🌺Fayer🌺

🔱 Chapter Eleven 🔱

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Evergreen Glade
Little cottage

Abidah's grip tightened on the bow as she stared at the newcomer, ready to the let the arrow fly if she tried anything. Her senses were on high alert and she wasn't about to let her guard down in front of the woman.

"Well it seems that I have visitors." Said the woman as she ambled closer towards them. "It's been long time since anyone came to visit me."

Abidah didn't know what to make of the woman. She was dressed in a hodgepodge of colored cloths, some wrapping around her waist and shoulders while others went around her head. Glittering jewels and accessories hung from her neck, wrists and ears, and as she stepped closer Abidah could see fine gold trinkets adorning her ankles as well.

"Stop right where you are, don't take another step further." But the woman ignored Abidah and continued to walk forward, jingling with each step she took. Abidah had one mind to fire her arrow but just as she was about to an overwhelming feeling that she was sure wasn't entirely her own overtook her body. She lowered her bow and arrow, not even realizing she did so, and let the calm feeling wash over her.

Abidah watched silently as Sylvan who had drawn his sword earlier placed it back into his scabbard listlessly. His eyes were dull and he swayed where he stood as if he would fall over at any time, the same could be said for Maurie who had fallen to her knees with the same dismal look in her eyes as if she wasn't aware of what was going on around her.

Abidah started to feel sleepy and her eyes drooped but when she saw the young prince collapse to his knees as well she shook her head trying to break free from the oppressive feeling that had taken over her body.

She blinked a few times and focused all her energy in speaking.

"What are you doing to them?" she gritted out, her voice not sounding like her own. Abidah looked at the beautiful face of the woman standing before her, her light brown eyes shining like liquid pools of molten gold and her honey colored skin glowing against the sun's all-pervading gaze.

"I see one of you have been blessed with magic." The woman stepped closer, her gaze never once leaving Abidah's face. "And not just any magic either. Bright, fiery, hot magic." A look of excitement flashed through the woman's eyes as she grabbed Abidah by the chin and lifted her face upwards for the woman was at least a head taller than Abidah. But just as quick as she had touched her face she had pulled her hand back as if she had been burned, a hiss leaving her mouth as she did so.

"Who are you?" croaked Abidah, her lips barely being able to open.

"Very hot indeed." Came her alluring voice that seemed to seep under Abidah's skin every time she spoke. "Oh well, it can't be helped."

No sooner than the woman said that Abidah felt another wave of dizzying sensations assault her mind, leaving her dazed and her body staggering. The last thing Abidah remembered before her knees buckled and everything went dark was the woman's eyes glowing a fierce yellow.

Abidah awoke with a groan, her head pulsed in time with her rapidly beating heart and she had to grit her teeth against the pain. She raised a hand to her head and that was when she realized she was lying down on a bed, well a futon would be more accurate. The smell of freshly cut herbs and spices which she hadn't detected before were swirling everywhere in the air causing her to scrunch her nose up at how thick it was, but it wasn't a bad scent it was actually quite pleasant.

Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and trying to quell the headache that was pulsing through her head Abidah rose up into a sitting position. The unexpected movement caused her head to thrum with pain even more, her head swimming, and she had to pause a little and wait for the ache to die down some before she tried to move again.