Hello! Okay so I know that I'm not done my Sweeney Todd story, but I had a sudden inspiration and I absoloutly had to write it!
Disclaimer: No I don't own any of the cast from Sleepy Hollow... I'm working on it.
Chapter one- Trapped
Drums.
A heart beating like one thousand drums, a heart beating so loudly, that the bearer was certain it would explode in her chest, a heart so broken, that she could no longer put the pieces back together; they were too small, and there were too many. Her life had broken; fell apart, in the span of a day.
The rain was falling lightly in Sleepy Hollow, but to Clara Masbath, it was coming down in buckets. Her brown locks whipped at her tear ridden face as her hands frustratingly wiped at her wet cheeks. Her feet moved on their on accord, running faster and faster until she finally reached the small cottage she called home.
And still the conversation replayed in her mind, over and over again…
"Theodore is a fine man, Clara. Why must you be so stubborn?"
Clara threw open the door of the tiny house and ran to the small confines of her room, she locked the door and then promptly collapsed on her bed, sobbing furiously.
"You push away every man that comes into your life. You are at the marrying age, and Theodore has the means to support you…soon, no one will have you."
The young woman grimaced visibly.
"You must see reason here! This is what's best for you, for all of us! If you do not accept his proposal you will shame us all… he's a fine gentleman Clara, give him a chance."
At that point, Clara Masbath had had no choice but to accept the man's proposal.
And in the end, that's what tore her up inside. She was going to be forced into a life with a man she didn't love.
By now, Clara new that marrying for love was very rare, that it was something that only happened in books… yet for some odd reason, the young woman in question had hope, that possibly, her life might turn out to be a sappy romance novel, but of course, that was crazy.
Her tears were proof that that would never happen.
I hate you, father.
An hour later, there was a knock at the door.
The young woman opened it with some hesitance and was soon stuck in a bone-crushing embrace. It was Katrina.
"Katrina… can't… breathe…"
Katrina let go of her at once.
"Sorry!"
Clara smiled at her best friend. "It's alright. Would you like to come in? I'm just making some soup."
"You're not coming to the gathering tonight?" Katrina asked.
Clara smirked. "No. I'm staying here, trying to find a potion that could get me out of this mess."
The young blond rolled her eyes at her brunette friend. "You can't try to drown your sorrows in warm milk and potions, Clara! You have to come!"
"But my brother-"
"Write him a note! Your father is out on watch tonight and I'll help you make soup for young Daniel… please?"
The brunette sighed and hesitantly nodded. This triggered another gigantic hug from her friend and Clara couldn't help but laugh. Katrina smiled and invited herself in, quickly removing her cloak and going straight to the cauldron containing vegetable soup.
"I heard about you and Theodore…" The blond said softly, "and I offer you my sympathies, Clara. I'm sorry."
Clara's brown orbs widened, it had gotten around that quickly? "…Thank you." She replied, her eyes now starting to water. "I-it's just so terrible, you know? I-I don't… I just never really thought that it would happen to me…"
Katrina embraced her friend softly and handed her a small blue book. "I want you to have this… I figured it might bring you luck."
"A Compendium of Spells, Charms and Devices of the Spirit World… our book?" Clara whispered. "Katrina, are you sure?"
She nodded. "You remember how our mothers used to do magic together? I believe that you deserve it, Clara. Keep it, it's yours."
Clara hugged Katrina tightly. "I shall always keep it close to my heart…"
"You look like you're mourning someone's death." Katrina stated bluntly sometime later.
The soup was finished and the blond had insisted she help chose what Clara was going to wear. That was a mistake on Clara's part, for she and Katrina had very different tastes, and the blond could be very stubborn when she wanted to be.
"Well… I'm mourning my freedom." Clara answered plainly.
Katrina rolled her blue eyes. "Try to catch someone's eye tonight, maybe, you could run from this place together… go to New York. But that shan't happen if you're mourning."
"Fine." She muttered grudgingly. "But I beg of you, no pink things."
"Agreed."
Clara Masbath looked herself over from the hundredth time that evening.
"Are you sure, Kat? I haven't worn this one in ages!"
The dress was a dark green with a white chemise under it. The actual gown had dark blue and gold stitching on it and the skirt split revealing the chemise, the sleeves fanned out to about the elbows and the laces in the front were dark blue ribbon. Gold thinly outlined the waist and bodice. The dress was elegant, but not overly so… that's why it was one of Clara's favorites.
As for her hair, Clara had her curly dark brown tresses loose, except for a few wisps pulled back and tied with a dark blue ribbon, with some unruly curls that framed her porcelain face.
"You look wonderful! Much better then the black you were wearing, you looked like the embodiment of black magic." At this, both girls shivered. It wasn't that they were witches that performed spells that caused discord and that they made poisonous potions. No, the two women just had a vast knowledge of herbs and plants to make healing potions, and the only spells they knew were the ones from their book. They were good 'witches' that performed white magic, in fact, Clara was known as the town healer and often worked with Beth Killian, the midwife. To the two friends, black magic was an evil concept that only evil people would use, and Katrina Van Tassel and Clara Masbath were not evil people.
Later that night, after young Daniel Masbath had returned home and Clara had told him to eat his soup and come to the party if he felt the need, both girls were whispering animatedly to each other.
"He doesn't seem that bad, Clara… maybe…"
"Do not utter another word, Katrina. I know that he isn't bad looking, but he's just so… boring."
Katrina smirked. "Well then, let's play a game of Pickety Witch." And with that, the young woman started to organize.
"Katrina stop! No!" Clara hissed from behind, but she wasn't acknowledged, all the distressed woman received was a smile from Theodore and a smirk from Katrina.
Next thing she knew, the brunette was blindfolded and turning around in a circle, praying to god that she didn't chose Theodore.
Luckily, that prayer was answered.
"The pickety witch, the pickety witch… who's got a kiss for the pickety witch…"
The whole time Clara sang the tune, she thought of what she was going to do to Katrina if she chose Theodore.
And whatever it was, it wasn't going to be pretty.
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