Witch Bewitched

Chapter 9

    The festival was the most fun Misa had ever had in her life. She lost count of how many times she’d burst out laughing from Torren’s antics, and her interactions with the city folk were much more pleasant without her uniform.

    Barring a few persistent admirers, Misa had enjoyed talking to everyone she came across. As the night deepened, families with young children began to trickle out until only adults roamed the streets. Still, the festival had not died down, and flashy costumes populated the area.

    Misa stood near the wall, waiting for Torren who had drank too much wine. He had told Misa to wait while he relieved himself, but she was beginning to think he had gotten lost on his way back.

    Getting a little worried, Misa left the wall and pushed past the crowd in the direction she had seen Torren go. She hauled the bag he left with her over her shoulders.

    “Torren!” she shouted. “Torren!” It was no use. The music drowned away all her calls. Torren wouldn’t be able to hear her unless it was his ear that she was screaming into.

    Misa took a moment to take in her surroundings. The streets had turned unfamiliar with the decorations the festival brought—the hanging lanterns, the wooden dummies acting as proxies to confuse evil spirits, the temporary stalls selling food, talismans, and souvenirs—but Misa was able to figure out where she was during her time with Torren. She decided returning to the purgehouse would be the best decision given that she had no idea where Torren would be.

    She pushed her way through the crowd, avoiding people as best as she could. The path eventually began to quieten and fewer people lingered the closer she approached the purgehouse. The officers guarding the entrance to the purgehouse had made sure to keep the area as empty as possible. It certainly helped that no one wanted their mood soured by boring guards and having the law hover over their every move.

    Misa headed towards them, forming a story in her mind in case they probed her with questions. They tensed at the sight of her.

    “This is no place for the festival,” one of them warned. “You should head back, Miss, before your day is ruined.”

    Misa smiled. “I’m sorry for disturbing you, officers, but I have come in search of Lieutenant Torren. Is he here?”

    The two exchanged glances. The older of the two, who had also been the one to warn her, spoke, “The lieutenant took the day off. He won’t be coming back until tomorrow.”

    “I see. Thank you, anyway.” With a sigh, Misa turned away. She had no idea what to do. She worried that Torren had gotten himself in trouble.

    A familiar meow brought Misa’s attention to the shadows. She recognized it and her heart filled to the brim with joy.

    “Min-Min!”

    At her call, the black cat pounced into her arms. Misa laughed, squeezing the feline against her chest.

    “Oh, I missed you so, so much!”

    Min-Min mewed in reply, and Misa let her down. She gazed back to the purgehouse. “Well, it’s time I head back into the purgehouse. I just need to find a place to change.”

    As Misa began her walk back towards the festival, she heard Min-Min hiss from behind her. A familiar voice made her freeze.

    “Had fun at the festival?”

    Misa gulped. She was suddenly very conscious of her hair swaying against the wind and the dress fluttering at her feet. It was just her luck that the captain had been leaving the purgehouse when she returned.

    Slowly turning around, Misa faced the man. The captain looked like he hadn’t slept in days. Dark circles hung under his eyes, stubble dotted his jawline, and his hair blew wildly against the breeze in the absence of his cap. The impeccable, sharp man Misa had grown used to was nowhere to be seen.

    “Are you all right?” Misa asked. “You don’t look so well.”

    Captain Bentham chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah, well, I’ve been busy.”

    “I can tell,” Misa said drily. “What are you doing out here, anyway?”

    The captain grew serious. His eyes raked her body, probably taking in the dress she was wearing. “What have I been telling you over the past few weeks, Miss Carpenter?”

    Misa bit back a sarcastic remark. Her concerns for the exhausted man diminished as a glimpse of his nagging, bossy, irritating personality surfaced. She would have retorted with a biting remark, but she didn’t want to make her situation worse.

    “You were to be a man, even during times of privacy. You cannot slip up and reveal who you really are, or you’ll get all of us in trouble.”

    Annoyance began to surface. Misa tried and failed to keep a friendly tone. “I wasn’t born to be a man, Captain. Tonight is the one night I can safely act like myself again. I don’t see why it’s a problem.”

    Min-Min bristled as if sensing Misa’s irritation. The captain shook his head. “It’s a problem because you’re risking everything I’ve worked on. You don’t understand how important it is for this to be seamless. You can’t go off acting on your wants like a child. I understand that you never got the chance to really experience the world, but it’s time for you to grow up.”

    Misa felt something snap. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Unable to control her temper any longer, Misa stomped over to the captain until she was inches away from him.

    “I don’t know who you think you are, Captain,” she hissed. “You are not my father, you’re not my mother, and you are most definitely not the royal council. I don’t think you have the right to say how I should behave.”

    “I do when your behavior puts the country into jeopardy. Wake up, Miss Carpenter. You are not in your sheltered world anymore. You have to understand the consequences of your actions.”

    “I know damn well what my actions cost!” Misa blew up. She didn’t care that the captain’s claims were rational. It was never even her idea to go to the festival nor to dress like a girl, and she couldn’t stand how the captain thought she was an impulsive child. “I’ve been working harder than I ever have these past few weeks, and I would be stupid if I did something that would make it all worthless. I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped treating me like a child! I’m not, and though I still have a lot to learn, I’m trying my darnedest to do what I have to.”

    “So why are you dressed like a woman?”

    Misa couldn’t take anymore of the captain’s calm and cold demeaner. She wanted him to be as mad as she was. She wanted him to lose control of himself and quit being so logical about everything he said. She hated that his arguments always made sense. That she could never seem to win against them.

    “I’m dressed like a woman because I am a woman!” Misa raised her voice. “I’m sick of this! All of it! I’m tired of being someone I’m not and trying to hide who I really am. I’m tired of being afraid of getting caught. I’m tired of you!” Misa jabbed a finger on his chest. “I hate you! I hate that you’re always so calm and that you always boss me around like I’m a little kid! I’m not a man. I repeat, Captain!” Misa took a breath to shout at the top of her lungs. “I! Am! Not! A! Ma—”

    The captain’s hand clamped over her mouth. His eyes were blazing, and Misa found a twisted satisfaction in his anger. “I would keep my mouth shut if I was you, Miss Carpenter.”

    Misa bit down hard. Her teeth sunk into the captain’s hand. A metallic tang assaulted her tongue. The captain pulled his hand away with a pained expletive. Blood dripped down his palm. Misa spat and wiped her mouth to find more streaking her skin.

    “And I would keep away from me if I were you,” Misa snapped. “Don’t ever touch me again. Once this is all over, and once I get rid of this cursed magic inside me, I’m going to do whatever I want, and you won’t be there to stop me. I hope to never see you after this, Captain.”

    “You are impossible to reason with,” the captain said, nursing his hand. “Biting like an animal? Is that how little control you have over yourself?”

    “Believe me, I am controlling myself.” Misa’s fists shook. She didn’t know for how much longer she could keep herself from doing something stupid. “I’ll be taking my leave, then. Goodnight.”

    Fuming, Misa whirled around and stormed away from him. Min-Min trotted beside her after giving the captain a hostile hiss. The lights from the festival began to brighten the pathway. Misa halted and dropped the bag filled with the uniforms. She fought back tears. She wasn’t going to let the captain ruin her day, not after feeling so alive for the first time in a long while.

    “Come on, Min-Min.” Misa sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I’ll get you something to eat.”

    She found a nearby stall selling skewers and bought two sticks of cooked mutton. Grilled vegetables were sandwiched between the meat. The savory aroma reminded Misa that she hadn’t eaten much at the festival. Taking Min-Min out of the stall-owner’s sight, Misa pushed the skewered pieces off the wood and let them fall to the ground. Min-Min mewed and devoured the offering in hunger.

    Biting into her own skewer, Misa stood and leaned on the wall. She tried not to think of what had transpired with the captain but couldn’t help but wonder how she was going to get along with him for the duration of their mission.

    “Misa!” Torren’s voice carried over the music, which had quieted down as the night deepened. He waved at her from beyond a small cluster of people. Relief flooded into Misa, and she pushed off the wall to greet him.

    “Torren! Where were you?”

    He shrugged with a sheepish laugh. “Well, I bumped into a few of my old friends. I got a little too distracted. I’m sorry you had to wait for so long, but you weren’t where I’d left you.”

    Misa didn’t tell him about her return to the purgehouse and her bitter argument with the captain. “I was just getting Min-Min something to eat.”

    “Aha!” Torren crouched next to the cat when he noticed her. “So, you were the one to pull Misa away. Always the charmer, little fiend.” He gave Min-Min an affectionate rub, and the cat rolled on her back to give him better access to her belly. “She’s not what I thought a black omen would be like.”

    “We should turn in for the night,” Misa said, not in the mood for Torren’s quips. “I have cleaning duty early tomorrow.”

    Torren stood and dusted his hands. Min-Min purred against Misa’s leg before bounding away with her tail in the air.

    “Are you all right? You don’t seem to be in a festive vibe.”

    “I’m just tired.” Misa managed a smile. “I’m not used to walking around for so long.”

    “Of course.” Torren then puffed out his chest and offered his arm. “May I escort the lady to her residence then?”

    Allowing herself a small chuckle, Misa took his arm. “Fine, but just this once. I don’t know how else you can escort me when I won’t be a lady after tonight.”

    Grinning, Torren led them to the same tavern they had first entered to change. The tavernkeeper was much more amicable without seeing the uniforms—though he’d undoubtedly turn against them when he found out where they worked—and he was more than happy to lend a room to let them change out of their garments.

    Wearing the uniform again reminded Misa of the captain, and her mood dampened again. She was not keen to see him again. With a sigh, she bagged her dress and checked her reflection on the window to make sure her uniform was smooth. She had a tailor resize it, and though it fit her much better, she still reflected that she could never get used to the itchy material and stiff collar.

    “Ready to go?” Torren’s demeanor shifted with his clothes. Somehow, he felt more distant than he was at the festival, even with his constant jovial nature.

    Misa nodded. “Yes.” She found the same change in the way she spoke. How clothes could wire her to be so alert and aware of her position was beyond her. Was it possible that the uniforms were enchanted? She shook her head. Not likely, but it did explain why the captain always had a rod for a spine. Always being in his uniform must have turned him into a boring drudge who knew nothing of loosening up.

    “Let’s go, then,” Torren said, opening the door. “Back to the purgehouse.”

    Misa sighed, a little disappointed that she couldn’t spend more time at the festival. “It was a fun night, Torren. Thank you.”

    “Not a problem.” Torren winked. “Anything for my enchantress.”

    They made it back onto the streets, walking towards the darkness that bore none of the excitement and warmth the festival brought. Following Torren back to the purgehouse, Misa couldn’t help but think that her future was as dark as the shadows pooling the streets before her.