The Witch's Love ( Book I of The Witch Duology )

Chapter Three: Vindictive

    Shelter Forest quite abruptly ends to a clearing after which one can see the glimpses of civilization. Misthaven is a village in name only. It would rather be called an 'expanded colony' with only twelve or fourteen scattered houses and an almost vacant market place. It was the first time I arrived here.
    Irina lived here alone after the death of her father seven months ago; her mother had already died years ago. She did not hint anything, but I felt-from the aberrant way she spoke-it was on that same day of chaos on which I lost my family too.
    I could not see more than some seven or eight people as we followed her to her house.
    It was a two storied, wooden one with gables; meticulously designed and maintained.
    "Where are you going to stay?" She asked as she opened the door.
    James and I looked at each other.
    "Do you know anyone nicknamed Alfred?" I asked.
    Irina smiled broadly, "Oh yeah. The one living on the opposite house's backside. He is a very sweet person."
    Her words almost escaped my senses, my eyes were fixed on her smile-I felt both mesmerized and uncanny as I recognized it.
    James was blabbering something to her and then they were both laughing. I was frozen. I knew this coming and it was not surprising, but I regretted that the intuition I experienced when I first heard her speak in the forest was right.
    "Chris?" James was elbowing me, "What?"
    I looked at him, then at her. Both were staring at me, probably waiting for a reaction to their joke.
    "I...I think we should leave now." I mumbled and started to turn.
    "You both have some business out here?" Irina cut off the budding action with her casual question.
    James opened his mouth to speak but I overtook him, "Transfer some property deed."
    She seemed interested, "Oh. How many days will you stay?"
    I looked her in the eye coldly, "As many days as we need to."
    I grabbed James's arm and pulled him away along with me before Irina could ask any further questions.
    Later, I realized my action was quite rude, just like the truth itself.

    Alfred's house was dilapidated and cold. He was a secret worker for the church and an expert of his job. I wondered how Irina's reality did not hit him. Alfred, as I have heard, had never failed in his job until... I don't think I should judge like that. I need evidence. I cannot ignore my conscience either.
    James and I spent half the day there. Once James asked me why I was lying. Then, just like his weird senses would permit, he understood that not knowing everything, we cannot hold onto anything. No one could be trusted.
    "Hmm..." He said to himself, "No one should see our weapons."
    And we had already planned how to hide them-just keep them behind our cloaks.

    The sun set and night soon engulfed Misthaven. There was a full moon and the village and the forest bathed in soft, white light. There was dense fog near the perimeters of the forest and mist covered the village, adding to it the shadowy form of cold. Not one soul could be seen but that was not striking. The population was so less that it always looked vacant.
    We were walking through the perimeters. Our business had begun. It would be easy, I had thought. We had to wait and watch very carefully. And whenever we found a solid proof, or witnessed something through our eyes, we had to inform the Church. Any happenings and information were to be sent through Alfred.
    But now it felt like the toughest job I had ever done. There was some kind of a deep regret inside me that it had to be Irina of everyone. I knew it; it was the result of a first sight attraction. And I know very well how to get over it, but this time I was at failure.
    "You think we can find out something tonight?" James asked.
    "I think many things." I laughed at myself.
    James pursed his lips, "Do you know you are worsening since last night?"
    I inhaled deeply, "You bet."
    "How's your shoulder?"
    "Mmm..." I made some movements of my right hand. "Actually...I forgot about it."
    "That means its better. Fine."
    We had almost reached the perimeters of the forest when we felt an invisible movement around us. Both of us turned reflexively to look behind. There wasn't anyone, just hazy fog. But I was sure I felt someone run away past us. I treaded towards the direction cautiously, ready to draw my sword.
    "Chris?" James's voice was worried,   "Relax. It might just be a-"
    "Irina?" My firm, slightly uncertain question broke him off. I had stopped in my tracks.
    "What nonsense!" He exclaimed.
    I started walking towards the trees that stood as gates to the forest. When I had turned to see, I saw a moving figure that entered the forest and vanished into the fog.
    "What are you saying?" James had caught up with me now.
    "I saw someone. I think its Irina." I said.
    "So what's new?" James asked matter-of-factly, "She goes to the city market..." He trailed off.
    I chuckled, "Yeah at night? Think before saying, friend."
    I looked to the right, "You find there."
    "Okay."
    As soon as I was alone, I walked straight without caring about the sound of my footsteps. I could do anything now without anyone's interference.
    I noticed the slow moving figure at a distance and ran to catch up. I grabbed her elbow and turned her to face me. She looked at me blankly.
    "What the hell do you think you are doing?" I said through clenched teeth.
    A slow, sly smile lit up her vacant eyes. "Travelling?"
    "In the middle of the night?" I raised an eyebrow.
    "So what? My wish." Her eyes were challenging. I don't know what expression I held.
    "Hmm...vindictive." She said, interested.
    "What?"
    "Your expression." Her smile broadened.
    I left her hand repulsively, disgusted. She could read minds. The little hope that I had all scattered in such brief a second, with such a petty, absent-minded thought.
    "You need more clues?" She was still smiling.
    James's voice came from nowhere, "Chris! What's there?"
    I groaned.
    "Ignore him." Irina said, looked into my eyes, "Take your own advice, honey."
    I stared at her, wanting to do something, but hesitating to do anything.
    I felt James stop in his tracks behind me. Irina's eyes did not direct at him. James then started walking to us slowly. Before he could say anything, I said coldly, "Inform Alfred. We've found her."
    "Huh? Are you sure?"
    I wheeled to face him, "Surer than I ever was; she..." I hesitated, "She read my mind."
    "Coincidence?"
    "She asked if I wanted more clues."
    We heard a sudden imitated wolf-like howl from a human voice very near us. We looked at her. She eyed us thoroughly with that same smile on her lips, "Did you hear that?"
    As soon as the words left her mouth, the howls of the creature floated from the distance not very far away and gripped the air. James and I looked around alarmed, and there, behind the blanket of fog, through the maze of tall trees, we saw innumerable golden eyes that blinked at us, ready to attack. The voracious wolves were here tonight.