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A Witch's Ways

7/7/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
The third installment in The Princess' Path.

Myriah had hated princess Caroline for a long time. Ever since she refused to use the power to heal to save Myriah’s older brother. Since that dark day when the only person left that Myriah loved died in her arms, Myriah had only two goals in her life: force the arrogant, self-centered princess to actually use her ability and to make Caroline suffer. It was Myriah’s obsession.

Myriah grinned as she uncorked a bottle and gently blew the vapors that rose from it over the roiling surface of the cauldron’s contents. There was a faint high-pitched sound as it mingled with the steam. Myriah corked the bottle with a chuckle. Banshee’s Breath was hard to come by, but it would be worth it.

Myriah hummed with some delight as she twirled over to a notebook and picked up an old-fashioned pen.

It is ready. She wrote. Myriah put down the pen and checked on the potion. She glanced up when she heard the pen scratching on the notebook. That was fast. She returned to the pen, writing on it’s own.

So am I. The pen wrote. Just tell me what to do. Myriah smiled. That was what she liked to see.



Caroline was having a party. It made Myriah angry. She didn’t deserve to have anything to celebrate. A bitter smile curved Myriah’s lips. The party wouldn’t be so cheerful in a moment. Myriah watched the bright windows. There was Maisy, Caroline’s best friend and charm caster. Maisy’s knight of a boyfriend was talking to Avery, a normal college student. There were several people that Myriah didn’t know. They were probably Caroline’s ordinary friends who did not get involved in quests. She spotted prince Hans pass by the window. His little sister Joan followed him, looking vaguely bored. Myriah supposed that she should feel guilty for hurting these people, but if anything happened to them, it would be on Caroline’s head.

Myriah observed with grim satisfaction as Caroline’s friends began to gasp and clutch at their chests. Caroline began to panic. Myriah had selected a poison the princess’ healing ability protected her from. Myriah’s associate put the poison in the punch. Everyone in the room would be unconscious except the princess. It was time for Myriah to make her entrance.

The front doors slammed open in an unearthly wind, blowing Myriah’s cloak around her. Caroline jerked up and stared at her with a tear stained face. A face that hardened into hate when the eyes landed on Myriah.

“You.” She snarled. Myriah smiled.

“I’ve been good for you. A few years ago, you would have just cried.” Myriah stepped over the unconscious forms scattered about the room. Caroline was on her knees next to Hans. She was clutching his hand. “That won’t be enough.” Myriah said.  She knelt beside Joan and checked her vitals. Joan’s heart was fast and her breathing was shallow.

“Witch,” Caroline hissed at her. Myriah rolled her eyes.

“Obviously.” She said. Myriah brushed the hair out of Joan’s face and stood. “Now what are you going to do about it?” Caroline’s eyes flashed. She looked down at Hans and took his hands in her’s. Yes. Myriah thought. The atmosphere in the room changed. The chill Myriah’s wind had brought faded. Warmth spread through the room. The princess was glowing. A faint pink aura surrounded her and every one of her friends. Caroline’s eyes were closed. She focused solely on her power. Myriah uncorked an empty bottle. A charm around her wrist cooled as she circled the room. Wisps of the pink aura twined around her fingers and were redirected into the bottle. When the bottle was full of a shifting pink glow Myriah securely fastened a stopper on the top. Then she waited. Standing patiently behind the princess.

Finally, the glow faded. Caroline slumped forward. Myriah kept her from falling, holding her up by the hair. She took out a vial and yanked the cork out with her teeth. Myriah held the vial under Caroline’s nose. Once she was sure that Caroline had inhaled the vapor from the concoction Myriah dropped her unceremoniously. Myriah corked the vial again and pocketed it.

Myriah did another walk around the room. She checked everyone for their vitals. They were strong. Myriah scoffed in surprise. It seemed like she didn’t need that antidote after all. The princess had done good work. Still, maybe she should leave it.

Hans stirred under Caroline. “Myriah?” He mumbled groggily.

“Everyone seems alright.” Myriah assured him. She walked to the punch bowl and held out her hand. The poisoned punch boiled away. The steam was blown out the window. She set a bottle on the table.

“What’s that?” Hans asked struggling to sit up from under Caroline.

“Antidote.” Myriah answered. “In case the princess,” a snide note entered her voice, “missed someone.” She picked up the punch bowl. “Hans, please don’t take this personally.”

“Take what-? Myriah shattered the punch bowl on his head. Hans fell back. Myriah turned her attention back on Caroline. Her mouth twisted into a sneer.

“Sleep tight, princess.” She rolled Caroline off Hans, ignoring the broken glass. “You’ll need it. I’m not through with you yet.”

Myriah left. Her cloak billowing in the wind. She held out her hand and the broomstick flew to her side.

She was almost ready.


2 Comments
Charlotte link
7/9/2015 10:15:46 am

The punchbowl moment is A++, kindove a "I should've expected that but somehow didn't, so lol".

What is the timeline/setting for this story? You mentioned in your side-scene doc that it jumps forward some years to a more modern era but I'm curious which of the main chars are still alive then.

Reply
Lyndsey (Author)
7/9/2015 10:23:30 am

All of the characters are alive. It's just set in the present day world with magic and fantasy.

Reply



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    Lyndsey Werner

    An author who enjoys speculative fiction. 

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