"The Watchers" are supernatural beings in human form, charged with protecting mankind from the armies of darkness. Unfortunately, some of these Watchers go bad.
Deirdra Eden's The Watcher's Series is written in a traditional fairytale style with a...
Bright winter light shone through the window and reflected off the shelf of dusty jars like a rainbow chandelier. Snow blanketed the ground and blocked the roads to the villages.
"There didn't use ta be this much snow in England," Hazella complained. "Erebus be stealin' the heat of the Earth to forge weapons for his army. You'll see. They be commin' soon, and I won't be standin' in their way."
I huddled in my bed of straw behind the stack of firewood. My frosty breath billowed into the air as I pulled a thin blanket around my head. I didn't understand a word of Hazella's disturbed statement. I wish I understood how crazy people's minds work, without having to go crazy myself.
I peered through a gap in the woodpile. Hazella sat next to the fireplace and stared at the flames while playing with a gold coin in her hand. I let out a long sigh. I hated winter. Not only was it cold, but Hazella never left the cottage. I was stuck in the same room with her until the snow melted.
The hag fingered her old ruby necklace. "Just a little more time," she murmured. She stood and dropped the gold coin in a bag, then stuffed the bag into a box hidden inside the fireplace mantel.
I pulled the blanket tight under my neck. There was nothing special about the necklace. Hazella probably stole it off a dead person. She had a habit of robbing from graves.
I watched the shapes of my warm breath float into the chilly air. It was pathetic entertainment, but my only means to fight the monotony of winter.
A loud snort echoed through the cottage, followed by a heavy snore. I peered over the woodpile. The old woman finally fell asleep.
Hazella's book lay open on the table. My heart raced. I had to see inside. I couldn't read, but the pictures were in vivid color. I wanted to admire the art before Hazella destroyed the book to hide the secrets within.
I focused on the book and crept toward the table. My adventurous heart pounded. I placed my hands on the book. My fingers traced the scrolling art of thick brush strokes. Hazella snorted and stirred. I held my breath. The old woman rolled over and snored again. I exhaled, then turned the page.
I sighed and wondered what knowledge the book contained as I turned the thick yellowing pages. I lifted the last page and caught my breath at the sight. An image of the ruby necklace stared at me from the parchment. Its rich beauty seemed out of place among the images of herbs and animal parts.
Cold fingernails clamped onto my neck. My hands shot off the book like it was a poisonous serpent. My teeth snapped together. Hazella was going to kill me. I just knew it.Hazella didn't say a word before she tossed me out into the deep forest snow and slammed the door shut.
The white world momentarily blinded me. I put my hands to my eyes. I jumped to my feet and pounded on the door. "Let me in!" I screamed.
Hazella ignored me and drew the curtains.
I knew it. She was feeding me to the wolves.
Trickles of warm blood ran down my neck where her nails had stabbed into me. The wind blew through my thin nightgown, chilling my skin. Every snowflake under my feet felt like needles pricking my red toes. I ran in place, lifting my aching feet from the frozen ground. The snow under me hardened. I slipped and fell onto the sharp ice.
"Ugh!" I cried out. Blood beaded on my scraped knees. Now, I was mad. I threw my fists into the snow and pounded at the ground. Even though I had been hurt, I should have run away last summer.
I buried my face in my hands and cried. I hated feeling sorry for myself. I had been strong for so long. Now, repressed emotions of fear and anger surfaced. "I don't belong here. I don't deserve to die like this!" I wiped my face on the edge of my nightgown.
Through hot tears, I watched the winter world melt away. Warm mud plastered my legs and feet. Steam rose from the mud and surrounded me in a blanket of wet fog.
Part two coming next week.
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