Tea Leaves and Silver Rings

Witches in England

Match Twenty-Seven: Witches in England:

Arthur had no idea how involved into the Wasteland he was.

The truth first came to him when he was walking back to his flat one evening. Actually, Arthur had a feeling that he was being followed before he even reached his door. Within the covered London streets, a woman in black robes spotted the English man walking through with his hands in his pockets. She looked up and ahead and nodded at another woman also dressed in black robes further ahead. Both vanished as the English man walked by a butcher shop. Arthur froze and looked behind him. He couldn't see anyone that would stand out. Still, something inside of him didn't settle down.

"What's wrong, Arthur?" Flying Mint Bunny whispered.

"Keep your head down," the British man said. "I think we are being followed."

"By who?"

"I don't know."

Flying Mint Bunny wrinkled his little nose. "I don't like those women spying on us."

"How many of them are there?"

"Two, so far."

"So far?"

"I don't know exactly how many of them there are?"

His invisible, furry friend shook his head. England kept his eyes lowered as he pushed his way through the crowd. Three more women in black robes watched as the English man rounded the corner.

Arthur walked up to his flat door and pulled out his key. Flying Mint Bunny had his eyes out behind his human friend for the rest of the way home. As soon as the lock clicked, his little ears perked up.

"Arthur! Look out!" he shouted. No sooner had he cried out, the English man opened the door to a cold apartment. He froze when he looked inside.

"Who's there?" Arthur asked.

"It's okay me, Mr. Kirkland," a woman's voice replied. The English man jumped when he directed his attention to the living. The woman in question was sitting on his couch. She had her hood down, revealing her straight black that came down to her shoulders. Her baby blue eyes could cut through his soul.

"Who are you? How did you get in my flat?" Arthur asked. The woman smiled at him, pretending to look hurt.

"Aw, Mr. Kirkland," she said. "How could you not recognize an old friend?"

"Old friend? I don't even know you!"

The woman shook her head. "Of course you don't. Mother told that you wouldn't." She looked over Arthur's shoulder and flicked her right middle finger out. Poor Flying Mint Bunny was sent flying back like he had be shot with a bullet.

"Flying Mint Bunny!" the English man cried, turning to him. He turned back to the woman on the couch.

"You! What did you do to my friend?!" he shouted.

"Relax," the woman said. "He's going to be fine. I just sent him off to another realm for the time being. He'll be back soon."

"What do you want from me?" the English man asked. His voice trembled as he spoke. His body wanted to run away, but he couldn't move. The woman pushed back her hair from her cloak.

"I just want to talk," she said.

"About what?"

"You have a big role to play in our game." Her eyes lit up as she smiled like a cat. It was then Arthur noticed something abnormal about this woman.

"What are you?" he asked. "What game?"

"My, my, my, my," she said. "You don't remember, don't you?" Arthur slowly shook his head. The woman sighed.

"I figured as much." She pushed back her bangs. The room began to feel even colder around Arthur. He stepped back with all of the color drained from my face.

"No..." he said. The woman now looked stripped of her clothing and hair to pinkish rubber-like skin. Different markings of blasphemy covered the skin. Her blue eyes had changed to golden and black.

"Yes," she hissed. Arthur sank to his knees.

"Nightcomer..." he whispered. The room suddenly became warm and the woman looked more human again.

"My name is Hecate," she said. "Nice to meet you, again." The English man moved his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. Hecate stood and walked over to him. She took him by the cheeks.

"You can't walk away from this, Arthur," she said in a low voice. "You have to try and remember everything that has been going on."

"But..."

She pressed her forehead against his. "Don't talk. You have to remember your role in this game."

His pupils dilated as tangled-up images filled his head. He found himself floating above Ikebukuro. Seven right lights sprung up towards the sky. Arthur's heart became unsettled as he realized what they were.

Are these...?

You're familiar with the seven seals?

Yes...

You know what needs to be done.

But I can't. I don't want to hurt him.

You know she won't let him suffer too much.

But he's still my friend. Haven't you seen how he suffers?

This has to be done. You know this. We must free her to bring the kingdom upon the earth. Don't you want to see home in its full glory again?

But people will die.

A small sacrifice to pay.

Red shadows slowly covered the city below like a thick blanket. A hollowed scream rang through Arthur's ears. A lump formed in his throat as he already knew who it was. Once the red shadows covered the city, everything went black. There was a scream.

And then... Nothing.

Arthur's body felt hollow as Hecate removed his hands from his cheeks. Her lips came within inches of his.

"You know what needs to come next," she whispered. Hecate gave him a quick kiss. "We will keep in touch." She stood up and walked past him out the front door. The English man didn't move as he heard the door closing behind him.

"Arthur?" a high-pitched voice asked seconds later. He didn't respond as Flying Mint Bunny flew in front of him.

"Hello? Are you feeling okay?" he asked. "You look so pale." The English man stood up and walked back to his room as if in a daze.

"Arthur?" Flying Min Bunny asked. The bedroom door slapped closed down the hall.

The next day, Arthur came over to Kiku's house days before Lin Yi and Ivan came to Japan. The English man knocked on the door. He forced himself to smile as the door opened a crack.

"Sena, love!" he said. "Is Kiku in?"

"Why?"

"I just want to see him for a little bit."

"He isn't feeling well."

"It will only take a minute, I promise. I just want to pop in, say hi, and I'll be on my way."

Sena dropped her head back as she groaned and rolled her eyes. "Fine, whatever. You only have five minutes!"

"Cheers, love."

"Whatever." Sena moved aside to let the English man inside. Arthur walked down the hall and found Kiku in his bedroom. The Japanese man stared out into space with a blank stare. Arthur quietly closed the door behind him.

"Hello, old chap," he said in a low voice. Kiku stared at him with empty as his stomach turned. Behind Arthur were five purple shadows floating around. One of them had their gold eyes locked on the Japanese man. Kiku's body went stiff.

"What's the matter, mate?" Arthur asked. The Japanese man fell backwards onto his futon.

"Kiku? Kiku?" the English man asked.