The Gamma's Dark Witch

45- Identities Unveiled

(Nisha)

My stomach dropped; it curled and twisted in on itself.

What was she saying?

I didn’t understand. You can’t run from a purpose destiny. What I was doing now, the end goal after all this searching... I was trying to get back to my sisters.

“Why?” Cameron asked for me.

“That sun witch is more dangerous than anything you’ll come across.”

“But not to me-” I started.

Her blazing eyes met mine. “Yes, even to you, girl.” I balked; I had so many questions, but she continued on. “You were looking for answers my husband has, but I don’t. I told you he’s not here-”

“But you let us in,” Cameron cut her off, “Why?”

“Curiosity…” The woman waved the knife.

“Jealousy?” Cameron asked, and I gaped at him.

The woman’s eyes turned fiery, and she stalked toward Cameron with the knife in hand, but he didn’t even flinch. He held her stare with his unwavering confidence and resolve. I admired him for that more than anything.

“I’m not saying you’re jealous of another woman,” Cameron explained. “I’m saying you want to know what your husband has been up to, and by the sounds of it, Soleil and him know each other. So you want to know what Nisha knows.” Cameron motioned to me.

Her lips thinned, and one of her eyes twitched. She turned her back on him and hobbled back to the kitchen.

“I was beautiful,” she whispered. “I still kept up appearances until recently. I tried to be good enough, not good really always, but who is?” she sighed. The sounds of chopping resumed, Cameron and I sat motionless in the firelight. “I’m old, I’m tired. I’ve done enough for this earth, I’ve satiated my curiosities, I just wanted to exist in peace, and I thought he did too.” She let out an ancient sigh/

“But then why did he leave? For a new challenge? More power? We agreed to live the rest of our lives here, but that wasn’t enough for him. A few years in, and he’s itching to go.” her voice softened, and sadness edged the borders.

“Have you ever lived separately before?” I asked softly.

“Of course, we have, sometimes for years, especially when we were younger and had separate projects. It wasn’t feasible for us to be together the entire time.”

“So, what’s different now? Because you agreed to settle down?”

The woman hobbled back over and sat at the edge of the chair she previously inhabited. “I thought he might come back, but I don’t want him.” There was an edge to her voice, but it wasn’t anger, more of a painful resolve. “Even if he wanted to, I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

“There was something we agreed on, something to keep a check of power in this world. It was his idea, actually; he planted the idea in others' minds and then let them do the dirty work.” A whisper of a smile crossed her face. “It was a powerful thing, really, and when it shattered, the pieces were scattered around this world. My El took a piece here and helped move others around to ensure that that thing that could wield that power could never work. He only hinted, even to me, of their whereabouts.”

“Do you still have that piece?” Cameron leaned forward and asked.

The woman’s face darkened. “That’s how I know it's truly over. That’s how I know he has truly turned. He’s not the Elred I knew. He’s not my husband,” she spat.

“Someone took it?” I echoed.

“There are only two people in this world who know how to get into this house without being invited.” She looked at Cameron. “I know who sent you, by the way.”

“I thought as much,” Cameron responded.

“How?” I couldn’t help asking.

“The word I used,” Cameron explained, glancing at me. When his forest green eyes flickered at me, I inhaled, and my stomach fluttered. Not the time, not the time, not the time.

“Very good, pup,” The woman commended. “We gave out words to trusted people who needed to find us or have small jobs done. Each of them has a different one, so if they send someone to us that tries anything. Well…” The woman shrugged, but there was a wicked glint in her eye.

“She must have trusted you,” I said to Cameron. "The woman at the inn."

He rubbed his jaw, nodding, but he seemed confused.

“But there is only one other person besides me who could have gotten into here. That word only alerts us to their presence. You couldn’t have walked into that clearing if you tried.”

“Impressive,” Cameron said, and she nodded.

“Up until a few months ago, I didn’t think that he would have ever told anyone that secret, even upon his death, even through t.orture.” Her eyes glistened. “I didn’t think there was any way he would ever tell anyone a piece was here. Hidden. It was his idea…” she trailed off, her mind going far away.

“Well.” She put her hands on her legs and took a deep breath. “Hard to get over a century's worth of decent memories in a few months.”

I felt so bad for her, and I couldn’t wrap my mind around someone changing so completely, that rejection, that sting of not knowing why. “I can’t imagine that,” I said, swallowing.

We all sat in silence for a few long moments.

Cameron leaned forward. “Your husband told someone how to get in here? To steal it?” The woman nodded. “And they did?” She nodded again.

“When?” I asked.

“A few days ago,” she responded, “he’s not my husband anymore. What he is about to unleash on this world, well. I don’t know why. I don’t know what he got for it or what was promised to him. Nothing would justify it. Nothing. He changed-” her voice broke, and she sounded young and wistful and broken.

“I don’t know you. I wouldn’t be telling you this. Especially not you.” She pinned her stare on me, and it sent my shadows out in front of me, trying to protect me.

I reeled them back in. “Sorry, they’re protective,” I explained. The woman only nodded distantly. “Why are you telling us now?” I asked, trying to get her back on topic.

“Because it doesn’t matter, it’s all over. It doesn’t matter anymore…” The woman trailed off.

We all sat in silence for a while. The only sound was the popping of the fireplace and the distant muted birds singing each other to sleep.

“Tell me, Nisha.” The woman turned to me. “How was he when you saw him?”

“W-who?” I stammered, “I’ve never met an Eldren,” I promised.

She shook her head so slightly I thought I imagined it. “That’s not the name he would go by down South; that's his true name. He would have gone by Ezowny.”