Ava

4 - The Old Witch

A deafening growl echoed through walls and every corner of the palace’s capital. Then with a snarl, the master drove his sword into one of the Peace Keeper’s neck. Then he growled some more as he twisted it into the poor creature while the latter gurgled. Hanging upon the master’s sword, a blackish fluid began flowing down from his mouth to his neck as well as the blade.

“This is what will happen to all of you if you keep on failing me!!!” The master shouted angrily before suddenly yanking his sword, a gush of black fluid splattering all over the place while the dead body clattered to the floor.

The other Peace Keepers stood still and pale. They may be void of emotions but all of them knew that only their master can make them feel intolerable pain and kill them in agony. One of his trusted servants, a general for the Peace Keepers Army, was standing in the corner. He was also trying his best to swallow his fears as he witnessed how his master kill those poor Peace Keepers because of his anger. His eyes slowly followed his master’s movements as he went back up and sat on his throne. He was afraid that he’d hurt him too. Ever since they took over this place 20 years ago, the grand halls of the palace mostly stood empty as their master had only awaken a few days ago. But he specifically instructed them to prepare this throne room for him to become his own chamber. A room that can be mistaken as a paradise of gold, silver, precious stones and all of the treasures that they have plundered from around the whole continent.

“Giles!” The master called out for him and the servant stood frozen for a moment before he steeled himself.

Taking a deep breath, he walked a few feet closer before taking a bow. “Master.”

The master spoke without really turning towards him, he could not see his face. He was just seated there and Giles knew his mind is already running around somewhere. Suddenly, he turned to him. Giles eyes widened in fear as he stared at him coldly, a stare as sharp and bloodthirsty as his blade.

“You let my puppet slip away.” He said sternly.

His master then stood up mightily, with all his glory. You wouldn’t believe that he’s someone who have lived through many long years. He is still looked good and young despite his age. His dark hair was long and neatly tied, his shoulders were still wide and strong. His strength shone not from his armor or magical abilities, but from the thinness of his lips and the hardness of his face, his overall domineering aura. Anyone who sees him wouldn’t want to make him their enemy. Especially now that after a few more things, his master will truly become immortal, something that he had always dreamed of. 

Giles couldn’t speak nor utter a single word. His throat constricted and terror pounded through him. He wasn’t actually weak. In fact, he’s a very good general, well trained in battle and a smart servant. However, there were none that he feared more than his master. And at this moment, he knew that his master wouldn’t accept any explanation. So he just lowered his head and nodded silently.

“I’m sorry, master.” He finally said softly.

The master turned away, his jaw clenching in anger. Muscles ripping, he pulled out a dagger and threw it towards his servant, making a huge cut on his left face. Then it struck a Peace Keeper behind him straight on the forehead, the latter falling to the ground helplessly.

“I have specifically told you that he needs to die!” The master glared and hissed. Giles held on his breath for a while, knowing that he almost died. “I gave you all a chance for eternal glory but you all failed me! First, you let my puppet slip between your watch then now you let him slip between your fingers! Not just once but twice!”

Giles immediately drop to his knees and bowed. “Master! Please! I will find him! I promise to find him and execute your order! I just need more time. I need more Peace Keepers. We will surely find him-“ 

“Enough!” The master growled and they all shivered. “Thousands of Peace Keepers, Giles! Thousands! He defeated all of them in a single combat!!! Do you really think more Peace keepers will be able to stop him this time?!”

His servant is smart and he knew right away what he meant. His master is right; the number of Peace Keepers won’t be able to stop him even if he brings thousands more.

“We used to be weak and hunted.” The master continued. “Remember how I raised you from the dead, Giles?”

The memory of how his master gave him his second life all came back to him. This is the very reason why he followed him and his orders. If it was not for his master, he wouldn’t be able to come back to life and take his revenge against all those magical creatures who killed his family.

“We used to grovel before the whole continent and they would hunt us all down.” The master continued. “They would relish our blood and reduced us to a quivering few. They butchered us all like our lives didn’t matter just because we were different from them and did not want to be like them. And now that we have the upper hand, would you really keep on throwing it away by failing every single time?”

“No, master. Just give me one last chance. I will surely find him and execute him at once.” Giles answered right away.

The master gave a choked laugh. “Will you now? Will you really, Giles?”

Giles eyes widened as his master walked towards him. He also got down in front of him and slowly wiped the blackish fluid flowing from the cut on his cheek. 

“Didn’t you let him slip away on purpose?” The master asked and Giles’ eyes widened in shock.

How did he know? He thought. 

“I…I didn’t-“ Giles denied but was immediately stabbed on his neck, his blackish blood splattering on the master’s face. 

Shock and disbelief consumed everyone as they witnessed the scene before them. Giles, after all, was one of the best generals they have.

“You know very well that what I hate most are traitors.” The master added as he shoved more of the dagger inside his servant’s neck. “I thought that your loyalty now belongs to me after I did everything to bring you back to life. But I was wrong, Giles. You call me master but failed to prove it. Because your true colors are now showing. You are also a traitor, just like him. You both are traitors to our kind and that is unforgivable.”

“Mas-“ Giles tried to speak once more, tears filled his eyes but in a split of a second, he was slashed in the neck by the master, killing him instantly.

The master then stood staring, and his eyes held no compassion of what he did at all.

“See what happens when you don’t follow my orders.” He then declared like nothing happened before turning to the other servants at the corner. “Clean everything up and make sure to inform me once you find my puppet. And you all leave me alone.”

The servants immediately moved to follow his order, scurrying away as they did, leaving him behind. 

“You didn’t have to kill the poor guy.” A sweet voice said as she appeared from the shadows in the corner.

“You don’t have the right to question me, old witch!” The master hissed and the woman standing before him laughed like a maniac.

"Be careful of words, old friend. You don’t want me as your enemy.” The woman sneered as her eyes trailed the master who was wiping his dagger with his pants.

“Sephora. Sephora.” The master said softly before going in front of the witch. “After thousands of years working with me, do you still think I will be bothered by your empty threats? You know very well that I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you now and drain you next to Giles.”

The witch laughed playfully before halting with a twitch on her lips.

“You need me, Master.” She said confidently with a mocking expression. “If you kill me, then you wouldn’t be able to achieve the immortality that you have longed for.”

Then she proceeded on walking slowly around the master, encircling him.

“Without me, you will not become like him.” Sephora added and seeing how his expression dimmed, she gave him a victorious smile. 

“I don’t want to be like him.” The master answered sternly and the witch chuckled.

“Really?” Sephora continued. “I know your deepest desires-“

But before she can finish, the master suddenly grabbed her by the neck and pinned her to the wall. “Stop mocking me or I will now hesitate to snap this pretty neck of yours. I can find some other witches who can help me with my plans.”

“You…wouldn’t…find…anyone…as good…as me.” Sephora answered as she struggled to breath, her face becoming paler as seconds passes by.

“Sh*t!” The master cussed before releasing her.

The witch helplessly coughed on the ground before turning to him. “You, ambitious monster!”

“Shut up and tell me the answers to my questions now and leave.” He said instead.

Sephora just held on her neck and steadied her breathing before eventually standing up.

“You said he’s never be able to recover his memories after failing twice!!!” The master hissed angrily.

“And that’s the truth!” Sephora answered.

“Liar!” The master snarled. “If it is, then how is he able to defeat thousands of my Peace Keepers all at once??? Doesn’t that mean that he remembered something?”

“He only lost his memories but not his powers and abilities.” Sephora replied which earned her a deadly glare from the master. “What?! Don’t tell me you didn’t realize that??? No matter what you do to suppress him, he is still the-“

“He is just my puppet! Someone who does everything that I wanted him to do!!!” The master interrupted.

“Fine! You don’t need to yell at me!” The witch yelled back and crossed her arms on her chest. 

“Just tell me the answers on how I can defeat him and leave me alone.” The master said afterwards. 

“You should be able to kill him before the next red moon, when the moon completely enters the continent’s shadow. If you fail, then it will be too late.” Sephora said which made the master glare at her.

“You’re only telling me this now? It is only 13 full moons left before the next total lunar eclipse, i***t!!!” The master jeered at her.

“It took me some time to get through the passage.” The witch answered. “You still have a lot of time.”

“Not enough. Especially not now. He’s powers are stronger and I can somehow feel it in me.” The master commented.

“If what you tell me is true then that means that somehow, he already knew of his capabilities and it will be more dangerous to just try and catch him. He may not remember anything but still, he is capable and powerful.” Sephora replied.

“Then what do you suggest?” The master queried.

“We have to find his weakness. Only then can we get an upper hand.” She answered and smirked.

“Weakness.” The master repeated softly. “Interesting.”

“It is.” She said before walking towards the master, encircling his arms around his neck.

“How do you suggest we do that?” The master asked once more.

“Aren’t you just stupid?” Sephora asked back, looking at him all knowingly.

“What do you mean?” The master asked.

“For twice the occasion that he used his powers, he was saving someone.” Sephora responded. “A woman.”

“A woman. Oh, yes. Indeed.” The master replied and smirked knowing what she meant.

“Take the woman, master. And then, he is all yours.” Sephora said and smiled cunningly.

“I like you better like this, old witch. Wicked and cunning.” The master commented, brushing his b****y hand on her cheek.

“Stop calling me that. I’m not old.” She pouted, earning a smirk from the master.

It is indeed true. Even though she’s lived for thousands of years, her beauty and youth remained the same.

“How many have you killed to remain enchantingly beautiful?” The master asked curiously.

“Just enough to make you want me.” Sephora answered and the master chuckled darkly.

“Oh, for sure. I want you.” He said.

“Twenty years you were asleep.” Sephora said and seductively looked at him. “If you really want me, show me.”

And so suddenly the master crashed his lips on hers.

That’s it, Sephora. I can kill him now. She thought, snarling inside. I can use my magic to end him quickly and this whole empire will be mine. He will be the one to bleed and not me.

But Sephora knew better. She knows this person held the empire together. He was the pillar of this realm, at least for now. If he dies today, this whole continent will burn. She would eventually replace him someday. She just needs to be more patient. The time for her to pluck her fruit of power has not yet come.

Someday.

***