Witch Bewitched (New)

Chapter 50

Tingles blasted through her, mingling with the short bursts of magic that cycled in her blood. Misa's heart skipped a beat, galloping against her ribcage. Her lungs constricted, and she suddenly felt that the band around her chest was a little too tight.

Royle had cupped the lower half of his face, perhaps out of anticipation or perhaps out of fear. He straightened and rubbed his hands together when she finally looked at him. His scowl deepened, and something flickered in his eyes.

"Do you really believe what you said?" he asked, caution melding with anger.

Misa swallowed, still needing that water. She couldn't deny the effect he had on her, the way he sent a shiver through her just by looking her way. The fear returned. Misa had reached a line she thought she'd never have to even look at, and now she was toeing at it, wondering what it would be like on the other side while knowing well that the moment she stepped beyond it, she could never return.

Misa's heart ached, tugged by the confusion, the conflict within her. "I...don't know," she said. Tears threatened to fall. Helpless. Misa felt helpless, dragged back to that dark place she couldn't stand, with a million shackles pulling her deeper and deeper. "I don't know what to think anymore."

"I would never hurt you," he said, soft, almost pleading. "And while it's true that you're helping me find Nisha, I won't sacrifice you for my own goals."

Misa wanted to believe him. She so desperately wanted to believe what he said. But, she just didn't know anymore. Not when he had deliberately placed her in a position she despised, in a place where she suffocated and yearned for the sky, like a bird with clipped wings.

"Misa, I'm sorry." Royle scrubbed his face. "I'm sorry I put you in such a difficult position, for keeping you in the purgehouse, but you must understand that I had no choice."

"No choice?" Misa sniffed, wiping her nose. "You refuse to give me a good reason for keeping me here, so how could I understand? How could I possibly understand?"

Royle shook his head. "I..."

Misa waited. And waited. When he didn't continue, she let out a sigh. Nothing had changed.

"You can't always have it your way," she said. "No matter how meticulously you plan something out, no matter how well you trap someone to do your bidding, you can never control what they do." She stood, wanting to get away from all the confusion and hurt. "Just know that, Royle. You can't keep me trapped here forever."

"Misa, wait." Royle followed her to the door, grabbing her wrist. "It's difficult to explain, but keeping you in the purgehouse has nothing to do with my plans."

Misa twisted her wrist from his grasp, tears welling up in her eyes. It was just so frustrating. He was so closed off and difficult to reach, and Misa couldn't keep prying for his deepest thoughts when he continuously cut her off. "I just don't know anymore, Royle. I-I have to go."

She spun around, threw open the door, and stormed out. She was nearing the iron gate leading to the cells when everything crashed down on her, and Tika's magic once again exploded, leaving Misa crumbling to the ground with a sharp ringing in her ears.

She gasped, clutching her heart in a desperate attempt to stop it from burning. It pounded hard, like an old drum that would tear at any moment, threatening to burst through her chest and leave her for dead.

No! Misa pushed back at the sporadic stream of magic that didn't have a path paved for it, spreading through her as if it had no idea where to go. Stop it!

Her eyes strained against the tunnel closing in on them. She could feel them pulse in her sockets, and she was sure a vein or even the whole thing would burst and leave her blind forever.

Something popped in her ears, and a roar thundered against her skull. Misa fought. She clawed at the torrential wave, pushed back at it, commanded it to cease its agonising flow, but it was a losing battle, and in a few moments, she knew her body would fail her.

Then, a gentle touch on her shoulder. Misa concentrated on it. The way it calmed her took away the turmoil bubbling in her veins. She gulped for air, relishing in the fresh, cold breeze that opened up her lungs. Her pain ebbed away, from a fire that engulfed her to a dull throb that reminded her of aching muscles.

"Stop running away from me." Royle helped her up, his presence wrapping around her.

Misa swept her gaze across the room and found no officers at their desk. She didn't acknowledge what he said. "Where is everyone?"

"At the courtroom. Someone should be coming to bring the girl up soon."

"Her name is Leira." Misa pushed against him and stepped back, her head still spinning from Tika's magic. She held her head, confusion swirling within her. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"How did you stop Tika's magic from escaping me?"

Royle's brows knitted in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Misa took another step away from him. She realised it now. Every time she had been close to Royle, her magic had been contained within her. She had blown up in anger but had been completely fine when she was in his office.

"Misa," he started.

"Wait. Just don't move." Misa continued to step back, getting farther away from him. She focused on the uncontrolled rage and hurt that she had felt when she left his office, the raw emotions that spurred Tika's unstable magic to lash out. And when she'd finally reached far enough, beyond the hallway door, it came back in waves. Misa worked through the pain, knowing she wouldn't have much time before she collapsed.

"Royle," she called, stumbling back towards him. Her head screamed, pounded, crushed her skull. Tika's magic escaped her, taking her life force. And Misa took note that it didn't ripple away from her as it had before but flowed as if it had a destination. A destination that was Royle.

Misa gritted her teeth, holding her chest, and focused on Tika's magic. She could feel it, much in the same way she had felt it when she bewitched someone. It encircled Royle, whirling around him like the wind, surrounding him with a touch of confusion but also a surety that attracted it to him.

Royle leaped into action, hurrying over to her and catching her before she fell. He was completely unaware of the magic twisting around him, circling him like some kind of animal exploring new territory. Misa was within the torrential storm of Tika's magic now, and it returned to her under Royle's touch, giving her the strength she needed to stand on her own.

"It's you," Misa croaked out, grabbing Royle and steadying herself. She didn't—couldn't—pull away from his grasp. "The magic is going to you."

His lips thinned, and his grip on her arm tightened. "Why?"

"I don't know." Misa shook her head, rubbing her throbbing temple. "It doesn't make sense. There's something..." Misa searched her memory of how the magic felt, ignoring the painful way it sucked the life out of her. "Something pulled it towards you. It was almost as if...as if it was looking for someone else to stay in. But the moment you came to me, it rushed back."

A slight jingle caught both their attention, and Misa jumped back just in time as three officers entered the room. A sergeant, the tallest of the three and the only one with a beard, twirled a ring of keys around his finger.

"Ah, Captain," he said, offering a salute. His companions followed suit. "On your way to testify?"

Misa shot him a look. Testify?

"If I'm called," Royle replied smoothly, acting as if nothing had happened.

"And the cadet, too?"

Misa stiffened. Was this the reason he had wanted her to attend the court? So, she could testify against her friend?

"No," Royle said. "I'm merely taking him to watch the proceedings. It was a personal request. They were close, after all."

"Of course." The sergeant proceeded to open the dungeon door, allowing the padlock to clang to the ground. The three of them disappeared inside.

Misa glanced at Royle. "Testify?"

"It's my duty as the captain. I must bear the humiliation of allowing a woman to infiltrate my purgehouse."

They left it at that, and when the men brought Leira out, Misa's heart sank. The girl had become ragged, haggard, drained of the life that had sparked her. It was more obvious in the light of day than in those dark cells. She gave Misa a weak smile as the officers practically dragged her outside.

"Oh, Leira," Misa murmured, her heart breaking at the sight of her friend in such a deprecating condition.

Royle put a comforting hand on Misa's shoulder and gave a slight nudge, urging her to follow them. They made it outside, where a purgehouse carriage awaited them. The three officers shoved Leira inside before climbing in after her.

"There's room for the two of you," said the officer with spectacles—Misa recognised him as one of the men present when she was caught sneaking back from Leira's prison. His colleague patted the space next to him in agreement.

Misa looked to Royle, who gave her a nod of approval, and climbed in. She tried to catch Leira's eyes, but the girl was busy staring down at her fingers, picking at them in anxiety. Royle entered after her, sitting right across from her. The driver shut the door, and the carriage began to move.

At the very least, Misa thought, she wouldn't have to worry about the magic in her body acting out. With Royle close by, she was sure nothing would happen. She still couldn't figure out why, and a naïve part of her wondered if it was fate telling her that it was because they belonged together.

She scoffed at herself. It was such a ridiculous notion. Why should a century's old magic that wasn't her own determine who Misa would spend her life with?

A sharp shout cut through the air, snapping Misa back into reality. She looked out the window to see panicked civilians running from the road. Strangely, she also saw a group of men wearing Five Buttons directing them indoors or as close to the buildings as possible.

"What's going on out there?" an officer asked, peering out the window on his side.

The carriage jerked to a stop, sending Misa crashing into the captain. His arms came around her almost instinctively, and Misa pushed away with her cheeks flushed. But no one had seen what had happened because the chaos outside was enough to drown them away.

Misa could hear the horses whinnying in a panic, jerking the carriage forward and jolting it to stop. She peeked out the window, wondering what was going on. They had paused at an intersection, and piles of boxes had been scattered on the road, blocking their path. Misa squinted when she saw one of the broken boxes move. Something had spooked the horses, and she could hear the driver desperately cooing at the beasts to calm them down.

A dark, long shape slithered from beneath the debris, followed by another and another. Sunlight glinted off their skin, and they twisted against each other, coiling, hissing, gliding over the ground towards the carriage. The horses shrieked, pushing up to their hind legs, shaking their heads.

Snakes. There were huge snakes in the path. But why? Maybe they were exotic pets that escaped from a collector. Misa had heard it was one hobby of the ridiculously rich. Her heart leapt to her throat. What if they slithered inside?

Then, something else caught Misa's peripheral vision, and she snapped her head towards the road running perpendicular to the direction they were headed. Her eyes widened.

"Get out!" she screamed. "Get out of the carriage, now!"

"Oi, calm down, cadet," the sergeant said, rubbing his ears.

Misa was already opening the carriage door, but the sergeant grabbed her arm. "Have you lost your mind? It's against the law to get out on the road."

"What the blazes is happening outside?" the officer with glasses said, shoving the upper half of his body through his side of the window. "What on earth? Are those snakes on the road?"

"Everyone, get out of the carriage! We need to get out!" Misa shrieked. Her fear thickened into something primal, so instinctual that she wasn't aware of what she was saying. What she should have been saying. She pulled her arm from the officer and forced open the door.

"Mikim," Royle said with a scowl. "What are you doing?"

Royle! He didn't, no couldn't see what she did. The window had been more open on her side, blinding him from the danger that hurtled towards them. Misa didn't think twice. She grabbed his wrist and wrenched him forward with all her weight. He fell out of the carriage with a grunt, crashing into her. Misa's back hit the ground, and she squeezed her eyes for the impact that would break her ribs.

"You are out of control," Royle muttered. Misa's eyelids fluttered open, and she saw that his hands had somehow managed to land on either side of her head, catching him before he could crush her.

A subtle pounding on the ground vibrated through her back, and her mouth dried. Royle shifted to get up, but Misa grabbed his shoulders and pulled him towards her. The moment he was pressed flat against her, she used all her strength to push him to the side, rolling with him until they were clear from the intersection. Dust rose from the ground like fog. It clung to her uniform, and from the dryness of her throat, Misa thought she must have swallowed a handful.

The pounding was much more noticeable now. Misa got off Royle and jumped up, safety reminding her of the people still in the carriage. Leira was still inside. The bearded sergeant was leaning out, holding the door for support, scowling at Misa.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Misa started towards him, mouth open in warning. "You must get out of the carriage, Sergeant!"

"Why?" He shook his head. "If this is your way of trying to help your friend, Cadet, I will—"

"GET OUT BEFORE YOU ALL DIE!" Her pleas sliced through the air. He finally heard the rumble and looked towards the road that cut right at the intersection. His face paled.

Misa tried to grab at him, and her fingers, grazing at the hem of his uniform, clamped around it, but a yank from behind sent her flying backwards just before a black bull rammed into the carriage.

"No!" Arms engulfed her, preventing her from going forward. Misa struggled, tears running down her cheeks. "Leira!"

A long horn pierced through the officer at the door. Blood sprayed the air, the warmth of it splattering over Misa, and she let out a scream. The momentum of the bull tilted the purgehouse carriage until it tipped over and fell to its side, crushing the officer who still had half his body out the window.

The bearded man sputtered blood, struggling against the horn sticking through his chest, twitching until his arms fell limp at his side. The bull let out a guttural, angry growl, head lolling to the side with the imbalance of a body weighing down its horn. The snakes scattered towards the horrified crowd, sending them into a panic.

Blood. So much blood. Misa clung to the captain, but all she could see was red. Blood. No. It was paint. Red paint that coloured the street, trickling down the ivory horn of the black bull that staggered in a confused rage. Red paint that seeped into the stone floor from the broken body of the officer crushed by the carriage.

Paint. It was paint. A metallic twang twisted Misa's stomach. Paint. She keeled over and felt her contents release. Just paint. Her vision blurred, darkness pricking at the corners, swallowing the colours. So much paint.

A numbness took over her, and Misa fell limp against the captain, allowing herself to slip into oblivion, where only paint could colour her world.