Seven Sins

Prologue - The Bad Witch

She picked up the pace as soon as she rounded the street corner. Sarai's six-inch heels clacked more loudly against the concrete walkway than she would have liked. It was unbecoming of her to appear fearful, as if she were running away. Still, the sounds of her hastened stride were an indicator of how uneasy she felt.

"Stupid kid." Sarai hissed.

If that boy hadn't delayed her she would have quickly made it in and out of the Academy like a tabby. She should have known that one did not simply enter Haven Academy without garnering some unwanted attention. The wind rustled her dark hair; the fringe over her forehead tickled her face. The chill from the breeze pinched her skin. Sarai pulled her pea coat shut and clasped the remaining buttons over her chest.

She shouldn't have even bothered going to the Academy, it was too risky. Still, that kid was incredibly gullible. He had promised her a hundred grand and she couldn't just let that kind of prize fall through her grasp. It was a wonder that the kid had even acquired such a large amount of cash on his own. Sarai hadn't thought twice when she took it.

Sarai had known before she arrived that she could not dispel his curse. She had only been interested in the reward. In exchange she offered him her priceless 'Book of Stories'. Although when she finally handed him the book, the boy stared at Sarai as if she had struck him. She thought him an ungrateful, little, wart. Her treasured book had been printed from the pulp of the great tree of life. Ink mixed with water from the fountain of youth and a binding made from the cured hide of a unicorn.

The book was full of secrets. It held the answers to everything but only if you knew just where to find them. So perhaps if the boy could get past that little tad bit of work he could be freed of his curse. Sarai knew without a doubt that she would spend every penny that the boy had granted her. He would not break his curse and once the wicked spell had taken its course Sarai planned to retrieve her book, as the book would be of no use to him then.

Still, Sarai could not take comfort in this revelation as she was certain that she was still being followed. She hurried across the way and turned onto Thirteenth Street. It was usually a quiet street at that time of day. There weren't a lot of businesses at the location just a few industrial buildings and a paper mill. Sarai scrunched her nose as the rotten smell of sulfur assaulted her senses. Once she regained her composure she listened carefully.

A faint tap in the distance assured Sarai that it was time to take the long way home. She'd have to lose her tail before returning home. Moving deeper into the industrial district Sarai began to realize that she couldn't exactly outrun her stalker as five new trappers appeared to block her path.