Witch Way

Chapter 13-- Territorial Boys

Chapter 13

Finding Dillan was no easy task. Shayla had no idea where he lived, and he wasn't any where in town. After a while she suggested that they just ask someone for directions to his house. Of course, being a man, Soren refused to stop and ask, and instead used some sort of crystal. He said it would act as a compass. And it did too. The crystal was strung on a silver chain and hung around the rear view mirror.

After a few muttered sentences and a small rush of power the crystal began to swing violently. A few seconds later saw the crystal go stick straight and then point off in a particular direction. He followed the crystal as closely as he could, changing direction when it changed the way it was pointing. It didn't take long to come across a small, but well cared for farmhouse.

Off in the distance they could see a medium sized field that would be bursting with fresh produce during a good season. A red barn stood behind the house, surrounded by a white fence. Inside the white fence were several cows, a few horses and even a sheep or two. The duo noticed all of these things in around a minute and it was obvious that both were dreading what would happen once they knocked on the door or were seen sitting in the driveway.

"Soren, we have to go up there. I know you don't like him, but that can't be helped." Shayla offered in a soothing tone.

"I don't dislike him, he dislikes me. I knew him when we were kids, but not all that well. I was the orphan. That's not the only reason he dislikes me though. He has a touch of the Other Sight. He gets visions of the future, the past, and sometimes the present. That's how he knew something was up with me. He saw something, I suppose." He spoke in a low voice as if he was scared of being overheard. He hung his head as though he was ashamed.

"Well we'll just have to work on all that later. Let's go." She ordered with an air of authority. Without waiting for a response, she threw her door open, climbed out and began walking towards the stairs that led up to the porch of the farmhouse.

Soren scurried to catch up with her, if a bit sulkily. She rolled her eyes as he walked next to her and mumbled under his breath about some nonsense involving rudeness and herself. The heels of her shoes clacked up the stairs and seemed to echo across the fields. He made his way up much more quietly but no less quickly.

"Here goes nothing." Shayla murmured under her breath as she knocked on the large wooden door and stepped back to wait. She didn't have to wait long. Dillan was framed in the open door and then launching himself at Soren before she could speak.

"Well I never expected you to just come right to me!" Dillan exclaimed, sounding more than a little crazy.

She watched for a few moments in a stunned silence as the two men fought. When Dillan's fist connected with Soren's nose with a sickening crunch, she came to her senses.

"You two stop! Now!" She exclaimed in the vain hope that they'd listen. They didn't. So she formulated a spell in her mind. With fingers pointed at each of the grappling men, she spat the crude spell at them. Within seconds their shoes appeared the be glued to the boards of the porch, and their fists seemed frozen in place. Their heads swiveled around in confusion.

"I said to stop. You didn't listen. Your fault." She explained and their heads whipped around to her. The sight of the two of them was disturbing- Soren had blood streaming freely from his broken nose and a small cut above his eye, while the way Dillan had been holding his jaw when he froze told her that his jaw was most likely broken.

"Now, we're going to see Ame, hopefully she can fix the two of you up." She started back towards the truck until Soren's protests and Dillan's 'hmph-ing' caught her attention. She realized when they flicked their eyes repeatedly to their feet, that the binding still held. Smiling gently in apology she focused on the tendrils of power flowing from her to keep feet stuck and fists frozen.