The Magician's Witch

The Abyss Stares Back

The man who attacked Eilis was found in a heap beneath the balcony of his room the day after the night of the party; in a fit of torment, he had tossed himself over the ledge, smacking into the pavement below.

Rumors spread about the demise of the lowly social climber. The gossip was that he had contracted brain fever which had left him a whimpering, mumbling shell. It had come on so suddenly, they said—one minute he was the picture of health, the next minute he was barely coherent, babbling nonsense. Only when someone stopped to listen to his mad ramblings did one hear what he was actually saying—The witch cursed me.

The man's violent end was a warning, to be sure. But for whom, only one man knew.

When news of the intruder's death reached Erik and Eilis, Eilis just shrugged.

"No one mourns the wicked," she had concluded mildly.

Erik eyed her warily. "It is like no other sensation, taking a life."

Eilis turned away from the window she had been looking out of—she had been watching the leaves float to the ground, dancing in a poignant last performance before the earth claimed them.

"You felt no remorse for the man who tried to assault you all those years ago," she pointed out. "I feel no remorse for this man either, and he attempted the same thing. Wherever his soul ends up, I hope it receives a good scrub—I reckon it needs it, after all the ugly things he did in life."

Erik came up to her, taking her in his arms. He cupped her face. "I do not deny your ability to defend yourself. You are a fierce fighter when you need to be. Just—please—do not end up like me. I do not want you joining me in the river of blood that threatens to drown me in my nightmares."

Eilis' eyes softened. She reached up, kissing him. "I promise," she murmured when she pulled away.

The whole palace knew that Erik and Eilis were lovers now. The rumors about them spread faster than lightning.

Laleh and Bakhita informed Eilis of how every woman in the harem had a different assumption about her romance with the notorious magician. Some thought that Erik had taken her by force, while others believed that she had cursed him to worship her. Eilis had to giggle at that one.

What was more, the Khanum was in a foul mood and had resorted to taking her frustrations out on the girls.

One morning, Eilis caught Bakhita by the wrist, at which the girl yelped and tried to pull away. Eilis rolled up the girl's sleeve to reveal an ugly, blistering burn.

"She did this to you," Eilis seethed.

Bakhita gritted her teeth. "I've had worse from her."

Eilis was appalled. She touched the girl's arm and the angry blisters shrank until they were barely noticeable.

"Why did she do this," she asked quietly, trying to control the tremor of anger in her voice.

"She is jealous of you," Bakhita stated in a frank tone. "She is mad because she can't have what you have...or rather who."

She nodded towards Erik who was studiously ignoring the conversation, his head deep in his journal as he scratched away at his notes.

Eilis scowled.

"I would love to give her a dose of her own medicine."

They were called to a brief meeting with the Shah the day following that tumultuous Halloween night.

Eilis noted immediately the drastic change in the Shah's demeanor towards her. Perhaps the Shah, having seen the damage Eilis had done to her would-be assailant, had given him a new perspective on what she was capable of. Regardless, he did not greet her as enthusiastically as he had previously.