Witch Hunt #Wattys2018

Chapter 9

The day after my episode, Seraphina told me to meet her at the church for training instead of the clearing.

"What are we doing here?" I asked as I approached her

"Being able to fight isn't the only thing that makes a Witch Hunter." She explained opening the heavy doors, "You have to understand the Witches as well." She stepped into the building

The church was a giant building with a tall ceiling. Candles lined the walls, but the main source of light was the giant window at the front of the building. Around the giant window were books, many looking old, and well read. In my time with the Witch Hunters I had never seen a person touch one of them until Seraphina handed me one.

"Read the first paragraph to me." She ordered

I opened the book, the cover creeping as I did so, "Witches become witches by making a deal with the devil. They give their lives to him, and he gives them all the powers they desire. The most reported are as followed: Killing of crops, sending spirits to spy on the victim, bewitching dolls, the use of poison, holding control over their victims, and controlling fire. Witches will never truly stop at what they do. They find joy in others downfalls. Do not trust a witch. That's all." I finished looking back at Seraphina.

"Good." She said, "I want you to continue reading it. Stay here, it's our week to do laundry. When I finish I'll come back to check on you." She walked past me and walked out of the room.

As I sat in a pew, it occurred to me that this was the first time I had been alone since I was taken by the witches. After so long in the company of others, it felt odd to be alone.

I looked down at the book. The pages were yellow along the sides. One line caught my eyes. A witch or warlock has the ability to control a person in such a way that not even those closest to them would notice a change. I thought back to when I first met Thomas. The way I had felt compelled to be closer to him, though I hadn't become acquainted with him till that day. How I was so willing to risk getting caught that last night. Though it had been four nights, I knew the risk I was taking. It started to make more and more sense the more I thought about it. I then wondered, why was I able to fight against him? Or kill him for that matter. Michael and Eliana had wondered the same thing when I first arrived. I buried my head in the book looking for some form of an answer.

By the time Seraphina had returned I was nearly halfway done with the book, and hadn't found an answer to my question.
"How was I able to kill Thomas?" I asked when she I asked what I had learned.

She tilted her head slightly, "What do you mean?" she questioned

"I think Thomas was controlling me," I explained, "how was I able to kill him?"

"Oh." She replied, "Well, it's our theory that he wasn't very strong." She told me, "We think he was a very new warlock, hence why he still lived with his father, and not with Mira."

"Why wouldn't he live with Mira?"

"She has this rule that the only witches and warlocks allowed in her hollow are those that have been doing in for at least five years." She explained, "I suppose she didn't want to break the rule for her own son."

I remembered how Michael had been in the cave, how Mira had spoken to him like someone she trusted. I questioned Seraphina about it.

"Michael had been doing that for years. His necklace," She gestured to the necklace I wore around my neck, "hid him from them ,they simply saw one of their own."

"How did he got it?" I asked, it didn't sound like something that you could get from the Witch Hunters

"That's a story for another day." She said simply, "Your training's done for today. Meet me back here tomorrow." She stood and walked out of the church her steps echoing off the walls.

I placed the book back where it belonged, and walked to the dining hall. It was rare for training to end so early, and I wasn't sure what to do with my free time. I thought for a moment about finding Aliza, but decided against it. She had recently become smitten with a boy in the cabin to the right of us, and was probably with him. I decided I had enjoyed the time alone, and wanted more. I made my way to the clearing Seraphina and I trained at. A few yards away from the clearing I heard hushed voices. I hid behind a tree and listened in.

"She's not a dalcop!" A girl hissed, "We should tell her before she gets to suspicious!"

"No! We swore we wouldn't tell anyone else!" A man hissed back

"You made me swear!" She hissed back, sounding like she was fighting back tears, "I wanted to tell someone! I still do!"

"Seraphina," The man started, but I heard nothing else. In realization that this was Michael and Seraphina, I nearly gasped, but swiftly clasped my hand over my mouth.
"You got to tell Eliana!" Seraphina jeered raising her voice slightly

"That's not fair." Michael retorted, "That was different!"

"You wanted to impress her with your own tragic story!" Seraphina hissed, "Oh Eliana! I'm so sorry your mother was accused of being a witch! My mother was a witch!"

My breath seemed to get caught in my throat. Their mother was a witch? And yet they were a part of the Witch Hunters?

"That's not why I told her." Michael growled

"Enlighten me!" Seraphina spat

"Eliana deserved to know, after telling me something so personal." He tried to explain.

"Well, Rose deserves to know." Seraphina said simply, ending the argument.

I heard her footsteps nearing me, I tried to climb the tree I was hiding behind, but the branches were far out of reach. I looked around wildly, but saw nothing I could hide behind. I was about to make a break for it when "Rose?"