The Witch's House

Mafia Au Threnody Meeting.

It was a hot summer night in London, a full moon aloft overhead. The air was dense and all was quiet... Too quiet. There were no trains running, no musicians playing, no tapping of heels or chewing of gum. Everyone had returned home. It wasn't safe during a full moon. People went missing. Fathers locked their doors and mothers tucked their children to bed. The bobbies knew not to stray too far from their posts. Only dim lanterns flickering could be heard as Mel found herself walking towards her destination: the Witch's house. She had made a deal with the witch before... Mel was in debt to her.

Every time she found herself coming this way, she had to take a look at the odd scenery. The further in she got, the more the bricks became uneven and jagged. Buildings were missing bricks and stone. Weeds were progressively consuming these old buildings down the alleyway. "Weeds" wasn't quite the word for it, no—but roses, reds and pink hues everywhere, that grew like weeds. The roses looked at her with disgust. Their thorns were nothing to mess with; Mel had found that out the hard way. The roots had broken through concrete and vines, their thorns having shattered glass. The smell was thick with that of an old lady's perfume bottle and of decay of cedar wood. The untamed nature of the roses seems to stop abruptly when an elegant white house with black trimming stands in front of Mel. There was an eloquent garden of Black Baccara roses in hedges around it, separating the chaos of the other roses into something much more orderly. Inside the hedges sit a well tended garden and a stone walkway to a thick black door.

Mel slowly gets the courage to walk on up to the door.

*Knock, knock, knock-knock, knock*

The door slowly creaks open. A short redhead with glasses opens it wider. "Come on in Mel."
Mel recognizes her as Clarissa, one of the biggest followers of the Witch. "They're all waiting for you in the meeting room. Would you like anything to drink?" Clarissa closes the door behind them both and locks it up tight before leading them deeper into the candle lit house. "Hello? Mel?"

Mel snaps out of her thoughts. "Oh, no, no. Thanks Clarissa. I'll be fine." Mel doubted she could drink with the Witch's gaze upon her anyways.

"That's quite alright." Clarissa's sweet midwestern accent stuck out like a sore thumb in London. It was almost comforting. Almost. She opens the door to a larger room with a long meeting table and chairs. A spiced wood scent of mahogany and honey wafted towards Mel as she made her way inside. "Mel has just arrived, Miss Mina."

With that, the door closes behind Mel, leaving her with three others. Steven, a very talented producer and music theory professional. They sat on the Witch's left side, their head resting on their hand and other hand drumming on the table as if they had been waiting a while. Daria, an editor with quite a big influence, and the Witch's right hand woman—quite literally too since she sat at her right side. She sat quite attentively, already talking with the Witch. And, last yet not least... the Witch, Miss Mina Rose, herself sat in an elegant chair, legs crossed as her dog's head rests in her lap and right arm petting the dog affectionately. Mina's intense blue eyes welcome Mel down to her seat next to Steven where Mel sits nervously. The polished mahogany was cleaned so well they could all see their reflections in it. Steven's drumming slowly stops as they sit up. "Let's get this started, shall we?"

"Of course, Steven." A melodious voice drifts in the air, almost welcoming from someone so beautiful. Moonlight hair cascades down her back to contrast against the witch's wide brimmed black hat. Long silk ribbons trail off its edge; such a magnificent hat needs to match an equally magnificent dress. The Witch had a long, gothic, black gown to fit her goth aesthetic. There were quite literally ruffles all the way down the skirt and sleeves, yet her dog, Enzo, didn't seem to mind the sleeves poking at him time to time as she gave him attention. "I'm sure we all know why we're here," the gorgeous woman starts, each word absolutely articulate. "We're here to report on 'Threnody: Part Five' and how far along we are."

"Threnody: Part Five"... The series was to be used for propaganda to brainwash the masses to witchcraft. Magic was dying and Mina had this mission to save it. Rumor was that those she couldn't convert on a full moon were later used in her spells, and Mel had caught herself in the middle of it all.

"Instrumentals have been finished for a while, as have your vocals," Steven interjects, bored. They weren't very happy to sit in here again on a full moon when they had other things that they could be doing other than sitting here.

"I've teased it in my latest animation. Don't worry. There will be viewers and... I'm ready to edit whenever you need me to, Mina." Only Daria could speak so casually to the Witch like that.

"Mel," a soft voice calls out to her.

Daria has the privilege to...

"Mel," the voice persists.

Daria had known the Witch for years. Daria even helped inspire this project—

"Mel!" The voice snaps Mel out of her thoughts—the voice belonging to Miss Mina.

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry. I'm about halfway done, Miss Mina," Mel answers quickly after that.

The Witch frowns and stands, Enzo going to his dog bed in the corner of the room. "Mel... you haven't progressed nearly at all since we've last met. You know how important this project is to me. It's going to change the world." She puts her arms on the table. "The time is coming to post it, and you're only halfway through?!"

Mel begs, "I only need one more month please!"

She huffs, straightens up, and fixes her hair. "I hope so... for their sakes."

Mel swallows dryly... Mina had every power to curse her dearest pets: Erica, Ember, and Bagira. They didn't deserve such a fate. "It'll be done, Miss."

"Good." She sits again, annoyance showing in her tone. "I have great plans for you, Mel. Don't disappoint me." A forced smile creeps on her lips. "Meeting adjourned; I have some spells to do." A hint of satisfaction reflects itself in the Witch's eyes. She would get what she wants, and she would save magic for everyone. Just you wait.

The End.