Witch Bewitched (New)

Chapter 47

Executed. The word echoed in Misa's mind, refusing to die down no matter how much she tried to block it out. Raki could be executed. And for what? Being a woman? For defending Misa and standing up for herself?

Misa twirled her fork on the mush given to her for dinner, unable to work up an appetite with her stomach coiling at the sickening thought of Raki's fate.

She sat away from the other cadets, though they seemed content in leaving her alone for the time being. Gaveth, thankfully, had earned himself a cowardly reputation for beating a girl while she was incapacitated. Misa didn't think much of the judgement was fair, considering he didn't know Raki was a woman when he attacked her, but it was a well-deserved punishment for all the torment he had put them through.

Misa raised her fork, watching the soft white mush drip down in thick clumps. The sight of it made her want to hurl. The stench of it didn't help. Misa had enough. She grabbed her plate and returned it to the kitchen. After doing her dishes, she left the mess hall. Cleaning duty was left for Gaveth and others who participated in the fight. Even though Raki was no longer a recruit, a fight among the cadets needed to be punished accordingly.

Her footsteps were unnaturally loud against the wooden floors in the empty hallway. The muffled chatter of officers still having their dinner gave her some comfort. She stepped through to the office, where desks with scattered papers, ink, and books had been left behind. There was a door made of iron bars in the room that led to the dungeons, and it was towards it that Misa went.

Through the gaps, Misa glimpsed the dim firelight flickering against a wall that obscured the curved staircase leading underground. Misa pulled at the door, and though it gave just a little, it remained impassable. The reason became clear when a rattle brought her attention to the padlock keeping a thick chain below the handle.

Great. She had no keys. She turned to survey the room, sneaking by each desk for a cursory search. It was more likely that the key was in an officer's person, but she still snooped through the nearest desk anyway.

Finding nothing, Misa growled in frustration. She returned to the iron door and kicked at it, cursing at it for keeping Raki locked up in a dark hole made for murderers and other vile criminals. She didn't deserve it.

"Having trouble?"

Misa jumped. She spun around, going rigid on instinct and snapping her fingers to her forehead. "Sir!" she greeted the voice.

A spark of amusement in soft brown eyes dropped her pretense. Misa's cheeks warmed, and Royle glanced at the doorway to the dining hall before approaching her.

"I wondered what the racket was," he said. He stopped too close to her. Misa took a step back.

"I have to see her," she murmured, looking back at the iron bars in a vague hope that the chain would have fallen off. "It could have been me. I could have easily been in her position. I have to make sure she's okay."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Royle asked softly. "If you'd simply explained, I could have helped."

"Help? From you?" Misa shook her head. "It's difficult to divulge sensitive information like this when I don't know how you're going to react. When I found out about her, we weren't on the best of terms. I didn't trust that you'd let her stay."

"I wouldn't have. The purgehouse isn't a place for her."

"Why?" Misa snapped her attention back to him, annoyed by his words. "Because she's a woman?"

"It was dangerous. Look where it led her. As much as I sympathise with her intentions, infiltrating the purgehouse as a woman would have achieved nothing. What would she have done once she finished training? Reveal her true gender? Then what? You think the purgehouse would have let her stay? Perhaps, it's better that she was caught now, when she's only a cadet. The higher ups will be less inclined to give her a harsh punishment."

Misa wanted to retort that he was wrong. That Raki's purpose at the purgehouse would have been reached if it weren't for Gaveth. But, once again, she couldn't dispute his rationale. He had a point. What could Raki have hoped to achieve once she became an officer? How long was she planning to pretend to be a man?

Still, there was something there. A sort of passion that made Misa believe Raki belonged here, at the purgehouse. Raki had studied the purgehouse academics even before she was recruited and was one of the best students in their rank. She had prepared so hard to become a purgehouse officer, and it wasn't fair that she was being punished for something she loved so dearly.

"Will you let me see her?" Misa asked, choosing to leave the matter for another time.

Royle sighed. He moved closer to her, prompting Misa to step back until her back rattled the door. She averted her eyes from him, avoiding the confrontation brought forth by a surge of tingles in her belly. This wasn't the time to get flustered. Misa opened her mouth to tell him to stop.

He reached for a bar, and Misa realised she didn't need to speak. He had pulled out a key, fitting it into the lock and letting both the padlock and chains clatter to the floor.

"No more than ten minutes," Royle said. He pulled open the door. "I'll see if I can delay everyone from returning to the office for a bit longer while you're gone."

Misa could only nod. Her mouth dried, and she clenched at her thundering heart. What had she been expecting? Why was she getting such strange, dangerous thoughts whenever they were alone?

"Thank you," she rasped. She stepped inside and began her descent. Lamps hanging along the staircase lit the way. Wood gave way to stone, and Misa's heels tapped with each step. Irregular shadows jumped at her, daring her to continue on. Misa fought back a shudder. She clasped her arms as a musty chill engulfed her.

She reached the underground floor. The stench was horrifying. Mindful of her limited time, Misa abandoned her cautious steps and rushed towards each cell, whispering out Raki's name until she saw a dark figure, stark against the dim lighting.

"Raki?" Misa called. She fell to her knees when she saw Raki curled up in the middle of the cold, stone floor, murmuring something to herself. "Oh, no. Raki, what have they done to you?"

"M-Mikim?" Raki raised her head. She inched towards the bars separating them and reached forward, clasping icy fingers over Misa's hand.

"You're freezing," Misa said, releasing her hold on the bar to return Raki's hold. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Raki breathed. "I wasn't supposed to get caught so soon, but I'm sure it'll be fine. The Society will get me out of here."

"I'm sorry." Misa squeezed Raki's hand, rubbing it to give the girl some warmth. "I should have stopped him."

"It's not your fault," Raki assured. "In all honesty, it was mine. It was stupid of me to confront him when I knew he had the others following him."

Misa managed a wobbly smile. "At least, Gaveth doesn't have a hold over the cadets anymore. Even the other officers don't look kindly at him."

Raki laughed. "I would love to see that."

"Raki-"

"Leira."

"What?"

"My real name is Leira. Raki is my brother. He was supposed to come to the purgehouse, but he injured his leg and couldn't make the initiation. It was my chance to take his place, for both him and the Society."

Misa nodded. "It's a pretty name. I'm Misa."

Leira smiled. "I know. I figured that would be it when I heard the lieutenant call you. He cares a lot about you, you know? I'm relieved that I won't be leaving you all alone. Succeed where I failed, Misa. Show them that you can achieve just as much as they could."

"I can't pretend to be a man forever," Misa said.

"Of course not." Leira leaned closer. "Truth be told, I was to become a top informant for the Society for as long as they needed me to. Can you imagine how valuable all the purgehouse records could be? It's valuable enough to live as a man forever. I was prepared to make that choice, to finally cut off my hair. But I failed."

"I can't." Misa hated the guilt pouring over her. "I can't stay at the purgehouse for years."

"And I'm not asking you to." Leira squeezed Misa's hand. "Whatever goal you have to achieve by dressing as a purgehouse cadet, succeed in it. Do it for me. For yourself. Don't let a careless moment burn it to the ground."

"Okay," Misa said. Leira's grip tightened, her fingers ice cold and stiff. Tears ran down her cheeks. She likely thought Misa couldn't see because of the dim lighting, but Misa could see all too well. The regret, the fear, the uncertainty. As much as Leira praised the Society, she wasn't sure when they'd help her. If they could help her. Because she had failed in the mission she had been sent out to do and nothing could be done when she was in the hands of the purgehouse.

"I will, Leira." Misa reached through the bars and pulled Leira in for an uncomfortable hug interrupted by cold, rough bars. "And I'll see what I can do to help you in any way I can."

Leira shivered beneath Misa's touch. From crying or the cold, Misa couldn't tell.

"Thank you," Leira sobbed. "Thank you."

"I have to go now." Misa pulled back. "It's going to be all right. I promise."

Leira nodded. "Good luck, Misa."

They clasped hands for a final moment of contact. Misa reluctantly stood up, letting her fingers linger against Leira's until she could no longer reach them. Then, she walked away with heavy steps, willingly putting one more shackle tying her to the purgehouse.