...Walked with you once upon a dream...

Pt. 22

Several days had passed, Jacques's wounds had healed and you were waiting for the right time to exercise your plan. Jacques had retreated and shut himself away in his chamber. The servants had left food on little trays and carts by his door. Most of the time, the food was left untouched. He was CLEARLY depressed.

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At your estate, night had fallen, making everyone turn in for the night. After a couple hours, you gathered some old hair pins and started to pick your bedroom door lock. It took you about nine attempts, but the tenth was lucky. You tiptoed down the hall and QUIETLY exited through the door for the servants in the back. Outside, you lit a tiny lantern and quietly walked to the stables. You prepared a horse for riding and then walked it to the road to avoid commotion. As you reached the road, you hopped on it's back and took off into the night.

As you made it further down the road, you transitioned the horse from running into a simple walk. From there on, you pondered if you were making a good choice to to do this. About a couple more miles down the road, you saw your destination. It was a little hut with a lantern by the door and firelight glowing through the windows.

You stopped your horse then continued. Still a little hesitant about what you were going to to. Slowly, you rode up to the little hut, slid off the horse and tied the reigns onto a tree. You walked up to the door and slowly knocked. No answer. Next time, you knocked a little harder. You heard footsteps on the inside and then the door opened.

A woman of your height and not much older, stood in front of you. She had black around her eyes and hair in a long, messy, updo.  ''I knew you'd come,'' she said as she opened the door more to let you in. As you walked in, there were animals and other objects hanging from the ceiling.

She led you over to a table were you two could talk.

''Your lover GREATLY misses you, his soul cries everyday,'' she suddenly blurted.

You were VERY confused. Your expression said it all.

''I met him a week ago to help with his wounds. He is alive and well. I hope that put's your mind at rest,'' she added. You let out a sigh of relief. That was indeed hanging heavy on your mind.

''How do you know some of this?'' you asked.

She gently grabbed your hands. ''I have the gift of sight and sound. I can see things and hear things that most people cannot. I know why you have come too,'' she said.

''What have you surmised?'' You asked with some curiosity.

''Your soul cries out too. Two parts to a whole that keep being separated. I heard it speak as you were coming towards my hut,'' she elaborated.

You couldn't argue with that. Since your 'forced' separation, you have been miserable. Then to find out that Jacques was miserable as well made you worry. The witch could hear the concern in your mind.

She slowly stood up and walked to a little desk and pulled out the drawer. Her hand grasped onto an object, then closed the drawer. She walked back towards you and sat back down in front of you.

''This is what you came for,'' she said as she opened her hand and revealed a tiny bottle.

You were stunned. ''How did you?'' you said speechless.

''I head your thought's and saw your dream's,'' she explained. ''I also saw how you have been treated physically and emotionally,'' she added.

It was quiet for a few moments as you looked at the bottle in the witch's hand. Your mind was at war again, but then Jacques appeared in your mind and everything became clear.

''Your lover's contribution to my service's made purchasing the ingredients possible, so in a way, he created this too....all it needs is something from you,'' the witch explained.

''How so?'' you asked.

''This is blood magic. This needs a contribution from you,'' she said as she opened the tiny bottle and held it to you. ''It needs a taste of you,'' she said handing you as knife.

You took the knife and sliced your fingertip and held it over the bottle. Two blood drops fell into the bottle as the liquid lit up and bubbled, then went back to normal.

She then handed you the tiny bottle as you handed her a bag of gold. Before you got up, she told you one more detail. ''There will be no pain or suffering. This will ONLY take effect when the subject is asleep.''

You gave a nod as you stood up. You turned to thank her, but did not know her name. She heard your thoughts and spoke. ''My name is Theodora, but in these parts I'm called the Queen of the Under levels.''

''That sounds kind of cruel,'' you thought.

''Often, we are commonly known by the name's our enemies give us,'' Theodora said as she heard your mind.

You thanked her again and she spoke,''Remember, that is tasteless as water and there will be NO suffering.'' You nodded as you thanked her again and went out the door.

As you untied and hopped on your horse, you began the journey back down the road to your estate. You felt the tiny bottle in your dress pocket. Your finger's fumbled over the glass as you were in thought. You would be a murderer after this. Would you be forgiven by God? All these questions popped up In your head on the ride back.

Upon returning, you quietly returned the horse to the stables and quietly snuck back into your room. You even re locked the door so you wouldn't raise suspicions.

You re dressed for bed and stared at the canopy thinking of ways to do this. When you finally came up with an idea, you decided to roll over and call it a night. If ONLY sleep would come! This is where Jacques's big, warm, body would be handy.

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Jacques couldn't succumb to sleep either. He had been awake for four straight days. Some crying has been involved too. His eye's were darkened along with some red on the outside. He didn't bathe and even let his hair go kind of wild. It was only at shoulder length. Through the grunge, it still kept it's shine!

The ONLY thing Jacques did ask for was a razor. This alarmed some of the staff and some were hesitant to hand it over incase of suicide! In reality though, it was just for facial hair. He shaved it all off without a mirror. Not caring at all if he cut his face.

He punished himself for failing you.