The Reaper Saga [Book 1-3]

NEW STARTING [EDITED]

After three days of walking aimlessly around the two towns, I finally stopped.

No, it wasn't exhaustion or fear that made me stop. It was the small shop in bourbon street in front of me that made me curious enough to enter the familiar world I was born into.

"Hallo liwwe, welcome to the Rune. How may I help you?" A woman asked the moment I put my footsteps into the small place.

She looked older, older than even Belle, with dark skin, her beautiful ebony curly hair in a braid with a matching necklace around her neck. But what called her to me the most was her mismatched eyes. One look and I could see an eternity of knowledge in them.

I must've been standing there for quite a long time because the woman drew my attention by clearing her throat. "Mis?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm from a nearby clan." Giving the woman a somewhat awkward smile, I tried to tuck my hair behind my ear as a habit but stopped short when I remembered that I cut it off. Dammit, just get this over with. "There's a sign outside that said you needed an assistant. You give lessons too?"

"Ja. How advanced are you?" The unnamed woman parted her lips to speak.

"I-I can't do magic, I don't even know all the spells other than the easy ones. But I can help out with the shop, I'm an expert at anything to do with the herbs-you don't believe me." I stuttered watching the woman's eyes widen.

"But, how could that be possible? Jy is een van ons! You are one of us. Everyone can do magic unless banned from their clan."

"My parents were paranoid and didn't want me to learn. So, I never did. But now they are dead and I know how life is not easy when everyone around me has powers and I don't. So, I really need your help." I blatantly lied on the woman's face. Well...not all of them were lies. I did have problems my whole life where I had to act like a human instead of a witch because of that stupid mark.

But I couldn't let the woman know why I needed to learn. If she knew who I really was...

I didn't even want to think about it.

"That means you nie even know basic spells. You have to learn from the roots. But let me tell you, it will be hard. It will take a long time, it will break your walls en eventually your whole personality. You have to be patient en always prepared for the worst." Her mismatched eyes had a glint as if to challenge me to take her offer even if it would break me. But she didn't know one thing.

I came back from death's door.

Anything she threw at me, I could take it.

"I am ready for anything you have planned."

Nodding, the woman reached for the register book on her counter. Opening the book, she asked my clan name which I lied about. If Only Gema could see me now...

"En, you would be?"

Emie. I thought with a frown but didn't say it aloud. Shit! I didn't even try to think of a name before coming there. But I had to give her something fast so praying it wouldn't be too obvious, I paused before answering.

"Emily. It's Emily Xair."

Xair was Gema's last name which even if I borrowed for a few months, it's not like Gema was here to care about it anyway.

"Emily. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," The woman stated giving me a small smile. My cheeks warmed at the compliment but I brushed it off.

Clearing my throat, I asked the woman the one question I was dreading to ask. "And what will be your price?"

"Price?"

"Yes...I-I mean you will teach me and in return, you must want something..." I trailed off when the woman gave me an amused look. Shaking her head, she gestured around the shop.

"I just want you to be my assistant, in return for my teachings. You know the herb's names en their uses, reg?" Well...that was pretty easy. Thankfully, even if the members didn't let me learn spells, they taught me everything I needed to know about herbs. I even learned how to make herbal medicine using numerous herbs.

"Yes, of course. Thank you so much-"

"Dit is Hannah Castro but you call me Hannah." The woman answered with a smile forming on her lips. "So, Emily, what's your goal?"

"G-Goal?"

She wrinkled her nose as if I should know what she was talking about. "Every witch has a goal before they start to learn. Some want them for healing others, some for awakening their hidden purposes in life en some use them for donker intentions. You know, dark?" I flinched involuntary hearing about the later one but Hannah continued like she didn't notice that.

"So, which one is your goal?"

"Freedom." It just came easily from my lips. "I want freedom."

"Wrong. You don't want freedom, Emily. You need it. If you just wanted it you wouldn't be standing here in front of me, asking for my help."

Chuckling, I had to agree. "You're right. I need freedom and I'm willing to do whatever it takes me to get it."

Happy with my answer, Hannah came to stand beside me. "We'll start your lessons but first of all, you need rest. Sorry to say but you look tired. There is a total of eight rooms in the house. It has a kitchen en all the things you will need to stay. Kom with me, I will show you."

Without waiting for my reply, she made me follow her where we passed the kitchen and a balcony before coming near the staircase. After climbing up, I thought this would be the attic but I was proved wrong when I noticed another staircase going up. There were three rooms on this floor and all of them looked like from the vintage era.

Hannah pointed to the first room. "I live here. You can visit whenever you need me. The second door leads to the library. You'll find many rare books on magic that I managed to get my hands on. En, the third door will lead you to the ritual room. Every ritual we'll practice, we will do them in there. Now, follow me upstairs."

I looked around trying to observe the place and at the same time wonder why I was here alone. "Uh...where are your other students?"

Hannah stopped walking and tilted her head to the side. "Students? You mean like you?"

"Yes."

"You are the first one to step inside for that purpose, Emily," She sighed, playing with the necklace on her throat. "This city may be tainted with magic but hardly anyone truly believes in it. En the ones do, they tend to nie do business with us in fear. Only the injured or desperate ones kom to us. Kom on."

I didn't ask for more.

Instead, we climbed up to the attic, and I was met with huge space converting into three rooms. Like before, Hannah pointed to the door of the training room and supply storage. Finally, she opened the last door and gestured for me to go inside.

Entering the room, I could only think of one thing. It's nothing like my room back in the clan. The King-sized bed near the window looked cozy to sleep where I had to share a bed with kids back then. Not only did I get to use a bookshelf, a closet, and an attached bathroom all alone, here I could also take inspiration from the quotes on the white walls.

"You can go shower. I will see what I can do for you. En, Emily-" Hannah stopped to glance at me with a look I couldn't decipher. "A storm is coming. I can feel it in my bones."

I wanted to counter her but I should know better than to ignore such warnings.