I'm an enchantress. I live in Boucherville, I heard that the stone mason's widow gave birth to a 'devil's child.' I frowned upon the name, the poor thing. I just had to see it, assess the supposed 'devil.' So I made Madeleine a cake, disguise for my curiosity.
I'm on my way over to her home now, a charming little stone home just down the path that leads to my woodland cottage. I came only a few days after they did. I knew Charles well. He often came over for herbs to help his wife's aching. I was more than happy to give them to the kind man.
Knocking on the door, the lady of the house opened the door timidly.
"Bonjour Madeleine! I brought you a cake. I wondering if I could enjoy a slice with you." I tell her brightly. Her lovely blue eye was the only thing I can see. I lean over a little to get a better look at her. That is when I hear it. An enticing scream. That of an infant's, but the gender, it is so CLEAR I can tell it is a boy. Something inside me just screamed that it was a baby boy. Madeleine, turns away from the door. But quickly turns back to me and opens the door to me.
"Please, do come in, Samatia." She steps away from the door and lets me in. I go into the kitchen and set the cake down on the table. I look around, not seeing her son anywhere. I turn to the woman.
"Where is your son Madeleine?" I ask her. The woman stops, and looks at me as I had just slapped her across the face.
"You, don't want to see him, Samatia." She tells me, forlorn. I laugh, my bellish laugh fills the little kitchen.
"No, Samatia, you really don't. It is horrendous." My jaw drops, I really do want to smack her now. I give her a glare.
"Madeleine! Stop this foolishness at once. How on Earth is it horrendous. I would like to see your son, what on Earth is wrong with that? The poor thing. No wonder its screaming like that. Where is the poor thing? I'll take him if you don't want it. I need to teach someone my knowledge of herbs after all." Madeleine pales, shocked in submission. She looks to the ground and takes me to the attic. She opens the door and lets me inside. My heart stops as I see the poor thing, thrown on a dusty old mat. I gasp and clutch my chest in pity.
"See, its horrendous." Madeleine hisses at me. I turn on her ruptly. Giving her a glare that scares the life out of her. I turn back to the child, my face softening. I walk across the attic and scoop it off the mattress. It heartbreakingly beautiful screaming reduces to a whimpering, sniffling sound as it turned its mismatched eyes to me. I rock and bounce it slightly, cooing softly to the baby. Tears gathering in my eyes as I take in the look on its ugly face. Blotchy, red, uneven skin on the right side of his face.
"You're not that bad, definitely not a Devil's Child, just a little unfortunate, that's all." I whisper soothingly to the baby.
"I want you to have him, but Father Masark demanded that I have to take care of Erik." I frown, damn Catholic. Erik giggled and tugged at my shining, waist length, ink black hair, making me wince in pain. I look at him bewildered, his eyes reflect iceberg blue as our eyes meet, reflecting my own eyes perfectly. I kissed his forehead. Madeleine gasps in disgust.
"That was to give you inhuman abilities. The ability to soak up knowledge better than a sponge with water." I kiss his eyelid after gently closing his eye.
"This is the impossible ability to create music that hypnotizes and consumes the average human being's helpless soul." I said, putting a spell on the small infant in my arms. I close his other eye and kiss his eyelid.
"This is to have a happy ending, no matter what, for I know, without my assistance, you would only face hatred and anger. Erik Destler, you are to be great." I whispered to the baby boy. He looked at me again, then his eyes drooped and he gave a yawn, drifting off to sleep in my arms. I kneel gently and place the small infant on the cot, wrapping him in my shawl.
"Don't give that beast your best shawl, Samatia, it isn't worth it." Madeleine hissed at me. I didn't look at the woman.
"Be silent, Madeleine." And the woman was silent. Everyone in town simply thought I was a genius with herbs, no one knew that I was enchantress. Mortals often confused us with our magical cousins, witches. So we just kept our talent secret in order not to be stoned or burned at the stake.
"I need to be getting home, Madeleine, I hope you enjoy the cake." I told her, gathering my scarlet skirts and rising. I turn just in time to see her nod. I follow the woman down the steps.
"Good Night, Erik." I whisper and blow him sweet dreams over my right shoulder. I leave the house, uttering a warmth spell so I don't freeze on my walk back to my home.
Deeper in the woods. I see my cottage, Achelousis waiting for me outside, he gives a deep lavish merow and jumps down the steps racing to rub against my legs.
"Hello, Master, how was your visit to the Destler household?" He asks me in his deep, rich voice. Ironic for a cat I know.
"My friend Madeleine has given birth to a deformed baby boy. I blessed him the best I could. He's going to have a rough life regardless. The poor thing." I tell him. Achelous gives a 'hmm' and scurries inside after me. I relieve the warmth spell and sit down on my couch. Achelousis leaps up in my lap and curls into a ball, purring heavily. I pet his back and scratch behind his ears lovingly.
"Don't worry, master, with you on his side, I'm positive he'll be fine. You always come through, why should you fail now?" Achelousis asks me, his voice rumbly and rich from the thick purring. I sighed.
"Its only natural for me. Knowing his mother doesn't love him, makes me want to swoop in and take him for my own. But Father Masark has forbid anything of the sort." I tell him. Achelousis laughs.
"Since when did she listen to Father Masark? I don't recall a time." Achelousis asks. I shake my head.
"She doesn't want to suffer for committing murder, that is the only reason why she hasn't killed Erik or given him away. Not that any other, foolish mortal would take him." I tell the cat. Achelousis gives a sigh and shakes his head. I sigh too. Picking up the large black cat I take him to my room and change into my nightgown and slide under the covers, falling into the welcoming arms of sleep, my own arms wrapped around my overly large black cat.