Burn The Witch

Flames

☆Ebinora☆

The campfires' smoke rose through the sky, cutting out the moon that the clouds had captured seconds before. I felt the smile that was glued to my face as the buzz of the cheesy campfire songs surrounded me. Laughter, as well. All six of us were happy, no matter the circumstances.

I stabbed a chunk of meat with a stick, allowing it to warm up against the blades of red and orange fire. The warmth of the fire seemed to be spreading through our minds, not just our bodies. I knew I could have stayed staring at the bright, wild tangle of flames all night, and would have as well if the lure of tomorrow didn't sit in front of me.

Jazmine's lute had conjured melodies all night, the sweet thrum sewing together the voices of my companions, the only people I trusted with my secrets, the ones that hid in the dark, away from even myself. As I bit into the chunk of meat, I imagined how my life could have been. I could have helped my mother with the housework or danced myself away at balls without fearing for my life. But, even now, I was glad that things turned the way they had.

Jazmine's voice pulled me out of my daydream. "Almost midnight, folks!"

The songs had finally ceased, and casual conversations had filled the empty space, the cracking of the fire, and the wild call of the winds. Jazmine stood up, suddenly. She reached out to pull me to my feet.

"You know what I think?" She asked the small gathering but didn't wait for a reply. "I say we shall stay up later than normal, tonight. We have earnt ourselves the bitter taste of celebration. We are alive. We are well. Against all odds that the gods throw at us."

Whoops flung themselves through the group. The group had a designated sleeping arrangement that all of us had obeyed. Fall asleep at midnight and wake up at dawn. It was a little to the obvious that Jazmine despised this.

"Ebinora, shall you pay a visit to the food stash and bring us three bottles of mead?" She asked me. I nodded, detaching myself from the group, giving only a small glance at the other people. All were busy entertaining themselves, a few tossing twigs and sticks into the flames, and a few talking amongst themselves. I pulled the small bag that was hidden under others and fiddled with the latch. I had only seen the contents a handful of times, and it still shocked me. The pile of food and liquids were always sorted carefully by Jazmine herself. Every once in a while, we would restock. Although it was important to stay out of sight whilst the witch hunt raged on, food was a key to our survival.

I pulled three bottles of mead from the stash and held them carefully in my arms. I passed them around the group, one bottle between two. I passed when Jazmine offered me a sip, and took a gulp of water instead. Morkie, a boy a year older than myself, was telling a tale of a village where witchcraft was accepted, welcomed, even. We had been intrigued by this tale for weeks, now. This village would be our final destination. Our home. Morkie's black hair was ruffled in odd directions and his arms were gesturing along with the story.

"Papa told me," Morkie explained for the hundredth time. "The village is hidden under the moon, protected by both itself and the sun. It can only be located at midnight, and only by those with witchcraft in their blood. We will find it. And when we do, we will be safe."

The cool air seemed to hang in the ait for a moment too long. Jazmine had run a majority vote three weeks ago, and it was decided we would search for this place. Fantasy or not, it was the reason we hadn't fought back against the murderers behind us, who were sniffing for our trail.

Jazmine flicked her blonde hair back, the flowers blooming in her hair, freeing themselves from the wild curls. "Possibly. We may still never find this place. But it may be worth it. We will take that risk."

The rest of the group smiled, shared with a look full of hope, trust, and determination. Desrai pulled his hand into the fire, and I felt panic seize my body, an old instinct that I no longer needed. He pulled his hand back and gazed into the flames that he had gathered as if looking at a surprising fish that he had caught from the rivers. The flames sparked and crackled. I watched as Desrai closed his eyes and focused on the orange glow. I could feel the heat that his hands were radiating with as the flames turned blue and then to a pure white, the same color of snow. The only sound that I could hear was the crackle of the fire and the steady hush of our breaths.

Jazmine reached into the fire and plucked a flame, replaying what Desrai had performed. This was completed with the other three until it was finally my turn. I felt the heat claw at my skin, like an untamed monster.

Focus, I told myself.

The flame turned white, elegant and pure. We lifted our hands, knotting them into the palms of the people beside us.

We each closed our eyes, and I could tell that the fire that was in the middle of our circle had turned white, the heat attacking our bodies.

"Mother Earth," We spoke, our voices perfectly synchronized. "Please guide us. Please ensure our safety. May we remain out of harms' path. Thank you."

We let go of each other's hands and held our flame in front of us. Jazmine was the first to let her flame drift towards the stars, the white fire separating and falling towards us like snow. Magical. Each of us copied this. Silence followed, like a lion stalking its prey.

Jazmine flicked her hand, and the flames of the campfire suddenly turned to smoke. The dark consumed our bodies.

I could hear Kyrie yawn.

"Might as well sleep now. Who shall keep watch tonight?" Se asked, her voice as gentle as ever.

"I will," Jazmine said, as I heard the ruffle of blankets and smelt the sweet perfume of flowers, her trademark.

Sleep engulfed me, and I dug my hands into my blankets, hoping not to set them alight, like the night before.