All Seeing Tree

CHAPTER FOUR

The sky is rich blue with pure white clouds that look like slashes of paint throughout it. It was a beautiful November day, but everyday is a beautiful day in Anteria. The wind blew lightly, swaying the grass and leafless aspen branches. The carriage swayed with every gust while it bounced over the dirt road towards the City. Sara was sitting next to me in a light blue dress that looked lovely against her milky skin. She was starring out the window at the slow build up of building while we headed into the city. I glanced at the person sitting across from me and propped my feet, ankles cross on the bench next to him.

"Would you put your boots on the seat like that if master were here?" Shame said with a small grin. Like normal Shame was wearing the black on black look that made his panther eyes stick out like they do against his black fur when he is in his other form. Normally I wore pretty much the same thing, but Gretchen my mentor in town didn't like it and asked me to wear color when I visit her. Gretchen is a Wiccan and has been mentoring me with my magic since I was twelve. Saber brought me to her when my magic surfaced and I was having issues with it. I am not powerful so the issues I had weren't that bad, just annoying. At night when I would sleep I would levitate up until I hit the ceiling, wake up and fall eight feet to the bed.

"Which master," I asked bitterly. I leaned back against the seat and crossed my arms under my chest.

"I swear I didn't know he was home, lass, I wound have told you." I dropped my defining mirage and shrank into the seat.

"I know," I said in a low voice, looking down at my hands now folded in my lap. "I know. I know that Arden told his vamps to not say anything and Saber couldn't, but I am still bitter." Sara rubbed my right arm and the soft fabric of the blue long sleeve shit I was wearing felt soothing. I kept the skintight black pants, and I always wear my boots. The shirt was all the color Gretchen was going to get from me. I had to admit that the blue made by turquoise eye pop and it looked good with my hair.

"Its okay Juli. Caine doesn't seem as cruel as the stories and he is very handsome," Sara said, trying to make me fill better.

I sat up and looked out the window when the carriage stopped. I didn't even realize that we were here already. I sat up with a sigh and grabbed my sword that was leaned on the floor next to my leg.

The city was a thick mass of coble stone roads, bridges and buildings. It is a good size city, with lots of shops that Sara loves to walk and shop at, while I am working with Gretchen. Shame was with us because Sara wasn't aloud out without a bodyguard. It has been that way since it was discovered that she was carrying our master's child.

Sara and Shame walked further down the road the carriage stopped on, towards the cluster of shops. I watched them walk away arm in arm for several heartbeats then turned and started walking down the small ally that led to Gretchen's shop. Thirty feet and ten steps later I was standing in front of the large wooden door with ruins craved into it for warding. I lifted my arm to knock when the door flew open. She always seemed to know when I arrive no matter how quite I am. She stood in front of me in a bright green dress. She was several inches shorter than me, which puts her under five feet. She was turning seventy this year, but she has aged beautifully and looks about fifty. She had grey hair that touched the floor. Her face was still beautiful with wrinkles from smiling and crow's feet on the edges of her pale eyes that are so pale they look white. She is blind, but she can still see. Not with her eyes, but she can see. Don't ask me how, 'cause I don't have any clue.

"Grech," I said, giving her a quick hug. Gretchen has been the closest thing to mother figure I have had my entire life and I cherish her.

"Jul, how are you holding up? Has your new master been kind to you?" Gretchen's voice held the softness that she seems to never loose. I smiled at her even though she couldn't see it.