Finding Fate

Do You Believe In Magic?

Xavier stumbled into the woods. Amy became upset. "Xavier!" Amelia huffed and sat in the grass waiting for him to return. The voice continued calling out to him. He followed the voice through the dark woods. Xavier looked around trying to find where the sound was coming from. He searched and searched but found nothing. Xavier felt as if he might be triven made by the voice. He started to think it was only in his mind. Xavier stumbled backwards, tripping over the roots of a tree. He fell back and hit his head on the hard forest floor.

Xavier opened his eyes in a different place. What looked like a small house, it was dark and barely any sunlight spilled through the windows. The voice called out to him once more, but it seemed...closer. Xavier sat up. "Ah ah ah...you hit your head pretty hard. The door opened. A figure of a woman stepped into the room. She was wearing nothing but black from head to toe. She walked over to where Xavier sat. Her heels clicked across the floor. She sat next to him. Xavier was shaking. He was confused and terrified. Xavier didn't know where he was or how he got there.

The woman played with Xavier's hair. "I see you got my message." She tugged at the necklace. "Y-You're my admirer?" He watched her and became nervous. "My name is Mara Nightshade...and yes, I am." She smiled. Mara wore black lipstick paired with smokey eye makeup. Bits of purple could be found in her black attire. "Do you like my gift?" Xavier nodded. "What...is it for?" Xavier said as he rubbed the purple stone. "It helps me keep track of you, find you." She smiled wickedly.

Xavier tried to remove the necklace, but it was like it was bound to him. He started to panic. Mara stood from where Xavier sat. Xavier looked at his seating. He was laying on a crimson red couch with black wood detailing. Mara walked into the kitchen. "Could I get you anything darling?" Xavier studied the room. "Other then a way out of here? Um I don't know a drink." Mara came back into the room holding a glass of water. "Here. Drink, you're dehydrated." Xavier awkwardly drank the glass of water, worried that it might be poisoned. Xavier layed the glass on a table that sat next to the couch.

Xavier looked at his wrist. He was chained to the couch leg. Maya watched Xavier tug and pull at the chains, she sighed. "I guess...I can unchain you." She unlocked his bonds. Xavier rubbed his red wrist. He stood from his place and looked towards Maya. "How long have I been here?" Maya walked around the room. "You spent the night." She shifted through books on her shelf. "Like I said you hit your head pretty hard. I was just making sure you were alright." Xavier sighed. "Where am I?" Xavier peered out a window.

"Nowhere. You will be back, you just won't know how. So all you need to know is you are somewhere. Just somewhere you can't know the location of." She put her hand on his shoulder. Xavier squirmed from the unsettling touch. "Yeah um. I was in the middle of a date-" Maya let out a loud laugh. "Ha! Date? Xavier darling, you are so gullible. Amy already has you friend zoned." Xavier growled. "H-How would you know that!?" He huffed. "I've not been friend zoned..."He mumbled. "Oh yes you have." Maya teased. Xavier shifted uncomfortably.

"When can I go home?" Xavier asked. "After your first lesson." Maya replied as she opened a door. It had a staircase leading into a candlelit room. "Follow me." She smiled. Xavier followed her cautiously. When they reached the bottom of the steps Xavier looked around the room. The walls were lined with shelves of books in strange languages and the room was lit with candles. A desk sat in the right corner sporting scattered papers and a variety of dried plants. "What type of lesson?" Xavier became curious. "Do you believe in magic, Xavier?" She smiled with delight.

"Magic? No. Crazy? Yes." He picked up a skull off of one of the book shelves. "I promise, you will by the time you leave." Xavier rolled his eyes and placed the skull back in it's place. Maya grabbed his arm and pulled him over to her desk. She spread papers across the top and took a book from one of the many shelves. She layed it out on the desk and flipped through the pages. Maya suddenly stopped. "This will do." She patted the book. "Stand here." She pushed Xavier directly in front of the book. "First things first. Read the directions."

Xavier looked confused. "Too what? What are we doing?" Maya seemed to be getting annoyed. "We are going to make poison. This one is simple." She slid on a pair of gloves. "I don't know how to read this jibberish. Plus, I'd rather not make something deadly knowing it will be in your possession." He touched the page. Xavier's eyes instantly widened, a grey cloud came out of the book and climbed up his arm. His eyes turned purple, he could read the encrypted book. Xavier quickly removed his hand and stumbled backwards clumsily. Maya laughed,"Pathetic." She stood next to him

"What was that!?" Xavier yelled. "Keep it down drama queen." Maya yawned. "You just interpreted the cipher." Xavier's jaw dropped. He thought to himself. "Show me more." He smiled. Maya grinned,"Calm down, place your hand on the book, and read the instructions." Xavier carefully placed his hand on the book and watched the smoke climb up his arm. He read the instructions carefully.

1. Mix Belladonna, Henbane, Aconite, Jimsonweed, and White Snakeroot.

2. Stir well.

3. Add to an unused bottle and prepare for use.

Xavier followed the instructions steps by step without knowing it. After pouring the fresh liquid into a bottle the cloud released his arm. Xavier looked as if he had just awoke from a dead sleep. His eyes changed back to their normal maroon tone. "Wow."