Enchanter

Chapter 12

Even in the darkness of the moonlight forest Alice Colt's blonde hair shined. There was, however a difference in everything else about her. As she stared down Cas, crossbow in hand, she was cold, contemplative, and focused. She looked at Cas confused, "Caleb?" She dropped her crossbow and ran up to him, giving him a long hug. "I haven't seen you, I thought you were dead." She held him tighter.

"I know, but what are you doing here." Cas let go, "this isn't anywhere near New York."

At that moment Eli's eyes shot open glowing gold as he had thrust open his hand. Between Alice and Cas a mandala formed pushing Alice back into a tree. Then with the same agility several mandalas formed around the tree, creating a cage around Alice.

"Eli," Cas turned to see him stand up. "Let her go," his eyes flashed green.

"I can't and I won't." Eli stood his ground staring back at Cas, neither one was backing down.

"Why," Cas was angry, "Why won't you let me be with her."

"She is a witch hunter just look at her." Eli pointed to where Alice was. She was calm sitting by the trunk of the tree, waiting with contemplation.

"I should have seen it," Alice said. "All the signs were there, but I was too blind. Father would be ashamed to see me this way." Alice sighed, "I should have just shot you where you stood."

"You're father," Cas was shocked. Alice was his best friend, and even perhaps his first love. Not only did he like Alice, but her father was the only father figure in his life for so long.

"Yes, my father," She raised her arm and looked at her butterfly tattoo, "The 'witch hunter' lifestyle runs in the family." She spat the words witch hunter like they angered them.

"You seem rather upset," Eli said triumphantly.

"As a matter of fact yes," said Alice, "We don't just hunt witches. In order to demonstrate the fact we can kill your pray without magic, gives us the justification to hunt you down without remorse."

"So what you'd rather just be called a hunter?" said Eli.

"No," she looked at Eli, "I prefer slayer."

"Well then, slayer," said Eli. "By the time those mandalas go down we'll be long gone and good luck finding us because it won't happen." Eli began to walk away, "Cas, let's go."

He walked up to Eli, "I need a moment." He saw the way his mentor looked at him. "Please, I just need a minute."

Eli grimaced, "Fine, I'll be waiting over there." Before Cas could thank him he walked away.

Cas began to walk up to Alice when she said, "Cas, that's quiet the interesting name." She paused for a minute, "It almost sounds familiar." She shrugged her shoulders as if she didn't care. "So I'm guessing that's your mentor. He seems very wise, but also very respectful. He probably has a defender title I can't see him with a keeper, way too beneath him."

Cas didn't show any emotion while she talked, this wasn't his Alice. "You lied to me this whole entire time."

"I don't know what you talking ab-"

"Just stop it!" Cas calmed himself, "Please tell me the truth, I deserve that much."

She took in a breath, "Fine, what do you want to know?"

"How long," Cas stared at him, "How long did you know that I was with magic? Was everything that we had together a lie?"

"Caleb," she said, "Believe me when I say that I never knew, no one can tell until the age of seventeen." Her face softened, she was the Alice that Cas knew.