The Dark Witch And Her Knights

14*

A/N -- Anything in another language in a chapter will be TRANSLATED at the end of that chapter. Hopefully, this will be easier than checking a KEY CHAPTER somewhere else.

She appeared stumped, unable to find the right words. "You, you no longer do this though! My village is an example of what becomes of the magic wielders of the world if no one is left on the inside to fight for us." Her eyes suddenly fell to me. "How will you stop this?"

My shoulder slowly crept up with a flummoxed half-shrug. I had no fucking clue what was going on and I held no answers for the fuming lady.

"You're a princess you must have some kind of power?" she asked astoundedly.

"Not really, no. I'm a herbalist, a healer of sorts, and a witch who can't cast a single spell. Hardly a princess." I brushed off my vest nervously.

"But I have seen your future. I have heard the prophecies." Esmerelda was cut off by Gavrial's cough. Both men stared at her oddly.

"Sable does not know her father." This was all the witchman said and Esmerelda's face fell in confusion.

"Does she not know the prophecy either?" she directed her questions to Gavrial.

He shrugged not wanting to answer her. So I did. "I have heard of it, but I do not know it."

She locked eyes with my witchman. "You are keeping this from her; Why? I do not understand. Would her knowing the truth not speed up the prediction?"

He raised his hands in surrender. "She has not pestered me of it. She knows the goal and has agreed, it is also what she desires. If she knows the prophecy it could change the future."

"As a psychic gypsy, you should understand the dangers of knowing the future better than any," Arbor reminded her.

"Is this why she remains innocent?" Her question had my skin breaking out in a cold sweat.

"No more, Elda!" Arbor finally decided to intervene. "Enough! These are the ways of the Witch. Decided by the Beldams. She is not supposed to know. It can change things. He is training her. When her time comes a chain of events will begin that cannot be stopped. Only the outcome can be altered."

"It is ingrained into her soul not to desire to know the prophecy until the time is right," Gavrial added. I didn't know whether to be horrified or fascinated. I was spellbound.

"It affects all magical beings. The cost of waiting surely must outweigh the consequences."

My head began to spin. An ache I had never felt before emerged behind my eyes. My vision began to blur. I could still make out Gavrial's silhouette as he stepped forward. I grabbed hold of his arm stopping him as my other hand went to my head in search of relief from this odd new ache overcoming me.

I hear his voice but it's coming out deep and slow. "She's heard too much."

My knees began to buckle and my entire world shifted as my weight vanished from beneath me. The blur in my sight slowly darkened until I could see no more.

***

The warmth of Stella radiated into my feet. I could feel her weight on me as she purred. Not opening my eyes I snuggled deeper into the bed trying to get comfortable. My cozy spot availed me, but then I noticed the scent of the cold side of my pillow was all off. Woodsy and slightly manly. Nothing like the witchman's castle by the sea.

I popped up looking all around me. The quilt was green, the frame was mahogany, and the walls were logs like a cabin and not the stone I was familiar with. A startled scream left my throat. Stella shot up frightened by my shriek and scurried off under the bed. Hanging upside down over the edge I was trying to coax her out when the door to the room creaked open.

I flung back onto the bed looking at the gorgeous man who entered. "Who are you? Where am I? If you think you're the first person to abduct me, you'd be wrong. And you'll end up like all the rest." I tried to sound as brave as I could.

He snickered at me and came close enough so he could sit at the end of the bed. I backed up as far as I could hitting the headboard. "How many people have tried to kidnap you, little one?"

I didn't want to answer him but I wanted to make him nervous so I told the truth. "Three."

He scooted a little closer. "And what happened to those other ones?"

"They died." Well, that was only two-thirds the truth. The witchman still lived. "Where is he?" I couldn't remember how I got here or what I did last.

"Who?" he asked with a coy smile moving a bit closer to me.

I didn't answer. I didn't know the witchman's real name and I sure as hell couldn't ask for him by the title I gave him in jest. He pulled the quilt out of the way. My fear consumed me realizing what I was wearing. What he was looking at. My legs, exposed by the shortness of my nightdress.

The thought to bolt was too late. His hand snaked around my ankle and he yanked me down the length of the bed. It was my biggest fear to end up in this kind of situation. He began climbing over me between my bent legs. I froze not knowing what to do until my brain began to work and I started to fight him off.

His hands freely roamed my body. His lips left damp trails along my chest and neck. Tears started to pour from my eyes. Every move I knew to stop him was useless. He anticipated them. He was faster than me. Stronger than me. If I had anything to give I would give it right now to be able to cast a spell.

I chanted in my head Prohibere over and over. The feel of his hand moving under my dress stilled me. I was fighting a losing battle. He gripped the side of my undergarments pulling them down slowly. My body stopped but my mind hadn't quit chanting.

"Go head! Keep trying to cast! You useless little witch," he taunted fully removing the apparel.

***

Prohibere - Stop