The Witch Hunt Chronicles- Witch Hunt

Chapter Four Dinner

“Uhm Daniel… this is my mother,” I said gesturing to her. He walked up and shook her hand softly.

“For the hostess.” He said handing her the flowers and my stomach did an uncomfortable twirl.

 “My father.” I said and he made to shake my father’s hand. My dad surveyed him for a moment, with a look of deep dislike (I mean he had just given his wife flowers) he took Daniel's hand and shook it with force, which Daniel had no problem returning. My dad’s expression softened and he released his grasp on Daniel's hand. “And my friend, Artemis.”

“Best friend, Artemis.” She said nudging me in the ribs. Daniel made to shake her hand too.

“Sorry I’m a hugger” she said spreading her arms widely. Daniel stared at her with a very confused look on his face. He glanced at me and I smiled awkwardly. He stepped forward gingerly.

“That’s right. Bring it in.” Artemis said beckoning him towards her. He gave her a slightly forced hug. She was a bit odd. He pulled away from her quickly shooting me another nervous glance.

“Shall we eat?” I said, my voice cracked the silence like a whip. We all filed through to the dining room where the food and plates had already been set out. There were dishes of meat, pasta and vegetables. We all sat, my father at the head, my mother at the opposite end, Artemis, on my father’s left, myself on his right and Daniel – I nearly died- sat beside me, just as we were about to reach for what ever was nearest us, Daniel had laid his hands linked in prayer before him and started to whisper to himself in rapid Portuguese: “Querido Deus, por favor poupe-me para os atos hediondos i terá de empenhar-se na família que tem tanto carinho me convidou para sua casa, abençoa as mãos que preparou esta refeição e todos os que recebem o alimento a partir dele. Amém.” We were all staring at him by the time he had finished. I cleared my throat loudly and the rest of them quickly carried on. Once we all had food on our plates Daniel piped up:

“It looks delicious Mrs. Carter.” She looked half taken aback, half in awe of the boy who had complimented her cooking.

“Thank you dear, but please don’t be so formal.” She smiled.

“So Daniel, are you very religious?” my father asked from the head of the table…stupid question dad.

“Oh! The praying! Well I’m open minded” he said nodding at me. “But it’s been drilled into my I suppose.” He smiled which my dad warmly returned. “And yourself Mr. Carter?”

“Well… I’m open minded” he said inclining his head slightly. “And I agree with my wife, please don’t be so formal.” Artemis kicked me under the table, I looked at her, she didn’t say anything but merely raised her eyebrows and smiled. Things were going great.

“what should I call you then, sir?” he said slowly. Gods the last thing I needed right now was for my father to ask the poor guy to call him dad…

“all in due time dear boy.” My father spoke the words warm and comfortingly. I sighed my relief. We spent the rest of dinner discussing academics, - Daniel was quite smart, it annoyed me- aspirations, that sort of stuff. I got really bored with the conversation and Artemis with ADHD was making little pictures, absently, with her peas. I felt her leg brush against mine and I kicked her shin, hard. She jumped and stared at me wildly.

“Whatcha do that for?!”

“I… didn’t you…” and suddenly my math skills improved and I was able to put two and two together. “Never mind.” I said steadily growing red. My parents had not noticed her outburst, they were too engrossed about what Daniel was saying about something called Delphi, when Artemis heard the word she jumped again and said: