A Witches Heart

Chapter Extract

Their old red Volvo pulled up outside the rusty looking gate. The car was on the verge of collapsing with squeaky brakes and busted lights. The gate was no better, orange rust making the black paint peel, it creaked in the midnight breeze.

First out of the car was Lex. Athletic and strong she ran straight to the dent covered trunk of the car and pulled out a huge brown leather chest with big brass buckles. She tossed her sleek navy hair over her shoulder and unbuckled the locks pulling up the lid, a sad puff of air escaped.

Kian was next, tall and the same age as Lex, they saw each other as siblings. He grabbed two firearms and made sure he had enough spare ammunition attached to his belt that was buckled loosely around his waist, he looked to Robyn with a coy smile.

Robyn adjusted her fingerless leather gloves and floppy hat before pulling out her weapon of choice, a glistening small blade. She gave it a swing and it extended to reveal a sliver sword engraved with protection runes. She gave a sly half smile and held out her hand. Kian took it willingly and kissed her fingers. Lex grabbed her bow, bladed at both ends with the sharpest silver, and then tied her quiver full of arrows over her shoulder. Again, silver arrow heads, they worked best against witches. With the chest slammed shut and shoved back into the trunk of the car they stood before the gate.

Seth joined the trio and flicked the butt of smoke to the ground. He was the tallest, biggest, oldest, and in charge. He adjusted his knuckle duster and checked he had a couple of blades by his side. Two palm sized silver daggers.

Lex chewed a fresh stick of gum and Kian whistled a jovial tune to which Lex had to put her hand over his mouth to stop. All suited up they observed the house before them.

Tonight's battle was with one witch, she went by the name of Aris.

The team had uncovered her after a series of miss happenings in the village. She was a powerful sorceress who found pleasure when summoning demons from the darkest parts of any realm. But tonight's battle was different.

The gate swung slowly open with an eerie creak and the four hunters proceeded to the door. The house before them wasn't as grand a mansion but it was big with three floors, a multitude of broken windows and what looked to be a once lavish garden in the back. This witch could be anywhere. Robyn went to push the door but the magic binding it quickly burned her fingertips.
"Bloody witch's magic," she said under her breath as she pulled her sword from the scabbard at her waist. With her gloved hand she spun her blade around in her hand and flicked her long ginger braid over her shoulder to lie flat against the black crow she had tattooed on her back.
She walked around to find a window safe enough to enter or crack in the wooden walls. She came back round "nothing I can see; do we have any holy water?"
"Nope, but..." Lex started before she ran back to the trunk and came back with a vial of red liquid. "Purified lambs' blood!" she pulled out the cork with her teeth and splashed the blood over the door and surrounding areas. There was a smell of burning wood and melting paint and the air became bitter to taste but dispersed, as did the doors spell. With a mighty push, they stepped through into the unknown.
"No lights, no flaming torches just a dark corridor. My favourite!" Kian cried "oh look, and creepy looking stairs!" he huffed and placed a hand over his firearm as security.
The hunters walked down the hallway making observations. Paintings in expensive frames adorned the walls though most of the picture had been eaten by moths and years of abandonment. The rug beneath them flat and stiff from years of use, it threw up dust with every step. Robyn looked at one of the paintings, she made out a boy, no older than 7 standing next to, who she assumed to be, his fathers' feet. A wave of sadness washed over her, what happened to these people? Kian took her hand in support and she kissed his cheek. Seth rolled his eyes and barked out commands.
"Split up. Lex you're with me, we go up. Kian and Robyn you two can stay down here, remember don't mess with anything. We're just here for Aris". The four hunters agreed and went off in their pairs.