Witch Bewitched (New)

Chapter 6

Inside the cottage was warm and homey. The moment she entered through the front door, she was greeted by two cosy chairs set in front of an unused fireplace. To the immediate left of it, the wall bent into a small kitchen filled with jars and baskets of herbs, vegetables, and other ingredients Misa had never seen before. The place was much smaller than Misa had expected.

Opposite the kitchen, a small staircase led up to what Misa assumed were the bedrooms. It was this that the captain started towards. Min-Min dropped from Misa's shoulders, bounding past the captain and up the stairs.

"Min-Min! Wait!" Misa tried not to groan. She hadn't wanted to follow the captain upstairs, but she couldn't let her cat cause any more trouble than it already had. No sense in giving more reason for the captain to kick Min-Min out.

So, with a small sigh, Misa gripped her luggage bag and trudged behind the captain. As she'd presumed, the upstairs floor was where she would sleep. She caught Min-Min clawing at the last door down the corridor. The captain halted close to the stairway.

"Your room is the one across from the one your cat is sitting at," the captain said as he opened his door. "Put your luggage down and promptly come out. There are a few things we must discuss before we can turn in for the night."

Nodding, Misa walked past the captain. She was a bit annoyed that her room was right next to his, but she didn't dwell on it. He had said their stay would be temporary. She began to wonder why, but her energy to think drained away from the pressure of the witch's presence squeezing around her. Opening her door, Misa set down her bag on a comfy looking bed. She took a moment to familiarise herself with the place.

The room was relatively bare, only containing a bed and a single chair. The wardrobe had been built in, as was the counter right next to it, which Misa assumed was used as a desk.

Between the counter and the bed, a single window let a cool breeze in. Misa stepped towards it and relished in the dark forest air before shutting it. She still couldn't believe she had left her home. She wondered what her parents were doing, then when the night's events flooded her mind, she forced them out of her thoughts.

Shaking her head, Misa took off her cloak and draped it over her bag. Then, she went to open the door. The captain stood waiting with his back against the wall, and Misa felt a twinge of annoyance. He had taken off his cap but still wore the gray uniform.

He uncrossed his legs and pushed off the wall when Misa emerged from her room.

"There's someone you should meet before I brief you on tomorrow's plans," he said. He glanced back at Min-Min. "It seems I'm not the only one eager to introduce you to her."

Misa already suspected who the captain was talking about. Her knees wobbled. The oppressive presence was even stronger now that she was closer to it, and she envied the captain's inability to feel the witch's power.

"This, Tika the witch," Misa spoke carefully, afraid the witch might hear her. "She's the one my parents brought me to when I caught Jania, right?"

Captain Bentham nodded. "She is. And it looks like your cat belongs to her."

"Min-Min?" Misa choked. Even the cat knew of her past? "No, that's not possible. I stumbled across her by chance when I first snuck out. There's no way she belongs to a witch!"

"Why don't you confirm that inside?" The captain strode over to the door and lightly rapped his knuckles against it. He listened then must have heard an answer. He nodded at Misa and pushed open the door.

An unforgiving wave of power blasted through, overwhelming Misa's senses. She gasped for breath and leaned against the wall as her head spun. Min-Min shot into the room, leaving Misa alone in the hallway.

"Miss Carpenter?" The captain's voice sounded far away. Misa struggled to reply. Her senses were so overpowered, like the force was a roaring, unforgiving waterfall, that she hadn't noticed the captain approach her.

"Deep breaths, Miss Carpenter. Tika is unable to cloak her power. You will have to brave through it."

He wrapped his hands around her shoulders and helped her through the door. Misa didn't have the energy to refuse. She fought to catch her balance but ended up relying heavily on the captain to move.

The room was identical to the one given to Misa, only with evidence of someone residing within it. A small table had been brought in and on top of it, dirty plates and cups stacked in a tower of porcelain.

The source of the power lay on the bed. Her head was propped against a high pillow, and she smiled as she stroked Min-Min's head. The captain sat Misa down on the stool next to the witch. Looking closely, Misa wondered how Tika was still alive. Her face was gaunt and wrinkled, and with a thick blanket on top of her, Tika's body appeared frail and withered. Her white hair fell over her face, thin and wiry.

Tika looked exactly like a witch Misa had once seen in a story book. She half expected the witch to pull out a child's finger to chew. Tika raised her head with some difficulty to gaze at Misa.

"My, how you've grown," she rasped. "And so beautiful, too. Well, it's a necessary asset for an enchantress. I'm sure my magic had a hand in that. I'll bet all the local men are hammering to get a piece of you. Isn't that right, Royle?"

Misa flushed. Too many times, she had heard that she was beautiful. Her father had always found out about her secret excursions because more than a couple of suitors had followed her to her home. That this witch was the cause drove a nail of resentment deeper into Misa's heart.

"You know best that I'm immune to such charms," the captain retorted. "However, I can't say the same for anyone else. Miss Carpenter almost got herself killed by a rogue witch hunter. Her attempts at trying to bewitch him were rather ineffective as he was convinced she was trying to make his heart explode."

Tika cackled, then fell into a coughing fit. The captain handed her the cup of water sitting on the table, and she took hungry gulps. When the cup was empty, she handed it back to the captain.

"I'm afraid I don't have much time in this world," she said. Stark blue eyes burned into Misa's soul. The clarity in them was startling. "Misa, you can feel my power escaping me. I don't have the strength to hide it anymore. It won't be long before another witch comes to finish me off."

"F-finish you off?" Misa whispered. She jolted when Tika's leathery hand touched her own.

"My child, do you know how a witch dies?"

"By burning at the stake. Beheading. Quartering. Execution." The list formed a lump of lead in the pit of Misa's stomach. She never imagined she would have to fear such a horrifying fate.

Tika chuckled and forced herself to stop before she started to cough. "That is what they say. Ordinaries believe that we are immortal. They think that just because we have supernatural powers, we can do anything. In reality, we witches are just as vulnerable as any other human. We simply possess something that the majority cannot understand.

"Our magic gives us advantages. We don't catch incurable diseases, we don't tire out from physical exertion as much as an ordinary. We can heal any wound. But we also have heavier consequences. Magic is a powerful thing. It's easy to become corrupted with a thirst for more power. And when you become too weak to control it, you can only wait for your inevitable demise."

"So," Misa said, "how do witches die?"

Tika sighed and scratched Min-Min's belly. "The same as anyone else. My body has weakened, and my beauty has diminished. I cannot even maintain my prime form. When I die, my magic will be returned to the soil from whence it came. Perhaps it will yield a magic fruit or sprinkle into an ordinary pond and create a pool of healing water.

"Or," Tika squeezed Misa's hand, "It will be absorbed by a witch, and give her more power."

Misa swallowed. She didn't like where this conversation was going.

"This is a safehouse," Tika continued. "I do not intend to let anyone else know that you are—or were—here. I have been quite greedy. Had I not gathered so many years of power, this wouldn't be such a problem." She smiled, and Misa was surprised to find that Tika looked motherly. Her heart ached as she thought of Soiya, how her own mother had taken the only thing Misa yearned for. "Misa, I offer my power to you. I want you to take it all. You will need it."

"What?" Misa could still feel the heavy pull of the witch's magic. She couldn't imagine wielding so much power. Her apprehension mingled with anger. "No. I can't. I refuse to be what you are. I don't care that you saved my life. You're still a witch, and witches are..."

"Evil?" Tika provided. "Baby killers? Monsters with a thirst for virgin blood? I suppose some witches are all of those, but have you ever thought that ordinary men can be just as cruel?"

Misa clenched her jaw. She pushed Ervan out of her mind, refusing to let Tika's words affect her. Witches had the power to persuade the normal mind into evil. She wasn't going to lower her guard, even if the witch was dying.

"I didn't expect you to agree so easily." Tika patted Misa's hand. "The stigma against witches may never go away, but I have faith that one day, we will be able to live without hiding in fear."

"But I don't want to be a witch. The captain said that I could get rid of the magic inside me. You're the one who gave it to me. Can you take it back?"

Tika sighed and shook her head. "It is true that it's possible to get rid of your magic, but I can't do it. Not anymore. The only way to get rid of it is to let another witch take it from you. A witch skilled enough to separate magic from life energy and extract it without killing you. I'm afraid only the most powerful witches can help you."

Misa's lips trembled. She blinked away tears. "I can't be a witch. I can't. It's the reason I lost my freedom. I can't keep living with it when I know I'll never be free as long as I'm a witch."

"I understand," Tika said. She stared at their hands. "But there are other ways you can be free as a witch. With power, you will be able to pave a path for yourself. I will give you time to think about it but know that I don't have much—I may not even survive the year. The moment I lose full control, my magic will spread like a pulse through all of Plathea.

"Any witch who senses it will know where it came from and who has passed. Every witch will know, including Nisha. I want you to think carefully before your final decision, my dear. I'm sorry it's so difficult, but my magic may be the only thing powerful enough to stand in Nisha's path to destruction."

"Nisha?"

Tika's eyes snapped to the captain. "You have not yet told her?"

"I decided to let her meet you first," he replied. "I'll inform her once she has settled. I want her to retain every bit of information we have on Nisha, and I would rather not relay important facts while she is half asleep."

"I understand." Tika's eyes began to droop. "It's time I fall asleep. Take Min-Min out with you. She will take good care of you, Misa."

"She'll be out for the rest of the night," the captain said once Tika had settled into a deep sleep. "Do you need help getting up?"

Misa shook her head. She had grown used to the witch's power, and though she still felt as if a mountain was resting on her shoulders, she wasn't as disoriented as when she first entered the room.

"Min-Min, let's go," she whispered. She managed to stand and walk away from the bed. The captain followed behind her, and Misa suspected he was keeping a close eye on her in case she collapsed. Min-Min trotted with her tail up. She rubbed against Misa's legs before dashing down the stairs.

When the captain closed the door, Misa felt the power ease a bit. She breathed out a sigh.

"Are you hungry?" the captain asked.

"No." Misa's stomach growled at the thought of food, and her cheeks reddened when she caught amusement twinkling in his eyes.

"No?" The skeptical jibe made Misa want to disappear into a hole and never come out.

"Okay, just a little," she relented. "No need to rub it in."

"Very well. Off to the kitchen then."

The captain rushed down the stairs, leaving Misa dumbfounded. She filed away his enthusiasm for food in a section of her mind that she had made just for him. She was tired of being caught in embarrassing situations, and she wanted to make sure she would be there when he slipped up and made a fool of himself.

"Are you coming, Miss?"

Misa snorted and made her way downstairs. The captain was seated at the table, fiddling with his spoon. Another man was busy placing the food on the table. As Misa drew closer, she recognised the tall figure and felt her heart leap with joy.

"Torren!"

The lieutenant paused. He gave her a wink and his famous smile before composing himself in front of the captain. Misa took a seat where a bowl was already set.

When Torren finally joined them, Misa began to eat. She grinned as she watched Torren ravenously inhale his food. She wished she could tease him, but she didn't want to appear immature in front of the captain. She suspected Torren felt the same as he didn't keep up with his usual childish jokes.

The captain, Misa noticed, ate almost as much as Torren did. She figured it was a consequence of his height. She shook her head. Tall men ate a lot. It was information she decided to store away for her future son.

She frowned. Who would dare court a witch? She doubted she'd ever be able to wed and bear children. The thought was too normal for a life like hers. But no. She wasn't a witch. She would get rid of her magic, and everything would go back to normal. Even then, she feared a family would tie her down when her heart yearned to uncover the world's secrets. Perhaps one day, after her adventures, she would mother children...

A clatter brought Misa out of her hopeful reverie. The captain had let his spoon drop on the table. She noticed Torren looking up as well.

"I suppose now is a good a time as any to let you know what we will do tomorrow."

"And what will we do?" Misa questioned.

The captain rapped his fingers on the table. A small smile played on his lips. Unease twisted Misa's stomach. Every time she had seen him have that look, she never liked what came out of his mouth. "Tomorrow, you become a soldier."

Torren seemed more stunned than Misa was. She had guessed as much during their conversation in the carriage. Torren's spoon dropped into his bowl of stew, splattering thick gravy onto the table. "A soldier? You mean she is to become a new recruit?"

"That's exactly what I mean, Lieutenant."

"But she can't!"

The captain raised a brow. "She can't? Would you rather have a witch running rampant?"

"Misa's not..." Torren lowered his voice, "Misa is not like them. She's on our side."

"That's besides the point. The only way I—we—can keep an eye on her is if she works at the purgehouse. We'll both be there. Who will keep her from trouble if we leave her here? She has a habit of sneaking out. She'll likely get eaten by wolves if we leave her on her own. Her only other option would be to stay trapped in this house. She didn't leave her home to become trapped in another, and it's likely she'll cause trouble if she is."

"Torren," Misa cut in, grabbing their attention. "It's okay. The captain's right, as much as I hate to admit it, though he definitely could have said that in a much less belittling way." She shot the captain a sharp glare that could have sliced him in half. "I don't want to be a prisoner again. At least this way, I'll get to spend more time with you. Becoming a purgehouse officer is a much better alternative than becoming a witch, and I'm afraid Tika will sway me if I stay here with her."

At Misa's prompt, Torren drooped his shoulders. "Well, I guess it's not all bad. I just...it's just that the purgehouse...well, nevermind. If you insist, I can't keep you from it." He pondered over it. "But Royle, how do you plan to get her in?"

"I've already gathered the necessary documents. Nepotism happens to run deep in the system, you see. Perhaps a cousin of yours?"

"Right..." Torren rubbed the back of his neck, reluctance evident in his pensive frown. "So it'll be by my recommendation. And her identity?"

"Also taken care of." The captain resumed his tapping. "Of course, we'll still need a name and a few other details that need to be filled in."

Torren's frown turned into suspicion. "How long have you been forging documents, Royle? The reformation of the purgehouse would have made it impossible."

The captain merely shrugged. "It pays to be prepared. Now, Miss Carpenter, I'll have you signing the documents. You can read?"

"Yes," Misa replied, almost offended. "Of course I can."

"Good. That's all settled. But...there is still one slight problem." Captain Bentham eyed Misa as if he was checking to make sure a gemstone was real. He paused his examination. Misa followed his gaze and was horrified to see that he was staring at her breasts. She flushed and on impulse, slapped her hand across his cheek.

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, her face still coloured with embarrassment. "What is wrong with you?"

The captain's eyes ignited with anger. "That was quite uncalled for. I was simply trying to figure out how we were going to hide your obvious femininity."

"What?" Misa frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Torren answered, "Only men are allowed to be trained at the purgehouse. If you want to be recruited there, you need to be a bit less...top-heavy, so to speak." He smothered a laugh.

The captain was rubbing his cheek. "I'll leave it to you, then, to figure out how you will flatten your chest. Tomorrow, Miss Carpenter, you must be a man."

"I think I've heard enough," Misa said, standing up. She placed her bowl and spoon on the sink before making her way out. She paused next to the fireplace, her fury pushing her to shout, "I'll figure it out, Captain, so don't even think of doing it yourself! Good night!"

Turning on her heel, Misa stomped up the stairs and stormed into her room, too angry to fall asleep.