The Enchantress

Chapter One

The road seemed to stretch on forever as Evelyn pulled her cloak tighter around her face in a futile attempt to escape the downpour of rain that drenched both her and her mount. The sleek black horse snorted in irritation, clearly ready to find a warm dry stable where he could rest his hooves. Evelyn agreed, this adventure of their was becoming a nightmare. She had thought the rains of Acacia were bad, but they didn't compare to the cold autumn downpours of Westeri. So far her adventure was turning into a cold, wet, drab mess. For a moment she wondered if she wouldn't have been better off staying with Snow and Damian for the winter. No doubt they would winter in Acacia and spend the spring and summer months in Aurine.

The road to Westeri was no friendlier than the weather, muddy and washed out in some places and rocky and treacherous in others. One slipped hoof could be the end of her mount and a long painful walk for the former queen. Her horse crested a hill in the road and she could faintly make out spires through the sheets of rain reaching over the treetops in the distance and she breathed a sigh of relief. She would have a stable for her horse and a hearth to warm herself by before continuing on.

Any trepidation she felt at the dense dark forest ahead was washed away in the rain, replaced by the desire for a warm meal and dry clothes as she nudged her horse onward. She was grateful for her horse's keen senses, otherwise traversing the narrow cart path through the dense trees would have been virtually impossible. The storm clouds overhead blocked out any source of light and made getting her bearings a nearly impossible task. She instantly decided her next adventure would be someplace warm and dry, like the eastern sands of Sestora.

A distant howl shook her from her thoughts and made her blood run cold, followed by several more in answer; wolves. That was the last thing she needed. She could defend herself with her magic, but her horse would be the one to suffer, and between the darkness and rain it would make hitting a target that much more difficult. She dug her heels into her horse's side, urging it into a gallop as she clung low to the animal's neck to avoid the low hanging branches that whizzed overhead.

Another howl, this time closer. She could hear her horse's rhythmic breaths as the creature charged through the forest at a blinding speed, the rain turning into icy daggers that stung her skin. A faint glow slowly came into view through the trees and she nudged her horse again, urging the creature faster toward the only hope they had in sight; the glow of lanterns reflecting from within the massive estate through open windows. It seemed her surprise host was having a party. She hoped one more guest wouldn't be an intrusion as the massive iron gates came into view.

The distant howls retreated back into the distance, giving up on their pursuit in hopes of finding easier prey as she pulled her horse to a halt, both of them breathing heavily. She was soaked to the bone, and the rain showed no signs of stopping any time soon. Dismounting, she led her horse to the stable a short distance across the well-manicured courtyard and tied the creature, deciding to seek out her host before tending to her mount.

Ivory steps led up to two large oak doors, giant lion's head knockers cast in iron sat parallel to each other and she reached for one, hopping her rapping would be heard over the music and conversation within. She pulled her hood tighter around her, her silver hair clinging to the front of her cloak.

After a moment the door swung open, a laughing young man no more than twenty appearing in the doorway. She could only assume he was the master of the estate, judging by the haughty twist to his expression as he looked her over and laughed again. "A beggar at this hour? Be gone with you, old woman. I have no charity today." He sneered, starting to close the door, but Evelyn placed her hand on the oak, hoping to seek at least a dry cloak to continue her journey. Before she could even ask, his face twisted in anger. "How dare you! Get your filthy hands off of there." He hissed, shoving her roughly and catching her off guard as she lost her balance and tumbled to the ground.

His expression shifted from fury to fear as her hood slipped back, her angry golden eyes glaring up at him as she got to her feet. He backed away as she trudged inside, intent on ensuring his guests were privy to the rest of their conversation. "Is this how you treat someone who seeks shelter? How you treat those deemed beneath you?" She asked, a righteous anger boiling within her and dripping from her every word.

"Forgive me, I didn't know-" he began, but she cut him off as the entire room went quiet, all eyes turning to the young nobleman and the enchantress who was slowly encroaching on him.

"Know who you were speaking to? Neither did I, apparently. So I shall leave you, and you guests who are guilty by proximity, with this parting gift. That all may see you for what you truly are." Evelyn raised her hands as she summoned her magic to her, the glimmering gold light engulfed her before snaking out to ensnare first the nobleman and then his guests. His body twisted and contorted, his fine clothing ripping under the strain as he slowly morphed into a beastly cross between man and wolf.

He stared down at his shaking claws, trembling under her gaze. "No, please. You can't do this." His voice was deeper, more of a snarling growl than a man's pleas for mercy.

"I give you one last piece of beauty in this forsaken place." Evelyn began, pulling a beautiful red rose from within her cloak and placing it on the ground at his feet. "When the last petal falls, the curse will be sealed. I suggest you learn to find kindness in your heart, to love another over yourself. It is the only way you will be free of it." Turning on her heel, she snatched a dry cloak from the coat rack and stepped back into the darkness, slamming the door behind her.

The creature within the walls raged with a snarling growl, and she could hear objects shattering against walls and drapes being ripped to shreds as she swung back into the saddle and turned her horse to the iron gates. The rain had finally ceased, she would continue on and hopefully find someplace, anyplace, that would be more hospitable and welcoming than her first attempt at shelter. Tucking her silver hair into the hood of her fresh cloak, she nudged her horse's sides and continued on down the path that wound through the woods, the moonlight illuminating the path ahead of her as she rode.