A Witch's Tale

Chapter 1

Witches, they called them. They even burned the symbol of the witch in their skin, so even if they ran, people would know. It was true that the three of them had a power normal people did not possess, however the word 'witch' was such a broad term to these humans. Any person of science was a witch if they didn't make sense to the masses. Women who could heal others with herbs instead of a doctor's medicine were witches. Fortune tellers, gypsies, crazies who talked to themselves, all of them were witches. However, her family fit the word to a T. Women of the old way were taught the ways of magic to survive their surroundings. People in the deserts learned the rain dance, for example, it was kind of like learning a trade.

Their ancestors survived in the forest so they learned how to connect their minds with animals. However, a few generations ago, the covens, as people referred to them as, was wiped out for the most part. Mama's great grandmother found her way to this fisherman's port and started a new trade: Controlling the weather and sea. It was a hard magic to learn from what was she was used to, but slowly the new trade was passed down to them. If it was up to Taliana and their mother, their ancestors' magic would have been long ago forgotten. That didn't sit well with Malanishka. She spent the better part of her days in the forest, reading from her great grandmother's books: Learning magic made more sense to her than trying to get along with those tools of people down below.

Breathe, in and out, in and out. She couldn't lose her temper again. Last time Malanishka got angry around those people, it was her mother who was punished. She at no time wanted to see that again. Her mother was a soft-spoken woman who was always quick to smile. It never made sense why her mama would be so nice to people who belittled her so quickly and always took from her. Just the thought made Malanishka grit her teeth. Her nails dug into the back of her legs, pulling her thighs closer to her chest. In and out, in and out. She was afraid if she moved around too much, she would draw the man's attention. So, she sat, for the most part, deathly still in the corner. Her metallic eyes were dull as she watched her mother smile while the man made his leave without the bit of thanks. It was as if it was expected of them.

"Mala, you can come out now. Sitting in the corner all day is no way to celebrate your birthday you know?" Her mother teased. Malanishka rolled onto her feet, a dim smile appearing through her melancholy face. "Don't give me that, Tala will be back any minute now with some sweets to celebrate and I want you to be happy about it. I went through a lot of trouble to get my hands on these you know?" Her mother chided. Malanishka looked down, embarrassed at her own attitude of things. She knew how hard it was for people like them to get a hold of something people deemed luxuries. They didn't like people coming into their stores that they considered, dirty, and witches were the greatest filth to them. They were less than slaves and beggars.

She tried to force a smile that was worthy of even the richest of children before throwing her arms around her mama in a warm embrace. It was hard; she didn't know how her mother and Tala could do it. Smiling knowing what they had to go through to get things was difficult. Letting her mother go so she could thoroughly enjoy the smile, Malanishka rubbed her hand against the ribbon that wrapped around her opposite wrist. Dirty witch. The thought of the man who burned her came to mind every time she felt the scar. It was also on her birthday, so many years ago.

Her mother frowned but was interrupted by the cheerful sound of Taliana coming through the door. "Mama I'm home! Mishka, come here, look what we got for your birthday!" She hummed in a cheery tone. Malanishka turned around at her sister's nickname for her. Mama said that Taliana couldn't pronounce Malanishka's name at first so she just started calling her Mishka. The name stuck. "Hurry up or I'm going to eat them all by myself." She huffed in a teasing manner.