Roses in Her Blood, Vengeance in His Veins

Witch's Welcome

When I awoke, morning light had already started to streamed down into the room. I sat up and brushed my hand through my hair, staring at the elegantly made room.

Wait, elegant?

I spun my head left and right, my eyebrows furrowed. But how, how. . . why did this room look like it wasn't destroyed? Why were there no cobwebs hanging on every corner or dust gathering?

Why. . . why did it look clean, and new, and not in ruin?

I swung my legs off of the couch and rose to my feet, well foot. I didn't place any weight in my left foot, I grimaced at the pain flaring everywhere in my body. I gripped onto the arm of the couch as I questioned this mysterious room that was not ruined.

Wait, if this room was no longer ruined, would the rest of the castle also not be ruined? That would be worth finding out. I shifted my weight off of the couch and limped my way out of the room, each step as if I had stepped on glass.

My mouth dropped the moment I entered the hallway. Had I been mistaken when I first came in? It simply was not possible for these crystal chandeliers to be sparkling and bright, for the wallpaper to not be ripped and faded. I had to been seeing things in my tired state.

Unless, unless it was magic? I shook my head slightly. No, that could not be it. Very few had been gifted with magic in the last three centuries.

I crossed the hallway, taking in the light shining through the chandeliers. Could this really be the home of someone blessed with magic? I didn't think that anyone was blessed anymore. Or was everyone who was hiding because of the God Contracts?

But why would they hide? Did the chosen monarchs hunt them? But why would they do that? It wouldn't make sense if they did hunt them. And shouldn't of Lord Merlin chosen a sovereign for a kingdom? Is that why there is rarely anyone with magic anymore? But what kingdom would have that contract? The-

I froze. Drool forming in my mouth and I closed my eyes, taking in the scent of food. How long had it been since I'd eaten? Too long, it was too long ago. But where was it coming from? I scoured the corridor, looking for any sign of where the food could possibly be.

There.

At the end of the corridor, a light flickering from beyond the entryway. That had to be where the food was. Ignoring my ankle, I sprinted towards the food. It might of hurt, but the food would be worth it.

I basically launched myself into in a big room with a long white clothed table set in the middle. I leaned onto the faded blue wall to my left, my injured ankle lifted off the ground, and just simply stared. I didn't know how to start, or where to.

The table had plates of delicious looking food scattered about. Each looked too perfect to eat, too beautiful to exist. How could I choose? It does not matter. I should just eat whatever I touch first.

I hopped over to the table and grabbed onto one of the many chairs to balance myself. These look and smell even better up close. I reached out and grabbed a puffy bread treat with cream on top. I stared at it in worship before shoving a piece of it in my mouth.

I could feel tears brimming in my eyes the moment it reached my taste buds. How could something taste so heavenly?

I forced myself to slowly eat, to savour the flavour of each bite. Though I longed to just simply devour everything, I had no idea who this food belonged to. I stopped mid bite. And if a witch really lived here, it would be better to not devour all their food.

I took a bite of the pastry, the sweet cream and soft bread mixed together in my mouth. Do the courts have this as well? I don't think so, but then I again hadn't gone to many court events. But wouldn't of Dawn told me about them as a way to persuade me? That would probably make me wa-

"Who are you?"

I froze, my heart leaping up my throat. Was that the witch? Oh my Divine Gods, would they kill me on the spot. I worked too hard to die now. I-I can't die now. But, but what could I do to stop their magic?

If I am to die, I-I should not die from a blow on my back like a coward. I swallowed and slowly turned to face the witch.

The first thing I saw was gold. Golden eyes staring me down with impassion. I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn't. I simply stood, with stolen food in my hand, spouting vowels instead of actual words.

The witch's face scrunched up, his eyes almost reflecting the sun itself. Unlike the sun, however, I could not pry my eyes away.

"I will say it once more," he said, his tone filled with both skepticism and annoyance. "Who are you?"

I wet my lips, unsure of what to actually say. If I told him, would he send me straight back to the king? Or would he take me in? Or simply throw me out to fend for myself? What could I say make it so I could stay?

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" I almost smacked myself the moment the word flew out of my mouth. How would that get me to stay? Divine Gods, I am so stupid!

However the witch did not look fazed by my question. "I have made this place my place of residence," he said blandly. So he does live here.

I guess he does have the right to know who is in his house, eating his food. But, the question is still whether or not I can trust him.

And I do not feel that I can risk my life.

"This, um, this is a, a wonderful place you have. I-I'm. My name is uh." For the first time since I saw him, I had trouble keeping our eyes locked on each other. "Heather. I'm Heather. I, uh, I come from the town over. Got lost." I tried to put a playful and lighthearted smile on my face.

"No you aren't." That smile fell.

"Wh-what?"

"You name is not Heather." His eyes were as stern as his voice. I shifted my weight onto my other foot. Only to wince, a small cry of pain escaping. I dropped my gaze to my ankle and quickly shifted my weight back to my other foot.

A heavy sigh brought my gaze to the witch. "You may stay." A smile bloomed on my smile. "But, once you are healed, you have overstayed your welcome."

"Thank you so much," I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe I could trust him after all. He moved to sit down in a chair opposite to me, his battered grey cloak flattering dramatically. I sat down in one of the seats. "Kairi. My name, its, um, it's Kairi."

His eyes flung back up to mine, his arm reached out in pursuit of food. The witch nodded his head, his eyes leaving mine. He grabbed one of the bread pastries that I had and brought it to his plate.

"My name is Liam."