Ch-9

Chapter 9

Inside her mind, Klara was fighting a horrid nightmare. She was chained up in a dark room, weak and cold. Every part of her body hurt, the pain made worse when she shivered from the chill of the room as well as the wetness of the blood soaking her clothes. She’d been beaten for days after refusing to give into Gertrudes demands. The young Wiccan finally understood what forced her mother to flee, to start a new life far away from this place. She’d refused to give in to the darkness as Gertrude had, and knew she was no match for the evil. Klara would rather die than become like her evil aunt. She could never disgrace her mother’s memory like that.

The door opened and a man with a thin dagger snapped his fingers. The torches all lit up and her chains instantly yanked her up from the floor. Her mangled body screamed in protest, every fiber on fire. Her evil captor chuckled at her misery and sang,

“Time to wake up dear...” He forced her chin up and smiled at her. Klara could remember the stank of his breath on her face. Like rotten food and whisky. “Hmm..such a pretty face. Maybe Gertrude will let me have you...” He then grinned, showing his nasty teeth. “Once our work is done.” Klara’s heart pounded in fear. “If you survive of course.”

“P-please...d-don’t..!” Klara begged. He dropped her chin and stepped back, pulling out a small glass orb. A forbidden tool, used to steal magic from others. He lifted it towards her.

“But first...I need your magic.” Klara screamed as her magic was torn from her chest in a blaze of green light. He could have done it quickly, but the sadistic warlock drew out the pain as long as possible. Klara prayed for it to end... all of it.

“Klara wake up!”

The wiccan gasped, her eyes flying open in shock.The cold misery slowly washed away, replaced by the warm comfort surrounding her. The smell from the wood fire and food cooking in a pot confused her for a moment before she realized what was going on. She was laying in a man’s arms in bed, bandaged and washed. Klara looked up and felt her heart flutter when she recognized the handsome man from the forest days earlier. So she hadn’t imagined him rescuing her.

“It was just a dream.” Randolf’s soothing voice calmed her panic. He was holding her, making her feel safe.

“I’m sorry.” she cried, ashamed of her weakness. Randolf didn’t seem bothered and he took her hand in his.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked. Klara shook her head.

“No. I just want to forget...” Her hand rested on her chest instinctively and she gasped again, but this time in shock. “No!” she cried, covering her face with her hands.

“W-what’s wrong?” Randolf asked, taken aback by her sudden change. Klara sobbed heavily.

“My mother’s amulet! I-it’s gone!”

“Calm down.” Randolf commanded gently, lifting her chin. They stared at each other for a moment before Klara turned away. “I’ll find your amulet.”

“How?” Klara asked, not believing him. Randolf smirked.

“Watch..” Placing two fingers in his mouth, he gave a high pitched whistle. It echoed through the Forest until it reached a small den, deep in the heart of the thicket. A ball of light burst forth and the shape of a fox materialized. It bounded through the Forest towards the sound, sliding under the door and then jumping up into Klara’s arms.

“A cicerone spirit!” Klara gasped in joy. The fox sniffled and snuggled into her arms, loving the energy she had.

“I’m impressed, these spirits aren’t widely known.” Randolf replied with a chuckle. “He’s very clever.” The cicerone spirit sniffed her again then bounded back from where it came. “Don’t worry Klara. If anyone can find the amulet, he can.”

Author: Katie (Crios) Editor: Elizabeth (Eala)

Patreon: patreon.com/ealacrios