A Witch's Way

Chapter 11

"Serena!"

Serena shot up at her name being called, looking around her shadowed room. What time was it? Her eyes went to the clock and she choked.

"Three in the morning?" she sputtered out, looking up at the god bouncing from foot to foot in her doorway.

Lucian nodded, his brown hair bobbing up and down with his head. "Yeah!" He cocked his head to the side at Serena's angry glare, like she had grown an arm out of her mouth. "...What's wrong? Is this too early for you?"

Serena was about to answer him with a yes before seeing his expression. It reminded her of a puppy, big eyes and a pleading frown on his face. "I mean I guess since I'm awake..."

Lucian brightened up again and grabbed her hand, dragging her out of bed and onto the field. It was still dark out, but the moon, though starting to go behind the trees, was bright enough so they could see.

"Lucian! I'm still in my pajamas!" Serena hissed, rubbing at her arms. The cool chill of the air settled around her, and dew wet her feet and ankles. Lucian didn't respond. "Lucian? Hello?"

The god turned around with a mischievous grin on his face. "Nothing like a sparring match to get the blood flowing, right?" he asked, and Serena felt a vine latch onto her ankle.

Oh no.

Serena screamed when the vine yanked backward and her head snapped forward at the impact, her stomach hitting the wet ground. The vine started reeling backward and she gripped onto the slippery grass.

"Lucian! Stop it!" Serena screeched, digging up clumps of dirt as the vine reeled through the field, Lucian on his back with laughter. Eventually, the vine stopped dragging her and grew up towards the sky--now holding Serena by her feet.

She shut her eyes, trying not to get sick by the swaying motion. She couldn't focus on growing out thorns.

Lucian groaned, watching Serena swing back and forth from her ankles. "Come on! This is so boring! Where's the excitement? Where's the blood-pumping dodging? Why aren't you fighting back?"

Serena huffed, keeping her eyes closed and hands on the bottom of her shirt so it wouldn't ride up. "How can you just use magic without saying the spell?"

Serena felt the grip on the vine loosen and lower her to the ground softly. Clumps of dirt littered where she had grabbed at the soil to no avail. Her front and backside were now soaked, thanks to Lucian snaking her through the wet grass. Thank Gaia for wearing a black shirt.

Lucian walked over to her and scratched his head. "You can't even do that? Well, uh, we have a long way to go."

Serena felt herself flush at his words, a flash of shame rooted inside her stomach. "I..."

Lucian looked up to Serena's face and widened his eyes in shock. "No! I didn't mean that you were hopeless! I just meant that's the first thing you have to do--to even have a chance of beating me," he explained, waving his hands in front of his face.

Serena squared her shoulders, hearing Jasper's words in her head again. She couldn't let him down, or Lucian. "I'm ready. What do I have to do?"

Lucian cocked his head and laughed. "Aw, you're so ready for this, aren't you? Alright, you have to listen to me completely. No more tricks with the vines, I promise."

Serena tried to get the blush on her face to die down as she nodded. She clenched her fists and sat down, awaiting his instructions.

"Okay, shut your eyes and--hey, Serena? Are you okay?" Lucian said.