Game of Sinners

Chapter Fourteen - The Witch

"Maybe the world didn't need witches and wolves, because the world itself did more to steal away the magic than fantasy ever could. It didn't matter if one was disobedient, foolish, or unlucky, because the worst things just happened."

― Thomm Quackenbush, Find What You Love and Let It Kill You

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"Why do I get the feeling we shouldn't be here?" I called out, shielding my eyes from the twigs pulling at my hair. The path had long since disappeared, or should I say Leo had long since decided that we should abandon the thing that gave me any sense of civilisation. He muttered something about 'Elenor's this way and shot off into the dense trees before I could even protest.

Quite frankly half the time I wondered if he even knew where he was going. Every time I did ask he would just give me an annoying wry smile and assure me I was in capable hands.

"I mean... Leo, I feel like we're about to enter a lion's den or something." It was true that every fibre of my being was tugging at me to turn around, go back and find another route to Eleanor's place. At first, it was a small nag at the back of my head when I woke up on the first day of our hike but now it was pounding red warning at the forefront of my mind.

"Because that's what you're meant to feel. Elenor doesn't like unexpected visitors, especially human hikers who stray from the path." Leo called from up ahead, rather too happily. "There are thousands of spells out there which can mess with a mortal mind. I wouldn't be surprised if she had cast some to keep people away. Try not to believe anything you see from now on though; we're very close."

"How-what-... how am I meant to ... what the hell?" I stopped in my tracks and yanked my dark brown hair off a twig that it had been snagged on. "Just what exactly do you mean by that?"

Leo turned around, panting slightly from walking so quickly. His black hair was tousled all over the place and sporting a few green leaves and twigs of his own. The temperature had dropped since we had left the car, meaning jumpers and hoodies were the only things that worked against the merciless cold.

"Listen Alex... Elenor may have been my childhood friend but she always likes to play tricks on people. And I haven't exactly told her you're coming with me." He pressed his lips together and adjusted the bag on his back. "There's a 50/50 chance that she won't take too kindly to your presence."

"And you're telling me this now?! We've been hiking for three days and you didn't think to oh, I don't know, phone her up and tell her!" I yelled at him a little hysterically. After Leo had disappeared on the first night of our hike he only appeared again during the morning when I had stumbled sleepily out of the tent. Since then we had been keeping a steady pace trecking through the mountains, stopping when the sun went down and eating a few rabbits spit roasted on the fire that Leo had caught in his wolf form.

Leo just shrugged.

"Right now she's the best hope we have and we can't afford for her to refuse to see us. Besides, I'm better at handling her in person than over the phone. I'll convince her she can trust you."

While he was talking I started to close the gap between us and slumped against a nearby tree just off to his right. Leo followed me with his piercing green eyes, obviously not wanting me to stop and rest right now.

"And if you can't?" The words hung between us for a moment as I stared at him. "I don't really feel like becoming a witch... plaything? Witch food?"

"I'll convince her. Don't worry about it." He said a little too smoothly, flashing a white smile that was anything but a peace offering to me. "And it's only vampires you have to worry about becoming food with, not witches."