Robin Souls | Open Novella Contest 2019 | Completed

Chapter 4

Elise immediately knew something was wrong when she reached her home.

Her house was still a few buildings away, but she could see the outline of a dark figure seemingly attempting to hide itself in the shadows beside the entrance. She reminded herself she was a witch even with her dainty little basket in hand and walked like nothing was wrong.

"Finally, you've returned." The voice was gruff, as though the owner of it had only just awoken, but she recognised it at once; Damien stepped out into the light. "Where have you been? It's the middle of the night."

Elise let out a short breath of laughter as she took her keys out of her bag. "You know, the moonlight holds a lot of power. It wouldn't be in a witch's best interest to miss the light of a full moon," she said, unlocking the door and motioning for him to come inside and then closing it behind him. "Besides, you are way outside visiting hours."

The noise Damien made let her know he knew, but he still wasn't happy about the fact he'd had to wait; Elise shook her head at his childishness.

"So what is it you want? Another reading I assume, but why again so soon?" Elise asked. Damien followed along behind her when she made her way towards the kitchen.

He couldn't help but gag at the smell of whatever was in Elise's basket when she opened the blanket she'd wrapped it up in and he suddenly felt light-headed. "What is that?" he asked.

She hadn't expected Damien to react like that so she felt guilty when he had such a severe reaction to it; she closed it up again. "I'm sorry! You didn't seem like someone who needed a warning. Why don't you wait in the reading room while I sort this?"

He attempted not to show his weakened state and ended up just nodding before he turned and left the kitchen; Elise couldn't help but follow him with her eyes until he left her line of sight. Was it the magic instead of the smell that affected him?

"So I'm close?" Damien asked, the unfamiliar tone of hope in his voice. "Really close?"

Elise nodded and collected up the cards, unsure of whether he'd rush out again like the last time. She wasn't even sure if it would be a good idea for him to do that; he'd been acting off ever since that moment in the kitchen. "That's what the cards are saying, yes. Congratulations."

Damien didn't respond while he dug the fee out of his pocket before placing it on the table in front of him. "I can't believe it, in all honesty," Damien muttered, seemingly more to himself than to her. "After so long."

Elise was silent, watching him with curiosity to see if he displayed any more odd behaviour. Was he even aware of it? "Are you all right?" she asked him then when he once again put his hand to his temple.

"What? Yeah," he said, lowering his hand. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Elise shrugged her shoulders before she got up and put the cards away; she saw Damien get out of his seat too in the corner of her eye. If she wasn't mistaken, he swayed, and she shot a discrete look his way.

"I'm off then. I'll probably see you again soon."

"Yeah, sure, see—" But Elise couldn't even finish her sentence before she saw him falling to the ground. "Damien?"

Elise could feel the onset of panic and she didn't move for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. "Damien?" she tried again, but still no answer.

She shook her head as she tried to pull herself out of her shock and made her way over to him, first kneeling beside him to check for any signs of life. He did still have the essence of life within him, so she breathed out a sigh of relief.