, then another, trapping Misa on the ground with her forearms protecting her head in fear of clipping her head on someone's knee. When all the cadets were ahead of her, snickering and taunting, Misa pushed herself up with a rage boiling in her blood.

Tika's magic picked up her mood, and already unstable, it jerked back and forth within her, vacillating between constraining in Misa's gut and diffusing to the surrounding environment.

"Are you okay?" Raki asked, panting as she stopped next to Misa. "Gaveth is being so immature. You typically grow out of that behaviour by the time you're fifteen!"

Misa clenched her fists, desperately trying to reel in her anger. She really had to figure out a way to keep it under control. "I'm fine. Let's just finish up."

"I'm going to talk to him."

Misa shook her head. "Leave it, Raki. Like you said, he's immature. Let him have his fun because when he finishes training, he'll see that there's no room for such childish pranks."

"Enough is enough, Mikim." Raki growled in frustration. "It takes at least half a year to become an officer. He's not going to learn quick enough. Might as well teach him a lesson while we can. You know what? I'm going over to him right now."

"Raki. Raki, wait!" Misa's protests were futile. Raki hurtled through the course of the lap, leaping over obstacles, climbing the wooden wall, and crawling beneath wire. Misa strained to catch up, but another spike of Tika's magic forced her to slow down. She halted and craned her neck to see the height of the wall before her. The sun gleamed past the sharp edge of wood, penetrating Misa's vision. She had to look away.

"No slacking!" Lieutenant Hunter's sharp command whipped her back into action. Misa knew he was taking it easy on her because of the doctor's message Raki had delivered to him. Maybe Torren was right. She should have just stayed at the infirmary.

It took all of Misa's strength to haul herself over the wall, using the uneven surface to find purchase for her fingers and toes. Somehow, she managed to land on her feet without losing her balance.

She could see Raki confronting Gaveth, just beyond the wires. Misa dropped to her stomach and crawled, keeping her eyes on Raki's small frame. Sweat trickled down her cheek. Gaveth held up a hand just as another cadet stepped towards Raki.

Misa's foot caught on one of the wires. She twisted her neck, kicking in an effort to loosen it. From her obscure angle, it took a few seconds for her to figure out what was wrong. She unhooked the toe of her boot from a stray wire, then turned her attention back to her friend.

"Raki," Misa breathed, but she already knew the girl wouldn't hear. The uneasy swirl of magic bubbled in her gut, like a cauldron brewing a deadly potion. Misa dug her elbow into the dirt and pulled. She was almost there. Just a little more, and she would be able to stand.

A fragment of Raki's voice rode the breeze. Misa couldn't make out her words, but it was clear from her tense posture that Raki was giving Gaveth a piece of her mind. She was so engrossed in venting out her frustration that she didn't notice the subtle nods that Gaveth gave to the other cadets.

Misa scrambled to the end of the course. Her head poked through the tunnel of wires.

Tagur inched towards Raki, approaching her from behind. Gaveth was speaking now, and with every word that came out of his mouth, Raki's rage began to grow.

Half of Misa's body was out now. She kicked up dirt in desperation. A queasy, foreboding dread sent a turbulent storm of Tika's magic through her veins. Tears bit into her eyes as the familiar agonizing fire ignited in her blood. Misa forced herself to push forward until she could kneel.

"Raki!"

At Gaveth's cue, Tagur grabbed Raki's shoulder. The girl jumped in surprise as the large cadet's hands gripped her arms, immobilizing her.

"Let me go!" Raki's shriek reached Misa.

Misa fought her pain. She stood up and staggered, but her heels managed to find purchase on the grass. Her legs wobbled at the weight she pushed onto them. Wind whipped at her heated face as she sprinted towards the crowd of cadets.

"You have disrespected me one too many times, Raki," Gaveth was saying. "I won't let you get away with it this time."

"Stop it! Let go, you behemoth!"

A sickening lump clawed up Misa's chest, climbing until it reached her throat. White dots flashed before her eyes, fighting the blackness that threatened to consume her vision. The pain hit her tenfold. Misa's arms went limp. Her legs weakened, throwing her face first into the ground. Misa's head clunked against her arms, but it was nothing compared to the needles of flames pinning her in place.

"Stop," Misa groaned. She was only a few meters away. Her fingers clasped grass. She somehow found the strength to get on her hands and knees.

Gaveth grinned. "You're weak. There's nothing for you in a place like this. Why don't you give up already? You wouldn't last a day in the real world."

Raki spat at his face. "Whether you like it or not, I'm here because I deserve to be. I won't tolerate your behaviour anymore. Not when you hurt innocent people."

"You want to be a hero?" Gaveth scrubbed his face against his sleeve and cracked his knuckles. "You want me to toughen you up so you can protect your weaker friends?" He pivoted his shoulder, stretched his neck from one side to the other.

Where was Lieutenant Hunter? Misa lifted her head to glance around and found the lieutenant chatting with another officer, completely unaware of the fight between the cadets.

"You don't scare me," Raki snarled.

It was enough. Gaveth pulled his fist back. Then, like an arrow from a bow, it shot towards Raki's face. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the blow. Gaveth's fist found its mark on Raki's cheek. Pain blossomed in Misa's heart. She couldn't breathe.

Raki didn't make a sound. Gaveth went for another punch from the other side. And, when his fist landed this time, it clipped the brim of her cap.

"No," Misa whispered.

The last thing she saw before blacking out was Raki's hat hitting the ground, and long brown hair gleaming under the sun.

* * * *

A meadow full of flowers spread towards the horizon. Misa breathed in, allowing her sense of smell to revel in the natural perfume produced by the sea of colours rippling in the wind. She loved how the breeze raked through her hair.

It was beautiful. Peaceful.

Laughter from the distance. "Don't just stand there! Come on!"

Misa let out a giggle. The same girl she'd seen in the pink dress skipped into the tall grass, releasing a bout of pollen into the air. A childlike excitement urged Misa to do the same, and she followed her sister into the ocean of petals and grass.

"This is amazing!" the girl yelled. She ran through the field, arms spread wide and wild, dark hair trailing behind her. Spots of yellow sprinkled over her, and she sparkled under the sunlight.

Not about to let her have all the fun, Misa forged her own path through the tall grass, letting them whip her legs as she flew by. They ran for what seemed like hours before a faint voice called for them.

"Aw," the girl whined. She pouted as their mother spoke their names, distorted by distance yet clear by her tone. They were not to disobey.

They trudged back towards their mother, emerging from the meadow of flowers with sheepish grins at their disheveled appearance.

"Look what you did," their mother said. When Misa looked back, her face paled in shock. Though much of the meadow was left untouched, there were clear signs of destruction weaving through them like a maze.

Disheartened, Misa realised she had caused half of them. She had only wanted to enjoy their beauty, but she had destroyed them.

"Oh, no!" she cried.

Their mother smiled. "No need to worry, little ones. Just a touch of magic is fine. Return what you have taken from them. Remember. Your magic is not your own, but of the earth's. One day, it will return to nature, and the cycle will continue. Until then, our job is to take care of it with the power it has given us."

Determined to right their wrongs, Misa and her sister crouched in front of the trampled flowers. Misa touched the ground, letting her palms sink into the cool dirt.

"Return the magic to nature," she murmured. She reached within her, finding that familiar ball of white heat residing in her gut. A light tap ignited it, and she sent it to her fingertips, letting it shoot into the earth.

Before her very eyes, a red flower bloomed.

~ ~ ~ ~

Misa's eyes fluttered open. Another dream. So vivid that she could still smell the flowers tickling her nose. A wooden ceiling entered her vision. Misa moved her arm and groaned. Her whole body ached. Her limbs were locked in place as if her bones were made of lead.

"Misa? Misa, are you all right?"

"Torren," Misa slurred. She let her head loll to the side. Torren was sitting on a low table, and it was when Misa glimpsed the couch behind him that she realised they were in Royle's office.

"I told you to rest, didn't I? Why don't you ever listen?"

Misa managed a smile. "Yeah. I should have listened to you."

She saw her cap next to him. Then, it all rushed back.

"Raki!" Misa fought the weight in her arms and dug her elbows into the couch to prop herself up. "Raki. What happened to her?"

The concern that lit Torren's eyes sent a surge of strength through Misa. She swung her legs over the edge of the couch. Her vision blackened by the sudden movement, and she took a moment for it to clear.

"Gaveth. That rotten kid, Gaveth." Misa tried to stand, but her legs were still recovering. "He exposed her. He's going to get her killed!"

"Misa!" Torren pushed down on her before she could try to stand again. "Calm down. Raki isn't going to die. Not for this."

"Where is she?" Misa fought back tears. She had been so useless. She could have prevented it, but all she could do was lay on the ground and watch Gaveth hit her friend. "What happened to her?"

"She's...in a cell." Torren's eyes flickered away from her. "I'm sure they're not going to give her a hefty punishment, but something like this has never happened before. I believe they're going to keep her locked up until they can find a suitable punishment."

"Oh, Raki." A tear streaked down Misa's cheek. "If only I could have made it to her in time. I was so close. I could have stopped them. If I hadn't been so weak, I could have helped her."

"Hey, hey." Torren shook his head. "No, Misa. You couldn't do anything. You already pushed yourself hard enough you blacked out. Don't beat yourself over it."

"But there were so many things I could have done. I could have yelled at Lieutenant Hunter while I still had the energy. I could have pushed myself just a little more to catch Raki before she could do anything."

"There's nothing you can do about it now," Torren said. "You won't be helping anyone thinking of what you could have done. So, just focus on yourself. You won't be very useful if you keep passing out."

"Yeah." Misa slumped over. He was right, but her regrets remained. "You're right, Torren. I'll do that." She sighed, clenching and unclenching her fists to dispel the stiffness in her fingers.

The captain's desk was empty. Misa's anger sparked at the thought of him. The way he had insisted she remain a cadet, the way he refused to give her a good reason to keep her in this prison, even when it was the only way she could have left with his first lieutenant to get her magic under control.

"And if I'm going to get better, I have to go to Harthem," Misa said. "The only way to do that is if I can convince that bastard Royle to let me go."

Torren chuckled. "And there's the hate you have for him. You both confuse me. It sounded like you went through a lot of mutual understanding, but this argument between you two is just like the ones you always had."

Misa huffed. "Oh, trust me. I am very unhappy with him right now, and every nice thing he's ever done can disappear down a sewer. He's only ever nice when he gets what he wants."

"That's not true."

And though Misa immediately opened her mouth to protest, she couldn't ignore the fact that Torren was right. Royle had been kind to her when she was in her most vulnerable state, when she had gone against what he wanted. He had given her so much support in their time in Harthem and when they had gone to see Tika for the last time.

"He's not that bad," Torren said. "He has his reasons for keeping you in the purgehouse, and whether I agree with his decisions or not, I have to trust that he knows what he's doing. He keeps things close to his chest, I know, and it's driven me crazy plenty of times before. But, when he explains everything, his erratic decisions do make sense." He frowned. "Eventually...Usually...Most of the time."

Misa glared at the captain's desk as if he was still sitting there. "Yeah? Well, I'd like to hear some explanations now because I don't know how any of this makes sense."

"Oh, good luck with that." Torren laughed. "He only ever explains his plans when he knows what he wants you to do. Even then, he doesn't tell you everything. Like the fact you have the rest of Tika's magic, or that Tika died, or that the two of you can actually get along. Seriously, Misa, you need to tell me these things if he doesn't or I'll start thinking I'm not part of the team."

Whatever retort Misa had for that died at her lips when the door swung open. Her heart skipped a beat, and she reached for her cap in a panic. But, it was only the captain. With a sigh, Misa leaned back, letting her body go limp against the soft cushion.

"Did you know about this?" Royle's words were clipped. His eyes bore into her. Misa didn't even have to ask to know what he was talking about.

She shrugged. "Yes, I did."

"And you didn't think to mention it to me?"

"She didn't want you to know." Misa fought back the urge to snap at him. "And it would have complicated things. If you confronted her about it, she would have thought I betrayed her, and you know damn well that she's better off not knowing what we're trying to do."

"She's a woman in the purgehouse." Royle shook his head. "We'll be taken for fools. Headquarters won't like this at all."

Misa didn't know if she was shocked or angry. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Without a thought, she jumped to her feet, catching Torren's shoulder as she lost balance.

Her head pounded from the sudden movement, so hard that she could almost feel her temple pulsing against her hand. "I'm a woman, too. How could you say that, Royle? How could you say that you're more concerned about the reputation of the purgehouse when you have her locked up in a dungeon made for criminals?"

"I speak as the captain," Royle said. "Headquarters will do whatever they can to keep this out of the public and prevent it from happening again. It won't bode well for her at all."

"Royle," Torren joined in, standing up while steadying Misa. "What's going to happen to her?"

"Did you know about this, too?"

Torren remained silent, giving Royle all the answers he needed. With a shake of his head, Royle walked by them and settled on his seat.

"For now, she's to be kept in the cell. If all goes well, she'll be interrogated and released under careful surveillance."

"And if it doesn't?" Misa dared to ask. "If it goes wrong, what will they do to her?"

Royle met her gaze, his eyes steady as he spoke the cold truth, "She'll be framed as a witch and sent to execution."